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Zvamaida Murwira Harare Bureau
PARLIAMENT yesterday ejected Bulawayo Senator Matson Hlalo from the Upper House following a decision by the MDC-T to recall the outspoken legislator.

The recalling of Sen Hlalo is a culmination of factionalism that has dogged the opposition party pitting MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and national executive member Nelson Chamisa.

Acting Senate President Charles Tawengwa made the announcement yesterday.

“I wish to inform the Senate that on March 3, 2016, I was notified by the MDC-T party, that Mr Matson Hlalo has ceased to be a member of the party. Accordingly Section 129 (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe applies,” said Sen Tawengwa while standing in for Senate President Edna Madzongwe.

“It provides that a seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he/she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate as the case may be has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it.”

The tiff between Tsvangirai and Hlalo arose after the latter took the opposition party to the High Court challenging the decision to recognise Gift Banda as Bulawayo provincial chairperson.

This was after the elections between Banda and Hlalo to fill in the provincial chairmanship post was marred by widespread intra-political violence along factional line as party deputy president, Thokozani Khupe, fought in Banda’s corner.