Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Head of Delegation, Mr. Dennis Dzimiri (Acting Chief Accountant) addresses ZRA officials during their recent meeting.
In the picture in clock-wise direction are Mr. Dennis Dzimiri (in white t-shirt); Mr. Thomson Masvaure (Acting Deputy Director); Mr. Jeremiah Vutete (Principal Accountant); Mr. Nimirod Mavindidze (Principal Economist ); Ms. Agatha Makunganya (Economist); Mr. Peter Kapinga (ZRA Board Secretary and Director – Corporate Services; Eng. Munyaradzi Munodawafa (ZRA Chief Executive); Mr. Edward Kabwe (ZRA Director -Finance); Eng. Boniface Mfula (ZRA Senior Manager -WREM); Mr. Charles Makwangara (ZRA – Projects Accountant); Eng. Sudden Mukuwe (KDRP Contracts Manager); Mr. Langton Pfaira (ZRA Manager- Procurement) and Eng. Sithembinkosi Mhlanga (Director- Projects and Dam Management Services)
The Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance and Economic Development delegation that recently met with the ZRA as part of routine portfolio reviews for projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union (EU); the World Bank and other development partners complimented the bi-national organisation for its transparency and co-operation demonstrated throughout the Mission.
In his closing remarks at the conclusion of the Monitoring and Supervision Mission that the Ministry team was undertaking related to implementation of the multi-partner financed Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP), Head of Delegation and Acting Chief Accountant, Mr. Dennis Dzimiri highlighted, ‘’We did not expect such co-operation and transparency. My team now has a better understanding of the KDRP and the devastating impact that failure to adequately finance and manage the project would have on the downstream communities, and the economies of Zimbabwe and Zambia as well as the SADC region as a whole’’.
Principal Accountant, Jeremiah Vutete, also echoed the same sentiment, pointing out that he was impressed that the ZRA continues to attain clean audit reports.
During the four-day visit, the ZRA made presentations on the Kariba Dam Safety Monitoring and Maintenance programs and the KDRP progress; challenges; disbursements and absorption rates as well as budget projections.
The delegation, however, expressed concern that the project budget had ballooned beyond the original projections as the Contractors identified challenges, such as complex geological formations, which resulted in changes in project scope and attendant costs. The delegation therefore advised that there is need to reach agreement with the Contractors to contain the project costs and to ensure that the works are completed within a reasonable period. The COVID-19 pandemic was also acknowledged as having stalled progress as equipment purchases and other logistics had been negatively affected.
The KDRP comprises two-components, spillway refurbishment and plunge-pool re-shaping. It is anticipated that both components should be completed by the end of 2025. The mission was tasked to acquaint itself with the ongoing works and ZRA operations as part of monitoring the implementation of such projects that are funded by Government (in this case, the Governments of both Zimbabwe and Zambia) as well as development partners such as AfDB, World Bank, the EU and others.
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