PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 5th July, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
DEATH OF HON. SENATOR MILDRET REASON DUBE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: It is with profound sorrow that I have to inform the Senate of the death of Hon. Sen. Mildret Reason Dube, Senator for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province on Monday, 6th June 2022. I therefore invite Hon. Senators to rise and observe a minute of silence in respect of the late Hon. Senator. Thank you.
All Hon. Senators observed a minute of silence.
BILL RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform the Senate that I have received the Copper Control Amendment Bill [H. B. 3, 2021] which was transmitted from the National Assembly.
MOTION
PARENTING AND EMBRACING A RECEPTIVE CULTURE FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN THE STREETS
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: Mr. President, I move the motion standing in my name that:
RECOGNISING Government’s mantra of leaving no one behind as envisaged in Vision 2030;
ACKNOWLEDGING that there are institutional care and social protection programmes instituted by Government and Development Partners to promote livelihoods of vulnerable children who are living on the streets;
CONCERNED at the ever increasing numbers of such children in the Harare Central Business District (CBD) and other cities around the country, a situation which violates children’s rights to essential services such as education, health, safety, shelter and protection in general, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Children and the Constitution;
FURTHER CONCERNED that life in the streets exposes children to sexual exploitations, drug abuse, physical, emotional, and psychological abuses, which are detrimental to their general welfare and productive livelihood;
CALLS UPON this House to implore Government to:
- Ensure that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, assesses the root causes and addresses specific needs of such children so that they do not continue to live in the streets.
- Sensitise communities on responsible parenting that embraces a receptive culture towards children living in the streets and ensure that they do not reconsider living in the street and being provided better places to live in.
HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: I second.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: Mr. President, before I lay my motion, I would like to start by congratulating Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira on being elected the President of the Pan-African Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Mr. President, recent researchers have found out that a number of children living in the streets of Harare and around the country continue to increase. Extreme poverty, parental child abuse, re-marriages and maltreatment tend to drive children out of their homes to seek solace in the streets. However, immediate causes range from abuse such as sexual and physical abuse, death in the family or abandonment by both or one parent, including family breakdown. In most studies carried out, over 77% of children living in the streets mentioned child abuse and maltreatment at home as contributory factors to running away from home. About 62% of these children sleep in the streets while 38% slept both at home and in the streets. Boys tend to outnumber girls in the streets. Maybe it is because the girls are more controlled by their families probably because of their multi-tasks at home.
Mr. President, in order to survive, these children often beg and scavenge. Many die due to diseases associated with poor unhygienic conditions and dirty mouldy food. To survive, a child needs to join a gang, the gangs however have established bases where they sleep and hang out. Many gangs hide out behind supermarkets and in alleyways where rubbish bins are easily accessible and where unwanted food is thrown out. They wait for the moment each day when rotten food or food which has outlived its shelf life is thrown out and then they pick through it, putting anything edible into dirty containers for them to share afterwards.
Food is a priority but drugs are often even higher up the priority list. Studies have revealed that children living in the streets have now moved from abusing glue as a substance to the use of emerging hard core substances such as Crystal Meth known locally as ntshengu, mutoriro, bronclee, musomdodia, codeine, high alcohol liquors such as blue diamond and cane-spirit. Drug dealers and syndicate leaders are now employing these children to sell drugs and substances thereby increasing the vulnerability of children living in the streets to abusing substances. According to a World Health Organisation and United Nations office on drugs and crime publication, illicit drug use among adolescents is associated with mental illness, violence and unsafe sexual behaviour as well as increased risks of STIs including HIV/AIDS.
Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant amongst those in the street. Usually, there are a handful of girls in each gang and they are passed around among the boys. Many become pregnant whilst they are still minors. There is also a lot of abuse where older boys are forcing younger boys into sex. The shame and embarrassment means that it is often only when diseases are at an advanced stage that they have the courage to ask for help.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to International Child Protection Instruments including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC) (1989) which stipulates that the child has the right to education, health, life and the right to protection against all forms of sexual abuse. It places an obligation upon countries that ratify this convention to ensure that children in their states enjoy their rights. Zimbabwe has also some National Legal Frameworks and Child Protection frameworks in place, which include the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013), Section 19 (2) (a) which stipulates that the State should adopt policies and measures to ensure that children enjoy family or parental care or appropriate care when they are removed from the family environment and (c) says that the State should ensure that children are protected from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse and (d) have access to appropriate education and training. The Zimbabwe Vision 2030 is also anchored on leaving no one behind, especially the vulnerable groups such as children.
It is sad to note that in Zimbabwe, there is a growing disquiet over the numbers of children working and living on the streets. These children have been portrayed as being little thieves or criminals in the making. Their moral values and behaviour are seen as different from that of other children who are not from the streets. This is so as they are seen to lack parental guidance and protection. The public tends to discriminate and stigmatise children living in the streets and label them a ‘menace in the streets.’ Their reaction to such maltreatment is mistrust, anger and bitterness. The major challenge for children living in the streets is dealing with societal perceptions about them and how they are consequently treated.
Major interventions by the Government, though they lack adequate funding, have included the commitment of children living in the streets to children’s homes and reunification. However, some of them soon trickle back to the streets, their usual source of livelihood. It is important to assess the root causes and address specific needs of such children differently. Programmes that have not considered children’s rights, personal needs and freedom of choice in the provision of services and those that have addressed the symptoms rather than the casual factors have been characterized by failure. Unfortunately, most programmes that address children living in the streets seem to fail in isolation without looking at the wider contexts of family and community. A child’s family living conditions play a critical role in determining whether children will remain at home or will move out and take residence in the streets. Poverty, martial breakdown, poor parenting, child abuse, neglect, orphanage and poor quality of relationship with family members contribute to the increase of children living in the streets which at times are brought by economic factors.
Some children require family re-integration, others respond well to a placement at children’s homes and where poverty has been the cause of a child coming to the street, there is need to look at how to support the family so that the same poverty trap does not just repeat itself. Also, the homes should be where the children can go to school and do projects to help out financially. Research has also demonstrated that no amount of intervention programming designed for children living in the street can be successful unless the community is prepared to respect, protect and provide opportunities to these children. Through awareness campaigns, communities should be encouraged to shun child abuse and domestic violence. Should disagreements and challenges happen, they ought to seek professional and counselling services.
In this regard, I call upon this House to implore Government to:
(1) Ensure that the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare assesses the root causes and addresses specific needs of such children so that they do not continue to live in the streets.
(2) Sensitize communities on responsible parenting that embraces a receptive culture towards children living in the streets and ensure that they do not reconsider living in the streets and be provided with better places to live. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution to a motion moved by Hon. Sen. S. Mpofu in this august House. First and foremost, this is a very pertinent motion which is about street kids or the vulnerable children, children without parents who stay anywhere and everywhere and do not have access to what they should get.
There should be structures in all cities so that such children have access to premises where they can live in. Government should have a budget to cater for them because we now have a lot of these children all over. You find that in streets they sell or beg and some of them should be in school. We expect the Government to cater for these children because they live under very difficult circumstances and they have become criminals whilst they are still young. They do so because they are being forced by the situation they find themselves in. Some have parents while some do not have parents. Some of the parents send the children to beg.
There should be a provision for free education for these children throughout the country so that we do not leave these children behind in terms of education. That is the President’s mantra that no one should be left behind in all Government programmes. There should be some programme or policy to look into these issues concerning vulnerable children and those on the streets. The children should be gathered and taken where they are supposed to be taken and be catered for by the Government without any Ministry looking into it but the Government being holistically responsible. May that be prioritised by the Government, particularly the child headed families?
Some of the children are in the rural areas and are not known that they are there. There should be programmes to conscientise and have records so that all these children are known by the Government. This also drives the problem of child marriages before they have finished school. If they have their own place to stay, the Government will be able to take care of them. Some of the children are still in school and others are not attending school. Due to poverty, parents end up forcing the children into marriage.
The Government should cater for the needs of these children, particularly on the issue of safety nets to avoid begging. If they can be given accommodation, food and all the necessities that they need, the children will not move around begging. Each city and growth point should have a place which caters for vulnerable children so that they can be catered for in all areas. When parents divorce, children become vulnerable. So if these parents fail to look after their children properly, they should be arrested and prosecuted by the Government because these children are now doing illegal things because of the parents. With those few words, I rest my case. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. NKOMO: Thank you Mr. President for the opportunity that you have given me to debate on this motion moved by Hon. Sen. S. Mpofu on the issue of vulnerable children who we call street kids. This is a touching issue particularly when we look at this issue, as a mother or father being able to go and sleep indoors with your children and you just look at the plight of these children. This is so painful. These children live a difficult life.
We could not find any name which we can refer to them in our vernacular languages but we only have this English term which refers to them as ‘street kids’. What do we call them in our culture? I have never heard them being called otherwise, which means it is something that is not right and humiliating for us to have children that are said to have no parents. How can we have children with no parents when they are also people who move amongst us? Who gave birth to them? Did they come from trees? I believe they have parents as I do not think there are children without parents. They have parents who have neglected them because of reasons best known to them.
This is a touching motion and we are really concerned because the population of children on the streets keeps growing. You find that they grow up living a difficult life as has been said. No one knows what they eat. We know they go looking for food in dustbins where they eat dirt food but still they grow. When they have grown old, we will not need them as a country for the development of our nation yet we are not caring for them in their tender age. As Government, we should take measures to see that these street kids get help so that they are also empowered as kids to have a meaningful life in society.
For now, we should take them as children of the nation. Our President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa noticed that our country was dirty and set aside every first Friday of the month where we have a nationwide Clean-Up Campaign. We are supposed to clean the areas we find ourselves in on that day. We should also have programmes as a nation that set out a day when we can all round up these street kids and have a place where they can be sent for Social Welfare Department to look into the welfare of these vulnerable children. Our Government should build sort of hostels where they can accommodate and educate the children. We also have to try and identify their parents than to just say they are children without parents. When I look at those vulnerable children on the streets, I wonder how they will sleep, whether they will have eaten anything and what will they cover themselves with? It is very cold and it is not that they do not feel the cold because they are vulnerable. They feel the cold. Where do they get the blankets to cover themselves as cold as it is? People will eat adequately and cover themselves and get warm but where do these children get that? Mr. President, we see a lot in these children. In towns and cities, local authorities close water sometimes and you hear them saying they rationed the water when council says they are rationing the water. The local authorities ration the water for us who are not street kids, what of the street kids Mr. President, when the water is rationed what do they drink and where do they access the water from? It is a thing that we should consider as a nation and try and help the vulnerable children. I repeat Mr. President that these children have parents because these are children who are coming from homes. We should identify their parents. Let us come up with a programme to identify the parents of these vulnerable children, to build hostels for them and a programme to gather them and put them in the hostels so they can live normal lives like other children. With those few words, I have added my contribution to the motion moved by Hon. Sen Mpofu. I thank you Mr. President.
^^HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this motion. I thank Hon. Sen. Mpofu who raised this motion in this House and Hon. Sen. Mkhwebu who seconded. When you are speaking of these vulnerable children on the streets, it hurts a lot. Looking at the weather currently, it is very cold even though you are under some shelter and you have all the blankets, you feel the effect of the weather. It is worse when you imagine that some of these children sleep under bridges and on the streets without any blankets to cover themselves with. It is so painful and I wonder what we can do to assist these children. We encourage the responsible ministries to come up with measures that can reduce the numbers of children that survive on the streets. It is so amazing that the numbers continue increasing despite the children growing older. Looking at these street kids, some of them have both parents but they are told to go and fend for the family and in the evening when they come home, they are supposed to provide food for the other siblings. As a result, they end up not even returning to their homesteads and stay on the streets for good.
I applaud the First Lady for the counselling and the effort she is making to provide rehabilitation for these children so that they can go back to school and learn. The life that they live in the streets does not allow them to even go to school. What they will be thinking about is to run around the streets trying to find something to eat. It hurts a lot when you witness a small child who is about six or seven years old running with a mutton cloth to clean your car so you can give them something when you stop your car at the robots. This is a strategy to ensure that they get something to eat. My plea is that there should be shelter provided for them to live in and be rehabilitated so that they can go back to their families and grow up like any other children and also go to school. If they are orphans, my plea is that these children be sent to school at the expense of Government which should also cater for their needs. The numbers of the children on the streets continue to increase and not going down.
Looking into the future, in five or ten years to come since they are increasing at this alarming level, we wonder what will be the result if whole streets are occupied by street children. I do not have much to say about orphans who are surviving on the streets. You also realise that they are vulnerable to diseases because they do not have shelter and they are also prone to pandemics that come like cholera and other diseases. It is really heartbreaking to every parent. I wish we could sit down as Senators and put our heads together and come up with a way on how we can assist these children so that they could be reintegrated into society and community. What is needed is that people could get into a consensus on how to raise these children as their own.
With these few words, I thank Hon. Sen. Mpofu for the motion that she has brought to this House. It is a very important motion, of which all of us here are supposed to support and have a say about these issues. I also plead with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, as we are debating, so that they could come and intervene to see how we could handle the issue pertaining to these street kids. I thank you.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 6th July, 2022.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the effects of drought on the national herd in the dry regions of the country.
Question again proposed.
(v)HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. May I begin by thanking you for allowing me to make my contribution to the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Dube which talks about the effects of drought on the national herd in the dry regions of this country. Before I proceed with my contribution, I would like to pay my deepest condolences to the Dube family following the untimely passing on of Hon Sen. Mildret Dube. She was a joy to work with, may her soul rest in eternal peace.
I also would like to congratulate Hon Sen. Chief Charumbira for being elected President of the Pan African Parliament. Indeed, he made this House and Zimbabwe proud. I wish him well in his new position.
Drought refers to the dry period in the natural climate cycle. Its impact varies including decimation of crops and environmental degradation and socio-economic damage. These can be severe Mr. President and have detrimental effects on the livelihoods of both people and livestock. Zimbabwe’s measures to alleviate drought have been on an ad hoc basis. The country should not focus on managing crises but needs to encompass the full cycle of disaster management. This is now evident that drought is a natural disaster or hazard which we should be prepared for and the impacts should be dealt with before their occurrence. There is a need to come up with appropriate responses and communication actions when drought occurs. Drought is a period of abnormally dry weather.
We have four types of drought namely meteorological, hydrological, agricultural and socio-economic. The last two agricultural and socio-economic have direct negative impacts for crops, people and livestock. So, I will explain them a little bit. I will start with agricultural drought. This one refers to a reduction in water below optimal level required by crops during each different stage of crops resulting in impaired growth and reduced yields thereby affecting fodder. The second one which is socio-economic drought refers to the impact of drought on human activities that are direct and indirect and that include livestock production.
Mr. President, Zimbabwe is a cattle country and cattle play a role in food security and social cultural role in this country. If cattle are exposed to harsh production environment like drought, productivity is under threat. Cattle are very vulnerable to water and food shortages during drought period, hence they are prone to the following: stress, malnutrition, potential deaths, lower craving rate, high mortality rate among young stock, milk output also falls due to reduced feeds. Lactation ceases completely and animal weight falls, susceptibility to diseases increases, hence deaths increases due to stress.
Mr. President, allow me to quickly remind the House, the importance of livestock to citizens of this country, particularly the rural folks and people in general. Livestock provides proteins like meat, milk et cetera. It generates vital income, it provides employment, it brings foreign currency and most importantly, it also offers livelihood to two-thirds of rural communities, it provides manure, we also have some handcrafts coming from products of livestock. It is also involved in tourism and hospitality and it is also used for rituals in the communal areas. Some of the people use it for tillage. Labour is also produced from livestock and it is a form of wealth for many rural communities.
Mr. President, allow me to talk about the impact of drought on livestock. Normally when there is drought, crop failure occurs hence production falls. There will be no water and this will reduce pastures and it also reduces supply of manure, fertility levels and timing of conception is affected because cows are related to nutritional status of the female animals. They will also suffer from rate of conception due to tiredness and incomplete return to pick body weight. Livestock also suffer from high rates of miscarriages and stillbirths due to high levels of stress.
Mr. President, there are quite a number of mitigation measures that can be taken by Government and livestock producers. I will talk of three; the first one is we need water, the second one is we need to protect our water sources and the third one is we need to develop water sources that is macro dams, wells, and boreholes. I can even go on Madam President to say we need to reserve sources of ground water. When the need arises, we might also need to have water rationing and allocation. There is need to restore our pastures, we need to upgrade and modernise the Meteorological Services Department and early warning systems. We also need to have continuous drought monitoring at all levels and give early warnings.
We need to assemble drought informing websites and information houses for our livestock producers. There is need to conduct vulnerability and risk assessments to identify areas or regions prone to droughts. We need to plan and establish response action and strategies. There is need for drought coordination and communication with stakeholders. Another way is to improve legislation procedure of community participation. We need to empower and educate our farmers. We need continuous research on the ground. We need to develop policies to fight drought and to develop and implement drought related public awareness programmes and campaigns.
Madam President, because of diseases caused by drought, there is need for regular dipping of livestock and the regular dosing of livestock. We need to come up with a ten-step drought programme, creating an information management system, conducting research on climate change, giving technical assistance to provincial agriculture departments on drought assessment. Step number 1 is to appoint a drought task force; 2, to come up with objectives of the task force; 3, we need to seek stakeholder participation; 4, inventory resources and identify areas or regions at risk; 5, then come up with the drought plan; 6, need to identify research links and fill the gaps; 7, integrate science and policy; 8, publicise and build public awareness and consensus; 9, develop education programmes for our livestock farmers and 10, evaluate and revise the drought to improve for the next time.
Now, Mr. President, for easy understanding, I want to give examples of loses of livestock that occurred in one particular year although currently the situation might be even worse. In 1992 alone, Matabeleland lost a total of 60% of their herds. In 2019 to 2020, 30 000 cows perished nationally. The same in 2019, Matabeleland South lost 4 500 cows. The same in 2019, Masvingo lost over 4 000 cattle and the same 2019 and Midlands lost over 2 000. I have just mentioned a few provinces. These figures show how bad the situation can be when there is drought. If I have got a true reflection of the situation on the ground today, it may be worse than this.
Mr. President, the Government on the other hand has not been sitting idle, instead here and there, it endeavours to assist in livestock resuscitation using technical expertise from the Department of Veterinary Services, though more needs to be done. It came out with the various droughts policies. It came up with national policy on drought management, it also came with the national policy and programme on drought mitigation, there is the water policy, irrigation policy, drought disaster risk management of 2000, we have a national climate change response strategy, Zimbabwe Drought Risk Management and Action Plan, 2017 is still existing. We also have the Food Nutrition Policy of 2011, we also have an Innovation Policy of 2012 and currently we have a draft policy that is running. It is called a drought comprehensive agriculture policy frame running from 2012 to 2032.
Mr. President, no matter what options or decisions an individual producer of livestock makes, it is important to assess one’s resources now and future and adjust one’s demands to fall within the parameters of one’s resource availability. Also remember to always contact the extension office for drought assistance programmes and enrollment processes - that is the veterinary extension offices which are found in all districts, nationally.
I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 6th July, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the policies that address and plug loopholes related to tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHISOROCHENGWE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 6th July, 2022.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: On a point of order Madam President. I wonder whether all these debates, no matter how much we talk and speak in this House, whether anything gets to our Ministers because when we discuss these measures about the economy, someone must be taking notes on what we are suggesting. They might read the Hansard but the essence is that the Ministers must also be around once in a while to listen to these debates so that they become useful. I believe that we are not getting far in this House by just talking to ourselves. I do not know what you can do Madam President, but I strongly feel that the Ministers are letting us down if we are to get far with any policies, especially on the economy right now where it makes us want to be making suggestions.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. MOHADI): Thank you Hon. Sen. Mudzuri. I also concur with you. I have been saying that but it is only that I was speaking in Venda and you could not hear that I was requesting the Ministers to also come in this House because it has taken too long for Hon. Senators debating about that. I think the Chief Whips will assist us in notifying them wherever they are, that they should attend. Thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Madam President. I do not have much to debate on this topic other than to say this motion has been debated many times in this House and in the Lower House. We want to thank the Hon. Senator who suggested that we debate measures that should help resuscitate the economy. I wonder whether our Minister of Finance and Economic Development together with the Reserve Bank Governor ever sit down and look at the way people are suffering out there such that we end up with a monetary system that works. The economy might suffer but the biggest problem is around the monetary issues. The monetary issues are never really debated or the Minister asking for suggestions from different corporates.
When we did our budget, we were given enough warnings by those who advise us to say you are not going anywhere and you will end up dollarising. Today we might find it difficult to dollarise because we do not make the dollar, but we must start thinking of a way to ensure that we have a stable currency. I was reading today about the gold coin. It might look brilliant where we do not have so many currencies but how many currencies do we have in Zimbabwe? We have a multi-currency system which uses the dollar and may be as the base, we use the RTGs, ZWD, Rand, Pula and we also use the gold coin. Do you not think that if we had an economy that works we would be able to use one currency?
My suggestion in this economy is that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development sits down with the Reserve Bank Governor to ensure that we end up with a currency that is trusted by the community. How do you use a currency which you only use cash? For instance, there is no citizen in this country who can use his/her master card. The master card posts money outside the country and it does not stay in the country as foreign currency. So you end up with no reserves of foreign currency, but if you want to use the same foreign currency, you cannot swipe your card. If you are coming from South Africa and you are a Zimbabwean, you get to any shop in the country and you cannot swipe your card, but the moment you leave here into Zambia or Mozambique, you get into any tuck-shop and you swipe your card with direct conversion. So how does the Minister of Finance and Economic Development expect the stability of the dollar when there is no direct exchange between the currencies by using our plastic money which is the card?
I strongly feel that our Minister and our Reserve Bank Governor and probably a team of financial experts are doing what I would consider ‘work avoidance’. We are seeing people in the streets selling money but you cannot get it. If you go into your bank and ask for your money, you are given ZWD5 000 per week. What is ZWL$5000 today? What do you use it for? We are refusing and we are sitting here as Parliamentarians saying we are defending the community – we should call the Minister and ask him to make this currency work.
Honestly, what do ladies in Dotito do when they want to sell their potatoes? They cannot get the machines to swipe in the rural areas. So the economy is determined by the behaviour of our experts who should properly advise the President and Parliament to ensure that people out there survive and live a reasonable life.
I had to complain first because I think some of these suggestions must be made to be understood by the Minister of Finance. We should continue asking him to answer this question on whether we are going to continue with runaway RTGs or we should suggest something that works for the common man. The common man cannot work on a gold coin which they are suggesting you will only get a certificate. You get a gold coin then you get a certificate. You move around with that certificate as money. You do not move with a coin like you do with your 25 cents; you move with a certificate with the number of your coins and the money is reserved in the bank. How do you expect someone out there to understand that this is their currency? Let us not be complicated, let us be simplistic and ensure that a currency is used as a method of transaction rather than a method of cheating our own elders and those who might not understand the academic meaning of certain terms. Thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 6th July, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA seconded by HON. SEN. MATHUTHU, the Senate adjourned at Five Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 23rd June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE AND COMMITTEE BUSINESS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that the business of the House and Committees will be adjourned from today until Tuesday, 12th July, 2022.
