Parliament's Public Accounts Committee Submits A Warrant Of Arrest For George Guvamatanga
The Parliamentary committee chaired by Tendai Biti has submitted a warrant of arrest against Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga after the later failed to appear before the committee to explain how the government spent the unbudgeted US$10,6 Billion that appeared in the Financial Adjustment Bill HB19 of 2019, Nehanda Radio reports.
According to the publication, officials from Treasury on several occasions failed to attend the Public Accounts Committee’s hearing to explain the circumstances behind the borrowing of money without the consent of Parliament.
Commenting on the issue, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said Guvamatnga has said he is too busy to appear before the committee:
Ministry officials, at first they gave an excuse of covid then later last week they had an excuse that the opinion from the Attorney General was not ready.
We then wrote to them and said, ‘yes we are aware, but the critical issue that we want from you are the timeline in respect of which you will complete the dis aggregation process and the you will forward the books of accounts capturing the US $10,6 Billion to the Auditor General,” Biti said.
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We find the attitude of Mr George T Guvamatanga very disrespectful, very contemptuous of this committee and therefore of Parliament.
So the unanimous decision of this committee is to issue a Warrant of arrest or a Warrant of contempt in terms of the Parliamentary Privileges Act summoning Mr George T Guvamatanga and his officials to appear before our committee on the fifth of October 2020 at 10.00hrs.
If he fails then there are consequences already defined in the Parliamentary Privileges Act. The law will follow the course. The Warrant is issued under the hand of the Clerk of Parliament. We are advising the Clerk to issue the Warrant.
It is still not clear if Guvamatanga will be arrested or be compelled to appear before the committee. The Committe last year failed to get local tycoon and alleged Zanu PF Benefactor Kuda Tagwirei to appear before the committee.
More: Nehanda Radio
