Harare, (New Ziana)-The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on Tuesday resolved to summon the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Bhasera, to appear before it next Tuesday, after repeated failures to attend hearings on pressing national issues, including allocation of stands for fuel retail stations in residential areas.
The committee noted that public complaints have mounted over the proliferation of fuel service stations dangerously close to homes.
Committee chair, Kuwadzana legislator Charlton Hwende told reporters that while local authorities were initially instructed to halt processing of licences for service stations, the Ministry continued issuing them — resulting in a surge of stations in residential zones.
“As the Energy and Power Development Committee we are in the process of conducting an inquiry. Number one on the issue of fuel pricing; there have been complaints by the public that our fuel is very expensive and the taxes also are too high. So, there is a separate inquiry that is going on; on pricing of fuel.
“Then the second one has to do with the proliferation of service stations in residential areas. We have had a lot of complaints that the service station licences are being issued everywhere and closer to residential areas, posing a serious risk to our citizens. So as a result of the complaints that we received from the public, we are also conducting that inquiry.
“Because during the first phase of the consultation it emerged that during a greater part of last year and last year but one, the Minister had issued an instruction to local authorities to stop processing licences for service stations. And during that time, it was the Minister and the Ministry itself that was issuing those licences. The majority of the service stations that are in residential areas that we are worried about were issued by the Ministry,” the Committee stated, emphasizing the need for accountability from both the Minister and the permanent secretary.
Despite being scheduled to appear last week and again today (Tuesday), the officials failed to attend.
The Committee expressed frustration at what it described as confusion and lack of seriousness within the Ministry.
“If they cannot process simple letters from Parliament, it shows that we have a lot of problems that we must attend to,” Hwende said.
Citing parliamentary standing orders, the Committee stressed that attendance is mandatory unless excused by the Head of State and it has now directed the Clerk of Parliament to issue formal summons to Bhasera.
“This enquiry is serious, and Parliament must maintain its integrity. If he does not come, we will send the police to bring him,” the Committee warned.
The inquiry is expected to shed light on why fuel prices remain high and why licensing procedures allowed fuel stations unsafely sighted to proliferate, with Parliament insisting that Ministry ust respect its oversight role.
New Ziana
