MDC legislators who walked out of Parliament during
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address last week have given
the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda 48 hours to withdraw his
threats to dock their allowances or they will face off in court.
A lawyer representing the MPs, Alec Muchadehama, said
Mudenda had no powers to dock the sitting allowances of the legislators.
“You were reported as having said the following words,
first, that there were members of MDC Alliance who had not shown respect to his
Excellency, the President, when he entered the House by remaining seated,”
Muchadehama wrote to Mudenda.
“Second, that you had previously thereafter threatened to
make some unpalatable decision should certain concerned members not respect the
decision and dignity of the House in the presence of the President and using
the powers vested in the members who walked out when the President started to
speak shall not receive their sitting allowance.
“You threatened more drastic action should what you called
unpalatable behaviour of the MDC Alliance members of parliament persists.”
He said the Speaker had no powers to dock sitting
allowances or prevent MPs from receiving their sitting allowances.
“The Parliament of Zimbabwe, National Standing Rules and
orders do not allow you to dock Members of Parliament’s sitting allowances. It
must be borne in mind that your actions were not those of Parliament or the
committee on Standing Rules and Orders or any other committee or body,”
Muchadehama submitted.
“We have not been able to find any law that allows you to
do what you did. Our clients, therefore, contend that your actions were
personal, your decision was also capricious, irrational and scandalous.”
The legislators submitted that Mudenda’s actions were unlawful
and unprocedural, adding he violated international conventions, best practices
and procedures of Parliament.
“In your actions, you acted as the complainant, judge,
juror and executioner. Your conduct was biased, unlawful, unreasonable,
disproportionate and unfair both procedurally and substantively,” the
legislators said.
Muchadehama cited a case where the Government of Zimbabwe
failed an attempt not to pay former Rhodesia Premier, Ian Smith’s salary.
Newsday
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