SENIOR Parliament staff may be creaming off the Treasury in unauthorised fuel allocations amounting to over 1000 litres each, a report by the Auditor General (AG) has revealed.
In his report for the year ended December 2024, acting AG, Rheah Kujinga, revealed how senior Parliament staff in speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda’s office, were allocating themselves several hundreds of litres of fuel outside the authorised quantities.
The AG said this prejudiced the Treasury as there was no paperwork authorising the allocation of such amounts of fuel.
“An examination of the monthly fuel allocation schedule availed for audit revealed that levels from executive assistants to speaker of Parliament were getting allocations from 460 litres to 1440 litres of fuel respectively,” the report read.
“The fuel allocation was 32% above the authorised quantity. Treasury concurrence or resolution from the committee of standing rules and orders (CSRO) for the differential allocation of fuel to management and staff over and above the authorised limit was not availed.
“Management should avail for an audit the Treasury concurrence or the CSRO resolution for the increase in fuel allocation.”
According to the report, Parliament management said the unauthorised fuel allocations were justified, citing section 117 of the constitution which gives the ‘CSRO the mandate to set terms for the staff of Parliament.’
“In that regard clearance for additional allocation to cater for the increased mileage to the new Parliament building was approved by the CSRO,” the management said.
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The AG, however, flagged loopholes in Parliament’s accounting systems such as failing to maintain ledgers for creditors.
Parliament had payment arrears amounting to ZWG211 920 773 with some dating back to 2022, the report revealed.
“I could not verify the accuracy of the balance of ZWG211 920 773 appearing on the statement of payment arrears return submitted for audit,” the report read.
“Section 35 (6) (a) of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19], requires every accounting officer of a ministry to keep or cause to be kept proper records of account.
“The Parliament of Zimbabwe may be sued or penalised for late payments.”
The AG also revealed that there was no evidence showing that concessional loans amounting to ZWL$2 023 118 448 were repaid.
“Documentary reviews of loan agreement forms revealed that the loan repayment period and instalments sections were left blank,” the report revealed.
“There may be loss of revenue to the government if loan tenure and repayment schedules are not specified.”
Findings of Parliaments’ asset register including vehicles was also said to be in shambles.
According to the report, Parliament may have lost several thousands of dollars in undelivered vehicles despite suppliers receiving full payment.
“Three (3) Toyota Hilux GD6 4X4 double cab vehicles procured by Parliament for US$193 443 in March 2023 had not been delivered at the time of conclusion of my audit in May 2024,” the report said.
“In addition, a sixty (60) seater bus and two thirty (30) seater buses procured on March 22, 2022 for ZWL$71 195 687 had also not been delivered at the time of audit conclusion in May 2024.
“There was no evidence of timely follow ups with suppliers by relevant officials.”
