BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE- The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has reaffirmed its commitment to leading by example in upholding the highest quality management and compliance standards, which are mandatory across all public institutions.
Auditor General Timothy Matsebula made the remarks at the close of a five-day Quality Management training for reviewers and team leaders from the OAG, held at the UN House in Mbabane on Friday, 30 January. He stressed that maintaining public and parliamentary trust hinges on the consistent delivery of high-quality audits.
Matsebula said the OAG plays a critical role in enhancing service delivery by ensuring that public resources are properly accounted for, thereby strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of the executive arm of government.
He further highlighted that the OAG is an integral pillar of the rule of law ecosystem, working alongside Parliament and the Judiciary, to which it submits its reports to promote transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
“The credibility of our work depends on quality. High standards in auditing are essential for safeguarding public resources and reinforcing trust in public institutions,” he said.
The week-long training, which ran from Monday to Friday, aimed to strengthen transparency, accountability and good governance through improved audit quality. It focused on enhancing institutional capacity within the OAG and aligning its practices with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs).
The programme brought together 40 reviewers and team leaders from across Eswatini’s four regions and was facilitated by the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E). It was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Strengthening the Rule of Law Project.
Speaking at the same event, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms Nessie Golakai-Gould said the workshop went beyond compliance with quality management systems or international standards. She noted that it was designed to foster a culture in which quality becomes an everyday practice within the institution.
“Strong systems lead to better audits, improved governance and, ultimately, more effective service delivery for the people of Eswatini,” she said.
The training marks another step in the OAG’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial oversight and reinforce good governance in line with national development priorities.
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