T-FAMILY: ‘Times New Roman’; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt”> – The minister for defence Sydney Sekeremayi has avoided going to parliament on question days to avoid answering awkward questions from opposition legislator Giles Mutsekwa.
The question, which has been on the order paper since October last year, pertains to a report in The Zimbabwean of August 12 2005 revealing that a detachment of the Presidential Guard is providing personal security to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila.
The 50-strong detachment is under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sauta. MDC insiders allege the government has been dragging its feet about setting the record straight and trying to sweep the matter under the carpet.
Mutsekwa also wants to know how payment of such services is being affected and the terms of the agreement and how long the soldiers have been performing these duties. Mutsekwa said failure by the minister to respond to the question could mean there was truth in the matter. “If these allegations were false, he (minister) should have dismissed them immediately,” said the MP.
Rautenbach kicked off farm
KAROI – Fugitive Zimbabwean business tycoon and a top ally of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party, Billy Rautenbach, has been given until May to vacate his farm as the government appears determined to seize all land still in the hands of whites.
Rautenbach, wanted in neighbouring South Africa in connection with fraud involving billions of dollars, was among the few white landowners who survived Mugabe’s farm seizures on account of their close connections with Zanu (PF).
Rautenbach, who has extensive interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), could not be reached for comment on the matter.
The governor of Mashonaland West province, Nelson Samkange, who sanctions land seizures in the area, said there was nothing special about the move to take Rautenbach’s farm, adding that the tycoon would just have to vacate the property if it has been listed for seizure by the government. – ZimOnline
Govt owes Byo Z$100 billion
The Ministry of Rural Resources and Water Development owes council the highest amount with $54, 9 billion while the Ministry of Home Affairs comes in second with a debt of $16,4 billion. The Ministry of Health owes $11,6 billion and the Ministry of Finance Z$7 million.
Ndabeni Ncube said the move by council to engage law firms comes after persistent calls for the government to pay up have hit a brick wall in the past.
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