By Own Correspondent| Former President Robert Mugabe will on Wednesday appear before the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee to give oral evidence regarding the missing US$15 billion diamond revenue.

Parliament (Monday) issued a notice of Mugabe’s appearance before the committee chaired by Temba Mliswa, indicating that the former president had however not confirmed his presence.

“On the 23rd of May 2018, the Mines and Energy Committee is also expected, subject to confirmation, to receive oral evidence from His Excellency the  former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. R. G. Mugabe,” read the notice from parliament.

However, a local publication, The Newsday hinted that the hearing could be held at the former president’s residence in Borrowdale, the Blue Roof as a way of giving the former head of state respect due to his advanced age.

Chairperson of the committee, Temba Mliswa said his committee was comfortable with meeting Mugabe at his residence.

“The committee has already resolved that Kennedy Chokuda (Clerk of Parliament) must look at the issue of writing to Mugabe to appear before the committee, and there is pressure that there is need for transparency over the issue of the missing $15 billion revenue.

“Parliament is prepared to give the former Head of State respect and to meet him at his Blue Roof mansion because he is old,” he said.

Mliswa said the meeting was not meant to grill or humiliate Mugabe, but a fact-finding mission to break the puzzle over the missing diamond revenue, which the former leader alluded to at a public meeting in 2016.