AG claims ignorance on Auditor General's contract
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday June 6, 2017 17:22
This came to light when specially elected Member of Parliament (MP), Mephato Reatile raised a concern that the current Auditor General was hired on contract instead of on permanent basis, as the law states.
“I have observed that the Auditor General was hired on contract. Is this through your advice or what? The constitution is preaching the independence of that office. Why is it that the current Auditor General is working on contract?” Reatile enquired.
Chamme conceded that the Auditor General should be hired on a permanent basis until retirement. He averred that there might have been an advice from the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) for the Auditor General to be hired on contract, but he pleaded with the committee to inform himself first on what could have transpired.
“I do not know why she is currently on contract because it is against the Constitution. I think this should be looked into because it is not what is required,” Chamme said.
Meanwhile, Chamme disclosed that his office is faced with staff shortages, as it cannot attract experienced personnel.
Reatile had wanted to know the number of expatriates employed by AGC and the reason why the organisation is failing to employ locals.
“Why do you continue to allow expatriates to practice here even when the job market is saturated? This seriously concerns us because we have graduates who are well-trained, but unemployed,” Reatile said.
Chamme said they have about four expatriates who are all at E2 scale that required a minimum of 10 years experience.
“We are struggling to find this experience amongst the locals, hence failing to recruit them. Lawyers in the market do not see our posts lucrative enough and currently we have five open posts that we are struggling to fill,” Chamme said.
Chamme stated that there was the Legal Practitioners Act that countries usually have, which allows citizens to seek job opportunities across those countries.
Specially elected MP Bogolo Kenewendo wanted to know if the number of the drafters at AGC was well-capacitated for the various work from Government because of concerns that they took long to respond to their needs.
“In 2014, Parliament sent approvals to your office and in three years time, we have not received a response from you. What could be the delay because you seem to be having a problem of lack of dealing with reforms?” Kenewendo enquired.
Chamme said they have 22 drafters and about 15 of them are senior drafters with masters degree qualifications and regularly send staff for short-term training.
He said though the number is not enough they are coping and could do more with extra hands. “Our turn-around is a few months and promise to work on it for better service delivery,” Chamme said.