Former Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi was unceremoniously dismissed from Parliament on Tuesday, just days after launching explosive allegations against Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga, whom he accused of running a massive kickback operation worth over US$1 billion. The move has triggered an uproar, with opposition leaders and constitutional experts condemning the decision as an attack on parliamentary independence and free speech.
Mutodi’s dismissal came barely a week after his parliamentary address in which he accused Guvamatanga — a former Barclays Bank chief executive — of demanding kickbacks from government contractors, ministries, and departments in exchange for releasing Treasury funds. The outspoken Goromonzi West MP claimed that the powerful bureaucrat had built an empire of wealth through corrupt dealings, amassing over 5,000 dairy cattle, multiple luxury properties, and vast business interests while serving as a public servant.
Mutodi cited the example of Bitumen Construction, a major roadworks company, which he claimed was forced to pay US$200,000 in bribes for every US$2 million payment processed by Treasury. His allegations, which drew gasps in Parliament and dominated social media discussions, have now cost him his seat — a move that opposition figures describe as “a chilling message to whistleblowers.”
Biti slams “unconstitutional” removal of Mutodi by “desperate cantankerous cartel”
Prominent opposition figure and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti issued a blistering statement following the dismissal, denouncing it as an unconstitutional abuse of power.
“Mutodi’s removal is an abject unconstitutional overreach by a desperate, cantankerous cartel that has captured the State and will do everything — legally and extra-legally — to perpetuate its vice-like grip on the public coffers of this country,” Biti said.
He argued that Mutodi had acted fully within his rights as a Member of Parliament, invoking Section 119 of the Constitution, which grants legislators the duty to hold the Executive and all arms of government accountable.
“Members of Parliament enjoy absolute privilege and an unfettered right to freedom of expression when they speak in the chambers of the August House,” Biti continued. “Honourable Mutodi enjoys this constitutional protection. The issue of George Tongesai Guvamatanga and the alleged bribes he is demanding is already in the public domain and deserves parliamentary scrutiny.”
Biti further noted that many of the concerns raised by Mutodi were not new revelations, as the Auditor-General’s reports have repeatedly flagged Treasury’s growing tendency to bypass ministries and make direct payments to suppliers.
“Under Treasury Instructions, the Public Finance Management Act, and the Constitution, such practices are clearly prohibited,” Biti said. “Mutodi merely reiterated what has been observed for years. His real error was his subsequent retraction and apology.”
Mutodi issued a statement days after his parliamentary outburst, saying he had resolved the issue amicably with Guvamatanga and retracting some of his claims. Observers believe the apology may have been an attempt to save his political career, but it did little to prevent his swift dismissal.
“Understandably, as a loyal member of ZANU PF, it would be expecting too much for him to stand by his words,” Biti remarked pointedly. “A mosquito cannot cure malaria.”
Biti warned that Mutodi’s removal represented a direct assault on the independence of Parliament, setting a dangerous precedent for legislators who question the Executive’s conduct.
“This is a direct attack on the Constitution, which gives autonomy to Parliament,” he said. “It is a direct attack on the institution itself.”
He singled out Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda for criticism, accusing him of enabling the violation of constitutional principles.
“That the Speaker of Parliament is the author and mover of such blatant illegality reflects his desperate co-option in the toxic and ill-fated 2030 agenda,” Biti charged. “His ambition to succeed Vice President Kembo Mohadi has blinded him to his duty as a custodian of constitutionalism.”
Biti described the so-called “2030 agenda” — the ruling party’s developmental vision for an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 — as a façade concealing a merger of corruption and political entrenchment.
“The 2030 agenda represents a conflation between the evil twin agendas of corruption and power retention,” he said. “That conflation has become the greatest existential threat to Zimbabwe. Left unchallenged, it will engulf this country in conflict and chaos and rob Zimbabwe of 15 years of progress.”
He called on citizens to defend the Constitution and resist what he termed the “cabal of bandits and criminals who have surrounded it with knives and machetes.”
“The greatest task and obligation of every citizen is the defence of the Constitution against those who would destroy it,” Biti declared. “This is the historical mission of our generation.”
Mutodi’s dismissal has sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe’s political landscape. While government officials have remained silent, insiders say the decision reflects growing intolerance within the ruling party for internal dissent.
Political analysts view the incident as a warning to ZANU PF legislators not to challenge powerful technocrats or expose corruption within the State.
As of now, George Guvamatanga has not publicly responded to the allegations. However, his allies within the Finance Ministry have dismissed Mutodi’s claims as “reckless fabrications.”
Yet, for many observers, the controversy has opened a wider debate about transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds — and whether Parliament still has the power to challenge those who wield financial authority behind the scenes.
Source- Nehanda radio
