by Innocent Mujeri
The recently reinstated acting president of the MDC T, Thokozani Khupe, yesterday recalled nine more legislators from Parliament stating that they had ceased to represent the interests of that party in the august house.
The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda announced that legislators, Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Happymore Chidziva (Highfield) and Murisi Zwizai (Harare Central) were no longer members of the august house as they have been recalled by their party.
Other legislators that have been withdrawn from Parliament are Proportional Representative legislators Nomathemba Ndlovu, Francisca Ncube, Anna Muyambo,Virginia Muradzikwa, Mutarairwa Mugido, and Basilia Majaya.
The parliamentary seats of the recalled legislators are now vacant pending by-elections.
“Pursuant to the above, I do hereby inform the House that vacancies have arisen in these constituencies by operation of the law. The necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of the vacancies in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) as amended,” Advocate Mudenda said.
Meanwhile, an MDC T legislator who was at parliament who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said the recalled MPs were angry at the MDC Alliance leadership, particularly Tendai Biti whom they accused of being a spy sent to destroy the MDC A.
“The recalled legislators were fuming at Biti whom they were accusing of being a sell-out. They were saying that Biti was clandestinely working with Thokozani Khupe to politically weaken Nelson Chamisa.The legislators also said Biti had a meeting with Khupe over the weekend where they came up with a list of MPs who were to be recalled from Parliament. It was very emotional as some legislators like Majaya and Muradzikwa were literally crying when they walked out of Parliament,” said the legislator.
One of the recalled legislators who also spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity had no kind words for Chamisa whom he accused of being politically ineffective.
“I feel used my brother. Chamisa said he would protect us from being recalled from Parliament. He said Khupe had no power to withdraw anyone from Parliament but today (yesterday) we have been recalled. Chamisa will continue to keep quiet while we are being persecuted by Khupe. I regret ever siding with him as he has proved that he is politically ineffective,” said the disgruntled legislator.
The latest withdrawal brings to 13 the number of MDC legislators who have been recalled from the august house.
The first to be recalled were Charlton Hwende,Thabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveous.
Meanwhile, a media brief given by the MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere soon after the expulsion of the nine legislators from Parliament showed that the Alliance now fears that more MPs would shift their allegiance to Khupe to save their political careers.
“The thinking is that our MPs will be guided by material interests, not by their conscience. However, unlike those who have chosen political expediency, we firmly believe that the majority of our MPs, who represent the true will of the people, will be guided by conscience,” said Mahere.
The MDC is embroiled in leadership wrangle pitting Khupe and Chamisa. In April, the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the opposition outfit and reinstated Khupe as leader of that party, albeit in acting capacity until an Extra Ordinary Congress was convened.
