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Flag jacket MP loses case

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Mutasa Central MP, Trevor Saruwaka’s application seeking to challenge his ejection from the National Assembly for wearing a jacket with the country’s flag colours, yesterday went up in smoke after it was dismissed by the High Court.

Mutasa Central MP, Trevor Saruwaka’s application seeking to challenge his ejection from the National Assembly for wearing a jacket with the country’s flag colours, yesterday went up in smoke after it was dismissed by the High Court.

BY CHARLES LAITON

In his application, Saruwaka (MDC-T) had cited Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda and the chief security officer of Parliament as respondents.

The legislator approached the High Court, arguing that his ejection from the august House last year on allegations of wearing a jacket with the country’s flag colours was unlawful and an infringement of his right to freedom of conscience and religion.

But High Court judge, Justice Lavender Makoni dismissed the application through a judgment handed down in the motion court by Justice Jester Helena Charehwa.

“After going through the submission by the parties, the application be and is, hereby, dismissed. Applicant (Saruwaka) to pay respondent’s costs,” Justice Charehwa said.

Saruwaka, who was represented by Kudzai Kadzere from Kadzere, Hungwe & Mandevere Legal Practitioners, had argued that there was no provision in Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders that barred legislators from wearing clothing with the country’s flag colours.

Saruwaka said the colours on his jacket were synonymous with his Rastafarian religion.