Chamisa in a fix

Movement for Democratic Change vice-president Nelson Chamisa is in a fix. He failed today to get Parliament to discuss his motion on police brutality. And this could be the end of the story.

Speaker Jacob Mudenda allowed Chamisa to table the motion for the third time today but warned that if it was not debated today it would not be entertained in the future.

Chamisa first brought the motion to the House on Wednesday last week saying he had video evidence of police beating up peaceful demonstrators but there was no quorum on Thursday when he introduced it formally.

In his motion Chamisa wanted:

• The Minister of Home Affairs to investigate the conduct of these police officers and report to Parliament within a period stipulated by Parliament of a month.
• The Minister of Home Affairs to issue a public apology in the interim over the untoward conduct of some of the police officers.
• Immediately implement a training of police officers’ programme in terms of human rights as part of their curriculum as envisaged and contemplated by the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
• To put in place an Act of Parliament setting up an independent Complaints Commission and mechanism for members of the public to report on abuses by the police in terms of Section 210 of our national law.
• Ensure that in line with the national Magna Carter of our Constitution, Parliament sets up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the conduct of the police, either through the Portfolio Committee or through a set up Committee by Parliament to make sure that we do justice in our oversight role.

There was no quorum again when he tried to introduce the motion on Friday.

Today, debate had to be halted when it was discovered that there was no quorum while legislators were debating a motion introduced by Buhera West legislator Oliver Mandipaka calling for a basic orientation course for legislators on the history of Zimbabwe.

Chamisa had assured the Speaker that members were now ready to debate motion but had not yet taken the floor when the House adjourned, giving him perhaps another chance.

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