The IIA is the only recognised professional body in Zimbabwe that is entirely dedicated to the development of the internal audit profession.

Our vision is to provide an enabling environment for the development of well rounded professionals who will contribute effectively towards governance, risk and control issues affecting both the private and public sectors in Zimbabwe.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING [1st APRIL 2011]
IN-COMING PRESIDENT’S ACCEPTANCE ADDRESS

Honourable Patron, Members of the Nomination Committee, Board Members, and members of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

I wish to sincerely thank you for the confidence you have reposed in me by electing me to lead your Institute.  I feel honoured and ready to serve our Great Institute.  I would however wish to thank Cecilia Makoni, the Outgoing President, for the good leadership she showed, which kept the Institute growing from strength to strength under a difficult environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our membership had drastically gone down during the last two years due to the difficult operating environment, and is currently below 300 members.  The Institute has targets to improve paid-up membership in the private sector to 500 in the next two years, and to plus 250 members for the local and central government sectors.  This cannot be achieved without your support.

On Continuous Professional Development (CPD), your Institute will continue to deliver value-adding courses to maintain its position as the market leader in internal audit, corporate governance and risk-management training.

In 2010, ten [10] members graduated as Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs), down from the record number of thirty-six [36] graduants in 2007, due to financial difficulties brought about by dollarization.  We will, as your Institute, take measures to promote certifications to at least twenty [20] per annum going forward.  It is in our members’ interests to acquire recognised international certifications, and the Institute will play its part to help you achieve this dream.

We will also continue with efforts to improve the visibility of your Institute through the regular update of the IIA Website, conducting relevant surveys and publishing professional articles in various Business Journals.

I am also glad to inform you that the Institute will continue to participate in international events / fora.  This current year, we will be sending a delegate to attend the 2011 Malaysia International Conference.

In 2010, we joined the newly-constituted African Federation of the Institutes of Internal Auditors (AFIIA), and we shall be actively participating in this federation to advance the interests of African auditors on the global arena through a unified voice.

Your Institute has the dream of owning its own home / offices in the short term.  Please assist your institute to realise this dream by participating in fund-raising activities ear-marked for this purpose, which you will be advised of from time-to-time.

Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to thank you all for your support for the Institute.  I again wish you all the success you deserve in your professional endeavours in 2011 and beyond.

TAPIWA MAPUKUTE