(Last Updated on March 18, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The MDC Alliance says the latest recall of six legislators including the party’s Vice President Tendai Biti is part of the plot by the Emmerson Mnangagwa led ZANU-PF to decimate opposition politics and establish a one-party state.
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda notified that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had asked him to expel Biti and five other lawmakers who belonged to the party before contesting the last elections under the MDC Alliance banner.
This follows a High Court ruling made last week which gave the power to a PDP faction led by Lucia Matibenga to recall it’s former members who are now part of the MDC Alliance.
MDC Alliance said the recalls were an assault on people’s will.
“The recall of a group of some of our most outstanding MPs yesterday is an assault on the people’s will. Parliament is an arm of the State that’s meant to check and balance state power and hold the Executive to account. Mnangagwa is abusing it to pursue his one-party state agenda,” the opposition party said.
“The malicious intent behind @BitiTendai’s recall from Parliament is plain for all to see. Mnangagwa wants to create a one-party state, consolidate authoritarianism and loot the country with impunity. The citizens must converge for change,” the party added.
The main opposition party further said Biti had been specifically targeted because he was exposing massive corruption through the Public Accounts Committee.
“Mnangagwa’s anti-people, dictatorial regime has unlawfully recalled VP @BitiTendai from Parliament to thwart his anti-corruption drive in the Public Accounts Committee. He was due to table the ZINARA and Command Agriculture Reports and was leading the ZESA and Land Baron Inquiries.”
MDC Alliance has over the past year withstood massive attacks from all directions including the recall of legislators, diverting of party funds and having their headquarters taken away from them.
These recalls have rendered most of the urban councils dysfunctional they are unable to implement important projects.