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WATCH: Drama at Parliament - 'Ecjected' MPs clash with 'weaponized riot police'

by Ndou Paul
2 hrs ago | Views
In a dramatic incident captured on video and shared on her social media, Zimbabwean Member of Parliament (MP) Fadzayi Mahere decried the state of the nation's legislature, labelling Parliament as a "co-conspiracy" instead of a platform for accountability and governance. The video shows Mahere clashing with police officers after being forcefully ejected from the parliamentary chambers - a scene emblematic of the growing tension between opposition lawmakers and the ruling establishment.

Mahere, a prominent opposition figure and advocate for constitutionalism, expressed her outrage on Facebook, claiming that the Speaker of Parliament had weaponized riot police to silence dissenting voices. "If you raise a point of order that criticizes or holds the government to account, the Speaker will stop you in your tracks and call in armed riot police to eject you from the House," she stated.

Parliament or a Battlefield?

The footage accompanying her post shows a chaotic scuffle, with Mahere at the center, surrounded by armed police officers as tensions boil over. The post's message struck a chord with many, as Mahere accused the government of undermining the Constitution, parliamentary privilege, and the standing orders designed to uphold legislative processes. Her remarks highlight deep-seated concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions in Zimbabwe.

"They want MPs who are mute, who ignore their bad policies and watch them break the law silently. That's not Parliament. It's co-conspiracy," she declared in her post, which has since sparked widespread discussion online.



A Cry for Leadership or Political Posturing?

The incident comes amid growing discontent among Zimbabweans over perceived authoritarianism within the government and its failure to address economic challenges. However, government loyalists have dismissed Mahere's claims, accusing her of grandstanding and using dramatic tactics to gain political mileage.

Critics of Mahere argue that such stunts distract from meaningful dialogue and policy-making, while her supporters view her defiance as a necessary act of resistance in a system that increasingly suppresses opposition voices.

What Next for Zimbabwe?

The event has once again raised questions about the state of democracy in Zimbabwe. Can Parliament continue to serve as the "theater" for a better Zimbabwe, as Mahere envisions? Or has it become, as she suggests, a stage for rubber-stamping the government's will?

One thing is clear: Zimbabwe's political landscape remains as polarized as ever, with figures like Mahere standing at the forefront of a struggle that shows no signs of abating.

Source - Byo24News