Zanu PF anti-Zimbabwe - MDC-T says

The National flag debate took centre stage in parliament on Wednesday with opposition MDC-T members saying they are bringing the flag to the house to show their patriotism.

They said if they where to be forced out of the house for "wearing" the flag, the same should apply to those with a national badge on. Zanu PF is associating anyone with a flag with #ThisFlag movement fronted by pastor Evan Mawarire.

An agitated ZANU PF legislator Oliver Mandipaka sparked the debate.

"Madam Speaker, I stand guided. Yesterday (Tuesday) there was a ruling from your Co-Chair that members from the MDC should not bring in national flags in the House" he said.

"The concern arises from the fact that the national flag should be respected and when that ruling was made, members from the MDC should have taken that ruling as an instruction.

"Is it defiance or are they trying to connect themselves with Evan Mawarire? We do not know and we stand guided Madam Speaker" he is quoted saying by the parliamentary Hansard.

MDC-T MP Innocent Gonese said all Zimbabweans who are patriotic to their country want to be associated with the national flag.

"I have just been looking at our Constitution. If you look at Section 4 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20, (2013) and I am going to refer to the Constitution of this country. It is very clear and it states that Zimbabwe, in terms of Section 4 shall have a national flag, national anthem and a coat of arms

"All Zimbabweans who are patriotic to their c ountry want to be associated with the national flag.

"I am just looking in this august House - you will see the flag being displayed throughout. This is my respectful submission that if a member is showing patriotism, it will be unconstitutional to disallow that Hon. Member from displaying their feelings of patriotism and allegiance to this country. This is my point."

Deputy speaker Marble Chinomona said a ruling was passed two months ago on the flag.

She said MPs with the flags are "not being sent out but to go and take off the flag".

That attracted an inquiry from Bacillia Majaya who said "Does it mean that all those who are putting on badges with a national flag should remove them?".

Chinomona responded saying " Mabheji haana basa because ndiyo flag yacho...I am talking to the one who is putting on a flag, not anyone else. Hon. Saruwaka and Hon. D. Sibanda should go out and take off the flags".