Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has applauded the executive for heeding Parliamentary calls to reinstate Mildred Chiri to the Comptroller and Auditor General position saying she is a critical figure in the prudential management of public finances.
Addressing the post budget seminar in the capital on Monday, Mudenda said the direct impact of Chiri’s re-appointment is enhanced fiscal probity in line with the new economic order.
“The search for the new economic order brings me to the question of the re-appointment of the Auditor General, a critical figure in the prudential management of public finances.
“ As you may recall, Parliament applauded the work of the Auditor General, Mrs Mildred Chiri, by unanimously declining the proposed appointment of Mr Mike Ndudzo as Auditor General.
“The direct impact of this appointment will result in enhanced fiscal probity,” said Mudenda.
He added that the re-appointment of Chiri will boost investor confidence locally and internationally.
“ I have, therefore, no doubt that the re-appointment of the Auditor General will boost investor confidence locally and internationally.
“ A clean government attracts business and capital and to that extent, Parliament must ensure total compliance with the financial reporting obligations by line Ministries as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] and the Audit Office Act [Chapter 22:18].
“This will undoubtedly result in improved accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline which was the clarion call of the His Excellency, the President, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa, in his compelling Inauguration Speech and the State of the Nation Address,”he said.
Mildred Chiri was appointed as Comptroller and Auditor-General on February 24, 2004 after joining the Comptroller and Auditor General as an Audit Assistant in 1983, rising through the ranks to the position of Comptroller and Auditor General. Mrs Chiri managed to clear a backlog of the annual Comptroller and Auditor General’s reports which had lagged behind since 2000.
She was fired by former President Robert Mugabe two years before the expiry of her contract leading to the intervention of parliament which fought in her corner.
In her annual reports, Chiri implicated various ministers, government officials and government departments involved in corrupt activities and abuse of office including ICT minister Supa Mandiwanzira who allegedly received a vehicle from the telecoms regulatory body POTRAZ among other cases.
