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Opinion
Beware, here comes PAC
Talk of town has been about the new Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the heavy-handedness with which they have been handling public officials appearing before this body.
The new Accounts committee has been grilling officials as it seeks to unearth some irregularities mentioned in the 2009/2010 Auditor General’s report where close to Rwf 9.7 billion is not properly accounted for.
In our Parliamentary democracy, PAC is a new concept. But the momentum and openness with which it started its business, is simply a shocker many. The grilling is tough and presents a hair-raising moment simply because the style and tone of interrogation is something most officials are not accustomed to.
It took many by surprise and left those in queue wishing for the ‘cup of suffering’ to be postponed or completely done away with.
And yet though PAC’s work method might be new, its contribution to the existing measures of fighting corruption cannot be underrated. It comes to tighten up the loose knots and adds value to the existing measures.
Often a time, the public is left unaware of what proceeds Auditor General’s report soon after its first reading on the floor of parliament. The little we get to know is a few news bites or office corridor rumours of the Chief Prosecutor summoning or interrogating certain individuals. We do not get to know the nitty-gritty of the underlying issues and the gravity of some crimes.
What PAC brings on board as a new thing, is the candidness or openness in probing further some issues contained in the AG’s report. It gives the public a rare opportunity of knowing what kind of mistakes committed and kills the rumour spin that normally makes rounds whenever a top official is apprehended or suspended on issues related to accountability.
But it also provides a learning platform for public officials who, upon seeing their colleges on TV screens sweating with explanations, will be more cautious on certain issues that might otherwise have been taken lightly. This is simply because Rwandans are naturally conscious of public ridicule because of the culture values rooted in ‘ubunyangamugayo’ and fear for ‘umugayo’ or humiliation. The end result will be a cleaner Audit report.
PAC has also brought a new dimension in as far as showing how far this committee is willing to stretch to dig out the truth on a matter of interest. The interrogation is not only limited to Chief Budget Manager but could even involve an office tea girl or office messenger if the case touches that individual. Therefore, the element of collective responsibility in public financial management is emphasized more.
And yet more than ensuring accountability, this new parliamentary organ brings a new meaning to the testimony of the independence of our Parliament. For long, our Parliament has been dubbed as docile, partly because of Rwanda’s political orientation seen through the constitutional pillar of consensus building on what constitutes common good or simply because the general public is unaware of the level of open discussions in parliamentary deliberations.
However, with the coming of PAC, the outside world (general public) is treated to a firsthand account of this independence. And this independence is not seen through its open way of conducting business but rather the value of establishing such an organ within Parliament and the contribution it makes in rendering this arm of Government relevant.
By and large, PAC’s workload has been cut out easy. It sails on smooth waters since the fight against corruption is in Rwanda is a collective responsibility riding on strong political will and institutional framework.
Therefore, unlike in some countries where such parliamentary committees meet stiff resistance and open hostility from the Executive, PAC’s workload will be simplified by the mere fact that accountability and transparency are already embedded in the governance norms of this Government.
So, instead of having situations where the work of such committees is politicized, setting Parliament and the Executive on a head collision, often time with the intention of shielding the corrupt, the situation in Rwanda is different. PAC will not have to make noise at a Minister, once or twice to explain what action he/she has done to implement the recommendations provided, like we have witnessed elsewhere.
However, going forward what remains as a challenge for PAC is whether the steam it has shown at the beginning will be maintained. With its very first seating, it has raised the bar high. Will it keep the momentum or will it break in the middle?
The future will tell but for now, beware PAC is fired up!
Contact email: On twitter [at]aasiimwe Blog: aasiimwe.wordpress.com
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Comments
I agree,PAC has already put its bar high. But not high enough yet. We have been reading and hearing stories in beer halls and streets that our President owns aircraft purchased from Public Funds. Where are the MILLIONS of dollar coming from? who paid for it?what is the fate of the aircraft after the President's retirement?
