Committee wants Auditor General position filled

The Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has asked government to fill the position of Auditor General as a matter of urgency as several functions are suffering in the absence of one.

Speaking yesterday when the Ministry of Agriculture appeared before the committee to update it on progress made in responding to determinations by the Office of the Ombudsman on nine cases relating to the ministry, committee chairperson Peter Dimba observed that the ministry is failing to address some of the issues raised in the determinations because of the absence of Auditor General.

He said the Auditor General is crucial in the government system and the country cannot continue to operate without one.

Said Dimba: “We need to have an Auditor General as soon as possible. Government ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs] are failing to look into issues, including some determinations by the Office of the Ombudsman due to this vacancy. It is not fair for the country to continue operating this way.”

He expressed worry that some of the determinations involve people’s welfare and any delays in resolving issues denied people justice, adding the value of money involved in such determinations also depreciates with time and claimants lose out.

Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Sandram Maweru said the ministry has concluded seven of the nine cases that the Ombudsman had made determinations on.

He said the ministry is yet to make payments for two of the cases because it cannot trace one complainant while for the other, it is waiting for the office of the Auditor General to provide a certificate to make payment.

However, he could not comment on the impact of the absence of the Auditor General on operations of the ministry.

The Auditor General’s position fell vacant in 2018 after government did not renew the contract of Stephenson Kamphasa. Since then, the position has been managed on an acting basis.

The President appoints the Auditor General in accordance with the Constitution of Malawi Section 184 (3) which states that appointment to the Office of Auditor General shall be made by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly.

However, the Public Appointments Committee may at any time inquire as to the competence of the person so appointed to perform the duties of that office and as to the financial probity of the appointed person.

The office also performs the role of adviser to Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee on issues relating to financial and economic governance.