Reinstated MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has challenged MDC Alliance vice-chairperson Job Sikhala to resign from the National Assembly of the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Mwonzora told The Sunday Mail that the fact that Sikhala has not resigned is proof that the Zengeza West MP was bluffing when he warned that MDC Alliance MPs will resign from Parliament en masse. Said Mwonzora:
If he (Sikhala) is serious and genuine about leaving Parliament he should set an example and resign first.
The fact that he has not done so shows that he is not serious. I don’t take him seriously.
That threat to withdraw is coming from people who no longer have control over the MPs.
The issue on who has control over MPs was resolved first by the Supreme Court and secondly by Parliament itself when these two institutions recognised us as the leadership of the MPs of the MDC-T.
We have since advised our MPs that they must ignore that call. It amounts to short-changing the electorate because MPs were elected to serve.
Last week, Sikhala said all MDC Alliance MPs would leave Parliament in solidarity with Charlton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami, Tabitha Khumalo and Midlands Senator Lilian Timveous, who were recently recalled by Mwonzora.
If all MDC Alliance MPs resign from Parliament, this could result in by-elections in the affected constituencies.
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