THE Movement for Democratic Change parliamentarians who voted for the Speaker of Parliament on Tuesday last week may have acted unlawfully by showing each other ballot papers in a process that is meant to be conducted in secret, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt.
MDC-T candidate Lovemore Moyo was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly last week by newly sworn in legislators from all parties and an independent candidate.
The independent candidate and former Zanu PF information minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, alleged that the MDC-T members openly violated the secret ballot that is required in terms of Ordinance Number 6 of the House of Assembly Standing Rules by turning the exercise into an open ballot. He said they showed each other ballot papers in defiance of House rules.
Moyo alleges that all MDC-T members showed completed ballot papers to Innocent Gonese, the MDC Chief Whip and other MDC-T party leaders including Thokozani Khupe, the party’s deputy president, before depositing them in the ballot boxes.
Moyo said that “authorities in Parliament who conducted the election of the Speaker allowed a secret ballot to become an open ballot against the clear provisions of Section 30 (2) of the Constitution and Ordinance Number 6 of the House of Assembly Standing Orders” and that this “was not only scandalous but also patently unlawful and needs to be addressed.”
Prof. Moyo said that the breach “was too glaring and its implications far-reaching.”
In Zimbabwe the Speaker is elected by members of the House of Assembly. If there is more than one Member nominated to fill the position (immediately after the swearing in of members following a general election or when a vacancy occurs), an election by secret ballot is held. All members who are present when the election takes place are eligible to vote. Voting occurs along party lines, thus ensuring that the nominee of the government is elected. The election is not subject to review or approbation by any outside body or person.
The Speaker is elected for the term of the Parliament.
Prof. Moyo also said the process sets a bad precedence for the new Parliament which is supposed to discharge of its constitutional mandate of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of Zimbabwe.
Omuhle • n/a Subject: The truth about journalism in Zimbabwe Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:56:31 • ANDERSON KARIDZAURA - You are wrong to say Jonathan Moyo has been a legislator longer than anyone in the MDC. Jonathan was made a non-constituency MP after the 2000 ballot, at which the MDC got about 57 seats if I'm not mistaken. So they have been in just as long. The difference is also that Jonathan was a non-constituency MP so he represented no-one so he has no experience for his first term as MP as he only pandered to Bob's will.
HARARE - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest media trade union movement, says Zimbabwe’s crisis could be worse off if it were not for close coverage given to the crisis by the international media.
Zimbabwe has never escaped international media scrutiny since the onset of government’s controversial policies in 2000.
Government says the hostile media coverage is both unbalanced and unjustified.
But Iden White, secretary general of Brussels based organization, which represents journalist unions in 130 countries worldwide, thinks otherwise.
“I do reject the notion that the international media are the problem,” White told journalists at the Quill Club, Harare’s press club Wednesday evening.
“If the international media had not intervened a few years ago as the crisis here was intensifying, the catastrophe could be far more disastrous than we can imagine.”
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a major humanitarian crisis blamed on government’s populist policies.
White is in Zimbabwe on the mandate of the IFJ international executive committee to carry out an investigation into the state of the media in Zimbabwe.
The veteran journalist is also going to present his report to the Federation of Arab-African journalists’ conference in Nairobi, Kenya in two months time.
The Nairobi conference will bring together all African journalist organizations to come up with an Africa-wide response to media crises.
Considered one of the world’s most hazardous working environments for journalists, Zimbabwe is set to top the agenda.
White criticized the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which the government has used to stifle the local media.
“The AIPPA should be completely withdrawn,” he said. “It’s a bad law that has been amended and is still a bad law.
“It seems to me that that was an element of law which was introduced by a government that failed to recognize the value of dialogue in resolving problems with media.”
By controlling the operations of the media, he said, the government was criminalizing journalism.
He added, “Government is restraining journalists and breaking the fundamental trust in a democracy that should exist between journalism and accountability and scrutiny of their actions as a governing power.
“Going to law is the last thing that should ever happen when you are dealing with journalists and the media.”
White urged Zimbabwean journalists to resist political manipulation that has divided them into two hostile groups – one that is pro-government and another that is anti-government.
He said local journalists were under pressure to provide balanced coverage in a news-starved society when their activities were being stifled by the law. He said the reporters could hardly afford basics on meagre salaries.
“This is a time of a real profound crisis,” he lamented. “The conditions in which journalists work in, determine the quality of journalism that you get. There is no press freedom when journalists exist in conditions of poverty, corruption and fear.”
He said all journalists should be steadfast and demand a stop in state interference in their work.
“We have to find our voice,” he said. “We need to challenge government and take out those laws which are making journalism difficult.”
The 58-year-old Briton had no kind words for his compatriots within the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) whom he accused together with some international media for sensationalizing the Zimbabwean crisis.
