Some lawmakers on Sunday said the government’s decision to restrict the monitoring role of watchdog organizations on customs has affected the national revenue and has provided the way for embezzlement by corrupt groups.
The decisions and activities of the government about appointments in the Ministry of Finance have favored certain people, and have fueled corruption in customs offices, say critics.
Eklil Hakimi and Humayun Qayumi are the two close aides to President Ghani who were assigned to lead the Finance Ministry under the National Unity Government. The lawmakers said the decision to appoint these men meant that monitoring of the Ministry of Finance over yhe last year, especially customs, would be restricted.
Late in June, the Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, MEC, in a report assessed the activities of two key directorates of the Ministry of Finance: the customs department and the revenue department.
The watchdog said in its report that government officials, MPs and “warlords” are allegedly interfering in the activities of the two departments.
The report also said that customs officials lack the required capacity to adhere to guidelines of the World Customs Organization to control transit goods and prevent unnecessary delays with imports and exports.
“Were they (Hakimi and Qayoumi) held accountable by the government for billions of dollars they embezzled? When the government is not holding people accountable, it provides the grounds for corruption and gives power to thieves who are robbing (the government’s) treasury and then they leave the country to go abroad,” said Hamidullah Haneef, an MP.
“Monitoring the government activities is one of the key responsibilities of the parliament, but we were restricted--regretfully, our authorities were reduced,” said Malalai Ishaqzai, an MP.
The Finance Ministry’s spokesman Shamroz Khan Masjidi said that based on a cabinet decision six years ago, other institutions should not interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Finance, but they have the right to monitor its activities.
“The direction of the Presidential Palace has been that institutions should not interfere in the Finance Ministry’s Affairs. Interference and monitoring are two separate things,” Masjidi said.
Monitoring organizations said the Afghan government’s efforts to fight corruption have been symbolic and short-term.
“The government lacks a practical and long-term program for reforms in revenue and customs,” said Ikram Afzali, head of Integrity Watch Afghanistan.
This comes as earlier this month Herat governor Waheed Qatali said that 90% of Herat customs income is stolen by mafia groups in the province, who allegedly take tens of millions of afghanis from Herat customs.