adminFarirai Machivenyika Harare Bureau
PROCEEDINGS in the National Assembly were stopped briefly yesterday after Mkoba representative, Amos Chibaya (MDC-T), refused to leave the House after he was ejected for using obscene and threatening language against another legislator.The incident occurred when Chiredzi South representative, Brigadier General Kalisto Gwanetsa (Retired), was contributing to the debate on a motion to thank President Mugabe for the speech he delivered during the official opening of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament.
It was during the heckling that Chibaya said “ndokuma**sa” to Gokwe — Nembudziya representative, Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena, prompting Zvimba East representative Cde Francis Mukwangwariwa to raise a point of order to acting Speaker Cde Reuben Marumahoko on the issue.
Chibaya was immediately told to leave the House prompting chaotic scenes as he refused to vacate as ordered by Cde Marumahoko.
Even efforts by the Sergeant at Arms Nicholas Marufu, to lead him out were also fruitless while some legislators from the MDC-T seemingly urged him to stay in the House. Other representatives from the MDC-T then broke into song as the chaotic scenes dragged on for about 10 minutes.
Chibaya eventually left the House following consultations between MDC-T Chief Whip Innocent Gonese, Deputy Clerk of Parliament of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda and Cde Marumahoko.
After he was led out by Marufu, Musikavanhu representative Prosper Mutseyami, then also raised another point of order saying Cde Wadyajena had threatened to cut off Chibaya’s head but the latter denied the allegations when he was asked by the acting Speaker.
Cde Marumahoko then warned the legislators to respect the House and conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
“I want to warn honourable members that they should behave themselves in this House,” Cde Marumahoko said.
He becomes the second representative from Bulawayo to be ejected from the House after Bulawayo South representative, Eddie Cross, was sent out for reading a novel during a debate last year.
Meanwhile, Brig-Gen Gwanetsa (Rtd), bemoaned the lack of development in his constituency saying basic infrastructure like roads and other communication networks were non-existent, making it difficult for the area to attract investment.
He said only two senior Government officials Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, had visited Chiredzi South in the past seven years.
Online Reporter