51 state enterprises fail to submit financial statements for audit

HARARE – In a recent report, Acting Auditor-General Rhea Kujinga revealed that 51 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Zimbabwe have failed to submit their financial statements for auditing, as required by law.

The report also covered key audit findings and recommendations to improve transparency, accountability, corporate governance, and service delivery in the public sector.

Kujinga noted that out of the 51 entities that didn’t submit their financials, 24 had also failed to provide statements for the 2021 fiscal year, while three entities had arrears spanning over five years.

She emphasized that while the COVID-19 pandemic had adverse implications on accountability and transparency, some entities had made progress in catching up with their financial reporting.

However, she added that the automation of revenue collection systems by certain SOEs had enhanced efficiency.

Still, issues persisted, such as unclassified deposits resulting from insufficient customer details and a lack of debtors’ reconciliations due to inadequate accounting staff.

Concerns about asset management were also raised in the report.

State enterprises infrastructure maintenance

Kujinga pointed out that the maintenance of buildings and the replacement of aged fleet had not been adequately addressed in some institutions, which could impact service delivery if not resolved.

On the procurement of goods and services, the enactment of relevant legislation had led to improved transparency.

Still, issues, such as the non-delivery of paid goods, had been noted in the process.

Kujinga acknowledged progress in addressing prior-year findings but highlighted that many issues remained unresolved.

Out of the 206 audit findings raised in her previous reports, 92 had been addressed, 60 were partially addressed, and 54 were not addressed.

State courier Air Zimbabwe continues to sing the blues as it is among 51 state enterprises which failed to submit financial statements for auditing.

The 51 entities that failed to submit their financial statements are as follows, along with the years for which statements are missing:

1. Agriculture Research Council of Zimbabwe – 2022
2. Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) – 2022
3. Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) – 2021-2022
4. Air Zimbabwe (Private) Limited – 2021-2022
5. Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe – 2021-2022
6. Applebridge (Private) Limited – 2015-2022
7. Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund – 2021-2022
8. Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) – 2021-2022
9. Bulawayo School of Hospitality and Tourism – 2020-2022
10. Chitungwiza Central Hospital – 2021-2022
11. Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) – 2021-2022
12. Courier Connect (Private) Limited – 2022
13. Defold Mines (Private) Limited – 2021-2022
14. Environmental Management Agency (EMA) – 2021-2022
15. Forestry Commission – 2021-2022
16. Gwanda State University – 2022
17. Ingutsheni Central Hospital – 2021-2022
18. Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences – 2022
19. Management Training Bureau (MTB) – 2022
20. Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe – 2022
21. Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe – 2021-2022
22. Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company (Private) Limited – 2022
23. Mpilo Central Hospital – 2022
24. National Arts Council of Zimbabwe – 2022
25. National Handcraft Centre – 2009-2022
26. National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) – 2022
27. National Gallery of Zimbabwe – 2021-2022
28. National Libraries and Documentation Centre – 2009-2022
29. National Museums and Monuments – 2020-2022
30. National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) – 2022
31. National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe – 2022
32. New Ziana – 2021-2022
33. Nurses Council of Zimbabwe – 2021-2022
34. Pig Industries Board – 2022
35. Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) – 2022
36. Road Motor Services – 2021-2022
37. Silo Foods (Private) Limited – 2022
38. State Lotteries Fund – 2022
39. United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) – 2022
40. UDCORP – 2022
41. Woodlands Farm (Private) Limited – 2022
42. Zimbabwe Academic and Research Network (ZARNET) – 2020-2022
43. Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education (ZIMCHE) – 2022
44. Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) – 2022
45. Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) – 2019-2022
46. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) – 2022
47. Zimbabwe Posts (Private) Limited (ZIMPOST) – 2022
48. Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) – 2022
49. Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) – 2022
50. Zimbabwe United Passengers Company Limited (ZUPCO) – 2021-2022
51. Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) – 2020-2022