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Mugisha,Whats wrong with a presidential plane? are we so poor that we, as a nation, cant afford one? I think not. Would it be better if Kagame leased a plane whenever he flew? It would actually be more expensive in the medium to long term. If you are trying to make a political point, use a better example
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Dear Sanny,I sense you may have gotten Mugisha John point wrong. I think there is no Political fight here.People are expressing points of views (thank you New Times). PAC questions have a Political point however in Rwanda. No One is above the Law.Having a Presidential aircraft is pride to us as a Nation. But how we get that aircraft is what is the issue: Was there a tender? was there a Cabinet decision? and if it is purchased for our President, from our taxes, why then hire from ourselves and on a more expensive rate than Kenya Airways or Rwanda Air and Ethiopian Airline would charge Us for the same trip? Is there someone benefiting from this?maybe PAC should follow this up too.
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@readers, the way I see PAC, they will for sure look into the deals such as those. Otherwise their credibility as law makers would be called into question. They opened a platform for accountability for every penny in Public Finances. Can they now shy away? Maybe TNT can do investigations in this? Good for our National Development at this stage-Truth be documented-lies be demented.Period.
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Rwanda you we have traveled along way.Who could have thought we can debate this issue in press in one generation ? any way.Iam also concerned reader.I think the Problem is not to own an aircraft. The problem is how this is obtained. USD 100,000,000 is a los without a committee to manage. I think Sanny says it. Renting maybe expensive.But that is determined by the Procurement Law and a Test for Value for Money has to be met doesn't it?
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Fellow commentators,I think you all are commenting on this issue without understanding what the PAC is doing. The PAC is studying the Auditor General's report of last year. So, when you talk about a presidential jet, one must ask, "was it part of the Auditor Generals report"? Is his office saying that there was something wrong about its procurement? The Auditor General did not mention this. So, i wonder, what are we even debating about? Isnt this a waste of time?
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I think that Bosco from Nyamirambo asks the right questions- then again, they should be easy to be answered (have we not got an information bill passed lately? :-)). Coming back to the article, PAC is a good start, now anyone need to see consequences- PAC recommendations, cases needs to have priority 1, and if transferred to the Prosecutor General be processed right-way. The Rwandans contrary to what said in the article, would not refrain from wrong doing and abusing the office because they are "inyangamugayo" (if it was true, we wouldn't talk about it here), they would do it because they risk heavy consequences (legal action) otherwise. Who ever travelled abroad in the western countries knows what consequences are about in a working society. Will, Banker, 33.
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@Sanny and fellow Rwandans.Let me ask these questions maybe Sanny can hear where i come from and answer me:Are you (Sanny) that the fact that some wrong doings and individual profiteering were committed in Public Finances and we people can see it where the Auditor General has not documented it in his report, then we Citizens should not discuss it or ask questions? We'd be done away with the purpose of democracy if that is the case. So do planes exist?Yes. Were they purchased.Yes. Was RPPA as our Public Office involved? does President need 2planes instead of one for his business? in my view No. Should we be renting something we purchased ourselves as Citizens at high cost? do aircraft rentals in Greece pay money they make in our public accounts? if Auditor cannot see that big transaction in MINECOFIN Accounts,is he an auditor? are these declared anywhere? has the ombudsman officers seen this in declared property of anyone if not public not privately owned, then is for who?
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USD100,000,000.That's more more than 60 billions Rwandan Francs. And PAC is after a peanut of 9Billions or less. You GOT me worried !Ngo abagabo bararya imbwa zikishyura harya?It's a Rwandan Saying not myself....seriously 60billion for a one person aircraft?
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All this is theory. PAC should see where real money goes and ask questions.grilling juniors when the top man is doing the same without accountability is a breed for bad in our Country.
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I personally see this as a positive step for us in Rwanda.Discussing what is on our heart. If PAC helps and call the President Office and take them to task in front of the Camera, then we will have beaten the so called Press Freedom Campaigners who sleep on our necks. PAC should not spoil Rwanda's progress.This is an opportunity to demonstrate that we are serious in business of building our Nation all-round.PAC should investigate this story and feedback to taxpayers.Does not matter what they find-either way is Good for our progress
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