Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – Former Finance Minister Simba Makoni has lamented the sacking of Auditor General Mildred Chiri after she was sacked by the government this week.
President Robert Mugabe has since appointed Mike Ndudzo to be the new Auditor-General.
Though the official position is that she steps down at the expiry of her tenure underlying reasons of her revealing corrupt tendencies in government are suspected to be the main cause.
Ndudzo is currently the general manager of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
“Another mortal blow to citizens’ interests was struck today, with the removal of Mildred Chiri from the office of Auditor General.”
“Bravely, diligently, quietly, effectively, she has exposed the monsters of looting, mis-governance and incompetence in the public sector” said Makoni who now leads Mavambo, a political party.
Highlights of Chiri’s last report, suspected to be the trigger for her being sacked included the fact that Zimbabwe could have been prejudiced of more than $100 million in fictitious loan repayments because of a shoddy reporting system across ministries and statutory funds.
According to a Standard editorial “one of Chiri’s reports noted that the exact amount of government guaranteed debts and loans extended to the state or its entities were unknown.”
“Shocking discoveries were made about how Treasury has failed to maintain a statement of public debt, which details loans contracted by the state.”
“Such revelations come a time when government’s appetite for contracting debt has grown to unsustainable levels because of the economic stagnation and the refusal to admit that the country is in a crisis.”
Chiri’s report also said the Finance ministry failed to disclose the names of beneficiaries and details of purposes for loans amounting to $567,5 million.
” The loans were advanced to parastatals, local authorities, statutory funds and private companies by external lenders under guarantee from the government.”
In another damning report, Chiri revealed that state enterprises and parastatals flouted tender procedures when procuring millions worth of goods and services.
The AG spelled out in detail the culture of impunity and lack of accountability that has hindered state-owned entities from playing their rightful role in the economy since independence.
Chiri also singled out the CMED that bought fuel worth $1 million without going to tender, the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board for incurring excess escalation costs amounting to $7 million without the involvement of the State Procurement Board and the Grain Marketing Board was called out over controversial $1,5 million expenditure.
Government supported corruption has damage the country economically with little done to rein it.
This collusion has resulted in various government officials being accused of various crimes but not being charged.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has itself been embroiled in corruption scandals and accused of being politically hijacked.
About Author
