The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) on Wednesday launched three reports namely the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) Monitoring report, Survey Report on the Implementation of Office of Auditor-General Recommendations by Local Authorities in Zimbabwe and a Case Study on the Implementation of Recommendations of the Auditor-General in Masvingo Province.
ZIMCODD believes that optimum policy research and strategic dissemination of research products is key in the transmutation of policy discourse from the attentive public to the sub-government where key policy decisions are made.
Speaking to journalists in the capital, ZIMCODD Executive Director, Janet Xhou said CSOs decided to monitor the progress of NDS1 implementation because previous economic blueprints have been implemented in a vacuum without formative, implementation, and summative evaluation.
“Thus, the need to fill this policy research gap and promote policy implementation efficacy promoted the NDS1 monitoring by CSOs. This was also complimented by the fact that; the government has already missed its quarterly reporting target which it had set. To date, five quarters have elapsed without a single copy shared with citizens publicly by the government,” she said.
“On infrastructure development, ZIMCODD acknowledges the positive strides towards infrastructure revolution as witnessed by various construction activities in the country. On public transport, although there is still a long way to go, the government is making efforts in purchasing buses and ensuring that the public transport challenges are addressed. However, there is a need for the government not to relax but continue striving to ensure that optimum public transport is attained.
Other positive findings, according to Zhou include that the government managed to attain a positive growth of 7.8%, whilst positive steps towards strengthening power generation were witnessed and these include: the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7&8 to 600 MW; repowering of three small thermal power stations namely; Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati power stations to 200MW; Gairezi Mini Hydro to 30 MW; and Dema Emergency Peak Plant to 200 MW. However, power shortages and cuts are still being experienced across the country.
On Food and Nutrition Security, the report found that the recorded bumper harvest in 2021 did not reduce food poverty. Economic and climate shocks and low adoption of climate-smart technology impinged food and nutrition security.
Notable findings were also witnessed on social protection, where the NDS1 Monitoring report found that poverty remains a menace in Zimbabwe given the increasing vulnerability compounded by COVID-19 induced shocks. Scaling the social protection spending goes a long way in addressing meagre social safety nets that do not alter the welfare of the vulnerable.
Albeit data limitations, key Governance measures such as corruption, the MoIbrahim Index, property rights index, service delivery, and other governance indices missed 2021 NDS1 targets, Zhou said there is need to advocate for the independence of anti-corruption institutions such as ZACC and NPA for them to execute their mandates professionally and ethically.
Zhou also said the Survey Report on the Implementation of Office of Auditor-General Recommendations by Local Authorities show that abuse of public funds has become rampant in local authorities with tender-preneurship, economies of affection, nepotism, and partisan politics complimenting to militate against optimum efficiency thereby undermine service delivery.
This, according to Zhou, has aggravated the cost of living.
“Ironically, local authorities have failed to adhere, and implement the recommendations prescribed by the Auditor-General. To this end, ZIMCODD undertook a tracking survey of the Auditor-General`s Recommendation with the main aim of unearthing the challenges those local authorities are encountering and proffer actionable recommendations that will help them to improve the management of public funds and service delivery in general,” Zhou said.
“Given the vitality of quality public service delivery to the majority of low-income Zimbabweans, ZIMCODD implores the government through the responsible ministries to disburse devolution funds on a timely basis to allow local authorities to fully utilize these funds before their value is eroded by inflation. This is critical in expanding the fiscal space for local authorities.”
Additionally, Zhou said public officials in local authorities highlighted that too much government and political interference is hindering their operations and as such, there is need to ensure limited interference in their day-to-day operations.
In the Case Study on the Implementation of Recommendations of the Auditor-General in Masvingo Province, the case studies found that the majority of local authorities are not implementing recommendations as a result of a lack of proper supervision mechanisms from the government.
“After the audit recommendations have been released, there is very little or no follow-up from the central government to monitor the timeous implementation of the noted anomalies. Also, there is no incentive for compliance. The government system does not reward the compliant authority and therefore most of the things go without being rectified,” she said.
“There is rampant politicisation of council business. Most council management is found in a very difficult position to promote service delivery due to interference by politicians. Political interference which sometimes comes like government orders such as slashing of debts owed to councils towards elections creates room for manipulation of council procedures, policies and records.
“Therefore, the government must initiate punitive measures to local authorities that deliberately fail to submit their accounts for audit to the AG in time. On the other hand, those that comply must be incentivized for doing well. What is in common in all the 3 reports launched is that we still have a long way to go in ensuring prudent, accountable and transparent and responsive Public Resource Management in Zimbabwe,” added Zhou.
Beaven Dhliwayo
Staff Writer