National Assembly speaker Jacob Mudenda, has retained his position as speaker of the 9th Parliament after romping to a landslide victory in elections conducted on Tuesday to choose a new speaker of parliament.
Mudenda, who has been in that position since 2013, garnered 179 votes compared to MDC Alliance`s preferred candidate, Paurina Mupariwa, who only received 79 votes.
Mudenda will be deputised by national hero Border Gezi`s widow, Tsitsi, who was elected deputy speaker, replacing Mabel Chinomona, who has since moved to the Senate.
There was drama in the National Assembly when the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba walked in to conduct the elections.
Justice Chigumba presided over the disputed July 30 harmonised elections, with the electoral body accused of manipulating the electoral outcome in favour of the ruling party, Zanu PF.
Justice Chigumba was heckled by the MDC Alliance legislators, who chanted, “Mbava yemaelection (electoral thief)”.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is now expected to officially open the first session of the ninth parliament.
