News / National
MDC-T unhappy with ministers attending Grace Mugabe rally
15 Oct 2015 at 06:37hrs | Views
Musikavanhu MP Prosper Mutseyami (MDC-T) questioned why many ministers did not turn up for the question-and-answer session, instead preferring to attend First Lady Grace Mugabe's rally in Rushinga to Parliament business.
"We saw all ministers on television attending to a Zanu-PF rally. I propose we postpone questions without notice to a later date when ministers are more committed to this country," he said.
Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said it was high time truant ministers were charged with contempt of Parliament as the business of the House was more important than Zanu-PF business.
"What we want is for ministers to account to people because they drive Mercedes vehicles and get salaries from taxpayers, and if they choose to continue to be delinquent and cantankerous, then we should charge them," he said.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said although he had noted that the points raised were valid, it was inappropriate to describe the truant ministers as "cantankerous" because it was a word which means someone is very talkative.
Mudenda said only four ministers had given apologies for their absence. He said in the future Mnangagwa should notify the House when ministers were going to be absent.
Mnangagwa had professed ignorance over the whereabouts of the ministers saying he was not aware whether they were in the country or outside the country.
The rally was attended by senior government and Zanu-PF officials who included Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, who is also Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona, Minister of State in VP Mphoko's office Tabetha Kanengoni Malinga, Home Affairs Minister and Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Advocate Martin Dinha, SMEs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Chris Mushowe, Minister of State for Bulawayo Eunice Sandi Moyo, Senate president Edna Madzongwe and Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios.
"We saw all ministers on television attending to a Zanu-PF rally. I propose we postpone questions without notice to a later date when ministers are more committed to this country," he said.
Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said it was high time truant ministers were charged with contempt of Parliament as the business of the House was more important than Zanu-PF business.
"What we want is for ministers to account to people because they drive Mercedes vehicles and get salaries from taxpayers, and if they choose to continue to be delinquent and cantankerous, then we should charge them," he said.
Mudenda said only four ministers had given apologies for their absence. He said in the future Mnangagwa should notify the House when ministers were going to be absent.
Mnangagwa had professed ignorance over the whereabouts of the ministers saying he was not aware whether they were in the country or outside the country.
The rally was attended by senior government and Zanu-PF officials who included Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, who is also Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona, Minister of State in VP Mphoko's office Tabetha Kanengoni Malinga, Home Affairs Minister and Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Advocate Martin Dinha, SMEs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Chris Mushowe, Minister of State for Bulawayo Eunice Sandi Moyo, Senate president Edna Madzongwe and Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios.
Source - newsday
