Zimbabwe opposition MP refuses to join MDC probe team

Zimbabwe’s only opposition Member of Parliament representing the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai, now led by Thokozani Khupe, has refused to join the Parliamentary committee set up yesterday to investigate the boycott of sittings by the Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance legislators whenever President Emmerson Mnangagwa comes to Parliament.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who was appointed part of the 10-member committee chaired by Jonathan Samkange, declined the appointment saying she was “conflicted”.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga is a proportional representation MP and is the only MDC-T member in the National Assembly.

The other MDC-T legislator, Mildred Dube, sits in the Senate.

The latest MDC boycott was when Mnangagwa came to Parliament last month to attend the presentation of the 2020 budget by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

The committee is tasked with investigating the conduct of MDC-A MPs in consecutive instances whereby they did not rise for the President, walked out of Parliament when the Head of State was delivering a speech or did not bother to attend Parliament when the President attended.

It was also tasked with establishing whether such conduct constitutes contempt of Parliament.

It should report its findings by 28 February next year.

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