Harare Correspondent
HARARE – In a show of resolve, Zimbabwe’s Parliament is considering summoning Finance Secretary George Guvamatanga after he failed to appear before the public accounts committee on Monday.
This marks the second time Guvamatanga has skipped an invitation from MPs regarding crucial discussions on financial accountability.
Kuwadzana MP Charlton Hwende, who chairs the committee, emphasized the importance of Guvamatanga’s appearance, stating,
“We have given the secretary and his team a final chance to appear on Friday. We’re preparing summons through the office of the Clerk of Parliament, and if they don’t come, summons will be issued immediately on Friday.”
Hwende added that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube will also be invited to address “police issues” surrounding public accounts during the same session.
The committee meeting was anticipated to review the Auditor General’s report for the 2023 financial year. Before the aborted hearing, Hwende expressed concerns over US$400 million in direct payments made by the treasury to suppliers while bypassing line ministries.
Among the companies scrutinized is Ren-Form CC, a South African firm that controversially received contracts to supply election materials to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission without going through the tender process. Official documents reveal that Ren-Form CC was paid over R1.2 billion by Zimbabwe’s treasury, with R800 million allegedly funneled into bank accounts controlled by Wicknell Chivayo, a businessman known for his political connections and previous allegations of bribery.
The committee has requested Guvamatanga provide details on additional direct payments made to several entities, including Fertiliser Seed Grain (FSG), Ziminya Dam Construction, Ventures Borehole & Exploration, Makomo Engineering, Semwa Dam, and a payment of US$600,000 to Nyika Kanengoni & Partners, the law firm representing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Hwende pointed out that these payments appear to violate the Public Finance Management Act procedures. He noted,
“Supplier payments should be made by ministries and government departments in line with their budgets, but the Finance Ministry has now centralized these, leading to allegations of favoritism and corruption as Guvamatanga, the government’s paymaster, chooses who to pay and who not to pay.”
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Friday’s committee meeting, where MPs hope to hold Guvamatanga accountable for his actions and shed light on the financial practices of the treasury.
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