Temba Mliswa criticises Grace Mugabe for buying $1,35 million diamond ring

Speaking during the debate on the Second Reading Stage of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill on bond notes, Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (independent) yesterday criticised First Lady Grace Mugabe over her alleged extravagant lifestyle, including buying a $1,35 million diamond ring at a time the economy was on its knees and most Zimbabweans were surviving on $1 per day.

Said Mliswa:

We must deal with corruption and extravagance in this country by the Executive because we cannot have a First Lady, who orders a $1,5m ring by externalising foreign currency when there is no money in the country. In my constituency, people have no money and have no access to (medical) drugs and we cannot have an Executive that is corrupt and extravagant, buying very expensive rings when people are suffering.

Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko and Acting Speaker, Reuben Marumahoko, sprang to Grace’s defence, saying it was unfair for Mliswa to attack her on the basis of unsubstantiated media reports and on a platform where the First Lady was not able to defend herself.

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