Kereke booted out of Parliament

Bikita West Member of Parliament Munyaradzi Kereke who was jailed for an effective 10 years for raping his wife’s niece 10 days ago was today booted of Parliament.

Kereke was tried through a private prosecution after prosecutor-general Johannes Tomana refused to prosecute.

Tomana was, suspended this month for, among other things, the way he handled Kereke’s case.

Deputy Speaker  Mabel Chinomona told the House today that Kereke had ceased to be a member following his conviction.

“ In accordance with Section 129 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which reads that, ‘A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member is convicted in Zimbabwe of an offence of which breach of trust, dishonesty or physical violence is an essential element, and sentenced to imprisonment for six months or more without the option of a fine or without the option of any other non-custodial punishment; unless on appeal, the Member’s conviction is set aside for the sentence of imprisonment is reduced to less than six months or a punishment other than imprisonment is substituted’,” she said.

“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 vacancy in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 213 as amended.”

Kereke becomes the second member of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to be booted out of the House in two days.

Yesterday Norton legislator Christopher Mutsvangwa who was expelled from the party on 6 July, was also expelled from the House.

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