XXIV INCOSAI OPENS

Over 145 countries and 30 representative institutions have gathered in Rio de Janeiro to discuss and forge ways for the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) comunity to which Zambia is a part.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has called on Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the world to help address the challenges world governments are facing by ensuring there is transparency and accountability through their public Audits.

Speaking during the official opening Mr. Guterres said with challenges such as climate change and COVID-19 having hit millions into poverty, governments were in a dilemma whether to service their debt or remove their people from poverty.

He said given the above challenges SAIs are important in ensuring that governments are spending on the right things.

This, he said would build public trust and confidence in the leadership of the respective countries which was the bedrock of a resilient social contract between the government and the people.

He expressed satisfaction that SAIs were incorporating the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their audit work adding that this would help eradicate poverty and thus leave no one behind as the nations attain the SDGs.

And speaking earlier, President of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts Minister Bruno Dantas reiterated the need to share lessons learnt in cooperative action.

He noted that some of the cooperative actions were SAIs responding to emergency situations such as the COVID 19 pandemic.

He called on the INTOSAI community to leverage on technology and international cooperation to counter some of the diverse peculiarities of the community.

Mr. Dantas said the rich and impact of a global voice will only be realised by finding effective solutions for the common problems .

He however bemoaned that SAI independence in the world was reducing due to lack of financial autonomy.

And INTOSAI Secretary General Ms. Margaret Cracker who is also Auditor General of Austria underscored the need for external government audit to ensure sustainability of public finance.

The themes in this year’s Congress are: “The work of Supreme Audit Institutions in the context of public calamity” and “Global voice, global outcome, far reaching impact”.

Zambia is represented by the Deputy Auditor General in charge of Corporate Services Division Mrs. Clare Mazimba and three senior officers.

ENDS

Issued by Ellen Chikale

Head of Public Relations

Office of Auditor General