Harare- The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has disbursed 100 percent of allocated funds to most local authorities, but the majority of councils have failed to account for how the money was spent, a parliamentary committee heard yesterday.

Appearing before the Transport and Infrastructural Development Parliamentary Committee, ZINARA revealed a stark disparity between fund disbursement and utilization, with only two councils—Makoni and Nyanga—providing full evidence on how they had used the funds they received.

ZINARA Chief Executive Officer, Nkosinathi Ncube gave a breakdown of the total ZWG 9 billion disbursed last year adding that the money was allocated to local authorities, Ministry of Transport, Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), Traffic Safety Council, Tural Infrastructure Development Authority and towards other national projects such as the construction and rehabilitation of high impact roads such as the Plumtree to Harare- Mutare road and to DBSA as part of a loan repayment.

Of the funds given to local authorities, Harare City Council got the largest chunk of ZWG121 million while Masvingo got ZWG100 million, Mashonaland West was allocated ZWG84 million, Mashonaland Central and Midlands were awarded ZWG20 million each and Mashonaland East got ZWG13 million.

Said Ncube:

“Only Makoni and Nyanga have come back to say, we got your funds and this is how we have utilized them- here is the evidence. Some local authorities  are yet to do that.”

He told the committee that ZINARA would be disbursing the 2026 funds in March, but because local authorities who would have not acquitted how they used previously allocated funds could not get any funding.

The testimony painted a troubling picture of financial accountability across the country’s local authorities who are on record accusing ZINARA and the transport ministry for the poor state of the roads. 

“Buhera council has only managed to acquit about 31 percent of the funds they received, while Chipinge town, despite receiving everything they were allocated, has only provided evidence for 59 percent of their expenditure,” he said.

Ncube confirmed that this was the same case for councils that received near-full disbursements  as they in turn showed poor accountability. 

Parliament heard that Kariba received 98 percent of their allocation but has only acquitted 61 percent. In Mashonaland West province, performance was mixed—while Sanyati received 100 percent and fully accounted for everything, Zvimba received only 38 percent and has not yet acquitted anything since the beginning of the year.

Matabeleland North’s Hwangwe council received just 39 percent of their allocation and has also failed to acquit those funds. In Matabeleland South, Beitbridge Rural and Beitbridge Town emerged as underperformers, with the town receiving only 39 percent of their allocation.

The hearing also exposed problems with fuel disbursements, where councils were encouraged to collect fuel directly from ZINARA to assist with procurement processes. While most councils collected their fuel, many failed to provide evidence of how it was utilized.

“Though the acquittal upon fuel was fairly higher. Marondera East acquitted their fuel and Harare, which also collected 148,000 liters did demonstrate proper usage, said Ncube .

The ZINARA official noted that some councils, like Buliliima, did not receive fuel at all because they claimed to have no equipment to use it, prompting ZINARA to encourage councils to purchase their own equipment for better utilization.

The Finance Director in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Xavier Chisoko, who represented the Permanent Secretary, acknowledged the seriousness of the accountability gaps.

“From our side, we, as the engineer said, we follow each and every acquittal, but it’s a very pertinent issue,” said Chisoko. He revealed that the ministry is studying funding models from other African countries, particularly Namibia and Cote d’Ivoire, which have emerged as best performers on the continent.

Chisoko also raised concerns about contractor accountability, stating: “I think the equation is not complete if we’re not bringing in the contractor… If you are willing to say you’re a professional, you agree to use government resources to develop a road, and the government gives you those resources. But after some time, the road is peeling off. Issues of accountability have to come through to the private sector as well.”

Despite the accountability challenges, Members of Parliament expressed satisfaction with ZINARA’s presentation and acknowledged the organization’s commitment to sound corporate governance practices. 

The committee commended ZINARA for the timely disbursement of funds to Road Authorities and for promoting transparency through the quarterly publication of disbursement reports, which currently show more than ZWG 9 billion in disbursements for 2025.

The Parliamentary Committee called on Road Authorities to strengthen communication and accountability measures, emphasizing that just as ZINARA publicly reports on funds disbursed, Road Authorities should also publish details of projects implemented using ZINARA allocations to enhance public confidence.

“We believe that these funds are limited,” the ZINARA representative told the committee. “Those who are taking them probably are the ones who need to also come and share with us how they are using them, how they are assuring that the issues of quality will be.”

The committee warned that without proper utilization and quality workmanship, the same roads would require repeated funding instead of allowing resources to reach all parts of the country.