By 
Professor of International Economic Relations, Oliver Saasa, has expressed concern over persistent ethical lapses in Zambia’s public and private sectors, urging accountants to uphold integrity in their work.
Speaking as guest of honour at the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZiCA) 19th Graduation Ceremony held on Friday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Saasa cautioned the newly conferred Chartered Accountants against allowing their signatures to be used to authorise fraud or other financial misconduct.
“Uphold the highest ethical standards and always prioritise honesty and transparency.
“The Auditor General’s reports are replete with cases of misappropriation and abuse of resources, often aided by accountants in internal audit departments. Yet accountancy is entrusted with safeguarding financial integrity,” he said.
Saasa further encouraged graduates to embrace continuous learning and adapt to new technologies, noting that Artificial Intelligence is transforming the profession by automating tasks such as data entry, reconciliations, and tax compliance.
He said this allowed accountants to focus more on strategic financial planning and decision-making.
Meanwhile, ZiCA President, Yande Siame Mwenye, announced that 93 candidates were awarded the CA Zambia designation at the ceremony, bringing the total to 245.
She highlighted that the qualification had gained international recognition, with Zambian accountants working in countries including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the USA, and the Isle of Man.
“Our local qualification continues to grow from strength to strength and now stands shoulder to shoulder with other international professional qualifications,” Mwenye said, noting that ZiCA currently had 2,524 Chartered Accountants on its register out of a total membership of 8,179.
ZiCA Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Bwembya, appealed to employers to engage the new graduates, emphasizing that their skills were market-ready and essential for driving economic growth.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments