Speaker of Parliament, Zanu PF MPs accused of shielding ‘brutal police’

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) caucus led by opposition chief whip and Mutare Central legislator, Innocent Gonese, has rapped the speaker of parliament and Zanu PF members of parliament (MP) for sabotaging a motion on police brutality.

The motion was introduced by MDC-T co-vice president and Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa on 18 August as a way pushing government to apologise over excessive use of force by the police, establishing compensation mechanism for victims and launching a commission of inquiry.

Police have of late come under attack for persecuting civil protesters through the use of tear smoke, torture and illegal arrests.

Zanu PF MPs who make the majority in parliament have repeatedly walked out so that the motion does not enjoy a quorum.

“The MDC-T caucus is appalled, dismayed and disgusted by the anti-people behaviour displayed by Zanu PF members of parliament on diverse occasions to frustrate and thwart important motions to discuss definite matters of urgent of public importance,’ said Gonese in a statement.

He had no kind words for the speaker, Jacob Mudenda, a senior Zanu PF member, who he accused of breaking parliamentary rules.

Gonese said the speaker unprocedurally demanded that Chamisa must bring a video recording of the alleged police brutality.

“Notwithstanding (Chamisa’s) procedural compliance, the speaker of the national assembly delayed the introduction of the motion on the pretext that he wanted to be furnished with the video footage and electronic evidence of the police brutality,” said Gonese.

“It is instructive to note that the provisions of Standing Order No. 59 do not entail the production of such detailed evidence as it would simply suffice for the speaker to merely exercise his mind as to whether the motion is one which is contemplated by the rules,” he added.

Zanu PF MPs have walked out on other motions introduced by MDC-T, among them one on the disappearance of Itai Dzamara, a journalist turned activist who was abducted in March 2015, and another on Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s lengthy stay at a Harare hotel.

“It is regrettable that (parliament) has failed to discuss the definite matters of urgent public importance and history will judge the anti-people behaviour exhibited by Zanu PF members of parliament. One does not need a degree in nuclear physics in order to figure out why they are behaving in this manner. They definitely have something to hide.

“However, the MDC-T caucus will not be deterred and we shall continue to champion the rights of the people who elected us to represent them,” said Gonese. Nehanda Radio