from SWRadioAFrica
Parliament has been forced to adjourn until 11th November because of lack of funds from government, amid reports that MPs based outside Harare were this week being turned away from hotels.
The delay in forming an inclusive government means one of the top institutions in the country is now ‘broke’ and cannot sustain it’s operations.
MDC MP for Mbare Piniel Denga told Newsreel that most of their legislators from outside the capital ended up paying for their own accomodation after most hotels refused to take them in.
‘We have designated hotels used by parliamentarians but they are now owed a lot of money by parliament and were refusing to accommodate them,’ Denga said....
Mugabe’s deliberate delaying tactics in the power sharing talks have created this very convenient situation for Zanu PF who, for the first time, no longer have a majority in parliament. ...
Showing posts with label parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parliament. Show all posts
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
MP's detained as Zim parliament starts
from AFP:
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — The opposition Movement for Democratic Change won a vote for the speaker of the Zimbabwe parliament on Monday, hours after two of its lawmakers were detained by police.
The two members of parliament were detained in the parliament building just before the secret ballot for speaker, which was won by Lovemore Moyo of main MDC leader's Morgan Tsvangirai's camp who got 110 votes of 208 cast.
The MDC had said the detention of its members of parliament was a manoeuvre to influence the vote for a speaker in what was the first meeting of parliament since March elections.
....
"Relations between Mutambara and Mugabe have been good lately...It's not inconceivable that the two agreed to work together in an attempt to retain control of parliament," said Caromba.
While the MDC control of parliament was unlikely to exert much influence on government policy, the ruling party had been "clearly desperate" in resorting to arrests, Caromba added.
"The fact that the MDC won despite these tactics is certainly an important psychological victory for them and a big blow for Mugabe."
How does the Legislature work in Zim?
From Reuters:
Here are some details about Zimbabwe's parliament.
A BICAMERAL CHAMBER:
* Zimbabwe's parliament is bicameral, consisting of a Senate or upper house, and a House of Assembly, or lower house.
* Senate - There are 93 seats, 60 elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected by the council of chiefs, two held by the president and deputy president of the council of chiefs, and five appointed by the president. * House of Assembly - the lower house is made up of 210 members, increased from 150 last March.
* Lovemore Moyo was elected on Monday as Speaker of the lower house, a senior position in Zimbabwe's political hierarchy. He succeeded John Nkomo. The speaker will be a powerful figure in Zimbabwe's new hung parliament. He is likely to take charge of controversial debates if there is no power-sharing deal. The speaker can also act as president in the absence of the vice president or Senate president.
* The Cabinet is appointed by the president and responsible to the House of Assembly.
PARTY SEATS:
* Neither of the two major parties holds a parliamentary majority -- opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC holds 100 seats in the lower house, against the ruling ZANU-PF's 99.
* The breakaway MDC has 10 seats and there is one Independent seat. Whoever the breakaway MDC sides with gets an effective majority in the legislative chamber.
* The Senate results after the 2008 elections showed contested seats split 30-30 between the combined opposition and the ruling party. Control of the Senate will depend on the president, with powers to directly appoint 15 members and strongly influence who gets other positions.
Here are some details about Zimbabwe's parliament.
A BICAMERAL CHAMBER:
* Zimbabwe's parliament is bicameral, consisting of a Senate or upper house, and a House of Assembly, or lower house.
* Senate - There are 93 seats, 60 elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected by the council of chiefs, two held by the president and deputy president of the council of chiefs, and five appointed by the president. * House of Assembly - the lower house is made up of 210 members, increased from 150 last March.
* Lovemore Moyo was elected on Monday as Speaker of the lower house, a senior position in Zimbabwe's political hierarchy. He succeeded John Nkomo. The speaker will be a powerful figure in Zimbabwe's new hung parliament. He is likely to take charge of controversial debates if there is no power-sharing deal. The speaker can also act as president in the absence of the vice president or Senate president.
* The Cabinet is appointed by the president and responsible to the House of Assembly.
PARTY SEATS:
* Neither of the two major parties holds a parliamentary majority -- opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC holds 100 seats in the lower house, against the ruling ZANU-PF's 99.
* The breakaway MDC has 10 seats and there is one Independent seat. Whoever the breakaway MDC sides with gets an effective majority in the legislative chamber.
* The Senate results after the 2008 elections showed contested seats split 30-30 between the combined opposition and the ruling party. Control of the Senate will depend on the president, with powers to directly appoint 15 members and strongly influence who gets other positions.
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