Ministry of Transport cuts phone bill from $1.9 million to $649 a month after audit

Zimbabwe’s excessive government expenditure can be cut if there is adequate policing. The Ministry of Transport head office cut its telephone bill from $1.9 million, roughly $158 300 a month, to just $649 a month after an audit.

Now Harare West Member of Parliament Jessie Majome says those responsible for the excessive bill must pay their telephone calls.

She said Parliament must now show its teeth because government employees cannot continue to waste government resources with impunity.

“I want to urge that Hon. Members do resolve and unite in order to make sure that we assist the Portfolio Committee that has exposed this to indeed, take measures for once for heads to roll,” she told Parliament during the debate on the Public Accounts Committee’s report on the Ministry of Transport.

“ As I indicated, Madam Speaker, especially where we are told that the Permanent Secretary who was in that ministry showed total lack of remorse and seemed to think that it is particularly okay. 

“I do not blame him because surely, if he can be in charge of pilfering and actually supervise over the missing of funds and not hold account, I am sure he is in his right senses to actually act like it does not matter because he has actually been promoted.

“I would believe that a transfer to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is a promotion.

“It has not mattered so far, but Madam Speaker, let this House put an end to this and draw a line and have consequences visiting upon people. 

“Let us not continue to be numb about these issues.   Madam Speaker, I therefore end my debate by exhorting Hon. Members to indeed, finally resolve to take strident and action, as well as the Anti Corruption Commission. 

“What does it do, why do we have an Anti-Corruption Commission when this is corruption of the highest order?  It has become the order of the day and there are very wide powers that the Anti-Corruption Commission has to stop this kind of behavior.

“The next public official who flouts Government tender procedures or expenditure procedures must know that Parliament will not tolerate it and that we have better discipline,” Majome said.

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