Auditor General callls for greater transparency, accountability at stakeholders’ meeting

Auditor General, Dickson Sichembe, has called on stakeholders to assist government in protecting public resources by tackling vices leading to loss of funds.

Sichembe called on key stakeholders such as the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZiCA) to work with his office in ensuring that public resources are protected.

He said this during a stakeholder engagement meeting at the Auditor General’s Office in Lusaka on Tuesday.

“Our office will continue to work with ZiCA and other key stakeholders in the fight against mismanagement of resources in public institutions.

“The aim of the engagement meeting was to equip ZiCA with knowledge, which can be used in advancing and advocating for enhanced accountability, transparency and prudence in the management of public resources in the country,” Sichembe said.

He was optimistic that the meeting with ZiCA would give effect to the agreement that the two institutions signed last year where they agreed to engage in knowledge sharing, capacity building among others.

In response, ZICA president Cecilia Zimba reiterated the association’s continued commitment to ensuring that public resources were protected and safe guarded through proper monitoring and prudent management.

Zimba said her institution remained resolute to working with the government through the office of the Auditor General in ensuring that public resources were protected.

“ZiCA will continue to provide professional development programmes and selected in-house training to enhance skills development to its members both in the private and public sector.

“This meeting is a stepping stone to the enhancement of the already existing relationship and paved way for a new page towards fostering the actualisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),” she said.