Summary of Resolutions & Best Practice Guide By Hon. Kagiso Molatlhegi, MP. BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE1

It is my pleasure to present on progress made by Botswana Public Accounts Committee on the recommendations made in the Good Practice Guide for Public Accounts Committees in the SADC region. BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE2

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Representation of political parties Balanced representation of major parties in parliament (RP=majority) The committee is constituted to reflect the balance of political parties represented in the Assembly. Size 6 – 15; factors to consider:  PAC’s mandate & responsibilities  No of AG’s reports considered per year  Size of Parliament  Advantages & disadvantages of small & large committees Consists of ten (10) Members. BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 3

Practices Recommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Establishment PACs instituted via country’s constitution, SOP or AOP − PAC is established by the Botswana National Assembly Standing Oder 105 which stipulates its powers and operational duties. Mandate & responsibilities legislated, stated in a clear and detailed manner. − Narrow (ex-post scrutiny) − Broad (inc. Ex-ante scrutiny) − There is a common understanding of mandate and responsibilities – Training and conferences are done. BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 4

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Term of office of members Appointed for the full term of Parliament − Experience & continuity − Nature of PAC’s work − Return on capacity building investment − Appointed for the life of Parliament. Term of office of Chairperson Appointed for the full term of Parliament − Appointed for the life of Parliament. BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 5

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) SADCOPAC Member PACs (Current Status) Political affiliation From the Opposition − Chairperson (Opposition) − Opposition(40%); − Ruling Party (60%) Skills & competency criteria Senior Opposition member Also consider the following: − Strong leadership skills & knowledge of PACs work − Ability to articulate & enforce non-partisan objective of PAC − Strong leadership skills & knowledge of PACs work − Able to articulate & enforce non-partisan objective of PAC BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 6

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Powers − PACs to have appropriate powers − Good understanding by all members of how powers should be applied − Hold govt accountable − Summon witnesses − Investigate past, current & committed expenditures − Initiate own enquiries − Choose own subjects of examination − Meet outside Parliaments’ sessions − Request govt to table comprehensive response BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 7

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PACs (Current Status) Non partisan culture Committee always operates in a non partisan manner Yes Term Committee appointed for the life of Parliament Yes PAC Reports Draft reports thoroughly debated within PAC before finalisation Yes Tabled in parliament before made available to any minister Yes Available to the public & mediaYes Unanimous; if not should reflect minority opinion Yes BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 8

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Meetings Sufficient and regular meetings scheduled and held Yes Meetings open to the public & mediaBriefings and workshops. Minutes kept for reference purposes when following up Yes Hearings Clear objectives & work plan for hearingsYes Open to the public & mediaYes Primary witness should be an Accounting Officer Yes Verbatim transcripts are kept & available to the public to the media and public For Members only Hearing are recordedYes BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 9

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Performance measurement PACs should assess their performanceYes Performance measurement framework essential (goals, objectives, inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes performance indicators). Some recommended indicators − No of AG reports considered/year − Time lapsed between tabling of AG’s reports & hearings − No of hearings/year − Recommendations accepted − Recommendations implemented − Action taken against officials who contravene financial admin policies & laws Committee makes recommendations to Parliament and relies on the Executive to implement - The Assurances Committee makes follow ups BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 10

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Relationship with Auditor Generals Good working relationship with AGs to be maintained Yes AGs should sufficiently brief PACs on the key audit findings (particularly areas identified as requiring corrective action) prior to public hearings Yes AGs to attend all public hearings as an Expert Witness Yes Independence of AGs to be assured to enable objectivity in setting audit priorities and reporting audit findings Yes BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 11

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Budget Own adequate budget Yes, but not adequate to fund all activities hence the Committee has to prioritise Support staff Skilled & qualified Clerk/s & Researcher/s − Total of 8 staff − Finance Advisor 1 − Committee Secretaries 5 − Researchers 2 − Legal 1 Working facilities Dedicated adequate & appropriate working space Yes BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 12

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Planning − Adoption of strategic planning approach to PAC’s medium to long term planning − Yes, included in the Operational Guidelines. Guidelines & procedures − Documented guidelines & procedures for increased effectiveness & consistency o Reviewing audit reports o Planning and conducting meetings & hearings o Developing PAC’s reports o Following up on PACs recommendations o Assessing PAC’s performance − Yes BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 13

PRACTICESRecommended Benchmarks (International good practices) Botswana PAC (Current Status) Follow -up − Documented structured follow up procedure − Periodic status reports to monitor implementation of PAC recommendations − Yes, but done once a year during examinations BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 14

BOTSWANA PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 15 No. of Reports % 1 No. of Hearings % 1 No. of Reports % 1 No of AG’s Reports considered per year No of Public Hearing held per year No of PAC Reports produced per year

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