malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) on Friday raised its transparency and accountability bar after exposing its systems and live operations to members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Zinara subjected its tollgate and vehicle licensing systems to public scrutiny.
This comes barely a week after the road fund administrator was showered with praise by the same parliamentary committee for showing commitment to resolving issues raised in the Grant Thornton forensic audit of 2017.
Out of the 71 issues in the audit report, Zinara had addressed 66, leaving out five that require the involvement of other stakeholders to conclude.
On Friday, Zinara moved a gear up by giving PAC members the opportunity to inspect and scrutinise its systems.
The PAC, which is chaired by Kuwadzana East legislator Mr Chalton Hwende, toured Zinara systems, which are managed by 10-10 Technologies. The committee visited the Goromonzi toll plaza, where they witnessed live transactions and the system’s operation.
Welcoming the legislators at 10-10 Technologies, Ms Lizwe Bunu, who was standing in for Zinara board chairperson Dr George Manyaya, said: “At Zinara, we have been embarking on a transformative journey, grounded in the core values of integrity, transparency and accountability.
“We have made notable strides in addressing legacy issues and are dedicated to sustaining a culture of good governance and ethical practices in all our operations.
“As we forge ahead on this path, we are grateful for occasions like today that facilitate open engagement with key stakeholders, such as Parliament. These opportunities enable us to demonstrate our progress and solicit crucial feedback that can help us enhance our systems and deliver an exceptional service to the people of Zimbabwe.”
She said they value the oversight role carried out by Parliament.
“This not only keeps us accountable as a public institution, but also furnishes us with indispensable feedback that aids us in meeting the expectations of Zimbabwe’s citizens,” said Ms Bunu.
PAC committee member Mr Itai Ndudzo hailed Zinara for facilitating the tour, saying it helped them to have a better understanding of the institution’s operations.
He said such insights were important for legislators, as they executed their oversight role on the operations of public institutions.
Online Reporter