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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (arda) last week complied with Parliament’s directive to furnish it with copies of agreements that it has with its strategic partners. The submission of the documents followed a stand-off between Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture and Resettlement chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya legislator Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena, on one hand, and arda chairperson Mr Basil Nyabadza and chief executive Mr Willard Mbona, on the other.

The committee clashed with Mr Nyabadza after arda had refused to furnish legislators with documents showing the parastatal’s agreements with its partners. arda had argued that the agreements had a confidentiality clause and any submission to “third parties” amounted to breach of that agreement.

Cde Wadyajena confirmed that arda had complied with the directive.
“After Monday’s meeting with arda, they have written to the Clerk of Parliament (Mr Kennedy Chokuda). We can now confirm that arda has submitted all the documents that had been requested,” said Cde Wadyajena.
During the meeting, tempers flared after Cde Wadyajena and Mr Nyabadza traded accusations over the documents.