By Letwin Mubonesi
The widening gap between public finance management and service delivery is characterized by lack of transparency and accountability by local authorities, it has emerged. Tendai Bobo, an Advocacy Campaign Officer at Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and the Socio-economic analyst, Tafadzwa Chikumbu emphasized that it was imperative for the government to prioritize channeling resources towards the citizens and ensure that there is transparency and accountability.
Contributing to the public finance management debate on the Identities Conversations, an Identities Media Holdings platform for public debate and conversations, Tendai Bobo said that, “There is need for accountability and transparency by the local authorities and that we should engage our duty bearers in ensuring that there is transparency and accountability. We elected them in good will hence they should do good to us.”
She added that, all citizens must be engaged and their participation should be consistent.
“Citizens should take part in consultative meetings so that their input will be captured and that as citizens we have the moral responsibility to participate in these developmental issues. We have got the responsibility to know what every dollar has been used for towards the citizens’ upkeep. It should not just be the process for formality’s sake but it should realize the needs and aspirations of the citizens.”
“There is no more important public meeting than budgeting, the process whereby decision makers allocate scarce resources to fund vital public services and facilities. It provides important information about the kind of community people want to live in and which services they value.” Said Bobo.
Mr Tafadzwa Chikumbu, who was also part of the debate emphasized the issue of devolution that the success of the devolution agenda depends on sound public finance management hence there is need to involve stakeholders to ensure accountability and transparency in these systems. He also emphasised that “as citizens we should celebrate the constitution because it provides for all our rights to good governance, accountability by those we put in power and provides the citizens with power to engage and hold accountable.
Citizens have the constitutional right to demand accountability and transparency whenever they feel funds are being misused, and that there is enough platforms in Zimbabwe to hold the government accountable including going to court when they feel there has been mismanagement” said Chikumbu.
“I have this to say, citizens should not be afraid to demand accountability because it is your right. The success of devolution in Zimbabwe lies in the ability to plan and implement, consistent with Section 301 of the National Constitution, on allocation of revenues between provincial and local tiers of government and related frameworks for public finance management, hinged on the financial accountability mechanisms and frameworks. Chapter 17 of the Constitution is rife with the Public Finance Management mechanisms and as such we have the right to summon whoever responsible for funds misuse; revenue generated and expenditure incurred must be available for public view, review and consumption,” he said.
On the same note, they also applaud the Anti-Corruption Commission board for a job well done in bringing to book certain individuals who were misusing the government funds. They spoke about the recently incarcerated ex-cabinet minister, Priscah Mupfumira that they do not just want them arrested but they should bring back the loot which was supposed to help the citizens. They encouraged the ZACC to be non fractionalise, partisan but to hold all accountable.
Nyaradzo Mashayamombe, the host of the show, also supported the notion that culprits should not just get arrested and go away but should bring the loot back so that it will benefit the nation whose education and health is ailing.
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