Effectiveness of Audit Committees in State-Owned Enterprises in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study critically examined the effectiveness of Audit Committees in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Zimbabwe. Despite corporate governance frameworks aligned with international standards and the existence of Audit Committees in State-Owned Enterprises, many of them continue to experience financial mismanagement, weak internal controls, and limited accountability. To examine the effectiveness of Audit Committees in SOEs, the researchers assessed the impact of SOE’s independence, financial expertise, frequency of meetings, and their size to SOEs performance and their quality of financial reporting. A qualitative research methodology was adopted in which data was generated from 17 participants picked from current and previous Audit Committee members for 24 State-Owned Enterprises. Data analysis was done using the thematic approach. The findings indicate that audit committee independence and financial expertise have a statistically significant positive relationship with quality of financial reporting and effectiveness of internal control. However, political interference and limited enforcement of governance regulations weaken overall audit committee performance. The findings have implications for policymakers, regulators, and boards seeking to enhance accountability and sustainability in state-owned enterprises.