By Own Correspondent| Former President Robert Mugabe has escaped parliamentary probe on the missing US $15 billion diamond revenue after he was recused from the oral evidence hearing by the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, ZimEye has learnt.

According to a report by the Mines and Energy Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, Mugabe would not be required to present himself before parliament despite being summoned twice.

Chairperson of the Mines and Energy Committee Temba Mliswa, is on record indicating that the former President was one of the key figures to give oral evidence to parliament in order to establish whether or not the country lost US $15 billion diamond revenue.

“We will leave no stone unturned and if this means that the former president will have to come, then we will summon him” Mliswa is on record saying.

However, attempts to have Mugabe before parliament were futile as the former first citizen simply did not present himself to parliament.

Mliswa told journalists after Mugabe did not present himself before parliament that the Mines and Energy Committee would write to him again changing the time when he was expected to appear.

“We had requested that he come at 9 am and maybe he has failed to come because of his age…We are therefore writing to him again this time requesting that he comes at 2pm,” said Mliswa.

He said the committee was also open and welcomed the idea of conducting the oral evidence hearing session at Mugabe’s residence as a means of accommodating his personal needs since he was old.

“Remember the former president used to hold cabinet meetings at 2 pm and maybe because of his age, 9 am was too early for him,” said Mliswa.

He confirmed to journalists that despite being served with the summons to appear before parliament, Mugabe had not responded.

“This is not a witch hunting exercise but we are just fulfilling our oversight role where we hope that at the end of it, we will be able to come up with befitting recommendations that take the country forward and prevent any mineral lickages in the future,” said Mliswa.

According to the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee report, Mugabe will no longer be expected to appear before the committee to provide answers regarding the missing diamond revenue.