PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has ordered senators from his MDC-T party to return to work to facilitate the passage of important Bills relating to the 2011 national budget.

Senate sittings were adjourned to February 8 next year after MDC-T members became riotous, singing and dancing during sessions to disrupt proceedings in protest at the presence of provincial governors in the Upper House.

The MDC-T claims the provincial governors, who sit in the Senate, were illegally appointed by President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe recalled the Senate through a statement issued by Deputy Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda last Friday.

“The purpose is for Senate to consider the Finance and Appropriation Bills, the ratification of agreements or protocols and any other government Bills that are currently before Parliament,” the statement read.

The government was concerned the adjournment of the Upper House would delay debate on the Finance and the Appropriation Bills which operationalise the 2011 national budget recently presented to parliament by Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

However, Tsvangirai is understood to have ordered his party’s senators to comply with Mugabe’s call and return to the Upper House on Tuesday.

Senator Obert Gutu, who is also the Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, confirmed the development to local media.

“I can confirm that PM Tsvangirai has asked all MDC-T senators to co-operate and attend Senate,” said Gutu.

“The House of Assembly is going to consider Bills to do with the Budget next week and after that they are going to be referred back to the Senate (possibly) by the end of the week.”

Gutu, however insisted that the MDC-T’s position regarding the 10 provincial governors, had not changed.

“We will still not recognise them because they were unlawfully and illegally appointed by Zanu PF. The issue is now being dealt with by South African President Jacob Zuma and is subject to further negotiation.

“We still deem them (the governors) as strangers in the House but if they turn up next week, we are not going to disrupt business because as MDC-T we are committed, faithful and disciplined and we are not going to disrupt the operations of Parliament,” said Gutu.

Tsvangirai has also launched a legal challenge over the appointments.

But Mugabe remains defiant and told state media that Zanu PF had decided to renege on an understanding with other coalition partners regarding the issue after the MDCs failed to have sanctions imposed by the West removed.

“Yes, we initially conceded to matters of governors to bring about harmony in the inclusive Government until we started noticing that the MDC-T was blowing hot and cold on matters primary to us, namely sanctions and other forms of external interference including pirate radio stations.

“It was then that we decided to make that concession on governors dependent on movement on sanctions and pirate radio stations. (So) we remain resolute that there won’t be any movement on governors until we see a commitment on the part of the MDC-T to end sanctions and pirate radio stations,” Mugabe said.