Correspondent|THE Privileges Committee of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is chaired by Chief Fortune Charumbira, has barred Job Sikhala (MDC Alliance, Zengeza West) from representing two MDC Alliance MPs accused of demanding $400,000 bribe from a private contractor.

The committee ruled that there will be conflict of interest as Sikhala is also an MP, but Sikhala insists his clients deserve a lawyer of their choice and is mulling making an urgent appeal at the High Court.

 Messrs Anele Ndebele (MDC Alliance, Magwegwe) and Prince Sibanda (MDC Alliance, Binga North) are facing the bribery allegations together with Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent, Norton) and Leonard Chikomba (ZANU-PF, Gokwe-Kabuyuni).

Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara is representing Mr Mliswa and Mr Simon Musapatika is representing Chikomba, while the two MDC Alliance MPs had sought opted to be represented by Job Sikhala, a fellow MP.

The four were members of the Mines and Energy Committee before its dissolution and are accused of demanding the bribe from James Ross Goddard of JRG Contracting (Pvt) Ltd as a “facilitation fee” to enable him secure a contract to mine coal at Hwange.

Chief Charumbira’s Parliament’s Privileges Committee which is investigating the matter ruled that Mr Sikhala was conflicted in the matter since he was part of Parliament and would take part in debate when the results of probe are brought up in the House.

“I will consult with my clients for instructions but might make an urgent chamber application because my clients are being denied their right to a lawyer of their choice,” Sikhala has said.

Mr Goddard alerted police boss Godwin Matanga as well as Vice President Kembo Mohadi of the alleged demand for $400,000 “facilitation fees” by the four MPs.

This led to the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to dissolve their committee and call for an investigation by the Parliament’s Privilege Committee headed by Chief Charumbira.

The hearing was then adjourned to today.