22 Apr 2026

The adoption of the 61^st Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Meeting Report for the 2021-2022 financial year serves as a critical roadmap for strengthening financial accountability, enhancing public service delivery, and ensuring transparency in government spending. 

Parliament adopted the PAC report following a debate by Members of Parliament, the majority of whom called for the capacitation of the committee to carry out its mandate effectively. 

Earlier, while debating the report before its approval, Member of Parliament for Lobatse and PAC member, Mr Kamal Jacobs, noted that after evaluating audited accounts and cross-examining accounting officers, the PAC provided recommendations to guide ministries on improving performance and correcting irregularities. 

He emphasised that such recommendations provided a clear roadmap that must be acted upon with urgency to achieve equitable development. 

“We must appreciate the PAC authority to enforce its resolutions and also must ensure that such resolutions are implemented for the betterment of the citizenry,” Mr Jacobs said. 

He stated that the PAC findings underscored the need to improve project planning, monitoring and accountability. 

He added that public funds allocated for development must translate into tangible outcomes, including the timely completion of projects within the stipulated scope and value for money. He further argued that development was inseparable from strong legal and governance frameworks. 

Consequently, he indicated the necessity of reforming the legal framework, including strengthening enforcement of the Public Finance Management Act and procurement legislation to minimise fraudulent acts. 

Mr Jacobs stated that empowering oversight institutions and ensuring accountability regarding public resources was a key component in maintaining the relevance of the PAC and guarding against wastage. 

“Institutions reforms and effective oversights are important to strengthen complacence and prudence usage of public funds,” he said.

He noted that a strengthened legal environment must be in place to capacitate parliamentary oversight organs, like the PAC, to take legal action against inefficiency. 

Similarly, PAC member and Kanye West MP, Mr Victor Phologolo, pointed out that the adoption of the report was essential in affirming Parliament’s oversight role and sending a clear message that public funds must be used responsibly.

 Mr Phologolo indicated that the 61^st PAC report highlighted deficiencies in audits and recommended concrete actions to improve government performance, particularly in managing development projects. 

He revealed several alarming financial discrepancies, including more than P1 billion in unsupported payments that could not be reconciled and an inability to recover government debt amounting to P200 million due to weak recovery mechanisms.

Furthermore, he said severe cost overruns were discovered across most government development projects and court-ordered staff settlements amounting to over P800 million were putting pressure on the national fiscal while negatively affecting service delivery.

 Mr Phologolo noted that the committee found some government assets and investments, including equity participations, were not properly reflected in national books, thereby weakening transparency and fiscal reporting. 

“These challenges run across most government ministries. The committee, therefore, calls for stronger internal controls, timely recovery of public funds and proper recording of all assets and liabilities,” he said.

He highlighted that to ensure long-term accountability, state institutions must follow up on the serious revelations to ensure that public resources were used efficiently and effectively. ENDS