News / Local
Reporter wrong on MPs Zesa Bills story
08 Nov 2011 at 09:45hrs | Views
THE journalist, who reported that I said that Members of Parliament should not pay their bills including those for Zesa because they cannot afford them, got it all wrong, a Zanu PF legislator has said.
In an interview today, Makhosini Hlongwane, who represents Mberengwa East in the House of Assembly said the scribe who wrote the story about him calling for scrapping of payment of utility rates did not have capacity to grasp the "basic economic issues" that were being discussed in the meeting and the "context" of this statement.
The legislator, who is a veteran broadcasting journalist said he made a clear submission directed the Chief Executive Officer of Zesa Josh Chifamba specifically on the re-industrialization of the country and the costing of bills.
"I only spoke about re-industrialization of the country and the re-scheduling of debts not only for MPs but for everyone. It does not make any sense at all for anyone in Magwegwe to receive a Zesa bill of US$3000.
"How and why the reporter chose to quote what he understands only when so much that is important was said depicts his lack of capacity to cover such events."
The livid MP added, "The reporter did not understand the contextual use of the word exemption which goes a long way to show the shallowness of the journalist in question, his lack of cognitive ability to grasp simple economic issues is embarrassing.
"It is base for the reporter to go to town about MPs and bills that he does not understand, he had every opportunity and right to seek an explanation from me during plenary or after the meeting but he chose to display gutter journalism using my name, which is unfortunate," he said.
Recent press reports are to the effect that Hlongwane urged the utility to consider a full or partial exemption for the legislators.
"Can MPs have an exemption, even a partial exemption from paying (for) electricity? If that is not done, most of them might suffer the embarrassment of having their power disconnected," Hlongwane said.
The story about exemption of bills was published by many media houses and lead in the Chronicle.
In an interview today, Makhosini Hlongwane, who represents Mberengwa East in the House of Assembly said the scribe who wrote the story about him calling for scrapping of payment of utility rates did not have capacity to grasp the "basic economic issues" that were being discussed in the meeting and the "context" of this statement.
The legislator, who is a veteran broadcasting journalist said he made a clear submission directed the Chief Executive Officer of Zesa Josh Chifamba specifically on the re-industrialization of the country and the costing of bills.
"I only spoke about re-industrialization of the country and the re-scheduling of debts not only for MPs but for everyone. It does not make any sense at all for anyone in Magwegwe to receive a Zesa bill of US$3000.
"How and why the reporter chose to quote what he understands only when so much that is important was said depicts his lack of capacity to cover such events."
The livid MP added, "The reporter did not understand the contextual use of the word exemption which goes a long way to show the shallowness of the journalist in question, his lack of cognitive ability to grasp simple economic issues is embarrassing.
"It is base for the reporter to go to town about MPs and bills that he does not understand, he had every opportunity and right to seek an explanation from me during plenary or after the meeting but he chose to display gutter journalism using my name, which is unfortunate," he said.
Recent press reports are to the effect that Hlongwane urged the utility to consider a full or partial exemption for the legislators.
"Can MPs have an exemption, even a partial exemption from paying (for) electricity? If that is not done, most of them might suffer the embarrassment of having their power disconnected," Hlongwane said.
The story about exemption of bills was published by many media houses and lead in the Chronicle.
Source - Byo24News
