PARLIAMENT has resolved to constitute a Privileges Committee to look into allegations against Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa that he and three others allegedly demanded $400 000 from a local businessman keen to mine coal at Hwange Colliery.
Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda on Thursday upheld a motion by Makoni South lawmaker Cde Misheck Mataranyika (Zanu-PF) that allegations against Mr Mliswa were of a serious nature requiring investigations by Parliament in order to safeguard the integrity of the August House.
Mr Mliswa, who chairs Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, was implicated with three other members who are Cde Leonard Chikomba, (Gokwe Kabuyuni Zanu-PF), Mr Anele Ndebele (Magwegwe) and Mr Prince Sibanda (MP Binga North), all from the MDC Alliance.
In his ruling, Adv Mudenda said Section 194 (1) (a) of the Constitution required that Members of Parliament demonstrated high standards of professional ethics.
It reads as follows: “Public administration in all tiers of Government including institutions and agencies of the State and government controlled entities and other public enterprises must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles, (a) a high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.”
Adv Mudenda said Parliament has to act.
“Parliament must be seen to be abiding by this provision among others. Having listened to the Hon Member and the allegations are serious and pose substantial damage to the integrity of Parliament, committees and members mentioned. I therefore rule that the allegations be investigated in order to clear and protect the image of Parliament and its committees and members,” he said
Adv Mudenda said the Committee would in its next meeting constitute the privileges committee and appoint an interim chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy.
Responding to a motion by Mataranyika, Mr Mliswa said he supported the ruling made by Adv Mudenda and offered to step aside as chairperson of the committee until investigations were finalised.
Mataranyika’s motion followed allegations by a local businessman Mr James Ross Goddard of JRG Contracting (Pvt) Ltd that Mr Mliswa and his colleagues demanded $400 000 as “facilitation fee” to enable the latter’s company to secure a mining contract at Hwange.
Mr Goddard alerted Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and Vice President Kembo Mohadi.
“On the 7th of September 2018, Mr Shepherd Tundiya approached us and advised that he has been seconded to Hwange Colliery by the Office of the President and Cabinet to resolve the problems affecting operations there. We advised him that we would be able to assist with mining at Hwange provided that a legitimate contract is in place and that there is a guarantee from the Government of Zimbabwe to adequately fund the mining,” narrated Mr Goddard in a story exclusively published by our Harare Bureau on Monday.
He said they held several meetings with Mr Tundiya in Hwange, Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare.
Mr Goddard’s firm reportedly advised that JRG team could not meet the demand and that it went against the principles that JR Goddard Contracting has been operating under since inception in 1982.
Furthermore, it was reportedly brought to the attention of the legislators that their demand was a very serious challenge to President Mnangagwa’s anti-corruption efforts.