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs having been consulting the Clerk-at-the-Table.
Clerk, when the Chair is making some announcement, you wait with your measured advice – [Laughter.] – No that is alright.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I am sorry Sir. It is my fault.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have two requests on one minute statements on issues of national interest.
*HON. NYABANI: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is the citizens of Zimbabwe’s right to have accommodation. Our councils, especially Chitungwiza, are collecting money from citizens but cannot deliver stands. There are waiting lists but we do not know whether these equate to the available land so that all people on the waiting list acquire stands. Some citizens are pensioners and they are subscribing their hard earned cash to councils that are failing to allocate stands.
As Parliament, we should exercise our oversight function and see whether our councils are providing the required service to residents. I would like to propose that the Portfolio Committee on Local Government visits local authorities to see what is happening on the ground pertaining to this issue.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Hon. Chikukwa, please take note and do your investigation accordingly.
HON. MARKHAM: Hon. Speaker, I rise for the third time on the same issues as I did before. I can confirm that I received the Global Settlement Deed from the Ministry. However, it was just an Executive Summary. As I previously indicated, I do need the original agreement.
On the Dutch Farmers loan, I have received that and I am grateful for that and I thank you. The document I received pertaining to the 3.3 billion acquired is a VERITAS document which I have and I am struggling to reconcile it versus what was posted and declared to Parliament. However, I will get to the bottom of that.
My concern is on ZAMCO – there is a deafening silence. I have heard nothing from the Ministry, not even a cough. The Local Government has still failed to meet with me on the issue of land and land barons and the acquiring of agricultural land in urban areas. The Road Repair Fund; the allocation of roads, the lists of roads – that is nowhere to be seen as is the Justice Uchena report.
Mr. Speaker, this will be the last time I ask. I have pursued this as far as I can but I am not prepared to back off. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Your interest in these issues; I committed myself and you are beginning to receive some responses. I will take advantage of the presence of the Hon. Minister of Finance. We wrote to your office on the 10th May, 2022 concerning some requests for ministerial responses on questions without notice that were not adequately covered. These relate to:
- All documents and addendum pertaining to the Global Settlement Deed,
- The agreement for the $38 million with the Dutch Government to compensate 11 farmers,
- Details of the US$3.3 billion assumed by the State in the 2022 Budget, including those whose blocked funds were also similarly acquired and to whom the funds were released, and
- The issue of a list of ZAMCO loans acquired by Government.
These matters are still outstanding Hon. Minister since our
communication in May. So if you could kindly indulge the august House to have those documents as raised by Hon. Markham. Can I get clarification on which document was summarised Hon. Markham?
HON. MARKHAM: The summarised document is the Global Settlement Deed. The Global Settlement Deed has financing behind it and there is also an issue of extensions. It is important to see the extensions because that payment is due in the next month.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The request was for a full document which speaks to all the facts and issues so raised. Since we will adjourn until 12 July, 2022, that should give you sufficient time to get all the documents together and then they are tabled accordingly, as requested.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank you Mr. Speaker for repeating those requests from Hon. Markham. Could I confirm with him as to what he has received so far and what he considers to be inadequate. I thank you
HON. MARKHAM: On the Global Settlement Deed, I have received a three page summary and that is all. On the issue of the Dutch farmers, I have received the terms of payment to the farmers signed by the representatives of the Zimbabwe Government. I actually have not received the loan or the terms of the loan from the Dutch Government to the Government of Zimbabwe to pay the said farmers, but I am happy with what I have got on that one. The issue I have with the blocked funds, I have got the VERITAS thing which states the numbers and it adds up to two point something but we approved in this House $3.3 billion. So there is a slight difference. I would like to know who the blocked funds; we know who they were blocked. For example they were blocked for company A here but who did they pay? We would like to know who they paid because $3.3 billion is a huge sum of money and that is my reasoning.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is that clearer now Hon. Minister?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: On the Global Settlement Deed, it was my intention to give him a three page summary and here are my reasons. This is still a document signed under restricted conditions of confidentiality. It only becomes public when they have signed the cessation and when we are ready to pay, then it comes before this House for approval and I will table it before this House for approval properly. For now, it is still in abeyance as a negotiation document. We have no wish to release it and if I do, then I am violating the agreement with the farmers, they will be very upset.
I am pleased that at least Hon. Markham is happy with the issue regarding the Dutch farmers. On the blocked funds, the list of the blocked funds is clear from the Finance Bill as to who we thought is eligible for this. What we did as a Ministry after Parliament approved that list, we went back to say we want to really audit all those loans to make sure that they truly qualify as what we would call blocked funds. So if you find that what we eventually took over is slightly less than what we reported earlier, that would be the reason.
I did not understand where he said who was paid? It is quite clear as what company is owed what from that list because that is what you approved. Is he looking for a name, I am not clear because the way this would have worked or works is, the bank would have handed over the Zimbabwe dollars to the Central Bank on a 1 – 1 basis and expected USD, which USD the Central Bank was unable to release, hence it was classified as blocked funds. So it is clear that those names are the names that are seeking relief, unless I am misunderstanding Hon. Markham. I thank you.
HON. HON. SPEAKER: On the question of audit, when do you think the audit will be completed?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. We are close to completing that. Some of the loans, we have agreed to take them over and the process of payments have begun. This is what we have done, we basically tranche these loans, for example if you are owed a million and below in US dollars, we are paying that in cash as Treasury. Payments have begun and signing of those payments. If you are owed a million and above within a certain range, you will be paid within a three-year period, beyond that five-year period and beyond that ten-year period. Beneficiaries have been issued with IOUs or bonds which will then be claimed on Treasury. That is how we have structured the payments Mr. Speaker Sir. The audit is still ongoing, there is still a bit that is remaining; we will conclude it but we have already taken over some and we have started paying.
THE HON. SPEAKER: So that the matter is on record Hon. Minister of Finance; perhaps you can tender a progress report on those issues and indicate some impediments where those impediments have arisen and how you think you are going to deal with them in the shortest possible time and then the august House will be advised accordingly. Is that acceptable?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Mr. Speaker Sir, I think that is acceptable and it is a very good proposition to keep producing a progress report as we go along. Since we have already paid some of these, it will be wonderful in the shortest possible time for me to come before the House and say vis-à-vis entities that we have already so far and I think that will be a good start to that progress report. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Markham, you raised the issue, are you happy with that progress report on behalf of the august House?
HON. MARKHAM: Yes Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate that on the payment, we approved in this House, 3.3 billion and the Minister is already admitting that they are doing an audit which is only coming to 2.7, which is half a billion dollars which we would not know about if I had not asked the question. Quite frankly, it is taking nearly two months to get that answer. I want to thank the Minister for his honest response.
On the issue of the blocked funds, what I would like to know is, if a few companies are paying someone, I would like to know to whom that money is going to. I will tell you why Mr. Speaker. A lot of people are paying themselves outside the country. That is why I would like to know who the blocked funds were released to. We are talking of 3.3 billion dollars, which we were quarrelling here and which throws us wherever our debt threshold is. On the issue of global funds, it is exactly the same Mr. Speaker, USD3.5 billion going to some 4 000 farmers who have been waiting 20 years for it and it is still confidential. We as a House need to know what is happening and what we are tying ourselves to for the future. I do not accept any confidential agreement on a loan that I have paid taxes to. In my case, having lost a farm I am now paying tax to myself for that land which does not make sense. Mr. Speaker, what that does highlight is that we have numerous loans in this country by the Government of Zimbabwe with confidentiality, and I may not bring it to this House. What is the point of this House Mr. Speaker? We changed the Constitution, you do not have to ask us anymore to borrow money, saka ngatiende kumba chete because we are doing nothing. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I think those points are noted by the Hon. Minister, they will be part of the progress report. Hon. Minister, is that agreed - some of these grey areas can be part of the progress report.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Obviously, I will include that in the progress report.
*HON. TEKESHE: My point of privilege emanates from a discussion that I had with disabled people from my constituency who invited me to a meeting and they informed me that they have been begging in buses and public spaces. However, they expressed concern that their benefactors are no longer able to give them anything. So, the message is that the disabled are suffering. I told them to write a petition but they said that would take time meanwhile they will be suffering. My request is that the Ministry should consider these people who are vulnerable because they are suffering. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Member, may you put your question in writing so that when we come back to this august House on the 12th of July, 2022, you will get a proper response.
(V)*HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Looking at what is happening in other countries, where ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Madzimure, we have a problem of connectivity, please try next time.
HON. MADIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, my point of privilege is that the Committee on Women’s Affairs, Community Development and SMEs tabled a report on minimum mandatory sentence on rape and other sexual offences. I am kindly asking the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to come and give a ministerial statement in response to that report. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister of Justice, can you take note of that.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is just something that needs to be addressed for certainty. When Hon. Members of Parliament wanted to check into the hotels this week, they were told they could not. I am glad that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is here, I wanted him to pay attention to this one. It involves the issue of Parliament not paying, but I think it is the Ministry of Finance that has not paid Parliament to pay. It was quite embarrassing and humiliating for Hon. Members of Parliament to be told ‘you cannot check in.’ I am glad that there was some quick reaction to that. There was a quick response to that intervention and they were accommodated but it is an issue which really talks about their welfare. Most Hon. Members of Parliament - if I am not mistaken, we were paid RTGs4 000 after deductions of PSMAS and it is quite something. If you think of RTGs4 000 for a mother and father to carry home to say this is the money, I do not know how we can comprehend and continue on that. So I know you have been looking at the welfare of Hon. Members of Parliament but an update would surely help Hon. Members to understand where they are in terms of those negotiations which we once did with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and the Permanent Secretary pertaining to a number of issues. Hon. Members are not immune to inflation as well. So I know that they do not have the energy to speak about it, but a response is needed to what is the way forward for the welfare of the Hon. Members of Parliament in spite of the inflation which is there. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am aware of what has been done following the meeting between the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the welfare of Hon. Members of Parliament and generally Government at large. I do not think I will be privileged to announce what has been agreed to and I do not know whether the Hon. Minister may also want to announce that at this point in time. What I know is a substantial increase has been agreed to as well as an increase in your sitting allowances effective 1st July, 2022. So something has been agreed to. I think at the appropriate time, the Hon. Minister will make some pronouncements, not only for us here but for the entire State. Have I concluded properly Hon. Minister?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. You have summarised it well. Maybe only to add that our three areas of focus for Hon. Members of this august House – they have been awarded a very good increase in the salary and basically putting them on a contributory medical insurance scheme which we are introducing as well as an increase in the sitting allowance. We are going to do those three areas – [AN. HON. MEMBER: When?] – Thank you.
THE HON SPEAKER: Someone is shouting when, I had said with effect from 1st July, 2022. I have the figures and I have been told and I think they are very reasonable in the circumstances of hyper-inflation. That is all I can say for the time being but there has been some progress in terms of what the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has done. I do not think that I can doubt what I have been told by the Hon. Minister. Let you judge by the action you will see beginning 1st of July, 2022.
HON. T. MLISWA: I thank you for your response which is promising but you know it is difficult for one to really have peace of mind when they do not know what they will get. Hon. Speaker munenge matinzvenga ipapo. Tirikuda kumboombera kuti tapihwa ipapo tosvitsa maoko.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, if you cannot trust the Hon. Speaker, who are you going to trust?
HON. T. MLISWA: No, I will rest my case, we trust you. So please trust the Hon. Speaker and that everything will be okay, your salaries.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please do rest your case and if that does not happen, I put my head on the block and then you can come with the guillotine. Thank you.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2021
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLOIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise that this House takes note of the Report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the year 2021 presented to this House of Parliament in terms of Section 323 (1) of the Constitution. I so submit Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I am being advised that the report was circulated. Have you checked your e-mails?
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I have tried to confirm with the Clerk if the report came any time after April and he said it was sent today. There were e-mail challenges due to network. I am trying to reason with the Hon. Minister maybe to postpone it so that we can be able to go through it.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There have been some incessant outages in the last four hours.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, we were just trying to see if the report was sent any time after April when some of us joined Parliament. The Clerk confirmed that the report was sent today. It is not yet on our e-mail list and therefore, I would propose that perhaps we adjourn the debate until we manage to go through the report so that we can make meaningful debate.
THE HON. SPEAKER: As I have indicated, we have been having problems with electricity in the CBD in the last few days. Hon. Minister and Leader of Government Business, I am sure you will agree with the request.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 12th July, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that Order of the Day, Number 2 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 3 has been disposed of.
SECOND READING
COPPER CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2021]
Third Order read: Second Reading: Copper Control Amendment Bill [H. B. 3, 2021].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Members who debated the Copper Amendment Bill, their contributions and support to ensure that we come up with a minimum sentence to those that vandalise our copper cables and those that do not have the requisite papers to deal with copper. We value the support that has been offered. The aim really being to ensure that we put up legislative measures that will act as deterrence to those that would want to deal in copper or to vandalise our infrastructure. Having said that, I now move that the Copper Control Amendment Bill, [H.B. 3, 2021] be now read a second time. Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
COPPER CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2021]
House in Committee.
Clauses 2 to 6 put and agreed to.
On Clause 7;
HON. NGULUVHE on behalf of HON. BRIG. GEN. RTG MAYIHLOME: I move that the Bill be amended in Clause 7 on page 3 in line 7, by the deletion of “imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years, or both” and the substitution of “twice the value of the stolen copper whichever is the greater; or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 25 years or both”.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Hon. Chair. If we look at Clause 7, it is consistent with the other clauses in terms of sentencing. If you put Hon. Mayihlome’s proposal, we realise that we would have lessened the sentence regime yet the import of this Bill was to come up with a sentence regime that is stringent so that we can see deterrence of those who are vandalising our copper cables and associated infrastructure that is essential for all of us. So the proposition therefore would allow that those who have got money can get away, yet we want to come up with a sentence regime that is deterrent enough to ensure we preserve our infrastructure and copper cables. Therefore, I urge Hon. Members to reject this because it will be a reversal of many efforts of introducing this Bill in the first place. I thank you.
Amendment to Clause 7 put and negatived.
Clause 7 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order! There was a mistake. Mr. Speaker, I want you to assist this House, we collectively made a mistake. I do not think it is proper to pass a Bill without Parliament’s intention. When the courts are interpreting the law, they seek to understand the intention of the Legislature. So, in Section 7(2), in fact the import of the Bill from what the Hon. Minister said is to put punitive measures which are deterrent to would be copper cable thieves or material such like so that we preserve our transmission services for power.
Now, Section 7 (2) has a clause that introduces a fine under special circumstances and a debate ensued where Members made a genuine mistake to say it must pass as it is. I seek your guidance, can we not have a chance to rectify move in line with what the Hon. Minister intends to bring - which is punitive measures, and remove the clause of a fine. This is the House that passes laws, we cannot pass a law that we say, we have made a mistake on and not want to correct. Can we go back to Committee and rectify that mistake Hon. Speaker Sir? It is a mistake that I agree we have made, unless if you are saying that perhaps the Senate is going to address but it is a mistake that we genuinely made – we acknowledge. Can we go back to Committee and rectify the mistake?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. M. KHUMALO): Thank you Hon. Member. Hon. Member, be advised that we cannot go to this debate because it has gone to another stage. So we cannot go back to that debate.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, can it be on record that we have passed this Bill having noticed a mistake which we intended to rectify as Committee. I move that this House takes note that Section 7
(ii) is contrary to the intention of the Bill as stated by the Hon. Minister in his opening remarks. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Member, you allowed the Bill to go to another stage, and now you raise that one. We cannot go back to that stage of the Bill; our procedures do not allow us to go back.
THIRD READING
COPPER CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2021]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that the Bill be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that the rest of the Orders of the Day be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 23 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR WATER AND SANITATION
Twenty-Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the erractic water supplies in both rural and urban local authorities.
Question again proposed.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to appreciate the contributions by Hon. Members to the motion that I moved in this House calling upon the Government to consider bringing a supplementary budget to focus on water. I am happy that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development is here, and that he can also take note of the important points that were raised by Hon. Members who were calling for the rehabilitation of dams in rural areas, and the completion of important dams such as Kunzvi Dam …
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker! Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I understand that in terms of procedure, once the mover of the motion has wound-up his motion, there can be no other debate but because of the importance of this motion and it being directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, can we have some input or comments from the Minister of Finance because I am sure he has gone through the motion, he understands the prayers, it is squarely on his level so that at least once he has given his comments, then the mover of the motion can then wind up?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Member, I am being advised that this motion is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. He is the one who can respond to this if he so wishes to.
HON. MAMAUSWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I was saying that I am happy that the Minister of Finance is in the House and one of the prayer is that we humbly request for a supplementary budget that will cover the provision of water and sanitation facilities within this country and therefore, it is upon the mandate or the jurisdiction of the Minister of Finance to ensure that those responsible for construction of water bodies are funded.
I also requested that can the water situation in this country be declared a national disaster and the Minister of Finance is here although the Minister of Agriculture will be responsible for other things, but the Ministry of Finance would then provide the resources that are required to ensure that we have adequate water bodies. We will have these problems resolved because actually water is life and we cannot continue with this situation where people and their animals in both rural and urban areas go for days without water.
Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, I really appreciate the contributions made by Members of Parliament, mainly those coming from the rural areas where it is noted that the dams in those areas need to be rehabilitated. They need to recoup the dams and there is need to repair those that were affected by cylones like Idai.
In areas like Harare, we need Kunzvi and Musami dams to be completed as soon as possible. The infrastructure was noted by all Members of Parliament that it needs to be rehabilitated. I would want to conclude by noting the contributions as stop gap measures, the supply of solar powered boreholes in urban areas and this should be supplied in a manner that is not based on political affiliation but there must be a plan from the Government to make sure that all areas that have not been receiving water are given solar powered boreholes. Hon. Members have raised important issues that the boreholes that are there are limited and only skilled people can repair those boreholes. I now move that this motion be adopted.
Motion that:
AWARE that Section 77 (a) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that: every citizen has the right to safe, clean and potable water and the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right;
WORRIED that the water crisis in Zimbabwe has contributed to the outbreak of water-borne diseases and other unhygienic conditions in society;
DISTURBED that the continuous erratic water supplies within both rural and urban local authorities remain a recipe for disaster especially in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic;
NOW, THEREFORE, this House resolves to urgently request for a supplementary budget from Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which will be devoted solely for water and sanitation in the year 2022, in view of the need to maintain hygienic standards especially during the COVID-19 global pandemic, put and agreed to.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. CHIKWINYA: As I explained, the implementation of the prayer in the motion squarely depends in the hands of the Minister of Finance. Since he is here, maybe he can tell us when he can respond or give a comment to the issue of water especially that we are saying it has to be declared a national disaster. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, we already have dealt with that motion, it has been adopted, and there is no further debate.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. (Technical glitch) request for the budget of Finance and also Public Accounts Committee. We note that they… – [HON. MEMBERS: We cannot hear him.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you are not audible please. You can come to the House – [HON. CHIKWINYA: Tell him to put on his clothes and come to the House.] –
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 2 to 23 be stood over until Order of the Day No. 24 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ON THE VISIT TO DUBAI EXPO
Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the visit to Dubai Expo.
Question again proposed.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 12th July, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I move that the rest of the Orders of the Day be stood over until Order Number 33 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, there are vehicles, ACH4392 and AFB0659 that are blocking others in the car park. Please may you remove those vehicles, they are blocking other vehicles.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, MEDIA AND BROADCASTING SERVICES ON ZIMBABWE DIGITAL MIGRATION PROJECT
Thirty Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on the Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project.
Question again proposed.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for allowing me to add my voice on this very important report by the Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services. Hon. Speaker, I was a member of this Committee since 2013 and this agenda has been on the table of the Committee of this Parliament and the nation at large since then - in fact, with regards to Zimbabwe and as the report perfectly captures, it has been on the agenda since 2006.
Hon. Speaker, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) had put a deadline for SADC countries to have fully digitalised or migrated to digitalisation by June of 2015. With that regard, the Government of Zimbabwe made the same commitment because it is a member to the ITU and began to systematically provide budgetary support to the digitalisation programme from 2011 so that we could reach 2015. For now, Hon. Speaker, as the report actually captures, we have covered 43%of the digital migration programme having digitalised 18 digital sites out of 48, but this is a far cry from the deadline which we were supposed to have achieved of June 2015.
There are consequences, Hon. Speaker for not having achieved the full digitalisation programme by 2015 and the Executive has been fully briefed by the respective Ministers since then. One of the issues is that there is frequency overarching between member States. So this issue whereby people in Plumtree, Beitbridge and Zambezi receive airwaves from the neighbouring countries is because we have not yet managed to fully digitalise. We must be able to ring-fence our border line if we are able to fully digitalise. So equipment that is set up across the Limpopo, Botswana and across Zambia, if we have weaker equipment which is run on analogue, it tends to be affected by equipment that is stronger across the borders and that is why communities in our border line areas have always been crying out loud that they are failing to access Zimbabwean broadcasting services but foreign broadcasting services.
In response to that, the Government has set up community radio stations as a priority in those areas but that is not enough. For example, Members of Parliament from Beitbridge, Bulilima, Mbire, as they make meaningful contributions in Parliament, their respective constituents are not able to access them. The beautiful radio stations that they manage to listen to in Harare cannot be accessed by people in Beitbridge, Bulilima, Penhalonga, and Mbire. This is because of lack of full digitalisation which was supposed to have been done in 2015.
Hon. Speaker, in 2020, two cables were achieved under the digitalisation programme. The cables came; 1 – splitting into six, so each cable came with six channels. Cable number 1 for example was given to ZBC and that is why you find that it is now going to have six channels and they have begun to roll out one entertainment channel on top of the current news and current affairs channel. They are moving on to have six channels and they are taking advantage of this progressive move that is coming through digitalisation. Cable number two was split into six as well and it is the one which gave rise or gave birth to the six television stations which were given licences in 2020. You know now that we have television stations; 3K T.V, ZTN T.V and the other four which are supposed to be rolled out 18 months from the time they were given the licences.
The point to worry about is that because we still lack full digitalisation, these television stations are failing to operate whilst they are broadcasting from Zimbabwe or using Zimbabwean airwaves. This is why they are riding on the digital transmission by DStv which is domiciled in South Africa. If we had fully digitalised, they were supposed to have full jurisdiction or to operate using Zimbabwean airwaves. So I implore Parliament that, whilst the principle of budgetary support has been given by the Ministry of Finance for the digitalisaiton programme, it is the amount which is too little and having very little impact in terms of achieving this digitalisation programme.
