Zinara board zeros in on mess: Minister

Source: Zinara board zeros in on mess: Minister –Newsday Zimbabwe

GOVERNMENT says some findings contained in the Auditor-General’s report concerning parastatals such as the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) are legacy issues that are being addressed.

Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona said this during the ministry’s strategic planning workshop held in Mutare recently.

The latest AG report exposed the rot at Zinara, where some board members exempted themselves from paying tollgate and vehicle licence fees without approval from the parent ministry.

“While we appreciate the need for the media to report all issues to the public, they must also acknowledge that some of the findings coming out of the audit reports are legacy issues, as in the current case of Zinara board members reported to have been exempted from tollgates without ministry approval,” Mhona said.

“This resolution was from the previous Zinara and was acted upon by the current board. Even some of the Air Zimbabwe issues are legacy-related and I’m glad the current board will be tackling that.”

A 390-page report on State-owned enterprises and parastatals for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, notes that the Zinara board acted contrary to the provisions of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act.

Mhona said government would make sure that all laws were followed.

“This is why you saw the Zanu PF national chairperson (Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri) warning party members that they must pay at tollgates,” he said.

Muchinguri-Kashiri recently warned that party vehicles will have tracking systems after reports that some members had been abusing their membership to solicit exemption from paying tollgate fees.