THE current worsening fuel crisis has affected Parliament’s business with two Parliamentary Portfolio Committee trips scheduled for Marondera and Harare cancelled Tuesday owing to shortages.
Members of the committees who had gathered for the trips told journalists that the buses allocated for the trips had no fuel and the visits had to be cancelled.
A fact finding visit to Manyame Milling in Marondera and Parrogatte Investments in Harare by the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Agriculture had to be called off after the bus failed to get fuel while another bus was supposed to travel to Westgate in Harare where Broad Alliance Against Sanctions members who are holding demonstrations opposite the American Embassy in Harare.
Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda dismissed as ‘rumours’ claims that the trips were called off due to fuel shortages.
“The bus for the Marondera trip was away in Kadoma for the last four days. The bus arrived from Kadoma last night but it was too late to be refueled for the Marondera trip this morning. It is not true that there is no fuel. Fuel is available,” he said.
The Clerk of Parliament also explained that the fuel crisis being experienced in the country was not an isolated issue.
“We try as much as possible to save Members of Parliament but you must understand that we do not live in a vacuum. If there are challenges to get fuel in the country, it will affect everyone, not just members of Parliament,” added Chokuda.
