Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda says he will investigate whether Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front political commissar Victor Matemadanda told a party meeting in Masvingo that the country’s legislators, especially those from the ruling party, were skipping sittings to see girlfriends or boyfriends thus delaying the passage of important bills in the House.
This followed a request by opposition legislator Edwin Mushoriwa of Dzivaresekwa to set up a committee to investigate Matemadanda’s statement which he said was an attack not only on ZANU-PF legislators but “each and everyone of us”.
Mushoriwa said it was not the legislators that were delaying the passage of bills but the executive.
Matemadanda is also Deputy Minister of Defence.
Mudenda said he would investigate whether Matemadanda made those remarks or not and would seek an audience with him.
ZANU-PF chief whip Pupurayi Togarepi said Matemadanda’s remarks were not an issue at all as the party had no problem with the comments but Mudenda insisted that he would investigate.
Matemadand was quoted by the Masvingo Mirror as saying it was taking long to pass bills in Parliament because MPs, particularly ZANU- PF, were skipping the august House to see their boyfriends and girlfriends.
“ZANU- PF is capable of passing laws on its own in Parliament because we have the numbers but our MPs are not patriotic to the party. We have MPs who soon after getting their fuel coupons on Wednesday disappear to their girlfriends and boyfriends leaving Parliament business unfinished,” Matemadanda said.
“Some go to their farms and use the diesel for farming instead of Parliament business. The President assigned me to talk to these MPs but they have defied me. He even assigned VP Mohadi but they won’t listen to him. The President has given up on these MPs because he believes and has allowed democratic space in the party.
“Therefore as you elect your DCC members please don’t elect place holders; elect real cadres of the party,” he said.
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