Professor Moyo haters wants him thrown out of parliament

Professor Jonathan Moyo's haters are on his case, alleging that he has bunked 21 consecutive session of the Parliament which warrants his expulsion from Parliament. However the clerk of Parliament has rubbished the so called records.

Allegations are that the Tsholotsho North elected Member of Parliament, Professor Jonathan Moyo top the list of parliamentarians from Zanu-PF and MDC formations bunking Parliament sessions.

It is alleged that records show that the House of Assembly sat for 32 days during the current session and out of the 32 sittings, Moyo attended only once.

According to a NewsDay investigation, the daily Order Papers from September 6 2011 to March 28 2012 show Moyo only attended Parliament sittings once, on February 28 2012, which means of the 32 sitting days, he was absent for 31 days.

Moyo has been absent for 22 consecutive days between September 6 2011 and February 28 2012, and records show he did not make an apology for his absence as required by Parliament rules, according to the Order Papers.

Parliamentarians both from Zanu-PF and MDC-T who top the list of bunking Parliament sessions have been exposed. Most of the MPs have not attended parliament sessions for more than 21 consecutive sitting.

Section 41 (1) (d) of the Constitution reads: "If he (an MP) is absent for 21 consecutive sittings during any session without the leave of Parliament and Parliament has resolved, by the affirmative votes of more than one-half of its total membership, the seat shall be vacant."

Parliament Standing Rules and Orders Clause 20 reads: "Leave of absence for more than twenty-one consecutive sittings during any session may be granted by the House as provided in section 41 (1) (d) of the Constitution."

Several ministers and MPs also attended twice to six times variably, but have been absent for the better part of the life of this Parliament â€" effectively leaving their constituencies unrepresented.

Other ministers who have been absent from Parliament sittings for the 32 days the House sat include Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo (32), Umguza MP Obert Mpofu (29) Mount Pleasant MP Jameson Timba (MDC-T) (29), Binga MP Joel Gabbuza (MDC-T) (19), Beitbridge East MP Kembo Mohadi (Zanu PF) (29), Bulilima West MP Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC) (27) and Mount Darwin South MP Saviour Kasukuwere (Zanu PF) (24).

Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada (MDC-T) was absent 25 out of the 32 days, Mutoko South MP Olivia Muchena (Zanu PF) (28), Masvingo North MP Stanislaus Mudenge (Zanu PF) (28), Headlands MP Didymus Mutasa (Zanu PF) (28), Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu (Zanu PF) (22) and Budiriro MP Heneri Dzinotyiweyi (MDC-T) (26).

The private media is now gunning for Professor Jonathan Moyo's head is clamoring for him to be kicked out of parliament for missing more than 21 consecutive sittings.

"The records show that unlike Moyo and Mpofu whose absences were consecutive - meaning they should be kicked out of the House and replaced through fresh elections - other MPs and ministers' absenteeism has not been for 21 consecutive days although they may have bunked for many days," one newspaper claimed.

When approached for comment, Moyo yesterday threatened NewsDay with legal action if the story was published. He also said he did not attend Parliament "when they discuss rubbish."

He said: "That is false. You are lying. You have been sent by one of the MDC formations to do that story and you are not the custodian of the Parliament register.

"You are the biggest liar in the country and I wonder whether you are a researcher, journalist or political tool. I know for sure my responsibilities and rights as a legislator and I do not attend Parliament when they discuss rubbish.

"I have dispatched my responsibilities to the fullest of my abilities and only crazy people will try and come up with a foolish register. The custodian of the register is the Clerk of Parliament and if he issues a statement that I did not attend 31 sittings then we will be talking.

"I know when to attend and when not to attend Parliament, especially when debate is full of insults.

"I will not miss Zanu-PF caucuses because we discuss serious issues, but when there is abuse it is not a useful way of serving time as an MP. This is the most unfruitful Parliament in terms of how issues are discussed and if one has to maintain sanity, they cannot sit and listen to the sort of things said there."

Clerk of Parliament Zvoma rubbished the newspaper finding and denied that Moyo had been absent for 21 consecutive days even though records kept at his office speak otherwise.

"With respect to Moyo, he has not missed 21 consecutive days and so he has not fallen foul of that provision. What Parliament does is that if an MP has reached close to 21 days, say 17 to 18 days, we write to them asking them to seek leave of absence," said Zvoma.

Constitutional analyst Greg Linington said being absent for 21 consecutive days did not make that seat vacant, but the House concerned - if the matter was brought to their attention - can resolve by more than half of its total membership to make that seat vacant.