afrol News, 14 January - Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change has lost majority in parliament after the Magistrate disqualified its parliamentarian for forging nomination papers before the March 2008 elections.

Mutare magistrate convicted MDC Member of Parliament for Chimanimani, Lynette Karenyi, of forging signatures on her nomination papers ahead of the elections in March 2008.

However, her party rejected the ruling saying its one of the government's tactics to corrode its slim majority in the key House of Assembly and to delay the formation of the unity government.

MDC won 100 seats and ruling ZANU PF won 99, a faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara won 10 seats and an independent candidate took one seat out of 210 seats.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the party was yet to get a full briefing on what transpired in court but promised it would appeal the ruling, adding the opposition will not allow ZANU PF to manipulate the system to whittle down its slight majority in parliament.

"We cannot allow ZANU PF machinations to just go unchecked. We will try to use the law to defend ourselves against obvious manipulation. We have to make sure that we put a full stop to these ZANU PF shenanigans," said Mr Chamisa.

Ms Karenyi was ordered by the court to pay a $20 billion fine and disqualified from representing the people of Chimanimani with immediate effect. Ms Karenyi was also suspended from contesting any elections in Zimbabwe for the next five years.

President Robert Mugabe was defeated for the first time in last March elections since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980, but the winner did not get the out right majority to avoid run off. MDC leader pulled out of the run off claiming torture and violations on his supporters as the reason not to contest the June run off.

However, since the leaders were able to strike a power-sharing deal in September to pave prepare for the so much awaited unity government, implementation of the deal has been stalled over the allocation of key ministerial position.

Earlier this month, President Mugabe promised to form a government with or without opposition, when he returns from a month long leave.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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