Own Correspondent|NORTON MP Temba Mliswa and MDC MP for Zengeza West Job Sikhala were Wednesday involved in short exchanges after the latter had interjected in defence of former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s multiple farms.

The bust-up started when Mliswa, through a question to leader of the house, Ziyambi Ziyambi demanded the seizure of 11 out of 12 farms which were in the hands of late former President Robert Mugabe’s wife.

Mliswa wanted government to enforce its one-man-one-farm policy on the once powerful former First Lady.

“Government embarked on a land audit to see who was utilising land and who was not and for what reason and the multiple farm owners,” said Mr Mliswa.

“It is on record that the former First Lady owns more than four farms and the Government has done absolutely nothing when the policy is one-man one-farm, one-woman one-farm. The question is; what have they done with the land audit and why have they not repossessed land from the former First Lady.”

But this did not go down well with Sikhala who interjected in defence of Grace.

“Mugabe akafa kare siyanai naye (referring to Mrs Mugabe) and “why do you want to abuse the widow.”

“Leave Grace Mugabe alone. Leave the wife of the former President alone. Mugabe died and why do you want to torment his wife? I do not want to see anyone harassing or abusing a widow,” said the MDC deputy national chair.

Not to be outdone, Mliswa shot back, accusing Sikhala of being a “sell-out” in his defence of the controversial former First Lady.

“You were given money as MDC party by Grace Mugabe. Sikhala sold-out but MDC party gave him a vice-chairperson position. We will say it as it is,” Mliswa said.

“Makapihwa mari naGrace muchi campaigner (you were funded by Grace during the elections campaign),” Mliswa went on.

He was referring to claims the MDC received funding from late President Mugabe and some politicians from Zanu PF’s G40 faction during its 2018 election campaign.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda eventually restored order in the House.

Minister Ziyambi said the Government remained committed and would not change its stance on the one-man, one-farm policy.

“Government indeed embarked on a land audit and our President is very clear on the policy of one-man one-farm and one woman one farm,” Minister Ziyambi said.

Since Mugabe was ousted as state leader in a November 2017 military coup, MDC, a target of Mugabe’s brutal rule since formation, has been seen as softening its stance towards the late ruler.