The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) has intensified its flexing of muscles since being bestowed with arresting powers and is investigating Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) on how the institution gave tenders on special projects.
According to an audit
report carried out by Grant Thornton, ZINARA contravened the procurement laws
by not following formal tender procedures when procuring jobs worth more than a
million dollars.
The audit report noted
that ZINARA disbursed US$71 million and ZAR31 million towards special
projects .
ZINARA irregularly contracted Badon Enterprises for seven projects, projects, Twalumba for four projects, Madz for three projects, Henan/Skindat for five projects and Forit was given three projects.
All these projects were not tendered. The audit also noted that some of the contracted companies did not finish the work and these were subsequently done by the Departments of Roads and ZINARA did not account for the money that had been advanced to these contractors.
An insider at ZINARA confirmed that the parastatal is being investigated and some of the dealing involves some of the board members who are believed to have received kickbacks from some of the contracted companies.
“Some of the deals involve some of the board members and the world
is crumbling down and the anti corruption is currently investigating them and
if all goes against them they will be arrested,” said an insider.
A commissioner who
refused to be named confirmed that they are investigating ZINARA and dockets
will be ready for prosecution soon.
“We are investigating
ZINARA and dockets will be ready for prosecution soon and heads will roll, people
should know that we can bite now,” said a commissioner.
Efforts to get an
official comment hit a snag as the Chairperson Loice Matanda-Moyo was in a
meeting at the time of writing.
“I am in a meeting now, I will call you back as soon I’m done,” said Matanda –Moyo
The new dispensation at ZACC has been fighting tooth and nail to revamp the body which was regarded as a ‘toothless’ bulldog due to low prosecution rate.
Matanda-Moyo recently lambasted the current docket keeping system, which may result in loss of key information in criminal cases, and the institution is moving to modernise the records’ storage.
She bemoaned the critical lack of resources , with 90 investigators sharing three vehicles, but insisted that these would not deter her from the bringing culprits to book. Already, she is studying the Auditor-General and NSSA audit reports, with arrests expected soon.
The NSSA audit has been ‘hot property’ with the minister of Labour and Social Welfare Sekesai Nzenza stating that she was in no under obligation to make it public.