Mutasa, Mliswa still MPs: Mudenda

via Mutasa, Mliswa still MPs: Mudenda – DailyNews Live 22 February 2015

HARARE – Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker has clarified the status of “expelled” Zanu PF legislators Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa saying they remain Members of Parliament until the house receives letters from their party confirming the development.

Following Mliswa’s  appearance at Parliamentary sessions last week, Mudenda told the Daily  News on Sunday that he had not  received a letter from Zanu PF that the  two were no longer MPs.

Mliswa also chaired the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Sports and Education on Thursday.

Mutasa, a former presidential Affairs minister and close confidante of President Robert Mugabe is MP for Headlands, was reportedly expelled at a Zanu PF politburo meeting on Wednesday together with his nephew Mliswa who is MP for Hurungwe West and former chairman of   Zanu PF Mashonaland West Province.

“I am yet to receive the letter of their recall.  They can continue to attend Parliament and participate in the portfolio committees, as  they are still members of Parliament,” said  Mudenda.

“The expulsion order  did not originate from my office so I am not able to act on them and declare their constituencies vacant until I have  received letters from their political party, that  they are expelled,” said Mudenda.

Mliswa has remained defiant arguing that he remains loyal to Zanu PF.

“I don’t know the reasons why it is said that I was expelled from Zanu PF as I have only read about it in the press. There was no disciplinary hearing against me or any charge laid against me,” said Mliswa.

Mutasa also said he  remained the legitimate secretary general of Zanu PF and was not going to recognise the  purported expulsion and Politburo meeting last Wednesday which  expelled him  describing it as a “sham”.

“In my case, no charges were ever laid against me and the disciplinary committee never summoned me to any disciplinary hearing, “said Mutasa in a press statement over his expulsion.

Mudenda also explained the parliamentary status of Jonathan Samukange an MP for Mudzi South who was an independent MP and has been re-admitted into Zanu PF structures as a member this week.

Again, he said he had not received any communication from Zanu PF to enable him to declare the seat vacant.

This follows complains  that had been raised by MDC MPs in Parliament that Samukange was not supposed to be in Parliament as he was in contradiction of Section 129 of the  constitution as joined  Zanu PF having won in the 2013 polls as an independent candidate.

The Constitution requires that a by-election be held if a person holding the seat as an independent candidate joins a political party.