Auditor General (AG) Junias Kandjeke has prioritised the inspection of assets at all 37 Namibian diplomatic missions abroad.
This came to light recently when Presidential Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi motivated the N$84.5 million budget allocation to the office of the auditor general.
It came hot on the heels of International Relations and Cooperation Minister, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, requesting Treasury to release nearly N$900 million for among others, renovation and acquiring of offices and residences for Namibian ambassadors and high commissioners abroad.
Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated that since independence, a total of 49 properties for use by diplomatic missions were acquired and of these, three are currently under development and construction – which are those at Addis Ababa, Ondjiva and Pretoria.
She also announced that the opening of a diplomatic mission in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria will bring the number of diplomatic missions to 34, including three consulates.
When he motivated the auditor general’s budget, Kapofi further stressed that Kandjeke’s office has set itself a number of targets, among which is the inspection of assets at foreign missions.
Furthermore, Kapofi indicated that the AG intends to finalise 167 audit reports, which include 32 government reports, 125 regional and local authority and statutory body audit reports and 10 specialized audit reports.
The auditor general is also expected to conduct 90 asset inspections at various public institutions around the country to ensure that relevant controls are in place to safeguard government assets.
Kapofi said that in order to improve the quality of its processes, the AG’s office plans to enhance compliance with the International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions.
It is also envisaged that during the current financial year, operational and functional independence of the auditor general will be strengthened in line with international best practices, which have been endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly and International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions.
It is believed that to do that, the auditor general will be guided by provisions of the constitution and other legal frameworks in Namibia.
Also, during the current financial year three performance audit reports, two follow-up performance audit reports, three environmental audit reports and two other special audit reports are on the cards.
Kapofi informed the House that environmental and forensic audits are new types of audits that have been introduced by Kandjeke and will therefore require extensive training of staff members for them to acquire the necessary technical skills.