21 MPs expelled challenge expulsion

The 21 legislators who were expelled from parliament yesterday are challenging section 129k of the constitution which was used by the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda to dismiss them.

The group was expelled after the MDC-T party wrote to parliament seeking their expulsion, arguing that they were no longer members of the party but had joined the United MDC.

The group’s spokesperson, Mr Jacob Mufume however contends that the Speaker of Parliament misinterpreted the statute he used to expel them, adding that their court application has been delayed by the fact that parliament’s publication of all proceedings, the Hansard is not yet out.

Mr Mufume insisted that the group has not changed a political party, arguing that the problem with the MDC still lies with the Mandel Training Centre resolutions which dismissed Mr Morgan Tsvangirai as the leader of the party.

Section 129k of the constitution says the seat of a member of parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to parliament. 

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans have expressed mixed reactions over the recalling of the 21 legislators.

Some people in Manicaland Province feel that the decision to expel the legislators is the prerogative of the electorate who voted for them while others say the decision taken by the Speaker of Parliament is spot on.

Other people in Manicaland however, appear to be unhappy with their legislators’ performances and want parliament to also expel parliamentarians who have lost contact with the people.

In Bulawayo, some residents said the move taken by Morgan Tsvangirai to recall rebel legislators was a wise move as they were no longer representing the interests of the party and the electorate.

Some however said Tsvangirai should have asked the people who voted the recalled legislators into office before making the decision.

There are others who feel that the MDC-T’s stance to boycott any elections will come to haunt the party especially now as by-elections are looming. ZBC News