Hon. Speaker, you would know that Zimbabwe was known for one television station but with the coming in of all these other television stations, jobs are being created and talent is being discovered. You Hon. Speaker now know of a person called Kudzai Violet Gore (KVG), there is Miss V. Candy, Amard of Zifm. There are so many other people like that who are talented, like Candice Mwakalyelye, who are failing to get jobs because we have not yet unlocked more television and radio stations because we are not fully digitalised. So I implore Parliament that, whilst we are going to be enjoying more television stations, please think of the young son and daughter who are supposed to have an opportunity to showcase their talent as we begin to enjoy the fruits of full digitalisation.
There is an issue of set-top boxes; the digitalisation programme is coming with set-top boxes, these are basically receivers of the airwaves. There was a commitment by the Government that these set-top boxes were supposed to be supplied by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to the residents and households but this has not been realised. There is still a question out there, who is supposed to bear the cost of set-top boxes because the budget has provided for that? If the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is going to be able to read through the Auditor General’s Report, it is coming out as they are auditing ZBC that you were given money for set-top boxes but you have not yet bought them, what is the problem? We know of CEOs who have been fired for the misuse of funds and I want to draw you back that this is part of the funds that have been misused by the CEOs at ZBC as they were abusing money which was supposed to be used for set-top boxes. Without set-top boxes, you cannot access the airwaves, so these are basically your decoders.
The other recommendation by the Committee is can Parliament pass a law that every television that is now going to be imported must be capable of receiving digital airwaves? This then deals with the issue of the Government having to buy set-top boxes because they are there to mitigate for those television sets that are not able to convert analogue transmission to digital transmission. It has to go through a set-top box. However, there are now smart televisions which do not need these set-top boxes, they automatically receive the signal and transmit automatically. Yes, the Committee made an observation but they were not full in terms of asserting their authority as to who is supposed to then foot this bill of set-top boxes. Whilst they mention the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the Ministry is actually working through ZBC. There is also another issue of ZBC having contracted Huawei– the contractor doing a parallel programme and having received parallel funds from what I believe ZBC should actually be doing because it has a set of engineers, and Information Technology experts. I do not think it was actually necessary, Huawei could have been supplying equipment but not necessarily being project managers of the same. I just rose to try and demonstrate to this House that in the absence of digitalisation, we will continue to be able to broadcast one television station through our own airwaves. So we are going to year number 43 as we celebrate independence; 43, 44 and 45, perhaps with the same dispensation or any other new dispensation - if we do not solve the issue of digitalisation, you will continue to see one television station, which is ZBC. If you want to begin to transmit more television and radio stations using our own airwaves, we need to go full digitalisation as we were supposed to have done in 2015. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to add my voice to this important motion moved by the Chairperson of the Media Committee, Hon. Mokone on the digitalisation progress in Zimbabwe. I want to touch on a few aspects. We are privileged that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is here. I am going to start by highlighting that the Government of Zimbabwe, from 2015, sponsored this digital transmission. The Government has used more than $50 million in terms of upgrading the system to go on the full digitalisation programme.
However, the equipment that was bought using the above $50 million funds, tax-payers’ money, is about to be obsolete because it is not being used. So, without coming up with a proper framework of making sure set-top boxes will reach the viewers, it will turn out that the Government did not use the funds appropriately. This is because $50 million that was used for upgrading the transmission sites is not being utilised. If you go to Kotwa, there are transmission sites which only require the set-top boxes for the people of Kotwa to enjoy the digitalised airwaves. However, the challenge is on set-top boxes.
As a Committee, it will also be important to note that the funds that were allocated for set-top boxes were eroded by inflation. Maybe there is need to see how the targeted groups who were earmarked for the free set-top boxes are going to benefit because we will end up having reports that are not being implemented. The people in the rural areas are waiting to realise this digitalisation programme becoming a reality to them but the challenge is on set-top boxes. Therefore, I reiterate what my colleagues have said that there is need for a plan from Government especially focusing on how much Government had already given out in terms of supporting the digitalisation programme.
I will repeat that the Government has already used more than US$50 million and we cannot then fail as a Government to add US$3 million to make sure that the US$50 million that we have given out is actually being utilised. If Government fails to provide US$3 million, the US$50 million equipment will actually reach its expected lifespan without being utilised by the people of Zimbabwe. This is my plea Mr. Speaker Sir to say that this project must be regarded as a national project which requires the full attention of Cabinet, especially the Ministry of Finance to make sure that what they have given is actually going to make sense by making sure that US$50 million is now being enjoyed by the people of Zimbabwe who are the taxpayers in this country.
I would also want to talk about the situation at the transmission sites. For this ditilisation programme to be enjoyed by the people of Zimbabwe, the transmission sites have to be secured. When we visited some of the areas, there were no fireguards and fire was actually destroying those areas at the transmission sites. We know of other players who share the premises with the transmission sites and they can share in terms of security. There is need for improvement because these transmission sites are established in areas that are remote where there are mountains and we cannot expect Government to just leave that equipment without proper security because we would have used money to construct those sites but in most cases, there are no transmission sites.
There is another important issue which can stand in the way of enjoyment of digitalised airwaves in Zimbabwe. The issue of electricity; there is need for the electricity supply company to be supported because in some cases, they do not have engineers who can actually work on electrical faults which then affect the effectiveness of those transmission sites. There is need for more support to ZESA to make sure that the engineers are readily available whenever there are electrical faults because this will then affect the working of transmission sites.
Another alternative energy source such as solar can also be considered to power the transmission sites. Another point is that the transmitters are not easily accessible to the extent that engineers from Transmedia and ZESA struggle and in some cases, you would feel that they need risk allowance for them to be able to reach the hill tops where the transmitters are erected because the roads are not properly maintained. It is a danger to the employees of Transmedia who would then go regularly to maintain those transmitters. There is a lot that needs to be done. Once Government has made a commitment to make sure that this digitalisation programme is a reality, the Government cannot then, in the middle of the way, fold its hands without completing this project.
I call upon this House to make sure that as we move towards 2023 budget formulation and implementation, there is need to make sure that there is a clear framework on how set-top boxes are going to be imported. There is need to waive duty for those who are importing set-top boxes because information is a public good and as a Government - I hear you Mr. Speaker Sir, saying you are not connected – the people in Mt. Darwin, Kotwa, Buhera West and even in Warren Park, will always be complaining that we are not connected because there is no electricity and set-top boxes, yet they are supposed to be enjoying the digitalised airwaves but now we do not have these set-top boxes yet information is a public good. We need the people of Zimbabwe to be receiving information and to have high quality viewing options.
I will conclude by highlighting that digitalisation and the opening of airwaves is going to create more employment opportunities. I am not going to repeat what Hon. Chikwinya said but I will add that even the content producers will also have more opportunities because there will be a number of takers of their products. Government departments such as New Ziana will have more opportunities because they are going to be producing more content that will be ready for the uptake by new players that are going to come in. This is an important programme which needs the support of the Ministry of Finance and without their support, we will continue going year-in year-out coming up with reports and the people of Zimbabwe will just see those big towers and will not even make sense to them.
If you go to Kotwa and all those other sites in Gwanda, the transmitters are there but people living in those areas cannot connect yet the airwaves are there but the set-top boxes which cost US$5 are not there. There is need for more research and if it was possible, coming up with alternative ways of funding these set-top boxes, bringing in more players who are actually going to support Government. We have the private sector and there is need to create a platform where private sector come in and give their options and proposals to the Ministry of Finance to say when they come, how best are they going to provide set-top boxes especially to those people who can manage to buy but also a plan for those who can be supported by Government. If you are targeting 300 000 people, let us see that those targeted people receive the set-top boxes before the end of the year. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise to add my voice and contribute to this very important debate on digitalisation. We, as Government, take this agenda very seriously as it is very important for all our citizens to get to receive a media signal from within our borders and not to be crowded out by signals from neighbouring countries. So it is very important that this programme is well supported and we are supporting it. What we have done as Government is, the Minister of Information has sent us a request in Treasury to pay US$2 million to a supplier outside in order to acquire Set-Top Boxes (STBs). We have paid US$2 million to the supplier and we hope to receive the STBs soon. So I can assure this House that by year end, we should receive these boxes and be able to connect most of our citizens who are currently not connected. This is a very important issue which we will continue to fund as Government going forward, and I will be coming back to this House for us to continue with the financing of this digitalisation programme into 2023 and who knows into 2024 as well. This will enable us to operationalise our investment worth US$50 million from the transmitters. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to talk about the issue of digitalisation. Information is power. When we get to Harare, we have our eyes glued to our television screens because in the rural areas, we know not of such television programming. So there is a gap between those that live in the urban areas vis-a-vis those that are in the communal lands. It is my wish that digitalisation should be quickly spread to the rural areas because people in the rural areas do not know about television sets or what it is. Especially in places like Rushinga and Mbire, the only sound we hear is when birds chirp. The radios are inaudible. It is our hope that after the announcement of a payment of US$2 million by the Hon. Minister of Finance for set-top boxes, we will also be covered because we are not sure what type of people are eligible to be covered. What is the population that will be covered and how about some of us in the backward areas, will all of us be covered? How is distribution going to be conducted? What about those who cannot afford to pay, will they be made to pay? All those issues should be addressed openly so people are made aware. What if the set-top boxes are given to people living in the urban areas only? Did you check how many people are in the rural areas when you made the two million STBs payment? I encourage information which is said to be powerful to be given to everyone, be it in the urban or rural areas at the same time. So digitalisation should be done equally and fairly between the urban and rural dwellers so that no one is left behind.
I encourage the Minister of Finance to empower everyone with knowledge because nothing is done without knowledge. Knowledge is very important because if we did not have knowledge about Parliament, we would just be sitting because we would be lacking the knowledge. This country is now being driven by technology in all spheres, be it education, farming et cetera through television and radio. Now, in Rushinga, there is no community radio station, no televisions or anything. We get information after it has been in circulation for two weeks and it will be out dated information. It is like eating sadza that will have been cooked three or four days back. It is our wish that digitalisation should be quickly brought to all areas so that we move along with our counterparts in the urban areas as is the President’s mantra that no one should be left behind.
If I look at the radio stations being installed in different places, I start to wonder whether Rushinga or Mbire belongs in Zimbabwe. What do they consider for an area to get the radio stations and satellites? Are we regarded as part of Zimbabwe and when are we also going to enjoy having radio stations, satellites and digitalisation? If it is being said no place must be left behind, why are we being left behind? It is our plea that we be included as quickly as possible and people in Rushinga need to see the STBs for themselves and not be left to wonder whether these boxes are animals or what type of boxes they are. People in the rural areas do not know what these things are. I urge the Minister to ensure that people of Rushinga benefit. I could continue saying a lot but in the rural areas, there is no network and many more things. It is my wish that the Minister of Finance seriously considers marginalised places such as Rushinga and Mbire. If you say things should be done starting from the outskirts/rural areas coming into the urban areas, it would make a great difference to us. Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at your hand, there is skin and if that skin is removed, you will see its importance because all the blood will flow out of the body. So, we at the borders are the skin of this country and we need to be properly looked after. With these few words, I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MOKONE: I would like to thank all the Members who contributed to this debate on digitisation. I am sure that to the Minister of Finance, I am beginning to sound like a broken record because every time I stand up, I speak about digitisation. The reason why I am so passionate about this is because the programme of digitising Zimbabwe brings with it a lot of goodies. For instance, we were hit hard by COVID-19 and everything was done on line. Even school children depended on television and radio lessons for them to carry on with their education. So, when we completely digitise it will mean that school children can access educational lessons through televisions especially those who live in rural areas. The digitisation programme also involves a situation whereby the transmission on our television sets will change completely because people in Zimbabwe are complaining that the picture quality of our television is poor and has showers. So, this programme will ensure that people receive good quality pictures. With those few words Mr. Speaker Sir, I move for the adoption of the motion that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on the Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I move that we revert to Order of the Day Number 9.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to
SECOND READING
CHILD JUSTICE BILL [H. B. 11, 2021]
Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Child Justice Bill [H. B. 11, 2021].
Question again proposed.
HON. MATARANYIKA: INTRODUCTION
- The Child Justice Bill [H.B. 11, 2021] (hereinafter referred to as the Bill) was gazetted on 3 December 2021.
- The Bill was developed with the aim to establish a separate
justice system for children who get into conflict with the law.
- In line with the values and principles underpinning the
Constitution and international obligations, this child justice system will be largely premised on principles of restoration and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders as opposed to a punitive justice system.
1.4 In compliance with Constitutional provisions and as part of public consultations meant to enhance participatory democracy, the Joint Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; and Thematic Committee on Human Rights, conducted nationwide public hearings on the Bill. The consultations were held from 3 to 8 April, 2022.
- The public consultations were attended by the general
members of the public, school children and Civic Society Organizations like Children Youth Volunteers Association, Educational Trust, Justice for Children, Young Women Christian Association and Matebeleland Development Trust.
- Prior to holding the public consultations, the Joint Portfolio
Committees underwent a workshop on unpacking of the Bill hosted by the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST), with a view to enhance their understanding of the provisions of the Bill.
- The Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
undertook a second round of consultations from 9 to 13 May 2022 under the spotlight initiative sponsored by Centre for Applied Legal Research in partnership with UNICEF.
- These consultations were targeting children in high schools,
primary schools and junior Parliamentarians.
- BACKGROUND
2.1 In Zimbabwe, there has been no specific legislation on how
cases of juvenile offenders are to be handled. As such, handling of matters of children who come into conflict with the law was left to the existing legislation and child-specific policies developed over time.
2.2 For many years, the question of child justice in Zimbabwe’s
jurisdiction has been a vexing question.
2.2 Like everyone else, people under the age of 18 years do come into contact and conflict with the law.
2.4 The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, provide for child justice.
2.5 Section 19(1) of the Constitution provides that the State must adopt policies and measures to ensure that in matters relating to children, the best interests of the children concerned are paramount.
- Section 19 (2) (c) further gives a critical mandate to the State
to adopt policies and measures, within the limit of the resources available to it, to ensure that children are protected from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse.
- It is against this backdrop that this Bill seeks to establish a
criminal justice delivery mechanism that is designed specifically for child offenders who are currently treated in the same way as adults when facing arrests and pre-trial detention in conventional prisons like adults.
- METHODOLOGY
3.1 As part of its law-making function, Parliament through the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Thematic Committee on Human Rights, embarked on public hearings on the Bill for the general public to make an input.
3.2 This is a legal requirement set out in section 141 of the Constitution which stipulates that Parliament should create an environment that enables the public to participate in the law-making process.
- The public hearings were attended by persons from all walks of life that included men, women, the youth, the disabled, children and civic society organizations with some even sending written submissions to Parliament.
Public Hearings
Team A
DATE |
PROVINCE |
PUBLIC HEARING VENUE |
04 April 2022 |
Manicaland |
Mutare Civic Centre, Mutare
|
05 April 2022 |
Masvingo
Midlands |
Chitsanga Hall, Chiredzi
Chiedza Hall, Zvishavane |
06 April 2022 |
Midlands
Mashonaland West |
Gweru Theatre, Gweru
Bosbury Primary School Chegutu |
07 April 2022 |
Mashonaland Central
|
Chipadze Hall Bindura |
08 April 2022 |
Harare |
New Ambassador Hotel Harare |
Team B
DATE |
PROVINCE |
PUBLIC HEARING VENUE |
04 April 2022 |
Matabeleland North |
Freedom Square Binga |
05 April 2022 |
Matebeleland North |
Lwendulu Hall Hwange |
06 April 2022 |
Matabeleland South |
GwandaHotel Gwanda |
07 April 2022 |
Bulawayo |
Selbourne Hotel, Bulawayo Beit Hall, Luveve |
Consultations targeting school children and Junior Parliamentarians
Team A
DATE |
PROVINCE |
PUBLIC HEARING VENUE |
09 May 2022 |
Masvingo |
Victoria High School, Masvingo
Gokomere High School, Masvingo |
10 May 2022 |
Masvingo
|
Gutu High School, Gutu
|
11 May 2022 |
Manicaland
|
St Dominics High School, Mutare
Bemhiwa Primary School, Marange |
12 May 2022 |
Manicaland
|
Gombakomba High School, Vumba |
13 May 2022 |
Harare |
Deaf Zimbabwe Trust Academy, Harare |
Team B
DATE |
PROVINCE |
PUBLIC HEARING VENUE |
09 May 2022 |
Matabeleland South |
Gwanda Government High School, Gwanda
Sabiwa High School, Gwanda |
10 May 2022 |
Matebeleland North |
Fatima High School, Lupane
Mabhiwa High School, Lupane |
11 May 2022 |
Bulawayo |
MbuyazweSecondary School, Bulawayo |
12 May 2022 |
Midlands |
St Daniels Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre, Gweru |
13 May 2022 |
Mashonaland West |
Rimuka High School, Kadoma
|
- SUBMISSIONS ON SPECIFIC CLAUSES OF THE BILL
4.1 Centre for Applied Legal Research highlighted that, from the onset, this Bill seeks to change the minimum age of criminal capacity. However, it was their submission that this position is difficult to find as it only fully emerges in later clauses of the Bill that seeks to amend sections 6 and 7 of the Criminal Law Code.
4.2 As such, a suggestion was made that there be a clear substantive provision towards the beginning of the Bill that sets out this new position on the age of criminal capacity. An insertion of Clause 3A was proposed which provide as follows:
3A Age and Criminal Capacity
For purposes of this Act
- A child below the age of 12 years is irrefutably presumed to lack the criminal capacity to commit a crime and cannot be prosecuted for that offence, but must be dealt with in terms of section 94 (1) of this Act
- A child over 12 years has criminal capacity to commit a crime unless the evidence establishes that the child lacked criminal capacity.
4.3 Clause 5: Sets out principles of child justice. These include, among others,
‘‘…adherence to the rights and obligations of children as contained in international and regional instruments, with particular reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’’, and that a child may not be deprived of their liberty before or after conviction, save where detention is necessary.
4.4. Majority of the general public welcomed this clause with much enthusiasm. It was highlighted that child offenders between the ages of 12 years to16 years are being treated in the same manner as adult offenders, arrested and detained in same prisons as adults.
4.5. Parents and organizations representing rights and interests of children raised concerns over the trauma that a child is likely to face upon getting arrested, brought before the court of law and eventually given a custodial sentence. As such, the general public was in support of the principles of child justice as contained in the Bill.
4.6. In the same vein, Law Society of Zimbabwe submitted that the principle as provided for by Clause 5 (j) must be holistic enough to also include reformation and rehabilitation (not just reintegration) as per article 17 (3) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
4.7. It was further submitted that the use of the phrase “a child may not be deprived of liberty for an offence”, in Clause 5 (m), waters down section 81(1) (i) of the Constitutional provision that says every child has a right “not to be detained except as a measure of last resort”.
4.8. Clauses 8 to 11: touch on the procedure in which police officers, child protection or diversion officer, and the courts may estimate the age of a child whenever there is doubt about the age of a person alleged to have committed an offence.
4.9. According to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, the procedures for age determination set out in the Bill are too broad.
4.10. It was therefore suggested that in coming up with the procedures for age determination, the drafters of the Bill must take guidance from paragraph 34 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment 24 of 2019 (CRC/C/GC/24)[1] which provides for assessment of the child’s physical and psychological development by professionals skilled in evaluating different aspects of development.
4.11. It was also submitted that age estimation should be done by medical professionals like dentists who are well trained in that field, rather than having police officers to do age estimation.
4.12. During public hearings in Matebeleland North Province, different organizations representing children’s rights pointed out that often times many children are being treated unfairly by the police and the courts because they do not have birth certificates.
4.13. As such, a call was made for the law to make it mandatory for parents to ensure that their children have birth certificates. Moreover, it was advocated that, in line with paragraph 33 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment 24 of 2019, whenever it is required to determine age of a child, the State must provide a birth certificate promptly and free of charge.
4.14. Clause 12: stipulates, that a child under the age of 12 years shall not be arrested and lays out the processes for dealing with such, which include handing the child over to his or her parents. The aim of this clause is to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 7 years to 12 years.
4.15. The general public welcomed this provision as a positive initiative by the government. However, the majority pointed out that a 12-year-old child is still too young to be considered mature enough to knowingly commit a crime.
4.16. It was submitted that evidence in the field of child development indicates that maturity and reasoning capacity of children aged 12 to 13 years is still evolving. Therefore, children under the age of 13 are less likely to knowingly participate in criminal activities or let alone understand the impact of their actions.
4.17. During consultations in schools, school children and their junior parliamentarians had conflicting opinions on the criminal age of criminal responsibility.
4.18. Some children where suggesting that the Bill should maintain the definition of a child in the Constitution and set the minimum age of criminal liability at 18, whilst majority children population proposed that children below the age of 16 years must be protected by the law.
4.19. While these children appreciated the increase of the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, it was clear from their submissions that they are acknowledging that children as young as 7 years are also engaging in crimes either intentionally or unintentionally.
4.20. A call was made by children that those below the age of 12, if they find themselves in conflict with the law, efforts should be made to correct and rehabilitate them in juvenile rehabilitation centres that cater for their health, education and mental needs.
4.21. Lawyers advocated for the Bill to take into consideration provisions of Part O of the African Commission’s Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa, which set the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15.
4.22. Clauses 13 - 21: Speak on police powers and duties together with the procedure and manner in which cases of child offenders are to be handled by the police from the time of their arrest to the time they are brought before the child justice court.
4.23. The general public called upon the police to be sensitized on the Bill and laws that provide for children’s rights to ensure that they handle cases of child suspects as prescribed by the law.
4.24. It was suggested that Clause 17 be revised and replaced with a provision that provides that detention of child suspects should not last longer than 24 hours. This is in tandem with the recommendation from the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty published in 2019.
4.25. A high school student from Gokomere High School in Masvingo submitted that government should ensure that the police officers are well trained in handling children’s cases. He referred to the manner in which the police brutally attacked school children who were demonstrating over their welfare on 8 November 2021.
4.26. Clause 33: It was submitted that payment of monetary bail should not be a requirement as it is discriminatory against those who are not able to pay monetary bail. Also, the expectation of either parents, guardians or others to be drawn into an inquiry relating to their ability to pay is not justifiable in principle. The whole requirement to pay monetary bail was said to be defeated by Clause 33 (3) because it appears that there is still a discretion by the courts to release a child without having to pay monetary bail.
4.27. Clause 41: This clause provides for purposes and general principles of diversion. Professor Geoff Feltoe, a Retired Law Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at University of Zimbabwe, submitted that a scheme of pre-trial diversion has been in operation for a number of years. However, this has lacked legislative framework.
