Parliament Postpones $15 Billion Diamond Revenue Hearing As Zanu-PF MPs Prepare For Primary Elections

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chairperson Temba Mliswa postponed the hearing on the mining activities that took place in the Marange diamond fields due to non-attendance by Zanu PF legislators who are currently going through preparations for primary elections on 5 May. The hearing is expected to take place on April 19.

The committee has been trying to find answers to former President Robert Mugabe’s claim that as much as $15 billion in diamond revenues might have been siphoned out of the country. Said Mliswa:

Our colleagues (MPs) notified us that they are unable to come to the meeting because they have to fight for their constituencies. We have, therefore, decided to move the hearings to April 19. We would have liked to have this done today, but these are circumstances beyond our control and understandably so. We will make sure that next time we come this is concluded.

Mliswa excused some witnesses who had attended among them the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Mr Martin Rushwaya and board members for Anjin and also said Vice President Kembo Mohadi had sent his apologies as he was unable to attend as he is out of the country.

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