First batch of public sector accountants graduates

PHILLIMON MHLANGA

The first batch  of 10 high-ranking public-sector accountants, who recently completed and passed their course of training, designed by the country’s oldest and largest professional accountancy body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ),  to strengthen the capacity of the public sector accounting professionals in Zimbabwe, graduated this week at a ceremony held  in the capital Harare.

Graduates in a group photo with ICAZ presidium and secretariat at the graduation ceremony at Meikles Hotel in Harare

The professional qualification,  the Public Sector Professional Accountants Programme, will enable the graduates to apply technical, strategic and leadership skills in their daily work.

The programme is being rolled out at a time when government is in the process of migrating from a cash accounting system to accrual basis accounting system.

The  class of top government officials who endured a rigorous and accelerated Public Sector Professional Accountants Programme, included Zimbabwe’s auditor general Mildred Chiri, her deputies Rheah Kujinga and Nyasha Magadza, accountant general Edwin Zvandasara,his deputy Memory Mukondomi, the director debt recording and settlement Lindiwe Tirivanhu, chief accountant responsible for aid accounting, funds and parastatal Shumbaimwe Mandivengerei and Kimpton Ndimandi.

Others were the finance director at Bulawayo City Council, Ferida Matambo,the head of support service at Public Service Commission and Patrick Mwashita, who is the director of finance at ZIMRA.

The officials will be admitted into ICAZ membership after successfully completing the gruelling programme.

“It’s a dream come true for the 10 of us,” an overjoyed Chiri said after receiving her certificate.

She added: “It has been a long journey. The training was compact and loaded. The examinations were gruelling.  But, we  are here today graduating.”

ICAZ president, Tumai Mafunga urged the graduates to  continue upholding integrity.

“These individuals showed resilience , passion and the will. The graduating members should continue to uphold integrity and ICAZ brand jealously.” Mafunga said.

The ICAZ chairman of the Public Sector Taskforce, Bothwell Nyajeka said: “It has been a journey which started in 2014. We convinced Council  in 2015 that ICAZ had done very well in growing (membership) in the private sector and there was need to replicate the same in the  public sector because in that space there is big business.

Today, I am tremendously happy and proud because as an institute (ICAZ), we have delivered in the private sector, public sector and non-governmental organisations sector. To the graduates, I welcome  you to ICAZ as new members.”

The ICAZ CEO, William Mandisodza weighed in saying: “Go and give the light to the public sector. I want you to continue being competent. For you to remain competent, you should attend our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) workshops and seminars  that are run regularly by ICAZ.”

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