4.28. The rights of a child, like any other accused person, must be protected. He submitted that the child must be informed of his or her rights and an acceptance of responsibility must always be made on a free and well-informed basis.
4.29. Consequently, he proposed for the insertion of additional provisions he strongly believes are fundamentally important in ensuring that a child is not unnecessarily pressured into accepting responsibility for a crime when in fact that child is still asserting his or her innocence or rather has a defence to the charge.
4.30. The proposed insertion was therefore captured as follows:
41A Conditions under which diversion applies
- A child will only be admitted to a diversion programme if the following conditions are met –
- The child voluntarily accepts responsibility for the act or omission that forms the basis of the offence that the child is alleged to have committed;
- The child understands his or her right to remain silent and has not been unduly influenced or pressured into acknowledging responsibility;
- The child has been advised of his or her right to be represented by a legal practitioner, if he or she wishes to exercise such right;
- The child and a parent or guardian of the child or an appropriate adult have been informed of the diversion options and the child fully and freely consents to participate therein;
- The Prosecutor-General or designated prosecutor is of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of the offence if the child is not diverted
- Where circumstances as referred to in subsection (1) exist, diversion must be considered by a child protection officer, a diversion committee, the Prosecutor-General or designated prosecutor, as the case may be, or in the circumstances provided for in section 80, a child justice court.
- Diversion must not be used to deal with a child alleged to have committed an offence if the child-
- Denies that he or she committed the offence or was involved in or participated in the commission of the offence; or
- Expresses his or her wish to have any charge against him or her dealt with by the Child Justice Court.
- No admission, confession or statement accepting responsibility for any act or omission made by a child alleged to have committed an offence as a condition of his or her being dealt with by diversion is admissible in evidence against the child in any subsequent criminal or civil proceedings.
4.31 Clause 45: It was suggested that Clause 45 should be deleted. It was submitted that diversion should be available to all the children in conflict with the law. As such, Clause 41 (5) is sufficient without the further qualification of the inclusion of Clause 45.
4.32. Clauses 57 – 60: Provide that a child has the right to legal representation and that where a child cannot afford legal representation, one may be provided for at the State’s expense.
4.33. However, it was proposed that Clause 59 (2) must be removed. Submissions were made that the use of “a child protection officer” as an alternative will create a scenario where the State can avoid accountability when it fails to provide a child in conflict with the law with a legal practitioner.
4.34. It was further submitted that Clause 60 wholly defeats the principle that legal representation must be provided speedily and at the State’s expense. A fair alternative is to have a process that is wholly set out by this Bill not to leave it to the mercy of the Legal Aid Act.
4.35. Moreover, it was recommended that government should capacitate the Legal Aid Directorate to ensure that legal assistance will always be made available for children whenever and wherever required.
4.36. Clause 69: Provides for privacy and confidentiality when dealing with cases of child offenders. Members of the legal profession submitted that provision under Clause 69 (1) must be made without any qualification. To this end, an amendment to Clause 69 (1) was made to read as:
“no person shall publish the name of a child, or any other information related to a child if it would identify the child as a child dealt with under this Act”.
4.37. It was highlighted that exceptions set out unwittingly throw children into a complex litigation process. As such, Clauses 69 (3), 69 (4) and 69 (5) should therefore be deleted.
4.38. Clause 77: It was proposed that if the minimum age of criminal responsibility is not set at 15 as suggested earlier, it is just and fair to consider that no child under the age of 15 should be sentenced to imprisonment.
4.39. It was further highlighted that Clause 77 (5) is contrary to section 81(1) (i) of the Constitution which provides that detention of a child must be “for the shortest appropriate period”. Setting a maximum custodial sentence at 12 years for a child is still excessively long, considering that a child would have been in conflict with the law while in their formative years.
4.40 The maximum sentence that should be imposed on a child should therefore be reduced in line with the Constitutional requirement that the detention of children should be for the shortest appropriate period.
4.41. Clause 79: Participants were against the idea of payment of a fine by parent /guardian, which they said seem to encourage children from rich backgrounds to commit crimes. They suggested that the Bill should consider other methods to deter children from committing crimes. Some participants even suggested the re-introduction of corporal punishment as an effective way of deterring delinquent behaviour among children.
4.42. Clause 94: Provides for amendment of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
4.43. Law Society of Zimbabwe submitted that setting of two ages, although devised as a protective measure, has proved inefficient in practice. Thus, Clause 94 should rather aim to amend sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to read as follows:
“A child below the age of fifteen years shall be deemed to lack criminal capacity and shall not be tried for or convicted of any crime which he or she is alleged to have committed before attaining that age.”
Or alternatively, “No child below the age of 15 shall be arrested or detained on allegations of having committed a crime.”
4.44. Organizations representing the rights of people living with disabilities acknowledged and commended the commitment of the drafters of this Bill towards inclusion of disability provisions in Clauses 2, 5 and 64 of the Bill.
4.45. However, during unpacking of the Bill, one of the legal experts and drafters of the Bill acknowledged with great concern that the Bill is not adequately providing for the rights and interests of children living with disabilities who may come in conflict with the law.
4.46. During consultations, it was submitted that it is equally important to remember that children with disabilities are also capable of committing crimes. In that regard, it is crucial to ensure that when they do come before law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, reasonable accommodations are put in place to safeguard their rights to be treated equally before the law.
4.47. A call was made that in every provision that requires a child to be provided with information, that said information or communication must be in accessible format, that is, sign language interpretation must also be provided for the benefit of children with hearing impairments and Braille for the visually impaired.
4.48. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust suggested some amendments to the Bill to ensure that children who require reasonable accommodation are adequately catered for to reduce any chances of undue prejudice.
4.49. It was proposed that in provisions of Clauses 16, 20, 22, 26, 35 and 39 there be insertion of sign language interpreter or that a stand-alone section that provides for the presence of a sign language interpreter could be adopted.
4.50. A potential conflict of interest in Clause 64 (8) was also brought out during the consultations by presenters representing deaf children.
4.51. It was highlighted that some parents or guardians of children with hearing impairments may not been truthful and are biased when called upon to be intermediaries. In some cases, they are abusive towards the child, instrumental in the commission of crimes and they further abuse their role as intermediaries and use it to conceal crucial information that the child might wish to convey.
4.52. With this in mind, it was proposed that the Bill should provide for the use of a Relay System where a deaf intermediary as well as a court sign language interpreter are both employed at police stations and courts in support of the Victim Friendly Unit.
- GENERAL SUBMISSIONS
5.1. The general public submitted that the Bill should put specific time limits in relation to conclusion of trials for children. It was proposed that all trials should be concluded within one month.
5.2. The public was in support with the principles of child justice as they promote rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, instead of punishing them. However, concerns were also raised over lack of adequate juvenile correctional and rehabilitation facilities in Zimbabwe.
5.3. It was highlighted that the country only has one juvenile correctional facility, Whawha Young Offenders prison. Concerns were also raised over how government is going to fully capacitate all the structures being introduced by the Bill since the already existing structures are currently underfunded.
5.4. It was therefore, recommended that government should ensure that this piece of legislation be adequately supported by infrastructural development of rehabilitation centres for its implementation to be a success.
5.5. It was also submitted that the Bill should also cater for children born and living in prisons by virtue of their mothers saving prison sentences.
5.6. Organizations representing interests of children and youths recommended that, in line with Clause 22, support groups should be created and healthcare givers within correctional services should be well trained in youth friendly services. Moreover, there is need for viral load monitoring for children detained and on Anti-Retroviral Treatment.
5.7. It was further submitted that children in correctional facilities and detention centres should have access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education so that they acquire accurate information about sexuality, sexual and reproductive health and human rights.
- COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
6.1. Despite the Bill setting the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 12, concerns were being raised that 12 years is still low. Calls were being made to increase the age of criminal responsibility to meet international and regional standards.
6.2. Concerns were raised over Clause 17 which sets the maximum time limit for children to remain in police custody at 48 hours.
6.3. The public was advocating for a provision that clearly prohibits the media from covering and publishing cases of children.
6.4. It was noted that different organizations were advocating for inclusion of members of Civic Society Organizations in Child Justice Committees at all levels.
6.5. There was generally low turnout at the public hearings with Mutare recording three attendees.
6.6. Concerns were raised over the maximum custodial sentence set at 12 years. This was said to be too harsh for children.
6.7. The Committee also noted that the Bill is not addressing third degree crimes like treason, rape and murder.
6.8. The Committee also took note of the concerns that the public made in terms of the financial resources that Government needs to inject in order to implement fully the Child Justice System.
- COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee therefore recommends the following: that
- The minimum age of criminal responsibility be set at 12 years as proposed in the Bill.
- The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act be amended so that it is in line with the Child Justice Act on the age of criminal responsibility.
- Government should ensure construction of more correctional and rehabilitation centres for juvenile offenders with health and education facilities in place.
- Members of the Civic Society Organizations and other interested stakeholders in child rights and child welfare be included in Child Justice Committees at all levels.
- The Bill should have a provision that covers serious crimes like rape, murder and treason.
- The maximum custodial sentence for juvenile offender be increased to 18 years especially for more serious crimes like murder, rape and treason.
- Members of Parliament to take part mobilizing participants in their respective constituencies to attend and participant in public hearings.
- Government should capacitate the structures being created by this Child Justice Bill to ensure effective operation on the child justice system.
- There be insertion of Clause 3A to read as follows:
3A Age and Criminal Capacity
For purposes of this Act
(a) A child below the age of 12 years is irrefutably presumed to lack the criminal capacity to commit a crime and cannot be prosecuted for that offence, but must be dealt with in terms of section 94 (1) of this Act.
(b) A child over 12 years has criminal capacity to commit a crime unless the evidence establishes that the child lacked criminal capacity.
(c) There be an additional insertion of Clause 41A which provides for process of diversion as follows:
41A Conditions under which diversion applies
(1) A child will only be admitted to a diversion programme if the following conditions are met –
(a) The child voluntarily accepts responsibility for the act or omission that forms the basis of the offence that the child is alleged to have committed;
(b) The child understands his or her right to remain silent and has not been unduly influenced or pressured into acknowledging responsibility;
(c) The child has been advised of his or her right to be represented by a legal practitioner, if he or she wishes to exercise such right;
(d) The child and a parent or guardian of the child or an appropriate adult has been informed of the diversion options and the child fully and freely consents to participate therein;
(e) The Prosecutor-General or designated prosecutor is of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of the offence if the child is not diverted
(2) Where circumstances as referred to in subsection (1) exist, diversion must be considered by a child protection officer, a diversion committee, the Prosecutor-General or designated prosecutor, as the case may be, or in the circumstances provided for in section 80, a Child Justice Court.
(3) Diversion must not be used to deal with a child alleged to have committed an offence if the child-
(a) Denies that he or she committed the offence or was involved in or participated in the commission of the offence; or
(b) Expresses his or her wish to have any charge against him or her dealt with by the Child Justice Court.
(4) No admission, confession or statement accepting responsibility for any act or omission made by a child alleged to have committed an offence as a condition of his or her being dealt with by diversion is admissible in evidence against the child in any subsequent criminal or civil proceedings.
- CONCLUSION
This Bill is a long-standing legal project that marks significant progress in the treatment of children in conflict with the law in our jurisdiction. However, the Bill needs to fully meet international law stipulations and standards in child justice as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. In addition, there is need to raise community level awareness in order to prevent children from falling into a life of crime, as well as to protect children from exploitation and abuse. It is therefore imperative to combine institutional and community approaches to improve the administration of child justice in Zimbabwe. I thank you.
+HON. L. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Firstly, I want to thank Hon. Mataranyika for the report on Child Justice Bill. We went around the country as a Committee and we found that people were not aware that we were coming for public hearings on the Child Justice Bill. A child with 7 years should not be taken to prison. Firstly, we found out that they were parents instead of children. Later on, we went and found out that there were children attending these hearings and they said they were not aware when they committed some of these crimes. They agreed that when someone is 12 years, it is not an age of maturity where he/she can decide to commit a crime.
Most of our submissions said that there should be Child Friendly Courts where these children are taken to without elders in those courts. The other people submitted that once these children who are offenders are found to have committed an offence, they should not be taken to our prison but they should be taken to solitary places where they are going to get education so that when they come out of the prison, they can continue with life.
The other thing that we have found is that the 12-year old children now learn a lot from technology. Technology shows them a lot of things in their phones to an extent that they can commit rape knowing that this is a crime. Therefore, such a child should go into prison but a child who is below 12 years, he/she should not be taken to prison. There should be an arrangement between the two families, the family of an offender and that of a victim where they can settle the matter.
Some submitted that these children should be taken for disciplinary hearing. What we encourage is that if this Bill can sail through, these children should be educated and so they should find a conducive place where they are taken to while they are serving their sentences. The other issue is that if this Bill is to pass through, Government should look at how other countries are treating children. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to speak to the Child Justice Bill. Allow me to firstly thank Hon. Mataranyika for presenting a report on this very important Bill and also the seconder. When it comes to the issue of children, I want to thank the coming forth of this Bill because we really were not comfortable as what was going on was contravening what the Constitution says. According to Section 81 of the Constitution, children, both boys and girls, under the age of 18 - nothing like that was happening and so the coming in of this law is something that we need to welcome with both hands particularly when it says when should a child be detained and when should a child not be detained and for what crime should a child be detained. That is very important Mr. Speaker Sir.
In international law, Zimbabwe is a party to two international instruments. The first one is the United Nations Convention on the rights of children where in Article 14, it states that those children who infringe the criminal law must be accorded the same basic rights to which all accused persons are entitled to in terms of Section 70 of the Constitution. The second one is the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the children particularly Article 17, which gives a few indications in particular that the verdicts of children must be determined as speedily as possible.
The public and the Press must be excluded from their trials. This goes on to support what the mover and seconder of the motion have been saying to say let us shield our children from the public and the Press. Those are some of the things I do appreciate that this Bill is trying to bring in. The Bill is proposing that children who are below the age of 12 are incapable of committing crimes on their own. I agree with that even though in South Africa, according to the South African Child Justice Act of 2008, the criminal capacity of children is stated at 10 years rather than 12 years.
I think Zimbabwe is peculiar because I think we do not have the kind of crimes that we see in our neighbour South Africa. So indeed, I support that children under the age of 12 should be considered to be legally incapable of committing crimes. We have seen demonstrations that will be going on, children below the age of 12 and 10 who may not be able to make sins on their own are found to be in police cells in prison. I think with this law, it is going to make all that an abomination and so I support it.
I also support what they say that a child between 12 years and 14 years will be presumed incapable unless something contrary is proving to show that and I also support it. I also support that children between the ages of 14 and 18 years must also go through this process. However Mr. Speaker Sir, when I go to the assessment of age, that is where I think I have got a problem. It looks like the processes are too complex. For instance, the children have to go to child protection officers who assess their age; they go to what are called diversion committees, prosecutors and then magistrates. All that process, for it to happen and for the child to be brought to court, it differs from the spirit of this Bill which says that they want to make sure that the issue is related to child justice. They are solved as fast as possible Mr. Speaker Sir. So I believe that this procedure must be relaxed and simplified so that it does not take too long to bring to court the children who may warrant going into the court system.
I also applaud the fact that it will not be necessary to use force to arrest children. Sometimes we use force to arrest them but I do not think that is really necessary Mr. Speaker Sir. So I trust that this Bill will indeed do what we want our children to have, that is, to be detained as a last resort. It also gives room for children to go to certain facilities which are not for adults. That is the kind of system that we appreciate. I did admire this Bill.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to conclude by saying that the sentences that are going to be imposed on children, I believe they should not be extra stiff. They should be in such a way that whilst there should be restorative justice, there is also humanity and symbolic restitution and there is also a correction before the child gets completely off. Sometimes what they will be doing is due to forces that would have pushed them to do that. Though there may be a few problems that I may have noted in this Bill, the general spirit of the Bill is well-noted. I believe during the Committee Stage, we will be able to panel-beat one or two issues, but this is a Bill that I also support. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me begin by thanking Hon. Mataranyika for the report and also for the work that they did as a Committee in actually going out for public hearings and getting information and comments so that this Bill will be a proper Bill that addresses a problem or the facts from the communities – [AN HON. MEMBER: The Hon. Member is not connected Mr. Speaker Sir.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Yes, please connect.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker, my apologies. Let me begin by thanking the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Mataranyika and his Committee, for actually conducting public hearings on this very important Bill which takes into consideration the views of the communities and the affected people. I hope and trust that even the children themselves had something to do because of the NDS1 of leaving no one behind and with the thrust of the children themselves to say “nothing for us without us” so nothing for children without them. I hope that we will be having the children’s wishes and views.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I see this Bill to be very positive which addresses certain aspects and also some kind of alignment in terms of laws that deal with issues to do with children. So I want to appreciate that it has come at a better time. There is no better time that this Bill could have come to Parliament. I am glad and celebrating that I am one of those MPs who have been privileged to be in this Ninth Parliament when this Bill has been tabled.
Mr. Speaker Sir, justice pertains to everyone. If you look at the Constitution and international treaties, there are issues that are dealt with within the framework of those instruments. In our own Constitution, several sections, for example 16, 19 and 81 deal with rights of children. If you look at our set-up in terms of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, we have several ministries and arms of Government that deal with issues pertaining to children. Here we are talking about the justice delivery system in terms of dealing with children. I say this is progressive because it separates those that are old enough to be dealt with separately. Sometimes we attack them when having done something.
Hon. Speaker, a lot has been said by both the Chair of the Committee and those who have spoken before me. What I want to dwell on is, there has to be protection even during the process of taking the children to court.
On the issue of violence and intimidations, I hope and trust that there will be enough training for officers that would be dealing with the children. I am saying so because we may have a very good law, positive as it is but if it is not implemented in the right way, it may not address the reason why that law is being proposed. I want to thank the Minister of Justice for bringing this particular Bill to Parliament.
There has to be in the Bill some kind of developmental proposals or clauses. When the child has been in conflict with the law, what other alternatives do we have as a Government, Parliament or as a Committee? This is to ensure that the child is not left in the state he or she was before. This includes rehabilitation. We now have the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. The correctional component, I term it developmental because in the case of children, they have to be developed so that they do not turn to be what they were before they were brought before the justice system. That has to be part of the Bill. Without anything new that you can teach the children that can make the children rehabilitated, we would not have done anything.
The child caucus is critical in this component. There has to be a network and connection in terms of all the arms of Government. Everyone in the country needs to speak with one voice when it comes to this particular Bill. There is need for interpretation so that people understand it. There is need for awareness in terms of the children themselves; the parents of children in such conflicts need to know that there is such a law that protects children from harmful practices that might be carried on the child in conflict with the law. There should be separation in terms of what was in the past and the new era. There has to be awareness of the law and I propose that it should be part of the curricula in the schools so that they get to understand that there is such a law and also in the communities. So, there is a lot of work that needs to be carried out.
My final point is on the training aspect. When this Bill has become law, there is need to train everybody so that everyone understands that there are rights of children. They are not supposed to be treated like the ones in other courts, but there is a law that protects children from several other cruelties that dwell around children who are part of the justice system in terms of protection. I stood to support that this is a positive Bill and I hope and trust that at the implementation stage, we should be having the various arms of Government lined up to actually implement so that the effectiveness of this law turns out to be the intention of the Minister when he tabled this particular Bill. It should also show the intention of the Chairperson, when he actually tabled the report and the responses of the communities when they did the public hearings. I thank you.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 12th July, 2022.
On the motion of HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Eight Minutes past Five O’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 12th July, 2022,
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITION RECEIVED FROM WATER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on the 1st of June, 2022, Parliament received a petition from the Water Community Alliance requesting Parliament to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Pomona Concession Agreement and make recommendations on whether the agreement is in the best interest of the citizens and the local authorities development agenda. The petition was deemed inadmissible and the petitioners were advised accordingly. There are two reasons – one is that we do not establish commissions here in terms of the Commissions Act and secondly the matter is before the courts. The petition was deemed inadmissible and the petitioners were advised accordingly.
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: The visitors in the Speaker’s Gallery, may you confirm that you are from the University of Zimbabwe (Visitors nodded) – in case you become Members of Parliament in the future, when you are asked such a question in the future, you stand up my dear students.
I have to inform the House that there are students from the University of Zimbabwe, the Political Science Department, in the Speaker’s Gallery. You are free to move forward so that you can see the proceedings properly. Come and sit in front there (Visitors moved to the front row.) Welcome to the National Assembly of your Parliament -[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have the following apologies from members of the Executive: the Hon. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. M. Ncube, Minister of Finance and Economic Development; Hon. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. S.G.G. Nyoni, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Hon. Kanhutu-Nzenza, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Hon. M.M. Ndlovu, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. T. MOYO: Good afternoon Hon. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. May I know Government policy regarding the promotion and development of indigenous African languages in our universities and teachers’ colleges?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Moyo, you were at the national conference on the question of the nationally recognised languages and you discussed policy there.
HON. T. MOYO: I thought it could be beneficial to all Members of Parliament.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you approach the Chair?
(Hon. T. Moyo approached the Chair)
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. T. Moyo would like to rephrase his question.
HON. T. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. May I know the Government policy regarding the training of teachers who would specialise on the teaching of indigenous languages in our schools? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. I wish to thank Hon. T. Moyo for the question on what the policy is on the training of teachers in the teaching of our nationally recognised languages or our national languages. As per the Constitution, we are bound by the Constitution to promote the use of our national languages and their use in all facets of life, including in the humanities as well as in the techno scientific areas. To this end, starting 2019, we gave a policy directive to all our teachers’ colleges that when a student is enrolled at a teachers’ college, before they graduate, they must be able to be competent in at least three national languages which are not their own mother tongue. Through this policy we will be able to have teachers that are able to function in several corners of this country in delivering the education.
Mr. Speaker, our policy is very clear – total promotion of these languages. We have also made sure that there are certain teachers’ at colleges such as Morgenster Teachers’ College, United College of Education, Mutare Teachers’ College where special devices or teaching in special devices for sign language and also for people with hearing impairment where the specialisation is being done. On top of all this, our policy has also been to set up an institute that is able therefore to translate materials into our national languages, thereby making sure that this policy can be made effective.
We set up the Midlands State University National Language Institute whose job is to make sure that they have a lot of material in our own local languages. To this end Mr. Speaker, we have been able to translate the whole Constitution of Zimbabwe in all our national languages. We have worked on making sure that all the materials that were meant for COVID education in 2020 were translated into all our national languages. We also made sure that the NDS1 was translated into all our national languages.
