Zimpapers Logo

Dr Olivia Muchena

Herald Reporter
Former ministers, some of whom had served in the executive for over 15 years, yesterday began life as ordinary Members of Parliament as they ceased occupying the front row reserved for ministers.

Both the Senate and the National Assembly reconvened yesterday after a month’s break.

Ironically, some of them, who had developed a penchant for snubbing Parliament during their tenure as ministers, showed up.

President Mugabe last month axed about 15 ministers and Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru from Government for failing to perform their mandate to expected standards.

In the Senate, former ministers who attended and sat at the benches reserved for backbenchers are Dr Olivia Muchena (Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Energy and Power Development) and Flora Buka (Minister of State for Presidential Affairs).

Webster Shamu (Information Communications Technology and Postal and Courier Services), Francis Nhema (Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment), and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs) scrambled for backbenchers’ seats in the National Assembly.

Former deputy ministers who also showed up in the National Assembly are Dr Paul Chimedza (Health and Child Care), Cde Tongai Muzenda (Public Service, Labour and Social Services), Tendai Savanhu (Lands and Rural Resettlement) and Fortune Chasi (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs).

Backbenchers welcomed their new colleagues by greeting them and paving way for them. Dr Mujuru’s cabal was accused of expending their energy on factional activities to prop up her chances of toppling President Mugabe even through unprecedented means like assassination.

Interestingly, MDC-T legislators cheered all the former ministers when they walked into the National Assembly in the same manner they cheered former Vice President Dr Mujuru during the 2015 National Budget presentation in November last year. In the Senate, Cde Mavhaire and Dr Muchena appeared pre-occupied with what appeared like order papers as they kept perusing them while Cde Buka looked subdued.

In the National Assembly, Cde Mudarikwa appeared unfazed as he even debated as a backbencher to the extent of joking about his sacking as a minister.

“I was redeployed from the executive to Parliament,” said Cde Mudarikwa drawing laughter from the House.

While debating Chegutu West legislator, Cde Dexter Nduna’s motion on Special Economic Zones, Cde Mudarikwa urged ministers to attend Parliament during debate.

Cde Shamu cut a lone figure as no one bothered to talk to him.