HARARE – The Auditor-General (AG) has exposed critical weaknesses in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) financial management practices, potentially contributing to the multi-million-dollar corruption scandals that engulfed the electoral body ahead of the disputed 2023 elections.
A report by the AG highlights lack of financial expertise within ZEC’s audit and risk committee, which was an illegal merger of the audit and risk committee hence failing to comply with government regulations.
“The Commission’s Audit and Risk Committee had no members with accounting and financial expertise,” reads the report in part.
“In addition, the audit committee was combined with the risk management committee contrary to sections 92 and 94 of the First Schedule of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] which requires every public entity to have essential committees which include Audit Committee, Risk Committee, Dispute Resolution Committee and Remuneration Committee.
“The Commission had no key policy documents to regulate its operations. Policies covering risk management, procurement, information technology and whistle blowing were not in place.”
The AG’s report also revealed that outdated accounting procedures, with manuals not updated since 2012, worsened the electoral body’s financial credibility and integrity.
One of the probable reasons why ZEC experienced payment challenges is the erstwhile Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), used as a surrogate currency by the country, during nomination court payments.
The Auditor General’s findings also shed light on the environment that may have camouflaged recent corruption scandals unearthed within the controversial poll management authority.
In June this publication exposed questionable procurement practices, including the purchase of non-essential items at inflated prices and the bypassing of public tender procedures.
ZEC ordered 2,000 non-flushable toilets on the eve of the August 2023 elections at a cost of US$7.6 million, astronomically inflated at US$3,800 per unit when they retail for about US$300 in South Africa, and were only delivered in April this year eight months after the election.
The electoral body also splurged US$5,4 million on gadgets to display digital V11 polling station forms for last August’s elections also bought at inflated prices which only delivered months after the polls.
Recommendation by the AG in her report included ZEC strengthening its financial management practices through the implementation of robust policies, qualified personnel, and updated procedures is essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and prevent future financial improprieties.
