Chiwenga Cheers Parliamentarians As He "Unexpectedly" Turns Up After Nearly 4 Months
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga cheered Parliamentarians in the national assembly on Tuesday when he unexpectedly turned up after nearly four months.
Members of Parliament have been expressing concern over Chiwenga’s failure or neglect to attend Parliament sessions.
On Tuesday, MPs commended Chiwenga for coming to Parliament reminding him of unresolved grievances.
First, it was independent Norton MP Temba Mliswa who reported Parliament management to the former army general on the welfare of MPs which has been topical in recent months. Mliswa said:
I am glad that the Hon. Vice President is here. Havasisina pekugara vana venyu ma Members of Parliament and it is becoming difficult for us to conduct our responsibilities, our mandate by standing here.
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member Fani Munengami shouted after Chiwenga spoke saying;
Dai maigara muchiuya tisina any problems kana dai izvezvi tiri mumahotels. [We could probably be without any problems if you were regularly attending Parliament sessions. We could be in hotels right now.]
Ministers and their deputies have been missing parliament sessions prompting Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda to say their absence was greatly affecting proceedings in the august house.
Mudenda last year said the absence of the members of the Executive arm of government from Parliament denied legislators the opportunity to raise issues of national interest with the government officials.
Their absence forced Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is the leader of government business to answer questions on behalf of absent ministers.
Mudenda named Chiwenga who doubles as the minister of Health and Child Care and Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri among the chief culprits.
Mliswa also called on parliament to suspend question and answers sessions as per tradition every Wednesday if the cabinet ministers could not commit to the obligation.
