Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators have asked the Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Mugove Chokuda, to recuse himself from a parliamentary committee overseeing investigations into allegations of gold smuggling and money laundering revealed in the Gold Mafia documentary.
According to CCC MPs, Chokuda is facing corruption allegations in connection with a case that is currently before the courts and for which he is on bail.
Chokuda was arrested in March by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for criminal abuse of office after reportedly giving a tender for laptops to a company demanding US$9 200 per laptop, for a total cost of US$1 602 755.77.
Kuwadzana East MP, Charlton Hwende, recently asked in Parliament why Chokuda was sitting in the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee to debate corruption when he was facing the same allegations in court.
“We have seen that the Clerk, Mr. Chokuda, someone who is facing corruption charges after the laptop issue is still part of your procession and is the one who is taking lead to advise you on an issue of such importance that involves corruption that has never been witnessed in this country,” Hwende said.
“We want an explanation also on why Mr. Chokuda is still coming to Parliament because he is bringing this institution of Parliament into serious disrepute. You cannot face serious charges of wanting to buy a laptop for US$9 000 and still come to Parliament and advise our Speaker. Those two matters Madam Speaker, I am sure you are capable of ruling so that we can proceed.”
Harare East MP, Tendai Biti, also raised concerns on irregularities pertaining to the manner in which the “Gold Mafia” matter was being handled by authorities.
He queried why there was a statement purported to be from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, to stop investigations on the matter, yet the decision to investigate had been reached by parliamentarians in the August House.
“Last week, you as the Speaker, recognised after Members, had raised issues around corruption and illicit financial flows, particularly pertaining to what is now known colloquially as the Gold Mafia. You directed that the matter be dealt with by the relevant Portfolio Committee, namely the Public Accounts Committee as well as the Budget Committee. These two Committees have met and made resolutions in respect of those persons that they actually wish to interview. This is consistent with their constitutional mandate,” Biti said.
“We saw a notice yesterday that purported to be coming from the Speaker saying that those investigations by the relevant Portfolio Committees are being stopped because the matter is subjudice. The matter is before the courts but as a matter of fact, there is no matter that is pending before the courts.”
Biti asked if the Speaker of Parliament had powers to reverse decisions made by Parliamentarians.
“Madam Speaker, do you have powers of reversing decisions made in this august House in plenary? Perhaps Madam Speaker, can you clarify whether that statement that purports to be coming from the Speaker is in fact coming from the Speaker and can you confirm that you are going to protect the Constitution because Section 119 (1) says, the key function of Parliament is to protect the Constitution?” he asked.
“Are you going to protect the Constitution and allow the respective Committees of Parliament to do their work because our people are suffering when some elite are stealing from this country?”
The Gold Mafia documentary was produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit and features several people including a government official.
