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Mnangagwa must be summoned to Parly
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Dzivarasekwa legislator, Edwin Mushoriwa, has called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to be summoned to Parliament to answer pressing questions on matters of national interest. Speaking during a Parliament session on Wednesday, Mushoriwa raised concerns over the growing absence of government ministers and their deputies from parliamentary proceedings, especially during the crucial Wednesday question-and-answer sessions.
Mushoriwa urged Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda to take action against ministers who have been regularly absent, emphasizing that the Head of State should be accountable to the House.
"We think there has been a uniform pattern of ministers that have actually decided not to come on Wednesdays, speaking of the National Assembly," Mushoriwa said. "It is our request that the Speaker makes arrangements for the Head of State and President of Zimbabwe to come before this august House so that this august House and honourable members could actually pose questions to the President."
In response, Mudenda expressed his displeasure with the absenteeism of ministers, confirming that only a handful of Cabinet members attended the session that day. Nearly 30 ministers had submitted apologies for their absence, citing various reasons for not attending.
Mudenda reiterated that according to Section 107(2) of the Constitution, Vice-Presidents, ministers, and their deputies are obligated to attend Parliament and parliamentary committees. He stated that the continuous absence of ministers was unacceptable and that steps would be taken to address the issue.
"I commiserate with you, but with a proviso, quoting the section of the Constitution which requests that His Excellency the President comes to the House; that should not link up with the absence of members of the Executive," Mudenda said, signaling his intent to take action against the absentee ministers.
Mudenda warned that absenteeism would be thoroughly investigated and that those ministers who failed to provide valid reasons for their absence would face consequences. "What you do is, as you rightly say, I will analyse the absenteeism with apologies, of those ministers who were not either in the country doing national assignments or outside the country doing national assignments, and then deal with these individual members of the Cabinet accordingly," he added.
The Speaker directed that the Clerk of Parliament begin an investigation into the matter immediately, and promised to take appropriate action based on the findings.
Mushoriwa's call for the President's appearance in Parliament comes amid mounting frustration with the lack of accountability from key government officials. With the absence of ministers from parliamentary sessions continuing to raise concerns, the Speaker's response signals that the issue will be dealt with seriously in the coming weeks.
Mushoriwa urged Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda to take action against ministers who have been regularly absent, emphasizing that the Head of State should be accountable to the House.
"We think there has been a uniform pattern of ministers that have actually decided not to come on Wednesdays, speaking of the National Assembly," Mushoriwa said. "It is our request that the Speaker makes arrangements for the Head of State and President of Zimbabwe to come before this august House so that this august House and honourable members could actually pose questions to the President."
In response, Mudenda expressed his displeasure with the absenteeism of ministers, confirming that only a handful of Cabinet members attended the session that day. Nearly 30 ministers had submitted apologies for their absence, citing various reasons for not attending.
Mudenda reiterated that according to Section 107(2) of the Constitution, Vice-Presidents, ministers, and their deputies are obligated to attend Parliament and parliamentary committees. He stated that the continuous absence of ministers was unacceptable and that steps would be taken to address the issue.
"I commiserate with you, but with a proviso, quoting the section of the Constitution which requests that His Excellency the President comes to the House; that should not link up with the absence of members of the Executive," Mudenda said, signaling his intent to take action against the absentee ministers.
Mudenda warned that absenteeism would be thoroughly investigated and that those ministers who failed to provide valid reasons for their absence would face consequences. "What you do is, as you rightly say, I will analyse the absenteeism with apologies, of those ministers who were not either in the country doing national assignments or outside the country doing national assignments, and then deal with these individual members of the Cabinet accordingly," he added.
The Speaker directed that the Clerk of Parliament begin an investigation into the matter immediately, and promised to take appropriate action based on the findings.
Mushoriwa's call for the President's appearance in Parliament comes amid mounting frustration with the lack of accountability from key government officials. With the absence of ministers from parliamentary sessions continuing to raise concerns, the Speaker's response signals that the issue will be dealt with seriously in the coming weeks.
Source - newsday
