The MDC MP for Chipinge East, Mathias Mlambo, has been suspended from parliament after he was recently sentenced to 10 months in prison by a Chipinge magistrate, on trumped up charges of public violence.Mlambo, who appealed against his jail sentence and was granted bail, described his suspension from parliament as null and void. The MP maintains he is innocent of any wrongdoing and claims the charges he faced were concocted by ZANU PF, with the help of the police. The MP said he was working with lawyers in the capital to lodge an appeal at the High court, against the suspension from Parliament.
The legislator told us he was handed the letter of suspension by the Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma, whom he branded a ZANU PF functionary. Section 42 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe says upon the sentencing of a legislator to death or a jail term of six months or more, such member shall cease forthwith to exercise his functions and his seat shall become vacant at the expiration of 30 days from the date of such sentence.
But because Mlambo won an appeal against his sentence it allows him to continue his duties in parliament, until the matter is finalised. Only if the High court upholds the conviction and sentence could Mlambo lose his parliamentary seat. The magistrate sentenced Mlambo to jail after the state accused him of defeating the course of justice by preventing the police from arresting a yet to be identified person, who was at a funeral at the same time with the MP.
I know Im innocent because I did nothing wrong. Im waiting for my day in court because all these charges are trumped up. There is politics at play and we will prove this in court, Mlambo. The MDC has long accused Robert Mugabe of using the Attorney General, Johannes Tomana, to get back their parliamentary majority, using trumped-up criminal charges to drive out elected MDC MPs
Mugabes ZANU PF lost its grip on the legislature for the first time in its history, when the MDC took control of the Lower House and drew level in the Senate, after the 2008 March elections. Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary-general, recently told a party meeting that they were concerned by the continued persecution and harassment of their members and MPs by the state, through Tomanas office.
At least seven MDC MPs have been convicted this year or are facing trumped-up charges for various allegations. They include Mutasa Central MP Trevor Saruwaka, Chimanimani West legislator Lynnette Karenyi, Senator Roy Bennett, Mutare West MP Shuah Mudiwa and Chipinge South MP Meki Makuyana.
Post published in: News