'Zanu yaora', MDC-T sings in Parliament

PARLIAMENT was on Tuesday turned into a mini-circus as MPs from the ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition MDC-T heckled each other during debate on the state of national shrines.

The motion, introduced in the House by Chegutu West MP, Dexter Nduna, sought to push the government to protect and take care of gravesites where thousands of liberation war fighters are buried in countries such as Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Nduna in his motion also urged the government to turn houses that were used by national leaders such as Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda and President Robert Mugabe during the liberation war into national heritage sites.

MDC-T MPs, Murisi Zvizwai and Thabitha Khumalo, continuously heckled Nduna forcing the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to warn the two over their "dishonourable" behaviour.

Matters however came to a head when Makoni South MP, Mandi Chimene, rose to add her voice on the matter.

Before uttering a word on the subject under discussion, Chimene burst into a liberation war song, 'Ndakasiya Baba Namai Vachichema'.

She was immediately joined in the singing by other MPs from Zanu PF.

MPs from the MDC led by Glen View North MP, Fani Munengami, also broke into their own song, Zanu Yaora.

During the chaos which lasted almost five minutes, some MPs from Zanu PF jumped on top of their benches trying to outdo those from the MDC leaving Mudenda to watch helplessly.

Mudenda had to invoke powers vested in him as the speaker to bring the House to order.

"Let me remind the Honourable MPs that this House cannot be allowed to degenerate into chaos, we should behave in an honourable manner," he said.

As soon as Mudenda left his seat and acting speaker, Reuben Marumahoko, took over, chaos resumed again as the MPs from both sides tried to undo each other.

Khumalo was finally sent packing after she continued shouting down Midlands MP, Melody Dziva, saying that she was a non-elected legislator with no direct mandate from the people.

"Uri MP webaccossi, hauna kuvhoterwa nevanhu iwe (you are an unelected MP, you were not chosen by the people)" Khumalo shouted at Dziva, leading to her ejection from the House by Marumahoko.