Zimbabwe MP complains that some legislators are using the national flag as underwear

HON. MUDEREDZWA:  Madam Speaker, history gives you information about your identity, your nationality, who you are as a nation.  In Zimbabwe, in particular, we are a nation that has got a very rich history.  We were colonised in the past.  We went to war to liberate ourselves.  We are now a liberated country, a liberated nation.  What we are doing now is trying to improve our way of life so that members or our citizenry live a better life.  It is out of that that we value history.  It is sometimes disturbing that someone can become a Member of Parliament without understanding the history of his or her own country –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-  The history of Zimbabwe talks of respecting – I am seeking your protection Madam Speaker, from this other side because most of them do not understand the history of this country.  Most of them were part of the colonial system and I am seeking your indulgence Madam Speaker Ma’am so that I can debate this motion.

It is very important because I have noted that some of our Hon. Members cannot even sing the national anthem and they do not even understand it.  Some of them do not respect the national flag.  One day in this Hon. House, I saw Hon. Members of Parliament putting on the national flag as an undergarment and it is an embarrassment Madam Speaker -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-  It shows that some of the Hon. Members do not understand what the national flag is all about and what it is that the national anthem is all about.  This is why our nation sometimes is moving in retrogression.

HON. S. CHIDHAKWA:  On a point of order Madam Speaker.  The Hon. Member is using unpaliamentary language.  Can we inspect the Hon. Members to see if they are putting undergarments which are made of the national flag to prove his point?  Maybe, it is him who is putting on an undergarment which is made of the national flag.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  There is no point of order, the Hon. Member was referring to the abuse of use of the national flag -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

HON. MUDEREDZWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  I want to appeal to Hon. Members not to ignore knowing their history because when they go out there, they are representatives of this country despite the fact that they are coming from whatever side of the House.  When they are out there, they should be in a position to posture the history of Zimbabwe in the right perspective.  We have noted when we went out there with other members, Hon. Members for that matter, that they are unable to articulate the history of Zimbabwe.  But, there are people out there even in countries as far as Sierra Leone who understand our history.  They know that there is Robert Mugabe, the liberator -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – That is history and we need to appreciate that.  Hon. Speaker Ma’am, history enhances loyalty of the Zimbabwean nation.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order, order Hon. Members, I will give you time to debate this motion if you are interested.  Can everyone sit down?  I have given Hon. Muderedzwa the opportunity to debate this motion and I will also give you the same opportunity.  Do not shout.  Hon. Muderedzwa, you may continue.

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