Published: 25 June 2019

PARLIAMENT is probing MDC MP for Matabeleland South Province (proportional representation) Lindiwe Maphosa for breaching Parliament's code of conduct after she allegedly labelled liberation war collaborators wartime sex workers.

Following a point of privilege raised by Zanu-PF MP for Mberengwa East Marko Ridza last week on Tuesday complaining that Maphosa had denigrated female war collaborators (Chimbwidos) while attending parliamentary business in Mutare, National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda demanded an investigation into the matter.

"I am demanding a full report from the chairperson of that Committee. Our Standing Orders are very clear; our behaviour here in Parliament and outside Parliament, particularly in committees, must respect the sense of decorum including the way you dress.

"The expected behaviour here in the House is expected out there ....  I demand a full report from the chairperson on what actually transpired," Mudenda ruled.
 
Raidza had claimed some MPs who were Chimbwidos had felt offended by Maphosa's utterances to the extent that they wanted to quit parliamentary business in protest.

"What happened in Mutare is not good for the name of this august House where one of us was debating on some issues but went on to say Chimbwidos or war veterans were sex workers during the liberation struggle, which issue we felt was not good," Raidza said, calling on legislators to realise that the country's independence could have not been won "if our women during that time were conducting themselves as sex workers".

Raidza complained that efforts to force Maphosa to withdraw her statement as it was deemed unparliamentary were futile as she refused.

"We continued with the workshop discussions just for the sake of the good name of Parliament. We realised that other members who were there were Chimbwidos during the liberation struggle, so this aspect touched them.

"That issue touched some of us who were there to an extent they ended up crying and we were even contemplating leaving the workshop but because of the importance of the work that was at hand, we said no, let us carry on...

"So, our prayer is that, may this Parliament invoke Order Number 107 since she refused to withdraw her statement because this House has got all the instruments that it can deploy to make sure its name is not brought into disrepute."

Meanwhile, Mudenda also admonished MDC Binga MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda for allegedly calling minister of State in Vice President Constantino Chiwenga's office, Evelyn Ndlovu a prostitute.  

"While … Raidza was speaking … Sibanda, the member of Parliament for Binga North shouted to  … minister Ndlovu that she is hure (prostitute) and I want you to withdraw that statement," Mudenda ruled.

In response, Sibanda denied ever denigrating the minister saying he had respect for her owing to her age.
 
"I wish I had said something of that sort then it would have been possible for me to withdraw it. I think … Ndlovu could be having some emotions associated with something else different from that … I never uttered a single word to her.

"I just want to say that I am so humble enough that I would have withdrawn if I had said that word.

"I cannot say such a word to her not only because she is an MP but she is almost the age of my mother. I respect her.

"There is no way I could have said that, so she might have misheard. I can never say that kind of word," Sibanda said in his defence.
- dailynews