Speaker to rule on MDC MPs recall

via Speaker to rule on MDC MPs recall – DailyNews Live 12 November 2014 by Chengetai Zvauya

HARARE – Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of the National Assembly, will make a ruling on Thursday on the fate of 18 legislators that have been recalled by Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

Mudenda told the Daily News  yesterday, he had not seen the  letter since he was not in the office since last week.

He said he was going to fully respond to the MDC’s request.

“I am not in the country as I am in Zambia for a funeral,” Mudenda said.

“I shall be back in the office  on Thursday and I will be able  to  respond fully to the  MDC-T letter. I don’t want to speculate on anything as I need to understand what  they want. I am yet to receive a letter from MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai recalling the 18 legislators from Parliament.

“I  know that this year I  made a ruling on  the matter over their MPs and advised them  that they  had to approach  the courts.”

Douglas Mwonzora, the new MDC secretary-general,  last week wrote to Mudenda informing him of the congress resolution to recall the 18 lawmakers.

He said the recall was made in terms of Section 129 (k) of the new Constitution of Zimbabwe, and formally gave notice to withdraw the 18 MPs with immediate effect.

“We advised Mudenda that MDC-T held its congress and resolved to recall the Members of Parliament whose names were listed in a letter to him and who were elected under the MDC-T ticket who have ceased to belong to the party,” Mwonzora’s letter said.

The MPs include  Tendai Biti, the former Finance minister and Harare East legislator, the Madzore brothers Paul and Solomon,  Moses Manyengavana, (Highfield West) Willias Madzimure, (Kambuzuma,) Samuel Siphepha Nkomo, (Lobengula)  Roselene Nkomo (Tsholotsho), Lucia Matibenga (Kuwadzana)  Bekithemba Nyathi, (Pelandaba-Mpopoma), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo),  Reggie Moyo (Luveve), Gorden Moyo (Mokokoba), Albert Mlanga (Puluma) and Evelyn Masaiti, the Harare proportional representation representative.

In the Senate, the MDC wants to recall Sekai Holland (Chizhanje), Rorana Muchihwa, (Chikomo) and Watchy Sibanda, the Matabeleland South proportional representation representative.

Jacob Mafume, spokesperson  of MDC renewal team, said  the MDC was wasting  time in trying  to  recall  the 18 legislators.

“We don’t know what they are trying to do,” Mafume said.

“They  should  explain to  the  nation why their leader took all  the MDC property; and  power was vested  in  his office at their  congress.

“Mwonzora lost elections  last year  and should  let the people  who were  elected  do  their parliamentary  work rather than to try  to disturb them. MPs should concentrate  on coming  up  with  policies  of sorting out the economy rather than drag them to   court. In any case, they will withdraw  their application because it  has no  legal basis.”

Mafume said the 18 MPs will remain in Parliament, adding the matter was still before the courts, therefore subjudice.

The MDC split early this year as MPs led by Biti passed a vote-of-no-confidence in Tsvangirai, calling on him and other MDC leaders to step down.

Tsvangirai then attempted to recall some of the legislators who participated in the attempted palace coup from Parliament .

But Mudenda ruled that no MPs should be recalled from Parliament and he had no power to rule on the matter, referring the factions to the courts.