Zimbabwe Parliament report on ZINARA 2017-2018 audit –Part 1

9   In other words, the Committee’s mandate is broad. The Committee makes thorough scrutiny over substantive, procedural and legal processes relating to public expenditure.

10 In doing its work, not only does the Committee measure compliance arising from reports of the Auditor General or other reports but the Committee also looks at constitutional and statutory compliance in so far as it relates to financial and audit matters.

Background.

11 The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) was established in 2001 by the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] to administer the fixing, collection, management and disbursement of road funds. The Fund consists of road user charges collected. The funds are disbursed to local authorities, the Department of Roads and District Development Fund for the purpose of road maintenance, rehabilitation and construction.

12 The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) is administered by a board appointed by the Minister responsible for Roads and Transport in terms of Section 8 of the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18]. The board shall consist of 12 members appointed by the Minister, ‘for their integrity and ability and appropriate experience in matters relating to roads’’.

13 The functions of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) are spelt out in Section 7 of the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] and include the following:

“In consultation with the Minister and Minister responsible for Finance;

• to fix road user charges and to collect such charges;
• to allocate and disburse to road authorities;
• to audit the use of funds from the Road Fund;
• to manage the Road funds in accordance with the Act;
• to monitor the implementation of road maintenance works by road authorities;
• to assist road authorities in making annual or multi-year road maintenance rolling plans;
• to assist the Minister in setting maintenance, design, construction and technical standards; and
• to perform any other function that may be conferred or imposed in terms of the Act”.

14 The functions of the Road Fund are spelt out in Section 13(3) of the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] which reads as follows:

‘…to provide a stable, adequate, secure and sustainable source of funding for maintenance works in Zimbabwe and to ensure the equitable allocation of its moneys between road authorities for the purposes of maintenance works’’.

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