Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Air Zimbabwe faces contempt charges

AIR Zimbabwe management faces contempt of Parliament charges after it failed to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on State Enterprises and Parastatals.
They were given a final warning following the management’s failure to turn up before the committee on two successive occasions.
The State Enterprises and Parastatals Management Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairperson, Larry Mavhima said the committee has been disappointed by the conduct of Air Zimbabwe in boycotting parliamentary business and warned that if they fail to turn up on the final request they risk prosecution by parliament.
The parliamentary committee has since set the 26th of this month (October) as the final date the Air Zimbabwe management should appear before the committee.
“Parliament business has been disrupted by two weeks as a result of the boycott and attributed the actions of the Air Zimbabwe management to a lack of understanding, of parliamentary business and powers,” said Mavhima.
According to the Parliamentary Privileges Act, parliament has the power to prosecute and convict anyone found guilt of contempt.
In 2004, MDC-T Senator and fundraiser Roy Bennet was jailed for a year after being found guilty of breaking parliamentary rules following his assault of the then Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa during a land debate.