The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has implemented several recommendations made by the Auditor-General’s Office, as the parastatal continues to ensure funds raised from tollgates are put to good use.
In a presentation at an African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption workshop in Bulawayo on Friday, Zinara board chairperson Dr George Manyaya said they are enhancing transparency and accountability in administering road funds.
Some issues raised by the AG include recruitment of unqualified people through nepotism, unjustified allowances and benefits, failure to comply with procurement laws and lack of corporate governance structures.
Dr Manyaya said all these concerns have since been addressed following the appointment of new board or directors and senior management.
“All positions are being advertised with adherence to minimum specifications. The new team is skilled, qualified and experienced, and a skills audit is underway. Allowances are no longer being paid. Necessary approvals are obtained before any payments. Zinara is now dealing with road authorities as prescribed by the Roads Act,” he said.
On procurement, he said a contract management desk has been set up and all high-value purchases are now going to tender.
“Issues raised (by the AG’s Office) were lack of contract management and use of prepayments. Zinara is no longer dealing directly with contractors for road authorities and a well-resourced procurement management unit has been established. A procurement annual plan was approved before the start of the year.”
In his remarks at the workshop, guest speaker and former director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba said Zinara has done well to do away with past incidents of corruption.
“We in the continent of Africa have raised corruption to a different level and its alarming. There is no single country that is not grappling with effects of corruption … We are merely repeating what we have said over and over, it is us the guilty and the time is now and we must atone for our sins. We must change our ways otherwise we are doing nothing,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Gweru Urban Mr Brian Dube commended Zinara for being transparent at a time other parastatals are struggling with corruption.
“It is important and appreciated when you see a State-owned entity that had a bad-boy tag coming back to Members of Parliament to give feedback on what they have done as per our recommendations, and we hope we will have more of these enterprises coming back to us with such feedback and sharing their journeys.”
