US diplomat hijacks Parly business

after some MPs objected to the presence of an American diplomat at the meeting.

US embassy first secretary, Mr James Garry, wanted to attend yesterday’s meeting where Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche, was expected to give oral evidence on the proposed ban on second hand vehicles and operational challenges at Air Zimbabwe.

However, in an interview yesterday, Mr Garry said he was not aware that the meeting had been aborted because of his presence. He admitted the fact that the MPs were sometimes speaking in English that he was not welcome.

NICHOLAS GOCHE

“No one told me that the meeting is being aborted because of my presence. I am not aware if that is the case. However, this is not my first time attending committees,” Mr Garry said.
Zanu-PF legislators Cdes Edward Raradza (Muzarabani South) and Noel Mandebvu (Gutu West) threatened to walk out of the meeting if Mr Garry was allowed to attend.

They argued that they had been informed that some members of the committee wanted to grill and embarrass Minister Goche in the presence of Mr Garry to please him.
However, in an interview last night, Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma, said committees were guided by the standing orders, which provided that committee meetings were open to members of the public.

He said it would be proper for diplomats who intend to attend such meetings to inform Parliament.
The committee is chaired by Kwekwe Central MP, Mr Blessing Chebundo (MDC-T). Mr Chebundo then requested the media and Mr Garry to leave the room, while legislators deliberated on the matter.

This resulted in a delay of more than 30 minutes before Mr Chebundo invited Minister Goche and the media to announce the postponement of the meeting. He said the meeting was being postponed because the MPs were still deliberating over the presence of Mr Garry and the fact that Minister Goche had other commitments to attend to.
“We recognise that we failed to start at 10.30am because we needed to look at other procedural issues that needed clarity from our Parliament administration and that took us about 30 minutes.

“When we were about to resolve that issue, we then realised keeping you longer when we are going to take note and accept your request that we have to look at the time factor, we have decided to postpone while we polish smoothly on the procedures,” Mr Chebundo said. Earlier on, Cdes Raradza and Mandebvu had insisted that the meeting could not proceed with Mr Garry present.

MDC-T MP for Pumula, Mr Albert Mhlanga argued that the meeting was open to anyone irrespective of race.
“We cannot have this meeting with this white person . . . Anombodei ko murungu iyeyu. We are not going to have this meeting if he doesn’t leave or we will walk out,” Cde Raradza said.

Said Cde Mandebvu: “What does he want? Why did he not come during the public hearing? We are not going to have this meeting if he doesn’t leave.”
Mr Mhlanga interjected: “Why are you having problems with his presence? Committee meetings are open to anyone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his presence.”

Mr Chebundo then asked the media and Mr Garry to leave the room while they deliberated. After about 10 minutes, Mr Chebundo walked out to consult with Minister Goche. In an interview later, Mr Chebundo said the committee was going to abide by the Standing Rules and Orders Committee. He said the committee could not change the procedures of the committee.

“We cannot change the SROC processes because one member’s objection. We will continue to abide by the SROC which govern parliament activities.
“Parliament business is open to members of the public even the plenary sessions unless if there are other reasons,” Mr Chebundo said.

In an interview after the aborted meeting, Cde Mandebvu said they objected to Mr Garry’s presence because he had been invited clandestinely.
“We had gathered winds that some MPs had a plot to grill and embarrass the Minister to impress the American. This hidden agenda is what we were against. We were questioning the criterion that was used to invite him.

“All we were saying is that we should do business professionally without putting foreign interests ahead of our national interests. The SROC says members of the public may attend, which means they may not attend some meetings depending on the discretion of the committee.

“We wanted to talk about our national interests yet Mr Garry had American interests. How were we going to discuss freely with people who have interests of suffocating our economy present,” Cde Mandebvu queried.
However, Mr Zvoma said: “The matter has been brought to my attention and the committee has since addressed the matter and accepted the position of the standing rules that it’s open to all and sundry.

“The only ground for holding a meeting in camera depends on the sensitivity of the matter being discussed and after an agreement has been reached between the committee and the witness. In that case everyone including journalists is not allowed in.”

He said reasons seeking to exclude certain members from the committee were not provided for in the SROC.
“Let me also point out that Ministers when they come to Parliament they don’t represent their parties but the executive.

“These are competent people who can defend themselves; they don’t need protection from fellow politicians. However, no one is allowed to abuse Ministers.”
Mr Zvoma said it would be proper for diplomats to inform authorities of their intention to attend such business.

“If members of foreign missions have interests to attend Parliament business it would be courteous for them to inform Parliament. There are rules in the country that govern foreign missions and they are clearly outlined by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“Ordinarily, the oversight exercise is to balance between the executive and the legislature on behalf of Zimbabweans and not foreign governments,” Mr Zvoma said.

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