Zimpapers Logo

the motion because he was an interested party.
MDC-T chief whip Mr Innocent Gonese dismissed Cde Bhasikiti’s claims saying when the motion was raised in the House, Mr Zvoma had not yet approached the court.

He said if Parliament was to avoid debating the motion, it would set a wrong precedent because everyone would seek an interdict to stop Parliament from executing its duties.
Several Zanu-PF legislators rose to protest arguing that it was prudent for the Speaker to recuse himself since most of the issues being raised related to him.
Mr Lovemore Moyo had instructed legislators to avoid mentioning his name or position because he did not have a right to reply.

RELATED STORIES

• Parly clerk Zvoma to sue MDC-T

• Daggers out for Parly Clerk Zvoma

The debate then degenerated into a slanging match with heated verbal exchanges as Zanu-PF legislators called for Mr Lovemore Moyo’s recusal, while their MDC-T counterparts said he should remain in the chair.
Mr Lovemore Moyo turned down the request to recuse himself saying he was in the chair as Speaker and not an MDC-T member.
During the debate, Mr Tshuma said Mr Zvoma failed to properly conduct elections to choose the Speaker through a ballot box as noted by the Supreme Court when it nullified the polls.

He accused Mr Zvoma of disregarding the advice of Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana on Mr Lovemore Moyo’s status that he reverts to be Matobo MP following the nullification of the election results that landed him the Speaker ‘s post.

The legislator accused Mr Zvoma of unilaterally deferring the sitting of the House of Assembly on March 22, 2011, the day when Parliament was supposed to resume sitting.
Mr Tshuma also alleged that Mr Zvoma had tampered with the Hansard, which records verbatim proceedings in Parliament when he removed contributions by some MPs.

Mr Zvoma is also accused of issuing statements contemptuous of MPs.
“In terms of the relevant laws of this country, it was the mandate of the Clerk in carrying out that election of the presiding officers, to ensure that administrative and logistical measures are put in place, to ensure full compliance with requirements for both the Constitution of the Republic as well as the Standing Orders and Rules that govern our Parliament,” said Mr Tshuma.

“Standing Order No 6 provides that election of presiding officers shall be conducted by secret ballot. This is an important point that Order No 6 says . . . nothing less, nothing more. It is my contention that the Clerk was aware of this.”

Mr Tshuma said Mr Zvoma had condescending attitude towards MPs, particularly the Speaker, Mr Lovemore Moyo.
“Now, therefore, this House places on record its disapproval of the outward behaviour and actions exhibited by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma, and further resolves to invoke provisions of Section 48 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe to dismiss Mr Austin Zvoma from the service of Parliament forthwith through a secret ballot process,” Mr Tshuma said.

Mazowe Central MP Mr Shepherd Mushonga (MDC-T) said Mr Zvoma had demonstrated his arrogance when he caused the withdrawal of a Parliamentary Legal Committee Report from the House of Assembly.
The report had said the Statutory Instrument by Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere giving a 40-day ultimatum to the mining industry to comply with indigenisation regulations was unconstitutional.

“We believe that the Clerk was giving political advice and not legal advice. We believe we have suffered a lot of interference from the Clerk,” he said.

Mr Mushonga said it was within their powers as Parliament to employ or expel any employee, including Mr Zvoma.
He proposed that a five-member committee of lawmakers be appointed to hear Mr Zvoma’s side before making recommendations.