Visiting Norwegian Auditor General, Jorgen Kosmo has called for the total independence of the office of the Auditor General in Zambia.
Mr Kosmo says the Auditor General’s office should be independent and free from any political or economic interference in order to carry out public account audits effectively.
He was speaking when his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) in Lusaka today;
Mr Kosmo further said that the role of parliamentarians is key in ensuring that the Auditor General’s is free from interference.
He also said the Auditor General’s office in Zambia which is one of the most developed in the sub-Saharan region should be given enough budgetary support by government.
Mr Kosmo however stated that although government should sufficiently support the Auditor General’s office, it should be allowed to operate independently in order to come up with transparent Public Accounts reports.
He said investment in the Auditor General’s office is cardinal for the creation of good governance, accountability and eradication of corruption in the public service.
Mr Kosmo however expressed happiness with capacity building and infrastructure development at the office of the auditor general office.
Mr Kosmo said that the development is a testimony that the financial and material assistance it receives from Norway and other cooperating partners is being utilised for the intended purposes.
Speaking earlier, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Charles Milupi commended Norway for assisting the Auditor General’s office to restructure and better the execution of its set mandate.
Mr Milupi, who is an independent Member of Parliament for Luena Constituency, noted that the support enabled the Auditor General’s office to train its staff adding that public accounts reports produced have been factual and fearless.
He also disclosed that his committee has submitted draft proposals to the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to seek enhancement of the independence of the Auditor General’s office.
The AG has done a recommendable job with limited resources. They need to recruit and maintain adequate resources to fully cover the high risk exposures of government irrresponsible spending. I wish they get tools such as audit software for analysis of large volumes of transactions for them to be effecive. If the function becomes professional, some of us may even consider returning and helping out Zambia’s fight to reduce corruption and careless spending of our resources by ‘POLITICIANS’
The AG and her staff must be recommended for the good work they are doing under a very difficult political situation. What I find puzzling is how the international community seem to be more supportive of these good works than us Zambians. Just look at the reaction of those who are queried in the auditing process. We must stop this tendency of portraying that concerns such as accountability and transparency are alien to us! It is our national responsibility to safeguard these resources!