The MSU National Language Institute started as a concept but now it even has a physical building that we completed and commissioned last year. It has a full complement of staff in all specialties of our national languages. Currently, we are in the process of even translating the Highway Code and all driving materials into our national languages. By doing so, we believe that this will feed into the literature in our teachers’ colleges so that they are able to function with the available materials to teach our students and be able to function in our national languages. Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question borders on incorporating the same indigenous language policy into higher institutions of learning in so far as it relates to - first and foremost teaching the 16 indigenous languages ahead of foreign languages in terms of the modules that are currently being taught. Would it please the Minister to first and foremost advance the ethos, values and teaching of the indigenous languages in the institutions of higher learning as models in a subject called language ahead of foreign languages Mr. Speaker Sir?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. There are 14 indigenous languages that have been recognised – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.] – Hon. Biti, can you check the Constitution? There are 14. I am not talking about the non-official languages.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. I wish to thank Hon. Nduna for his supplementary question on the issue of higher education outside of teachers’ colleges. The Midlands State University National Language Institute is at an institution of higher learning, which is a university. However, his question is very pertinent in that we have to be able to understand even the technical and scientific in our own indigenous languages. It means that we have to take time to lay those foundations. By laying those foundations, right now we have instructed, directed the MSU National Language Institute to start working on techno scientific material so that they are able to translate even a physics book, mathematics book, chemistry book into national languages. It is important to know that physical laws do not change because you have spoken in Japanese, they do not change because you have spoken in isiNdebele or Russian. Physical laws are physical laws. Based on this logic, we therefore are embarking on an extensive programme that will go beyond ourselves as biological human beings to make sure that we have started a journey which could take tens of years, twenties, hundreds of years to achieve - but we believe that we will be able to do so.
One of the issues that Hon. Nduna asked is ahead of other foreign languages. It is very important that for our people to function in the global village, it is important to know more even in the foreign language. It is not a problem for people to be able to know Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese and many other languages in addition to our own languages. We will be able to encourage both our own national languages as languages of instruction in all techno scientific areas but at the same time, we want also to be able to learn other languages. So the policy is, we want to learn our languages but the neglected languages were our national languages.
So, this is what we are working on but we believe that it is a journey and we will not be able to accomplish it, maybe in my own physical life or the physical life of many Hon. Members here but we have started on a journey that restores people’s dignity by making sure that they are able to communicate in any language in their technical, scientific, medical as well as their social life. I wish to thank Hon. Nduna for asking this supplementary question and I hope I have answered that question. Our policy is, we shall be able to even use and promote indigenous languages in our universities. I thank you.
(v)HON. DR. LABODE: Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to follow up on something. The Minister said that there is a policy that an educationist or teacher that is being trained now in Zimbabwe will be able to be proficient at least in three languages. I want to know when this policy started because the problem of children in Matebeleland being taught by Shona teaching teachers still persists. Is the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education following up on what is happening or the deployment that is being done or just monitoring what is really happening on the ground or any plans to retrain those teachers that are on the ground?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon. Labode for raising the question on monitoring and policy of monitoring and also wanting to know when we started this policy. At the beginning of the Second Republic, our main issue in higher education which is the foundation of the other educations as we train teachers was basically to restore dignity of the people of Zimbabwe by adopting what we call Heritage Based Education 5.0. By heritage based, we also mean that we restore people’s dignity in terms of the languages that they use.
We started this policy and its feasibility but physical implementation started in February 2019, and in particular, she has spoken about particular parts of our country and that there are people who are speaking in another language in a particular part. It happens everywhere in the country. There are also people from that particular part of the country who are teaching elsewhere. It is a national issue that we are tackling through the systematic approach to solving our problems and we know that we want our people to be proficient in all national languages so that it does not matter where you were born. If you were born in Binga, you could be teaching in Beitbridge or if you were born in Beitbridge you could be teaching in Dande without any problems.
So, origin should never be an issue here but the proficiency of speaking the language so that we can communicate with our fathers and mothers, so that we are able to restore their dignity by speaking in the language that they do is our aim. Our aim is not a mosaic of who stays where. Language is about the language of making sure that our policy speaks to the restoration of the dignity of the people of this country. The issue basically now is, we are monitoring and we are doing it. One of the colleges which started specialising in this is Joshua Nqabuko Nkomo which is also a teachers’ college and what we have also done because we were running behind with Nambya; we have started the Hwange Teachers’ College where Nambya is being taught.
We are also starting many colleges like in Binga and Plumtree. So, we are on the move. We cannot claim that we can do these things in two months. We cannot plant the seed and eat the fruit the next day but we believe we are on a path to the restoration of the dignity of the people of Zimbabwe as a whole through education. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, I am sure you will allow me as a former teacher. You do not have to be Shona speaking to teach Shona. You can be Shona speaking but be capable of teaching Ndebele, Venda and so on. I thought that thrust should be emphasised rather than the linguistic selection of the people.
HON. MUTAMBISI: My supplementary question is, when can we expect dictionaries for all officially recognised indigenous languages?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon. Mutambisi for that very important question. We have already started producing these dictionaries at the African Languages Institute of the University of Zimbabwe. We already have these dictionaries which are in the making but we are very busy at this moment, which means there is already a product. It might not be complete for the 14 languages but for the MSU National Language Institute, it was a clear intention and a bold statement and an action to make sure that we have a mechanism that we use to actually produce books and dictionaries on our national languages.
In addition to that, we actually bought a printing press for the Midlands State University which is in town where we make sure that we can do the material and print those materials to make sure that our aims are not hindered by lack of any other resource in that direction. Hon. Speaker, we have started producing those dictionaries and we will continue but as I said, it is important to know that we are on a journey to the restoration of the dignity of African people as a whole through education by making sure that whatever we do, we are trying to make sure that we have solid footing towards the direction of the attainment of dignity.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Dr. Nyoni, are you there – [HON. DR. NYONI: Yes.] – Excellent, we had marked you for an apology, so for the purpose of our records we need to change that the Hon. Minister finally arrived on time.
HON. T. MLISWA: I want to thank the Minister for the way he has elaborated the vision of the languages being translated, which is a very important issue for the country. What I just wanted to ascertain from the Minister is that the translation is done by the academia but it is the printing in terms of the hard copies which are yet to be with us. Is it a question of another department providing the money because translation is excellent done by the academia? What about the printing so that there are hard copies and if possible, can we as Hon. Members of Parliament be favoured with hard copies of those translated constitution material.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I wish to thank Hon. Mliswa for his supplementary question. I am happy to say that where we set up the national languages institute at MSU, we actually have a printing press. We are printing books which are available but as for the Constitution for example, we are very privileged and humbled that this project was sponsored through the Parliament of Zimbabwe. For the materials that are there for the Constitution, I think the Ministry of Justice and even in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, I am not too sure about the availability of number of copies but Hon. Speaker, I am sure your Hon. Office knows exactly how many copies were produced and what is available.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we have a capability to produce those hard copies. We will increase our capability to increase those hard copies. For the COVID materials, we actually printed them ourselves at the Midlands State University Printing Press. Hon. Speaker, I am sure that the materials can be made available whenever they are then demanded but the process of making them has to happen. Thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir, my question goes to the Minister of Industry and Trade. We have wholesales like National Foods, Gains and others, we have noted that these companies are receiving money from the RBZ so that they assist people but I have noted that they are not taking RTGs and local currency but they only want US dollars. What steps are you going to take so that such companies can assist retailers and Zimbabweans? We have noted that people have to go to the black market to procure US dollars so that they go and buy from these wholesalers. Thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is the Minister here, I cannot see her. Leader of Government Business - [THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: The Deputy Minister of Finance is here.] – Hon. Leader of Government Business, you address yourself to the Chair and advise accordingly – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order, do not disturb the process, I am consulting the Leader of Government Business. I now recognise the Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir, for such a pertinent question which was asked by Hon. Nyabani. Indeed, it is very true that we are receiving reports regarding wholesalers and such business entities which come to the auction. They get money to buy their goods. Such business entities, upon receiving money from the RBZ, then sell their goods in US dollars and not taking local currency. Working together with the Financial Intelligence Unit, our Ministry has been seized with the issue. I will give a report of what we have done so far. For those who violated the auction protocols, who get money from the auction and sell their products in US dollars, for those who abused the system we have managed to penalise 163 and those who are under investigations by the FIU, we have 284 business entities that are being investigated.
I would like to inform the House that we also do an environmental scanning. As of Friday last week, we investigated big shops, pharmacies and some retailers. Out of the 28, those who were comply ing with the exchange rate were only 11, which means that we have a lot of violations. The FIU on its own does not have the capacity to cover Zimbabwe as a whole. At the moment, we want to work with the National Economic Inspectorate and different law enforcement agents so that we cover the whole country.
In the past, we were getting reports that the auction rate is not doing the price recovery as it is but now that there is the willing buyer, and willing seller basis, there is no reason for us to go around taking note of what is happening in the market. What is left is that we start enforcing laws through the different arms. We are penalising offenders and the law is very clear that anyone who gets money from the auction should charge in local currency. If they want to use the USD, they need to use the auction exchange rate. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In the past we had the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe which was responsible for confirming that retailers were adhering to the laws. The question is – is this still happening that consumers are being protected? So we need a Ministerial Statement from the Ministry so that we know whether consumers are protected. Thank you.
*HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Government policy is there. The Consumer Protection Act, Chapter 14 is there to protect the consumer and stipulates that consumers should be protected by the law. The monitoring which is done by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe can be done but CCZ does not have arresting powers. They work with the responsible authorities through the Financial Intelligence Unit and the different intelligence and security agencies but we work together with CCZ. I thank you.
HON. BITI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the esteemed Hon. Minister is that the auction is still a source of arbitrage. The black market rate is now between ZWD650 and ZW$D700 but the auction is around ZWD350. Why not just remove the auction so that we do not have arbitrage and the ZWD will find its own resting place without the arbitrage of the auction. Secondly Mr. Speaker Sir...
THE HON. SPEAKER: You cannot ask two questions.
HON. BITI: It is just buttressing Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, you asked a very good supplementary question.
HON. BITI: Okay, thank you Sir. God Bless you.
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. The submission by the Hon. Member is valid that whenever we come up with policies, we need to ensure that we minimise arbitrage opportunities. Now that we have got the auction rates and willing buyer willing seller, the medium to long term trajectory is when there is conversions in the rates, we should reach a stage where we are going to use one rate. What is critical is that the dollar should be in a position to discover its own position and this is what is going to be obtaining in the market. I agree with the Hon. Member that we need to reach that stage where we should use a single rate, not the existence of the auction rate and the willing buyer willing seller. This is where we are going and that is the policy trajectory. Thank you.
(v)*HON. KASHIRI: On a point of order Hon. Speaker Sir. May the Hon. Minister explain in vernacular so that listeners who are listening to the proceedings can understand?
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, Zimbabweans are educated and they understand. I thank you.
*HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The question which was asked by Hon. Nyabani regards to basic commodities like cooking oil, flour, et cetera. The response by the Hon. Minister was that when the Financial Intelligence Unit uncovers such activities, it fines business entities. My suggestion is, why not blacklist such business entities from the auction? You would find that the ZFC was given money from the auction but they are not accepting local currency. It is important that such companies be published and blacklisted. This is the responsibility of the RBZ. The fining of offenders is not stringent enough. The RBZ is now responsible for regulating, investigating, charging fines; so there is no separation of powers and there is no transparency. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I think the import of the question is stiffer penalties. Can you answer Hon. Minister?
*HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would also want to thank Hon. Mudarikwa. In what the Hon. Member said, all the companies which are found to be violating the auction system are being blacklisted. There are no sacred cows on violation of regulations, especially those who receive foreign currency and misuse it. That is why you would notice that for those who were buying gas, the whole sector was blacklisted because of malpractice. We use civil and administrative charges, which means that we do not go to the courts. When we introduced S.I 127, which was incorporated into the Finance Act, we only apply administrative and civil charges and this is what we are doing. Those who are found to be violating the law are being fined and blacklisted. Thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My supplementary question is following up on the issue of fines. Fines do not work with people who have got a lot of money because they just pay. Jail sentences should be considered. However, what I cannot understand Hon. Minister is, we had a recent case where 100 computers were stolen and names were publicised, there was judgement and jail sentence yet with these guys who are stealing money from this country, they are not named. We do not know who they are? The Ministry intends to blacklist them. Why are they not publicised? Finally, if this continues, it will get bigger because I just pay and I go back. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is very clear that if I get caught today, tomorrow I will go back to the auction floor because I have got more than one bank account. If the Hon. Minister is serious, publish the names. Thank you.
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker…
Hon. Ziyambi having passed between the Hon. Member speaking and the Chair.
HON. ZWIZWAI: Hon. Speaker, Hon. Ziyambi has passed through your way – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. In terms of our Standing Orders, there is no offence if any of the Ministers or any of the Members pass through here and bow, there is no offence.
HON. BITI: He was on his feet.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are allowed to go out when the Hon. Member is speaking. There is no between here. No! Go back to your Standing Orders.
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker and thank you Hon. Markham for the supplementary question. In our previous submissions, we have said we have taken the route of moral suasion and we have reached that stage where we have seen that moral suasion is not working. We have also said according to the Finance Act, we are instituting civil and administrative charges. Again, what we have seen is people are willing to pay.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, do not harp on what you said before. The question is, publish, blacklist and send to prison. That is the question.
HON. CHIDUWA: There is need for us to say, instead of just relying on civil and administrative charges, we make these violations criminal. So, the criminality now will then allow us to send to jail where the prosecution has been done. The issue of naming and shaming, this is an issue that I am also going to consult further but I do not think it is something which is difficult because we have got the list already. It is an issue that I can bring back to say if there is no illegality there, then we are going to publish. Otherwise, we have got all the names.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. The Minister can furnish this House with a list of those who have benefited and those who have violated. It is our role of oversight to know that and for the public to know. When can he bring that list into this House? In fact, it is outstanding. If you recall some time, they were supposed to bring the list of all who have benefited. Now we want a list of those who have violated so that we name and shame them, so that the Reserve Bank is not implicated in working with them.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, there is a request to bring the list to the House. The question on the law - this is the place where the law is made. So why do you not bring in your proposed legislation so that the august House can look at the law and then you become more effective in curtailing arbitrage? Thank you.
HON. GONESE: On a point of order Hon. Speaker. I request that the Hon. Minister come up with a…
Hon. S. Sithole having stood up while Hon. Gonese still held the floor
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Sithole, there is a Member standing, so you cannot stand as well.
HON. GONESE: My point of order is for the Hon. Minister to come with a Ministerial Statement because this issue of the exchange rate has impact on prices, inflation and on the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe. So it is very critical and crucial. Therefore, I am requesting that instead of just bringing in the list, I propose that the Hon. Minister comes up with a comprehensive statement, dealing with, among other issues, the reason why this disparity between the auction and the parallel market rate is widening. The gap is actually widening instead of narrowing and these are the issues which we want to interrogate on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, you got the request. Perhaps you can also indicate the way forward in order to arrest the situation.
HON. S. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Hon. Minister, around the country, there are some provinces with high courts and others who do not have high courts. People from such places have to go to the high court following remands, waiting for high court judgments. When can we see the setting up of some high courts in all the provinces?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE,LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. That is work in progress. We want to ensure that access to justice is realised across the country. We opened a High Court in 2018, in Manicaland. In Masvingo, we already had one. We are building another one in Matabeleland South in Gwanda. Recently, we opened another one in Chinhoyi for Mashonaland West. So, the target is to have a High Court in each province and we are working towards realising that. I thank you.
HON. MOKONE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Childcare. Minister, on Monday we saw the nurses and doctors downing tools, which means that no one can access healthcare right now in Government hospitals. The situation is very bad, especially for the expectant mother because there is no one who is there to assist the woman when she is due to give birth.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this is in contravention of Section 76 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and it is also against the Sustainable Development Goals that were outlined by the United Nations. My question is, what immediate measures does the Minister have to address the situation obtaining in the Government hospitals right now? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Government is in negotiations for salary increase and an offer was tabled to the APEX Council. Negotiations are continuing and the health workers were contacted and the Ministry advised them that this process is still ongoing and they must wait until the conclusion of that process while they are at work. It is not very correct that the majority of them were on strike, it is only a few who were on strike yesterday or the day before and they have been advised that negotiations for a salary increase are ongoing and they must go back to their stations. I thank you.
HON. MOKONE: Thank you once again, the Minister highlighted that there are negotiations that are going on. I would like to find out from the Minister, it looks like for the past years there have been negotiations for salaries in Zimbabwe. What is the stumbling block to you achieving a lasting solution as regards to the workers in Zimbabwe?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Mr. Speaker, where there is organised labour and employers, negotiations for salaries will be there and you cannot say that you come up with a lasting solution when salaries and the conditions that industry operate in is determined by several factors that will necessitate once in a while for negotiations to take place.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Be that as it may, as the Hon. Minister has indicated because of the inflation and the salaries that all civil servants are earning at the moment without mentioning nurses, they should be ensuring that they are sensitive to the plight of the people because people are dying. Wages can be negotiated if conditions are normal, not the state that we are in at the moment. We cannot continue in this country without nurses and doctors that are at work. People are dying and we are also in a drought situation.
May the Hon. Minister come up with a timeline as to when the negotiations can be done so that the process can be quickened?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Hon. Speaker – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Zwizwai, may you withdraw your statement?
HON. ZWIZWAI: Yes Mr. Speaker Sir, I withdraw the statement that I had stated and queried where the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Chiwenga and his wife are when the country is on fire. I withdraw, Sir.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. If two or more people are having a negotiation, the aim is that they should quickly have a conclusion but the purpose is to achieve consensus. We have Government workers and the Government who are trying to come together so that they come up with something that is good for each of the sides. So our main aim with negotiations is to conclude as soon as possible.
However, we have made an offer in line with the finances that we have, so we await for them to come back to us to say if their constituents is happy with the proposal that we have tabled. I thank you
HON. MAPHOSA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir. My supplementary Hon. Speaker is that we once suggested in this House for salaries to be pegged at a marked USD component so that whenever, whether the inflation is going up or down we know that we are giving at interbank rate on a certain amount rather than that today we give 100% of nothing to salaries then tomorrow again they are striking because that 100% is not buying.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker, our currency is the Zimbabwe dollar and when revenue is getting into our consolidated account, we do not ask whether they used which currency they used when they were selling the official exchange. We are working towards removing whatever factors that are influencing the decline of our currency. However, we cannot and we will not determine salaries on the basis of the USD. We will work around improving our economy and strengthening our currency but will never go to a scenario where we peg salaries using the USD. I thank you.
HON. MATEWU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister for Local Government and Public Works. In view of devolution and decentralization, there are three levels of Government as in the Constitution; the national, provincial and local authority. I want to reference to Section 274 (1 of our Constitution which states that these manage their own affairs. I want to ask the Minister why there is interference from Central Government shoving down the throats of local authorities, for example yesterday to purchase fire tenders on their behalf. What kind of law is the Minister using to do this illegality? I thank you. – [HON. ZWIZWAI: She is there! She is there!] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Sorry, sorry, sorry. Hon. Zwizwai, you advise the Chair politely. – [HON. ZWIZWAI: I am sorry Sir!] –
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am and Hon. Matewu for that very pertinent question. You started very well that we have three tiers of Government which is the central, provincial and the local authority, and they work in unison. I do not see anywhere where the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has interfered in the affairs of local authorities. – [HON. T. MLISWA: You sit on councils!] – We do not interfere. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Mliswa!
HON. MATEWU: Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Hon. Minister did not answer my question, she just skirted around. However, my supplementary question is that the local authorities have to follow the Procurement Act. Why is the Procurement Act not being followed in ordering all local authorities to take their devolution funds and pay Belarus without any procurement? Why was this allowed to happen?
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Matewu, you are not connected.
HON. MATEWU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am, I will repeat my question. My supplementary to the Hon. Minister is that the Procurement Act is very clear on how one buys any tender. Why is the Hon. Minister flounting the Procurement Act in ordering every single authority to buy fire tenders from Belarus which they did not even ask for? They are taking this money from devolution funds that must be spent in devolved provinces which make their own decisions and own affairs? I thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Ma’am and thank you very much Hon. Matewu for the follow-up question. We follow PRAZ regulations, and there is nowhere my Ministry has by-passed those processes. – [HON. MEMBERS: Was there a tender? Was there a tender?] – If there is any that you feel that we have not followed the laid down procedures, you are free to approach my office. I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Zwizwai, please take your seat?
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, my point of order is that the Hon. Minister must not insult this House. We are the ones who make laws, we know PRAZ and there is no way you can say that they were bought. The question here is that you violated PRAZ and if you say that there is a tender, can you furnish us with the tender number?
There was no tender number in the report. It was a corrupt directive and it is difficult to ask a Minister who is also implicated in the corruption – that is where the problem is. Where is the tender number Madam Speaker? When was it tendered? Where are the adverts? This is PRAZ and we are the ones who put the law. An advertisement is made, and PRAZ regulations are followed. Cabinet is not above PRAZ, no one is above PRAZ. Can she tell us when they tendered the advert?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am and thank you very much Hon. Mliswa for the follow-up question. As I stated before, my Ministry follows the PRAZ Regulations, and if there is any tender that you feel we did not follow instructions, you are free to write down or request for me to provide details of how that was done. I thank you.
(v)HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Madam Speaker. Can the Hon. Minister give an undertaking to the House that she is going to come back with the fire tender documents, and also the Pomona deal …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Deputy Minister, are you listening? Hon. Madzimure, please may you repeat your question?
(v)HON. MADZIMURE: Madam Speaker, I am asking the Hon. Minister to furnish the House with the tender documents for the fire tenders that she said her Ministry is going to purchase on behalf of local authorities and also the Pomona deal tender documents so that Parliament sees whether they were in compliance with PRAZ regulations.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Ma’am and thank you very much Hon. Madzimure for the follow-up question. As I said before, I reiterate that we follow procedures, and you are asking about the fire tenders and Pomona deal – that is too specific. I request that you put that in writing and I will be able to respond to it.
HON. GONESE: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order? – [HON. MADZIMURE: Inaudible interjection.] – Order Hon. Madzimure.
HON. GONESE: My point of order emanates from the point that during question time on policy issues, we would expect Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers to be conversant with what is happening in their respective ministries to which they have been appointed to superintend as Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers respectively. Hon. Matewu asked a question which was very clear and unambiguous, it related to the provisions of the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land, which is above any other law or any other procedures. The Hon. Deputy Minister is not responding to the questions which have been asked both in relation to the original question and the supplementary questions, she is just skirting around the issues.
