The 9th Professional Development Seminar for the CPA Africa Region is underway in Gaborone

Today marks Day 2 of the 9th Professional Development Seminar for the CPA Africa Region, currently underway in Gaborone. The Secretary of the KZN Legislature is moderating a session titled “Building Partnerships with Civil Society and Other Stakeholders to Support Parliamentary Oversight of Public Finance Management.”

This session is one of the key components of the seminar as it highlights how collaborative initiatives such as the Parliamentary Oversight Dashboard can facilitate improved tracking of public spending while strengthening public participation. These mechanisms help bridge the gap between Members of Provincial Legislatures (MPLs) and communities, including civil society organisations, particularly in representing the interests of marginalised groups.

In her presentation, Ms. Naidoo emphasised that parliaments are the guardians of public resources and accountability. She noted that effective oversight requires strong partnerships, established within a framework that balances diverse interests while ensuring that Parliament ultimately protects national and regional priorities. According to Ms. Naidoo, accountability, institutional independence, and the ability to inspire public trust are essential elements for achieving better governance and improved outcomes for citizens.

Participants also resolved that the SADC Model Law on Public Finance Management should be shared with all parliaments in the region to strengthen budget oversight. The Model Law encourages legislatures to intensify scrutiny of budget appropriations and to assess whether national budgets align with commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, and other international treaties.