Illegal vendors, order and Grace Mugabe

There was heated debate in Parliament last week when Binga North Member of Parliament sought clarification from the Deputy Minister of Local Government Christopher Chingosho where First Lady Grace Mugabe got the authority to issue orders to government institutions.

This was during question time when Harare MP Sabina Thembani asked the minister what the government was doing to bring order in local authorities because the government was losing revenue through illegal and unregistered shops and containers.

When Chingosho responded that this was being looked into and the minister Saviour Kasukuwere was going to have a meeting with local authorities, Temba Mliswa asked whether the minister was going to override the First Lady Grace Mugabe because she was the one who issued the order to illegal vendors not to move.

When Chingosho prevaricated in responding Prince Sibanda asked: “My understanding of an order is that it comes from an office that is clothed with authority backed by law.  Where does the First Lady get authority to give orders about issues of governance in the country?”

Deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona intervened saying Chingosho could not answer that question but Sibanda insisted that he should.

First Lady Grace Mugabe issued the order during the “meet-the-people” rallies more than two years ago arguing that this was part of the government’s economic blue print, ZIMASSET.

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