Police called in as MPs roll up sleeves

By Farirai Machivenyika

HARARE – Zanu-PF National Assembly representative for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba and MDC-T’s Prince Dubeko Sibanda, came close to exchanging blows yesterday after they disagreed during a meeting of a portfolio committee. A quick intervention by the police saved the situation.

In the end Chinotimba branded Sibanda, who represents Binga North and is on $400 bail for a rape case, a rapist.

The skirmish occurred while Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo was giving oral evidence to the portfolio committee on the ministry chaired by Mutasa South representative Irene Zindi.

Proceedings were interrupted as the two MPs exchanged harsh words as they angled for each other before police at Parliament Building were called in to restrain the two and take them out of the meeting.

Tempers flared after Chinotimba raised a point of order that Sibanda was being given written questions by journalists attending the meeting to ask Minister Chombo.

“Madam Chair, the honourable member is getting written questions from journalists yet this is our meeting,” he said. “It is not fair that members get questions from journalists.”

Sibanda stated that how he asked questions was not Chinotimba’s business.

“Madam Chair, I have been writing notes down since the meeting started and Hon Chinotimba should be concerned about his questions and not mine,” he said.

Kadoma Central representative Fani Phiri then joined in the argument, trying to grab the note Sibanda was holding to prove that he had been given a written question.

In the ensuing exchanges, Chinotimba then shouted: “Ndosaka wakarepa” (“That’s why you raped.”)

This angered Sibanda who repeatedly shouted: “Pfutseki Chinotimba, ndati pfutseki Chinotimba.”

Ignoring entreaties by Zindi for peace, a livid Sibanda continued his insults against Chinotimba.

Zindi eventually ejected the two parliamentarians from the meeting with the aid of the police who escorted them out of the meeting.

Sibanda is facing allegations of drugging and raping a 17-year-old girl in November last year in Victoria Falls after he had given her a lift.

He allegedly gave the girl’s father, an MDC-T activist and close friend of the legislator, $4,000 in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Zindi apologised for the MPs’ conduct at the end of the meeting.

“I am sorry for what has happened but well it happens among people. It is not what usually happens because as a committee we are usually cooperative,” she said.

The latest incident comes after a similar case involving Zanu-PF legislators, Masango Matambanadzo (Kwekwe Central) and Gokwe-Kana legislator Owen Ncube who fought two weeks ago at Amaveni Shopping Centre in Kwekwe.

The two allegedly hired youths to perform acts of arson against each other. They are expected to face disciplinary proceedings soon for bringing the name of the party into disrepute. The Herald