MEMBERS of Parliament have recommended the closure of some embassies due to the cash crisis that has seen some diplomats and embassy staff failing to get their salaries.

Presenting a report in the National Assembly, Zanu-PF MP Kindness Paradza, who was part of a delegation to Kuwait that was led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, said the government should consider scaling down when it comes to embassies’ abroad.

Chief Musarurwa and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga were also part of the parliamentary delegation that was in Kuwait from April 25 to 29 at the invitation of the Kuwait National Assembly and while there the lawmakers played a big role in rescuing 32 women who were stranded in that country.

Paradza said Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Grey Marongwe, told them that his salary, hospital bills and rentals have not been paid by the government for months.

“The executive should consider making a bold decision and close down some embassies. Our Ambassador in Kuwait, Marongwe painted a gloomy picture on the situation at the embassy, which is similar or worse than what’s prevailing in other embassies dotted around the globe.

“He told the delegation he was humiliated when he was summoned, on February 22, 2016, to the Kuwait Foreign Affairs Ministry over outstanding rentals after owners of properties occupied by embassy staff had approached their government for redress. The rentals are seven months in arrears and landlords were demanding immediate evictions,” he said.

Outstanding rental arrears stood at US$130,000.

“Ambassador Marongwe was bitter that when his wife died in Kuwait in June 2015, the government failed to assist him financially in repatriating the body home. He had to borrow from the Bank of Kuwait to pay for airfares, embalming and other expenses. This is despite the fact that Treasury owes  US$127,000.00 in salary arrears,” said Paradza. By Pamela Shumba. Source: chronicle