MDC Renewal to file court papers on Monday

HARARE – The MDC Renewal Team says it will file court papers on Monday, challenging the dismissal of 21 legislators from parliament last week.

In an interview the MDC Renewal Team spokesperson said Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has no role in determining who is the legitimate MDC.

“It was wrong for Mudenda to pass such a ruling because he is interfering with the MDC wrangle,” Mafume said.

MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora wrote to parliament saying “Those MPs can seek a new mandate under their political party. If the Speaker does not treat us fairly we will not take that decision lying down. In fairness these MPs can no longer claim to be representing our MDC members because they are no longer MDC.”

This was after Zanu PF MP Oliver Mandipaka moved a motion in Parliament saying the Speaker had to be be fair when treating matters of the same substance. He called upon Mudenda to declare the seats held by the Renewal MPs vacant after he fired Headlands and Hurungwe West legislators, Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa respectively.

“Our papers are ready and our lawyers will file them on Monday,” Mafume said.

Sources in the Renewal Team said the 21 legislators will be represented by constitutional expert and lawyer Lovemore Madhuku who is also representing Mutasa and Mliswa.