$800m missing from State coffers: Cross

via $800m missing from State coffers: Cross – NewsDay Zimbabwe April 13, 2016

Tempers flared at a public hearing on the Public Finance Management Amendment and Special Economic Zones Bills in Mutare yesterday when Bulawayo South MP, Eddie Cross was blocked from revealing details of $800 million, which allegedly went missing from State coffers last year.

BY CLAYTON MASEKESA

Participants attending the public hearing organised by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development had raised concerns about the alleged non-accountability of money collected by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) traffic section and other public institutions.

Cross agreed with the concerned participants, while claiming that more than $800 million dollars from the statutory funds could not be accounted for.

But chairperson of the committee, David Chapfika interjected and told Cross to stop discussing the issue, as it was against the set rules and regulations.

“Honourable Cross, with all due respect, you are not allowed to engage or debate with stakeholders on our parliamentary committee process. We are here only to listen and accept the views of the public,” Chapfika said.

But leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Thokozani Khupe argued the public had a right to information.

Participants then demanded that Cross be given a chance to explain the allegedly unaccounted for $800 million, but Chapfika remained adamant.

“We have a code of conduct that we operate on. We do not want to create chaos and disharmony here.

We do not want to bring politics here. This is a professional and technical committee that is based on our experiences and knowledge on these areas,” he said.

In an interview on the sidelines of the public hearing, Cross said MPs were shocked to note that in the 2015 National Budget presented by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, more than $800 million was unaccounted for.

“That is a lot of money. We are talking about 20% of the National Budget. That money should be utilised well,” he said.

Cross called for the proper accounting and improvement on the budgeting of statutory funds.

On the part of the ZRP, Cross alleged money collected by the police was channelled towards the purchase of top-of-the-range vehicles for the bosses.

The Public Finance Management Bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and ensure that resources collected by the public entities are used for delivering vital public service efficiency.