HARARE -- The government is yet to yet to take action against several senior officials accused in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of fleecing the state of funds, vehicles and other property. Auditor General Mildred Chiri told The Zimbabwean on Tuesday that no action had been taken on her report because the document was still before Parliament.
Nothing has been done so far because the report is before parliament and will need to be reviewed, said Chiri. The Public Accounts Committee has to review the report and present it to Parliament, thereafter action can then be taken. There is quite a lot that parliament has to do before making their report public.
The government has in the past not acted on similar reports alleging corruption by its senior officials.
Chiris first quarter report for 2009 highlighted gross abuse of state resources, with senior government officials wantonly abusing public funds while others were alleged to have unlawfully taken and converted to personal property government vehicles and other state assets.
The report also revealed widespread theft of movable state property such as computers, fax machines, cell phones and spares of cars with thefts never reported to the police in many cases.
For example 14 vehicles donated to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare by the Reserve Bank in 2008 were recorded neither in the vehicle register nor in the donations registered.
Vehicle registration papers were not produced and therefore, the report said, specification details of the vehicles were not known to the ministry.
The previous Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare is said to have taken home a Toyota Prado which was used as pool car by the ministry staff.
In another classical case of abuse of funds, two unidentified officials spend US$ 525 on a launch meal at a Harare hotel.
While the report says former transport minister Christopher Mushowe took home three vehicles, while his deputy Hubert Nyanhongo also took three cars and the former permanent secretary another three vehicles when they left the ministry.
Former Industry and Commerce Minister Obert Mpofu took possession of two vehicles, while his deputy Phineas Chihota took one, which he was entitled to buy, and former permanent secretary took four cars before leaving the ministry.
The report said the officials did not have authority to take the government vehicles.
In Masvingo, out of 12 vehicles sourced from the central bank, the province could only account for one which had been reportedly allocated to a medical doctor who has since absconded.
Former information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and his former deputy Bright Matonga were said to have taken computers, fax machines and two laptops which were donated by the central bank.
Chiris report further revealed that funds received from the Ministry of Finance by the Ministry of Public Service meant specifically for rentals were diverted to other use
Although the procedure prescribes that the report has to be scrutinised by Parliament which then makes its won report before action can be taken, Chiri, said the Ministry of Finance can still clean up the mess by asking for repayments.
The Ministry of Finance can clean up the house by asking for explanations or repayments, all we do is to make recommendations, said Chiri.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti was not available for comment on the matter.
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