PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s business partner Wicknell Chivayo has warned Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi (ZANU PF), who has fallen out of favour, that he will make sure he does not return in the next general election.
Chivayo, a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa known for lavishly gifting cars and cash to local celebrities, defended Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga after Mutodi accused him of corruption.
Mutodi had told Parliament that Guvamatanga was demanding kickbacks of five to ten per cent from government contractors and threatening to withhold payments if they refused.
He later retracted the claims and apologised to Guvamatanga before being removed as chairman of the Budget and Finance Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.
Former senator David Coltart, now Bulawayo mayor and a CCC councillor, criticised Mutodi’s demotion as unconstitutional and a threat to Parliament’s oversight role. Coltart wrote on X:
“The removal of Energy Mutodi as Chairman of the Budget Committee is the perfect opportunity for opposition MPs to exercise Parliamentary Privilege to speak about the allegations originally levelled by Mutodi against George Guvamatanga and by others against Kuda Tagwireyi.
“This is what Parliamentary Privilege is all about- it gives MPs a unique opportunity to speak on a public platform, which is recorded in Hansard and thus available to the public, on topics which other citizens cannot do without fear of defamation actions or worse.
“Until now, there has generally been a deafening silence from MPs. Now is the time in Zimbabwe for them to show their mettle and prove that the electorate was justified in placing their trust in this crop of MPs.”
In response, Chivayo, a convicted fraudster and alleged tenderpreneur, said ZANU-PF no longer wants Mutodi and will make sure he loses his seat in the National Assembly. Wrote Chivayo:
“Mutorei ku CCC kana ku Zanu hatichamudi, as an honourable member trusted with the position of chairman of a portfolio committee we don’t expect you speculate or conjecture in Parliament. Kana seat rake next election we will make sure anodyiwa ku ma primary.”
