Q & A:
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Good afternoon Madam Speaker, how are you? My question is directed to the Leader of the House, Hon. Vice President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. My question is as follows; we have observed that currently, our country is suffering in terms of the economy. As Government, what steps have you taken to ensure that we fight against corruption because it has now become endemic. What policy has Government come up with to manage corruption? What are we doing as Government to reduce corrupt activities or eliminating it completely? Thank you Madam Speaker.
*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. MNANGAGWA): I thank the Hon. Member for his question which was to the effect that what is Government doing to ensure that corruption is eradicated in this country? Corruption can be eradicated by an Act of Parliament. I do not know if the Members in this august House feel that we do not have sufficient laws to fight corruption, we can come up with additional legislation. There is no other means to fight corruption except the laws of this country. We do have an Anti-Corruption Commission which is a product of this House and they were empowered to fight corruption. Apart from that law, we have several other laws that deal with people who commit offences. If you murder someone you are arrested, if you fight you are arrested, if you steal you are arrested. So, if Members in this august House believe that there is a lacuna in the laws that we have, we will come up with such laws.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question Hon. Vice President, Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is that you have said that there are ways to deal with corruption such as Anti-Corruption Commission, as Vice President who is the leader of this House, we have observed that there is endemic corruption in the newspapers especially concerning ZIMDEF where there was a misappropriation of funds. The Anti-Corruption Commission wanted to arrest Ministers implicated in this case, Hon. Prof. Minister Jonathan Moyo and Deputy Minister Dr. Gandawa. The Anti-Corruption Commission was barred from arresting the Minister and his Deputy. They were barred from arresting these individuals by the Hon. Vice President Mphoko. Once people are given a phone call direct in the Anti-Corruption Commission not to arrest a certain individuals – will the Commission work, will that become effective? Thereafter he went on the National television threatening this country that no Minister will be arrested because I have said so, if you arrest the Minister, you will distabilise the Government. Are we therefore going to allow Ministers to steal with impunity? Who is causing or promoting corruption here? The person who is protecting those who are corrupt! May you please clarify Hon. Vice President?
*HON. MNANGAGWA: I thank the Hon. Member for his supplementary question. What the Hon. Member should bear in mind is that in this country, this House and in his own understanding is that no one has immunity except the President. Everyone else in this country is fair game. They are not above the law – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – There is no one who is above the law. If the Hon. Member is aware that someone did not follow the law, they should go to the powers that carry out this work and then they will be able to conduct their duty.
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