HARARE – The resignations of Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham as MPs representing Mt Pleasant and Harare East respectively have now been confirmed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda.
“On January 29 and 31, Parliament received letters from Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham respectively, advising of their resignation from Parliament with immediate effect.
“In accordance with section 129(1)(b) of the Constitution, (which) states as follows: ‘A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant upon the member resigning his or her seat by written notice to the President of the Senate or to the Speaker, as the case may be,’” Mudenda said.
“Consequently, vacancies exist in the membership of Parliament, in respect of the two constituencies, and in terms of section 39(1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], His Excellency the President and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, shall duly be notified in writing of these vacancies.”
Mahere and Markham dumped the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in solidarity with former party leader Nelson Chamisa who resigned from the party saying it had been hijacked by the ruling party.
Two years after forming the CCC, Chamisa dumped the party saying it had been contaminated.
“Fellow citizens, this is to officially and under my hand inform you that, with immediate effect I no longer have anything to do with CCC.
“The CCC has to all intents and purposes been criminally handed over to ZANU-PF,” Chamisa said in his statement.” Chamisa wrote.
This was after several CCC legislators and councillors were ejected from their seats by Sengezo Tshabangu, an official claiming to the party’s secretary general, but who Chamisa and the CCC said was an imposter.
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