I submit Madam Speaker, that as the Chair who is presiding over these august proceedings, it is incumbent upon you to direct the Hon. Deputy Minister to directly respond to questions on issues which must be at her finger tips. When we are dealing with such an issue which involves tenders for all local authorities, that is an issue which any Hon. Deputy Minister in terms of the Constitution, should be aware of and this request for it to be put in writing is simply being evasive. I submit that you must direct her to respond to the questions or in the alternative that she must come up with a comprehensive Ministerial Statement which will deal with those issues relating to both the fire tenders and the Pomona deal which are very topical in our country. They are concerning the people of Zimbabwe and we have a Government which is subverting the Constitution – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I talked to the Deputy Minister and she agreed that she will bring a comprehensive Ministerial Statement next week on Thursday – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sithole, please switch off your microphone.
HON. BITI: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
My point of order is can the Minister, in his statement, outline the legal provisions which is empowering him to...
Hon. Sithole having stood and continued to talk, disregarding the Chairperson’s comments.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sithole, please take your seat. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
HON. BITI: Can the Minister in his statement, clarify and explain to the House the legal provisions that he is acting on. Can he also explain why he is now allocating devolution funds when we do not have a devolution law actualising the provisions of Chapter 14 of the Constitution and Section 301 of the Constitution? So, if the Minister’s statement can speak to the law, why is there by passing of the Procurement Act? Why is there by passing of the autonomy of local authorities and why are devolution funds being used in the absence of a devolution law in consistence of Chapter 14 and Section 301 of the Constitution? I thank you very much.
HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, my point of order is, you recognized me before Hon. Madzimure, I have two points of order. I will just want to add a point of clarity to the Ministerial Statement and my issue is a very simple one. In order to get the tender, they must have received letters from the various local authorities applying for tenders. My second issue is even more important than all of that; why ordering tenders when we have got no water in the councils?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Hon. Deputy Minister will include all those in the Ministerial Statement.
+HON. MUDAU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. What is Government policy about vehicles that ferry cattle from one point to the other during the night? Since our country is infested with criminals, how can one know if these cattle are bought or they have been stolen?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for such a pertinent question. For starters, people are not allowed to move cattle from one point to another without clearance. Secondly, they are not allowed to do that even with the clearance papers at night. I thank you Madam Speaker.
+HON. MUDAU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question I,s how can one know if people who are ferrying these cattle have permits or not because they are travelling at night?
HON. KAZEMBE: As I mentioned earlier on, it is not allowed to move livestock at night. She then went on further to ask how one can tell whether they are cleared or not. That is the purpose of having road blocks. They are stopped at every given roadblock to check whether they are cleared or not but at night, whether they are cleared or not, you are not allowed to transport livestock. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. KARUMAZONDO: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Can the Minister explain to the House how many drilling rigs for boreholes are in the country at the moment? I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Karumazondo, you must put your question in writing so that the Minister will do the investigations and bring the answer. The Minister cannot know how many drilling rigs are in the country whilst he is sitting there.
HON. T. MLISWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Minister, the farmers want to know the mode of payment for their maize this year. You had indicated that 30% would be in foreign currency but 30% of what as you know that there is the auction system? Secondly, why can you not pay them in foreign currency because already you are importing in foreign currency? You are making other farmers richer outside Zimbabwe and yet our own farmers are poor. When you pay them in foreign currency they are able to produce more, they are able to buy their own inputs because inputs are being sold in foreign currency. May the Minister please apprise this House of the mode of payment which will be made to the farmers in the 2021/2022 agriculture season? Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Madam Speaker, I thank the Hon. Member for the question. First point of clarification; the 30% payment in foreign currency has been superseded by developments wherein the President agreed to a simplified payment system for farmers. For maize, it will be ZW$75 000 per metric tonne and USD90 per tonne and delivery incentive. This will also apply across all the other grain that the GMB will receive.
The second aspect relates to the mode of payment, the payment is not entirely in ZW$ and US$ because most of the schemes have been sponsored – the 2.7million rural households are all sponsored under the Presidential Input Programme, which is a free input programme. This is a contractual obligation between the Government and the households for them to be able to produce sufficient food to feed themselves and wean them from being social welfare cases. They then supply the surplus to GMB for which they are paid this ZW$ component and the USD component. From a Government perspective, we think this is very good.
The other aspect is that commercial production for maize, soya beans and other cereals is under Government guaranteed schemes through CBZ and AFC and these are predominantly in ZW$. The payment in ZW$ and USD recognises the production that is both USD and ZW$. Relating to this, the importation of maize and other cereals is entirely in USD and therefore the Government can do so. The Government is not importing maize at this stage. We have sufficient maize in the strategic grain reserve to meet our social welfare requirements; 45 000 metric tonnes for our social welfare requirements. It is the private sector that is importing maize and the same issue that the Hon. Member has raised, we have raised it with the private sector to say it is unwise to import maize. For example, importing maize from Malawi at USD220 per metric tonne and paying USD22million. That USD22 million could produce double the maize that we are importing and we have therefore urged them to reduce imports while supporting local production. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question to the Minister is that it costs USD3000 per hectare to grow maize, USD90 you give us in USD; the average a good farmer would grow is about five tonnes per hectare. So you are looking at a farmer getting away with USD500 and I have not even spoken about the national average which is probably less than a tonne or over a tonne. To me, the question is about the farmer going back to the field. How does this Government expect the farmer to go back to the field and they are not remunerating the farmer in terms of their sweat and what they want to do? Not only that, inputs are not subsidized; we need a system where inputs are subsidised and farmers produce because more money is being spend.
The Hon. Minister is correct in saying that there are private companies which want to import but can the Hon. Minister introduce a Statutory Instrument to stop them from importing and to buy from the locals? I think that is the only way the local farmers can benefit at the end of the day. Hon. Minister, it is important for you, being an agriculture person, not only that – I am happy that His Excellency the President is a good farmer; that you cannot take away from him and he needs to go back again. May he also be rewarded in terms of his sweat because how does he get back to the field when you are paying us in this manner?
HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Madam Speaker and I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. As highlighted earlier, we think the current pricing model sufficiently rewards farmers for their effort. In connection with what could be called the replacement cost, it is always difficult to pay a replacement cost in an inflationary environment and it is in this regard that the bulk of the cereals that are produced in Zimbabwe are under a subsidised model. This is the Presidential Input Scheme that the 2.7 million rural households produce maize under and the bulk of the maize is produced in A1 owned resettlement and communal areas; these are subsidiaries.
The Government guaranteed schemes; this is a Government scheme where we take a cost plus approach. We take into account all the costs that the farmer has incurred and additionally pay the 15% return on the effort of the farmer. This model, in a high cost environment is what we believe is the way forward. This sufficiently rewards farmers with their effort. May I assure the Member that Government has now approved the summer plan and we are seriously looking at supporting farmers to go back to the fields, so he can be assured that there will be a scheme that will guarantee that Zimbabwean farmers will be sufficiently motivated to go back to the fields in November. Thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is; as you are aware, farming is a business. Those who are farming are looking for a livelihood. Since you peg prices in ZW$, does the Government have a plan to provide agricultural inputs like fertilizer and chemicals at the GMB so that farmers are able to buy from there using ZW$ because the shops where these inputs are found, the prices are pegged in USD? I thank you.
* HON. DR. MASUKA: That is the plan of the Government to say, those who intend to buy will do that but we are already past that stage as most of the farmers will receive these inputs for free on the Presidential Inputs Scheme.
HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker, my question to the esteemed Minister is that in the past, producers of livestock and poultry used to buy grain from the GMB at a lower price than the cost price. However, in the last two years, that subsidy has not been there. The situation afflicting livestock producers is that costs are going up because of the exchange rate distortions but the price is actually depreciating, particularly the price of poultry, beef and pork. Why is Government not reverting to the policy of giving a subsidy to livestock producers in respect of purchases of grain and small grains from GMB?
HON. DR. MASUKA: The agriculture and food system transformation strategy is about transformation of agriculture to assure and ensure that Zimbabwe becomes food self secure. The second objective is that we must be food self secure. The third objective is that we must be …
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order. I do not know which constituency they belong to but food is important. The Minister is talking about the price of maize and they are busy making noise. So how are they going to inform their constituents? This is a serious matter of national security. If you want to talk, please go outside and talk on your party problems on factional lines.
Question without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68.
HON. BITI: I move that the time for Questions without Notice be extended by 10 minutes.
HON. T. ZHOU: I object.
Motion put and negatived.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Before I was interrupted, I was saying, the agriculture and food system transformation strategy is about transforming the agricultural landscape so that Zimbabwe can be assured perennially of food security. It is also about ensuring feed security for our livestock. Cumulatively, we require US$2.2 million for human and animal consumption annually. We have also put a policy position that 40% of off takers raw material requirements must be produced through small value chain financing or contract farming. Once we put this in place, there was no need for a subsidy to be extended further to the livestock farmers and also poultry farmers. We said they are off takers and they must be involved in contract farming to secure 40% of their raw material requirements. In fact, increasingly, we are asking for proof that they have secured the 40% through their contract farming. Gone are the days where off takers think that GMB is a field. Gone are the days where someone establishes a bakery by the corner of the street and think that wheat is gotten from GMB. This is gotten from value chain. Wheat comes from farmers and Government policy is that those off takers ought to secure their raw material requirements from contract farming and 60% is what GMB is supplying. I thank you.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
PROGRESS MADE ON INVESTIGATING MISSING LIVINGSTONE SUNHWA
- HON SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House on the following:-
a) the progress made in the investigation of Livingstone Sunhwa who went missing on 6th November 2021 at St Mathias Tsonzo area in Mutasa Central;
b) measures taken to officially declare Livingstone Sunhwa as a missing person;
c) whether any form of punishment has been meted on the police officer who is allegedly said to have flogged and tortured Livingstone Sunhwa before his disappearance.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order. I would like to thank the Ministers for attending today. You really did well. I am proud of you and I will make sure that I tweet and say today you did very well. You were in full force even those that have gone to Rwanda came here. Well done Ministers for coming and keep the good work. Your principal will be very happy and I hope that in the reshuffle that you have been praying for, you come back in your positions. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): I would like to thank Hon. Saruwaka for such a pertinent question. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed that Livingstone Sunhwa, 19 years old is wanted for a case of unlawful entry into premises and theft in which he broke into St Mathias High School tuck-shop and stole various wares. He was taken by the police for questioning in the presence of his teachers. Some of the stolen property was recovered from him. Livingstone Sunhwa was released into the custody of the school headmaster on the same day since he had an “O” level examination on 6th December 2021.
However, Livingstone Sunhwa disappeared during the night before writing the examination and his whereabouts are unknown. I so submit Madam Speaker Ma’am and investigations are ongoing to try and locate him.
HON. SARUWAKA: My supplementary question is on the second part where I want to enquire from the Hon. Minister what action they have taken to officially declare Livingstone Sunhwa a missing person.
HON. KAZEMBE: Yes, my sincere apologies. Indeed, there is part (b) of the question. On the 16th December 2021, Livingstone Sunhwa’s family members filed a missing person report at ZRP Mutasa under missing person entry No 05/21. The missing person file has since been referred to CID Nyanga for further management. As alluded to earlier on, the local police in Manicaland has used print and electronic media to officially declare Livingstone Sunhwa a wanted and missing person. A press release and an internal signal alerting other stations were done but up to now, we have not received any positive information on his whereabouts. Let me again highlight to the august House that investigations are in progress and regular feedback will be given by the Commissioner General of Police to my office. We also kindly ask anyone with information that could assist the police to come forward to their nearest police station.
On part (c) of the question, Hon. Saruwaka wanted to know whether any form of punishment has been meted on the police officer who is allegedly said to have flogged and tortured Livingstone Sunhwa before his disappearance.
Mr Speaker Sir, the Commissioner General of Police informed me that the Police received a complaint on social media on the allegations. After receiving the complaint, investigations were done but no evidence of police brutality was established. However, the Police will continue to investigate the matter and we urge the public or anyone with information to come forward. I thank you.
CONSTRUCTION OF POLICE POSTS AT MWEMBE AND NGUNGUMBANE BUSINESS CENTRE
- HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage if he will construct police posts at Mwembe and Ngungumbane business centre in Wards 8 and 20, Mberengwa East Constituency respectively.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Police posts and Mwembe and Ngungumbane business centres would be established in the area once resources permit. The intention is there but the challenge is resources. So far both places are being policed by ZRP Butchwa, which is currently deploying officers to conduct patrols in the area and bring the police close to the people for easy reporting and scene attendance. I thank you Madam Speaker.
POLICE ACTION AGAINST DRUG LORDS IN HIGHFIELD WEST CONSTITUENCY
5. HON CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when police will investigate and take action against well known drug lords selling addictive and harmful substances in the Highfield West constituency.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for this pertinent question on drug and substance abuse. My office has directed the Commissioner General of Police to task the Officer Commanding Harare Province and Criminal Investigation department to conduct investigations in order to get to the bottom of the activities of the so called known drug kingpins in Highfield West Constituency in particular. The police is currently carrying out raids under operation No to Crystal Meth, targeting illegal drug lords throughout the entire country and from January to 22 May, 2159 people were arrested countrywide for various offences relating to drug abuse with 1183 being made in Harare alone. On 17 June this year, 28 people were arrested in Mbare, Chitungwiza, Mabvuku, Epworth, Dzivaresekwa, Glen Norah, Mufakose, South View and Highfield on allegations of dealing in or consuming illicit drugs. Police will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in illegal drug dealings. However, the fight against this menace no longer requires the involvement of the police alone but an all stakeholder approach is required if we are to win this war. We implore the Hon. Member together with the public with information on drug peddlers to report to any police station. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Minister for that detailed response. My question arises largely on the basis that the same problem which was highlighted as specific to Highfield Constituency is also bedeviling our constituencies. One of the problems Hon. Minister is that you may arrest but the children that have been affected need rehabilitation. So my question is: what is the Government programme with regards to rehabilitating children who would have already been exposed to these drugs?
HON. KAZEMBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. Yes, it is indeed worrisome and something has to be done. I am glad to inform the Hon. Member that there is an Inter-Ministerial Committee that was set by His Excellency the President, Cde E.D Mnangagwa which is chaired by the Minister responsible for Labour, Public Services and Social Welfare, Prof. Mavima and they are coming up with a strategy to ensure that it deals with such issues. I am aware that they already have a strategy paper and I am sure that at the opportune moment, the Minister will favour the House. Definitely something is being done in that regard. I thank you.
*HON. CHIDZIVA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My point of clarification is that I want to understand whether it is Parliament procedure that the moment you ask a question in this august House, you get harassed by the police? You are asked to come to the police station. Is that the way we operate?
*HON. KAZEMBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for his question. He did not give clear specific details but I would want to believe from the insinuation, there could be a case that involves him. If he is free, he can approach me and we can sit down and make investigations but as I have earlier on said, once you have posed a question in this House, like he did with the question that I was responding to, the police may have heard about the issue as it is posed here. They may be out to get further information to buttress the investigation – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please wait until the Minister is done with his response. We should behave as Hon. Members. We are not at a beerhall.
*HON. KAZEMBE: Madam Speaker, when I responded, I believe I was not properly heard. I said the Hon. Member has complained that he is now being harassed. I am saying it is possible that something might have happened to him and if that is the position, he is free to approach me and I will carry out an investigation to get to the bottom of the matter. I even went further to clarify that the police at times get these issues when we debate in this House or questions are posed in this House or through social media. At times they would want to get more information so that they can carry out investigations. If the Member has been harassed, he should approach me and we should sit down and assist him. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of order for what issue? This case has been clarified.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My point of order comes from the Privileges and Immunities Act.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Have you not heard what the Hon. Minister has said?
HON. CHIKWINYA: Madam Speaker, I want to refer you to the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Act which guarantees that Members of Parliament are not subjected to any harassment outside Parliament for what they say in Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The Hon. Minister should have referred to that. The Hon. Member has raised concern out of privilege and he cannot be subjected to harassment for speaking in Parliament. If members of the police force want to interrogate the Hon. Member, they seek indulgence from the Speaker of Parliament about the matter which was raised in Parliament. Can we have the audience of the Hon. Member for clarification, not to follow him to a bottle store or to a lodge?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chidziva should have raised it as a matter of privilege, not as a point of clarification.
MEASURES TO ENSURE ALL POLICE STATIONS HANDLE ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASES
- HON. HAMAUSWA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House the measures being put in place to implement the policy which ensures that all police stations will handle traffic accidents so that efficiency and responsiveness by traffic police officers are not compromised in cases of road traffic accidents.
Hon. Hamauswa having stood up to explain further on the question
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Hamauswa, the procedure does not allow you to ask another question on top of another question. You have to allow the Minister to first give a response to the first question.
HON. HAMAUSWA: The question was wrongly written against what I intended to ask Madam Speaker. I want to put it on record what exactly I wanted to ask because the question was not properly written. May be the Minister can respond.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Hamauswa, you only need to resubmit the correct question. We are cancelling your question because you said it is a wrong question.
PLANS TO RELOCATE GWANDA PRISON
- HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House plans available to relocate Gwanda Prison to a more spacious area considering that the place is now overcrowded.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me thank Hon. Mokone for raising a very pertinent question, which is a major concern to us about the plans available to relocate Gwanda Prison to a more spacious area considering that the place is now overcrowded.
Madam Speaker, my Ministry, as the parent Ministry, is aware of the dire situation with overcrowding within our prisons and the challenges that come with it, which include lack of adequate and appropriate space for detained mental patients, compromised ventilation, drug supplies and deployment of health personnel, failure to provide inmates with a balanced diet as per dietary scale, general shortage of inmates’ clothing and bedding for inmates, amongst others.
To respond to the above question, I would like to inform the House that the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, together with the Ministry of Local Government, completed the first phase which involved a visit to the proposed farm site. The second phase will be done in June whereby the Ministry of Local Government will revisit the proposed farm site, and provide drawings of what the prison is to look like as well as provide their recommendations thereafter, to enable planning for a way forward.
It is important to note that lack of funding and a financial backing have been a major setback in materialising the plan to relocate Gwanda Prison to the farm site. However, we will await the drawings and recommendations which we are expecting to have received at the end of this month of June, 2022.
POLICY REGARDING ALLOCATING RESIDENTIAL STANDS TO HOUSING COOPERATIVES
- HON. TSUURA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on Government policy regarding allocating residential stands to Housing Cooperatives as a strategy to alleviate housing challenges.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. Around 2016, the Government suspended new allocations of land to housing cooperatives. The Government then adopted a policy of sanitizing the challenges facing cooperatives that were allocated land before any new allocations could be entertained.
HON. MARKHAM: Could the Minister just clarify on existing housing cooperatives as the Government’s strategy pertaining to UDICORP and with regards to title deeds because there are some housing cooperatives that are still processing land and there are others that have stopped. Could the Minister give us clarity on the use of UDICORP and the title deed as supplied by her Ministry?
HON. CHOMBO: I missed part of the question but as far as UDICORP, it is now under Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities. The issue of title deeds, what we are doing right is we go and identify the approved plan of the area where that dysfunctional settlement is and we have had Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education take an aerial view of the place. We then superimpose that aerial view to the approved plan. That way, we identify those that are legal in the right stands and those are the ones that we are encouraging now to make sure that their buildings have been inspected and approved. We then process the title deeds if they meet the requirements. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: On a point of clarity; so UDICORP is not involved at all in any of this process? UDICORP has been used as a platform to coordinate all the cooperatives. So, can I confirm what the Minister has just said because she has not mentioned UDICORP, so I presume they are not involved in any of these land issues?
HON. CHOMBO: When I first spoke, I said UDICORP is now under the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities so they are handling their side of the processes. Ours is what I have reiterated.
SERVICING OF CANAAN AND WESTERN TRIANGLE IN HIGHFIELD WEST CONSTITUENCY BY ZUPCO
- HON. CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House when ZUPCO buses will serve Canaan and Western Triangle bus terminus in Highfield West Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): The ZUPCO will have bus services to Canaan and Western Triangle from Thursday, which is tomorrow the 23rd June, 2022. There are some bus services already operating in the other parts of Highfiled. Members may wish to note that the services on these and other routes are affected by the number of vehicles; buses and kombis that are available to ZUPCO for operations. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, we are deferring Question Numbers 12 to 19 as the Minister is no longer in the House.
HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, the Minister was in the House 5 to 10 minutes ago. Apart from that, the Ministry of Agriculture has two Deputy Ministers and none of them can be here?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you Hon. Markham.
HON. MARKHAM: On exactly the same but extended, it is quite obvious that the Chief Whips have whipped people into this House because it has been like a bar in here, people just talking and not interested in proceedings. Why are the Chief Whips insisting that people should come here when they do not want to be here? If the Chief Whips call them here, can they make sure that they control them?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
PLANS TO BUILD MORE CLINICS IN PROVINCIAL AREAS
- HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to explain to the House the plans that are being put in place to build more clinics in the provincial areas.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Currently, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is in the process of constructing three-twenty bedded clinics in Bulawayo, Mberengwa and Chimanimani after finishing one in Southlea Park. Furthermore, we are constructing health posts which are located in villages. With health posts, we are targeting to be building 30 sites per annum.
HON. MARKHAM: As a supplementary, I understand the building and the process but should the Ministry of Health not consider as well the staffing given the view that there are numerous clinics, for example in Harare, that are closed due to lack of staffing. Should we not change our priorities temporarily to sort out the staffing issues?
HON. MANGWIRO: Staffing definitely is a priority. It is on-going and training and recruitment is being done. As a matter of policy, we have even gone to the extent of recruiting those who are retired. So, staffing is our top priority as we do this construction along.
HON. MOKONE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Minister for his response. However, my question was with reference to Gwanda Town. Nevertheless, the question was actually answered, looking at the national spectrum. So I will resubmit the question, looking at the Gwanda Town exactly.
HON. S. SITHOLE: The Hon. Minister is talking about staffing, there are some rural hospitals which do not have medical supplies, yet they are far from the district hospitals. Also, these hospitals do not have mortuaries. Communities are very affected and are paying huge amounts of money when someone dies. Sometimes it takes one week before the burial because the father, son or relatives will be out of the country. Communities are paying huge amounts of money, some are paying in the form of cows to ferry the bodies from the district mortuary. What is the Ministry doing about setting up of mortuaries and the issue of doctors at those clinics?
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the pertinent question. Our policy is that hospitals should have mortuaries. Wherever we are constructing hospitals, there shall be mortuaries. On the issue of doctors, it is a policy that provincial and district hospitals should be manned by doctors. So all hospitals as, we go along will be manned by general practitioners. For provincial hospitals - we target to have 20 specialists in them, district hospitals we target to have at least six specialists in them. A hospital is called a hospital because there is a doctor, otherwise if there is no doctor it becomes a clinic or health centre. I thank you.
