PAFA signs MOU with SAAA-Zimbabwe to implement Accounting Technician Qualification for Africa: PAFA CEO calls on all PAOs in Africa to embrace Accounting Technicians

Johannesburg, South Africa,  29 November 2024 - The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA) to implement the Accounting Technician Qualification for Africa (ATQA) in Zimbabwe.

The ATQA was developed by the World Bank as a public good designed for adoption by African countries to help build a skilled workforce of accounting technicians for both the private and public sectors. PAFA has been authorised by the World Bank to offer the ATQA to professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) in countries seeking to deliver a high-quality technician-level qualification.

Speaking at the official MOU signing ceremony, The PAFA CEO, Alta Prinsloo, said that PAFA’s plan to advance ATs is a critical initiative aimed at equipping individual accountants at all levels with essential accountancy skills to address key challenges of governance, transparency, and accountability in the public and private sectors, including addressing corruption and economic crime. She said that the initiative is not just about enhancing technical proficiency; it is about fostering economic growth, improving governance, and increasing foreign investment.   The PAFA CEO concluded her message issuing: A Call to all PAOs in Africa to embrace the Accounting Technician Qualification as way of enhancing the service of the accountancy profession to benefit the public sector, private sectors and all the economies and markets in Africa.  

The Chairman of SAAA, Mr Dumisani Msipa, said that SAAA have noted the need for ATs to serve the economy and market in Zimbabwe that is why they have taken up implementation of ATQA in Zimbabwe.  He said that this initiative is in line with SAAA’s mission: ‘To produce a world class accounting practitioner who is relevant to the market they serve’.  SAAA’s CEO, Mr Taka Svosve outlined, to the stakeholders present, actions already undertaken and in progress to achieve a target of enrolling students by 1 March 2025. 

Guest of Honor at the ceremony, Head of Accountancy Education at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Mr Bruce Vivian, congratulated the accountancy profession in Zimbabwe for embracing Accounting Technicians (ATs.)  He said that IFAC believes that ATs can and should play a critical role in the global accountancy eco-system.  Markets and economies are best served by PAOs that have accountants at all levels and in all sectors.

Co-Guest of Honor at the ceremony, Mr Donald Mangenje, Acting Secretary of Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB) in Zimbabwe said the program is timely for Zimbabwe because the country’s economic vision includes having a well-trained and skilled work force serving all sectors in Zimbabwe.

About PAFA The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is the continental body representing Africa's professional accountancy organisations and an International Network Partner of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Our vision is: “Sustainable value creation to benefit the citizens of Africa’’ and our mission is: “To strengthen the capacity and influence of the accountancy profession in Africa to enhance trade, the quality of services, and trust in institutions.