ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
VACANCIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have an announcement which came in this afternoon. I would like to notify this august House that today, 18th January 2018, Parliament has been notified by the Zambabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) ZANU PF that the following Members have ceased to be Members of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front), ZANU PF party and therefore no longer represent the interests of the party in Parliament with effect from 10th January, 2018: Hon. Makhosini Hlongwane, Mberengwa East Constituency; Hon. Anastancia Ndhlovu, Proportional representation; Hon. Tapiwanashe Matangaidze, Shurugwi South Constituency; Hon. Shadreck Mashayamombe, Harare South Constituency; Hon. Wonder Mashange, Rushinga Constituency; Hon. Dr. Daniel Shumba, Masvingo Urban Constituency; Hon. Walter Mzembi, Masvingo South Constituency; Hon. Jappy Jaboon, Bikita South Constituency; Hon. Dr. Paul Chimedza, Gutu South Constituency; Hon. Sarah Mahoka, Hurungwe East Constituency; Hon. Samuel Undenge, Chimanimani East Constituency.
Section 129 (1) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides as follows; that a seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a Member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned by written notice to the Speaker or to the President of the Senate as the case may be, had declared that the Member has ceased to belong to it. Pursuant to the above, I do hereby inform this august House that vacancies have arisen in the constituencies stated above by the operation of the law. The necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the existence of the vacancies in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 213] as amended.
HON. ADV. CHAMISA : On a point of privilege Madam Speaker. I have noted that Section 129 (1) (k) gives political parties that have sponsored candidates the entire latitude to do whatever they are supposed to do. But this is an appeal that must go to all political parties to also avoid using this constitutional provision to be vindictive, divisive and to undermine. I am also referring to even the MDC – it is important for political parties, particularly in the context of a new dispensation. We do not want this new dispensation to see a generational genocide. We have lost some of the very competent young Members of Parliament who were very promising. Yes, it is a latitude of any political party but it must be noted that it is very dangerous to then target a particular generation the way we have done only because we have differed politically even within political parties. Let us be as inclusive as possible. This is a plea I must state and mention as a Member of Parliament that in political parties, let us not just go on a generational hara-kiri whereby we destroy certain people of a particular generation because…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order, Hon Chamisa, I think what has been done by the party is what this Hon. House was complaining about that when people are fired from their party it should be brought into this House. Now, it is being done and what are you trying to explain? Can we please leave that debate to the parties to talk about and also take it to your party? Thank you very much for the debate, please take your seat.
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