CHAIRPERSON of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Indigenisation Justice Mayor Wadyajena has alleged that Youth and Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao blocked him from presenting his committee report on the forthcoming 2016 National Budget.
by xOLISANI NCUBE
The Gokwe-Nembudziya MP posted on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, alleging that Zhuwao had indicated his unwillingness to work with the committee, a development which could jeopardise government business.
“Gutted! Failed to do my presentation, told Min of Youth doesn’t want to work with the comm. (committee) I chair,” Wadyajena posted.
MPs are currently in Victoria Falls for the 2016 National Budget consultations.
The Zanu PF MP yesterday did not respond to questions sent to him by NewsDay to clarify his comments.
However, Zhuwao refuted Wadyajena’s claims, saying he was eager to meet with the committee and exchange ideas on how to run the portfolio.
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“I have not yet had the opportunity to interact neither with the parliamentary portfolio committee, nor with Wadyajena as its chairperson or any of its members,” Zhuwao said.
“I am looking forward to engaging with the committee and its members and benefiting from their advice and wisdom in our collective endeavours to serve the youth and indigenise the economy in pursuit of the ZimAsset vision for an empowered society and a growing economy.”
The two politicians reportedly belong to rival Zanu PF camps angling to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
The youthful MP, who has often spoken in defence of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is always at loggerheads with party colleagues who are allegedly leading a faction called G40. The faction reportedly comprises Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo and Zhuwao among others.
The group has allegedly roped in First Lady Grace Mugabe in a bid to scuttle Mnangagwa’s further ascendancy.
As to confirm that the group is working with the First Lady, Wadyajena used his Twitter handle to attack G40 for allegedly leaving Mnangagwa to defend the First Lady instead of them doing so.
“VP (Mnangagwa) was heckled by MDC-T in Parly (Parliament) for defending Dr Amai! (Grace Mugabe) Where was Team Grace? Dubious coalition of Gangsters. G40 days numbered,” he posted.
Two weeks ago MDC-T MPs took turns to grill Mnangagwa over the First Lady’s involvement in the distribution of government-funded farming equipment at her Zanu PF rallies widely attended by a faction linked to G40.
Wadyajena has previously clashed with Kasukuwere over his administration of the indigenisation committee as the minister felt that the MP was abusing parliamentary processes to settle personal political scores. But Wadyajena accused Kasukuwere of threatening and intimidating him and his committee for merely doing their work.
