Speaker to decide on Chinamasa

charges against Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
This followed the allegation by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on mines and energy that Minister Chinamasa lied during the committee’s evidence gathering on Shabani-Mashaba Mines.

The committee also recommended that similar charges be preferred against SMM administrator, Mr Afaras Gwaradzimba, for publishing statements it said were defamatory and demeaned its work.
Mr Moyo made the announcement before the House of Assem-bly began its business yesterday.

“Speaking during the presentation of the report of the portfolio committee on mines and energy on the state of affairs at Shabani-Mashaba on 13th July 2011, the chairperson, Honourable (Edward) Chindori-Chininga, raised procedural issues on which he asked the chair to make a ruling. He stated that the committee noted that two witnesses, namely Mr A Gwaradzimba and Honourable Chinamasa breached provisions of Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act.

“The committee noted that Mr Gwaradzimba was at fault for publishing a potentially defamatory statement in the NewsDay on Friday 4 March 2011 thereby dem-eaning the proceedings and character of the committee,” he said.

Mr Moyo said the committee noted that Minister Chinamasa could have lied under oath on the whereabouts of bearer share certificates he promised to avail to the committee.
“The committee further noted that Honourable China-masa could have lied under oath regarding the possession of bearer share certificates that he promised to avail to the committee. The matters raised by the committee are serious and I shall study the committee report and all evidence gathered by the committee and make a ruling on the matter in due course,” he said.

If convicted, the duo could be jailed or fined.

Presenting the report Cde Chindori-Chininga, said Minister Chinamasa had failed to honour a commitment made under oath to pre-sent the bearer share warrant as proof of Government ownership of SMM after payment of $2 million.

“Three letters from Parliament requesting the minister to fulfil his commitment have been presented to the Minister of Justice (and Legal Affairs) and to date no bearer share warrant from T and N has been presented to the committee,” the report read in part.

“The committee notes the second witness Minister of Justice Honourable Patrick Chinamasa could have lied under oath regarding the possession of bearer share certificates of SMM Holdings that were previously in the possession of T and N.”
The committee said the evidence presented by RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono and the co-Ministers of Home Affairs showed they were also seeking the proof of Government possession of the bearer share warrants.