• Without proper revenue collection, the PFM framework would thus be non-existent.
• PFM also means collecting revenue properly and appropriately accounting for same with the necessary checks and balances.
• Revenue authorities are also recognized as investigatory units which witness the flows of money.

Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentarian Forum (SADC-PF) has stated that it will continue to engage on revenue collection beyond the domain of the ongoing consultative process.

Speaking during stakeholder consultations for the SADC model law on Public Financial Management (PFM), with revenue authorities of SADC member states, SADC-PF Secretary General said it was expected that Revenue authorities will play a crucial role in domestication of the Model Law by exposing instances of financial maladministration and irregularities in cash flows which the Model Law attempts to eliminate.

Ms. Sekgoma added that there will be ongoing collaborative opportunities for Revenue authorities to engage with the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee to report on the extent of the domestication process in each Member State in the coming years.

She had since pointed out the importance of not losing sight of the fact that for most SADC Member States, revenue collection constitutes the main source of income of the country.

“It is with these public monies which are deposited into the Consolidated Fund that all expenditures relating to the State are made, and expenditures in turn entail the management thereof by a robust PFM framework.” Ms. Sekgoma said.

The Secretary General further stated that “without proper revenue collection, the PFM framework would thus be non-existent” adding that “at the same time, PFM also means collecting revenue properly and appropriately accounting for same with the necessary checks and balances.”

Ms. Sekgoma in her remarks indicated that Revenue authorities have a huge portfolio of tasks which have inroads and linkages with the PFM framework of the State.

She explained that this is because the world is shifting from the notion of Revenue authorities being merely a traditional collecting agency to being an active advisory unit on policy including revenue administration, money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

According to her, “Revenue authorities are also recognized as investigatory units which witness the flows of money and are thus well placed to report suspicious transactions which may be harmful to the PFM framework.”