The newly-elected MPs were sworn in at the new parliament
building in MT Hampden.
However, the Parliament of Zimbabwe indicated that eight
MPs were not sworn in due to various reasons.
The MPs are Prince Sibanda Dubeko (Binga North), Jasmine
Toffa (Bulawayo Proportional Representative), Gladys Kudzaishe Hlatshwayo
(Gokwe Central), Leslie Brian James (Mberengwa South), Norman Allan Markham
(Mutare South), Sekai Marashe (Mudzi South), Supa Collins Mandiwanzira
(Chimanimani East) and Chido Sanyatwe (Harare South).
Sibanda accused the Clerk of Parliament of undermining the
MPs by giving them less than 48 hours’ notice to attend the swearing-in
ceremony.
“The challenge that was there is that the Clerk of
Parliament undermines us, they think we don’t have a life, he gave us a short
notice to invite us for swearing in less than 48 hours. I have other businesses
that I run, I am a lawyer, I have a diary that I follow so I couldn’t attend to
that short notice, thus the only reason why I could not attend,” said the Binga
North MP.
Toffa said she was not in the country when the other MPs
were sworn in yesterday.
“As I speak, I am in the airport on my way to Bulawayo. I
was not around. When I get there, I will get in touch with Parliament so that
they tell me when I will be sworn in,” said Toffa.
ZANU-PF director of Information and Publicity Farai
Marapire said there are various reasons that may have led the ZANU-PF MPs to
skip the swearing-in process yesterday.
“There are many challenges that can lead one not to be
sworn in, maybe they were not well. There was a genuine reason not to attend,
it’s not that they were boycotting or anything, as ZANU-PF we are one big
family,” said Marapire. CITE
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