MDC Chief Whip on Prosper Mutseyami issued a statement justifying why the party’s legislators did not stand up when President Mnangagwa entered Parliament.
Mutseyami said legislators did not stand up because Mnangagwa is not the elected President. He said there is no rule that compels legislators to stand up when a President enters Parliament. Mutseyami further argues that Mnangagwa disrespected the House because he was wearing a Zanu-PF scarf. He also said leader of House of Assembly for the MDC, Thabitha Khumalo and Karenyi Kore have been hospitalized and others injured following skirmishes with the police. We publish Mutseyami’s statement below:
MDC members of Parliament did not stand up when the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa entered the chambers leading to the Speaker of Parliament ordering MDC MPs to walk out of the house, which they refused.
Police officers were called in to disperse the MDC MPS from the chambers, and they did so violently, assaulting members of parliament.
There posits our problem.
- Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the elected President of Zimbabwe. ZEC and Zanu PF stole the people’s vote therefore, he does not deserve our respect.
- There is no rule that says when a President is entering Parliament, MPs must rise up.
- Regalia is not allowed in Parliament, therefore, Mr Mnangagwa disrespected the house when he entered the August House putting on a Zanu PF scarf.
- Police, the CIO and military are not supposed to get into parliament, let alone violently evict duly elected MPs.
The MDC is disturbed by the continued use of force by this government – a clear failure to break from their violent past. We insist that this illegitimate government will kill just to maintain the grip of power, but as the MDC, we will keep the pressure until they give in to the will of the people.
We continue to pursue every democratic right to ensure the people’s hope is not destroyed. A clean, caring and respectful government is what the people of Zimbabwe deserve.
MDC is playing dirty poliitics , they wr asked to leave but the acted like hooligans ,police had to ask the out nice the responded violently but still mostly they wr not beaten up as they claim., Toxic politics being played hear
Why did they accept to be sworn in by an “unelected” President. Hypocrisy at its best
Im so surprised when they only refused to rise for some seconds and resume-an indecisive step they took. We are not going anywhere. By virtue of amenity they would have done it for the people they represent. Now the implications of these target and haunt everyone everywhere in Zimbabwe.
Don’t worry we are in this together D. Nkosana. ndozvatakavaudza isu masupporters.
Antidisestablishmentarianism in an explaination. Nonsense wrapped in folly.
Childish acts. The people are watching. I urge President ED, ministers and other hard working ministers and people of Zimbabwe not to be distracted by these attention seekers.
Sad developments, there is a fundamental contradiction….more sad story to this than what meets the eye….underdevelopment of of Africa by Africans…..it by far foregoes who won and lost the controversial elections and whether Zimbabwe is to be or not to be….it is not a matter of law enforcement but commonsense for the commongood, swallowing our pride certainly knowing what’s best for the nation and the greater world we live in….culture of statesmanship seeking righteuoness not dictatorship…you are bound to have a more bumpy road.
Defiance is a way of protest . For progress’s sake Mudenda was just supposed to ignore the incidence. It is the speaker who is acting despotic and childish in trying to pliz his paymaster.