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Misihairabwi-Mushonga hits out at MPs resisting anti-corruption drive
05 May 2016 at 10:00hrs | Views
MDC legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has lashed out at fellow parliamentarians for resisting the anti-corruption drive.
Contributing to a debate of the Special Economic Zone on Tuesday, Misihairabwi-Mushonga said he was disappointed that some legislators want to 'push the issue of corruption under the table'.
According to a hansard seen by Bulawayo24.com, she claimed that some MPs begin their term in office 'putting on tennis shoes but within two years, they are beginning to put on these wonderful shoes that are bought for $2 000 a pair'.
She said "I want to go back to the issue of the Bill itself Mr. Speaker Sir. Section 14 of the Bill speaks of the issues around disclosure of interests by members of that Committee.
"This is linked to what Hon. Maridadi raised and I am a bit disappointed Mr. Speaker that we can sit here as Members of Parliament and think that it is okay for us to push the issue of corruption under the table. We are the ones who are supposed to be saying let us deal with the cancer of corruption".
"Hon. Mnangagwa launched an issue around corruption, a long conversation with the Judiciary. I am not sure what we are saying if a Vice President is saying something around a policy issue on corruption and we in Parliament are saying no, let us not talk about corruption. It confuses even the nation because now they do not know if we are pro-corruption or anti-corruption".
She said the disclosure of interest should not just be in terms of a board member wanting to apply.
" It should be anybody who has been chosen as a board member declaring what they have first before they sit on this.
" This issue of disclosure Hon. Speaker, we are the only Parliament that is resisting the disclosure of assets. People come to this Parliament putting on tennis shoes but within two years, they are beginning to put on these wonderful shoes that are bought for $2 000 a pair. We need to begin to say, 'you did not have a shoe when you came here, where did you then get enough money to go and buy a pair of shoes because we know what your assets are'.
"So, this particular board should be the beginning of that declaration of those particular assets. It should not be just disclosure of interest as far as you are applying for something, it should be saying you want to be a member of this board, disclose all your assets and interests because we know that the issues around investments is where a lot of people are getting money".
Contributing to a debate of the Special Economic Zone on Tuesday, Misihairabwi-Mushonga said he was disappointed that some legislators want to 'push the issue of corruption under the table'.
According to a hansard seen by Bulawayo24.com, she claimed that some MPs begin their term in office 'putting on tennis shoes but within two years, they are beginning to put on these wonderful shoes that are bought for $2 000 a pair'.
She said "I want to go back to the issue of the Bill itself Mr. Speaker Sir. Section 14 of the Bill speaks of the issues around disclosure of interests by members of that Committee.
"This is linked to what Hon. Maridadi raised and I am a bit disappointed Mr. Speaker that we can sit here as Members of Parliament and think that it is okay for us to push the issue of corruption under the table. We are the ones who are supposed to be saying let us deal with the cancer of corruption".
"Hon. Mnangagwa launched an issue around corruption, a long conversation with the Judiciary. I am not sure what we are saying if a Vice President is saying something around a policy issue on corruption and we in Parliament are saying no, let us not talk about corruption. It confuses even the nation because now they do not know if we are pro-corruption or anti-corruption".
She said the disclosure of interest should not just be in terms of a board member wanting to apply.
" It should be anybody who has been chosen as a board member declaring what they have first before they sit on this.
" This issue of disclosure Hon. Speaker, we are the only Parliament that is resisting the disclosure of assets. People come to this Parliament putting on tennis shoes but within two years, they are beginning to put on these wonderful shoes that are bought for $2 000 a pair. We need to begin to say, 'you did not have a shoe when you came here, where did you then get enough money to go and buy a pair of shoes because we know what your assets are'.
"So, this particular board should be the beginning of that declaration of those particular assets. It should not be just disclosure of interest as far as you are applying for something, it should be saying you want to be a member of this board, disclose all your assets and interests because we know that the issues around investments is where a lot of people are getting money".
Source - Byo24News
