Auditors to discuss their role in economic development

Business Reporter
Internal auditors will this year deliberate on how they can contribute to economic development when they hold their annual conference in the resort town of Victoria Falls this week.

The conference, which will run from September 14-16 will run under the theme Mountains of Challenges . . . Oceans of Opportunities.

“This theme resonates with the situation we find ourselves in in Zimbabwe today with huge macroeconomic challenges on one hand while on the other there are opportunities for internal auditors to contribute to the development of the economy,” said IIAZ chief executive Roy Bvekerwa.

The conference will be opened by Mr Karem Toufic Obeid, the vice chairman for the Institute of Internal Auditors Global responsible for Global Services.

Mr Obeid will speak on the evolution that internal audits have undergone over the years and the innovation required by the profession to remain relevant in an ever-changing world.

The president of IIA Zambia will walk the conference through the path that Zambia has taken in seeking to legislate the profession considering that there has been world-wide debate on whether internal audit ought to be supported by enabling legislation. A number of high profile speakers are lined up to speak at this conference including the Auditor General of Zimbabwe Mildred Chiri and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Busisa Moyo who will speak on “Doing Business in Zimbabwe”.

Mr Nyasha Zhou of the Public Accountants and Auditors Board will speak on the “The Fiduciary Duty of the Board and its Implication on the function of Internal Audit”.

“The work of internal auditors is really cut out in the Zimbabwean economy given the level of corruption, fraud and poor governance that we see daily in the national papers. This conference seeks to sharpen internal auditors so that they can raise their game. It is my belief that a properly skilled internal audit will make a huge difference in promoting good governance and risk management in the country,” Mr Bvekerwa added.