PAC queried on oversight role
Political analysts have challenged the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to prove its relevance and value by ensuring that all inquiries it makes come to a logical conclusion.
In an interview yesterday, Blantyre-based political analyst Ernest Thindwa said the committee was failing in its duties by not concluding cases.
He argued: “PAC is seemingly satisfied only with compelling controlling officers of erring public institutions to appear before it.
“Unless cases of reported maladministration are efficiently brought to their logical conclusion, one would argue that PAC is primarily motivated by creating the impression among the citizenry of providing oversight functions when the primary incentive is the personal financial gain resulting from frequent meetings.”
Currently, PAC is expected to carry out inquiries into the alleged K30 billion fertiliser deal for Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), fraud at the Accountant General’s office and Malawi Gaming Board, K17. 5 billion Covid-19 funds and money spent on the United Nations General Assembly trip last month, among others.
However, Thindwa wondered how so many reports from the Accountant General were not being acted upon.
“In situations where controlling officers are only invited to appear before PAC and no substantive and consequential results are realised thereafter, public servants will become accustomed to no sanctions after appearance with the taxpayer paying the double price sustaining ineffective PAC meetings while being rendered incapable of restraining erring public servants.
“It’s time citizens held PAC accountable and demand value for money for their endless but result shy meetings,” he said.
On his part, Salima-based analyst George Phiri urged PAC to engage prosecutorial agencies, so that those who defy its recommendations are brought before the courts.
“If what PAC says or recommends is not followed, we need laws that will ensure that people who are not doing what the committee says are taken to book. The legislature is an arm of government, and anyone defying it, is defying the government.
“If any office does not heed the recommendations, it is insubordination, and PAC must ensure that such people are fired,” said Phiri.
Last week, Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara said Parliament has no intention of stopping inquiries by PAC or any parliamentary committee on issues concerning public resources.
She was responding to PAC chairperson Shadreck Namalomba’s allegations that by asking the committee to pend its meetings until a leadership wrangle is settled in court, Parliament is blocking PAC from carrying out investigations into crucial issues concerning public resources.
“Parliament encourages such inquiries and has been carrying out inquiries into issues such as Covid-19 funds, forex and fuel shortage and many others.
“The only reason that PAC meetings were pended is that there is a court case involving the committee and there is a need to wait for the determination of the court,” said Hara.
PAC provides checks for government expenditures to ensure that public resources are accounted for. The committee also has powers to summon government institutions to explain expenditures.
