Mliswa then touched on a raw nerve when he shouted, “Tell people your real name is not Keith Guzah, but Kachasu Phiri; you car thief!”
HURUNGWE West legislator Keith Guzah was ejected from Parliament on Wednesday after he shouted unprintable words to Norton legislator Temba Mliswa.
The disagreement ensued after Mliswa insisted that labour deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze provide statistics for jobs created by the Zanu PF government in line with its 2013 election manifesto.
During the 2013 elections campaign, the party promised to create 2, 2 million jobs. The acting speaker Mabel Chinomona initially highlighted the question had been asked during last Wednesday’s Question and Answer session.
Responding to the question last week, Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo told Parliament that his government had made significant progress in creating jobs in various sectors, including mining and agriculture.
Mliswa then arguing that “g
Matangaidze, who seemed uncomfortable with the question, then asked Mliswa to submit a written question to which he could then respond after retrieving the data.
But the Norton legislator would have none of it, demanding, “All we want are statistics and if you say jobs have been created you should tell us how many.”
After a tete-a-tete with a laughing Agriculture minister Joseph Made, Matangaidze reiterated his response.
Guzah then weighed in in defence of the deputy minister whom he felt was being subjected to unnecessary interrogation by the independent legislator.
Mliswa then demanded to know why Guzah was defending Matangaidze on such a simple but critical matter.
As debate ensued, Mliswa then touched on a raw nerve when he shouted, “Tell people your real name is not Keith Guzah, but Kachasu Phiri; you car thief!”
Guzah completely lost his temper and started shouting obscenities trying to squeeze himself out of a packed bench, supposedly to charge towards Mliswa. He had to be restrained by fellow Zanu PF legislators.
Chinomona ruled that Matangaidze bring the figures next Wednesday, reprimanded Mliswa against malice and asked the sergeant in arms to escort Guzah out. Mliswa also left the house a few minutes later.
The two legislators are always at each other’s throats in parliament and their rivalry started when they contested for the Hurungwe seat. During the by-election, Mliswa dug-out Guzah’s criminal record and that he is of Malawian descent.-newzim
