Ethics and accountability in municipal supply chain management in Zimbabwe

The release of the 2018/2019 Auditor General's report on the state of local councils, unearthed many governance issues in Zimbabwe. Findings released for Harare City Council painted a dark picture in the general way the supply chain department conducts itself. The study reports on the observance of ethics and financial accountability within the supply chain unit. This article draws on data collected through semi-structured interviews and supported by documents solicited from Harare City Council between the period 2013-2018. Being guided by the network governance theory, the findings of the article revealed failure by council authorities to comply with supply chain management regulations, due to issues of fraud and corruption. The findings further indicate that there is an inadequate system to identify and disclose irregular public expenditure, whilst the performance of service providers and contractors was not monitored. As a result, allegations of fraud, corruption and improper financial conduct in the supply chain process, and ineffective internal controls, remain rampant, thereby weakening service delivery. The article recommends that the Harare City Council should strive for good ethical conduct and proper financial accountability in the Supply Chain Management Unit, which is imperative for improving service delivery in urban communities.