MPs disrupt Parliament, sing 'into yenzayo siyayizonda'

MDC-T Members of Parliament yesterday disrupted business in the Chamber in protest over the presence of few Cabinet ministers to field queries during Question Time.

The legislators defied a ruling by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Marble Chinomona that they should allow business to proceed while authorities looked into their concerns.

The rowdy MPs began singing and shouting "We want Ministers" and "Into oyenzayo ngiyayizonda," creating chaos on proceedings that was beamed live on national television by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Chaos and heckling in the House persisted for more than 30 minutes resulting in Chinomona announcing that she was suspending business for 10 minutes to allow leaders of respective political parties to consult.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made, was the only minister present at the time together with some deputy ministers although other ministers subsequently trooped in.

Trouble started after Kuwadzana MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) rose on a point of order while Minister Made was fielding a question where he complained that it was three weeks with their complaint not being attended to.