Maziwisa fails to push through Mugabe’s birth congratulatory message in Parliament

Highfield West Member of Parliament Psychology Maziwisa, who came in through a by-election in 2015 after Movement for Democratic Change legislator Moses Manyengavana broke-away from the party and the MDC-T boycotted the by-election, yesterday failed to garner support for a motion to congratulate President Robert Mugabe on his 93^rd birthday.

Maziwisa who wanted the House to rise up and sing in honour of Mugabe because most legislators were in Parliament because of him, was told in no uncertain terms: “Haivhiyiwe, haichekwi, takapinda ne Vote, we will not allow that.”

Mugabe turned 93 yesterday and has been in power since 1980 first as Prime Minister and then as President.

Full debate:

HON. MAZIWISA:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker.  My point of order is in respect of Standing Order No. 68 (d), a point of privilege.  Mr. Speaker we are what we are today, all of us, united in our diversities as black, white people – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker, let me go straight to the point.  We are here as Members of Parliament of this country – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

Hon. Members having stood up.

THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):  Hon. Members, please resume your seats.

HON. MAZIWISA:  We are here because of President Robert Mugabe…

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, please resume your seat.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, when you say you have got a point of order, let it be a point of order.

HON. MAZIWISA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker, it is a point of privilege.   Today as Members of Parliament, we are who we are in large part if not inclusively because of a man, President Robert Mugabe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- who is celebrating his birthday today.  We want to sing, we want to celebrate President Mugabe’s birthday – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – congratulate and sing happy birthday to President Robert Mugabe – [HON. MEMBERS: Haivhiyiwe, haichekwi, takapinda ne Vote, we will not allow that.] –

Continued next page

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order, take your seats.  Both sides please, when I call for order, respect the Chair. Hon. Member, the matter is not provided for in our Standing Orders, it can only proceed with unanimous concurrence of the whole House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Members, the Speaker has made a ruling.

HON. MLILO:  I have a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

HON. MLILO:  I do not have a point of order but I have a point of privilege.  If you give me an opportunity to air it out I would appreciate it.  My point of privilege is, we need to appreciate where we are going – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order!  Order Hon. Members!  Without an exception, when I say order, I need order maintained in this House.  Hon. Mlilo, I have already made a ruling and you stand up again repeating the same thing.  Resume your seat.

HON. NYAMUPINGA:  On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order.  Hon. Members, we do not want to take this House as a circus.  When the Speaker has made a ruling, it must be respected.

HON. NYAMUPINGA:  Mr. Speaker, it is a different issue altogether.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order.  I have heard someone singing there.  Who is singing?  Hon. Members to my left, who was singing – [HON. MEMBERS:  Ngaabude!] –  Order, order!  Your point of privilege should not be the same as the one I have just ruled on.

HON. NYAMUPINGA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  On a point of privilege, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the life of a woman who has not only stood out advancing the women’s rights but also advanced the education of women and men of Zimbabwe, Professor Kurasha – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –  Mr. Speaker Sir, we all know that Professor Kurasha was the champion who started the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), which we have all benefited from.  I am also a beneficiary of ZOU.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order.  I did not allow you to debate.  I said you should be brief.

HON. NYAMUPINGA:  That is the brief that I am giving.  Thank you Mr. Speaker, I am talking of a woman who advanced the education of women and men of this country – [AN HON. MEMBER:  It is now a motion.] – No, it is not a motion.  I was just saying one statement.  Thank you.

HON. MAZIVISA:  Mr. Speaker, with your assistance, I just want to get the difference between a congratulatory and a condolence message – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Can you take your seat.  Order, order.

Continued next page

*HON. MAHOKA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.  My question is, the Hon. Member has posed a question and you have not given us a ruling on the difference between the two issues.  So, we want the meaning and we want to celebrate the life of the President in this House – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING SPEAKER:    Hon. Mutseyami, may you leave the House please – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Order in the House, Hon. Members to my right!  Hon. Mupfumi, when I am talking, please respect the Chair.  Order, order.  Hon. Mahoka, when the Chair has made a ruling, that ruling must be respected.  On Professor Kurasha’s issue, it is about someone informing the House that she is now late.  On the other motion, I asked him to submit a motion where everyone can debate because it can take the whole month or the whole week for people to debate.

HON. GUZAH:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

HON. GUZAH:  My point of order Mr. Speaker, was with regards to Hon. Mutseyami who has now left the House.

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Is he in the House now – [HON. MEMBERS:  Where is he?  He is not even here.  You are out of order.] – You are not the spokesperson.  I can also see with my eyes, he is not here.

(139 VIEWS)