News / National
There are claims that 10 MDC-T MPs received bribes from Zanu-PF
29 Mar 2011 at 11:36hrs | Views
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party claimed on Tuesday that up to 15 of its MPs had received bribes from Zanu PF representatives to sway their voting intentions in a key ballot for the Speaker of Parliament set for 3PM local time.
In a closely-balanced House of Assembly, the MDC-T's Lovemore Moyo faces off with Zanu PF's Simon Khaya Moyo.
The MDC-T's chief whip Innocent Gonese said five MPs had come forward and surrendered US$5,000 each which they claimed to have received from Tsholotsho Senator, Believe Gaule (MDC).
Responding to the charges, Zanu PF strategist Moyo accused the MDC-T of bribing MPs from the rival MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube in the August 2008 vote which Lovemore Moyo won, before his election was reversed by a Supreme Court ruling on March 10 when it found MPs from his party had broken secret ballot rules by displaying their filled out papers.
The Tsholotsho North MP said: "Just because these guys bought MDC MPs before does not mean we also get up to similar tricks. It appears to me Gonese describes more what his party does than what Zanu PF does.
"It's a very desperate move but not surprising. It's the kind of move you expect from people fearing they are going to lose and want to explain their loss in advance.
Zanu PF and MDC-T have 96 MPs apiece in the House of Assembly, with the Ncube-led MDC controlling a further seven. But the MDC-T is worried that up to four of its MPs will be prevented from voting after being arrested in recent weeks.
In a closely-balanced House of Assembly, the MDC-T's Lovemore Moyo faces off with Zanu PF's Simon Khaya Moyo.
The MDC-T's chief whip Innocent Gonese said five MPs had come forward and surrendered US$5,000 each which they claimed to have received from Tsholotsho Senator, Believe Gaule (MDC).
Responding to the charges, Zanu PF strategist Moyo accused the MDC-T of bribing MPs from the rival MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube in the August 2008 vote which Lovemore Moyo won, before his election was reversed by a Supreme Court ruling on March 10 when it found MPs from his party had broken secret ballot rules by displaying their filled out papers.
The Tsholotsho North MP said: "Just because these guys bought MDC MPs before does not mean we also get up to similar tricks. It appears to me Gonese describes more what his party does than what Zanu PF does.
"It's a very desperate move but not surprising. It's the kind of move you expect from people fearing they are going to lose and want to explain their loss in advance.
Zanu PF and MDC-T have 96 MPs apiece in the House of Assembly, with the Ncube-led MDC controlling a further seven. But the MDC-T is worried that up to four of its MPs will be prevented from voting after being arrested in recent weeks.
Source - Byo24News
