First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Victor Musowa has called for stronger parliamentary oversight of public resources, noting that accountability is key to ensuring government spending delivers real benefits to Malawians.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts in Lilongwe on Monday, Musowa said Parliament has a duty to safeguard public funds and ensure value for money in service delivery.
“Oversight is not merely a constitutional obligation; it is a public trust,” he said.
He said citizens expect visible development from public expenditure.
“The people of Malawi expect us to ensure that every public resource allocated in the Budget translates into improved services, better infrastructure, accessible medicines, and improved livelihoods,” Musowa said.
He stressed that accountability remains central to public service.
“Public office is a public trust, and accountability is the foundation of that trust,” he added.
Musowa also welcomed the use of modern oversight tools, including performance and lifestyle auditing, saying they would help detect inefficiencies and corruption risks.
He said lifestyle audits were particularly important in identifying “red flags associated with unexplained wealth and inconsistencies between income and lifestyle.”
Representing AFROPAC, Abena Osei-Asare said the initiative aims to strengthen accountability institutions across Africa.
She said it would “strengthen public, non-profit and regulatory oversight and provide a platform for learning and experience.”
Osei-Asare added that oversight must ultimately focus on citizens’ welfare.
“Effective oversight is not merely about financial accountability, but also about ensuring that public resources improve the lives of our citizens,” she said.
Mohamed Diallo, speaking for the Global Fund partnership, said the collaboration would improve governance in public resource management, particularly in health programmes.
“This discussion will strengthen the oversight function and improve transparency, accountability and development of public resources, particularly in health programmes targeting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,” he said.
The workshop is being held with support from AFROPAC and the Global Fund under the theme: “Strengthening legislative oversight through performance and lifestyle auditing.”
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