Appoint Auditor General quickly, advises ZICA
THE Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA), has appealed to the appointing authority to confirm or appoint the auditor general to enhance public finance management.
ZICA, president, Jason Kazilimani, said the delay in confirmation or appointment of the officer acting as Auditor General is inappropriate as the situation places a negative perception in the mind of the incumbent’s job security and may have harmful effect on long-term decision making.
Mr. Kazilimani said the current Auditor General had been working in an acting capacity for two years now since the retirement of his predecessor in 2015 adding that this state of affairs was not healthy for a strategic office such as the auditor general’s position.
“The failure by the authorities to appoint the auditor general has the potential to impair the independence of that office which is the ingredient in the discharge of its duties.”
“We therefore call upon the appointing authority to address this anomaly and appoint a substantive Auditor General to ensure unfettered operation of that office,” he said.
Mr Kazilimani was speaking during a media briefing on the state of the Zambian economy and the auditor general’s report.
He said while he is cognisant of the fact that the State Audit Commission is supposed to make recommendations to the President on the appointment of the Auditor-General there was need for this to be done soon.
He explained that however, in the absence of the State Audit Commission, it is still possible to address the matter concerning the office of the Auditor General through making an appointment since recommendations were not going through.
Mr. Kazilimani also called for the operationalisation of the State Audit Commission to supervise the National Audit Office. Mr. Kazilimani also said the key to addressing poor public financial management is the existence of an appropriate legislation that not only safeguards public finances through creating a strong control environment, but also punitive measures that will both deter and swiftly punish offending officers.
“The Institute welcomes the process of repeal of the Public Finance Act 2004 to rectify the key gaps in the public financial management. The Public Finance Management Act will provide the new institutional and regulatory framework for management of public funds,” he said.