Ministers Not Attending Parliament

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17 June 2011 Maputo — Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Thursday declared that poverty is suffering great blows struck by Mozambicans, and expressed in the increase in the number of social facilities set up to meet the needs of citizens. Guebuza was addressed at a rally in the locality of Mangani, in Angonia district, on the first day of his working visit to the western province of Tete in his "open and inclusive presidency". As blows against poverty, Guebuza also stressed the increase in food production, the increased number of wells supplying clean drinking water, the rise in the number of schools, and the growth in the telephone network.

SW Radio Africa (London)

Tererai Karimakwenda

17 June 2011

A parliamentary question-and-answer session is reported to have been postponed on Wednesday because only one minister was in attendance.

According to Newsday, cabinet ministers have stopped attending parliamentary sessions and nothing is being dealt with.

The report said the Speaker of Parliament and his deputy have complained about the “truancy” but without success. Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara are reportedly the only ones who attended the Wednesday question-and-answer session.

The Minister for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Eric Matinenga, admitted that bunking off by ministers is a serious problem and explained that he raises the issue every Tuesday in cabinet meetings.

“Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara is also reminding ministers of their obligation to attend all sessions,” he added.

Matinenga said he has no powers to force ministers to attend but he would now bring the issue to the leaders of the political parties, so that they may take a more “threatening” approach than he is able to.

Each minister is responsible for an area of government that affects people’s daily lives, such as water resources, energy, justice, health, education and transport. Ministers are given time to do research on any pending issues before being quizzed by MPs, who then vote on legislation. Parliament does not function if they do not attend.

The ministers are given time to research issues to be discussed in parliament, and those that were delayed this week had been waiting to be discussed for more than two months.

Some observers have strongly criticized MDC ministers for not taking their parliamentary duties seriously. They say party members are being assaulted, tortured or murdered for supporting representatives who are not bothering to bring their concerns to parliament.

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Ministers Not Attending Parliament