AG Report, Expected In May

By Shingirai Vambe

Harare:- Following reports that there is some intentional delays of the 2019 – 2020 Auditor General’s report, Mildred Chiri assured the public that the report will be out by May

In a heated debate and arguments regarding the report and its usefulness to the day to day running of government business as well as oversight role by Parliamentarians, Mps asked why it has taken too long to be produced.

Like any other institution, the Auditor told Post On Sunday that her office was also not fully functioning during lockdown hence the delay.

She further added that her office hasn’t been fully funded as per her request early to swiftly do her job without hindrances and delays.

“We have been adversely affected by the lockdown as only skeletal staff was allowed to come to work. Audit by its nature requires interface with the client.

This was not possible as we had to comply with covid protocols. We could have gone round this by carrying our audits online but we could not because we are not automated” she said.

She however highlighted that the audit progress has been very slow as it was being undertaken during intermittent periods of lockdown relaxations with skeletal numbers of staff.

“We are hopeful that our report will be out in May Stakeholders look forward to my report to get assurance on whether public resources have been properly accounted for, the report should be out in May” said Chiri.

Earlier Parliament proposed to treasury during the 2020 budget proposal that Auditor General’s office be fully funded to enable effectiveness within the office but treasury was not prepared to capacitate Chiri’s office.

The previous report by auditor General shew gross misappropriation of public funds by government, a report likely to surface on the much awaited report following summer agricultural season, covid and various activities overseen by government.

However, Section 10 of the Audit Office Act compels the auditor Gen to release the report before June 30 of every year.