Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
ENERGY and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma risks facing contempt of Parliament charges

after he failed to appear before a Senate Thematic Committee three times. Minister Mangoma failed to attend a Thematic Committee on Peace and Security, for the third time yesterday, to explain a number of issues regarding his ministry.

Committee chairperson and Rushinga Senator Damien Mumvuri (Zanu-PF) said they have given Minister Mangoma a last chance to appear before his committee.
“We have given him May 30, 2012 as the last date for him to appear before our committee.
“If he fails to do so, we will be left with no option but to prefer charges against him. We have given him enough time,” said Sen Mumvuri.

The first time he was invited, said Sen Mumvuri, Minister Mangoma said he had already explained the issues before a House of Assembly portfolio committee.
“We wrote to him that we are a different committee of a different House, that of Senate.
“The second time was that he was in Brussels for European Union re-engagement talks and we understood that. But today (yesterday) he failed to come and no reason was given,” he said.

Some of the issues the committee wants to raise with Minister Mangoma had to do with Zesa load-shedding on wheat farmers which the committee said was affecting the country’s food security. Another issue relates to challenges at the Chisumbanje ethanol plant.
Meanwhile, Senators yesterday urged the Government to take practical steps to mitigate the effects of drought in drought-prone areas.

They said one way of dealing with hunger was to capacitate the Grain Marketing Board to pay farmers for grain delivered.
The senators were making contributions on a motion by Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi (Zanu-PF) calling upon the Government to increase the level of food assistance particularly in Region 4 and 5 areas.

Zvimba Senator Virginia Muchenje (Zanu-PF) urged Finance Minister Tendai Biti to provide funds for GMB to enable it to pay for grain delivered by farmers.
“There is nothing that entices farmers to continue planting maize because they have not been paid by GMB.

“Farmers are now being exposed to private buyers who exploit them by offering uncompetitive payments,” she said.
Other senators called for the capacitation of extension workers.