MDC-T MPs 'praise' Mugabe

Movement for Democratic Change members of Parliament reportedly mocked President Robert Mugabe as they "commended" him for the "peaceful handover" of the SADC chair to Botswana leader, Ian Khama.

Mugabe handed over the Southern African Development Community reins to Khama on Monday during the regional body's 35th summit of heads of state and government in Gaborone.

The legislators "praised" Mugabe for the "peaceful handover", indirectly referring to the 91-year-old president's "refusal" to consider stepping down at home.

"I would like to thank our president, Cde RG Mugabe for handing over the chairmanship of the SADC to Khama... I thought he was going to refuse," Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya was quoted as saying during a national assembly debate on amendments to the country's labour law.

MP James Maridadi also "congratulated" Mugabe, saying; "The time had come for him to hand over the power on rotational basis and I am congratulating him. As a patriotic Zimbabwean I felt I would congratulate him."

An incensed Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, however asked the two MPs to withdraw their statements, accusing them of making derogatory remarks about the president, the report said.

"We cannot allow sarcasm in this House. I ask you to apologise," Mudenda said.