Legislators IN Zimbabwe`s Parliament have emphasized the urgent need for punitive measures against officials, including politicians, who engage in misdemeanors that are costing Zimbabwe significantly. They say strengthening the legal framework is essential to enforce accountability and deter future misconduct, following the release of damning Auditor General (AG) reports.
The Auditor General’s latest reports, submitted to Parliament, expose severe governance issues and procurement misdeeds within Zimbabwe’s ministries, parastatals, and local authorities. Legislator Edwin Mushoriwa, speaking out on the findings, highlighted the systemic challenges undermining the country’s public sector.
“The 2023 Auditor General reports, covering ministries, parastatals, and local authorities, reveal a disheartening repeat of previous findings,” Mushoriwa stated. “First and foremost, governance issues continue to plague government operations. Secondly, procurement challenges have led to significant financial losses for the government and quasi-government institutions.”
Mushoriwa also pointed to a laissez-faire approach by government bureaucrats and quasi-government employees, exacerbating the inefficiencies and losses. “This negligence, sometimes bordering on corrupt activities, results in substantial financial bleeding for the government and the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The reports underscore the absence of effective penalties within the current legal framework, contributing to the persistence of these issues. Mushoriwa called for amendments to the Public Finance Management Act to introduce punitive measures that hold officials accountable for their actions.
“The essence of the problem lies in the lack of stringent penalties in our laws,” Mushoriwa argued. “Amending the Public Finance Management Act is crucial to ensure that officials, including politicians, face consequences for their misdemeanors that are draining the country’s resources.”
