The Sunday Mail
Minister Chombo
Some urban and rural councils allegedly used money disbursed by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration for road maintenance to supplement executive salaries and allowances, it has emerged.
Though The Sunday Mail could not immediately determine the culprits or the sums involved, Government has dispatched investigators countrywide to dig into the matter.
The probe will also look at purchase-supply irregularities and alleged financial mismanagement.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and his Transport and Infrastructure Development counterpart Dr Obert Mpofu are collaborating on the matter through Zinara and local government financial advisors.
The two ministries resolved that no council shall receive additional Zinara funding before submitting its previous quarter’s returns.
Dr Chombo told this newspaper that, “I think the relationship between Zinara and local authorities has been improving because the funds, which are being disbursed are increasing. The audit is in progress and once it is complete, those found wanting will be brought to book.”
Zinara acting chief executive Engineer Moses Juma added: “It is our mandate, in terms of the Roads Act (Chapter 13:18), to carry out regular financial and technical audits on all road authorities. These audits check the standard of work done in relation to the programme of works and acquittals.
“We are currently working on technical and financial audits for all road authorities, and results of these audits will be revealed in due course.
“We are not yet in a position to give details because our teams are still compiling data. However, some road authorities have been identified as having areas of concern. Those that do not comply with acquittal processes do not receive their disbursements for the next quarter.”
Urban Councils Association chair and Bulawayo mayor Councillor Martin Moyo could not be reached for comment.
Mutare mayor Cllr Tatenda Nhemarare said: “We have completed our acquittals, but I would not know the problems associated with the money we received. However, we have done our best to put it to good use. The ongoing audit will unearth anything that requires revealing.”
Marondera town clerk Mr Josiah Musuwo said, “Our council has already made acquittals. I think the problem, though, was we did not do so before the set deadline.”
The Roads Act mandates Zinara to give local authorities funds to maintain roads in their respective jurisdictions, and 54 rural and 32 urban councils have been benefitting.
In the first quarter of 2015, the Administration released over US$10,8 million via dedicated council bank accounts.
The Act empowers Zinara to disqualify any road authority that fails to account for allocations satisfactorily or in terms of prescribed rules and to meet technical road maintenance standards.
An official in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing said certain councils had poor procurement systems.
“In some cases, they buy fuel from service stations instead of making bulk purchases . . . Others are not remitting taxes and pension contributions, and the money in their accounts ends up being garnished. In the end, road maintenance suffers.”
