- Committee Chair Caston Matewu spoke at a breakfast meeting on mining oversight.
- The session focused on clear timelines, responsibilities, and monitoring progress.
- Attendees discussed improving accountability and transparency in state-linked mining firms.
THE PARLIAMENTARY Public Accounts Committee in Zimbabwe is advocating for tighter scrutiny of state-linked mining companies, weeks after they directed the Mines Ministry to hand over documents related to Apple Bridge Investments.
During the breakfast meeting focused on accountability in mining state-owned enterprises, committee chairperson Caston Matewu said there is a need to implement “clear timelines, assigned responsibilities and mechanisms for monitoring progress” in the governance of resources.
The meeting was attended by parliamentary committee members and representatives of civil society groups, including ActionAid Zimbabwe, to discuss transparency reforms in the mining sector.
Matewu pointed out that citizens are demanding “full accountability and transparency” regarding the management of mineral revenues.
Zimbabwe’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, released this year, shows the country scoring just 22 out of 100. This is significantly lower than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa, showing ongoing issues with public-sector governance.
Transparency International Zimbabwe has noted that the mining sector is especially prone to corruption. This vulnerability mainly comes from vague contracts and limited public access to information, which are significant flaws in the system.
This renewed push for oversight comes after the committee issued an ultimatum to Mines Ministry Permanent Secretary Pfungwa Kunaka, requiring the submission of board minutes and transaction records associated with Apple Bridge Investments.
Matewu shared that the committee found out that Francis Gudyanga, the former Mines Permanent Secretary, also served as the board chair for the company. Additionally, ministry officials were listed as signatories.
According to the committee, Apple Bridge Investments has allegedly neglected to submit financial statements to the Auditor-General for the past ten years after borrowing around US$1 million from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector continues to be the country’s primary source of foreign currency, which has led to increased parliamentary scrutiny of state-linked entities amid wider governance issues.
