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MDC Parliamentarians disappointed with Deputy Speaker E Madzongwe
I Gonese, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
June 10, 2004

The MDC Parliamentary caucus is deeply disappointed with the manner in which the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Edna Madzongwe handled the adverse report presented by the Parliamentary Legal Committeee on the Acquisition of Farm Equipment or Materials Bill.

In terms of standing order 93 (1.) regarding a question before the house once the pronouncement of the Speaker or Chairperson over the Bill is challenged, he or she is supposed to direct that a division ( a count of those for or against the question) take place.

The MDC Chief Whip challenged the Speaker over her pronouncement that the adverse report of the Parliamentary Legal Committee regarding the Bill had been rejected. It was incumbent upon her to call for the division of the house. Instead, she declared that the adverse report had been rejected which was a clear violation of the rules and procedures of the house on her part.

This situation is made worse given that the "Ayes" from the MDC benches were louder than the "Noes" and a head count at the time showed that the MDC had a majority in the house and may well have won had the vote been taken on a division.

When one is chairing parliamentary proceedings, a speaker is expected to execute his or her responsibilities with impartiality and non partisanship notwith standing that he or she belongs to a political party.

The MDC parliamentary caucus has in the past expressed its misgivings about the conduct of the Deputy Speaker when she is chairing parliamentary business. It is unfortunate that her biased behaviour has reared its ugly head again on proceedings on the Acqisition of Farm Equipment or Materials Bill as demonstrated in the house last night.

The MDC parliamentary caucus wish to categorically state that they could not continue to tolerate this blatantly partisan behaviour on the part of the Deputy Speaker and had no choice but to walk out in protest as the Deputy Speaker had clearly failed.

Furthermore the question before the house namely that the adverse report of the Parliamentary Legal Committee finding that the Bill was unconstitutional in several respects was not frivolous but indeed it was a question of great importance.

The Deputy Speaker breached well established rules of Parliamentary practice and procedure as she had no right to refuse to devide the house. What makes it deplorable is that ZANU PF were in the minority and the Deputy Clerk counted the numbers before proceeding to confirm with the speaker. Regretably the Deputy Speaker was adamant in her lopsided handling of parliamentary business and in so doing turned the august house into a theatre of chaos and disorder.

It is our view that as a result of the Deputy Speaker's unlawful actions the Farm Equipment or Materials Bill (HB 6 2004) has not been validly passed by Parliament. If a court subsequently finds this to be so we believe that the Deputy Speaker shall be held entirely responsible for any such result.

The MDC caucus believes that Edna Madzongwe should be removed as Deputy Speaker and replaced by someone else more committed to complying with standard Parliamentary custom and procedures and to acting fairly and democratically.

I Gonese
MDC Chief Whip

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