Late last year the Auditor-General of Zimbabwe released a report showing large-scale looting of government equipment, supplies and assets. Among these were vehicles, large sums of money, computers and other office equipment.The office of the Auditor-General exists to unearth such theft and publicise any fraudulent abuse, mismanagement or looting of government assets. The ministers and civil servants do not own these assets, the taxpayers do!
Following the release of her findings, the Auditor-General refused to name the departments and officials responsible for the looting. This woman has clearly been threatened and intimidated by the offending government officials.
What is the point of retaining an official who is too afraid to carry out their job? Why do the people of Zimbabwe continue to employ a gatekeeper who watches thieves walk out of our houses with our assets and then refuses to give us the names of these looters?
Most companies employ an auditor who is expected to release his/her findings and alert the owners of any misdeeds. The people of Zimbabwe are the owners and we demand a report on how and by whom our tax dollars have been abused and stolen!
The Auditor-General alerted us to the wanton looting but has failed to name the culprits. She therefore now ceases to be a gatekeeper working in the best interests of all Zimbabweans. Furthermore, her silence makes her, complicit with this kleptocracy.
The Auditor-General must be allowed, nay compelled, to complete the mandate for which she is employed – name and shame the culprits for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.
The political gravy train is a phenomenon that has been lamented for years.
When politicians in the UK were accused of the same form of mismanagement they resigned in shame and their political careers ended overnight. In Zimbabwe we have lamented the mismanagement of our funds by government officials at every level and even have a control system in place – one established to prevent this kind of abuse.
Now we see that the controller, our ‘night watchman’ was not merely asleep, but is complicit in the crimes.
Government assets are entrusted to ministers for the benefit of the country.
They are not to be used for personal gain, nor are they to be abused by those entrusted with their proper usage for the good of the country. The Auditor-General is the custodian of these assets and can never be intimidated into refusing to name the abusers of this system.
A fearless individual of honour and strength needs to hold the office of Auditor-General – one who will indeed serve the interests of all Zimbabweans and be a good steward of our nation’s assets. How long shall we stand by and allow this sham to continue?
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga