Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Zimeye
Published on 2024-04-17 03:42:57
An exclusive Africa Links 24 investigation has revealed that the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) has ruled against the Speaker of the Zimbabwean Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, for his rejection of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and his Members of Parliament. The ruling came after a video surfaced showing Sengezo Tshabangu, who was exposed as a ZANU PF imposter, attempting to recall CCC members.
The IPU Committee outlined several key decisions supporting Chamisa’s presidency over the CCC. Firstly, it criticized the recall procedures used by Zimbabwean parliamentary authorities, noting that they violated the principles of a free representational mandate and freedom of expression. The Committee also questioned the legitimacy of Tshabangu’s communication, highlighting the need for proper verification before accepting such letters.
Moreover, the Committee condemned Mudenda for accepting Tshabangu’s contested letter without verifying its legitimacy, despite receiving an official communication from Chamisa asserting his presidency. This oversight led to the unjust recall of CCC members and was deemed contrary to democratic principles. As a result, the IPU Committee plans to organize a mission to Zimbabwe to further investigate the ongoing issues and emphasize the importance of accurate and legitimate processes in parliamentary operations.
The decision adopted by the IPU Governing Council at its 213th session in March 2024 highlighted the alleged human rights violations, including torture, ill-treatment, threats, and intimidation faced by opposition parliamentarians. The case involved the recall of 18 additional opposition parliamentarians based on Tshabangu’s letter, despite Chamisa’s prior communication to the parliamentary authorities.
The Speaker of the National Assembly defended his actions, stating that he acted in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. However, the Committee expressed concerns over the acceptance of Tshabangu’s letter without proper verification. The 18 recalled parliamentarians were denied the right to participate in by-elections, further worsening the situation.
The IPU Governing Council expressed regret over the escalating number of cases in Zimbabwe and reiterated the need to modify the recall procedure to ensure the free representational mandate of parliamentarians. It called for a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the recalls and emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of duly elected representatives.
In conclusion, the IPU Committee’s decision underscores the need for parliamentary and constitutional reforms in Zimbabwe to prevent such unjust scenarios in the future. The ruling against Mudenda and the support for Chamisa’s presidency signal a push for transparent and legitimate processes in Zimbabwe’s parliamentary operations. It remains to be seen how the Zimbabwean authorities will respond to the IPU’s findings and recommendations to uphold democratic principles and protect the rights of opposition parliamentarians.
Read the original article on The Zimbabwe Eye
