Zimbabwe Minister, Senior State Official Face Parly Contempt Charges
A lawmaker said instead of answering questions about share ownership trusts, Minister Kasukuwere threatened them and claimed that he was being harassed.
WASHINGTON DC — Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and State Procurement Board executive chairman, Charles Kuwaza, are facing charges of contempt of parliament for failing to attend two parliamentary portfolio committee meetings. Presenting a report on Kuwaza’s conduct in the National Assembly, Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee chairperson, Lovemore Matuke, said he did not take the committee seriously when he failed to provide information about the state procurement board’s operations in the power generation activities in the country. He said in some instances, Kuwaza lied that he had provided the sought information by email to parliament when, in fact, he had not done so. Matuke said Kuwadza had also undermined the committee when he told them that the committee was disorganized. The committee wants the National Assembly to appoint a committee that will investigate Kuwaza for breaching parliament’s privileges and immunities provisions. In another case, Youth and Empowerment committee chairperson, Justice Wadyajena, requested the National Assembly to charge Kasukuwere with contempt of parliament after he threatened him and and his committee when they summoned him to give evidence on the Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust. Wadyajena said his committee was investigation why the five diamond mining companies in Manicaland province’s Marange fields had not donated $10 million each as claimed by Kasukuwere. He said instead of answering questions, Kasukuwere threatened them and claimed that he was being harassed. National Assembly Speaker, Jacob Mudenda, said he will study the two reports and make a ruling on whether the they will be charged with contempt of parliament. Meanwhile, in another development, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa today officially introduced the newly-appointed board members of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Chinamasa said the appointment of the board more than a year after the expiry of the previous board’s term of office was part of restoring confidence in the country’s institutions and economy. The board headed by central bank governor, John Mangudya, is expected to present its first monetary policy next week. Businesswoman Rita Likukuma is the deputy chairperson.