SADC PACs seek increased funding for effective ove...

SADC PACs seek increased funding for effective oversight

Zim Now Writer

The chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community Organization of Public Accounts and Public Accounts Committees , Warren Mwambazi, has called for increased budgetary support to enable PACs in the region to effectively carry out their oversight functions.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda this week, Mwambazi highlighted that inadequate funding was hindering the ability of PACs to conduct thorough investigations, public hearings, and training.

"A lot of countries are struggling with physical space in terms of provision of funds for colleagues to do the training," Mwambazi said. "We were supposed to have done this training way earlier before coming into the Annual General Meeting and the annual general conference, but due to budgetary constraints, we have compressed some of the activities in the region as well."

Beyond financial constraints, Mwambazi expressed concern over the challenges faced by PACs in implementing their recommendations. He emphasized the need for greater cooperation between legislative and executive arms of government to ensure that public funds are managed responsibly.

"When we sit and do deliberations as public accounts committee, and make recommendations as parliament, then the executive through the office of the secretary to treasury, who is under the ministry of finance are supposed to adhere to those recommendations and follow them to the latter to ensure that there’s prudential management of funds," he said.

The SADC PACs chairperson also highlighted the prevalence of corruption, insider dealings, and self-trading within government entities as major challenges faced by the region. He emphasized the importance of robust oversight mechanisms to address these issues.