Zinara ethics, reforms pay off

Freeman Razemba, Senior Reporter

THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has received a clean audit from the Auditor-General for the first time since the financial year ending December 2010.

During Zinara’s 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Harare yesterday,  Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, urged the administration to maintain high standards of professional ethics and ensure the efficient use of resources.

The AGM was also attended by Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe and Zinara board chairman Dr George Manyaya, among other officials.

Minister Mhona commended Zinara for its compliance with Section 33 (3) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, which requires annual meetings to be attended by representatives from the line ministry and stakeholders.

“I would like to thank President Mnangagwa for spearheading parastatal reform. He is the one who has spearheaded this turnaround, he came up with this idea and today we are reaping the fruits. He has always spoken about transparency and road rehabilitation and I am happy that today Zinara has fulfilled that”.

He added that the AGM serves as a vital platform for reviewing Zinara’s operations over the past financial year and planning for the future.

“The primary aim of this AGM is to discuss Zinara’s performance and plans moving forward. This will enhance Zinara’s capacity to manage road user charges and allocate funds to road authorities by established legislative frameworks,” Minister Mhona said.

Highlighting the importance of delivering value for taxpayers, Minister Mhona noted that the Government, under President Mnangagwa, prioritises road rehabilitation as a key economic driver aligned with Vision 2030.

“The AGM is essential for evaluating Zinara’s performance. We are encouraged by the board and management’s commitment to corporate governance and their readiness for accountability to oversight bodies.

The Minister stressed the need for development-oriented leadership and equitable service delivery.

“You must respond to public needs promptly, involve citizens in policy-making, and ensure accountability to Parliament and the public. Appointments should be based on merit,” Minister Mhona said.

These principles are vital for combating misgovernance and promoting good corporate governance in public entities.

Dr Manyaya described the AGM as historic, marking a significant turnaround from past governance challenges.

He highlighted the efforts of the new board and management in rectifying previous shortcomings, resulting in a  clean audit.

“This milestone is a testament to our commitment to compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and signals the beginning of a new era in Zinara’s governance,” Dr Manyaya said.