MDC-T Stops Kasukuwere From Fast-Tracking Local Gvt Amendment Bill In ParliamentThe MDC-T Wednesday asked parliament to stop local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere from fast tracking the controversial Local Government Amendment Bill before the public hearing hearings that are currently underway in Matabeleland provinces have been completed. On Tuesday Kasukuwere asked the parliament’s National Assembly to suspend the parliament standing rules and orders relating to the passage of bills so that he could fast track the bill to parliament. MDC T- chief whip and member of the parliamentary legal committee or PLC, Innocent Gonese said he was surprised to see Kasukuwere’s motion on the order paper saying the PLC had not met to consider the bill. He said he was shocked to hear that the PLC had issued a non-adverse report on the bill when in fact the MDC-T members on the PLC, him and Jessie Majome had not attended the meeting which purportedly took place Tuesday. The other members of the PLC are Ziyambi Ziyambi, Jonathan Smakange and Fortune Chasi, all from Zanu PF. Majome is away conducting public hearings on the bill in Matabeleland. Gonese said he and Majome were not given a chance to give their opinion as required by parliamentary rules and regulations. He therefore said because the parliament standing rules and order and the constitution were flouted the motion must be rejected. Deputy Speaker, Marble Chinomona who was standing for Speaker, Jacob Mudenda promised to consult parliament staff before making a ruling on Gonese’s request. Political commentator and Media Centre director, Ernest Mudzengi, condemned the move by Minister Kasukuwere saying while the public’s view is critical Kasukuwere’s moves reflects the Zanu PF’s government’s contempt of citizens. The bill has come under fire from the public, opposition and civic society for among other things giving too much powers to the local government minister. Meanwhile, another opposition lawmaker James Maridadi asked parliament to charge Information, Technology and Courier Services Minister, Supa Mandiwanzira for inferring that the ICT committee had colluded with former Net one managing director, Reward Kangai to tarnish his image. This after Kangai implicated Mandiwanzira in corrupt deals with his Chinese business counterpart. Deputy Speaker Chinomona promised to make a ruling on the matter. Meanwhile in an Auditor General’s Report tabled in the National Assembly by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa today Mandiwanzira’s ministry got unauthorized loans of $194 564 and $95 000 from the Post and Telecommuciations Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe for the purchase of his and his deputy’s vehicles respectively. The Auditor General expressed fear that the ministry may fail to accounts for the loan as these were not authorized by treasury. No media source currently available