Zimbabwe is not a one-party state

Indeed, all the three political parties that were involved in the negotiations for the GPA are also represented in Parliament, but that should not be taken to mean that government ministers should not be asked some tough questions about the activities of their ministries. It was therefore unfortunate that when Joseph Made was asked tough questions about the Nestle saga good old Ago Mutambara decided to shield him as well as to give the MPs an unnecessary tongue lashing. Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara was wrong to intervene in the manner he did because the nation needs answers to those questions.

In a situation where political parties form a governing coalition, it becomes imperative for backbenchers to play the role of an opposition political party. The questions that would have been asked by opposition MPs will have to be asked by backbenchers regardless of their political party affiliation. It is therefore misleading for Ago to argue that so-called tolerance and inclusiveness imply that backbenchers should not ask tough questions on matters of serious concern to the nation.

It is also not true that the government has a policy of tolerance. What tolerance is the government expressing by totally ignoring the strike by civil servants and even prohibiting the bungling ZBC and the noxious Herald from carrying any news about the strike? Is that tolerance or inclusivity Hon. DPM Mutambara? With regard to the matter of Gushungo Farm, the nation needs to know how Nestle was tricked into purchasing milk from Amais ill-gotten property. Mutambara should not be allowed to block that information from reaching the people of this country.

Parliamentary portfolio committees are doing a lot of good work exposing the corruption that has run rampant in government. Right now, there is massive looting of the Chiadzwa diamonds, and the relevant Parliamentary committee is on the verge of being stopped from probing the matter any further. Will such action mean that the government will be exercising tolerance and inclusivity? What is intolerant about asking for information on matters of national gravity? Why should backbenchers not play their oversight role?

If backbenchers are no longer allowed to ask government ministers tough questions then perhaps we no longer need Parliament under this GNU arrangement. We will probably save a lot of money if we just have the few ministers doing as they please without parliamentary scrutiny until the next elections. I would have thought that Ago was astute enough to understand basic parliamentary procedures.

In classic Ago style, the Hon. DPM went on to preach about personal business and activities and then this, We want to make sure that we do not allow individuals to be victimized because of political affiliation. Where does this man live? Arthur, try telling this to the former white commercial farmers, including the former owner of Gushungo Farm, and find out what they will say to you.

For some reason, Mutambara does not seem to stop saying things that make so many people feel that he is Mugabes personal assistant. This man will make MDC-M lose the next elections big time. A farm is a farm, said Ago as the intimidated MPs listened. If that is the case, why did Ben Hlatshwayo lose his first farm to the same greedy lady who now claims to own Gushungo Farm? No, a farm is who owns it and how it was obtained, Ago. There is much more to a farm than meets the eye.