ZANU-PF is pushing for the expulsion of MDC legislators following their decision to walk out of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Tuesday. Opposition MPs refused to stand up in honour of Mnangagwa and walked out of the House when he started his address, infuriating Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda.
Mudenda then ruled that the MDC MPs would not receive sitting allowances for Tuesday and for the previous five months which they are owed by Parliament. Zanu-PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi said the ruling party was too lenient and demanded that Mudenda expels all MDC legislators.
"I think the Speaker's ruling was too lenient, they must be chucked out of Parliament and we call for by-elections. I think the Speaker is going to look into that. They disrespect the president but they want to debate Bills which will be signed into law by the president," said Togarepi.
Mudenda told Parliament that the walk- out occurred despite the fact that he had a prior meeting with Zanu-PF and MDC chief whips where he underscored that MPs should respect the president.
"As elected members, they must respect the rules of Parliament. On that account, there- fore, every process that takes place in Parliament must be respected completely.
"Accordingly, and in terms of the powers vested in me as head of Parliament, and also in respect of the Constitution, Parliament shall protect the Constitution and all the State agencies.
"The behaviour which has been demonstrated by honourable members when his Excellency started to speak is unpalatable; they must not be allowed to come back during this sitting. Accordingly, they shall not receive their allowances for today.
"I am aware that they put together a pay sheet requesting sitting allowances for the past five months and I want that pay sheet withdrawn from the ministry of Finance. Effectively, it means no payment for today and the five others that were outstanding. This unpalatable behaviour, if it continues, then more drastic measures must be taken against them," Mudenda said.
- dailynews
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