The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) has sacked its tolling manager Ostern Chimedza for failing to plug financial leakages at tollgates running into millions of dollars.
The Herald was told that Chimedza was given several reports of internal audits showing evidence of massive corruption at tollgates, but failed to take action. The source is quoted as saying:
In particular, he did not roll out and implement effective tolling systems, leaving a porous system susceptible to theft and fraud by tolling cashiers.
Mr Chimedza failed to act on evidence from internal audit, as well as the system provider which had pointed towards revenue leakages.
… Mr Chimedza also failed to take appropriate disciplinary action against tolling cashiers who had excesses and shortfalls which were only picked via internal audit spot checks.
ZINARA recently axed 30 cashiers for fraud and theft at tollgates. 14 of the fired cashiers were based at Skyline tollgate along the Harare-Masvingo Highway, while the other 16 were from Dema, Shurugwi and Shamva tollgates.
This followed the restructuring of the department by the government which resulted in the dismissal and resignation of several senior managers.