Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU – Civic
society organisations (CSOs) have been urged to play an oversight role to help
fight the abuse of funds in public institutions as local authorities tend to
hide their malpractices behind fake consultative processes.
society organisations (CSOs) have been urged to play an oversight role to help
fight the abuse of funds in public institutions as local authorities tend to
hide their malpractices behind fake consultative processes.
Speaking
at the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) workshop last week
in Gweru, Midlands State University (MSU) lecturer and academic researcher, Dr
Vincent Chakunda said councils were not interested in true consultative
processes before drafting their budgets.
at the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) workshop last week
in Gweru, Midlands State University (MSU) lecturer and academic researcher, Dr
Vincent Chakunda said councils were not interested in true consultative
processes before drafting their budgets.
“We
need accountability in the management of public finances. My feeling is that budget
processes oftentimes lack genuine consultation with the public. There is a lot
of window-dressing being done to give a façade of public input. You even find that a number of youth and
women don’t take part in these processes,” Chikunda said.
need accountability in the management of public finances. My feeling is that budget
processes oftentimes lack genuine consultation with the public. There is a lot
of window-dressing being done to give a façade of public input. You even find that a number of youth and
women don’t take part in these processes,” Chikunda said.
He
said most institutions were failing to account for public funds because of
corruption.
said most institutions were failing to account for public funds because of
corruption.
“We
have people in places of influence serving the public but they are busy looting
instead of serving people. We once heard (Gweru City) council saying it was accounting
for the previous books but the question still stands; after accounting what do we
get? Was the institution in short of accountants to do that job in time?
have people in places of influence serving the public but they are busy looting
instead of serving people. We once heard (Gweru City) council saying it was accounting
for the previous books but the question still stands; after accounting what do we
get? Was the institution in short of accountants to do that job in time?
“So
questions may arise and that’s where we need civil society and residents associations
to take charge and challenge local authorities on issues regarding funds. These funds belong to us as residents and we
must be well informed,” said Chikunda.
questions may arise and that’s where we need civil society and residents associations
to take charge and challenge local authorities on issues regarding funds. These funds belong to us as residents and we
must be well informed,” said Chikunda.
Chakunda
said citizens must demand accountability from their leadership, saying office
holders on their own will not deliver on that without active citizen oversight.
said citizens must demand accountability from their leadership, saying office
holders on their own will not deliver on that without active citizen oversight.
ZIMCODD
socio-economic analyst, Tafadzwa Chikumbu said council must be made to observe principles
of good budgeting.
socio-economic analyst, Tafadzwa Chikumbu said council must be made to observe principles
of good budgeting.
“Principles
of good budgeting include comprehensiveness, discipline, contestability,
information to improve on transparency and accountability as well as
information dissemination.
of good budgeting include comprehensiveness, discipline, contestability,
information to improve on transparency and accountability as well as
information dissemination.
“You
know the old system of dealing with budgets was long as it required council to
wait for the Ministry of Local Government to approve their budgets. As we move
towards devolution of power, we hope to see changes being made in budgetary processes
to improve efficiency,” he said.
know the old system of dealing with budgets was long as it required council to
wait for the Ministry of Local Government to approve their budgets. As we move
towards devolution of power, we hope to see changes being made in budgetary processes
to improve efficiency,” he said.
