Auditor-General, Mrs Mildred Chiri’s 2018 audit report has revealed that at least 38 State-owned institutions failed to submit their financial statements for the 2018 annual audit to her office with frequent offenders going as far back as 2009.
The report also disclosed that the Parliament of Zimbabwe did not submit its 2018 accounts for audit, the Agriculture Research Council (2017-2018), Broadcasting
Authority of Zimbabwe (2018), Grain Marketing Board (2018) and Harare Central Hospital (2018).
Chiri noted that at least 67 entities have their audit reports in progress while 18 were at the signing state. She further reported that of those that were audited, most of them were not settling their statutory obligations. This has led to most of them owing huge amounts of money. She reported:
Of particular concern was Printflow and the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management which owed $2 422 252 and $997 530, respectively, as at December 31, 2018. National Handling Service (NHS) was not remitting pension contributions and had an outstanding liability of $2 138 144. In addition, NHS could not account for unbanked amounts totalling $49 290.
The report also exposed poor finance management in some government ministries. It further noted a poor recording of business transactions into the books of accounts, diversion of funds and payment for goods that were never delivered.
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