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Investment Promotion chairman Cde Paddy Zhanda following reports by RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono that the legislator sought bribes from him to cause the abandonment of the committee’s investigations into the central bank’s activities.
Dr Gono, who also chairs the RBZ board, made allegations of corruption against Cde Zhanda (Zanu-PF Goromonzi North) in a letter to the portfolio committee chairman dated October 10, 2011.
The letter was also copied to Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma.
Yesterday, acting chairman of the committee Mr Willas Madzimure (MDC-T, Kambuzuma) informed the House of the allegations against Cde Zhanda.
He said the letter was brought to their attention on October 31 this year resulting in the committee recusing Cde Zhanda to allow the probe as required by Parliamentary procedures.
PADDY ZHANDA
In his statement to the House of Assembly Mr Madzimure quoted part of the letter Dr Gono wrote.
Reads part of the letter: “You yourself and myself know a little bit about what is behind this unseemingly unending ‘harassment’ disguised as innocent Parliament inquiries and the sooner we stop going round and round in circles the better.
“You know that I do have evidence of your approaches to me via emissaries to do ‘certain things’ in your favour or else the harassment will not end.”
Mr Madzimure said according to Standing Rules and Order (Section: 13) the committee would not proceed with their investigations into RBZ activities until the matter had been resolved.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Lovemore Moyo, said he would make a ruling on the matter tomorrow.
“I shall study the matter and make a ruling on Thursday 24 November,” he said.
Speaking in an interview afterwards, Mr Madzimure explained the circumstances around the matter.
“Whenever an issue has been raised against the chairperson of a committee, he ceases to be chair and the committee has to appoint a new chair to deal with the matter.
“The committee recused Honourable Zhanda and appointed me and brought the matter to the House.
“The Speaker has said he will make a ruling and he might think there is a case to answer and he will appoint a Privileges Committee to carry out the investigations,” he said.
Mr Madzimure said the committee would want the matter to be finalised urgently.
“The RBZ Governor alleges that in our process of carrying out oversight of the Executive, the chairman sent emissaries asking for a bribe so that he would drop or encourage the committee to drop the investigations.
“He thinks the committee is pursuing other interests outside of interests of Parliament. We therefore want the matter to be dealt with quickly because it holds down the work of the committee,” he said.
The portfolio committee had been carrying out investigations into the operations of the RBZ and also the financial dealings of its board members before the allegations against Cde Zhanda cropped up.
Online Reporter