×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Mugabe nephew angers MPs

News
Parliament business almost ground to a halt yesterday as MPs heckled MP for Zvimba East Patrick Zhuwao (Zanu PF), after he described the current session of the Seventh Parliament as unproductive and cast aspersions over Copac’s capacity to deliver a new constitution. Zhuwao, a nephew of President Robert Mugabe, made the remarks in the House […]

Parliament business almost ground to a halt yesterday as MPs heckled MP for Zvimba East Patrick Zhuwao (Zanu PF), after he described the current session of the Seventh Parliament as unproductive and cast aspersions over Copac’s capacity to deliver a new constitution.

Zhuwao, a nephew of President Robert Mugabe, made the remarks in the House of Assembly while winding up his motion on the Presidential speech. He drew the ire of mostly MDC-T MPs who felt the attacks were directed at them.

The MPs threatened to reject his motion when Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo called for its approval.

Zhuwao attacked MPs involved in violence before launching a tirade against Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe board member Tony Hawkins saying he at one time went out of the country and advocated for sanctions.

“This particular session of Parliament was the House which was meant to deliver, but it is a session of Parliament which had the least number of Bills and we also seem not to be able to bring a new constitution for the country,” Zhuwao said.

“Copac, which is supposed to be a Select Committee of MPs in this Parliament, has brought two drafts and these have attracted anger as they do not reflect the views of the people and one of the issues that the people spoke strongly against was the issue of homosexuality, and as a result history will judge this fourth session of the Seventh Parliament and also judge Parliament under your leadership, Mr Speaker.”

He also said the session was the least productive as ministers had failed to bring in Bills for crafting in the House. MDC-T MPs interjected, resulting in their chief whip Innocent Gonese and Magwegwe MP Felix Magalela Sibanda protesting at Zhuwao’s continued reference to a draft document which has not been officially submitted to Parliament.

Zhuwao’s motion was only adopted following the intervention of the Speaker of Parliament and chief whips from the MDC-T and Zanu PF.

[email protected]