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Herald Reporters
ZANU-PF legislators will converge at the party headquarters today to choose the party candidates for deputy speaker of the National Assembly, the deputy president of the Senate and deputy chief whips for both houses in preparation for the swearing-in of members of the Eighth Parliament tomorrow.
With the party’s majority the candidates selected today will be formally elected by the full Houses.
The legislators will choose the presiding officers soon after the swearing-in ceremony that will be conducted by Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma at 9am for the National Assembly and at 2pm for the Senate.
Parliamentary chief whip Cde Joram Gumbo, who was recently re-appointed by the party, invited the legislators for the caucus at the party offices.
Apart from retaining Cde Gumbo, the Politburo recommended that chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Cde Jacob Mudenda becomes the new Speaker of the National Assembly and that Cde Edna Madzongwe retains her post as the president of the Senate.
Cde Tambudzani Mohadi was recommended to retain her post as Zanu-PF Chip Whip in the Senate. Cde Gumbo said yesterday that apart from choosing the office bearers, the legislators would confirm the candidates chosen by the Politburo.
“The Politburo has already chosen four candidates. We will meet to choose the post of deputy speaker, deputy Senate President and deputy chief whips for both houses,” he said.
In an earlier statement inviting the legislators for the caucus, Cde Gumbo said the meeting would start at 9am.
“Members are advised to be punctual and to attend without fail this important meeting,” he said.
Zanu-PF dominates both houses of Parliament after routing MDC-T in the harmonised elections Zanu-PF clinched 160 seats out of the 210 National Assembly constituencies that were contested and increased its tally to 197 after factoring in its share of the 60 women’s quota seats.
This was in sharp contrast with the MDC-T which managed only 49 seats for elected constituencies, with its portion increasing to 70 because of the women’s quota, while the MDC managed only two seats, both gained from the women’s quota in the National Assembly. This left Zanu-PF with well over the 180 seats that make up the two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
The Senate is made up of 37 members from Zanu-PF, 21 from MDC-T, two from MDC, 18 chiefs and two representing people living with disabilities.
In the past the chiefs have tended to vote with Zanu-PF so giving that party a Senate majority.
President Mugabe trounced MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai after he scored 61,09 percent of the presidential vote compared to 33,94 percent for his rival. All is set for the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow after the event was postponed from Tuesday last week.
Mr Zvoma said in a statement yesterday that Parliament would cater for the transport and accommodation costs for the members who would be expected to shoulder the costs of relatives accompanying them for the event.
“Members are entitled to a travelling allowance in respect of the return journey between their homes and Parliament, but they will be reimbursed at a later date. Parliament will meet dinner, bed and breakfast expenses for a member of Parliament only up to a maximum of US$120 per day,” he said.
Members from outside Harare who do not want to stay in hotels opting for private accommodation would get a rate of US$60 per day, while those flying from Bulawayo and Victoria Falls are free to use Air Zimbabwe direct flights.
Mr Zvoma said an orientation for members would take place on Monday and Tuesday morning in the courtyard starting at 8am.
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