By Anyway Yotamu
The Government has warned bogus organisations using COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai donations as publicity stunts to evade paying duty and an opportunity to be recognized by the President.
Some companies are allegedly using COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai donations to avoid paying duty.
This came to light on Monday 13 July 2020 in Parliament when Director for the Civil Protection Unit in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr. Nathan Nkomo appeared before the Budget and Finance Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.
The Committee, chairperson who’s also legislator for Chikomba West, Honourable Felix Mhona sought clarity on how the government is accounting for various donations that have been made towards humanitarian efforts in particular COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai.
Some companies made pledges to build 500 houses for Cyclone Idai victims and they did not honour their pledges.
In response, Mr. Nkomo said all mechanisms are in place to ensure that donations reach the intended beneficiaries.
“We have created a manual register which goes hand in hand with a computer-generated register because the computer one can be tampered with.”
With the second republic having pronounced zero tolerance on corruption, it emerged that the government has engaged external auditors who are currently working to ensure that everything is accounted for.
