Said MDC Alliance’s Settlement Chikwinya before parliament:

“Thank you Hon. Speaker.  On a point of public emergency, after realising that the Corona virus pandemic had hit Zimbabwe, the Executive responded accordingly and declared that it be a public emergency situation.  

To that extent, soldiers were deployed in our communities and soldiers are deployed only in terms of Section 213 of our Constitution.  Section 214 then requires that the President must cause Parliament to be given the details of deployment.

I therefore call you Hon. Chair to rule that we respect the provisions of Section 214 that Parliament be informed of the details and the manner under which the soldiers are being found in our constituencies.  

This arises from the fact that there are now reports that there are activities being done by the men of the military which we want to interrogate either the representative of the President or the Minister of Defence.  I thank you.”