(TIMES) ‘Check recurrence of financial irregularities’
‘Check recurrence of financial irregularities’By James Muyanwa
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has directed controlling officers to check the recurrence of financial irregularities as reported by the auditor-general.
He said in Kasama yesterday that controlling officers should take corrective measures and ensure that culprits were dealt with accordingly.
Mr Banda said this when he officiated at the opening of the Kasama provincial audit office building, which has been constructed at a cost of K2.6 billion.
“It is not good that year in year out the same issues are brought out in the reports of the auditor-general. I, therefore, wish to advise controlling officers to take note of the irregularities reported in the auditor general’s report.
“Make sure that corrective measures are taken.Those who will be found wanting will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
He said he was determined to ensure that corruption was wiped out of Government institutions and called on all parastatal chiefs, commissions, and other institutions that either received public funds or Government grants to be prompt in preparing their financial statements.
Mr Banda said the Government had put laws and systems to strengthen institutions and prevent corruption and other related vices.
“Our political will to improve the governance of this country and the implementation of various reforms has necessitated the work of the office of the auditor general to be acknowledged by the international community,” he said.
The president assured the office o the auditor general and other public institutions tasked with the fight against corruption of the Government’s support.
“We have to make sure that corruption in our Government institutions is wiped out. I can assure you of my support when it comes to curbing the abuse of public resources,” he said.
Earlier, Finance Permanent Secretary, Wamundila Mbikusita-Lewanika said that the Government, with help of cooperating partners, had undertaken the project to open up provincial audit offices.
Dr Lewanika said the opening of the audit offices in provincial centres was being implemented under the overall public expenditure management and financial accountability reforms (PEMFAR).
Apart from Kasama, other offices have been opened in Mansa, Solwezi, Mongu and Chipata.
Speaking during the same occasion, Auditor General, Anna Chifungula paid tribute to the Government for its support towards the office, which resulted in it scoring various successes within and outside the country.
She said because of the Government support, the department had greatly improved on its staffing levels but bemoaned the brain-drain among the officers indicating that there were still several vacancies as a result.
And speaking on behalf of the cooperating partners, acting Norwegian ambassador to Zambia, Gunnar Boe said that prudent and efficient management of public resources was a prerequisite for fostering sustainable development.
Mr Boe said that the office of the auditor-general, played a cardinal role in national development, hence the donor community’s support towards the office in Zambia.
“Norway has had, through our embassy in Lusaka, a 10 year active cooperation with the office which the Netherlands has joined with substantial funding, he said.
And Kasama Diocese Archbishop, James Spaita said there was need for Zambia to ensure national security in case of years of drought and other adverse climatic conditions.
Archbishop Spaita said this when President Banda presented a tractor to him as a donation from the Government.
The tractor is one of the eight which were given to Zambia by the Libyan government recently.
Labels: AUDITING, AUDITOR GENERAL, RUPIAH BANDA
posted by MrK @ 11:09 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home