Pandemonium broke out in parliament on Wednesday after a ZANU PF legislator proposed to move a motion calling Prime HARARE - Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to call for the lifting of targeted economic and travel sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe.

The pandemonium was sparked after Mwenezi East Member of Parliament Kudakwashe Bhasikiti gave notice to move a motion compelling Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara to take lead in calling upon western governments to lift targeted travel sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his lieutenants.

But this did not go down well with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament Tongai Matutu, who openly challenged Bhasikiti’s motives.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Nomalanga Khumalo then ordered the Sergeant at Arms to eject Matutu out of the House of Assembly. However, Matutu refused to leave the House insisting that he had done nothing to warrant an ejection. Mkoba Member of Parliament Amos Chibaya also joined in and defended Matutu resulting in pandemonium in the august House.

Khumalo was then forced to adjourn proceedings in parliament to Thursday after holding some consultations with the Chief whips of the three political parties represented in parliament namely ZANU PF, MDC-T and MDC-M.

“There was drama in Parliament. Khumalo is to blame for failing to handle the situation by ejecting Matutu,” said one legislator who asked not to be named.

ZANU PF’s politburo recently announced that it would make no more concessions in talks with the former opposition MDC party of Prime Minister Tsvangirai until the sanctions are removed. The declaration came after British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had said in Parliament that London would lift the punitive measures on advice from the MDC.

Western governments imposed sanctions on Mugabe and his close allies in protest against human rights abuses and the fraudulent 2002 presidential elections which Mugabe won.

A visiting group of British parliamentarians this week said the European Union (EU) will lift sanctions against President Mugabe and his top allies only after the Zimbabwean leader and his former opposition foes fully implement a power-sharing agreement signed in 2008.

(Source)