Parliament plans to take legal action against 35 legislators who were expelled by both Zanu-PF and MDC-T after they failed to pay for vehicles procured for them through a parliamentary loan scheme.Zanu-PF expelled a number of legislators who were associated with former Vice President Joice Mujuru in her plot to remove President Mugabe from power unconstitutionally.

The MDC-T, led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, dismissed 21 legislators after they joined the MDC Renewal Team led by Mr Tendai Biti. Parliamentarians are entitled to acquire a vehicle under a Parliament vehicle loan scheme which is repaid during the course of their tenure.

The dismissed legislators have not presented payment plans to Parliament. In an interview, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said they had written to the MPs demanding payment. “We have written to all the affected MPs about the need for them to pay for the vehicles.

“We want them to come and make payment plans. If that does not produce results and if we encounter challenges, we will not hesitate to hand over the cases to our lawyers,” said Mr Chokuda.

But some of the legislators said they had fallen on hard times and were unable to pay. “It is not a secret that the economy is not performing. Furthermore, we did not anticipate that we would be expelled, hence there were no contingent measures we had put in place,” said one MP who requested anonymity.

Another legislator said the economic environment was making it impossible for them to come up with payment plans. “We are not an exception. Either Government must give us more time or they write off the debt. I do not see most of us being able to pay. As you know, it is not easy to get a job that can make you sustain both your family and a vehicle debt,” said the expelled legislator.

Zanu-PF expelled a number of MPs, including Government ministers, for belonging to the Mujuru cabal. Dr Mujuru was fired from both Government and Zanu-PF after she was implicated in a plot to remove President Mugabe from power through unconstitutional means. Zvamaida Murwira Source-herald