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MDC Alliance confronts Jacob Mudenda
07 Aug 2019 at 10:45hrs | Views
MDC Alliance has confronted Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda for barring them from the house on 1 August when Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube presented the supplementary budget.
The party's chairperson and proportional representation MP Thabitha Khumalo said Mudenda barred them from entering Parliament after they were delayed by 20 minutes.
She said before coming to Parliament, they had gone to a memorial service of six people who were shot and killed by soldiers during demonstration so 1 August 2018.
"We all know that on the 1st of August, six innocent civilians were gunned down in cold blood and as the MDC, we attended a church service where we were remembering these gallant soldiers that were killed innocently. Having said that Mr. Speaker Sir, we were in Highfield attending a church service and when we came here, I am sure all of you know that we have been fasting as the MDC-A in respect of these six innocent victims.
"So when one fasts, you have a right to congregate, pray and break the fasting. There is no rule in this Parliament that states that when you are late, you are barred from this House. So what we want to understand, is why did you bar us? We came here quite late, we went to the Government Caucus when we broke our fast and we came down here but we found police officers who told us that the Speaker, Hon. Jacob Mudenda gave a directive that we should not come in here," said Khumalo.
"Mr. Speaker, Hon. Jacob Mudenda raised a pertinent issue that the main opposition party in this Parliament is barred. I want you to underline the word main opposition. Our role is to oppose any issues that violate the rights of the people of Zimbabwe – be it social, economic, political, cultural and so on."
Khumalo said there was no law that gives Zanu-PF power to control operations by the MDC Alliance.
"So, where is your source of law that gave rise for you to bar us to come to this House? We were only 20 minutes late and we had the right to remember our comrades. Some ZANU PF Members came, they were late and they came through but we could not. You went further Mr. Speaker Sir, and instructed the ZRP to remove us from the Parliament. Where is that source of law? You are removing us for committing what crime? So Mr. Speaker Sir, as the main opposition, we need you to give us a ruling now," said Khumalo.
The party's chairperson and proportional representation MP Thabitha Khumalo said Mudenda barred them from entering Parliament after they were delayed by 20 minutes.
She said before coming to Parliament, they had gone to a memorial service of six people who were shot and killed by soldiers during demonstration so 1 August 2018.
"We all know that on the 1st of August, six innocent civilians were gunned down in cold blood and as the MDC, we attended a church service where we were remembering these gallant soldiers that were killed innocently. Having said that Mr. Speaker Sir, we were in Highfield attending a church service and when we came here, I am sure all of you know that we have been fasting as the MDC-A in respect of these six innocent victims.
"Mr. Speaker, Hon. Jacob Mudenda raised a pertinent issue that the main opposition party in this Parliament is barred. I want you to underline the word main opposition. Our role is to oppose any issues that violate the rights of the people of Zimbabwe – be it social, economic, political, cultural and so on."
Khumalo said there was no law that gives Zanu-PF power to control operations by the MDC Alliance.
"So, where is your source of law that gave rise for you to bar us to come to this House? We were only 20 minutes late and we had the right to remember our comrades. Some ZANU PF Members came, they were late and they came through but we could not. You went further Mr. Speaker Sir, and instructed the ZRP to remove us from the Parliament. Where is that source of law? You are removing us for committing what crime? So Mr. Speaker Sir, as the main opposition, we need you to give us a ruling now," said Khumalo.
Source - Byo24News
