MDC MPs’ behaviour despicable

THE churlish and childish behaviour by legislators from the opposition MDC in Parliament yesterday where they sought, albeit in a futile attempt, to disprut proceedings during the presentation of the national budget, betrays their ideological bankruptcy and political immaturity.

As President Emmerson Mnangagwa entered Parliament for the 2019 Budget Speech by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, the MDC legislators ignored an order by the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda to stand up as a sign of respect for the Head of State.

Consequently, the Speaker ruled that the opposition MPs be ejected from the August House for disrespecting the President.

This, however, led to dramatic and embarrassing scenes with the opposition MPs refusing to leave the House and the police had to be summoned to eject them.

Still, the legislators engaged in scuffles with the law enforcement agents as they refused to go out.

Eventually, they were removed from Parliament and the business of the day continued without further disturbances.

It should be known to the opposition legislators that President Mnangagwa was voted into power by the people of Zimbabwe, inaugurated in line with the country’s Constitution and should be treated with the dignity of a Head of State that he deserves.

What is important is that since his inauguration, the President has been very clear that not much time would be spent politicking as the greatest task ahead is fixing the country’s economy.

He has followed that with actions through a number of initiatives including re-engagement, courting investors, creating democratic space among many other interventions.

The results have already started showing and what is even more embarrassing for these legislators is that the country’s neighbours can see that Zimbabwe is making giant strides towards an economic turnaround.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week called on the European Union to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe saying the country has turned a wonderful corner and needs support on its path to great reforms.

“We discussed a matter of other countries in our region, particularly Zimbabwe and called upon the EU to review its position on Zimbabwe and move towards lifting whatever sanctions they might still have on Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe is on a path of great reforms and we insisted that this needs to be supported as the country has turned a wonderful corner,” he told a Press conference after the 7th South Africa European Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

The calls by President Ramaphosa followed similar calls by telecommunications mogul and billionaire, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, who said Zimbabwe needs to be given a chance.

Many countries have responded positively to President Mnangagwa’s calls for investment in the country with a number of billion dollar deals being signed almost every week.

The opposition legislators do not realise that the country is way past election mode and everyone is working towards the revival of the economy.

They also forget that the ruling Zanu-PF won a sweeping majority and their presence in the House will not be missed.

Zimbabweans will not be held to ransom and certainly not held back by a group of bigoted opposition politicians with a false sense of entitlement who think they can dominate a Government formed by a party enjoying the majority support of Zimbabweans.

It must be sad for voters who cast their ballots for charlatans who contribute nothing but chaos in the August House.

Just as their actions were recorded and beamed to the world yesterday, history will record that the MDC legislators contributed absolutely nothing towards the development of the country.

Critically, to those who rallied behind them during the polls, yesterday proved beyond any doubt that their votes have gone to waste.

On its part, the Government will not be derailed from its development march towards a middle income economy by 2030 as it enjoys the support of all progressive forces and patriotic Zimbabweans.

Ironically, as he presented his Budget Speech, Prof Ncube got praises from staunch Government critic Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya who described it as refreshing.

“The best budget statement I have heard from a Finance Minister in Zimbabwe for quite some time. Well done @MthuliNcube. Ideas run the world. Let’s hope your good ideas will not be soiled by corrupt practices,” he posted on twitter.

“With respect, Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube’s budget statement is impressive. His normative positions are well-meaning and some empirical propositions are good. It’s very refreshing!”

Slowly, more Zimbabweans will get to see and appreciate the sincerity of President Mnangagwa and his Government towards the development of the country.

If anything, the stunt by the opposition legislators yesterday was self defeating and confirmation that they have no meaningful contribution to the development of the country outside heckling, storming out of the August House during crucial discussions and engaging in riotous behaviour.

It is high time Zimbabweans see these legislators for the jokes that they are and think long and hard if such characters really deserve their vote. BULAWAYO, Tuesday, November 23, 1993 — Fifty four percent of all people who have never been to school are females, according to the final 1992 census results for Bulawayo province.

The results, released in a census provincial profile for Bulawayo, indicate that about seven percent of the population aged five years and above had never been to school, 54 percent of the total population were females. It said 28 percent of the total population in the province were still at school while 65 percent had left school.

However, of those who had already left school, 51 percent of them were males.

“There was just a slight difference between males and females who are still at school, but for those who had already left school, there were slightly more males than females, both proportionately and absolutely,” according to the profile.

The majority of the population that had left school (73 percent), was in the age range 15-39 years.

“Persons who had not completed any level of education were 54 653 while those with a university degree were 4 066. There were more males than females in most age groups who had completed any level of education except in the non-formal and Form Two categories”, said the profile. BULAWAYO, Saturday, November 23, 1968 — Nine alleged African terrorists who were captured in Northern Matabeleland during security operations were said in the High Court, Bulawayo, yesterday to have crossed into Rhodesia from Zambia with weapons of war and large quantities of ammunition and explosives.

Det Insp John Lewis Evans, of the CID, Bulawayo, told Mr Justice JM Greenfield, sitting with two asessors, Mr SC Parker and Mr BN Gaunt, that a total of about 10 000 rounds of ammunition was seized. There were also rifles, machine guns, bazookas, antipersonnel mines and hand grenades.

Det Insp Evans said that after being captured one man said his mission was not terrorism. The man said he had entered Rhodesia as a revolutionary soldier and should be treated as a prisoner of war.

The nine men, who pleaded not guilty to charges under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act, were said to have had in their possession pamphlets which were printed in Shona and Ndebele, urging Africans in Rhodesia to support them.

One man had a bottle which, he said, contained poison to destroy dogs, Det Insp Evans said.

He said some of the men were in extremely poor condition and hungry when they were captured.

Insp Hugh Barton James, of the BSAP, Bulawayo, described an engagement in which Rhodesia security forces had to take cover when the men suddenly opened fire.

Insp James said his party had to be reinforced by troops. There was automatic and single firing from the men and the engagement lasted 50 to 60 minutes.

Lt Howard James Inman, of RAR, said he and his party were flown to the area to join Insp James. They were disturbed twice during the night he said. After each disturbance there was firing.