Workshop on Capacity Enhancement for Members of the Public Accounts Committee has opened.Today marks an important milestone in the journey towards strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in Zambia.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has gathered for a capacity enhancement workshop on the Report of the Auditor General for the financial year ended 31st December 2023 at Protea Hotel.
The report is a cornerstone in assessing how effectively public resources are being managed and the session is designed to equip PAC members with the necessary skills to review, understand, and act upon the findings.
The Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office, Mr. Fitzgerald Kateshi, the Deputy Clerk for Procedure Mr. Stephen Kawimbe and Vice Chairperson for PAC Ms. Jacqueline Sabao on behalf of the PAC Chairperson Mr. Warren Mwambazi gave remarks at the official opening of the workshop.
The following are the key highlights:
The workshop is an opportunity to enhance the MPs’ understanding of the Auditor General’s report and to ensure that their scrutiny of public spending aligns with the highest standards of accountability. This is a pivotal moment for the work of Parliament and for the future of national governance. The importance of the Public Accounts Committee’s role in ensuring that taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently and effectively, and how the Auditor General’s report is a critical tool in guiding the committee’s oversight responsibilities.The report the committee will be reviewing in the coming days is not just a collection of numbers, but it is a mirror reflecting the strengths and weaknesses of the county’s public financial management.The need to ensure that recommendations from the Auditor General are taken seriously by the relevant ministries, Provinces and Agencies.The Auditor General’s report is a key tool in holding government accountable to the people.Proactiveness in implementing auditrecommendiations.Public Accounts Committee stands renewed with purpose, ready to engage with the Auditor General’s report in a deeper, more meaningful way.MPs are no longer just legislators; they are the stewards of Zambia’s public funds, entrusted with a crucial responsibility to safeguard the nation’s resources for the benefit of all its citizens.The workshop continues tomorrow.