He said: “There is an absolute fascination with the crisis, with violence, with images that are designed to stimulate the notion that you can’t walk anywhere in Zimbabwe without fear for your life.”
The government has imposed a ban on all international media such as the BBC and CNN which are deemed hostile to it. But it has not been able to stop reports that have sifted out of the country.
Some local journalists have been forced to flee the country for writing news seen as hostile to the establishment.
macho • n/a Subject: Jona ibenzi Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:51:31 • Dont get much worried about Jonathan,he is a prostitute just like Mtambara.he is now singing his old zanu hyms,shame on you jona.wish mdc contested in his constituency and wallop him.
The Liberal • n/a Subject: Secrecy Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:16:39 • Quite interest how individuals come out here condemning a whistle-blower who points out elected MDC parliamentarians violated a secret ballot. The same MDC MPs are likely to have complained about ZANU cheated by conducting an open ballot in the general elections yet do not see their hypocrisy.
The moral here is, if ZANU is wrong judge them on their wrongs but do not look away or decry someone for his past deeds simply because you do not want to acknowledge MDC also does cheat if given a chance.
I cannot defend Jonathan Moyo`s morals anymore than the murdering Saul became the Saint..Paul.
I would like to believe this is now democracy at work were everything is exposed even if some do it for their own agenda but all the same, they are elected to do exactly what Jonathan Moyo has done. I would not mind voting him in for as long as he keeps whistleblowing.
Go on Jona expose the hypocrites and you will redeem your own hypocrisy.
samas • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:04:52 • Jonathan, pliz give us a break. You are the flip-flopper of all times. One day history will judge you harshly. All the people killed by zpf will be up anst u Your political relevance is finally coming to an end.
Anderson Karidzaura • akaridza@bellsouth.net Subject: Jonathan Moyo and the Rule of Law Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:42:56 • The bible says in James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. For almost a decade we have been told, day in day out that the MDC's fight is about the rule of law good governance and democracy. So what is Jonathan Moyo's sin? He just pointed out what you guys have been claiming to champion for the last decade.I expected you guys to applaud him. Alas! you are very offended. Oops!!! you just exposed yourselves.So this is not about the rule of law and good governance. It is about your hate for anything panAfrican and your love for your homosexual British friends.
Moyo has been a legislator far longer than anyone in the two MDCs, therefore he knows more about the rule of law than all you jokers. Give credit where credit is due.
Lookup • n/a Subject: Moyo nyoka yemunhu Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:43:19 • MDC-T let Jonathan Moyo to go uncontested in Tsholotsho. He was so desperate. Otherwise he would have been dead and buried politically. Next time don't make deals with such people.
Secret ballot • n/a Subject: Secret ballot Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:23:29 • Good example MDC! Secret ballot in the MDC!! They are upset coz the people who did proper secret ballot (Zanu and MDC M) and voted for MDC T will NEVER be known ha ha ha
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:36:58 • jonathan moyo you should keep your intelligence to yourself,it is poisonous to the Zimbos.Bob was very right when he said unemusoro wakawomarara kunge damba.
Munya Zombe • munya@yahoo.com Subject: Prof not a Prof anymore! Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:26:31 • Moyo's comments are uncalled for, desperate and confused. Calling him a Professor is now a disgrace!
To Moyo
Please Rest In Peace! Yu're dead politically and that is it!
Omuhle • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:57:00 • Jonathan believes this breach will have far reaching implications. I can't wait to see them.
I wonder about the implications of the president ignoring the laws of the land in mobilising the army against civilians and also in destroying people's houses and what about in causing the death of over 10 thousand of my tribesmen in sending the 5th brigade against unarmed villagers in the 80's?
The boot is on the other foot. Get used to it and stop using points of law (the same law you ignore when it suits you) to help you in your fight.
One just has to ask the question of Jonathan Moyo:
What was the significance of what the MDC did? How did it change the result? I can understand if one of the MDC MP's had voted for the MDC-M candidate and had been asked by Gonese and Khupe to vote again the correct way. Then I would cry foul and intimidation. (Reminds me of the 2nd round of presidential ballot - why didn't Moyo speak up then?)
I can also understand if Khupe and co had also demanded to see the ballots of other MP's from ZANU PF and MDC-M. Then we would say they violated protocol but this is trivial.
mugombe • mugombe78@yahoo.com Subject: True colours Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:01:32 • Jonathan, you seem hurt than ZANU PF itself. What are your interests in all this and didnt you vote for Moyo yourself? You claim to be a democrat but my God, we doubt that. Leave Zimbabweans in peace for God's sake. Make your money but remain silent and stop creating disharmony. In Zimbabwe's history prior to 2000, all ministers of information from Mai Chitepo (wife of a true hero) to Shamhuyarira never used the pen as poisonous as you have done. Sons and duaghters of the true God of heaven, father of our Lord Jesus Christ rise up. If you are one Jonathan rise up and leave Zimbabweans alone!!
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