A parliamentary committee in Zimbabwe has found the country's Industry and Trade Minister, Obert Mpofu, guilty of contempt of parliament, but acquitted him of charges of presenting false or fabricated documents.
The Parliamentary Privileges Committee investigation was prompted by Speaker of Parliament John Nkomo, when it was learned that Mpofu gave conflicting statements while testifying before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Industry and International Trade in September 2006, about alleged corruption at the state run steel manufacturing company ZISCO STEEL.
The investigating committee, chaired by Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, has spared Mpofu from serving a two year jail term as dictated by the offense, and recommended instead that Mpofu be fined Z$40,000 penalty.
Opposition legislator Moses Mzila Ndlovu told Studio 7 that they reject the committee's judgement and will be calling for Mpofu’s resignation.
Constitutional law expert and chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, Lovemore Madhuku told told Studio 7 reporter Chris Gande that the judgement was predictable.