Chinotimba’s contribution on corruption turns Parliament into a circus

Buhera South Member of Parliament Joseph Chinotimba turned the Houseof Assembly into a circus when he began his debate on the Public Accounts Committee Report on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

There were so many interjections and interruptions that Chinotimba hardly said anything apart from the fact that Movement for Democratic Change legislators should not accuse Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leaders of corruption because everyone was corrupt.

He accused the legislators of double standards because they were against Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s efforts to curb corruption in Gweru.

The debate was so heated that one legislator ended up calling another an idiot.

Here is what transpired:

*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Let me thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Mpariwa for she brought out a lot of issues. The issue of corruption is the one I will talk about. For sure we do not want corruption in this country. It is very true what people are saying that if there is any corruption, it should be nipped in the bud.

What the Hon. Members are talking about might be painful to others but what they are saying is true. Even the President said that corruption is not good. The day before yesterday, we saw Members of the MDC and their leader Mr. Tsvangirai also talking about corruption in MDC led councils. What is surprising me is that when the Ministers are doing their duty, let us take for example Hon. Kasukuwere, he descended on City of Gweru and he fired all the councillors. After doing that we saw…

HON. MARIDADI: On a point of order. The issue that Hon. Chinotimba is talking about, I think it is also important to be factual because the councillors of Gweru that he is talking about were exonerated by the courts and there is a court order that they should go back to work. Hon. Kasukuwere is actually the one who is in the wrong because he is ignoring a court order.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can we be very careful on our debate. We are now diverting from the report by Hon. Mpariwa. We are not talking about councils, Hon. Chinotimba, could you please proceed with your debate.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Thank you Madam Speaker, Hon. Chamisa was really articulate that when the Ministers are not doing their job, they should come and report.  Now the Ministers are working but they will be an uproar that why are you persecuting these people.  Leave the Ministers to do their work.  Secondly, corruption – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

Continued next page

(1124 VIEWS)