From the 7th to the 14th of September 2024, the 16th Annual Conference and 20th Annual General Meeting of the Southern African Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Leading the Seychelles delegation was Hon. Sandy Arissol, accompanied by Hon. Georges Romain, and Second Secretary of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) Ms. Shannon Surman.
The delegation attended the Official Opening of the conference in which a keynote address by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe Hon. J.F.N Mudenda underscored the theme of the event, “Enhancing Regional Prosperity through Parliamentary Oversight, Prudent Financial Management and Accountability”. One of the key messages Hon. Mudenda made wasthat PACs are the heart and soul of financial accountability in the management of the public purse. The Opening also included six breakout group sessions where the delegates, designated secretaries, and rapporteurs were asked to focus on a given theme and develop five key resolutions. Hon. Arissol chaired the fifth breakout session under the theme “The Role of Public Sector Accountants and Auditors in Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the Use of Public Resources”.
Presentations were made from delegates from Tanzania and Eswatini which emphasises on the pivotal role that public sector accountants and audits play in promoting accountability, maintaining accurate financial records, and ensuring overall financial integrity. On Wednesday 11th September, the Chairpersons of the six breakout groups presented their resolutions to the plenary where there were further discussions. Hon. Arissol presented the resolutions made from the fifth breakout session, all of which were adopted. The Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 12th September, where the Governing Council of the SADCOPAC revised the documents of previous meetings and selected countries presented their progress on certain resolutions.
The elections of the new Governing Council of SADCOPAC then followed, with Seychelles successfully securing the position of Deputy Treasurer. Other positions secured by other countries were Zambia as re-elected Chairperson of the Governing Council, South Africa as Vice Chairperson, Eswatini as the Secretary General, Lesotho as the Deputy Secretary General, and Malawi as Treasurer. This Council is responsible for ensuring that decisions taken are implemented and providing oversight over the operational activities of the SADCOPAC Secretariat.
