via MPs barred from quizzing Kasukuwere | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu on Friday, May 16, 2014
Parliament has blocked MPs from quizzing environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, on the establishment of the controversial $50 million Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust when he was indigenisation minister.
Kasukuwere was due to give evidence before the Portfolio Committee on Indigenisation on Thursday. This followed evidence by five diamond mining companies which contradicted Kasukuwere’s claims that they were to contribute $10 million each towards the trust. In their submissions before Parliament some companies claimed that they were not aware of the trust while others said they had pledged only $1.5 million each.
These contradictions, and the fact that President Mugabe presented a dummy $50 million cheque to the trust, prompted Parliament to summon Kasukuwere.
However reports Friday said the hearing could not go ahead after Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma told committee members that, ‘Kasukuwere cannot be invited to appear to answer and produce documents from a ministry of which he is no longer a minister’ because ‘it is not allowed.’
Zvoma claimed that, ‘when a minister transfers, there is what is called a handover, takeover. He is not allowed to carry even one document out of the office except personal documents.’
The MDC-T MP for Nkulumani, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, said Zvoma told them that it was an ‘oversight’ for the committee to invite Kasukuwere. Mahlangu, who is in the committee, told SW Radio Africa that the members were taken aback by Zvoma’s explanation and as such they will be meeting next week to agree on the way forward.
Mahlangu said the MPs share the belief that they have the right to summon Kasukuwere because their mandate says they can invite ‘anyone right from the vice presidents downwards.’ He said more information is still needed on the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust.
The trust was established in 2012 with a view to giving a semblance of community ownership of the diamond mining. However, diamond mining is still shrouded in secrecy with reports of looting and other related forms of corruption.
COMMENTS
That parliament is useless. the MDC is still giving credence to it.
Stooges
If he cannot take anything from the office except personal stuff during handover/takeover, why did he take the letters he presented as evidence?
Kasukuwere presented President Mugabe, a dummy, $50 million imitation cheque. Maybe he, OBERT and some other pocketed the 50 mil?
A clerk is someone who does the tasks assigned to him by his superior. Zvoma is the Clerk of Parliament, but he is acting as if he is the boss of parliament. MP’s must bring Zvoma before a full parliament to explain his behaviour.
Parliament has no power. It should just close shop.
Judgment is falling and nothing covered will remain uncovered. God is a God of justice!
You wish! If he exists he has turned a blind eye to genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, torture, theft, and fraud by ZANU PF dignitaries starting with Mugabe.
Even if Savour is no longer in that ministry, why is he not giving verbal evidence and then the document will brought to substantiate his statement. This just a cover up. They this open up a can of worms.
Thats right …”it is not allowed” Says ZVOMA
I hoped he would present us with the bit in the Policy or constitution or law which supports his assertion but NO!!
“IT IS NOT ALLOWED.” FOLKS.
How big is the carpet under which this dirty dirrrrrty Government sweeps all this muck?