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Bill Watch Special - Mines Portfolio Committee Meeting 10th January
Veritas
January 09, 2010
Parliament
have confirmed that there will be a meeting of the House of Assembly
Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy on Monday, 10th January
to hear oral evidence from Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs
Patrick Chinamasa on how Mr Mutumwa Mawere’s Shabanie and
Mashava Mines [SMM] companies came to be taken over by the State
under State-Indebted Insolvent Companies legislation. Mr Mawere
gave the committee his side of the story when he appeared before
it on 15th November last year. Mr Chinamasa failed to appear before
the committee on three occasions in December.
The dispute
between Mr Mawere and the Government dates back to 2004 when Mr
Mawere personally, and SMM and his other companies, were declared
to be “specified persons” under the Prevention of Corruption
Act. This placed all his personal and company assets in Zimbabwe
under the control of Government-appointed investigators to look
into alleged corruption involving foreign currency. The specification
was followed by an order, issued by Justice Minister Chinamasa,
placing Mr Mawere’s companies under reconstruction in terms
of the Presidential
Powers (Temporary Measures) (Reconstruction of State-Indebted
Insolvent Companies) Regulations; this order put control of the
companies in the hands of an administrator appointed by the Minister
of Justice. In February 2005 the regulations were replaced by the
Reconstruction
of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act, which confirmed orders
made under the regulations. The companies have performed badly under
the administrator’s management, there has also been a prolonged
failure to pay workers at Shabanie and Mashava Mines and labour
protests brutally put down by police. Failure to pay ZESA bills
led to flooding of the mines, which were eventually shut down, drastically
affecting jobs available in Zvishavane.
Mr Mawere has
always argued that he and his companies were unfairly specified
in a bid by Government to take over his considerable business empire.
In May 2010 the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, after receiving a
report from the investigators showing no evidence of foregn currency
misuse [the reason for specification], revoked the specification
of Mr Mawere and his companies, clearing the way for Mr Mawere’s
return to the country and renewed efforts to recover his companies;
several court cases are before the courts, including one in the
Supreme Court. But the companies remain under the control of the
Minister Chinamasa-appointed administrator under the Reconstruction
Act. Parliament’s investigations are based on the premise
that resolving Mr Mawere’s case is critical to renewed investor
confidence in the rule of law and restoration of jobs in depressed
areas.
Monday’s
meeting will be open to members of the public as observers only
Date and time:
Monday 10th January, 10 am
Venue: Senate
Chamber
Chairperson:
Hon. Chindori-Chininga Clerk: Mr Manhivi
As there are
sometimes last-minute changes to arrangements for committee meetings,
it is recommended that members of the public wishing to attend this
meeting avoid possible disappointment by checking with the committee
clerk that the meeting is still on and still open to the public.
Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 or 252936-55.
If attending, please use the Kwame Nkrumah Ave entrance to Parliament.
IDs must be produced.
Note: Zimbabweans
in the Diaspora can send in written submissions by email to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Veritas
makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take
legal responsibility for information supplied
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