By Letuka Chafotsa
MASERU — The Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) held a three-day seminar for members of parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which highlighted the need to empower this critical institution.
The meeting, which began at a local hotel last Saturday and ended on Monday this week, was also attended by, among others, the Auditor-General, Accountant-General and law-enforcement agents.
In his address, the PAC chairperson Moeketse Malebo reminded delegates about the crucial role his committee plays in ensuring the protection of public funds and assets.
“The trust is upon us to examine diligently and without any prejudice, the financial statements and accounts of all government ministries and departments, executive organs of state, courts, authorities and commissions established by the constitution.
“This training is, therefore, intended to deepen and broaden our understanding of the fundamental principles underpinning the work of the PAC,” said Malebo, who is also the SADCOPAC treasurer.
The National Assembly speaker Sephiri Motanyane also shed some light on the importance of the training.
“This workshop will help in strengthening the capacity of the PAC and the office of the Auditor-General and Treasury Department. It will also put MPs in a better position to fight and identify crooked accounts, embezzlement, money-laundering, abuse of power, racketeering and other tenderpreneurial practices,” Motanyane said.
“The SADCOPAC is charged with the responsibility of empowering legislators of member-states to effectively carry out the constitutional mandate of exercising their oversight function over the executive.
“This oversight role includes promoting transparency on public finances, accountability and good governance.”
SADCOPAC chairperson, Sipho Makama, said the regional body was expected to ensure MPs from member-states received the necessary support.
“Our parliament should be independent, transparent, accountable, responsive, beacons of good governance, masters in exercising the executive oversight function, true and genuine representatives of the people,” Makama said.
