Paul Nyathi

Dramatic MDC-T MP Hon Priscilla Misihairambwi on Thursday brought the august house down when she walked across and knelt in front of Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube and thanked him profusely clapping her hands for allocating funds towards the purchase of sanitary pads for school going girls and young women.

She said his allocation of money for pads to girls was an act of compassion never witnessed on previous budgets.

ZANU PF legislators and some opposition legislators joined as Hon Misihairambwi was thanking the Minister.

Her stunt, however, was condemned by other parliamentarians from the opposition MDC Alliance who felt she was taking it too far and could have thanked the Minister without being dramatic. Some of opposition MPs who protested included Mbizo MP, Settlement Chikwinya and Magwegwe MP Anele Ndebele.

But Norton MP, Temba Mliswa supported Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga, saying she was free to express herself in any manner, just as members of opposition were free to do so.

Critics have said that it sets a bad precedent in the august house as other rituals that are common could end up being used. They add that it treats a civil servant as some god-like status for doing their job.

On the other hand, others insist that Misiharabwi-Mushonga should be allowed to express herself as she pleases in her culture as parliament has many rituals that are rooted elsewhere.