Biti, five others recalled from Parliament

Harare, (New Ziana) – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday recalled Tendai Biti and five other legislators from the National Assembly, Speaker, Jacob Mudenda announced.

The recalls,which shows continued fighting within the opposition circles, saw PDP secretary general, Benjamin Rukanda writing to Parliament recalling Biti who is the MP for Harare East, William Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Nhlahla Pulu (Nkulumane), Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumula) and Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South).

Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda read the letter from Rukanda announcing the recall arguing that the six lawmakers had since joined another party, the MDC Alliance and had ceased to be members of the PDP.

Rukanda said Biti and the other legislators were elected to Parliament under the MDC Alliance banner – a coalition of seven political parties- having been seconded by the PDP.

“In terms of clause 20 of the agreement, each member party, chose its own Members of Palriament, given under its quota and retained authority over the same,” Rukanda said in the letter read by Mudenda.

“Our party was the political party that these members belonged to at the time of the last election in 2018.”

The MDC Alliance immediately criticised the move, saying Biti had been targeted for recall because he was exposing corruption in government through Parliament’s Public Account Committee, which he chaired..

“They have reduced Parliament to a circus and usurped the will of the people,” said MDC Alliance spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere in a tweet.

“How can a random, unauthorised person wake up to recall a duly elected official?”
New Ziana