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Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter—
Government has condemned 12 Zanu-PF legislators accused of personally approaching representatives of foreign countries and humanitarian aid agencies for assistance, saying their conduct was disgraceful and constitutes misconduct since aid should come through recognised Government institutions. Leader of the House and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa also warned diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe against holding clandestine meetings with individuals and travelling beyond the 40-kilometre radius of Harare without the knowledge of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

He said legislators should approach the Government if they needed assistance for projects in their constituencies.
The responsibility for development, said Minister Mnangagwa, lay in Government’s hands as evidenced by President Mugabe’s recent State visit to China where he signed mega deals on behalf of the country.

Minister Mnangagwa said this while responding yesterday in the National Assembly to questions from legislators during a question-and-answer session.
He urged foreign Governments, aid agencies and individuals wishing to assist Zimbabwe to come through recognised Government institutions.

The media has been awash with reports that 12 Zanu-PF MPs, now popularly known as the “dirty dozen”, were wining and dining with staff at the US Embassy where they were getting project assistance for their constituencies despite frosty relations between Harare and Washington.

Buhera South MP Cde Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) asked Minister Mnangagwa what Government policy said regarding ambassadors who moved around the country holding meetings with people who included MPs without the knowledge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Masvingo Central MP Dr Daniel Shumba (Zanu-PF) sought to know what Government policy was on the engagement of diplomats by MPs on constituency projects.
Minister Mnangagwa said he was saddened to observe that some senior Zanu-PF politicians and legislators thought that diplomatic relations with other countries were aimed at begging for assistance.

“The intention is not to bring them here so that we beg from them, but to establish diplomatic relations.
“These incoming ambassadors will convey our wishes to their Governments just as ours in their countries would do the same,” said Minister Mnangagwa.
He said the electorate would be ashamed to learn that their representatives were approaching unfriendly countries for money when there were ministries and Government departments responsible for that.

“You have the right as MPs to seek and discuss with appropriate authorities, but it’s gross misconduct for an Honourable MP to go to a foreign embassy to seek assistance.

“That role is done by the Government. That’s why we had the Head of Government in China to seek aid,” said.
Minister Mnangagwa said even in the United Kingdom and United States of America, a member of House of Common or Lords or even Congressmen would not be allowed to hold meetings with hostile nations.

On diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, Minister Mnangagwa said some of them were mischievous and were travelling beyond the 40 km radius of Harare without the knowledge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Vazhinji vacho vanemusikanzwa vanongofohla. Vanongopwanya ruzhowa. Have you ever heard members of House of Commons or Lords coming to (Gabriel) Machinga (Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Britain). We have not heard that US Congressmen have done that with our ambassadors,” he said.
Minister Mnangagwa said the rationale for the need to inform Government of trips outside Harare was so that they could have police protection in the event of something happening to them.

He also warned legislators against gullibility, and reading and accepting everything that came out in the media as true as some of this could be unverified information.

“I want to warn that not everything that gets published is true. You must research to find out whether what is published is true,” said Minister Mnangagwa.
The Minister said he was surprised that there were seasoned politicians who were taking everything that they read as true.
“You don’t just swallow, you must take these with a pinch of salt,” he said.

The 12 MPs who had been named as receiving direct US grants have since denied the allegations.
The legislators invited for a handover of $90 000 US grant by the US Ambassador Mr Bruce Wharton recently to be distributed to various groups in the constituencies are: Cde Paul Mavhima (Gokwe Sengwa), Cde Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North), Cde Adam Chamwemurombe (Chipinge West), Cde Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge South), Cde Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Cde Batsirayi Pemhenayi (Mutare North), Cde Kindness Paradza (Makonde), Cde David Butau (Mbire), Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Uzumba), Cde Tapiwa Matangaidze (Shurugwe South), Cde Temba Mliswa (West) Hurungwe, and Cde Paul Chimedza (Gutu South).
However, only Cde Kanhanga, Cde Chamwemurombe and Cde Mutematsaka attended the ambassador’s function.