8 Ministers including the country’s 2 Vice Presidents reportedly snubbed this week’s parliamentary sitting which was supposed to be a question and answer session over COVID-19 concerns, Newsday reports.
Speaker of the Parliament Jacob Mudenda said he had received apologies from:
Hon Rtd General Dr Constantino D N Chiwenga, Hon Kembo C D Mohadi, Hon Oppah C Z Muchinguri-Kashiri, Hon July Moyo, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi, Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu and Hon Cain Mathema
Norton MP Temba Mliswa was reportedly livid and accused the ministers of disrespecting the house given the safety measures that had been put in place to ensure COVID-19 safety measures were observed. Mudenda in response however said some ministers had connected virtually
Some of those ministers who are not here are connecting virtually. I think what we need to do, Hon Mliswa, is to actually indicate that they should be here in the House and not to connect virtually, but my calculation is that, the honourable ministers are present, the Clerk is showing me. But we need to write to them that they should be here in person accordingly.
Sources that observed the proceedings were adamant that the ministers were still fearful of the pandemic that claimed 3 ministers last month.
More: NewsDay