adminZvamaida Murwira Harare Bureau
FORMER Cabinet Minister Cde Webster Shamu was yesterday named in Parliament as the proprietor of Private Lounge, a strip tease joint in Harare that was allegedly used as a recruitment point for the trafficking of 150 girls and young women to Kuwait and other countries in the Middle East.
Several legislators called for the closure of Private Lounge, a night spot in downtown Harare, accusing it of promoting debauchery and demanded that Kuwaiti embassy officials be held responsible for aiding the trafficking of Zimbabwean girls in that country who were eventually used as sex slaves.
Cde Shamu, who was a Cabinet Minister for several years before being fired owing to his alleged links to former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s putschist cabal, denied owning the club saying the allegations were made by people bent on tarnishing his name.
This came out during a motion moved by Goromonzi West MP Cde Beatar Nyamupinga (Zanu-PF), calling for expeditious investigations into circumstances surrounding the enslavement of the girls under the pretext that they would get lucrative jobs in Kuwait.
In her contribution, Cde Nyamupinga condemned the use of ladies for stripping by Private Lounge among other joints.
During the debate, Tafara/Mabvuku MP James Maridadi (MDC-T), said Private Lounge was owned by a member of Parliament, adding that another legislator was subletting stalls at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market where he collected $200 per stand while remitting $15 to council.
He was directed to give names by stand-in Speaker of the National Assembly, Cde William Mutomba following protests from Mbare MP Cde Tendai Savanhu (Zanu-PF), to which he said he would furnish the house with names today (Wednesday).
During the debate, some MPs could be heard shouting the name of Cde Shamu each time legislators from both Zanu-PF and MDC-T made reference to Private Lounge.
This prompted Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T), to ask Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, who had returned to the chair, to direct Cde Shamu, who was already on the floor, to respond to allegations that he owned the joint.
“It’s something that he needs to clarify. I want to get guidance from the Chair if Hon Shamu shouldn’t respond to these allegations because they are serious,” said Chamisa.
Cde Shamu denied owning Private Lounge saying the allegation was one of such spurious charges that included accusations that ZBC bought him a vehicle despite the fact that he got the vehicle from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
“I don’t own any kind of night club in my business activities. Infact, it has become a common feature for people to cast aspersions on MPs by people on my right (MDC-T),” said Cde Shamu.
During debate, several MPs said Kuwait should be held responsible for allowing the exploitation of Zimbabwean girls, some of whom had since returned.
Meanwhile, Adv Mudenda appealed to MPs to call off a demonstration against Kuwait through sitting on the floor. The Speaker said while he agreed with their concerns, allowing them, mostly female MPs, to sit on the floor would disrupt the smooth flow of business considering space constraints.
Online Reporter