LAST week, we were taken by surprise when Parliament barred former empowerment minister, Saviour Kasukuwere from giving an explanation on how he handled controversial community share ownership schemes in Marange. Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma, said since Kasukuwere left the ministry, he no longer had the obligation to explain how he handled issues involving the country's resources, in this case, diamonds.
The question that arises now is: who should explain how Kasukuwere arrived at the decisions that he made? Why should Parliament force his successor to speak when Kasukuwere is there? Already, there have been conflicting statements coming out of the five diamond mining firms in Marange. They have said they were neither approached about the share ownership trusts, nor did they pledge the US$10 million each that Kasukuwere claimed would come from them.
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