Mugabe revels in Parly colonial pageantry

via Mugabe revels in Parly colonial pageantry 28/10/2014

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe again defied age as well as alleged health problems to go through a gruelling four-hour programme as he officially opened the second session of the country’s eighth parliament on Tuesday.

The veteran Zimbabwean ruler, a former darling but now bitter critic of the West, did not hide his taste for British monarchical pageantry as he whizzed into the capital city’s Central Business District (CBD) in a 100-year-old British Rolls Royce, accompanied by police on horseback with his wife Grace on his shoulder.

Harare came to a virtual standstill as most feeder roads into the CBD were closed with the early morning rush hour turning into a nightmare for motorists.

Mugabe’s procession snaked through the streets of the capital to the legislative chamber for the official opening ceremony.

As the national anthem was played, a 21 gun salute broke the tranquil Africa Unity Square silence followed by Mugabe’s inspection of the guard of honour that in recent years has seen soldiers fainting because of fatigue in the searing summer heat.

While Mugabe stood to attention, four MiG jets flew past in a diamond formation before he retreated into Parliament for his official address.

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku led his contingent of Constitutional Court judges clad in the colonial red gowns and off-white toupees worn by barristers in former British colonies in yet another clear show of the relics of colonialism.

Members of the Apostolic sect, who have publicly backed Mugabe, refused to be out-done, singing songs venerating the 90-year-old leader and telling him to stay the course.

“Gabriel mutungamiriri tongai kusvika pamunoda (Gabriel the leader, rule till forever),” they sang, apparently in reference to the Biblical angel Gabriel. Incidentally, Gabriel is Mugabe’s second name.

Meanwhile, at least 100 MPs failed to attend the parliamentary proceedings because of limited space in the chamber.

MDC-T Harare West MP, Jessie Majome, was among these.

“No room at the Inn! I was invited to attend the opening of the second session of the eighth Parliament of Zimbabwe and witness a display of ‘all the king’s horses and all the king’s men’…. I marched in the ceremonial procession but to my disappointment found no place to sit or stand in the National Assembly chamber,” said Majome.

“I had no choice but to come back to my office. The chamber accommodates only about 200 out of the 270 members of the House. During sittings some of us sit in the Speaker’s Gallery meant for visitors but today we were barred by Parliament staff from there as they reserved it for visitors.

“Some Zanu PF members occupied our opposition bench and insolently refused to vacate our spaces. About 100 of us from across the political divide were turned away as today all ministers, some of whom are Senators took up space.”