Dodgy Ministers face ED wrath

MOSES MATENGA

Ministers have come under fire for continuously boycotting the crucial question and answer sessions in Parliament with observers saying most of them have no answers to difficult questions they are being bombarded with in Parliament.

Others say the Ministers’ no-show was a sign they do not want to recognise the power of the legislature as one of the pillars of the state that also include the judiciary and the executive.

Zimbabwe is faced with a myriad of challenges that require attention and the Ministers’ attitude smack of running away from accountability.

 “They are avoiding accountability,” political analyst Comfort Ndlovu said. “Remember the appointing authority who is the President has said before that some, if not most of his lieutenants are underperforming. This is what he meant. They can’t face questions,” Ndlovu said.

Their absence has riled Senate president, Mabel Chinomona, and Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda who have threatened to take the matter up with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Political analyst, Rashweat Mukundu, said the executive, Cabinet and the President have no respect for the legislature hence their attitude.

“They have no respect for Parliament,” he said. “Parliament has become a lapdog and a junior state institution to the executive and none of those Ministers who were appointed by the President feel obligated to be accountable to Members of Parliament and these are Members of Parliament who have received so many goodies, it could be stands it could cars or other benefits from the government and many of them are serving at the pleasure of the President and also the likes of (Sengezo) Tshabangu who purports to lead the opposition.”

 Ministers feel powerful and feel superior and that Parliament is not an institution they can submit to in terms of accountability.”

Another analyst, Precious Shumba  said : “The government Ministers mistakenly assume that the executive is superior to the legislature. It is that superiority mentality that drives their conduct and behaviour towards the question and answer sessions in Parliament.”

“The President is the chairperson of the Cabinet and has repeatedly claimed to be a constitutionalist. In a real constitutional democracy, the three arms of the state, Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive have a shared responsibility to the governance of Zimbabwe. They should all play their role in deepening democracy. When Cabinet Ministers avoid presenting themselves before Parliament, the ultimate responsibility rests with the President, starting with the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet to whip the
Ministers into line.”

“By appearing in Parliament and providing justifications and explanations during Parliament sessions, the Ministers will deepen and strengthen their accountability to the citizens through their elected officials,” Shumba said.

“The behaviour and conduct of Cabinet Ministers reflects the thinking and attitude of the President as the head of Government towards the legislature. Parliament has an oversight mandate to ensure that government ministries, departments and agencies executive their public mandates according to government policies.”

Chinomona was incensed by the Ministers’ behaviour last week and said that she will take the matter up with the President.

“I do not know whether there are any Ministers here,” she asked rhetorically.

“Honestly, the Senate is not happy about what is being done by Ministers. I think we are going to send our complaint to the President. I am encouraging the Hon. Senators to just work with the Ministers who are here.”

Only Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and his Tourism and Hospitality counterpart, Barbara Rwodzi were in attendance at the time.

Government Chief Whip, Pupurai Togarepi, said Ministers should attend Parliament unless they have pressing issues assigned to them by the appointing authority and other crucial business to attend to.

“They may have other commitments like attending Cabinet and may also have other commitments to deal with as assigned,” he said.

On critics who argue that Ministers are dodging “bullets” and those who dare attend give “shallow” responses, Togarepi said: “I don’t know where they are coming from because if you have a question, you are guaranteed an answer. They come with their preconceived answers and want to politic but what I know is that the Ministers research on issues and try their best to give answers.

“Our Ministers are well researched on issues they are asked but we have some who just want to politic,” he added.

He said it was an obligation for Ministers to come and answer questions and if they can’t come, they send deputies.

“As government Chief Whip, I always engage these Ministers to say we still want them mainly on Wednesdays,” he said.