How Mugabe was given powers to appoint key judges with MDC kicking and screaming

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Hon. Toffa, can you take your seat? – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order! Sit down. Order, the tellers have been counting and we want to hear the numbers. – [AN HON. MEMBER: The correct numbers not just the numbers.]- I will send you outside now and can you be orderly. What number do we have from the Eyes?

HON. MUKWANGWARIWA: We have 187.

THE HON. SPEAKER: And this side?

HON. GONESE: Mr. Speaker, I think that procedurally – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order!

HON. GONESE: Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make a submission. I believe that the best way procedurally, is not about which side has got more numbers…

THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you make your statement please!

HON. GONESE: I am saying that the position in terms of the constitutional provisions is that the affirmative votes, it does not matter how many votes we have this side. It has to be 180+. So, we have got to verify that first. From our side, those we counted, we came up with about 173. We might have made an error and this is why we need a physical count. We need to have a physical count and confirm the names with the people who are here because we do not know each other.

We have to verify firstly how many people are there because when we counted Mr. Speaker, we came up with a figure which is about 173 which is well short of that number. We may have made an error and we need to verify because this is just to fulfill the constitutional position. We have to comply with our Constitution because some people were seated haphazardly and it was not very easy to verify.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Please state your case?

HON. GONESE: We need to count physically as to how many members there are.

THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your number?

HON. GONESE: It is 173 and that is the number that we have.

THE HON. SPEAKER: From the Nos, what number do you have?

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