Sundaymail Editor
Editor’s Brief
Victoria Ruzvidzo
The Auditor General, Mildred Chiri’s 2019 and 2020 reports will soon be released and, judging by the content of her previous reports, Government and all stakeholders will need to take seriously her diagnosis and advised prognosis.
Last week, she intimated that all is almost set for the tabling of her report in Parliament. The report is said to be currently with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube, who is now expected to table it before Parliament. The advent of Covid-19 delayed processes last year. She is required to present it by June 30 every year.
To some the delay was a blessing in disguise for they are only too aware of their shenanigans while to others the wait has been too long.
The auditor general’s reports have highlighted some of the country’s worst vices and also offered workable, attainable and profitable solutions that can be put to good and effective use.
Primary functions of the auditor general’s office include investigations into transactions concerning public money. It checks spending of public funds and resources, assessing if these were allocated towards the intended purposes. Section 309 of the Constitution mandates the AG to prepare and submit a report of all Government boos to the Minister of Finance, who then tables it in Parliament.
By carrying out these annual audits, the AG assists Parliament to hold to account and call to account all persons entrusted with the management of public funds.
The reports have in the past exposed rampant financial mismanagement, impropriety and failure to follow laid down tender procedures by Government institutions.
It is for such obvious reasons that the report elicits keen interest, not just among the fundis but the public at large.
The economy of any country literally hinges on how ministries and government departments allocate and manage resources, hence there is a need to pay close and particular attention when reports such as these are published.
Previous reports have highlighted rampant corrupt activities in most ministries and Government departments in the allocation of resources, with millions of dollars diverted for personal gain at the expense of national development.
Unfortunately not much action has been taken to bring culprits to book but it appears to be a different ball game now. The Second Republic has said time and again that it will not watch as a few misdirect resources or engage in any actions that prejudice the country in any manner.
It is in this spirit that we implore Government to hold everyone to account and ensure that any untoward behaviour noted in the report is dealt with. Many have gotten away with it for too long. The Ides of June are come!
If ever we are to reach our challenging and yet very achievable economic goals we need to stamp out corruption at all levels of governance. Only then can our efforts yield the desired outcomes. We cannot continue to lose the billions that corruption accounts for. There is definitely better use for the money.
Whole ministry budgets and resources meant to benefit millions of citizens have, in previous instances, been converted into personal budgets and whatever challenges we are facing now can be directly linked, in no small measure, to these corrupt activities by mindless and greedy individuals bent on suffocating the economy.
Something has got to give and the powers that be, together with all stakeholders, need to augment current efforts in the fight against corruption.
Government, led by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, has been involved in an anti-corruption drive that is unparalleled by previous administrations. Still, some greedy and reckless individuals within Government are focused on throwing spanners in the works of dedicated men and women who have the nation’s welfare and development at heart.
Critical ministries, such as the health ministry, have been left bleeding as a result of these wanton corrupt activities in resource allocation and management.
The media space has been awash with stories of critical medicine procured with hard-earned taxpayer’s money being withheld and diverted onto the black market in previous instances. This, at a time when our health delivery system needs to be at its peak and could well do without these misdemeanours.
Agriculture and mining, which together form the bedrock of our local economy, have not been spared and it is rather very unfortunate. At least as some of the best anti-corruption policies to date have been formulated and are being implemented in these critical ministries.
Stiffer penalties need to be introduced, all corrupt individuals weeded out and corruption reduced to zero as we have zero tolerance where it is concerned.
It cannot be over emphasis AG’s reports need to be the basis on which relevant changes are made within the various Government departments. Policies are formulated and decisive action taken to put an end to the misappropriation of funds and resources and bring the culprits to book, resulting from the usual damning reports.
Priority must be given to the effective, proper and transparent allocation of these resources as the auditor general has previously advised.
In order for us to unlock the limitless potential resident within our economy, systems and structures have to be changed and adjustments made that will not leave any room for any misuse of Government resources.
Flouting of tender regulations has over the years been a very present and active occurrence that has almost brought our economy down to its knees and this must be put to bed if we are to experience sustainable development and efficient use of national resources.
One thing that is certain is that the anticipated reports will bring all irregular transactions to the fore. Ms Chiri is no pushover and she has never disappointed when it comes to her work. She is thorough and holds no brief except to deliver on her constitutional mandate.
She is also not one to give up or step back despite the fact that some of the issues she raises have not been acted upon.
She still brings it all. We sincerely implore the powers that be to act.
Her office dispenses with a lot of resources to get the work done and it is only fair that the nation benefits through action taken against those found on the wrong side of the law.
A number of institutions under Governments purview have remained an albatross on the economy resulting from failure to adhere to set guidelines and systems on resource management, starving projects that would otherwise be up and running.
The National Development Strategy 1 aims to strengthen the oversight role of Parliament and the AG’s office, strengthening fiscal transparency through budgeting and expenditure reforms and strengthening enforcement and compliance with good corporate governance principles within local authorities, state-owned enterprises and parastatals, among other strategies to engender good corporate governance.
We await the AG’s report with bated breath.
In God I Trust!
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