Mliswa to effect citizen's arrest on Jonathan Moyo and Kasukuwere

NEWLY-elected Norton MP Temba Mliswa (independent) yesterday threatened to effect a citizen's arrest at Parliament Building on Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo and his Local Government counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere over corruption allegations.

The outspoken legislator told journalists on the sidelines of a pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo yesterday that Zimbabwe would remain in the economic doldrums and failing to attract much-needed investment if corrupt ministers were allowed to go scot-free.

Moyo and Kasukuwere are in the eye of a storm over corruption charges, with the former appearing before the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on Wednesday, facing charges of embezzling over $400 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.

Moyo is denying the corruption charges, blaming tribalism and factionalism for his woes.

Mliswa, however, said the two should be arrested, adding he would make the first move by effecting a citizen's arrest on the two in Parliament.

"Those who have put the economy in the mess are still running around walking scot-free, so I was hoping that the police would be able to pick him (Kasukuwere) up here because we no longer want thieves.

"I am prepared to do a citizen's arrest in Parliament. If I suspect that somebody is stealing, I will not hesitate to do a citizen's arrest in Parliament," Mliswa said.

The firebrand legislator had earlier on heckled Kasukuwere during the seminar, calling him a thief.

"We need to identify thieves, the best Patrick Chinamasa (Finance minister) can do is to go back to being the Attorney-General's Office and prosecute these people because no money will come when the government is known for having thieves and, of course, these thieves are equally protected by the Head of State."

Mliswa challenged President Robert Mugabe to walk the talk on corruption to arrest the vice.

"Zacc is working overtime in trying to arrest some of these people, but the law enforcement agency is quiet. The Police Commissioner-General does not have to be reminded of his constitutional obligation that where there is an allegation there must be an investigation," he said.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth and Indigenisation, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, also said corruption had made Zimbabwe an unfavourable investment destination.

"Corruption in public resource management needs to be dealt with to ensure that the limited resources can actually reach and benefit the youth," Wadyajena said.