MDC-T MP to be charged for contempt of Parliament

PARLIAMENT has started preparing papers to charge Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma for contempt after he defied an invitation to appear before it.

Minister Mangoma refused to appear before a Senate Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on three occasions to explain issues regarding entities falling under his ministry.

Committee chairperson and Rushinga Senator Damien Mumvuri (Zanu-PF) confirmed the development, saying legislators had been riled by the Minister's "arrogant conduct".

"We have raised a complaint against Minister Mangoma after we invited him three times but he failed to turn up," he said.

"We have since engaged Parliament's secretariat to initiate the process required in terms of the Standing Orders."

Sen Mumvuri said the committee will invoke provisions of the Standing Orders that would compel Minister Mangoma to appear before it for the last time.

If he fails, they will approach President of Senate Cde Edna Madzongwe to set up a Privileges Committee that would conduct a hearing.

Sen Mumvuri said their Committee, which is due to meet today, (Wednesday) would approach Senate President, Cde Edna Madzongwe during a sitting and lay out their grounds to show that a prima facie case against the Minister exists.

"We are meeting tomorrow as a committee to finalise the processes," he said.

"Summons would be issued through the Clerk of Parliament compelling the Minister to attend and if he fails, in terms of Standing Orders, we have no option but to use the necessary legal statutes available."

Section 160 (a) of Senate Standing Orders provides as follows: "For the purpose of exercising and performing its functions, a committee shall have the power to summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation."

Schedule Two of the Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act makes it an offence to "disobey any summons issued in terms of the Standing Orders".

The committee wanted Minister Mangoma to explain what measures his Ministry was putting in place to ensure minimum electri-city load shedding for winter wheat farmers.

Minister Mangoma was also expected to explain the challenges around the Chisumbanje ethanol project.

Parliament has in the past charged former Chimanimani MP, Mr Roy Bennett with contempt after he assaulted Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa in early 2000 during a debate in the House.

Shabani Mashava Mine State appointed administrator, Mr Afaras Gwaradzimba, is facing contempt charges after a Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy raised a complaint.

The complaint stemmed from what Mr Gwaradzimba was quoted as saying in a privately owned local daily which the committee said demeaned them.