MAKONI West legislator Jenfan Muswere has escaped disciplinary action after the Manicaland province moved to absolve him for failing to cast his vote on the controversial Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) last Thursday.
Knives were out for Muswere, who is also the Skills Audit and Development minister, after he was among 14 Zanu PF MPs who did not take part in the voting process.
The Bill sailed through the National Assembly with 216 votes, comfortably surpassing the 187 votes required for a two-thirds majority.
Tempers flared at a Zanu PF Manicaland provincial executive meeting on Friday after party members demanded answers over Muswere’s alleged failure to participate in the CAB 3 vote.
Zanu PF Manicaland youth chairperson Stanley Sakupwanya raised the matter during the meeting, which was attended by about 40 provincial members.
“We are aware that one of our MPs in the province did not attend the CAB 3 voting process, and we would like to know how this happened,” he said.
“We are aware that one of our MPs, Angelina Gata, was on assignment, but what about minister Muswere?”
Zanu PF Manicaland spokesperson Phillip Guyo confirmed the development.
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Meanwhile, Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson Tawanda Mukodza, addressing a meeting ahead of the provincial inter-district conference, said Muswere and Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Angelina Gata were on official business and, therefore, did not participate in the CAB 3 vote.
The meeting was attended by Zanu PF treasurer-general Patrick Chinamasa and politburo member Supa Mandiwanzira.
“Muswere and Gata did not manage to vote during CAB 3 because they were on official government business. There are some people who want to abuse social media,” Mukodza said.
“I have to set the record straight that I was aware that MP Muswere and Gata had official business.”
Muswere also attended Saturday’s meeting, where he was seen chanting CAB 3 slogans.
On Thursday, party members reportedly considered moves to have him recalled after questioning his commitment to CAB 3.
Zanu PF has previously warned dissenting members that constitutional provisions exist to recall a lawmaker who fails to vote in line with the party’s position on CAB 3.
