Story by Farirai Mutumburanzou
The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) Board yesterday appeared before the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s Public Accounts Committee in Mt Hampden, impressing and satisfying the committee by clearing 66 out of 71 issues cited in the Grant Thornton forensic report.
In 2019, the Minister of Transport Hon F. T Mhona appointed the Dr. Manyaya led board and management to turn around the performance of the parastatal, which is key to the roads infrastructure development.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee at the Parliament of Zimbabwe yesterday, ZINARA Board Chairperson Dr George Manyaya said Zinara has resolved the 66 issues out of the 71 issues cited in Grant Thornton forensic.
The pending issues mainly involve matters that other stakeholders can deliver, including those currently before the courts.
“I would like to notify the committee that of the 71 issues that were cited in the Grant Thornton forensic report, with Government support and the committee’s support, we have managed to resolve 66 of them with five of them being work in progress as they don’t involve us alone but other stakeholders,” he said.
The audit report raised issues such as lack of sound procurement procedures, poor risk and loss control mechanisms, and poor collection and management of funds running into millions of dollars, among other issues.
Dr. Manyaya stated that Zinara had since established a procurement management unit and another for risk and loss control, while also establishing a fully-fledged ICT department.
He added that Zinara had managed to clear most of the debt owed to the Development Bank of South Africa, which was taken in the rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Bulawayo, Harare-Mutare highway.
“Of the US$206 million owed to DBSA, as of today (yesterday), we are left with US$59 million and if we pay off the debt, we will be able to unlock funding for other roads like the Harare-Chirundu highway,” he said.
Dr. Manyaya further updated that, with regards to board remuneration, which had been noted to have been non-compliant, all board-related fees are now being paid in due compliance with relevant statutes and procedures.
Committee chairperson, Mr Charlton Hwende, commended Zinara for their efforts in turning around the fortunes of the parastatal and their adherence to sound corporate governance issues.
“Zinara was a problem child and as spelt out in our report, they had several issues that we raised, issues of corporate governance not being respected and we are very happy that of the issues that we raised, there about three that are left,” Mr Hwende said.
Dr Manyaya also stated that Zinara has also released funds towards rehabilitation of some roads in Harare ahead of the SADC Summit that will be held at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is constructing and rehabilitating Greater Harare Access Roads to improve road infrastructure in the capital.
