Melo News | Thursday, July 18, 2024 | Lusaka
The Attorney General of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Mulilo Kabesha SC, emphasized the crucial role of his office in overseeing public contracts and agreements to ensure that the terms and conditions are satisfactory.
During his appearance before the select committee, he outlined several key points, including the necessity of having available funds for approving contracts and agreements, which falls under the purview of the Treasury.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of advising Ministries, Provinces, and Agencies (MPAs) on the terms and conditions of contracts and agreements, as well as the need for a contract manager to ensure compliance.
Regulation 213 of the Public Procurement Regulations of 2022 was also mentioned, which provides for the selection of a project manager. Furthermore, the Attorney General stressed the importance of conducting due diligence before committing government funds and the avoidance of compound interest on charges.
The committee members expressed their concerns about various issues, including the government paying substantial sums in interest, and in some cases, compound interest.
They also raised the issue of collusion by public workers to defraud the government, as well as poor management of contracts, among other matters.
The Acting Auditor General, Dr. Ron Mwambwa, released a report uncovering significant financial discrepancies and irregularities, particularly in the audit of external public debt.
The extended audit period was necessary to establish an accurate position of the national external debt and to analyze borrowing patterns over the years, given the conflicting figures.
