There was an uproar in Parliament yesterday and business was brought to a standstill after ZANU PF legislator Joseph Chinotimba labelled MDC leader of the House Thabitha Khumalo a prostitute. The incident happened during the question and answer session.
The ensuing chaos almost degenerated into a fist fight as legislators from the different political parties joined the furore. Chinotimba refused to apologise after Khumalo had demanded him to do so, and she walked out of the House in protest. Speaking about the incident, Khumalo said
I am shocked that we have MPs that call us names, and Chinotimba just called me a prostitute – this is wrong – no one has a right to call me names. I am not a prostitute, I am an MP and a woman and I want to be respected. He must withdraw or I will take him to court.
Parliamentary institutions should effectively deal with these abrasive moments which by all parameters not only bring alarm to Zimbabwe but are a huge cost to national integrity and struggled for unity and change.