House of Assembly

The 270 seats in the house of the assembly are divided between Zanu-PF, MDC-T, MDC and one independent.

Speaker of the House

The Office of the Speaker is the highest and most important in the House. The Speaker occupies the foremost place and commands respect internally from among Parliamentarians and also externally from the public in general

Appointment of the Speaker

The election of the Speaker is provided for in the constitution of the country. The Speaker is elected by members of Parliament at the first sitting of a new Parliament. The Constitution says,When Parliament first meets after any dissolution of Parliament and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, it shall elect a presiding officer to be known as the Speaker. The candidate for speakership should be a person who would have once been or is a current Member of Parliament. The person should not be a cabinet or Deputy Minister. Non members of Parliament can qualify for election as Speaker only if they meet the requirements to be elected as a Member of Parliament.

Term of office of the Speaker

The term of office of the Speaker is as long as the life of Parliament, which is five years. The Speaker can be re-elected at the end of the five years for another five year term. The constitution does not limit the number of times the Speaker can be re-elected

Duties of the Speaker

The Speaker is the presiding officer of Parliament and as such must act with both authority and impartiality. The Speaker's role in the House is to run the proceedings. The Speaker maintains order, puts questions after debate and conducts divisions (voting in the House). In maintaining order the Speaker interprets and applies the Standing Orders and practice of the House by making rulings and decisions. A decision of the Speaker may only be challenged by motion of dissent. By custom, the Speaker does not participate in debates. The Speaker is the mouthpiece for the House, conveying messages and addresses from the House to the State President. The Speaker is also responsible for upholding the rights and privileges of Members and the House. The Speaker has extensive administrative functions, being responsible for the overall direction of the Parliament. In this, the Speaker is advised by the Clerk of Parliament.

The authority of the Speaker

The authority of the Speaker is symbolized by the golden mace that is placed on the table of the House.

History

Under the 1980 Constitution, 20 of the 100 seats in the House of Assembly were reserved for the country's white minority, although whites and other ethnic minorities made up only five per cent of the population. These seats were abolished in 1987.

Parliament 1980

(See Zimbabwe Cabinet 1980)
Manicaland Manicaland Province:

• Zanu PF:

Mrs. Victoria Fikile Chitepo, Ephraim Chitofu, Bishop Joshua Towndie Ngoweni Dhube, Kumbirai Manyika Kangai, Moven Enock Mahachi, Columbus Willie Makoni, Simba Makoni, Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa, William Hlebeni Ndangana, Naomi Pasi Nhiwatiwa, Maurice Nyagumbo, Chimbizayi Ezekiel Caleb Sanyangare, Frederick Shava.

Mashonaland Central:

• Zanu PF:

Joseph Ngandi Kaparadza, F J Masango, Teurai Ropa Nhongo, George Rutanhire, Sydney Tigere Sekeramayi, Edgar Zivanai Tekere.

Mashonaland East:

• Zanu PF:

Godfrey Chidyausiku, Joshua Misihairambwe, Jack Hundah, Abraham Kabasa, Witness Mangwende, R Marere, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Phelimon Garikayi Murambiwa, Moses Jackson Mvenge, Muzanenhamo Horace Nyazika, Edward Munatsireyi Pswarayi, Shadreck Mhirizhonga Rampanepasi, Edson Fungai Shirihuru, G Ziyenga,

• UANC: Silas Chiwasha Mundawarara, Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa.

Mashonaland West:

• Zanu PF:

Enos Chamunorwa Chikowore, Josiah Mushore Chinamano, Marian Chivaurah, Mark Dube, Robson Manyika, Swithun Mombeshora, Alexio Noah Mudzingwa, Nathan Shamuyarira.

• PF:

Ariston Chambati

• UANC:

Titus G Mukarati

Matabeleland North:

• PF:

Mrs. Ruth Lottie Nyombolo Chinamano, Mrs. Thenjiwe Virginia Lesabe, Vote Henry Moyo, D Mangena, Sidney Donald Malunga, Jini Enock Gwaula Ntuta, John Landa Nkomo, Daniel Ngwenya, Mrs. Jane Lungile Ngwenya.

• Zanu PF:

Herbert Ushewokunze

Matabeleland South:

• PF:

Boyson Mazwimabi Tope Mguni, Callistus Dingiswayo Ndlovu, Edward Ndlovu, Peter Njini, Stephen Jeqe Nyongolo Nkomo, Tarcisius Malan George Silundika.

Midlands:

• Zanu PF:

Richard Chemist Hove, Ernest Rusununguko Kadungure, S Makoni, S E Mativenga, Dzikamai Callisto Mavhaire, Dambudzo Emmerson Mnangagwa, Simbarashi Simbanenduku Mumbengegwe, Simon Vengai Muzenda, J Zvobgo.

• PF:

William Henry Kona, Joshua Mquabuko Nkomo, Clement Muchachi, Cephas Msipa, W Kona.

Victoria Masvingo Province:

• Zanu PF:

James Peter Bassopo-Moyo, N. Makombe, Nelson Takawira Mawema, Simon Mazorodze, George Munduku Mudukuti, Oliver Munyaradzi, Barnabus Dzingai Mutumbuka, Taruvinga Albert Taderera, Sheba Pasipamire Tavarwisa, Mayor/Meya Urimbo, Eddison Zvobgo. ^[1]

The 6th House of Assembly, created following the elections held on 31 March 2005, had a total of 150 members. 120 members were directly elected in single member constituencies using the plurality (or First-past-the-post) system. The President appointed 12 additional members and 8 provincial governors who held reserved seats in the House. The remaining 10 seats were held by traditional chiefs who were chosen by their peers. All members served five-year terms.

A law passed in 2007, to take effect after the 2008 election, expanded the House of Assembly to 210 seats and made it a fully elected body. The appointed and ex officio members were transferred to the Senate. The 7th House of Assembly was opened on 26 August 2008.

The 8th House of Assembly resulted from the June 2018 elections.

Speakers since 1923

Southern Rhodesia / Rhodesia

• Lionel Cripps 1923–1935
• Allan Ross Welsh 1935–1952
• Dr. Walter Alexander 1959–1964
• Arthur R. W. Stumbles 1964–1965 (Rhodesian Front)
• Arthur R. W. Stumbles 1965–1973 (Rhodesian Front)
• George Holland Hartley 1973–1979 (Rhodesian Front)

Zimbabwe Rhodesia 1979

• John Moses Chirimbani,1979 (UANC)
• John Zwenhamo Ruredzo, 1979 (UANC)

Southern Rhodesia 1979-1980

• John Zwenhamo Ruredzo, 1979–1980

Zimbabwe 1980 -2013

• Didymus Mutasa ZANU (until 1987), then 1980–1990 Zanu PF
• Nolan Makombe Zanu PF, 1990–1995
• Cyril Ndebele Zanu PF, 1995–2000
• Emmerson Mnangagwa Zanu PF, 2000–2005
• John Nkomo Zanu PF, 2005–2008
• Lovemore Moyo MDC–T, 2008–2013
• Jacob Mudenda Zanu PF, 2013–present (2021)