Copperbelt University (CBU) Vice Chancellor Mutale Musonda has urged graduating accountants to desist from any professional misconduct that paints a negative picture of the profession.
Speaking when he officiated at the 2nd graduation ceremony of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) in Lusaka today, Professor Musonda called on the 1550 graduands to be concerned about the persistent media reports of alleged abuse of public funds in government ministries and departments.
He said the Auditor General’s office has consistently reported about the misapplication and misappropriation of public funds.
“I appeal to you to desist from any form of professional misconduct, as I am reliably informed that the Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008 has given more powers to the Disciplinary Committee of ZICA to reprimand erring Accountants,” he said.
Prof Musonda told the graduands that people were expecting to see the change they would bring to the accounting profession and to what extent they would make a difference.
“In life one is not too small to make a difference. May I also add that the process of change begins with one individual and I am challenging each one of you to be that one individual,” he said.
He advised them to endeavor to uphold high professional conduct as they enter the profession, so that they do not disappoint the people who had invested in their professional education by engaging in unprofessional conduct.
Prof Musonda also said the current depressed employment market will provide an opportunity for ZICA to entrench innovation and creativity in its design, packaging and delivery of the Technician, Licentiate and Professional Accountant curricula.
The Vice Chancellor said curriculum, as a tool in the transmission of knowledge and skills in any given area of study, needs to be responsive to the dictates of the labour market.
He said it was the desire of the nation to see ZICA produce job creators in addition to the job seekers.
Prof Musonda further called on the graduands to keep themselves abreast of professional developments as they have the responsibility to give up to date and relevant advise which is also in line with the generally accepted accounting principles to their non-financial employers.
Prof Musonda further challenged them to make use of relevant reading materials so that they apply themselves rigorously in order to guarantee their professional advancement and excellence.
And speaking earlier, ZICA President Chintu Mulendema said there is need for the country to employ qualified accountants to manage public funds in government and other grant aided institutions.
Mr. Mulendema said the Accountant Act of 2009 is clear on the need for employing qualified accountants and the illegality of holding out as an accountant when not registered with the act.
He further commended government on its decision to change the budget cycle. He hoped that the change would now enable departments of government and quasi-government organizations fully utilize the funds for the whole 12 months.
“Failure to spend money for three months each year, demand that such funds should be sent back to the treasury. These are funds which should have been used to implement various government programmes such as infrastructure development”, he said.
ZANIS
how can they do it when they are the principal culprits.no wonder every accountant now is not craving for a job in the private sector but in goverment.because they know the loopholes.they are damn plunderers
akapondo, it’s irresponsible to insinuate that every accountant in government is a thief. accountants just facilitate payments to ensure that other officers in other disciplines can operate efficiently. lets be careful with our comments and not just speak from without. besides i dont think you even have a statistic with you. learn to base your comments on facts not rumours and newspaper reports.
The news has a lot of positive data as regards the way forward after Zambians’ minds were been corrupted terribly in the 10 years between 1991 and 2001has been outlined. I hope the graduands will take the messages seriously while GRZ will do its part following the recommendations.
On “He said it was the desire of the nation to see ZICA produce job creators in addition to the job seekers”, indeed this is a time that Zambians must open smes so that they national GDP stuff can be diversified. Innovation must be at the centre stage of our lives.
Be blessed all.
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Ephesians 6 + KJV Bible
6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2 govt accountant greetings. I liked your “akapondo…. learn to base your comments on facts not rumours and newspaper reports”, unfortunately the character you have advised is hostile to truth and facts, hence his failure to appreciate why computer designers instituted the copy and paste facility in the operating systems.
To this end, I urge you to take note of his/er insults and pray for him to change his/er mentality for s/he is very sick spiritually.
Keep well.
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Ephesians 6 + KJV Bible
6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
#2 Katangalulu kaaluzya matanganyina. Number one is right in expression. One sined the sin spread to all mankind. Maestro as Zam living abroad we relay mostly on news papers and hearsay. Those news are out of control hence the idea by the relevant persons to put it to the knowledge of everyone. >> news paper readers.
5 Kanjimaano greetings. On your “Maestro as Zam living abroad we relay mostly on news papers and hearsay. Those news are out of control hence the idea by the relevant persons to put it to the knowledge of everyone.“, get a links to Zambian Radio stations on w w w. coppernet . z m and also phone home based people regularly including writing them emails. Skype is very cheap for you to call home even on a daily basis. Read Zambia blog news including the POST and w w w. muvitv . c o m.
I thus hope your concern has been addressed.
Be blessed.
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Ephesians 6 + KJV Bible
6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I have no comments today. Blogger’s block
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Maestro Hakucincha… Please be informed that Kanjimaano went deaf in 1978 after suffering from menegitis. Treated at Chikankata mission hospital at the age of 15…
Its good to know that there is a guide for firms to employee qualified accountants in the right positions, but the problem is complince, it should not take someone to steal rather misaappropriate funds to discover that one was not a qualified accountant, the institution (ZICA) should be proactive to ensure that the non-complying firms are brought to book, instead of being reactive after seeing a report in the media that Mr. X was fired for fraud. Secondly the Insititute should take a leading a role in spearheading and assiting upcoming students that they are baked to the right taste. its very dissappointing that the insititute can not assist in lobbying for a student who has finnished ACCA 2, to be transferred to a rihgtful department within his current employer just by means of a letter.
Accountants are known to be the worst financial thieves…..
to help govt stop abuse of public funds?? that’s a million$ question…
I wonder if these guys in GRZ are real Accountants or mere BOOK KEEPERS. They have good qualifications but their conduct leaves much to be desired. They have all been pollutated and needs proper retraining like the case in ZP. GRZ should find a systematic way of cleaning its Accounting System. Even with the intended introduction of Financial Intelligency Unit, it will just make situation worse. I agree with ZICA President Chintu Mulemdema’s concerns and his suggestions needs serious attention. He is a very senior man in Accountancy and knows what he is talking about. The Unit will be filled by the same chaps with long fingers. By the way how does GRZ recruit its Accounting staff?