Zimbabwe's parliamentary committee on budget and finance on Monday summoned Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono to appear before it in one week to provide evidence against individuals he says have engaged in corrupt practices, this in connection with the continuing cash crisis in the country.
The committee’s chairman, ruling party legislator David Butau, fled the country recently after police indicated they wanted to question him in connection with illegal foreign transfers of hard currency. In his absence, the committee is being chaired by Daniel Mackenzie, the ruling ZANU-PF lawmaker for Zhombe.
Sources said a summons was to be issued to Gono soon after a committee meeting on Monday in advance of parliament's opening Tuesday. They said Gono will be ordered to name the so-called "cash barons" whom he blames for the national shortage of bank notes, which will also be a focus of questions from committee members.
Finance and budget committee member Abednico Bhebhe of the opposition faction led by Arthur Mutambara told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that Gono will have much to answer for when he appears before the panel.