Paul Nyathi|Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has come out blasting the people’s media, ZimEye.com, claiming that senior Journalist Simba Chikanza abused and harassed Speaker Of Parliament Jacob Mudenda when he interviewed him in Serbia last week while attending the 141st International Parliamentary Union (IPU).

According to Ziyambi, government is engaging host countries to ensure Zimbabwean public officials receive adequate security when on international duty where they continue to be hounded allegedly by individuals aligned to the opposition MDC a claim which he can not substantiate.

Chikanza sought to interview Adv Mudenda while he was having breakfast at his hotel and demanded to know why he directed the deduction of five months’ salary for MDC MPs for boycotting President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA)delivery early this month.

Ziyambi told state media that Government would engage Serbia to understand the circumstances under which Adv Mudenda was allegedly abused.

“That was an abuse of other people’s rights. As Government we condemn the behaviour in the strongest terms,” he said. “We also believe that host governments must accord officials the protection and respect they deserve. This is a case of a thug abusing other people and it is something that we will engage the host countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, whenever our officials are out of the country,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“Why are you mentally torturing MDC MPs?” Chikanza asked the Speaker. “On what basis do you withdraw their allowances for five months merely because they are protesting about what you had brought to Parliament?”

Buhera North William Mutomba (Zanu-PF) tried to calm down Chikanza with little success.

Chikanza also refused to be restrained by hotel staff.

“I have a legal matter here, you have all my details, profile, address, you can call the manager, you can also call the Serbian government,” said Chikanza.

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