News / National
Chinotimba named legislator of the month
27 Jul 2014 at 18:07hrs | Views
A weekend newspaper has named Zanu-PF representative Joseph Chinotimba as its Legislator of the Month for July 2014.
He represents Buhera South.
First elected to the House in July 2013, Chinotimba has been a champion for increased transparency and a tireless advocate for improving the lot of his people back in Buhera.
Though indecorous at times, we hope leaders across the political divide, particularly those in the ruling Zanu-PF, express their appreciation to this outstanding leader.
He is a brawler and a fighter, not highly educated, uncouth but very intelligent.
From the ashes, he has risen to be one of the foremost legislators of the current bi-cameral Parliament.
While his peers have slept through crucial parliamentary sessions, he has been in the thick of things, refusing to be shackled by his lack of basic education.
Chinotimba, the legislator for Buhera South, is by miles the most prominent legislator, not only because of his public fights and satirical style. But, crucially, because of the outstanding contributions he has made in Parliament.
Illuminating the usually gloomy house by his jokes, Chinotimba is testimony that holding an academic qualification is not what makes a good MP.
The bearded war veteran leader has made incisive arguments that have left many eating from the palm of his hand. He has embarrassed erudite ministers and his double edged sword has no respect for political parties. He is a brawler, a noise maker, a bitter villager who espouses the expectations of his constituency.
Whenever he takes to the floor, something that he does often, he lights up the house.
While some of his fellow MPs have not even opened their mouths to speak, he has been at the forefront, plunging into any debate, stepping on the toes of some ministers, and definitely taking no prisoners.
Just last week, he almost exchanged blows with another MP, the second such occasion he has done something not so honourable.
Chinotimba has attacked Jonathan Moyo, the minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services over the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (Impi). His argument, though fiery, is reasonable.
"We hear of a commission of inquiry in the media that is being undertaken and we ask who is funding them as we are hearing stories that some of the members of that committee were getting $300 per day as sitting allowances, with their bosses collecting $10 000 per month," Chinotimba asked.
"Who does not know there is no radio and television signals in Buhera or Tsholotsho but we are hearing that these people are getting a lot of money, saying they want to do work for media and broadcasting and what work are they doing that justifies these allowances?".
Impi, conceived last April by Moyo, is mandated to "inquire into, assess and determine the policy, legal, technological, business, human resource and institutional adequacy and readiness in the information sector."
It is made up of top editors from the public and private media, marketing and advertising representatives, information and communications technology experts, civil society members and other professionals.
The panel has been travelling around the country, collecting information on media issues by holding public hearings.
Chinotimba's antics continued this week when he nearly traded blows with Binga North MDC MP Prince Madubeko Sibanda on Wednesday in Parliament during a public hearing. They labelled each other "murderer" and "rapist".
Efforts by Local Government committee chairperson Irene Zindi to cool flaring tampers failed as the two legislators continued to trade insults, denigrating each other in the august House.
Chinotimba branded Sibanda a sex offender. Sibanda is on $400 bail on rape allegations.
Proceedings were interrupted as the two MPs exchanged harsh words as they angled for each other. Police at Parliament Building had to be called in to restrain the two.
The melee begun when Chinotimba raised a point of order that Sibanda was being given written questions by journalists attending the meeting to ask Chombo.
"Madam Chair, the honourable member is getting written questions from journalists yet this is our meeting," he said.
"It is not fair that members get questions from journalists."
In the ensuing exchanges, Chinotimba then shouted: "Ndosaka wakarepa (That's why you raped)."
This angered Sibanda who repeatedly shouted: "Pfutseki Chinotimba, ndati pfutseki Chinotimba." Chinotimba shouted at Sibanda, saying he was a fool and a rapist who knew nothing.
"I don't talk to rapists, you are a rapist," Chinotimba charged.
That was just another episode of the many that Chinotimba often produces.
On the same day, he questioned why the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was charging for water it obtains on a shared river basin.
"Let us take an example of the water that is in the Zambezi River. Zambezi River originates from DRC," Chinotimba said.
