Hypocritical Zanu-PF MPs in Parly boycott

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – After spending years accusing the MDC of being a party of boycotts and stayaways, Zanu-PF MPs Tuesday made a beeline for the exit after a motion discussing the violence before, during and after the 2008 elections was brought up for debate.

Alleging that the Speaker of the House Lovemore Moyo, a former MDC MP was not “protecting them” from the heckling of the MDC members of the house, Zanu PF Chief Whip Joram Gumbo called his boys and girls off the playground and took them home.

Parliament watchers have said the walkout was just an excuse to avoid talking about the violence that rocked Zimbabwe.

MDC chief whip Innocent Gonese presented statistics alleging that more than 100 supporters of his party were killed in the run up to the March 28 2008 elections.

He indicated that a large number of his party’s supporters were still missing and that there was evidence that Zanu PF party members were behind the violence. He indicated that his party had names and other evidence linking people to crimes.

The motion had been a long time in the making.

Lat month Zanu Pf introduced a motion on sanctions in which it accused the MDC of calling for sanctions and asked the former opposition party to call off the sanctions.

The upshot of that was PM Morgan Tsvangirai calling for the removal of sanctions a fortnight ago.
However, when Zanu PF’s Kudakwashe Bhasikiti served notice of the sanctions motions, the MDC indicated they were prepared to debate sanctions only if the political violence issues were also debated.

The sanctions issue was debated and yesterday the violence issue came to the fore.

Bringing up claims of “tribal politics” and “opening old wounds” the Zanu PF team stormed out of Parly.

One watcher said it was typical behaviour by Zanu PF.

“This issue cuts close to their very existence as politicians and if they are named ain this current environment, their political careers could well be over, so no one wants to discuss it. Zanu PF has made a lot of noise about the Indigenisation Act and so on because they were trying to steer away from this issue.

“The organ on national healing is not functioning at all, so perhaps the Parliament should be the people’s voice and debate this issue.

“There is no healing without disclosure which will help bring closure,” she said.