via You can’t grill Mugabe, MPs told 28 August 2014
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is not obliged to come before parliament to answer questions from MPs, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Mnangagwa, who is the leader of the House, was responding to a question from MDC-T senator for Bulawayo, Agnes Sibanda, who had asked why the president did not appear before parliament to take questions from lawmakers.
The minister said under Zimbabwe’s laws, Mugabe could only appear in parliament when officially opening parliament and when he “feels like delivering” the State of the Nation address.
“This issue of you wanting to grill him here, we have removed that from the constitution. You have to grill these ministers and do so, vaumburudzei ivava maministers (grill these ministers), they represent him and have the answers,” he said.
“Asi kuti titi president vauye pano movabvumburudza nemibvunzo, takati kwete, hazvigone, maministers ndivo vane mhinduro dzose dzamungade (We said it was not proper to summon the president to answer questions in parliament).”
“The idea that he should come here in the Senate or in the National Assembly to answer questions and answer sessions is not there . . . The president will not come here except during the times that I have referred to,” he said.
In South Africa, for instance, it is mandatory for the president to appear before parliament and deliver the State of the Nation address before taking responses from MPs.
Last week, the South African parliament descended into a farce after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs booed President Jacob Zuma after they accused him of evading their questions.
COMMENTS
Yes its true. Mr Mugabe answers to absolutely no-one. A law unto himself.
Grilled, boiled, fried or roasted. Any of these will be good for me
Viva ZIM_ZANU PF democracy Viva! Viva SADC VIVA! VIVA AU VIVA! VIVA African Democracy VIVA!
Why shld any African president, especially a SADC member sate, be answerable to lesser beings anyway? Isn’t it ridiculous. Yes. yes, that’s very un_African. In fact that even the reason our wise JZ mushini wamu is using all sorts of tricks in the bk and elsewhere to avoid answering the poor Malemas of this African world. Surely he has no need to – there is something wrong with SA constitution. How can a good Pan-African constitution allow a whole president to be asked questions. No, no,no,…; African presidents must only ask questions not be asked questions. What for? this is Africa maann! kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. so help us LORD. For how long shall Africa remains a DARK CONTINENT?
You are very stupid!! Very very stupid indeed. Being the president doesn’t mean u are above the laws that u endorsed and expect every citizen to abide with except for u. Why would he evade the questions if at all he claims to be a democratic leader of the people of zimbabwe???? It’s very easy……………
1.)He is very old and he can’t stand the arguments in parliament
2.)Even if he might want to attend, the thought of how he has massively destructed the economy, how he has fueled corruption, how he has slaughtered innocent souls, how he has repeatedly stolen the vote, only to mention but a few, makes him extremely uncomfortable to be in that house. I wonder what democracy u are talking about when u have no freedom of expression, when for no reason u can be harassed by the law enforcement agencies in the streets, when u only need to be ZANU PF to start any business, when u cannot support any opposition party without fear of being victimised, when u are forced to pay for services that u don’t get. I’m sure you took your description of the word ‘democracy’ from the zanu pf dick-tionary, authored by one of your stupid professors, which i think describes it as “the opportunity to loot the country’s resources, steal taxpayers’ money and to provide unfound or sub-standard services to the people of zimbabwe”.
John Thomas spot on. Even if the commander in thief were to answer questions we all know he has no answers !!!!!!!! ( intelligent ones at least !!!!!!!! )
Comrade Robert Mugabe is above everyone in Zimbabwe – he is the king and even referred to as Jesus by some in Zimbabwe’s parliament. How could anyone even think to question his good judgement ?
That’s why Zimbabwe is a stuff up because no one is accountable the top think they are too high and mighty
Mugabe is clueless about the country he leads. His corrupt twisted Ministers only tell him what they want him to hear. This is why at every gathering Mugabe is so well versed with who slept with who in the opposition Party yesterday. He is more aware of how many illicit affairs Tsvangirai has had in the last month than he is with how Mpilo Hospital is functioning with no electricity or any other issue for that matter.
He is fool for not caring enough about the people of Zimbabwe to DEMAND to be in Parliament and answer questions WHO WOULD STOP HIM IF HE DID SERIOUSLY??
A President who has to be kept well away from real questions from real people….at all costs. If he had ANY idea of the real answers he would die of SHAME. He is so out of touch he will go to his grave never believing that he destroyed the future for millions of young Zimbabweans.
But people even pray and ask God for answers. Who does he think he is. This Ngwena, the architect and perpetrator of the genocide in Midlands and Matebeleland is an idiot.
If Mugabe was to be questioned what would he say. His reply would be” how dare you question me you western lackeys. I am the head chief here and what I say goes. Chete.” What an idiot we had to get .
Pliz stop saying Mugabe is on top of everyone ,find yourself a better word .BaMnangagwa think first ,we vote for a person to stand and work for us therefore don’t tell us we not allowed to ask what we want to the president since we don’t even see you ministers in our villages,which village have you been in mathabeleland not ,thus why you think you doing enough,why are you closing his freedom for him to talk to us we vote him then he will know people’s feelings.BaMgabe it’s time for you to force your ministers to resign before that money disapear,havasikushanda ava ngavaende kumba.pliz
Robert irombe chairo
This is a revelation of how they feel but not the truth. ‘Can’t’ question Mugabe is wrong because anyone van. Rather Mugabe doesn’t wanna be questioned is what is pertaining in this matter. Because the man has no answers. Because he feels himself aloof of everybody else. This is a taste of a Mnangagwa rule which might come in the future. Ruthless.
The “word” or political acronym “CHEF” killed this country
Mnangagwa is quite right. You can’t ask Mugabe anything. He is totally clueless as to what is going on around him let alone the country!