MABVUKU-TAFARA MP James Maridadi yesterday told Parliament that his family was now living in fear after a live bullet was dumped at his doorstep on Monday.
BY VENERANDA LANGA
“Madam Speaker, on Monday morning I received a live bullet, which was placed at my doorstep, with a note saying ‘watch out’,” he said.
“I bring this to the attention of Parliament, but the matter has been reported to a Zimbabwe Republic Police department carrying out investigations on the matter.”
“Yesterday I received phone calls from a number from outside the country and they have also kept phoning my wife’s cellphone numbers. I have brought this matter before the House because it deserves attention.”
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona promised to look into the matter.
In an unrelated matter, the House almost got into chaos when opposition MPs complained over the absence of ministers to field questions from backbenchers.
An unidentified Zanu PF MP was heard shouting that the ministers had gone to the funeral of the late Nkulumane MP Thamsanqa Mahlangu (MDC-T)
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This angered opposition legislators, with Warren Park MP Elias Mudzuri describing the remark as offensive.
“I find it painful that people make a joke on a Member of Parliament who is late. Yesterday, the same MP was saying we should engage in constructive debate, and I do not think it is right to demean a late MP,” he shot back.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice chairperson, Jessie Majome said Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is in charge of the Justice ministry, should ensure the notorious section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act be completely repealed in line with the recent Supreme Court ruling.
The remarks were made during debate on the Second Reading Stage of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill.
Majome also said the committee felt that there should be extensive debate with a view to abolishing the death penalty which has been outlawed by the Constitution.
“Section 48 (2) of the Constitution means the death penalty cannot be allowed, but this Bill seeks to entrench it in circumstances that do not give Parliament a chance to debate as to whether or not this House can bring back the death penalty. It is a serious matter,” she said.
MDC-T chief whip Innocent, Gonese further demanded that amendments should ensure the Prosecutor-General was not given the sole discretion to decide prosecutable matters.
However, Mnangagwa said it was constitutional for the Prosecutor-General to have the monopoly to prosecute.
