Tuesday, May 19

Borrowdale residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona

Oversight without restraint

Parliament spent US$372,260 of public money renovating the private Borrowdale residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona, using handpicked suppliers while repeatedly bypassing procurement requirements, according to the Auditor-General’s 2023 and 2024 reports. 

 

 

 

 

Payments for luxury items — including curtains, beds, kitchen appliances and a perimeter wall — exceeded legal thresholds that require open tendering. Competitive bids were not invited.

 

Parliament defended the direct procurement on “artistic and qualitative” grounds. 

 

The Auditor-General rejected this justification, warning that bypassing bidding restricts competition and may result in uneconomic procurement.

 

Neither Parliament nor the Senate President has publicly disputed the Auditor-General’s findings.

 

 

 

 

The reports do not allege theft. They expose something more fundamental: a governance failure inside the institution charged with enforcing accountability.

 

When oversight stops obeying the law, the failure is not dramatic. It is procedural. And it is documented.

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Best Personal Loan Rates for Debt Consolidation in 2026

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Mesothelioma Compensation: How Victims May Recover Money

A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring emotional and financial hardship. Treatment can be expensive, and many patients are unable to work. Mesothelioma compensation may help victims and families cover important costs.

Compensation may come from asbestos trust funds, settlements, lawsuits, veterans benefits, or wrongful death claims. The best option depends on where exposure happened and which companies were responsible.

Asbestos trust funds were created by companies that filed bankruptcy but still had responsibility for asbestos-related harm. Many victims may qualify if their exposure can be documented.

A lawsuit may be filed against companies that manufactured, supplied, or used asbestos products. Some cases settle before trial, while others may go to court.

Compensation may cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, travel costs, caregiving expenses, and loss of financial support.

A mesothelioma lawyer can investigate exposure history, identify responsible companies, file claims, and negotiate settlements.

Because deadlines apply, victims should not wait too long to explore legal options.