Public debt hearing flops as three turn up

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
ONLY three people turned up for a public hearing of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development on the Public Debt Management Bill and the Joint Ventures Bill at the Gweru Theatre yesterday.

The public hearing which had been pencilled for 8AM started an hour later after the arrival of three people.

The committee of seven members of the National Assembly that was chaired by MDC-T legislator Thokozani Khupe went ahead with the hearing despite the low turnout.

Khupe said her committee was going to write to the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, making him aware that the people of Gweru had not been advised by their parliamentary representatives of the public hearing.

Khupe said when such public hearings are announced in the august House, Members of Parliament were supposed to go back to their constituencies to consult the public so that they understand the Bills and what they contain.

In this case MDC-T MP for Gweru Urban constituency Cecil Zvidzai and Amos Chibaya, the MDC-T MP for Mkoba constituency were supposed to report back to their people advising them of the public hearing which they dismally failed to do.

The duo was conspicuous by their absence at the hearing.

Said Khupe, “But as the budget and finance committee when we go back to Parliament we’re going to advise the Speaker that it appears the MPs here didn’t consult their constituents. We will advise them to consult you.”

One of the three participants, Costain Mukanganiki said Zvidzai should have taken the lead by consulting his people before the public hearing adding that the hearing had been held just for academic purposes and not for the benefit of the people.

“We’re not even aware of the Bills and I haven’t seen any one of our MPs here. The number of people here shows that our parliamentarians didn’t do their job,” he said.

The committee moves to Bulawayo today for a public hearing that would be held at the Small City Hall.

Contributions made at the public hearings would be considered by the portfolio committee and included in a report to be tabled in the National Assembly.