MDC MPs to lose allowances for walking out on Mnangagwa

Mudenda’s full address

BEHAVIOUR OF MDC-ALLIANCE MEMBERS

THE HON. SPEAKER: You have witnessed what happened in terms of the behaviour of Members of the MDC Alliance. I am instructing the Administration of Parliament by using our attendance register and the clinical inspection of camera videos to come up with the names of those Members who did not show respect by sitting down when His Excellency, the President came into this august House.

After having summoned all the Whips led by the Government Chief Whip, the Leader of Government Business in the House Hon. Ziyambi and Leader of the Opposition, I made an appeal following my yesterday’s appeal that we need to respect the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces who, in terms of the Constitution, represents the sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – across the board.

Secondly, I indicated to them that the Legislature is composed of His Excellency, the President and Parliament – Parliament being composed of the National Assembly and the Senate. This institution of the Legislature represents the sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe. As elected Members, we have taken an Oath of Office here in this august House to respect the law and the Constitution of Zimbabwe and by extension, the people of Zimbabwe from whom according to the Constitution, the august House derives its legislative authority.

On that account therefore, the processes that take place in Parliament must be respected completely without any reservation. I indicated to the meeting that I do not want to be forced to make some unpalatable decision should the concerned Members not respect the decorum and dignity of the House in the presence of His Excellency, the President. Accordingly, and in terms of the powers vested in me as head of Parliament and also in respecting the provision of the Constitution, Section 119 which states that Parliament shall protect the Constitution and all the states and all its agencies accordingly shall submit to the Constitution; the behaviour which has been demonstrated by the Hon. Members who walked out when His Excellency, the President started to speak shall not be allowed to come back during this sitting today. Accordingly, they will not receive their sitting allowance for today.

I am aware that we had put together a pay sheet for the past outstanding sitting allowances for the past five months and I want that pay sheet withdrawn from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Effectively, it means no payment for today’s sitting and the five others that were outstanding – [AN HON. MEMBER: Ko macoupons.] – If this unpalatable behaviour persists, then more drastic action shall be taken as guided by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.

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