Zvoma claims the Fund and the MPs’ vehicle scheme should have been handled by the Clerk’s department, as it is an independent arm of state with its own vote and budget.
In support of Zvoma’s cause is Zanu (PF) Chief Whip Joram Gumbo who said the Finance Minister had failed to follow proper procedure.
“Minister Biti erred in the whole process and we are only being asked now to reconcile the funds which were used last year. There are irregularities in the way Parliamentary business is being handled by Biti,” said Gumbo.
Zanu (PF) has upped its criticism of Biti after the latter has openly challenged President Robert Mugabe on several issues that have exposed the octogenarian leader’s weaknesses.
Independent political analyst, Dr Anthony Kufakwejere, said he did not see anything amiss with the manner in which Biti handled the funds.
“The constituency of the country’s finances is entirely in the Finance Minister and it is illogical for anyone to claim that Zanu (PF) should control everything in this country. We have the diamond sales which are being presided over by the mines minister – but can we say that’s the best practice? What we know is that the treasury is the custodian of the country’s finances through the central bank governor. But here we have a situation where Mpofu is selling diamonds and not declaring dividends to the treasury, it’s not normal,” said Kufakwejere.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News