Residents ask Parly to order audit for Chitungwiza...

Residents ask Parly to order audit for Chitungwiza Municipality

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

The Chitungwiza Residents Trust has written to Parliament for it to order a forensic financial audit of the town council’s books, with the resident association stressing on transparency and accountability to boost public confidence, amid a growing concern by residents in the handling of council assets.

The residents association has plead with law makers to deliberate on the matter, and order an audit which it believes has been long overdue, the last having being conducted in 2020.

In the petition, addressed to Speaker of Parliament, the residents association has requested Parliament to order an audit, through its executive oversight role, noting that the town council as a public institution fall under that bracket.

According to Chitrest, audits create public confidence, through transparency and accountability hence the hesitance from the council has raised concerns and questions on the operations of the town.

“The petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe using its Executive oversight role, direct the Ministry Local Government to order a forensic audit of the books of the Chitungwiza Town Council from the period of the last audit, and to thereafter report to Parliament on the findings of the auditors,” reads the petition.

The concern also raised by residents which has been forwarded by the association, arises from suspicions on allegations of irregular handling assets and payment of ghost workers.

“Protect the constitutionally determined principles of public financial management in relation to the operations of Chitungwiza Town Council, and subject those operations to immediate scrutiny in keeping with relevant legislation; and Make the appropriate recommendations for the Executive to ensure constitutional adherence.

“Public institutions, because they use public resources, are required to adhere to principles of transparency and accountability. They are therefore required to have their books of accounts and financial records audited on a regular basis. This not only builds public confidence but also acts as a way of demonstrating transparent conduct on the part of these institutions.

“The Council was last audited in 2020.

It is understood that despite previous resolutions by the Council on the matter, there has been resistance to the carrying out of an audit of the records of the Council. This has raised suspicions on the part of residents. These have been fuelled by allegations of irregular handling of Council assets, and the payment of ghost workers,” the petition read.

Chitungwiza Municipality has been in the eye of the storm recently, with questions raised on its opaque deal with cleric Walter Magaya.