ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS STILL FAILING TO ACCOUNT FOR PUBLIC FUNDS

The Zimbabwean government is still failing to properly explain how public money is being used. This has been a serious problem for many years. Now, once again, a new report has shown that officials are not giving full details when they claim money for travel and other expenses. It is clear that there is little accountability, and this opens the door to more corruption and waste.

The latest Auditor-General’s report, which covers the financial year ending on 31 December 2024, shows shocking details. The report was presented to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube last month and has now been shared with Parliament. Acting Auditor-General Rheah Kujinga pointed out many problems in how travel and subsistence allowances are being handled by government departments.

One of the key findings is that ZWL$38 million was paid out to officials without proper claim forms. In some cases, officials did not include their arrival and departure times on the forms. This is a serious issue because Section 59 (15)(f) of the Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions), 2019 clearly says all payment claims must be complete and properly certified before any money is released. This law is supposed to make sure public funds are used in the right way and not wasted.

Without full details like departure and arrival times, it becomes hard to prove if someone really travelled or if the claim is true. This means the money can easily be stolen, used wrongly, or given to someone who did not earn it. The risk of fraud, mismanagement, and corruption becomes very high when no one checks or demands proper documents.

In response to the audit, government departments simply said they “acknowledge the audit finding” and promised to do better in the future. They said staff would be told to include full travel details going forward. But this is not the first time such promises have been made. Year after year, the Auditor-General reports the same problems, but little changes.

This problem does not just affect the paperwork. It has serious effects on the country. When public money is misused, it means less money is available for hospitals, schools, roads, and basic services. It means development is delayed and the poor continue to suffer while officials enjoy benefits they did not properly earn.

Fixing this problem is not hard, but it needs strong will. The government must be serious about enforcing the rules. Officials who break the rules must face punishment. Parliament must do its job of watching over public spending. Whistleblowers who speak up about corruption must be protected and listened to. And most importantly, Zimbabweans must keep demanding better from those in power.

Public money is not personal money. It belongs to the people of Zimbabwe. Every dollar must be used wisely and honestly. If we allow officials to keep getting away with this kind of behavior, then we are saying we do not care about the future of our country. It is time for real accountability. Not just words in a report, but action that can be seen and trusted.

Until that happens, Zimbabwe will keep losing money, progress will remain slow, and the people will continue to suffer while the corrupt continue to eat.