GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS INTERNAL AUDIT STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY
GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS INTERNAL AUDIT STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY
LUSAKA – The Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen internal audit across the Public Service, with the Controller Of Internal Audit, JAMIE MUKUWA, calling for a more rigorous, independent and results-focused profession that protects public resources and helps institutions deliver better services to citizens.
Speaking at the official opening of a five-day Internal Audit Training Programme at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Main Campus in Lusaka, Ms. MUKUWA said weaknesses in internal controls ultimately affect ordinary people through undelivered services, wasted resources, and projects that fail to achieve their intended purpose.
The training, being held under the theme “Driving Value, Managing Risk, and Strengthening Accountability in the Public Service,” forms part of the Government’s wider effort to professionalize the Public Service, and improve the quality of financial management, oversight, and institutional performance.
For the Grow Zambia Agenda, this capability is critical because higher production, investment, job creation and improved public services require strong controls, disciplined use of resources and early identification of risks that could undermine implementation. By strengthening oversight, accountability and value for money, the initiative is intended to help public institutions convert policy commitments and budgetary resources into measurable results for citizens while protecting the integrity of Government programmes.
The Controller of Internal Audit said internal auditors must go beyond producing technically correct reports and become trusted advisers who identify risks that threaten service delivery and value for money, communicate findings clearly and follow through until agreed corrective measures are implemented.
Strong internal audit, Ms. MUKUWA said, was also important to Zambia’s wider development agenda because national targets would ultimately be judged by the credibility of implementation, the quality of oversight and the results delivered to citizens. Internal audit functions should therefore align their work with the Grow Zambia Agenda and give attention to the risks that could undermine the Government’s production, investment, and development objectives.
Ms. MUKUWA further announced that the public service internal auditors would undergo standardized training and certification through NIPA in line with Public Service Management Division Circular No. B4 of 2026. Controlling Officers and Heads of Internal Audit Units are, therefore, expected to provide for the training in their institutional plans and budgets.
About 350 internal auditors are expected to be trained, with the current group of approximately 50 officers forming the first cohort. The standardized approach is intended to ensure that auditors across ministries, provinces, and agencies apply comparable professional standards, quality requirements, and assurance practices.
Speaking at the same function, Public Service Management Division Permanent Secretary LOIS MULUBE said the programme puts into practice the Public Service Competence Development and Certification Strategy, launched on 30th June 2026, which makes structured training and certification, an integral part of public service career development.
Under the strategy, competence development will cover officers entering the Public Service, serving employees, officers preparing for senior management responsibilities and specialized professionals requiring continuous development. Ministries, provinces, agencies and local authorities are expected to budget for training as part of their annual planning processes.
Ms. MULUBE said the Government’s development plans and growth targets depended heavily on the ability of public officers to implement them effectively, making competence development an important bridge between policy commitments and actual delivery. “For specialized functions such as internal audit, continuous training is particularly important because auditors safeguard systems responsible for public resources, institutional controls, and accountability,” she stated.
And Institute of Internal Auditors Zambia President LUBINDA NAMILUKO said strong institutions, sound governance, ethical leadership and effective internal controls were essential to sustaining economic growth and improving public service delivery. He said every Kwacha appropriated by Parliament carried an expectation that it would be used for its intended purpose with economy, efficiency, effectiveness and integrity, placing internal auditors at the center of efforts to strengthen management decisions, and public value.
Mr. NAMILUKO also urged public institutions to strengthen compliance with the Global Internal Audit Standards, including protection of audit independence, adequate resourcing, unrestricted access to information, and stronger oversight by management and audit committees.
The Institute of Internal Auditors of Zambia President said emerging risks such as cybersecurity required greater attention as Government services, payments and records increasingly move onto digital platforms. He pledged the institute’s commitment to continue working with NIPA, the Office of the Controller of Internal Audit, and other stakeholders on training, professional certification, and continuing professional development.
The five-day programme covers leadership, governance, risk management, internal controls, assurance and advisory services, ICT governance and cybersecurity, strengthening the capacity of internal auditors to protect public resources and improve institutional performance.
For the Grow Zambia Agenda, this capability is critical because higher production, investment, job creation and improved public services require strong controls, disciplined use of resources and early identification of risks that could undermine implementation. By strengthening oversight, accountability and value for money, the initiative is intended to help public institutions convert policy commitments and budgetary resources into measurable results for citizens while protecting the integrity of Government programmes.
Issued by:
(Original Signed)
Office of the Secretary to the Treasury
Ministry of Finance and National Planning