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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
The hearing by a parliamentary portfolio committee into imports of wheat worth US$27 million by Drotsky Private Limited on behalf of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) was aborted yesterday after failure to agree on the use of lawyers.
GMAZ chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara objected to the decision to limit participation of his lawyers during the proceedings, after Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda had written allowing him to be accompanied by lawyers of his choice to the hearing.
“I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th May 2020, responding to my letter of the 12th of May 2020 regarding the above,” wrote Mr Chokuda.
“As discussed in our meeting today, I reconfirm that your client may be accompanied by a legal practititoner of his choice.”
The hearing was part of an inquiry by the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement chaired by Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
This is the second time the committee has failed to sit over the same issue after another meeting was cancelled in February.
Mr Musarara’s request in his capacity as GMAZ chairperson to have his legal representatives allowed to speak during the hearing was rejected, although the committee had no problem with them attending and for Mr Musarara to consult them before replying to any question.
Mr Musarara was yesterday represented by Advocate Lewis Uriri, who was instructed by Chatambudza and Rubaya Legal Practitioners.
When proceedings were about to start, Cde Wadyajena read out correspondence between Parliament and Mr Musarara’s lawyers over the issue of legal representation, before ruling that the lawyers could only be consulted, but could not speak during proceedings.
This prompted Mr Musarara to object to the ruling.
“My understanding is that the Clerk of Parliament and Counsel to Parliament conceded that we are exercising our constitutional right to legal representation of our choice,” he said. “You can consult him, but I am not going to proceed if my rights are trampled on, I will walk away.”
Mr Musarara said his lawyers had met Mr Chokuda on Tuesday where the agreement was made, resulting in their withdrawal of an application they had made at the High Court.
The meeting was then aborted after the parties failed to reach an agreement on the way forward.
Cde Wadyajena said his committee would compile their final report on the issue after receiving the documents they wanted from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Mr Musarara yesterday said his lawyers would file an urgent application challenging the decision to deny him his right to having his legal representatives being allowed to speak on his behalf.
Online Reporter