
This came in the wake of complaints made yesterday by
Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) over the arrest of fellow party
legislators, Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe in Nyanga while attending a
parliamentary workshop, and Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende, who was arrested
yesterday at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon arrival from
Namibia, where he had visited his family.
“Since August, there are more than 12 MPs (who have been
arrested), including myself (Biti), Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya, Redcliff MP
Lloyd Mukapiko, Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole, Matabeleland North
Senator Rosemary Nyathi, Chiwundura MP Livingstone Chimina, and Midlands
Senator Morgen Komichi,” Biti said.
“The State has a right to proceed against any individual in
respect of which reasonable grounds of suspicion exist, but in casu, if you
trace the thread of charges against these MPs one would find that they are clearly
political and tied to the highly contested election,” Biti said, adding that
the treason charges on the MPs were highly frivolous.
Biti warned Zanu PF MPs that tomorrow, the same State
agents would be coming for them too.
Mudenda said Mamombe was arrested after parliamentary
business.
Meanwhile, Norton MP Temba Mliswa (independent) and Chegutu
West MP Dextor Nduna (Zanu PF) took turns to apologise to Mudenda for their
temperamental behaviour last month in Parliament, where they nearly exchanged
blows.
Mliswa had accused Nduna of being a thief and involved in
an $11 million Zimbabwe National Road Administration scam, while the Chegutu
legislator, in turn, threatened Mliswa and claimed to have killed people.
But yesterday, Mliswa apologised for insinuating that
Mudenda was corrupt.
“During the debacle, I inadvertently included the name of
the Speaker in the furore, mistakenly linking him with the nefarious actions
attributed to Nduna,” he said in his apology statement.
“The erroneous accusation was premised on misinformation
emanating from Nduna, who fabricated a false association with Mudenda in an
attempt to shield and seek protection from the underhand dealings he was
associated with to make them appear above board.”
Mliswa appealed to Mudenda to also address issues of Zanu
PF MPs Tafanana Zhou (Mberengwa North) and John Paradza (Gutu West), who he
accused of being abusive to female legislators like Lynette Karenyi (MDC
Alliance PR).
Nduna then also apologised, saying he did not mean what he
said. He said whenever there was a fierce fight, one would use a pick, shovel
or anything at their disposal to defend themselves.
“I want to profusely apologise for the words I uttered, and
say that I did not mean anything that I said, and I take back my words and want
to apologise so that the decorum of Parliament can be appraised. I apologise to
the Speaker as chairperson of the Standing Rules and Orders Committee, the
institution of Parliament, MPs and my party Zanu PF for the fracas which had
unintended effects,” he said. Newsday
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