"Zinwa expects us to pay for water that is coming from DRC and yet it is not their water. We do not pay a single cent to DRC, where the water is coming from," he said to uproarious laughter in the national Assembly.
He represents Buhera South.
First elected to the House in July 2013, Chinotimba has been a champion for increased transparency and a tireless advocate for improving the lot of his people back in Buhera.
Though indecorous at times, we hope leaders across the political divide, particularly those in the ruling Zanu-PF, express their appreciation to this outstanding leader.
He is a brawler and a fighter, not highly educated, uncouth but very intelligent.
From the ashes, he has risen to be one of the foremost legislators of the current bi-cameral Parliament.
While his peers have slept through crucial parliamentary sessions, he has been in the thick of things, refusing to be shackled by his lack of basic education.
Chinotimba, the legislator for Buhera South, is by miles the most prominent legislator, not only because of his public fights and satirical style. But, crucially, because of the outstanding contributions he has made in Parliament.
Illuminating the usually gloomy house by his jokes, Chinotimba is testimony that holding an academic qualification is not what makes a good MP.
The bearded war veteran leader has made incisive arguments that have left many eating from the palm of his hand. He has embarrassed erudite ministers and his double edged sword has no respect for political parties. He is a brawler, a noise maker, a bitter villager who espouses the expectations of his constituency.
Whenever he takes to the floor, something that he does often, he lights up the house.
While some of his fellow MPs have not even opened their mouths to speak, he has been at the forefront, plunging into any debate, stepping on the toes of some ministers, and definitely taking no prisoners.
Just last week, he almost exchanged blows with another MP, the second such occasion he has done something not so honourable.
Chinotimba has attacked Jonathan Moyo, the minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services over the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (Impi). His argument, though fiery, is reasonable.
"We hear of a commission of inquiry in the media that is being undertaken and we ask who is funding them as we are hearing stories that some of the members of that committee were getting $300 per day as sitting allowances, with their bosses collecting $10 000 per month," Chinotimba asked.
"Who does not know there is no radio and television signals in Buhera or Tsholotsho but we are hearing that these people are getting a lot of money, saying they want to do work for media and broadcasting and what work are they doing that justifies these allowances?".
It is made up of top editors from the public and private media, marketing and advertising representatives, information and communications technology experts, civil society members and other professionals.
The panel has been travelling around the country, collecting information on media issues by holding public hearings.
Chinotimba's antics continued this week when he nearly traded blows with Binga North MDC MP Prince Madubeko Sibanda on Wednesday in Parliament during a public hearing. They labelled each other "murderer" and "rapist".
Efforts by Local Government committee chairperson Irene Zindi to cool flaring tampers failed as the two legislators continued to trade insults, denigrating each other in the august House.
Chinotimba branded Sibanda a sex offender. Sibanda is on $400 bail on rape allegations.
Proceedings were interrupted as the two MPs exchanged harsh words as they angled for each other. Police at Parliament Building had to be called in to restrain the two.
The melee begun when Chinotimba raised a point of order that Sibanda was being given written questions by journalists attending the meeting to ask Chombo.
"Madam Chair, the honourable member is getting written questions from journalists yet this is our meeting," he said.
"It is not fair that members get questions from journalists."
In the ensuing exchanges, Chinotimba then shouted: "Ndosaka wakarepa (That's why you raped)."
This angered Sibanda who repeatedly shouted: "Pfutseki Chinotimba, ndati pfutseki Chinotimba." Chinotimba shouted at Sibanda, saying he was a fool and a rapist who knew nothing.
"I don't talk to rapists, you are a rapist," Chinotimba charged.
That was just another episode of the many that Chinotimba often produces.
On the same day, he questioned why the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was charging for water it obtains on a shared river basin.
"Let us take an example of the water that is in the Zambezi River. Zambezi River originates from DRC," Chinotimba said.
"Zinwa expects us to pay for water that is coming from DRC and yet it is not their water. We do not pay a single cent to DRC, where the water is coming from," he said to uproarious laughter in the national Assembly.
Source - dailynews
