Parly speaker criticises suspected Zanu PF youth for disturbing Electoral Law Reforms public hearings

The Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda yesterday criticised youth that caused violence at Electoral Law Reforms public hearings held around the country recently, saying they denied citizens their constitutional right to be involved in legislative processes. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was forced to call off some of the meetings after violence erupted among participants, mostly youths. The disruptions occurred in Bulawayo, Mutare and Mutoko where suspected Zanu PF youths attacked parliamentarians.

Addressing Members of Parliament and ministers at a three-day 2017 pre-budget seminar held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo yesterday, Adv Mudenda said Parliament does not tolerate hooliganism from members of the public. He said,

We’ll not accept violence at parliamentary public meetings. Hooliganism must stop. In terms of Section 141 of the Constitution, everybody has the right to say their views. Members of the public must present their views without fear and they must also respect other people’s views. We must exercise political tolerance and desist from fighting because it doesn’t solve anything. Parliament is a family of all political parties and members of various committees come from different parties but they go out as a united committee for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe and the development of the country.

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