Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja has called on controlling officers in ministries and government departments to device a mechanism that will ensure an effective implementation and execution of the 2008 national budget in order to enhance economic growth in the country.
And Dr Kanganja has called on controlling officers to take appropriate action including disciplinary measures against supervisors that are certifying shoddy civil works in order to ensure proper utilization of public funds.
Dr Kanganja says effective implementation and execution of the 2008 national budget would play a paramount role in achieving economic growth and help contribute to the wellbeing of the people.
Dr Kanganja said this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Likolo Ndalamei at the workshop for controlling officers on treasury and financial management in Lusaka today.
He said controlling officers should work out modalities aimed at improving the budget execution, treasury and financial management in order to move the country’s economic growth forward.
Dr Kanganja further directed the ministry of finance and national planning to introduce a system of ranking of the performance of Management in Ministries, Provinces and Spending Agencies (MPSAs) in terms of treasury, financial management and budget execution.
He said this would help in identifying controlling officers that are performing poorly so that appropriate remedial action is taken on them.
And Dr Kanganja has called on controlling officers to take appropriate action including disciplinary measures against supervisors that are certifying shoddy civil works in order to ensure proper utilization of public funds.
He said supervisors that would be found to have certified works of poor workmanship would be liable for prosecution and commensurate sanctions.
Dr Kanganja said the government is saddened with the reports it has continued to receive from the public of some companies that are abrogating the provisions of the contracts.
He stated that contractors, consultants and clients found abrogating the provisions of the contracts would be severely dealt with as government is losing huge sums of tax payers money on contractors that are doing shoddy works
Dr expressed concern that many controlling officers and permanent secretaries are not paying attention to the well meaning initiatives such as the Sector Advisory groups (SAGS) which he said are meant to assist MPSAs in budget formulation, execution and monitoring.
At the same function, Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti urged controlling officers to embark on tendering procedures in a bid to enhance the implementation of development programmes.
Mr. Chibiliti has since called on controlling officers to carefully prepare budget execution profiles aligned to procurement plans.
Dont pretend like u do not know abt the clandestine arrangements. Some controlling officers abuse these funds on endless serial travelling and when it comes 2 procurement and tender there is serious fronting.their tuntembas ar the ones encouraging shoddiness with inflated prices..its high time we had a task force that is broad based and private.civil society driven in place 2 monitor the way public funds ar used in ministries. The pac is toothless all oiled with ncc.And tell me isnt a controlling supervisor?they ar the önes 2 be reprimanded and have sanctions imposed.2nd last paragraph what is the man 2alking abt.why not hit the nail on the head.bauze!
#1, Mbeba (4rm the east?), you’re right on point mate! Kanganja shouldn’t just urge these PS’s to implement the budget effectively, he must put in place the appropriate checks and balances to ensure this bloody happens! otherwise, come year end we’ll be singing the same song. Also, what the hell are you doing about controlling officer’s who have been mentioned in the AG’s numerous findings? these are the same buggers you are urging to be “prudent” this time around? pls, bu kabolala tabupwa…