Judge rules in Speaker's favour

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Disorder! ... Judge ruled Speaker's election held in chaotic scenes but within the rules

Fight ... Jonathan Moyo

A Judge ruled Tuesday that Lovemore Moyo’s election as Speaker of Parliament was legitimate, although finding that there was “disorder” in the chamber.

Four MPs challenged Moyo’s election as flawed, arguing that legislators from his Mdc party publicly displayed their completed ballots in breach of parliamentary rules which say the Speaker should be voted by “secret ballot”.

But High Court Judge Bharat Patel, while agreeing with the petitioning MPs that the environment was chaotic and disorderly, said that was not enough to nullify the August 25, 2008, election.

The four MPs – Professor Jonathan Moyo (Zanu PF), Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC-M), Patrick Dube (MDC-M) and Siyabonga Ncube (MDC-M) -- said they would launch an appeal against the ruling with the Supreme Court.

Professor Moyo (Zanu PF, Tsholotsho North) said: “We respect the judgement but strongly disagree with it, so strongly that we are able to file our appeal on the same day of the judgment.”

Prof Moyo said they had “strong reasons to believe that the Judge misdirected himself”.

He added: “We are pleased that the Judge said the issue was not malicious, he said that on record. We are pleased that he dismissed all preliminary issues the respondents raised and left two issues, namely whether the environment was chaotic and disorderly to the point of non-compliance with parl... ...

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