Speaker blasts Ncube over unilateral decision to recall legislators

provision allowing party leadership to recall legislators was unfair.
The Speaker said this on Friday while giving a lecture at senior officers from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces from the National Defence College who were on a study tour at Parliament.
Bulilima East MP Norman Mpofu, Nkayi West MP Abednico Bhebhe and Lupane North legislator Njabuliso Mguni lost their seats in parliament after they were found guilty of misconduct.
Mr Moyo said it was unfair to expel an elected legislator by party leadership over differences within the party.
“The better thing to do which is the most civilised thing in my view, would be to take the issue to the constituency.
“At least it makes sense. As we campaign (to become MP) we use personal resources although I use the party name. I would have suffered loss but someone just decides to recall an MP,” said Mr Moyo in an apparent reference to the Ncube-led MDC formation.
The Speaker said when Prof Ncube wrote a letter to him recalling the trio, he delayed making a response because he was pained by the decision.
“When I received the letter, I just delayed to see if I was still within the time limit because the provision does not give me as Speaker any discretion. I just put it in the file and checked if I was within the time frame. I was almost taken to court. I delayed because I am also a human being. I was saying these people were elected by the people. The expression of the people is being taken away and political leaders are taking away that right (conferred by the people),” he said.
Mr Moyo said he had noted that the bulk of the people who voted in general elections did not belong to political parties as they would not be in structures or party records.
“They are just people who vote because they like the party. You can have 15 000 people voting for you in a constituency but if you go in your party records you will notice that you might have about 1 000 people only,” he said.
Mr Moyo said in other countries such as South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, a legislator could say something that might not be consistent with his or her party but would not be censured.
During the lecture, participants expressed concern on the whipping system saying its tifled freedom of expression.
Senate president, Cde Edna Madzongwe said it was critical to realise that MPs would have been elected on a party ticket hence the need to tow the party line.
She said if one wanted to pursue his personal views he or she should stand as an independent
Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma also gave a lecture.