Parliament has passed the Public Audit (Amendment) Bill which will allow the government to hire new Auditor General (AG). 

According to Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe, the Bill seeks to amend the Public Audit Act in order to make better provision for qualifications for appointment to the office of Auditor General.

Gwengwe added that the amendment of section 5 of the Public Audit Act is to align qualifications for appointment to the office of Auditor General with similar and related offices.

He said: “We have tightened the qualifications in one way, but we have relaxed the need for a practicing certificate just to make sure that we move, because five years is a very long period of time for a country to go without a substantive Auditor General.”

Commenting on the Bill the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) through spokesperson Shadric Namalomba has advised government to appoint an Auditor General who is apolitical.

“I spoke against politicising the position of the Auditor General, what we have observed in the period that we have had the Tonse Alliance-led government, a number of public appointments are politicised,” said Namalomba.

Meanwhile, legislator for Chikwawa North Owen Chomanika has commended government for extending the opportunity to interested auditors with required experience and qualifications to vie for the post.

“The Bill is about extending the net wider, and the position taken by government is quite proper because they are now opening up, and it’s a better position,” said Chomanika.

According to the passed Bill, a person shall be eligible for appointment as Auditor General if that person—has at least fifteen years post qualification auditing experience, five of which are at senior management level and possesses a minimum qualification of a master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or any relevant field, among other requirements.