Solwezi Central MP Poho Kawina has taken over the chair of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the body that examines how government spends public money, succeeding Bwana Mkubwa MP Warren Mwambazi.
Key takeaways
- Solwezi Central MP Poho Kawina has been appointed to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the Speaker and elected its chairperson for the Fourteenth National Assembly.
- He succeeds Bwana Mkubwa MP Warren Mwambazi, who chaired the committee from 2021 and was known for tough questioning of controlling officers.
- Kawina was elected to Parliament in August 2026 as an independent candidate.
- His first test will be the Auditor General’s 2025 report, which flags K3.56 billion in health arrears and K626.64 million in uncollected mining penalties.
Kawina announced his appointment on Tuesday, 20 October, as the Fourteenth National Assembly completed its sessional committee line-ups. He said he had been appointed to the committee by the Speaker and then elected chairperson by its members.
“This appointment is a great responsibility, and I remain committed to serving with integrity, accountability, and dedication in the best interests of the people and our nation,” he said in a statement.
What the Public Accounts Committee does
The PAC is the House’s main check on public spending. It takes the Auditor General’s reports on the accounts of the Republic and calls in controlling officers, usually permanent secretaries, to explain unretired imprests, irregular payments, missing stores and procurement that broke the rules. Its reports go to the full House for debate, and the Treasury is expected to respond with action taken on each query.
In practice, the committee is where audit findings either gain consequences or fade. A strong chair can turn a line in an audit report into a recovery of funds, a disciplinary case or a change in how a ministry handles cash.
Big shoes to fill
Kawina takes over from Warren Mwambazi, a lawyer, chartered accountant and former internal auditor, who chaired the PAC from 2021. Mwambazi built a reputation for blunt hearings, including sending a Ministry of Agriculture delegation away over more than US$108 million in fertiliser and seed contracts, according to press coverage. He was re-elected in Bwana Mkubwa in August on the UPND ticket.
Kawina comes to the chair as an independent. He won Solwezi Central in the 13 August general election, having said during the post-election period that he would work with government where cooperation benefits his constituency.
The first test: the 2025 audit
The committee’s immediate workload is the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended 31 December 2025. Our analysis found K3.56 billion in health arrears and K626.64 million in uncollected mining penalties among its findings. For an MP from Solwezi, at the centre of North-Western Province’s copper belt, the mining revenue questions are close to home.
For readers who want the plain-language version, see Where did our money go? A citizens’ guide to Zambia’s 2025 audit, part of our Auditor General Explained series.
What to watch
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hearing schedule | How quickly the committee starts calling controlling officers on the 2025 report |
| Recoveries | Whether queried amounts are recovered or written off |
| Treasury Minutes | Government’s formal response to PAC recommendations, and whether it is followed through |
| Mining revenue | Follow-up on uncollected penalties and royalties flagged by the Auditor General |
Related: Kangombe Returns to Energy, Water and Tourism Committee, This Time as a Member | Auditor General Explained
Related: The Window to Accountability: How the Access to Information Act Empowers Citizens
Related: Sabao Re-elected Deputy Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee, Unopposed
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