The meeting, which examines accounts and statements of government departments and ministries, is due to start Monday 7th May and will run until the 31st, Nehemiah Modubule, chairperson of the committee told journalists yesterday.
Modubule said the committee's meeting will be held in public to enhance the committee's "oversight role and the accountability process and to promote public participation." Having the examinations in public is also expected to enhance transparency in the handling of public funds. Invitations have been extended to media houses, the business community through the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) as well as civil society organisations through the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), Modubule said. He noted that lack of space prevents them from opening the examinations to members of the public. Modubule said the PAC will hold briefing sessions with the offices of the auditor, the accountant and the attorney general prior to the committee's examinations, to discuss issues and findings raised in their reports. "Documents submitted before the committee shall remain for the consumption of the committee members until such a time when the report of the committee is laid before parliament," he said.
