He was first elected to Parliament in a by-election in July 1995, representing the Tewai-Siassi constituency (in Morobe Province). In July 1997, Prime Minister Bill Skate appointed him Minister for Defence, then reshuffled him in December to the position of Minister for Housing. Skate briefly shuffled him to the position of Minister for Forests in July 1998, then back to Minister for Housing in October. Out of the Cabinet from June 1999, he was back in it from December, this time under Prime Minister Mekere Morauta, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock. He held the position until November 2000, when Morauta sacked him, accusing him of disloyalty.[2][3]
In April 2003, the Leadership Tribunal found Zeming guilty on nine charges "relating to use of his discretionary funds to pay companies owned or controlled by his associates".[4] On recommendation of the Tribunal, which deemed him "unworthy to continue in office" for his mishandling of millions of kina, he was dismissed from Parliament in May by the Governor-General.[2][5]
