HARARE
–
Bikita
South
MP
Energy
Mutodi
has
been
removed
as
chairman
of
Parliament’s
Portfolio
Committee
on
Budget,
Finance
and
Investment
Promotion
after
making
corruption
claims
against
finance
ministry
secretary
George
Guvamatanga.
Mutodi
alleged
in
parliament
last
week
that
Guvamatanga
was
demanding
kickbacks
of
between
five
and
10
percent
from
ministries,
government
departments
and
contractors
before
releasing
budgeted
funds.
Guvamatanga
denied
the
claims
and
accused
Mutodi
of
trying
to
extort
and
blackmail
him.
The
MP
later
withdrew
the
remarks
and
issued
an
apology
to
the
treasury
chief
after
admitting
he
could
not
substantiate
his
claims.
In
a
letter
dated
October
7,
2025,
Speaker
of
Parliament
Jacob
Mudenda
confirmed
the
decision
by
the
Committee
on
Standing
Rules
and
Orders
(CSRO)
to
relieve
Mutodi
of
his
duties.
“This
serves
to
notify
you
that
pursuant
to
Standing
Order
No.
19
of
the
National
Assembly,
the
Committee
on
Standing
Rules
and
Orders
has
resolved
to
terminate
your
tenure
as
Chairperson
of
the
Portfolio
Committee
on
Budget,
Finance
and
Investment
Promotion
with
immediate
effect.
Consequently,
all
benefits
and
entitlements
attendant
upon
the
said
role
shall
likewise
be
discontinued
forthwith,”
Mudenda
wrote.
The
CSRO,
which
has
26
members
including
Senate
President
Marble
Chinomona,
Justice
Minister
Ziyambi
Ziyambi,
Finance
Minister
Mthuli
Ncube,
Deputy
Speaker
Tsitsi
Gezi,
Sengezo
Tshabangu,
and
lawmakers
Maureen
Kademaunga
and
Monica
Mutsvangwa,
reached
the
decision
on
Monday.
Reacting
to
his
dismissal,
Mutodi
posted
on
X:
“A
life
of
suffering.
Mwari
ndiye
anoziva
(Only
God
knows).”
Former
finance
minister
Tendai
Biti
said
Mutodi’s
removal
was
“an
abject,
unconstitutional
overreach.”
He
added:
“Members
of
Parliament
have
a
constitutional
obligation
to
hold
the
executive
and
every
other
institution
to
account
in
terms
of
section
119
of
the
constitution.
“Further
Members
of
Parliament
have
absolute
privilege,
and
an
unfettered
right
to
feeedom
of
expression
when
they
stand
and
debate
in
the
chambers
of
the
august
House.
“Honourable
Mutodi
enjoys
this
constitutional
protection.
He
has
an
obligation
to
raise
a
matter
of
great
national
interest.”