Cde Jacob Mudenda
Senior Reporter
Parliament is working to address the issue of space constraints in the National Assembly that has seen some members being forced to sit in the public gallery during debates, denying them the opportunity to contribute to debates.This was said by the Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Jacob Mudenda during a debate of a motion moved by Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi — Mushonga (MDC) calling on Parliament to address the issue of space urgently by finding an alternative venue while renovations were being carried out on the current structure to increase carrying capacity.
“I want to assure you that things are being put in place and this is why I said your motion is important,” he said.
Cde Mudenda also hinted to parliament that an alternative venue could be found after he told parliamentarians that the constitution allowed for any place to be designated for parliament to sit if it’s in the public interest, for security reasons or for convenience.
Presenting her motion Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the Standing Rules and Orders Committee and the Parliamentarians’ Welfare Committee should be directed to find an alternative venue.
“We have the capacity to find a temporary venue the SROC and the Welfare Committee should be given the responsibility of finding the venue. It would be wrong that when we are going to be debating the budget we will be squashed like sardines.”
She also proposed that the sitting of parliament be moved to Bulawayo or other cities as part of the devolution of arms the State.
Zanu PF chief whip Cde Rugare Gumbo, also supported the motion but urged parliamentarians to debate it without being unnecessarily partisan after Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga referred to Zanu-PF members as children raising the ire of some legislators.
“There is nothing wrong with it and we should support it from all sides but the problem is we tend put too much salt and spice and end up over cooking. Let us avoid things that will make us derail from the motion,” Cde Gumbo said.
The sitting capacity of parliament has risen from 150 at independence to the current 270 to date.