NEW AUDITORS FOR HARARE:

THE Auditor-General has appointed HLB Ruzengwe as the new auditors for City of Harare following the expiry of the contract of previous auditors, Grant Thornton, who worked with council for the past six years.

According to recent Audit Committee minutes, finance director Mr Tendai Kwenda told councillors that Grant Thornton were initially appointed as council’s auditors for three years for 2009, 2010 and 2011, and had their contract extended for a further three years.

“In line with good corporate governance, auditors need to audit for a maximum of six years and thereafter there is need to change the auditors,” said Mr Kwenda.

“The Auditor-General’s Office is mandated with appointing auditors for local authorities and as such has carried out due diligence exercise and has appointed HLB Ruzengwe as the new auditors for the city.

“The new audit charges are more favourable as they are less than the charges that were charged by Grant Thornton.”

The committee enquired about the information that was requested by the auditors in their letter dated October 27 and acting town clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube said a meeting with the audit team and heads of department was held and information was submitted.

Mrs Ncube said she had told the auditors that they should hold meetings with various heads of departments where issues arose.

“The acting town clerk (Mrs Ncube) reported that she had implemented a system whereby responses would be reviewed by heads of department at a heads’ meeting before presenting them to the Audit Committee and this would be effected from next year,” reads the minutes.

The committee enquired on the duration of the appointment.

Mrs Ncube advised that the appointment would be reviewed annually by the Auditor-General, but in most cases the appointment would be for three years.