The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has convened the fifth session of the 2024 Line Minister’s Public Entities Corporate Governance Oversight Meeting in Mutare, in accordance with Section 33 (4) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act
[Chapter 10:31].
The meeting was aimed to address governance and accountability issues within the public entities operating under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
Speaking during the meeting, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona emphasized that his office is committed to enhancing the reputation of public entities by improving their abilities to fulfill statutory obligations, including compliance with corporate governance standards.
“Taking advantage of the Ministerial oversight functions prescribed by the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, my office thrives to transform the image of our public entities in terms of their aptitudes to deliver statutory mandates, including adherence to corporate governance principles.
“It also allows us as Government to cause alignment of your work with that of the national interest, anchored on the authoritative participation, voices, wishes and aspirations of the general public for whom we were created to serve,” said Hon Mhona.
The meeting, held in Mutare, brought together the boards of public entities under the purview of the Ministry.
This gathering was a crucial platform for discussing and strategizing on matters related to control, financial reporting, and accountability for public funds within these entities.
The Minister of Transport stressed the importance of ensuring that the processes, customs, values, policies, laws, and structures governing the operations, direction, and control of our public entities are kept current and relevant.
“We should ensure that processes, customs, values, policies, laws and structures governing the way our public entities are run, directed and controlled are up to date.
“If a public entity complies with good corporate governance policies and laws, its goals are achieved with ease and its financial resources are managed with high standards of propriety and probity.
“By adhering to corporate governance standards in our public entities, we boost performance and make good the provision of goods and services to the public.
“We should endeavour to implement transparent and accountable stewardship regarding economic, social and environmental performance of our entities for good returns,” he said.
Honourable Mhona reiterated that we should commend the government, led by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. Dr. E.D Mnangagwa, for acknowledging the significance of corporate governance and establishing suitable constitutional and legislative structures for its application and execution.
“As I have maintained in our many engagements, we should applaud government, under the leadership of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. Dr. E.D Mnangagwa for recognising the importance of corporate governance and putting in place appropriate constitutional and legislative frameworks for its practice and implementation.
“It is up to us now to leverage on such robust constitutional and legislative foundations,” said Hon Mhona.
He added, “The corporate governance principles contained in our constitution include aspects of: New public management and administration principles; Financial management; Parliamentary oversight; guidelines on Procurement; Government Contracts; and general Management of Statutory Bodies”.
The Ministry, in line with its responsibilities, set the agenda and strategic priorities for the meeting, emphasizing the development of instructions for the boards of the public entities.
This underscores the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring effective governance and oversight of the entities under its supervision.
The Ministry’s proactive approach to governance and oversight, as demonstrated by the convening of this meeting, reflects its commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective management of public resources within the entities under its purview.
The meeting was attendend by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Advocate Misheck Mugadza, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development Hon K. Kaitano, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Hon J.K Sacco, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer J. P Makumbe, Board Chairpersons and CEOs of public entities under the Ministry’s purview.
Story by Jeremiah Gora
