Auditor General Dr. Dick Chellah Sichembe has called for transparency, accountability and prudent utilisation of public resources if the country is to attain meaningful development.
Dr. Sichembe says his office will work tirelessly to ensure that public resources are protected and used for the intended purposein 2023.
The Auditor General said the economy can only grow once public resources are safeguarded from misuse and misdirection.
He said this during the closing of a 5 days Annual Planning Meeting for the year 2023 for his office at Legacy Resort Conference Center.
Dr. Sichembe said prudent management of public resources was cardinal to economic growth of the country, as such it was imperative that those entrusted to superintend over public resources do so with a great sense of care knowing that they are serving the many Zambians out there.
He further pointed out that going forward the narrative that his office was there to embarrass people must change as the office was there to ensure that people entrusted with public resources are not abusing them and Zambians wellbeing was improved.
The Auditor General stressed that through the 2023 audit plans, the Office will demonstrate the its ongoing relevance by ensuring resources are used for the intended purpose thereby improving the lives of the citizens which is in line with the INTOSAI principle 12, which is the value and benefit of the Supreme Audit Institution.
The Office plans using the risk matrix where institutions to be audited are profiled according to their risk profile namely high, medium and low risk among others.
Meanwhile, the Auditor General has urged his staff to work extra hard in 2023 and continue to strive for excellence, quality and professionalism in the discharge of their duties as emphasised it its annual planning theme. Dr. Sichembe said there can be no quality audits without excellence and professionalism as these were the hallmark of public sector auditing.
In 2022, the Office scored a number of successes among them timely production of the report of the Auditor General on the Account of the Republic for the financial year 31st December 2021which is currently being deliberated by the Public Accounts Committee.
Issued by: Ellen Chikale
Head Public Relations
Office of the Auditor General
11th December 2022
