Botswana losing skilled auditors to other markets

Lindiwe Mozola | Wednesday May 27, 2015 15:16

Speaking to Mmegi Business at an event held recently to commemorate internal audit awareness month, Kabomo said that there already very few qualified auditors in Botswana yet the profession is still not and not well paying as it is supposed to be.

'Internal audit is a management tool used to avoid wastage in the company and also closes loopholes on corruption therefore our services are worthy of recognition,' she said. 

Kabomo however noted that many organisations in Botswana do not want to use them, as there is a myth that perceives auditors as watchdogs that want to expose employees. She said that auditors are usually tasked with handling many transactions in an organisation but this is wrong as they are bound to make mistakes since they are overwhelmed. 

“This is where an internal auditor has to intervene to close those loopholes and we make sure that internal controls are in place and that they are adequate and effective which goes a long way in ensuring that objectives of the organisation are met as well as making some improvements,' she said. 

Kabomo said that they had decided to hold the event in Francistown for the first time as previously their activities were centred in Gaborone. 

Speaking at the event as guest speaker, city mayor Sylvia Muzila, urged the corporate community to engage internal auditors. 

“It is high time internal auditors emerge from the back office and this can be brought to reality only if senior management and boards of directors embrace evolving role of internal audit. I call upon my colleagues in the corporate world to become the enablers for a new internal audit experience,' she said.