Public Accounts Committee Raps Mwenezi RDC CEO Over Council Motorbike Allocation

By Percy Nhara | Southerton Business Times

MASVINGO – The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts has sharply criticised Mwenezi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Albert Chivanga after an Auditor-General's report revealed that a council-owned motorcycle was allocated to a non-employee without a council resolution.

The committee, chaired by Caston Matewu, said the allocation raised serious governance and accountability concerns, particularly after it emerged that the recipient allegedly did not possess a valid driver's licence. The matter was discussed during public hearings held at Clevers Hotel near Lake Mutirikwi three weeks ago, where the committee questioned 10 local authorities over findings contained in the Auditor-General's 2021–2023 audit reports.

During the hearing, Matewu criticised Chivanga's handling of council assets, saying the local authority appeared to be operating without proper governance procedures.

"You allocated a motorbike to someone who is not an employee. Why did you give someone who is not a council employee a motorbike and furthermore without authority from full council? The person did not even have a driver's licence," Matewu said.

"How does that happen and who made that decision? What caused that decision to happen?"

According to the Auditor-General's findings, the motorcycle was allocated without approval from the full council, despite being council property.

Responding to the committee, Chivanga acknowledged that he had failed to verify whether the recipient held a valid driver's licence. He said the motorcycle had been allocated following a recommendation from the council's Agriculture and Environment Department to enable the individual to monitor areas affected by illegal gold mining on behalf of the local authority.

"The motorcycle was handed over after a recommendation was given by the Agriculture and Environment Department. I omitted to check whether the recipient had a licence," Chivanga told the committee.

He maintained that the council's transport policy gives the Chief Executive Officer authority to allocate council vehicles without requiring a resolution from the full council.

"There is no council resolution. Our transport policy allows the CEO to authorise anyone to drive a council vehicle. No action was taken against the director who made the recommendation."

Unsatisfied with the explanation, Matewu said the committee would summon Mwenezi Rural District Council to Parliament for a more detailed examination of the matter. The Public Accounts Committee is mandated to scrutinise the use of public resources and ensure government institutions and local authorities implement recommendations made by the Auditor-General. The latest findings come amid growing parliamentary scrutiny of governance, procurement practices and asset management in Zimbabwe's local authorities following recurring adverse audit findings.

Mwenezi RDC CEO