Zimpapers Logo

Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu has defended his appointment of Mr Godwills Masimirembwa as chairperson of various State entities, saying he was the best person he found to lead such institutions.Minister Mpofu said he had no regrets over the performance of Mr Masimirembwa who now chairs CMED (Pvt) Ltd.

He was responding to a question from Binga North MP, Mr Prince Sibanda (MDC-T), on what informed his appointment of people to boards of parastatals.

Mr Sibanda also asked why Mr Masimirembwa was fired at ZMDC as soon as Minister Mpofu left the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development if he was as competent as he asserted.

Minister Mpofu rapped Mr Sibanda for misleading the House that Mr Masimirembwa had been fired at ZMDC when he had in fact resigned to contest in the July 2013 elections in the Mabvuku/Tafara constituency on a Zanu-PF ticket.

“I want to assure this House that Mr Masimirembwa is the best there ever was,” he said. “I don’t regret to have appointed Mr Masimirembwa. I will appoint him again if the need arises.”

Mr Masimirembwa was chairperson of the National Income and Price Commission, the ZMDC and now CMED.

Minister Mpofu said wide consultations were made in making the appointment.

Kuwadzana MP, Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T), asked Minister Mpofu to comment on allegations once made by President Mugabe that Mr Masimirembwa had been fingered in a US$6 million diamond bribe scandal involving Ghanaian investors.

Minister Mpofu castigated Mr Chamisa for being selective in his reference to what President Mugabe said about Mr Masimirembwa.

He said Mr Chamisa did not mention that President Mugabe subsequently exonerated Mr Masimirembwa of any wrong doing.

The Masimirembwa issue drew heated exchanges in the House at one stage after Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Marble Chinomona ruled that Minister Mpofu should not respond to one of the supplementary questions posed by MDC-T MPs.

During the same segment, Mkoba MP Mr Amos Chibaya (MDC-T) asked Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa if Cabinet had deliberated on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s supposed heavy-handedness in tax collection against firms.

Minister Chinamasa said Zimra should balance the desire to be firm in its tax collection measures and the necessity to be friendly.