Nearly 350 billion transgressions detected amid COVID-19 enforcement measures
In the midst of the pandemic, Kazakhstan's Accounts Committee has raised eyebrows with concerns over job security measures and apparent mismanagement of funds meant to support the country during the crisis. As reported by Total.kz, the head of the Accounts Committee for Budget Execution Control, Nataliya Godunova, revealed that over 350 billion tenge in irregularities have been found during an audit of COVID-19 response spending.
Godunova's announcement at a Senate meeting pointed out a multitude of troublesome areas. For instance, she raised queries about the use of anti-crisis funds, with 4.5 trillion tenge audited so far, revealing 2 trillion undergoing thorough scrutiny. The discovered irregularities amounted to 355 billion tenge. Additionally, 243 billion tenge has been reallocated during the planning process, in collaboration with the government.
Godunova further expressed her worries about the measures taken to preserve employment. She highlighted that initially, a substantial amount of funds earmarked for job support were used to create temporary positions, with the average employment duration being merely 1-3 months.
Despite the challenging economic circumstances, Kazakhstan's economy managed to survive thanks in part to a flexible exchange rate, ample policy buffers, and a focus on fiscal adjustment and structural reforms. However, the pandemic brought to light weaknesses and vulnerabilities, such as low oil prices and limited healthcare infrastructure—particularly in rural areas. The lean vaccination rates have created an immunity gap that the country continues to address by improving vaccination reporting and surveillance.
To address these challenges, it's essential to improve transparency, strengthen accountability, encourage economic diversification, and focus on developing a robust healthcare infrastructure. By doing so, Kazakhstan can better handle similar crises in the future and exhibit a higher level of financial responsibility to its citizens.
- The Accounts Committee in Kazakhstan, addressing the Senate, has revealed over 350 billion tenge in irregularities during an audit of COVID-19 response spending, amounting to approximately 4 trillion tenge audited so far.
- Despite many funds being earmarked for job support in Kazakhstan, Nataliya Godunova has criticized the use of these funds, as a significant portion was channeled towards creating temporary positions with an average duration of 1-3 months.
- In general-news, the head of the Accounts Committee for Budget Execution Control, Godunova, pointed out that 2 trillion tenge is undergoing thorough scrutiny, from the 4.5 trillion tenge audited so far in anti-crisis funds.
- The mismanagement of funds and concerns over job security measures have raised eyebrows in Kazakhstan's finance and business sectors, as well as in politics.
- As the pandemic has brought weaknesses and vulnerabilities to light, it's crucial for Kazakhstan to focus on improving transparency, strengthening accountability, encouraging economic diversification, and developing a robust healthcare infrastructure, to better handle similar crises in the future.
