via Auditor-General: Zim Roads Authority Failed to Account for $6M by Irwin Chifera, Sithandekile Mhlanga 06.01.2014 VOAZimbabwe
As the country’s road network disintegrates, a latest audit of public accounts has revealed the Roads and Road Traffic Fund set up by the government to provide tools and equipment for road construction and maintenance is not being properly managed.
According to the audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the fund which is run by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) was unable to fully account for more than $6 million allocated for road maintenance in 2011.
ZINARA has failed to explain how this money was used when most of the country’s roads are fast disappearing and villagers are pooling resources to pay for road maintenance.
In her report, Comptroller Auditor General, Mildred Chiri, said ZINARA was unable to give full information on the financial position and performance of the fund making it difficult to determine how the money was utilized.
ZINARA, she said, failed to give information on the material acquired, consumed and material at hand.
According to information at hand, Matabeleland North province received the highest allocation at $1 million and Mashonaland Central got the least at $90,000.
Several cities, towns and rural district councils are not happy with allocations they are getting from ZINARA saying they are too low, making it difficult for them to effectively maintain roads.
Harare City Council Finance Committee Chairman, councilor Allan Markham said roads in the city will remain in a poor state unless they get their dues from ZINARA.
Harare Residents Association Director, Precious Shumba, also said ZINARA’s role in the administration of the road fund must be revisited, adding disbursement of funds to local authorities should be done timeously.
He said the Comptroller and Auditor General simply confirms what they have been saying that the road funds are not being properly used.
ZINARA spokesperson, Augustine Moyo, could not be reached for comment. Last year however, ZINARA acquired 80 motorized graders from China under its road authorities capitalization program.
The Comptroller and Auditor General said ZINARA must provide for audit accurate consolidated financial statements to enable decision makers assess the performance of the fund.
Report by Irvin Chifera
Pumula legislator and member of the parliament’s Transport Portfolio Committee Albert Mhlanga tells V-O-A reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga his committee recommended an investigation into the disbursement of the fund, especially targetting ZINARA leadership.
COMMENTS
Corruption corruption thus why u rigged elections to keep on with looting money imbwa dzevanhu
why not look into funds allocated to Goche’s district and that of the VP…
Everyone knows that the tollgate monies are being stolen by the ministers and connected people. its easy to see it through the state of the roads. No improvements are being made even when money is collected daily. Zanu is rotten to the core. What more can we expect?
Is that $6M missing from $60M or is it $6M from $6M issued???
And so who is going to jail for this? Crime in Zimbabwe is now a legal institution. Headed by ZPF. Where is their governing? Where is the rule of law? There is a terrible dearth of leadership in this nation. God please help us! Not because we deserve your help but in Your mercy.
The problem in Zim is that there is ZERO accountability for any failure, corruption, incompetance! It’s been going on too long it almost seems normal!
Well done zinara! Thats a true Z