The United States government has condemned the recent recall from Parliament of MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti and five other legislators ostensibly by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement on Monday, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said the move subverts the will of voters and further undermines democracy in Zimbabwe.
Price further said the recalls of MDC Alliance MPs and Councillors since March 2020 are blatant efforts by the Zanu PF-led government to totally destroy the opposition. The statement read:
The United States is following events in Zimbabwe closely, including the troubling moves on March 17 to strip Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC Alliance) Vice President Tendai Biti and other MDC Alliance members of their elected seats in parliament.
Since March 2020, parliamentary manoeuvres supported by the Zimbabwean government have led to the ouster of 39 MDC Alliance MPs and 81 local elected officials.
These actions subvert the will of voters, further undermine democracy, and deny millions of Zimbabwean citizens their chosen representation.
We continue to monitor efforts by the government to dismantle the MDC Alliance through the arrest and detention of its leaders and diversion of its assets.
We also note the government’s selective enforcement of COVID-19 regulations to indefinitely postpone by-elections and prohibit MDC Alliance gatherings, while permitting internal elections and gatherings for the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party and its allies to go forward.
The ZANU–PF is misusing the levers of government to silence critics, neutralize opposition, and entrench its political power over the Zimbabwean people.
We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to comply with its obligation to respect the freedoms of expression and association enshrined in Zimbabwe’s constitution and its international commitments.
Well Said ! Can We Certainly Recall A Democratically Elected People’s Representative , And Replace Him With An Unelected Member To Guenuinely Promote Their Interest . Whats Then Is The Purpose Of Parliament In A Democracy . We need To Seriously To Define The Actions We Are Taking , Because We Have A Tomorrow To Live .
It may sound good when the United States Government shows concern over issues in Zimbabwean affairs. However there is something fishy in the way America seems to “bully” other countries into adopting “good political standards.” I feel they cannot just intervene in the affairs of other countries without expecting a reward. They are working to have problems fixed while behind the scenes they are creating chances to exploit the country for their own benefit.
how long is zimbabwe going to be lead by fools who real dont understand they have no vision its dangerous for the country when the country is lead by confused Ed mnangagwa and gvt surely under zanupf colonialism was better Smith was better AMERICA is a voice to thr voiceless zimbos God bless America not the Chinese who are mineral thieves and human oppressors friendship with russia uk germany canada america leads the country to prosperity but friendship with chinese leads to dictatorship murder and oppression as we see in zim now zanupf is a chinese organisation it serves chinee not zimbabweans
But why complain when it is Mr Tendai Biti.
But why complain when it is Mr Tendai Biti.
The unfairness is just naked for sure.