Chinotimba in parly outburst

Controversial war veterans' leader and Zanu-PF legislator Joseph Chinotimba on Tuesday made an outburst over malfunctioning machines at parliament and failure to receive coupons and other allowances.

Chinotimba interjected a debate by parliamentarians on corporate governance and corruption saying legislators could no longer exercise freedom of speech.

The war veterans' leader who is of modest education said the malfunctioning translation machines resulted in everyone speaking in English yet they should be free to speak in the country's national languages.

"Mr. Speaker Sir, in our beautiful country and in our Parliament; when machines are not working, we are told there is no money for repairs for translation to be possible in this Chamber," Chinotimba said.

"This is our country and we were born Shona and Ndebele speaking people but we are taking English to be the mother language of this country. Corruption is highest here in Parliament. We do not have money, coupons; we do not have anything yet this is our country."

Chinotimba bemoaned that they could no longer exercise freedom of speech yet they were elected to represent people from their respective constituencies.

"We are now being silenced. If these machines are not fixed, it is better for us to adjourn this august House until the machines are fixed.