Zanu PF Insists Munyaradzi Kereke Parly Seat Not Vacant
On Wednesday MDC-T Chief whip, Innocent Gonese asked house speaker, Jacob Mudenda to chuck him out since he had confirmed rejoining Zanu PF thus effectively meaning that his seat should be up for grabs according to the constitution.
WASHINGTON DC — Zanu PF says the issue of Munyaradzi Kereke’s eligibility as a member of parliament was long solved and will not be further entertained. Kereke contested the 2013 elections as an independent candidate for the Bikita West seat after Zanu PF opted for another candidate Elias Musakwa who he beat. After winning the election Zanu PF then apporached the electoral court seeking his ouster but he maintained that he had won the election as an independent. He told the constitutional court then: “I financed my own campaign whilst the party sponsored one Elias Musakwa, who got a new motor vehicle, regalia and other campaign material. “I did not get similar support from the party given that I had been expelled. The moment the party advised me to stop using party regalia I complied and discontinued the use thereof.” The case was later settled out of court. On Wednesday MDC-T Chief whip, Innocent Gonese asked house speaker, Jacob Mudenda to chuck him out since he had confirmed rejoining Zanu PF thus effectively meaning that his seat should be up for grabs. On Wednesday after a heated debated in the house, speaker Mudenda said he would rule on the matter after taking all views and legal implications in the matter as the MDC-T refused to allow the acting leader of government business in Parliament Patrick Chinamasa to respond them. However, Zanu PF chief whip, Joram Gumbo tells Studio Seven the dispute had been between Kereke and Zanu PF and was settled rendering the mdc argument that he is a stranger in the house null and void. “The MDC-T members are ignorant of the fact that the matter was between Kereke and Zanu PF. The fact that the parties agreed puts the matter to rest,” he said.