SPEAKER of the Natonal Assembly Jacob Mudenda has revealed that he has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to report Cabinet ministers failing to attend parliamentary question-and-answer sessions.
The action follows a series of apologies received from ministers who failed to attend yesterday’s parliamentary session.
“I have written a letter to the President and I have clearly indicated that if those honourable members in the Executive do not respond accordingly — including responding to motions and reports of committees — we shall have no option, but to invoke sections of the standing orders in terms of contempt of Parliament,” Mudenda said yesterday in Parliament.
The move is backed by constitutional provisions.
Section 139(d) of the Constitution allows for the questioning of ministers and deputy ministers by senators and MPs.
Section 107(2) compels every vice-president, minister and deputy minister to attend Parliament and its committees to answer questions from legislators.
Over the years, complaints have been raised over wilful absenteeism from Parliament by Cabinet ministers.
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