EKUSILENI MEDICAL CENTRE BEING OPERATIONAL
21. I. NYONI asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to appraise the House on when Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo will be operational.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): I want to thank Hon. Nyoni for the pertinent question. Ekusileni Medical Centre opened its doors to the public in 2021. It has been operating as a COVID-19 Medical Centre since then. The Ministry is currently working on getting approvals for the respective staff establishment from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. As I speak, I checked today, it had admitted six patients with pulmonary different diseases. Ekusileni Hospital is in operation and it is admitting patients. I thank you.
(v)HON. I. NYONI: Can the Minister inform the House on the progress made to link the three hospitals to NUST?
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon. Nyoni for his question. He is talking about twinning of a university and the hospital. Definitely what was publicized was that NUST we will be using it as a place where doctors can be trained. It is going to be a specialist hospital that will be concentrating on cardiac surgeries or cardiac problems but most of the lecturers will be coming from NUST. Mpilo and UBH will definitely be working with the local university because most lecturers or doctors are the same people who are the lecturers. About twinning or whatever, the agreements are there and those details will definitely be worked out by the technical staff. Hon. Speaker, whether it is twinning or agreements, the point is that it is going to be a centre that specialises in a particular cardiology and cardiac surgery problems. I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
TRANSFORMATION OF THE DUNGWIZA CAVE TO A HISTORICAL SITE
- HON. G. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when Government will transform the Dungwiza Cave situated at Chaminuka Shrine to a historical site that can bring revenue to Chitungwiza.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Hon. Member for the question pertaining to Dungwiza Cave. As a background, Chitungwiza-cha-Chaminuka site is associated with the legendary spirit of Chaminuka and was listed and gazetted as a national monument in 2017 for its famous intangible spiritual values.
The site attracts spiritual pilgrimages from all over the country for cultural rites and prayers. This site is thus treated as highly scared and is respected as a major shrine where many people from various parts of the country converge to pay their respects and offering to the high priest Chaminuka. The site continues to be active as a venue for traditional ceremonies such as rainmaking. Chamunuka’s spiritual significance, therefore, transcends the physical boundary of the site and the ethnicity of Zimbabwe, hence an epitome of national significance.
Similarly, comparative sites at national level include Nharira Hills, Njelele, Maringone and Chigara all of which play significant spiritual roles in communities spiritual wellness. Although the site is legally protected by my Ministry through the National Museums and Monument of Zimbabwe Act, it is revered as a source of national spiritual wellness and is managed through traditional restrictive taboos and rules that the traditional leadership of the Chitungwiza-cha-Chaminuka community has continued to enforce to date.
It is on this basis that the site was declared a National Monument. Thus the site is more of a spiritual sanctuary than a popular tourist’s destination. Whereas National Museums and Monument of Zimbabwe tries to increase access to the site, it does so in recognition of the shrine values of the site and its high divine nature and should thus guard against overdevelopment for tourism purposes. However, as a national monument, the site will be developed to an expected standard that respectful of monuments in its category but not derogatory of the values it was listed for.
PLANS TO ENSURE DIASPORANS CAST THEIR VOTES IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS
- HON. G. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House;
a) what plans are there to ensure that citizens in diaspora can also cast their vote in national elections.
b) what corrective measures are in place to ensure that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not continue to move voters from their registered polling station without their consent.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam Speaker, let me thank Hon. Sithole for raising a very important question. The Hon. Member asked what plans are there to ensure that citizens in the diaspora can also cast their vote in national elections. He further asked what corrective measures are in place to ensure that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not continue to move voters from their registered polling station without their consent.
According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean electoral system is constituency-based. In terms of Section 160 of the Constitution, there are 210 constituencies and they are all located within the boundaries of the country. The Constitution does not mandate the setting up of constituencies outside the borders of Zimbabwe. As decided by the courts in the Gabriel Shumba case, the courts recognised that our country does not have foreign constituencies as of now and since the Constitution does not envisage constituencies beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, it follows that no voter’s roll can exist outside the 210 constituencies into which Zimbabwe is divided for voting purposes.
There is currently no legislative framework that regulates voting by citizens in the diaspora. If a person requires to vote, he has to be registered in a constituency within Zimbabwe whereby the residential requirements is among the voter registration requirements provided for by our electoral law.
Madam Speaker, it is also important to note that the residence requirement is not a requirement strictly for persons in the diaspora as it also affects those who live in Zimbabwe. For example, a person who no longer lives in the Hatfield Constituency for the relevant period will not be allowed to vote in that constituency’s elections, notwithstanding that they still live in Zimbabwe though living in a different constituency, for example an area in the Harare North Constituency. In this regard, the residence requirements are not directed or targeted to exclude the diaspora vote as is the assumption by many.
Madam Speaker, let me touch on the issue of what corrective measures are in place to ensure that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not continue to move voters from their registered polling station without their consent. The Commission advises that it is not aware of any formal report wherein it has been alleged that it has moved voters from their registered polling stations without their consent.
What the Commission is aware of are the powers granted to it by Section 35 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], which provides that a voters’ roll may be altered –
- By the commission at any time to correct any error or omission or to change the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address; which is done by
- The voter registration officer at any time by correcting any obvious mistake or omission, or by changing on the written application of a voter, the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address;
2) In the case of an alteration in terms of subsection (1) made otherwise than on the oral or written application of a voter, notice of the alteration shall be published in the Gazette by the Commission or voter registration officer as the case may be.
It further provides in subsection 3 of the same section that where a voter who is aggrieved by a decision of the commission or a voter registration officer under this section, may appeal against the decision to a designated magistrate of the province on whose voters roll the voter is or prior to the alteration registered.
With the above background, the Commission recommends that where there are known incidents of voters being moved from their polling stations without their consent, a formal report be filed within the voters’ ZEC provincial offices or an appeal of any decision of an alteration made by the Commission or voter registration officer be made to a designated magistrate within the affected voter’s province. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 27 be stood over until Orders of the Day, Nos. 28 and 29 have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
CHILDREN’S AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 12, 2021]
Twenty-Eighth Order read: Second Reading: Children’s Amendment Bill [H. B. 12, 2021].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC, SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Bill before you today seeks to enhance the welfare and protection of children in the country as well as enable the creation of a safe and secure environment for child growth and development taking into cognisance the best interests of a child at all given times and circumstances. It aligns the Act to the Constitution, strengthens child protection and closes gaps that would give room to child abuse. As we drafted the Bill Mr. Speaker Sir, we also considered our cultural values as Zimbabweans and I am convinced this Bill best provides for a child in our land. First and foremost, the Bill redefines a child as a person under the age of 18 years as provided for in the supreme law of the land. Previously, a child would be defined as someone under the age of 16 years.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bill seeks to thwart child abuse in all manners possible. It widens and criminalises instances of child abuse, for example commercial sex, sexual exploitation of children and child grooming. The provision seeks to protect children from pervert adults and also protects them from getting access to drugs. Drug use is on the increase and we believe this provision has an effect of lowering drug abuse among children.
The Bill also seeks to protect the identity and information of all children in need of protection in terms of Section 5 of the Children’s Act. Instead of only those who have gone through the courts, circulation of pictures and children’s information on social media has been on the increase, jeopardizing children’s safety on line. Section 81 of the Constitution protects children from and I quote, ‘neglect or any form of abuse’. The reference to child in need of care has been realised to be discriminatory as it excludes those children who need protection. It is a narrow terminology. The Bill therefore, proposes the repeal of ‘child in need of care’ to simply ‘child in need’. The proposed phraseology should adequately cover all children in different circumstances.
Under the same section, it is proposed that child in need should incorporate the following categories: unaccompanied children, child marriage and pregnancy, sexually abused children, children exposed to cruel circumstances and an umbrella definition of cruelty to be provided without placing a limit to the circumstances constituting such cruelty. The Bill also endeavours to promote the child’s right to life. Concerned by cases of parents denying their children access to medical treatment, there is a section in the Act criminalising child abuse through the denial of medical treatment.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bill expands the responsibility of professionals who may suspect that a child is being abused. A duty is placed on any professional person who becomes aware or suspects on reasonable grounds that a child is being abused, to report that person to a police officer or a probation officer. It takes a village to raise a child and therefore, we believe everyone should have the responsibility to protect the child.
We are also concerned by parents or guardians who conduct commission of an offence by a child while child justice is fully provided for under a separate Bill administered by my Ministry of Justice, we felt that there is need to criminalise these instances to protect a child. Their guidance or parents’ choices should not be shadowed in the children’s lives but instead a child should be given an opportunity to choose their parts without any influence.
We understand that the international best practices provide that institutions that receive children must accommodate them in family type environment. In that light, we have a clause in the Bill providing for the same. The Bill also provides for early intervention and family preservation programmes that may be provided either by the State or through private organisations.
The adoption processes provided for in the Act did not give the concerned children an opportunity to air their views. We have learnt that children also need to be heard and therefore, the Bill has a clause providing for children who are to be adopted to be consulted depending on their age and maturity.
The current legal provisions stipulate circumstances which constitute neglect. Many a time, some parents or guardians simply ignore birth registration of a child until compelling circumstances like school registration arise. In spite of Government efforts to reach out via mobile registration units, most children remain unregistered. This also hampers our efforts to provide the relevant social services to the child. Therefore, this constitutional right to registration at birth must be adhered to. Section 81 of the Constitution guarantees a child’s right to a name and family name. This Bill therefore proposes addition to the existing circumstances which constitute child neglect by a parent or guardian to register a child’s birth. It also seeks to compile administrative measures for birth registration.
Juveniles that offend the law are often treated as if they are adults. The many differences and complexities of juvenile justice require that a separate piece of legislation be enacted and administered by the relevant Ministry responsible for justice. This is in line with regional and best practices which ensure that we accord children their proper rights in the spirit of the United Nations Minimum Standards and Norms on Juvenile Justice (“Standards and Norms) adopted by the General Assembly on 29 November, 1985. A separate criminal statute for juveniles will safeguard children who are in conflict with the law as they still need protection and proper rehabilitation.
The proposed juvenile justice system will include crime prevention by interventions throughout the process with the aim of curbing the recurrence of offences. This will involve a variety of Government bodies, agencies, departments, organisations and institutions such as the police, prosecutors, lawyers, the judiciary, probation officers, and detention and after care facilities. The Committee on the Rights of the Child encourages State parties to put in practice the Riyadh Guidelines found in the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency of 1990. In this regard, this Bill proposes enactment of Child Justice Legislation to adequately safeguard rights of the child in conflict with law as provided through international best practices and that Bill is also before this august House.
Due to economic challenges, society has witnessed a sharp rise in the employment of children. This is usually done to supplement parental support which is never enough. In line with Section 19 (3) (a) and (b) of the Constitution, it is required that the State should put in place measures which ensure that children are not obliged or permitted to perform work or provide services that are inappropriate for their age. This principle seeks to synchronise the minimum age for admission into employment in line with the Labour Act, the age at which a child can enter into employment to be set at 16 years for non-hazardous work. This is also in sync with Section 81 (1) (e) of the Constitution which requires children to be protected from economic exploitation and child labour.
There has been an upsurge in child marriage which necessitates deterrent measures. Marriage of children perpetrated mostly by parents or close relatives have paralysed the social sphere, testimony to the famous African Union Campaign against child marriage outcry, “GIRLS NOT BRIDES.” The practice can only be reduced by enacting stringent or “no-mercy” laws with painfully lengthy custodial sentences and no option for a fine.
This Bill proposes the insertion of a separate section on child marriage. It further seeks to criminalise child marriage. It also proposes consequential amendments to the Marriage Act [5:11] and the Customary Marriages Act [5:07] in line with the Constitution. Several African Human Rights Instruments condemn child marriage and / or establish 18 years as the minimum age of marriage. These are:
- The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
- Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Article 6);
- African Youth Charter (Article 8);
- SADC Protocol on Gender and Development (Article 8).
The Bill expands the definition of earnings for purposes of child maintenance to provide for parents who may not be formally employed. They will be required to financially maintain the child from their earnings.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we are confident that this Bill will usher the child in Zimbabwe into enjoying their best interests.
With these words, I urge Hon. Members to support this Bill. I now move that the Bill be read a second time.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Let me begin by thanking the Minister for actually addressing the House in terms of the Second Reading of the Bill. However, we hasten to say that the Committee is still in the process of doing more public hearings and as early as tomorrow, we have a meeting with several stakeholders in terms of input on the Bill so that we come up with a Committee report. I hope and trust that the Minister will be persuaded in actually postponing the Second Reading so that we also have a report from the Committee. We take issues of children very seriously to the extent that this Parliament, last week we launched a Child Rights Caucus, so I would want to believe that with the Minister, we are speaking the same language. Thank you very much.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In view of that, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 23rd June, 2022.
SECOND READING
CHILD JUSTICE BILL [H. B.11, 2021]
Twenty-Ninth Order Read: Second Reading: Child Justice Bill [H. B. 11, 2021].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to give my Second Reading Speech on the Child Justice Bill. Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bill intends to establish a child criminal justice system for children in conflict with the law.
During the review of the Children’s Act, in order to align it to the Constitution, recommendations to establish a child justice system were also made, hence you will see that we are moving the Bills together so that when Hon. Members are debating related issues within the Bill, it will be easier for them to follow the debate and make meaningful contribution. Issues came out that we must align to the Constitution issues to do with children and recommendations were also made to establish a child justice system. The rationale for this Mr. Speaker, was to ensure that the welfare and child protection issues are separated from the formal justice system.
In essence Mr. Speaker Sir, this Bill proposes to give effect to the relevant foundational principles, values and fundamental rights underpinning the 2013 Constitution, together with the relevant international law norms and standards relating to child justice.
Mr. Speaker Sir, recommendations to establish a child justice system were made during the review of the Children’s Act and this was done to ensure that the welfare and child protection issues were separated from child criminal justice issues.
Mr. Speaker Sir, keeping children out of detention and away from the formal criminal justice system, mainly through diversion is a way of considering the best interest of the child, while also keeping in mind their mental capacity to have criminal intent.
When these interventions are inadequate or unsuccessful for child offenders, the child justice system implemented through the Child Justice Bill will allow for them to be tried and sentenced in child justice courts.
Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to delve into some of the provisions to be addressed through the Bill. The Proposed Bill will set out the manner in which children below the age of 12 years who are suspected of having committed an offence are treated. They should not be treated in the same manner as those above the age of 12 years. The proposed child justice system seeks to direct a police official to inform the protection officer on the conduct of the child whereby the best interest of the child should be taken into consideration with regard to whom the child should be handed over to. The Bill also provides for age estimation and the procedure to be taken by the police officer or the courts where there is doubt about the age alleged to have committed an offence.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Section 51 of the Constitution, read together with Section 3 and Section 53, provide for the protection of human dignity and freedom from torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. This Bill speaks to the protection of human dignity of any alleged child offenders and highlights how they are to be treated in a manner that is dignified from the first contact with the police during pre-trial detention at any stage of their justice process.
The purpose of a child justice system, in as much as punitive measures should be taken for child offenders for their offences, their human dignity is to be protected, thus not making punitive measures the primary goal. They should be punished but in a manner that is strictly consistent with the objectives of rehabilitative and restorative justice.
Mr. Speaker Sir, General Comment 10 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, if read together with Section 69 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe stipulate a requirement that justice system should meet certain minimum standards which are part of the right to be heard and these standards ought to be the same for a child justice system. These include the right to stand trial before an independent and impartial tribunal; the right to be heard includes within its scope the right for an offender to effectively participate in a trial. For the child offender to be able to effectively participate in a trial - there is need to provide modified court rooms and trial procedures which suit the age of a child.
This Bill provides for parents, guardians or custodians to attend proceedings of a child justice court. In the same light, it also prohibits the use of handcuffs on a child in court, unless exceptional circumstances dictate. The importance of separation of trials between child offenders and adults is recognised for the protection of the alleged child offender. Only upon application can the trials be joined.
Due to the fact that a child’s best interests are paramount in every matter concerning the child and that children are entitled to adequate protection by the courts as provided for in Section 81 (2) and (3) of our Constitution, our judicial system plays an integral part in the protection of children’s best interests. This Bill also provides for the monitoring of a child justice system through the establishment of Child Justice Committees at national, provincial and district level to ensure that those interests are protected and no abuses occur.
Child Justice Court is established in terms of the Child Justice Bill are an added sign of progression within our justice system as they would be solely dedicated to trying children accused of committing crimes. Mr. Speaker Sir, I urge Hon. Members to support and pass this Bill. I submit and move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr. Speaker, in the same vein like what Hon. Mpariwa said, the Committee is still deliberating, so I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 23rd June, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 17 be stood over, until Orders of the Day, Numbers 18 to 20 have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS BETWEEN INDONESIA AND ZIMBABWE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. SHAVA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that this House takes note that: WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Indonesia and Zimbabwe was signed on 8th of February, 1999 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS the entry into force of this Agreement shall be effective (3) months from the date of notification of the fulfillment of the legal procedures by the later Contracting Party;
AND WHEREAS the Republic of Zimbabwe is desirous to ratify the said Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid amendment agreement be and is hereby approved. I move that the aforesaid agreement be approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS BETWEEN BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. SHAVA): I move that this House takes note:
THAT WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Botswana and Zimbabwe was signed on 21st of March, 2011 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS the entry into force of this Agreement shall be effective on the date of receipt of notification by either Contracting Party to the other that its constitutional and legal requirements have been fulfilled;
AND WHEREAS the Republic of Zimbabwe is desirous to ratify the said Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND ZIMBABWE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. SHAVA): I move that this House takes note:
THAT WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Singapore and Zimbabwe was signed on the 1st of September, 2000 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS the entry into force of this Agreement shall be effective on the thirtieth (30th) day from the date of notification of the fulfillment of the internal legal procedures by the later Contracting Party;
AND WHEREAS the Republic of Zimbabwe is desirous to ratify the said Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid amendment be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the rest of the Orders on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order Number 37 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Thirty Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ICT, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. PHUTI): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for the opportunity to give a response to the Presidential Speech on the State of the Nation Address and the Official Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament.
Hon. Speaker Sir and the House, allow me to thank the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for an insightful and thought-provoking speech delivered to us as a nation. The President touched on very pertinent issues regarding our strategic direction as we journey towards becoming an upper middle-income society by the year 2030. In his address, he outlined the roadmap to our economic recovery, with projections of over 7.8% economic growth. The ICT sector will continue to play its catalytic role in this economic transformative agenda and in the fulfillment of the National Development Strategy One (1) goals.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become the keys to the efficient running of virtually all facets of the national economy, transcending every industry and service. ICT is becoming the harbinger and epicenter of global socio-economic transformation, in addition to being a strategic resource and foundation of every economic activity. ICT accelerates economic activities, such as consumption, investment, government-service delivery, and export competitiveness. Moreover, ICT enhances competitiveness, as well as economic and societal modernisation, because of its revolutionary power as a key catalyst for change, modernisation and innovation, connecting people and communities, improving standards of living, and creating new trade opportunities both locally and globally. Zimbabwe, like many other countries globally, is fully aware of the importance of ICTs for socio-economic development and transformation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the importance of ICTs during the COVID-19 period cannot be overstated, given that due to lockdown restrictions, most people had to work from home using e-platforms while scholars and pupils had to engage in e-learning and health institutions had to rely on e-health for service delivery. Considering this Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services worked tirelessly in facilitating and coordinating the ICT sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were closed throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government announced the opening of schools with limited holiday breaks and strict measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the need for access to internet connectivity grew drastically. It is with this background in mind that our Ministry decided to facilitate access to free internet services by over 400 rural schools that already had internet connectivity but were struggling to pay for the monthly bandwidth.
The same facility was extended to the provision of free access to internet services at Community Information Centres (CICs) and Community Villagised Information Centres CVICs) by members of the public for a period of nine (9) months. This programme is ongoing. The Ministry, working with stakeholders, has also intensified the computerisation of schools through the ICT laboratory per school project with over 200 schools having benefited to date.
Mr. Speaker Sir, part of the mandate of our Ministry is to ensure that Government institutions are, to a greater extent as possible, equipped with ICTs so as to ensure effective and efficient discharge of their mandates. As such, the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, through Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), has initiated a programme to equip the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, the Judiciary with modern ICT facilities including connectivity.
As part of the SMART City project, the migration of Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development ICT systems to the National Data Centre will be implemented Mr. Speaker Sir. The targeted systems and or departments required in the integration are the CVR, ZINARA, and ZIMPOST for insurance and for service provision at community level through Community Information Centre (CICs), VID and other relevant departments in the road and vehicle management.
Mr. Speaker Sir, ICTs are widely recognised as critical enablers of economic activity. An International Telecommunications Union (ITU) analysis revealed that a 10% increase in a country’s digitization score fuels a 0.75 percent growth in its GDP per capita. Additionally, the economic effect of digitization accelerates countries to move more and advance to stages of digitization. Going forward, the Ministry will continue to address the key fundamentals of a digital economy that includes digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital entrepreneurship, digital financial services, and digital skills. Mr. Speaker, I thank you.
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. L. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 23rd June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI, seconded by HON. L. SIBANDA, the House adjourned at Six Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 21st June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members who are just coming in now, this is your House. You should be here by five past two, this is your House, you must respect it. Do not come after prayers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM RESIDENTS COALITION FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, MR. MICHAEL ZINYONI, ALICE KUVHEYA AND OTHERS AND THE GREATER HWANGE RESIDENTS TRUST
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on 10th June, 2022, Parliament received a petition from the Residents Coalition for Electoral Reforms beseeching Parliament to request the Registrar-General to decentralise the issuance of identity documents and repeal Statutory Instrument 225 (a) of 2020. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services.
On 13th June, 2022, Parliament received another petition from Mr. Michael Zinyoni beseeching Parliament to amend the legislation pertaining to the registration of collecting societies in Zimbabwe for the benefit of copyright owners. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Furthermore, on 14th June 2022, Parliament received another petition from Alice Kuvheya and Others, beseeching Parliament to amend the Education Act to allow the incorporation of the Constitution into the school teaching curriculum and its translation into all officially recognised languages. The last has been done, it has been translated already. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education.
On 8th June 2022, Parliament of Zimbabwe received another petition from The Greater Hwange Residents Trust beseeching Parliament to inquire into the unsustainable coal mining practices that are causing underground fires in Hwange communities. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development.
Hon. T. Mliswa having stood to present a one-minute statement.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You did not register with me Hon. Mliswa
HON. T. MLISWA: That is very true.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You want to take advantage of me by ambushing me. You may proceed.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and good afternoon to you and colleague Members of Parliament.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the panellists at the APNAC Zimbabwe Chapter Capacity Workshop held in Bulawayo for their presentations which were exceptional, informative and certainly refreshing and educating...
THE HON. SPEAKER: May I intervene?
HON. T. MLISWA: Yes.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please take your seat. I thought this would come under your report. We need a comprehensive report.
