FORMER Makokoba opposition legislator Gorden Moyo has
called for the amendment of section 129 (1) (k) of the constitution to prevent the
recall of parliamentarians without the input of the electorate.
Moyo is a victim of recall having been expelled from
Parliament in 2015 after breaking away from the late opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai’s party. He was recalled alongside 21 other MPs like Tendai Biti.
They were to later form the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
with Biti as president and Moyo as secretary general.
Biti, who bounced back in Parliament on an MDC Alliance
ticket in 2018, has since been recalled alongside five other PDP
parliamentarians Sichelesile Mahlangu, Kucaca Phulu, Willias Madzimure,
Settlement Chikwinya and Regai Tsunga.
Moyo, who has quit politics, argued the section allowing
for the recall of parliamentarians should be amended to make it mandatory for
the electorate to be involved in any exercise to expel their representatives
from Parliament.
In terms of section 129(1)(k) of the constitution,
legislators and councils can be recalled from Parliament through a letter by a
political party to the speaker of Parliament.
“For example, it has to be mandatory that at least 1 000
signatures are gathered before parliament accepts letters of recall,” Moyo told
a policy dialogue meeting held in the city under the topic: Impact of Recalls
on Democracy and Civic Participation: Do Elections matter?
The meeting was organised by Women’s Institute for
Leadership Development, an independent civic group.
“We have a problem in our constitution, which agrees that
people should be recalled from Parliament.
“That provision that allows people to be recalled from
Parliament, when they were elected; thousands of the people shows a defect in
the constitution,” Moyo argued.
“I understand why that provision was put during the time of
the inclusive government to protect the political parties to prevent floor
crossing. I, however,have a problem with that provision where leaders can
decide against the will of the people not based on principles, values or
failure to deliver to recall MP’s.
“That has to change through an amendment of that section to
protect the people’s vote.”
The recall of Biti and five other legislators followed a
letter to the speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda by PDP secretary general
Benjamin Rukanda, who argued the six had ceased to represent the party after it
split into two factions in September 2017. Trade unionist Lucia Matibenga leads
the PDP faction that Rukanda is a member of.
Biti, who was leader of the united PDP prior to the split,
fronts a PDP faction that joined the MDC Alliance. Standard
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