News / National
'Mutasa, Mliswa still MPs until Zanu-PF reports to parliament'
22 Feb 2015 at 14:51hrs | Views
Jacob Mudenda, the National Assembly speaker has clarified the status of "expelled" Zanu-PF legislators Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa saying they remain Members of Parliament until the house receives letters from their party confirming the development.
Following Mliswa's appearance at Parliamentary sessions last week, Mudenda told the Daily News on Sunday that he had not received a letter from Zanu-PF that the two were no longer MPs.
Mliswa also chaired the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Sports and Education on Thursday.
Mutasa, a former presidential Affairs minister and close confidante of President Robert Mugabe is MP for Headlands, was reportedly expelled at a Zanu-PF politburo meeting on Wednesday together with his nephew Mliswa who is MP for Hurungwe West and former chairman of Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Province.
"I am yet to receive the letter of their recall. They can continue to attend Parliament and participate in the portfolio committees, as they are still members of Parliament," said Mudenda.
"The expulsion order did not originate from my office so I am not able to act on them and declare their constituencies vacant until I have received letters from their political party, that they are expelled," said Mudenda.
Mudenda also explained the parliamentary status of Jonathan Samukange an MP for Mudzi South who was an independent MP and has been re-admitted into Zanu-PF structures as a member this week.
Again, he said he had not received any communication from Zanu-PF to enable him to declare the seat vacant.
This follows complains that had been raised by MDC MPs in Parliament that Samukange was not supposed to be in Parliament as he was in contradiction of Section 129 of the constitution as joined Zanu-PF having won in the 2013 polls as an independent candidate.
The Constitution requires that a by-election be held if a person holding the seat as an independent candidate joins a political party.
Following Mliswa's appearance at Parliamentary sessions last week, Mudenda told the Daily News on Sunday that he had not received a letter from Zanu-PF that the two were no longer MPs.
Mliswa also chaired the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Sports and Education on Thursday.
Mutasa, a former presidential Affairs minister and close confidante of President Robert Mugabe is MP for Headlands, was reportedly expelled at a Zanu-PF politburo meeting on Wednesday together with his nephew Mliswa who is MP for Hurungwe West and former chairman of Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Province.
"I am yet to receive the letter of their recall. They can continue to attend Parliament and participate in the portfolio committees, as they are still members of Parliament," said Mudenda.
Mudenda also explained the parliamentary status of Jonathan Samukange an MP for Mudzi South who was an independent MP and has been re-admitted into Zanu-PF structures as a member this week.
Again, he said he had not received any communication from Zanu-PF to enable him to declare the seat vacant.
This follows complains that had been raised by MDC MPs in Parliament that Samukange was not supposed to be in Parliament as he was in contradiction of Section 129 of the constitution as joined Zanu-PF having won in the 2013 polls as an independent candidate.
The Constitution requires that a by-election be held if a person holding the seat as an independent candidate joins a political party.
Source - dailynews
