PAC to have public hearings starting 2012

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday November 30, 2011 00:00

Goya told a press briefing at Parliamentary Buildings that this is part of the committee's action plan following their participation in the just-ended eighth annual conference and annual general meeting of Southern African Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC).

The SADCOPAC conference was held at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe between November 14-18. The decision to conduct committee hearings in public also comes after an amendment of parliamentary Standing Orders and is also expected to enhance transparency in the handling of public expenditure and funds. 

The amended Standing Orders also stipulate that the chairperson of the committee should be from an opposition party to enhance transparency and accountability.

The Standing Orders were amended after the current chairperson's election, but he did not disclose whether he was going to step down before the expiry of his term next year. He is a member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). He assumed the chairperson position early this year.

Part of the committee's action plan includes conducting performance audit examinations which will also take place with effect from next year and the examination of local authorities' accounts.

'We appropriate funds to the Ministry of Local Government, which then passes the money to local authorities. But we never know how much was used and for what and this examination of local authorities' expenses will help,' Goya said.

The legislator said SADCOPAC has also resolved that member states should review their public participation strategies to ensure the engagement of the public and the media in PAC work.  It was also decided that PACs' should strengthen partnerships and relations with other oversight institutions in order to strengthen their oversight and accountability work.

Member states also agreed that PACs' should press for the provision of legal sanctions in their country statutes so that action can be taken against accounting officers and members of the government who fail to implement house resolutions recommended by the PAC.

SADCOPAC also elected in a new executive committee.  Member states elected South Africa as their new chairperson, Namibia as deputy chairperson, Zimbabwe as secretary general and Botswana as deputy secretary general and Lesotho as treasurer.