FORMER Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and ex- Higher Education minister Olivia Muchena have been booted out of the Senate as Zanu-PF continues its purges against allies of ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, The Standard reported.Mavhaire and Muchena’s recall from Parliament was announced by President of the Senate Edna Madzongwe.

“I would like to inform the Senate that on June 11, I was notified by Zanu-PF that both Calisto Dzikamai Mavhaire [Masvingo Province senator] and Olivia Nyembezi Muchena [Mashonaland East Province senator] have ceased to be members of the Zanu-PF party, and therefore, no longer represent the interests of the party in Parliament,” Madzongwe said.

“Consequently, vacancies have arisen in Masvingo and Mashonaland East provinces by operation of the law, and the necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the existence of the vacancies in line with Section 39 (3) of the Electoral Act as amended.”

She said the two had been affected by provisions of Section 129 (1) (k) of the Constitution which provided that the seat of an MP becomes vacant if the member ceased to belong to Parliament and after a written notification by the political party concerned.

The expulsion of the former Zanu-PF Masvingo political godfather and Muchena brought to seven the number of Zanu-PF MPs so far fired this year for their alleged links to Mujuru.
Source: thestandard.

photo-Dr Olivia Muchena-herald