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Lloyd Gumbo Harare Bureau
A WAR of words erupted during a parliamentary committee meeting yesterday between Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
Kasukuwere was appearing before the committee to give oral evidence on the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust that was established in 2012.
Five diamond mining companies in Marange — Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Jinan, Diamond Mining Corporation and Anjin Investments — were said to have pledged a combined $50 million towards capitalisation of a diamond company that was to be owned by the community.
However, when the companies appeared before the Indigenisation committee they claimed that they had not pledged anything while Anjin Investments said they had only pledged $1,5 million.
Kasukuwere, who presided over the establishment of a number of Community Share Ownership Trusts as Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Development, has been on record saying the mining firms misled the committee.
When he appeared before the committee yesterday, Kasukuwere insisted the firms had pledged through shareholders who were in agreement with the government policy on empowering indigenous Zimbabweans.
The verbal jousting started when Cde Wadyajena said the committee investigations did not amount to witch-hunt before Kasukuwere interjected saying: “Well, it appears so. I think it’s a big witch-hunt. A misplaced one.”
Cde Wadyajena asked how and why the committee would witch-hunt him.
“Chairman, you’ve been very careless, I’ve recordings of your own discussions with journalists. I’ve recordings of your own self speaking on television and trying to impute that there has been corruption. We respect this committee, we respect Parliament but this institution must never be used for political grandstanding. We must take each other seriously,” he said.
But Cde Wadyajena interjected: “Honourable Minister if you’ve any recordings there are authorities where you can take them to. You’re free to take them anywhere, I won’t be intimidated. I’m doing my job and I’ll continue with this investigation.”
Kasukuwere said he had a right to clear his name that had been tarnished by Cde Wadyajena.
Said Cde Wadyajena: “Honourable Minister whether you say I’ve abused my position or what, I’ll not entertain that. May you please behave yourself.
“As I said before, the purpose of the meeting is not witch-hunting. We’re just doing our oversight role as mandated by the Standing Orders Section 160 and 167.”
But Kasukuwere said: “Of course I still strongly believe that witch-hunts are part and parcel of what you’re doing but in a way that’s part of youthful exuberance.”
Responded Cde Wadyajena: “Honourable Minister are you an animal that can be hunted? I doubt! I’m just doing my job. May you please allow me to do my job.”
Kasukuwere said he was too big to be hunted by youths like Cde Wadyajena whom he said was trying to use a catapult to kill an elephant, adding that he would lose the fight.
Cde Wadyajena implored Kasukuwere to present evidence of him to the Speaker of Parliament or the Clerk so that they could take action rather than just threatening him.
Kasukuwere said the decision whether to take the issue up with authorities was his, although he felt he was being subjected to political harassment.
“I think your conduct Chairperson, of your very esteemed committee is not correct. I’m a Member of Parliament just like you, elected by the people of Zimbabwe to be in Parliament. I think you must take this House seriously,” he stormed.
“We get worried when you make Press statements on issues that are before Parliament, I’ve not been heard conclusively and you’re quoted on a number of Press articles including dabbling with these matters on the Internet.”
This prompted MDC-T legislator for Mkoba, Amos Chibaya, to call for a truce between the two arguing that it was their party politics.
But Cde Wadyajena interjected: “I’m challenging him to present the evidence of me talking to journalists to the authorities. He can’t just be making reckless statements. This is a reckless statement.
“You’ve to take the matters where you’re supposed to take them not to me. If you’re so sure I’ve gone around and issued Press statements. I’ve never issued Press statements. You can approach the Speaker of Parliament.”
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