Honourables must behave honourably

The conduct exhibited by the MDC-T members of parliament during the delivery of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Robert Mugabe to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate on Tuesday, was so rude, abusive, barbaric and so unparliamentary, bringing to question the calibre of people who were entrusted to represent people in the august house.

President Mugabe delivered the SONA in line with section 140(1) of the Constitution. It is a constitutional requirement compelling the President to report on the status of the country and propose solutions to the problems at hand, including proposals for legislations that tackle the challenges bedevilling the nation.

President Mugabe did exactly that. He delved on priority areas that are complementary to ZIMASSET and have the potential to transform the economy. His 10-point plan summed up all that the economy needs to put it back on the path of recovery.

However, the nation is still at pain to understand why the MDC-T legislators heckled the head of the state when he was delivering such a prudent address that injects hope in people.

Jessie Majome, an MDC-T legislature for Harare West once observed that empty vessels in parliament make the loudest noise. "Usually those people with little or no contribution to make because of lack of education or whatever reason are very good at heckling in parliament," Majome told the Financial Gazette in 2013.

Indeed, the MDC-T legislators are empty vessels who are just good at nothing but meaningless noise. The calibre of the MPs who made the loudest noise gives credence to what Majome said. Some of these MPs never opened their mouths to contribute in parliament. The heckling was actually their maiden speech in parliament.

There is nothing of significance to be expected from legislators like Prince Sibanda of Binga North, whose voices drowned all others when he shouted on top of his voice that "Gushungo you have failed." That coming from Sibanda, an MP who is known for nothing else than aberrant sexual immorality, is very startling.

Sibanda only emerged from obscurity after rape allegations hovered over his head in 2013. He was alleged to have drugged, raped and infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), a 17 year old girl he had given a lift in Victoria Falls. He is alleged to have given the girl's father, who is also his close friend, a $4000 bribe to cover up the crime.

The MDC-T will never be short of supply for legislators who break the law that they were elected to make. Costa Machingauta, MP for Budiriro was last year accused of kidnapping and raping a fellow Midlands State University student. There is also Elijah Jembere, former MP for Epworth who was accused of rape in 2008.  Other MPs embezzled the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) while others were arrested over violence and other demeaning crimes.

This is the calibre of legislators who barracked the head of state on Tuesday. They are uncouth individuals of questionable moral standing. Most of them graduated from kombi ranks to the august house. A stocktaking of their contributions in parliament testifies that the august house is now teeming with dishonourable members.

It is too early to forget Morgan Femai who knocked everybody down with a feather in parliament when he proposed the enactment of a law that compels women to keep their heads clean-shaven. He also said women must not bath in order to reduce the prevalence of HIV infection.

There is Thabitha Khumalo, Bulawayo East legislator who campaigned for the legalisation of prostitution. Not to be forgotten also is Sithembiso Mlotshwa, MP for Matobo who proposed for the introduction of a drug to reduce libido and the provision of sex gadgets in prisons to reduce homosexuality.

What can you expect from such legislators who do not inspire at all? Zanu PF legislators and President Mugabe must be commended for maintaining composure in the face of such infuriating barbarism. Sometimes when you argue with a fool, he will drag you to the mud and beat you with experience.

When their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was a Prime Minister, Zanu PF ministers accorded him respect befitting a chief minister despite his weaknesses that made him a square peg in a round hole.

The MDC-T legislators must know that national interests supersede trivial party politics. The electorate cannot watch while issues of national interests are sacrificed at the altar of politics. The MDC-T MPs distracted the whole nation including those who voted them into parliament from listening to the SONA. People were glued to their television sets only to be distracted by a bunch of untutored people who after failing to make sense of the address, decided to throw a spanner in the works.

It is strange that the same people asked President Mugabe to return to the house to answer their questions on his address. That is not sincere because these MPs did not understand anything for they were busy heckling. They just want the President back to heckle him again. The Speaker of Parliament should not allow the Head of State to be subjected to that barbaric harassment again.

The MDC-T blames the President for the closure of industry and the general economic downturn. It is known that the MDC-T is the architect of the prevailing economic quagmire. Moreover, the President does not run the companies that are closing. His own Gushungo Holdings is thriving. Therefore, the captains of industry are failing the nation not Gushungo.