Victoria Falls council used US$114,598 estate funds to buy mayoral vehicle, audit says.
Local Authorities Watch
VICTORIA FALLS — Victoria Falls City Council used US$114,598 from a restricted estate account to buy a vehicle for the mayor, in a transaction the Auditor-General said breached requirements governing the use of the funds.
The audit of the council’s 2024 financial statements found that money held in the Estate Account was diverted towards procurement of a mayoral motor vehicle.
The Auditor-General said the use of restricted estate funds for that purpose could compromise service delivery and was inconsistent with provisions of the Urban Councils Act.
Estate funds are intended for specified purposes and should not be redirected without appropriate legal authority and approvals.
The report recommended that the council comply with the law governing the account and ensure that funds earmarked for restricted purposes are used only for those purposes.
The finding raises questions over whether the council had lawful authority to use estate-account funds for the vehicle, and whether the money will be restored to the account.
Source: 2025 Auditor-General’s Report on Local Authorities, p. 56.
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