Clean up Zinara graft, minister tells new board
TRANSPORT and Infratstructural Development minister Felix Mhona yesterday said the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) was riddled with corruption and challenged new board members to clean up the mess at the parastatal.
Mhona made the remarks at a Press conference in Harare, where he announced the appointment of three additional Zinara board members, making them 11 out of the required 12.
Angeline Matopodzi, a former Traffic Safety Council board member, Sthengisiwe Brenda Nhliziyo an accountant and lawyer and group legal counsel for Tongaat Hulett, and Kingston Magaya are the latest appointments to the Zinara board.
George Manyaya was appointed Zinara board chairperson last month along with seven other board members.
One more board member is expected to be drawn from local authorities’ representative, with the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe expected to forward its nominee.
“The second republic is not just talking, the second republic is walking the talk (on) what we promised to the people of Zimbabwe, especially this institution. It was a hive of corrupt tendencies and we are saying we want to see a new Zinara and gradually, this is what we are doing,” Mhona said.
“Yes, we might be having some bad apples among the team, but I am sure by mid-year that we will be an employer of choice because of the work ethic and the new culture.”
The minister said “real work” on the construction of the Mbudzi interchange in Harare would begin in February despite threats to stop the project by “individuals illegally settled around the area”.
“In February, we start real work on the ground. We may have others opposing the project, but it is a national programme and we will, however, give them their right to challenge,” he said.
“The chaotic situation at Mbudzi roundabout is not pleasing and also the situation on the roads in cities is not pleasing. The city fathers have not been managing them well, but we did give them resources. Now there is no time to misuse ratepayers’ money and misuse funds from the fiscus without doing anything.”
Mhona said government was taking measures to ease congestion at tollgates.
“While it may sound hackneyed, let me reiterate the issue of decongestion of tollgates, refurbishment and construction of tollgates, and ensure seamless revenue collection by deploying modern, cutting edge and disruptive technologies,” he said.
“The Eskbank tollgate, we have the Shamva tollgate that we will also move in three to four weeks. There is also the Seke-Dema tollgate and Skyline tollgate among others.”