Parliamentary speaker goes after Chikwinya for exposing corruption

By Tichaona Sibanda

Parliamentary speaker Jacob Mudenda has warned the MDC-T MP for Mbizo in KweKwe, Settlement Chikwinya, that he could be charged with contempt of Parliament over his remarks last week that debate on corruption had been watered down.

Mudenda told legislators on Tuesday that Chikwinya’s allegations that the motion on corruption introduced last week by Willias Madzimure, the MP for Kambuzuma, had been tampered with were disrespectful of the Speaker’s chair.

During debate last week the Mbizo MP alleged that Zimra boss Gershem Pasi was one of the country’s top earners at $310,000 per month, adding that Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma needed to be investigated as he was allegedly enjoying a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of MPs who were representatives of the people.

Mudenda castigated Chikwinya for abusing his parliamentary immunities and privileges by making such remarks. Contacted for commented Chikwinya said he was surprised the speaker is not concentrating on the objective of the motion, which is to deal with corruption once and for all.

The youthful MP told SW Radio Africa that Mudenda was dealing with procedural matters and yet the objective is to get to the bottom of how the country has been swindled and prejudiced by corrupt individuals.

‘I want to stand guilty in terms of proving how I went wrong in bringing about corrupt activities—not to stand guilty of defying an order that seeks to bring to the public attention issues that are bringing down our country,’ a defiant Chinkwanya said.

The MP said he viewed Mudenda’s order ‘as an order which is protecting individuals that are close to the person who has given that order.’

He added: ‘I view that order as an order which is stifling my democratic right of representation. But I’m not worried and not moved by such statements, I gladly await to stand before any committee that wants to investigate me.’ SW Radio Africa