‘I was misled’ alleges Gabbuza

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
MDC-T member of the National Assembly for Binga South Mr Joel Gabuza Gabbuza who missed Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony in Parliament yesterday said he was misled by a colleague. Mr Gabuza Gabbuza and Chikanga-Dangamvura MP Mr Arnold Tsunga, both from MDC-T, failed to attend the swearing in ceremony and will be sworn on a later date.

Asked why he missed the crucial event, Mr Gabuza Gabbuza, who is also MDC-T deputy national spokesperson, said he delayed travelling to Harare because he was attending to a family issue.

“I had a serious family commitment in Binga and that does not mean I boycotted the swearing-in ceremony. I left Binga at around 4am and arrived in Harare at 11am,” said Mr Gabuza Gabbuza in an interview.

“I arrived at Parliament on time but I was misled to believe that the swearing-in ceremony was over. When I arrived somebody (name withheld) told me that the ceremony was over.”

He said he was surprised when he met the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma later on who told him that the swearing in only ended at 12 noon.
“I am in Parliament as we speak signing some documents and I will be sworn in on a later date. Of course that depends on how busy the Clerk of Parliament is but procedure requires me to take the oath in the presence of other Parliamentarians.”

Members of Parliament from both Houses were sworn-in on Tuesday during a ceremony that subsequently saw former Matabeleland North provincial governor Cde Jacob Mudenda elected as Speaker of the National Assembly while Cde Edna Madzongwe was retained as President of the Senate.