Highfield West Member of Parliament Psychology Maziwisa, who came in through a by-election in 2015 after Movement for Democratic Change legislator Moses Manyengavana broke-away from the party and the MDC-T boycotted the by-election, yesterday failed to garner support for a motion to congratulate President Robert Mugabe on his 93rd birthday.
Maziwisa who wanted the House to rise up and sing in honour of Mugabe because most legislators were in Parliament because of him, was told in no uncertain terms: “Haivhiyiwe, haichekwi, takapinda ne Vote, we will not allow that.”
Mugabe turned 93 yesterday and has been in power since 1980 first as Prime Minister and then as President.
Full debate:
HON. MAZIWISA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My point of order is in respect of Standing Order No. 68 (d), a point of privilege. Mr. Speaker we are what we are today, all of us, united in our diversities as black, white people – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker, let me go straight to the point. We are here as Members of Parliament of this country – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
Hon. Members having stood up.
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO): Hon. Members, please resume your seats.
HON. MAZIWISA: We are here because of President Robert Mugabe…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please resume your seat.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, when you say you have got a point of order, let it be a point of order.
HON. MAZIWISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, it is a point of privilege. Today as Members of Parliament, we are who we are in large part if not inclusively because of a man, President Robert Mugabe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- who is celebrating his birthday today. We want to sing, we want to celebrate President Mugabe’s birthday – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – congratulate and sing happy birthday to President Robert Mugabe – [HON. MEMBERS: Haivhiyiwe, haichekwi, takapinda ne Vote, we will not allow that.] –
Continued next page
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order, take your seats. Both sides please, when I call for order, respect the Chair. Hon. Member, the matter is not provided for in our Standing Orders, it can only proceed with unanimous concurrence of the whole House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Members, the Speaker has made a ruling.
HON. MLILO: I have a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. MLILO: I do not have a point of order but I have a point of privilege. If you give me an opportunity to air it out I would appreciate it. My point of privilege is, we need to appreciate where we are going – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order! Order Hon. Members! Without an exception, when I say order, I need order maintained in this House. Hon. Mlilo, I have already made a ruling and you stand up again repeating the same thing. Resume your seat.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Members, we do not want to take this House as a circus. When the Speaker has made a ruling, it must be respected.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: Mr. Speaker, it is a different issue altogether.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order. I have heard someone singing there. Who is singing? Hon. Members to my left, who was singing – [HON. MEMBERS: Ngaabude!] – Order, order! Your point of privilege should not be the same as the one I have just ruled on.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. On a point of privilege, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the life of a woman who has not only stood out advancing the women’s rights but also advanced the education of women and men of Zimbabwe, Professor Kurasha – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, we all know that Professor Kurasha was the champion who started the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), which we have all benefited from. I am also a beneficiary of ZOU.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order. I did not allow you to debate. I said you should be brief.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: That is the brief that I am giving. Thank you Mr. Speaker, I am talking of a woman who advanced the education of women and men of this country – [AN HON. MEMBER: It is now a motion.] – No, it is not a motion. I was just saying one statement. Thank you.
HON. MAZIVISA: Mr. Speaker, with your assistance, I just want to get the difference between a congratulatory and a condolence message – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Can you take your seat. Order, order.
Continued next page
*HON. MAHOKA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My question is, the Hon. Member has posed a question and you have not given us a ruling on the difference between the two issues. So, we want the meaning and we want to celebrate the life of the President in this House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Mutseyami, may you leave the House please – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order in the House, Hon. Members to my right! Hon. Mupfumi, when I am talking, please respect the Chair. Order, order. Hon. Mahoka, when the Chair has made a ruling, that ruling must be respected. On Professor Kurasha’s issue, it is about someone informing the House that she is now late. On the other motion, I asked him to submit a motion where everyone can debate because it can take the whole month or the whole week for people to debate.
HON. GUZAH: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. GUZAH: My point of order Mr. Speaker, was with regards to Hon. Mutseyami who has now left the House.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Is he in the House now – [HON. MEMBERS: Where is he? He is not even here. You are out of order.] – You are not the spokesperson. I can also see with my eyes, he is not here.
(138 VIEWS)
0 Comments