HON. T. MLISWA: I seek your indulgence. Yes, Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Incorporate this in your report.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you Sir. I stand guided.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I have noticed that at all our wholesalers, they are now selling basic commodities at USD only. You can no longer buy in bulk using our local currency. I am requesting that the Minister of Industry and Commerce to look into this issue and make investigations whether these people are getting money from the auction system. They get USD at a cheaper price and poor people like us, the Nyabani’s have to go and buy in USD. All the wholesalers no longer allow one to buy using RTGS but they require USD.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce is unfortunately not available. Acting Chief Whip, may you inform him to carry out investigations, not only at National Foods but at all wholesalers? All wholesalers should be investigated. Please do not forget. Thank you.
Hon. Nyabani, because this is a very urgent matter of national interest, instead of us waiting for investigations by the Committee, raise that tomorrow under question time because it is urgent. Thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 22 be stood over until Orders of the Day, Numbers 23 and 24 have been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND RECREATION ON THE STATE OF YOUTH CENTRES IN ZIMBABWE
HON. TONGOFA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation on the state of Youth Centres in Zimbabwe.
HON. CHIPATO: I second.
HON. TONGOFA: INTRODUCTION
Mr. Speaker Sir, youth participation is a critical socio-political and economic development issue. The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is anchored on leaving no one behind, especially the vulnerable groups such as the women and youth. Section 20 (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe exhorts institutions of government to take reasonable measures, including affirmative action programmes to ensure that youths have access and opportunities for recreational activities and facilities. The Zimbabwe National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025) which is also aimed at attaining the objectives of Vision 2030 in line with the Constitution recognises the youths as “a valuable resource” which should be allowed to build and strengthen its own qualities to facilitate growth and flourishment into responsible citizens. One of its strategies is establishing institutional mechanism with the capacity to identify and nurture youth innovations. To this end, the government has established Youth Interact Centres to provide sporting training skills in areas such as tennis, hockey, cricket, darts, theatre and arts, among others. These Interact Centres were established to nurture young talent into career sportspersons, thereby reducing high unemployment levels.
It is against this background that the Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation resolved to conduct an enquiry on the state of recreational and Youth Interact Centres in order to investigate and establish the challenges bedevilling development of these facilities and proffer recommendations that could create opportunities for sustainable development.
OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of the enquiry were to:
- a) Validate the functionality of Youth Interact Centres, sport, arts and recreational facilities,
- b) Assess the state of facilities, equipment and establish whether young people were benefiting from these facilities;
- c) Verify whether land set aside for recreational facilities has not been used for other purposes; and
- d) Identify challenges being faced in maintaining the existing facilities with a view to make recommendations
METHODOLOGY
As part of the enquiry, the Committee undertook the following activities:
3.1 It received oral evidence from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation on Thursday, 18 March 2021 on the state of Youth Interact Centres and recreational facilities;
3.2 It also analysed written submissions from Leonard Cheshire Disability, and Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) on the non-functionality of the interactive centres;
3.3 It further conducted field visits to Youth Interact centres and recreational facilities from the 31st of October to the 6th of November 2021 as shown in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Youth Interact Centres visited by the Committee
DAY |
PROVINCE |
ACTIVITY |
1 November 2021 |
Mutare |
Mutare main recreational park |
2 November 2021 |
Masvingo |
Nemamwa Recreational Park Masvingo Urban Vocational Training Centre
|
3 November 2021 |
Matabeleland South |
Esigodini Recreational Centre
|
4 November 2021
|
Bulawayo
|
Sizinda Vocational Training Centre
|
5 November 2021 |
Bulawayo
|
Khumalo Hockey Stadium |
6 November 2021 |
Midlands |
Gweru Sports Club |
- COMMITTEE FINDINGS
4.1 Oral Evidence from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation
Dr T. Chitepo, the Permanent Secretary for Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, informed the Committee that in terms of Section 20 (1) (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No 20) 2013, stipulates that government at every level must take reasonable measures to ensure that youths have access to education, training, recreational activities and facilities. In order to promote youth empowerment and sport development, the Ministry established various interactive centres across the country where youths interact, showcase their talents, share ideas for learning and growth.
In Zimbabwe, interact centres are owned by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and are governed through the National Youth Policy which provides a framework for the development and empowerment of youth through sport, arts and recreation. The Secretary further submitted that in terms of maintenance, her Ministry works in collaboration with local authorities through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). She also indicated that her Ministry is responsible for the establishment and management of all Youth Interact Centres in the country whilst local authorities owns the infrastructure.
In addition to the above, the Secretary informed the Committee that interact centers accommodate multi-disciplinary activities such as computers, gym, theatre, arts gazebo, darts and other sporting activities to assist young people to develop and nurture their talents while discovering the power of service above self. Example of interact centres include: Meikles-Park in Mutare, Nemamwa Recreational Park in Masvingo, Harare Gardens in Harare, Bulawayo Park in Bulawayo just to name a few. More-so, the Secretary informed the Committee that the Ministry was in the process of establishing new interact centres at Concession in Mashonaland Central and Jotsholo in Matabeleland South. Thus, the thrust of the initiative was to transform the sports and recreation sector into a viable industry sufficient to absorb the youth as a source of employment…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Did you say Jotsholo in Matabeleland South? Jotsholo is in Matabeleland North.
HON. TONGOFA: Thank you for the correction Mr. Speaker Sir. It is in Matabeleland North.
4.2 FIELD VISITS TO YOUTH INTERACT CENTRES
4.2.1 Maintenance of Interact Centres
During the field visits to Youth Interact Centres, the Committee noted lack of maintenance of the facilities by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and local authorities. Some of the existing structures had broken down and have not been repaired. The Committee also observed that there were no security personnel to constantly monitor and check the facilities at most of the recreational centres visited, thereby exposing them to vandalism and theft. Typical examples to note were at Ncema Interact Centre in Esigodini, where the perimeter fence of a tennis court was stolen, and at Nemamwa Recreational Park in Masvingo, where goal posts for the soccer ground and playground tyres were all stolen. The Committee further noted that both at Alio Park in Mutare and at Nemamwa Recreational Park in Masvingo, grass and trees were growing unattended in places reserved for sport and recreation and thus, rendering the facilities unsafe for recreational purposes.
The Committee discovered that in centres where corporate entities were participating in maintenance programmes, the facilities were in good shape. During the tour of Meikles Park in Mutare, the Council Town Clerk Mr. T. Mutewa informed the Committee that “Meikles Park” was currently being maintained by Nyaradzo Holdings in partnership with the City Council. Although the Khumalo Hockey Stadium is a property of Bulawayo City Council, it was being maintained by the Hockey Committee which was using the facility while the Gweru Country Club was being maintained by the Executive Committee of Gweru Community Sports Club. The Committee however, noted that in spite of all the efforts being made by corporates and other stakeholders in maintaining these facilities, there were still challenges of water, ablution facilities, and security, among others.
4.2.2 Infrastructure and equipment
The Committee noted that most of the infrastructure at most Youth Interact Centres such as at community halls and recreational parks were obsolete since the facilities were constructed just after the attainment of Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Due to wear and tear, ablution facilities at Meikles Park in Mutare, Ncema Centre in Bulawayo and Ndlovu Interact Centre in Gweru were required to be replaced with new state of the art structures. The Committee also noted that the designs of these facilities are not suitable or user friendly to either artists or people with disabilities. Participants at Ncema Youth Interact Centre in Bulawayo, informed the Committee that 80 percent (%) of the community halls in Bulawayo were built in the 1960s before independence and they were not designed to accommodate people with disabilities.
The Committee further noted that 90% of the infrastructure and equipment at interact centres had deteriorated due to vandalism. For example, at Nemamwa Recreational Park, outdoor fitness equipment (arm wheel, air walker, sitting benches and sculptures) were broken before the centre was officially opened. In line with the above, the Committee toured Ncema Interact Centre in Bulawayo and noted that there were no lights in the arts theatre room and also the sound system for recording was no longer working.
Contrary to the above and on a more positive note, Members noted with appreciation that the Khumalo Hockey Stadium was a state-of-the-art hockey facility with internationally accepted standards. It had two playing fields namely; the main arena and the practice pitch. The Committee was informed that it was the only public stadium in Zimbabwe suitable for hosting international matches and was one of the best hockey stadia in the Southern region. However, the stadium needs a site office for the Hockey Association to facilitate regular maintenance and refurbishment of the facilities.
4.2.3Funding levels on Interact Centres
The Committee noted with concern that despite the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation receiving ZWL$3.49 billion budgetary support from Treasury in 2020, only 2% of the budget was channeled towards interactive centres. Despite receiving devolution funds, local authorities were not paying attention to interact centres. A typical example is that of Masvingo Rural District Council which received a total ZWL$45 million from the devolution fund, but nothing was channeled towards interact centres, hence rendering these places less attractive to young people. A case in point involves Nemamwa Recreational centre under Masvingo Rural District Council which did not have ablution facilities, administrative office, electricity, water and sewer connection since its establishment in 2019.
The Committee was also informed that the Ministry released the full total budget of $ZWL 240 000 required for the construction of a tennis court and a volley ball pitch at Ncema Interact Centre in Esigodini. It was further observed that all the materials required for the completion of the projects were bought in 2020. The Committee was however, dismayed to note that the projects were still at 50% completion since work had stopped in January 2021.
4.2.4 Accessibility of recreational facilities by young people
The field visits to recreational parks revealed the existence of an overwhelming demand for recreational facilities by young people. This was due to the fact that 80% of the youth population in Zimbabwe are not employed. Some are school drop-outs while others failed to come out with better results at Ordinary and at Advanced Level Education, hence they mainly rely on these interact centres to develop and nature their talents.
There was a general outcry by young people regarding the utilisation of interactive centres. Young people, particularly those in theatre and arts complained that they were unable to practice using these facilities due to high fees charged by local authorities. Local authorities were charging an average of ZWL 1500 per day for use of the facilities. The youths at Masvingo Urban Vocational Training Centre informed the Committee that most of the community halls in various suburbs around Masvingo were no longer in existence except Charles Austin which was only accessible upon payment of ZW$1500 00 as service fee charge.
The Committee also learnt that in some areas such as Esigodini Interact Centre, there were no recreational and sporting facilities, hence depriving young people of their constitutional right to entertainment. In Manicaland Province, there were complaints from the youth that the only basketball pitch was no longer accessible to them since it was being used for skidding cars and the surface has been damaged. In Masvingo, the Committee witnessed that there were no rugby facilities despite having young talents who were doing well in that field of sport.
4.3 Changes of use for land earmarked for Interact Centres
During the visits, the Committee discovered that the Mutare City Council had converted Chidzere and Chikanga recreational centres into vegetables markets without consulting the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. The Committee also noted the same trend in Masvingo where most of the community halls were now rented out for church services. In Bulawayo, it was noted that Hartsfield Sports Club was sold and converted into restaurant. In Gweru, the Music Academy which used to have studios popular to artists was now used as a kindergarten learning centre.
4.4 Challenges being faced in maintaining these existing Youth Interact Centres.
The Committee noted that most of the challenges faced by local authorities in maintaining Youth Interact Centres were mainly due to negligence and lack of prioritisation and strategy as they perceived recreational centres as expenditure drivers rather than income generating projects. The Committee further established that all recreational centres visited lacked expert groundsmen to maintain the surroundings. A case in point was that of Nemamwa Recreational Park which had neither deployed caretakers nor security officers to maintain the facilities. In addition, most of the recreational centres did not have reliable sources of water which is a critical resource for maintenance of recreational centres.
- COMMITTEE`S OBSERVATIONS
The Committee made the following observations:
- The Committee observed that there is lack of collaboration between the Ministries of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and Local Government and Public Works in terms of maintaining facilities at Interact Centres.
- Local authorities generally make resolutions pertaining to the use and purpose of recreational facilities without consulting the key stakeholders. A good example is a situation whereby local authorities were prioritising churches in the use of community halls for church services at the expense of young people who were the intended beneficiaries of these facilities.
- Although the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation have structures at both provincial and district level, their officers were not visible on ground and were not effectively representing youths’ interests in local authorities.
- The Committee further observed that most of the infrastructure and equipment in recreational centres was obsolete and in need of urgent refurbishment, a situation which is affecting sporting activities by the youths, thereby compromising their competencies.
- The Committee observed that there is lack of supervision on projects currently undertaken by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. For example, at Ncema Interact Centre, the construction of a tennis court and a volley ball pitch has since stopped in 2021 and the project was at 50% completion although the total budget of $ZWL 240 000 required for the whole project was released.
- The Committee also observed that all the interact centres do not have facilities to cater for people living with disabilities.
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee made the following recommendations:
- There is need for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to consider financial investments through Public-Private Partnership for the purposes of upgrading and maintenance of Interact Centres by January 31st
- The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should allocate at least 20% of the total budget of Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation towards refurbishment and maintenance of the existing interact centres with effect from the 2023 National Budget.
- Going forward, local authorities should desist from converting land set for Interact Centres for other purposes.
- The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should introduce tax incentives to corporates or companies which support the growth and development of interact centres in the country by 31st December 2022.
- Local authorities must set aside at least 30% budget towards interact centres and also 15% from the devolution fund must be channelled towards youth interact centres by 31 December 2022.
- The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation should ensure that all interact centres have facilities which cater for people with disabilities by 31st December 2023.
7.0 CONCLUSION
The strategic importance of interact centres to the socio-economic transformation of Zimbabwe cannot be underestimated. Interact Centres are a resource that facilitates long-term benefits to the young people of varying communities. They help to equip youths with skills in various sporting disciplines and also in nurturing young talents into career sportspersons, thereby reducing high unemployment levels amongst the youths. Closely linked to that, is the critical importance of recreational parks which provide a conducive environment for devoted coaches, teachers and staff members to interact, share ideas for learning and growth as well as talent showcasing and identification. Similarly, excellent interact centres attract better performance resulting in abundant socio-economic benefits such as employment creation and revenue generation, among others. Thus, there is an urgent need for a coordinated approach to the management of interact centres in Zimbabwe by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. I thank you.
*HON. CHIPATO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to add my voice on the report concerning our youths. As a Committee, we went on tours and met a number of challenges that the youths are facing that we as the leadership, as a country, need to assist our children so that tomorrow they can be better adults.
Firstly, we witnessed young children determined to progress in terms of their projects but their challenges were that they only have clothes and where they sleep but what they would want is for them to be empowered financially to embark on projects. That can give them a source of livelihood for them to be able to look after their families tomorrow. Each time they go to Empower Bank to access the funds, they are requested to produce proof of collateral but they do not have this except clothes. Our request is that as young people should be assisted in terms of financial inclusion.
The other issue was the percentage interest that is being charged is too high. Most youths are eager to earn a living. We further witnessed those who wanted to engage in sport. For our children to be well behaved and to be better citizens, it is important for them to be availed an opportunity.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Members, please check your e-mail, that report has been circulated through your e-mail. You can continue Hon. Chipato.
*HON. CHIPATO: I was saying that for the young people to be empowered and have a livelihood, we are requesting that they be assisted for example by way of training centres. Most children are not privileged academically but if they go to training centres such as vocational training centres, they can improve themselves. With these few words, thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(V)HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for the opportunity. I do not wish to repeat what my Chairperson has already raised but to use the opportunity to emphasise on the fact-finding visits that we carried out. In general, the state of our Youth Interaction Centres throughout the country is deplorable, except for a few that have some form of corporate or private players’ intervention, as has been indicated by the Chairperson.
Our report has indicated that over 80% of our youths are unemployed formally. It is your Committee’s submission that interact centres, if properly supported, will nurture and unleash the potential in our youths. That can actually lead to economic benefit to the individuals and the nation at large. Our country is abundant with artistic and sporting talents both visual and performing. I become nostalgic Mr. Speaker Sir, if I read out the following names that lead and entertained the nation and the world at large. Names like our comic Mutirowafanza, Baba Safirio Madzikatire were household names in the drama industry. We have the Comic Pastor who has come up and we also had Gringo, we can talk of Tumbuka, Iyasa. These are household names Mr. Speaker Sir, that came about as a result of an organised way of growing and promoting talent. We have got T. Namate, I used to buy the newspaper Mr. Speaker Sir, just to look at the cartoons.
We have great painters. I was surprised when I was looking around to find the name of Jonathan Samukange, our Hon. Member who is also a good painter and we also have Fiola Masoni. If we support interact centres, we have a factory for such talent. If you go into music Mr. Speaker Sir, can we go into the story without talking of the great late hero Oliver Mtukudzi and our great musician Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo. We also have Alick Macheso, Jah. Prayzah; so Zimbabwe has abundant talent.
Mr. Speaker Sir, just to dwell a bit on the potential from the Arts Industry; I was reading a month ago about a Marilyn Monroe print which was sold for a record breaking price of US$195 million. So, you can imagine if we have someone in Zimbabwe who does that and the impact of such monies in our general economy will be huge. So the issue of talent sleeping giant is what we need to tap into and we cannot do it without promoting these interact centres because these are the hubs where our youth can find space and the direction to explore their full potential.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if you go to football , the likes of Peter Ndlovu and Moses Chunga, these are the names of those who have also managed to take care of their families using their talent and it must not just end with them. Currently, we have got Nakamba who is doing wonders in England and has also been investing in Bulawayo. The potential to which our talent would be fully developed can never be overemphasised such that we really need to focus on these interact centres and the sporting facilities because they are a gem if we are able to utilise and invest in them.
I wish to say investment infrastructure development is vital for creating an enabling environment for our young people to excel. It was sad when we moved around that it would appear that most of the facilities were built pre-independence and very few were done after we attained our independence. That is a sad situation because we should have taken over from where the colonialists left us and improved them for our people. It would appear that the colonisers cared more for our youth in the ghettos than we are currently doing. What we saw Mr. Speaker Sir as we moved from province to province, from town to town and from interact centre to interact centre, it really looks like a country at war. What I can say is that we are moving through some spirits of Ukraine if you look at some of the interact centres which are so run down and dilapidated that no youth can go there.
These places can only be used for underhand operations like drug abuse and such other activities that we shun as society. Our local authorities have not helped the situation at all as they have converted some of the interact centres to other uses. Like my Chairman has indicated that most halls are now leased to churches who apparently are not doing much about preaching but appear to be using them for profit-making, they are now having these profits using our youth interact centres to the disadvantage of the youth who are the beneficiaries of these facilities. There is a good story to tell in this bad environment and this good story emanates from there.
When we went to Gweru Sports Club, we saw a good chapter in a horror movie. We saw evidence of the resuscitation of cricket, rugby and other activities being played and the facilities resembling what we see in private sports. So the story of Gweru tells us that if possible we can do it. It is not beyond Zimbabwe to create facilities that can be functional.
It was unfortunate when we went to Bulawayo that some of my fellow MPs did not see the wisdom in visiting Bulawayo Country Club. It is an excellent place for benchmarking purposes. It is run by private players and it is a place where I would want to encourage our Youth Ministry to go and take notes. We lose nothing by learning from those who are doing it well. So it is not good to shun the place because it is being frequented by whites. These whites are Zimbabweans and we must be happy to engage with them and interact.
On recommendations, I still emphasise the need for Government and local councils to open up these facilities for private partnerships because it would appear that where we went and saw private players taking part, this is where we saw something happening. For example in Mutare, Nyaradzo is doing a great job at NICOZ. So we must open up those facilities to private players because they have resources to do things properly. We must come down hard on any local authority that converts recreational spaces for any other things. We were saddened to see at Ascot Stadium, the B-Arena is now a suburb. So where are the kids from that environment going to play and interact?
It is sad and I also want to believe that we can do a lot better if any corporate that invests in youth interact centres develop sports facilities gets some tax incentives so that they are encouraged to invest more. Ultimately, the country benefits a lot for our youth to get engaged and have their talent develop. It will remove them from the problems of drug abuse because when they are idle they become a factory for bad behaviour. Idleness in our youths is now becoming the biggest threat to our youth because it opens them up to other bad behaviour because of lack of activity. I wish to say if we invest in Youth Interact Centres and sport facilities, we will not regret it. If there is low hanging fruit for Zimbabwe, I do not believe it is the mining sector. I do not even believe it is agriculture-centred. I believe that our youth have got enough talent to tag Zimbabwe out of its current problems if we invest in their training and the development of the talent they have, whether sport, music and arts and that is a sleeping giant we can awaken our wealth through investing in the youth.
I also want to say by investing in the Youth Interact Centres, we record double victory in solving other social ills because problems of pregnancies, crime and drugs can disappear as a result of our youth being engaged with super functional good facilities. They can also contribute to the economy bringing real money. We have got people who have made it through the arts industry and we have got people in Zimbabwe who have made it through sport. It will be my encouragement that our Ministry of Youth and Sport really takes time to engage and interact with these former players and hear what advice they have because they have made it. They know the path they followed to get wherever they are. If you engage them you will hear a lot of them speaking about the lack of facilities. Let us listen to their word and I am sure Zimbabwe will be a better place for our youth. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The motion speaks to the issue of our sporting facilities being dysfunctional across the board. However, the development is at cross purposes with what is happening right now; the issue of drug abuse in our societies. Mr. Speaker Sir, these facilities must be taking away our children out of the streets. It is through these facilities that our children should expand their skills to the extent that when they finish playing, whether it is basketball, swimming, hockey, et cetera, these children will retreat to their homes to go and get a bath, have a decent meal and they rest. Thereafter, they can start thinking about their homework.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we must ensure that our sporting facilities are up to date. I can commend sport as a booming business and this is evidenced from the fact that we now have soccer players who originated from Africa and are now playing in Europe. They are coming back to their countries to invest. A typical example is of Sadio Mane from Senegal who has now built stadiums and hospitals. Even his transfers to other clubs are now influenced by the money that he would get so that he would pay back to his community. Imagine a whole stadium and a whole hospital being built by one of our own children without any strings attached apart from making sure that here is something that I have developed for the community.
Where is our biggest problem Mr. Speaker? Our biggest problem is that at the policy making level, we are not placing that importance and understanding of what sport is. We have the Sports and Recreation Commission, which at most times when we hear about it, it is all about soccer. It is not about soccer only; it is about swimming, hockey, cricket, tennis, volleyball, netball, et cetera. Mr. Speaker Sir, it must be wide enough to cover all those areas and put in place structures that manage those particular areas and make sure that the facilities that we have can accommodate our children.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I can cite a typical example in my constituency. In ward 36, we have got a big swimming pool in Mufakose where all the western suburbs have been using for a long time for educational and training purposes. That facility does not need a lot of money because the pools are already there. They are now being used by these apostolic sects to do “majorodani” instead of our children using those facilities to swim and make their names like what we have in the name of our Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation, Hon. Coventry. It is a huge swimming pool Mr. Speaker that does not need a lot of capital for it to be renovated and start functioning.
We also have got people who have been invading sporting facilities including houses. I recommend through you Mr. