Appointing Auditor General is of utmost urgency – YALI

President Edgar Lungu has been called upon to exercise his discretion in appointing a suitably qualified person to occupy the vacancy in the Office of the Auditor General with utmost urgency.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) wants President Lungu to ensure that whoever is appointed  as Auditor General such an appointment is ratified in the current sitting of Parliament.

YALI governance advisor Isaac Mwanza says this is order that by the time government begins to implement the 2019 national budget Zambia will have had a substantive Auditor General.

Mr. Mwanza states that the Country needs an Auditor General to hold the government accountable and perfect the system of governance.

He says it is therefore incumbent upon President Lungu to guarantee that as the Country enters the 2019 financial year the Office of the Auditor General will have a substantive office bearer.

And Mr. Mwanza says his organization finds it unfortunate that budgetary allocations to the Education sector in the Country have continued to reduce.

Mr. Mwanza says YALI has taken note that allocations in the 2019 national budget and that of previous budgets have been below 20 percent.

He says his organization is also concerned that the Youth Empowerment Fund has received a smaller allocation in the 2019 budget.

Mr. Mwanza states that YALI however welcomes the K2.8 billion that has gone to Public Order and Safety.

He says his organization expects government to, on the other hand, ensure that human rights are respected as the Police enforces public order.