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Ministers are appointed from experts and not from political parties.
Members of the Parliamentary Thematic and Portfolio committees on Human Rights and Media, Information and Communication Technology respectively, also blamed their inability to represent their constituencies on political party whipping system.
The lawmakers from the three political parties in the Inclusive Government unanimously agreed that it was difficult for them to challenge or debate vigorously on issues brought to Parliament by ministers who also hold senior positions at party level.
The legislators, who were attending a workshop on the impact of regional and international laws on Zimbabwe, in Kariba last week, said there was need for Zimbabwe to emulate countries like the United States where Ministers are not appointed from political parties.
This comes against the background of claims that Zimbabwe is yet to ratify some of the regional and international protocols and treaties it signed many years ago.
Chakari legislator Cde Zacharia Ziyambi (Zanu-PF) said it was difficult for MPs to confront ministers who in most cases are their superiors at party level.
“Our ministers are too powerful because they are also our seniors at party level, they may be in the Politburo or in the National Council, so it becomes a challenge for us to seem to be challenging what they would have brought to Parliament.
“Our hands are tied because of that, unless if we were to adopt the system in some countries where ministers are not appointed from the party but from experts,” Cde Ziyambi said.
The legislators said the political party whipping system compromised their right to express views that may not be in line with their party positions.
Diversion from these positions, the MPs said would result in them being fired from the party.
Bubi MP, Cde Clifford Sibanda (Zanu-PF) said all parties had a whipping system especially when parties have different ideologies.
“We have a whipping system where as individual MPs we may have different opinions but we are forced to take instructions during those caucus meetings,” said MP Sibanda.
“We are all given instructions be it at Harvest House (MDC-T headquarters) or at the Zanu-PF headquarters as to how we are supposed to behave on a particular subject. We have examples of MPs who deviated from the party positions and they are not in Parliament now.”
Chiredzi South MP Cde Ailess Baloyi (Zanu-PF) said there was need to find ways of enabling MPs to ask questions freely without being accused of crossing the floor.
He also accused the media of not giving much coverage to ministers’ scandals.
“The media do not give much coverage when ministers are involved in scandals. We know executive members who have spent so much money yet you only hammer MPs for CDF,” Cde Baloyi said.
Zaka Senator Mr Misheck Marava (MDC-T) who is the chairperson of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights acknowledged that whipping was a problem for most legislators as they were expected to push party agendas.
“Whipping is there but it’s not happening daily. In many cases it happens on party policies. Some people tend to want to shift blame from inability to debate to whipping.
“Generally MPs in both Houses are to a certain extent free to debate and ask any questions,” he said.
Some of the MPs that were expelled from their parties for deviating from party positions in Parliament are Mr Abedinico Bhebhe (Nkayi South) Mr Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East) and Mr Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East).
They were expelled from the MDC on allegations of voting against a party nominee for the Speaker’s position Mr Paul Themba Nyathi.
There is a provision for a party whose MP crosses the floor to expel that particular legislator from Parliament.
Former Attorney General Mr Andrew Chigovera, who was also at the workshop, said legislators were underestimating their power and mandate.
“I am disappointed that MPs are underestimating their power. You are the third pillar of Government whose responsibility is to do checks and balances.
“In other countries MPs can freely vote against their party and you have to know that as MPs you are subjected to your people who voted you and not necessarily your parties.
“If you accept to be whipped to the extent of doing things that are not proper then you are reducing that institution to be under the authority of the executive,” Mr Chigovera said.
Online Reporter