Parliamentary committee tells Zhuwao to come back when he is sober

A Parliamentary committee looking into how the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment hired Triple Bottom Line consultancy to spearhead the National Economic Empowerment Strategy without going to tender yesterday ordered Youth Minister Patrick Zhuwao to come back when he was “sober and when he understood the questions and issues involved”.

Zhuwao had been called by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment to give oral evidence following testimony by his permanent secretary George Magosvongwe that he awarded the company, also known as 3BL, the job without going to tender.

According to The Herald, Zhuwao, a member of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front G40,  accused the committee chaired by Mayor Wadyajena who is widely believed to be a staunch supporter of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of being on a witch-hunt.

Wadyajena also gave the previous minister Savior Kasukuwere, another member of G40, a torrid time to explain what had happened to the money allegedly paid by diamond companies into the Marange Share Ownership Trust.

Kasukuwere also complained that Wadyajena was on a witch-hunt and warned him that he was hunting an elephant with a rekeni (catapult).

Zhuwao admitted giving 3BL the job but said he was under the impression that the company was doing it for free.

“As far as l know, 3BL did not have a contract with the ministry, but has offered to assist the ministry to be able to fulfil its mandate and I accepted that offer. I will continue to accept offers from any citizen that has interests of economic empowerment,” he was quoted as saying.

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