BDO Chartered Accountants director Precious Charandura says non-governmental organisations (NGOs) need to have skilled boards to spearhead the vision of the entities they serve.
This comes after several organisations have collapsed due to the failure of boards without the necessary qualified people to move the organisation forward.
Speaking during the annual NGOs Conference in Nyanga last week, Charandura said it was necessary for NGOs to have a well-trained board.
“The board really sets the tone for the organisation, it is there to provide strategic direction for the whole organisation and are the owner of the vision and mission,” Charandura said.
“We have so many boards in Zimbabwe with people who are clueless about what they are doing, it is important to have the right people at the top to set the right tone for the organisation.”
She added that the appointment of board members should not be based on relations but one’s skills and expertise that speak to the organisation’s vision.
NGOs, the expert said, must be transparent and accountable to gain public trust and even attract more donors.
Charandura said trained boards helped to grow the organisation and thus private consultants or experts must be engaged to train the board in the entity’s vision.
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“There is even a need for board training and inductions. Private consultants and experts must be engaged to teach the board, and this will make many organisations last,” she said.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (Icaz) told guests at the conference that it is stepping into the NGO or nonprofit organisation sector to assist and equip them with skills.
The idea, Icaz said, was to ensure that there is full accountability and transparency in the NGO/nonprofit organisation sector.
“Our focus on empowering nonprofit organisation encompasses not only top-tier financial reporting across Zimbabwe but also the day-to-day management of transactions, controls, governance and strategy,” Icaz president Manyara Chigunduru said.
“Our goal is to equip these organisations with the skills and systems necessary to excel in these areas. By doing so, we aim to maximise value for the sector, ensuring that nonprofit organisation operate with the highest levels of efficiency and integrity.”
She added that nonprofit organisations should undergo an audit, either at funding level or at institutional level, adding that Icaz had almost 90% market share in auditing in Zimbabwe.
This, Chigunduru said, made Icaz better placed to assist with their audit requirements.
