Staff reporter
A call has been made for regional Public Accounts Committees and Auditor Generals to maintain their integrity by performing a robust oversight role on public entities use of public funds.
During the official opening of SADC Public Accounts Committees and Auditor Generals, yesterday in Harare, Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda urged members to uphold the integrity of their institutions, which are the cornerstone of democratic oversight.
"Transparency and integrity are virtues as we continue to execute the calls for democracy. Checks and balances regarding the accountability for the use of public resources rest primarily on the shoulders of the public accounts committees, rightly supported by the Auditor General," Advocate Mudenda stated.
Advocate Mudenda highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, emphasizing that the oversight role of other select committees should complement the efforts of the public accounts committees and Auditor General to ensure prudent stewardship of public resources.
"Our institutions must subscribe to the constitutional provisions of striving to empower members of each member state to effectively carry out their oversight functions over public sector finance and promote good governance. Prominent personalities and public figures worldwide have accentuated the vital role of public accounts committees in maintaining the dignity of government public finances and promoting good governance,” said Advocate Mudenda.
Additionally, Advocate Mudenda also underscored the significance of monitoring climate-related financing. "As members of Public Accounts Committees, you have a solemn responsibility to ensure that governments’ financial policy decisions and resource allocations reflect a commitment to environmental sustainability in the context of the Nationally Determined Contributions, whose goal is to ensure that world temperature stays below 1.5⁰C as outlined in the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
“It is no longer sufficient to merely scrutinize national balance sheets and expenditure reports. You must broaden your scope and delve into the effectiveness of government policies and environmental laws geared to mitigate negative climate change impacts," Advocate Mudenda added.
SADCOPAC chairperson, Honourable Warren Mwambazi highlighted the importance of these engagements expressing their commitment to fostering regional integration and promoting transparency in governance.
"Transparency and good governance are key aspects of our engagements. Our aim is to explore ways to enhance cooperation, improve tax policing, trade partnerships, public finance management, and public awareness. Transparency is the foundation of public trust, hence it is critical to uphold high standards."
Furthermore, Public accounts committee chairperson, Honourable Charlton Hwende, emphasized the value of peer learning and regional collaboration.
"This workshop comes at a time when we have new members who need guidance on effectively executing our roles. Enhancing our knowledge and improving our oversight functions are crucial to ensuring we effectively manage public sector resources," Hwende said.
Public accounts committees are mandated to oversee all revenue and expenditure by government bodies, commissions, institutions, and agencies at every level to ensure accountability.
The discussions at the workshop aimed to strengthen the committees' ability to perform their roles and enhance their impact on promoting good governance and transparency in the region.
