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HARARE – The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts on Monday chucked out Accountant General Daniel Muchemwa after he failed to answer questions pertaining to the country’s debt.
Committee chair and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti expressed disappointment before summoning the secretary for Finance and other senior Ministry officials to appear before the same committee on December 17 this year.
“We express a great disappointment with the Ministry for failing to answer our questions. We express disappointment in your person as the Accountant General for failing to be useful to our committee. We have come to the conclusion that there is no point proceeding with this meeting,” he said.
Biti accused Muchemwa, who appeared before the Committee alone, for deliberately misrepresenting facts.
“You come alone with no officers, your responses are frightening in that in some instances, they are actually reflecting total lack of understanding of what we are asking or deliberate misrepresentation,” he said.
“So we have resolved that we will summon the permanent secretary, yourself, your deputy, the head of the public debt office Mr Mafararikwa and any other relevant officers to appear before this committee on Monday the 17th of December 2018 where we will ask questions on compliance issues, compliance with the Constitution, compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, compliance with the Reserve Bank Act, compliance with the Public Debt Management Act, and any other law that deals with this.
“We will also focus on debt, domestic debt, external debt, including RBZ overdraft, including Treasury Bills, money given to Command Agriculture and including specific items on the figures you have provided in the 2019 budget blue book,” said Biti.
Biti said the team would be expected to bring a consolidated debt summary. – New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu