Things got heated in Parliament when a ZANU PF MP upset Kwekwe legislator Judith Tobaiwa (CCC) by mentioning her mother during a debate on maternal health.
The house sat late into the night going through the Finance Bill, and there were reports that some MPs were under the influence of alcohol, leading to reckless statements and general chaos.
Tobaiwa argued there should be a separate budget for maternal health, pointing out that the current allocation simply isn’t enough. She said:
“I think regarding maternal health, why can’t we have a standalone budget for it? We hear of free maternal health, which doesn’t exist, and then our mothers face challenges in giving birth due to these issues.”
While Tobaiwa was speaking, a ZANU PF MP, whose name ZiFM Stereo News chose not to reveal, interrupted, asking why she was talking about maternal health when her mother can no longer have children.
The comment sparked an uproar in the chamber, with fellow MPs calling for an apology and even breathalysers, as a few members appeared to be showing signs of intoxication. Said Tobaiwa:
“You cannot bring my mother into this discussion. My mother is not in Parliament, and if you have an issue, you can confront me, not my mother. That is wrong.”
Fellow MPs stepped in, suggesting that some members had clearly had one too many. Calls went up for breathalysers to be brought in as the row escalated, with several pointing out that the way women were being spoken to in the chamber was unacceptable.
The Acting Speaker was visibly unimpressed, reminding the house that, while they were all adults, some of the comments being made were completely unacceptable.
