SIMBA RUSHWAYA
The Zimbabwe Anti–Corruption Commission (ZAAC) has summoned the Sports and Recreation Commission acting director general Joseph Muchechetere for questioning on alleged maladministration and malpractices at the government institution, a spokesperson for the commission has confirmed.
Tiri Nheveyembwa, the Sports Commission spokesperson told Business Times that the anti-graft organisation has been questioning Muchechetere since last Friday.
“Yes I can confirm that Muchechetere has been summoned by ZAAC, but we don’t know the details yet about what they have been questioning him. He has been going there since Friday,” said Nheveyembwa.
But sources privy to the goings on revealed that Muchechetere is being questioned about alleged financial irregularities that has left the commission in the red.
This follows an audit report which concluded that the regulatory body is being weighed down by rising debts that have reached nearly $1,5 million.
In the audit produced by Nolands Harare Chartered Accountants, it emerged that the Sports Commission’s debt ballooned from $500 000 two years ago. Board chairman Siwela and Muchechetere signed an acknowledgement of the audit report.
Muchechetere has been acting director-general for over two years and is one of the applicants whose name is being considered by Siwela’s board for the substantive director-general’s post that fell vacant following Charles Nhemachena’s departure in April 2016.
“We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the Sport and Recreation Commission which comprise the Statements of Financial Position as at 31 December 2017 and the Statement of Comprehensive income, Statement of Changes in Reserves and Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended as a summary of significant accounting and polices and the explanatory notes as set out on pages 8-20.
“In our opinion the accompanying financial statements presented fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Sports and Recreation Commission as at 31 December 2017 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
“We concluded our audit in accordance with International Standards of Auditing (ISAs). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report,” part of the audit read.
The auditors noted that the Commission had accumulated losses of $1,387, 415 with their total liabilities exceeding current assets by $1, 026 317.
Although the Sports Commission management have outlined the initiatives, it can also be noted from the audit that levy collection and fundraising efforts have already increased from $154 629 to $214 148.
