eBusiness Weekly
HARARE – Government has, with immediate effect, dissolved the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority board for failing to uphold good corporate governance principles.
The seven member board, appointed in 2016, was chaired by Tichafa Mundangepfupfu, who was deputised by Idah Mupamhanga. Environment, Water and Climate permanent secretary Grace Mutandiro said the board was operating against the corporate governance principles being espoused by government.
“The wayward conduct of some members of the board was characterised by a departure from playing an advisory role to that of usurping executive powers,” she said.
“It therefore behoves on the Minister to ensure that at all times competent individuals with requisite probity constitute the board.”
Recent press reports indicated that an audit had revealed that the board members could have used funds from the Parastatal unprocedurally to pamper themselves.
The audit, which was conducted by officials from the Auditor-General’s Office, indicated that apart from the board of directors being improperly constituted according to the law, board members were allegedly abusing their authority to loan themselves funds, including using the authority’s assets for personal use without Government approval.
“I noted that the Authority’s board of directors does not have members with financial and legal background, contrary to provision of the Section 5:3(a), IV and 5:3(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), which states that the board should have a member with financial and business management and that one shall be a legal practitioner registered in terms of the Legal Practitioner Act (Chapter 27:07),” reads part of the audit report quoted by the Herald.
In one incident, the board members even splurged more than $17 000 on laptops and cell phones for personal use.
The Audit concluded that not only was the behaviour of the directors in violation of regulations, but the unsanctioned allowances and benefits could also potentially attract penalties from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. – New Ziana
