The National Audit Office (NAOT) has announced plans to produce audit reports in braille as part of its new strategic direction aimed at strengthening accountability and ensuring inclusive access to public audit information.
A senior economist at NAOT, Mr Emanuel Lazaro, said the move is intended to ensure that all stakeholders, including people with visual impairments, are able to access, read and understand audit findings and recommendations issued by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
Mr Lazaro made the remarks during a training session for journalists held in Morogoro Region, organised by NAOT as part of its ongoing engagement with key stakeholders in public accountability.
He said the Office will continue to involve various stakeholders to enhance their understanding of audit reports and the different types and approaches of audits conducted by NAOT.
“One of the key priorities in our upcoming strategic plan is to prepare audit information in formats that are friendly and accessible to everyone, including people with visual impairments,” Mr Lazaro said.
He added that NAOT has already begun preparations to produce audit reports in braille to ensure that people with visual impairments can easily access and understand the contents.
“The purpose of preparing braille audit reports is to enable people with visual impairments to read and understand what the CAG observed during audits and the advice given to the government,” he said.
Opening the training on behalf of the Controller and Auditor General, Mr Charles Kichere, the Chief External Auditor for Morogoro Region, Mr Baraka Mfugale, said the training was part of the implementation of NAOT’s Strategic Plan.
Mr Mfugale said the plan places strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement, particularly with the media, as a key pillar in promoting accountability in the use of public resources.
He said the Strategic Plan recognises the media as a vital link between audit information and the public, given its role in interpreting, analysing and communicating audit findings in a clear and understandable manner.
According to Mr Mfugale, NAOT is committed to improving transparency in the dissemination of audit information, strengthening communication with stakeholders and enhancing public understanding of the mandate, roles and limitations of the National Audit Office.
“These trainings demonstrate our commitment to building the capacity of journalists to accurately read, analyse and report on audit reports issued by the Controller and Auditor General,” he said.
The Head of the Government Communication Unit at NAOT, Mr Focus Mauki, said the Office believes the training will strengthen journalists’ ability to ask informed and professional questions, conduct deeper analysis and stimulate constructive public debate.
He said such debates help the government, Parliament and other institutions to take appropriate action based on audit recommendations.
Mr Mauki said the training programme has been extended to journalists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders across several regions, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Shinyanga, Mtwara, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tabora, Iringa, Ruvuma, Lindi, Rukwa, Njombe, Mbeya, Mwanza, Mara, Dodoma, Pwani and Morogoro.
“For Morogoro, this training is a continuation of our efforts to ensure that journalists across all regions have the same level of understanding of audit work and how CAG reports can be used to strengthen public accountability,” he said.