What Zimbabwe MPs said about the Constitution Amendment Bill

On a point of privilege – I am the Chief Whip of the opposition, I am and I am speaking on behalf of my caucus.  I saw him standing up and you may not have seen him but I saw him standing up.  If there are cameras, they will have recorded that he stood up.  Also Mr. Chairman, we have got a caucus of the opposition and I am the Chief Whip of that Caucus.  It is within my rights to stand on behalf of my colleagues.  That is the reason why there is a chief whip and leader of the opposition. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I am standing on their behalf because I have been appointed by the party to be their Chief Whip in this august House.  So, I am saying he stood up.  That as it may, I will take my seat but I wanted to point out that he did stand up.  You may not have observed as long as you give him an opportunity to speak after the Vice President.

THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  Hon. Maridadi, I can see you now but I did not see you when you stood up.

HON. MARIDADI:  Mr. Chairman, I am quite well dressed and I am a visible person.  I am not the shortest person in the House and I stood up.  .

THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  How come I did not see you?

HON. MARIDADI: I am not as short as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs but I am tall enough and you should have seen me.

THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  Order, order please.

HON. MARIDADI: I am not being disrespectful of the Vice President.  He can speak and I will speak after him.

THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  Order, You can resume your seat.

HON. MARIDADI:  I can speak.

THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON:  Yes.

HON. MARIDADI:  Thank you, I can speak.

THE CHAIRPERSON:  No, no, I do not mean now.  You suggested that you speak after the Vice President and then I said take your seat.

HON. MARIDADI:  I thought you said I can speak now.  After the Vice President has spoken I will speak on things that I was supposed to speak now and the things that I should have spoken after the V.P had spoken so I will combine the two.  I will still speak on the short title because I am burning to speak on the short title.

THE CHAIRPERSON:  For the benefit of doubt, you can speak now.

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