PARLIAMENT has started investigations into a series of alleged misconduct acts by the main opposition MDC MPs who either refused to stand up for President Emmerson Mnangagwa when attending Parliament or decided to walk out on the state leader since 2018.
In a letter dated 12 February 2020 and served to one of the accused MDC MPs, a committee to investigate the matter has already been set.
“The letter serves to inform you that the privileges committee has commenced investigations into allegations of misconduct regarding your conduct on the occasions that the Head of State has attended Parliament in the performance of his constitutional duties,” reads part of the letter signed by the Clerk of Court, Kennedy Chokuda.
“A matter of privilege regarding the conduct of Honourable Members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-A) was raised in the House on Thursday, 14 November 2019.
“The matter of privilege raised was to the effect that whenever His Excellency, The President, Hon. E.D. Mnangagwa attended Parliament in his official capacity as Head of State and Government, Hon Members of the MDC-A Party either did not rise as a mark of respect or walked out of the House.
“Such behaviour was found to be grossly disrespectful of the office and person of the Head of State and Government in terms of Parliamentary custom and practice which the institution of Parliament in any jurisdiction is expected to observe.
“Such conduct was also found to undermine the dignity and integrity of the august House.
“The Chair therefore, ruled that there existed a prima facie case of contempt of Parliament hence the appointment of the Privileges Committee to investigate the matter and come up with corrective measures.”
The MDC legislators walked out on Mnangagwa as he presented his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2018.
The committee, as per details in the letter, is set to determine whether the actions and any other that may arise in the course of investigations do not constitute contempt of Parliament.
However, the letter does not specify when the investigations will resume.