BUSINESS REPORTER
The government says the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has turned the corner and is now sticking to its mandate of collecting and disbursing funds.
The Authority has in the past courted controversy after after a forensic audit unearthed corporate governance deficit leading to the abuse of public resources.
A parliamentary portfolio committee report also unearthed that there were no requisite checks and balances and no compliance with sound principles of human resources management.
This resulted in unqualified people being nepotistically recruited without a process of public interviews, public scrutiny and public competition.
Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona told journalists at the end of the tour of the Harare-Beitbridge highway on Saturday that ZINARA has turned the corner with board chairman George Manyaya leading the revolution.
“Contrary to what has been happening where ZINARA was involved in construction works, I am happy to say that this is no more,” Mhona said.
“Others when they heard he [Manyaya] is the new chairman, they were wondering whether the youthful executive would lead ZINARA. He has succeeded.”
Mhona said ZINARA was synonymous with stealing and he enjoyed grilling the ZINARA team everytime they appeared before a parliamentary portfolio committee as they were always on the wrong side of the law.
“I am happy that the narrative has changed,” he said.
Manyanya said ZINARA has been rebranded, revitalised and focusing on its mandate of collecting and disbursing funds.
“Forgive us by the commissions and ommissions of the past. Judge us by what we are doing,” he said
In the forensic audit, there were 74 outstanding issues. ZINARA has addressed all the issues, except six, Manyaya said.
Once the citadel of corruption, the parastatal has turned a new leaf with a new competent management team appointed to clean the mess.
Manyaya was appointed to lead the the board to provide the oversight role to ZINARA.
