Harare — CABINET will soon decide on the course of action to take against ministers who looted State assets before the formation of the inclusive government in February amid indications that there is convergence in the thinking of the three principals in the transitional arrangement to wield the axe on those caught on the wrong side of the law.
In what might pass for the most callous abuse of power in the country's history, State assets worth several millions of United States dollars were pillaged closer to the formation of the unity government between ZANU-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations.
The plunder of government property and resources was brought to light by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, Mildred Chiri, in her report covering the first quarter of the current financial term.
Government critics are convinced that the few cases that were uncovered in the report could just be the tip of the iceberg that must be unravelled by a forensic audit.
Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, told The Financial Gazette this week that he will table before his colleagues in Cabinet the damning report he received from the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Office on public accounts.
"I will table the report in Cabinet. Cabinet will then come up with a decision on the course of action to be taken," Biti said.
The minister could not immediately say when he intends to table the matter in Cabinet.
The audit report, compiled by Chiri, and tabled in Parliament last month lifted the lid on the looting of State funds and assets among other illegal activities that were perpetrated by some government officials before leaving office.
The report said a government minister went away with a Toyota Prado despite the fact that it was a pool car, which could not be handed out as part of his exit package, while another minister and his deputy are said to have looted a lap top each from the ministry.
At one of the mentioned ministries, the report said: "The former cabinet minister took possession of two motor vehicles which he had been using before leaving the ministry; the former deputy minister was authourised to purchase the vehicle which he had been using before leaving the ministry and the former permanent secretary took possession of four motor vehicles which he had been using when he left the ministry."
Chiri, who conducts three main audits -- financial, value for money and specialised audits charged that the possession of the said assets by the government officials was not authourised.
At another ministry, Chiri said the former minister, his deputy and permanent secretary illegally took possession of three vehicles each belonging to the government. The report also detailed the abuse of funds and fuel.
This could be the first time that action is taken on officials fingered in the looting of public assets exposed by the government's top auditor as previous cases of corruption captured in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's reports have largely been ignored.
Biti's decision to take the matter up with Cabinet for possible action appears to have been influenced by the first Parliamentary report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the state of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office, which described the office as a toothless bulldog.
The report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on November 3 by the PAC chairman, Tapuwa Mashakada, said as part of giving the office teeth, there should be amendments of governing legislation to compel the Finance Minister to table a remedial plan of action on any corrupt activities that would have been brought to light by the auditor-general.
"The committee feels that if audit reports are to have the desired impact, the enabling legislation should place an obligation upon the treasury and the accounting officers whose accounts have been qualified to respond with a remedial action plan to the Comptroller and Au-ditor-General's annual report. The Comptroller and Auditor-General would then follow up on the action plan and report on action taken in its next annual audit," part of the PAC report said.
The committee also said the independence of the Comptroller and Auditor-General was "to some extent compromised" as the incumbent was appointed by the President in consultation with the Public Service Commission. It recommended that Parliament should be consulted instead.
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The idea of immunity to these guys is good. It will put to rest the Tug of political power that has gone on since 2001. Our brothers will cling to power no mater what the nation determine by vote. The only lubricant is immunity. I think immunity is a master key to Opening a New Era. The best for our post GPA government is the have ZANU PF on the opposite because they will use all the skills and experiences to straighten up the governance. This tug of war has seen increasing poverty, disease and illiteracy because resources and energies are being channelled to addressing expedient and selfish political motives at the detriment of the people.
Additionally, the three main prties are in a tripartite tug of war that either is willing to lose. Zimbabwe should champion literacy for the children in Africa because it is through education that a better future for the children and the country can be eked.
The nation needs clean sources of drinking water because clean water translates to good health. Zimbabwe needs functional hospitals, bridges and good roads so that farmers can easily ferry their produce to the highest paying consumer. Zimbabwe needs investment in light manufacturing jobs for urban and rural youth dwellers. Zmbabwe needs investment in its farmers because they are the engine for Zimbabwes agro-based economies. My advice "Stop the Tug of Power National Interests First!"