Source: Parliament goes after Guvamatanga -Newsday Zimbabwe
BIKITA South legislator Energy Mutodi has called on Finance permanent secretary George Guvamatanga to appear before Parliament to answer to allegations of corruption.
Mutodi, who chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, claimed in Parliament on Thursday that Guvamatanga has been demanding kickbacks of between 5% and 10% from contractors in exchange for processing of their payments.
Mutodi alleged that the senior government official’s actions have compromised the government’s creditworthiness and credibility, deterring contractors from working with the government due to fear of being coerced into paying bribes.
He cited Section 119(3) of the Constitution, emphasising that government officials, including permanent secretaries, are accountable to Parliament.
Mutodi said despite several attempts to summon Guvamatanga, he has deliberately refused to appear before Parliament.
“I have got agonising reports, as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, to the effect that high officials at the Ministry of Finance are demanding between 5% and 10% payment for every payment made by Treasury to contractors and for every payment remitted to ministries and for every payment remitted to departments of the government,” he said.
“What this is doing is that when contractors contract work given by the government, they have to take into effect at least a 10% premium demanded as a form of corruption by officials at the Ministry of Finance.
“Additionally, what this means is that when a contractor who seeks his payment from government fails to secure the payment and is being forced to pay such a premium, the contractors will then refuse to further contract any kind of work for the government, making the creditworthiness and credibility and integrity of our government very much compromised.”
Added Mutodi: “Therefore, contractors are no longer willing to deal with the government on the basis that they will not be able to get their money if they refuse to pay any corrupting fees.
“In terms of Section 119(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, all MDAs [ministries, departments, agencies], including the Ministry of Finance, the permanent secretary and all directors in that office are accountable to Parliament.
“For that reason, these permanent secretaries, the directors and different officials in these ministries are not undertaking their own personal businesses in those offices, but they are being delegated by us because it is us who are elected by the people.
“I, therefore, urge this House to ensure that we call the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance, George Guvamatanga, to come and appear before this august House and answer charges of corruption, answer charges of asking to be paid a 5% to 10% premium by contractors and all payments made by the Treasury.”
Mutodi said he had made several attempts to call Guvamatanga to appear before Parliament, but “he has deliberately refused”.
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