Racial storm rocks Parly

MOSES MATENGA

Harare North Member of Parliament Rusty Markham yesterday stormed out of Parliament accusing Zanu PF MPs of racism by continuously referring to him with the colour of his skin during a heated debate.

Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba, in contributing to debate on the report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee on nomination fees, taunted Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs of pushing for Markham to contest against Tendai Biti in Harare East questioning why the party was pushing for a white man while leaving out a black man (Biti).

This comes days after Biti, in apparent reference to Markham, threatened to crush “a snake” and accused aspiring councillors of working with a “white man”, a statement that saw the former Finance Minister being accused of racism.

“You want to elect Markham a white man and leave Biti a black man,” Chinotimba said much to the chagrin of Markham.

“I consider that statement totally racial. You as the Speaker had no intention of calling the man to order. In this inflammatory position that we are in now, it is quite clear to me that there is no reconciliation from the Hon. Member and the party he represents (Zanu PF),” Markham charged.

“Unfortunately, he is not the first to refer to me because of my colour. I was given my skin by my parents as they were and yours. It is not that I selected it. One can almost say the God or whoever your God is gave it to you. I am sick and tired of being referred to as white,” he added.

“I would like to announce to this House that I am absolutely disgusted by the racism that comes from that side and is also endemic in my own. I take leave of this House. Good afternoon,” he said before storming out of Parliament.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa said:  “There was an exchange which we were not privy to. You were busy attending to issues and indeed you did not hear what was going on but the truth of the matter which I think is important for us to address is that – I will end up attacking you one by one, physically.”

“We are tired of this rubbish. We did not come here for this. I train too hard. It is important that you allow me to speak.”

“Chinotimba’s remarks on Markham in terms of white and black was wrong and he must withdraw that.  I heard that and I think that is the import of this issue that he had no right to talk about white and black.  He must withdraw those remarks because it does not sit well with the country, with what we stand for and all that.”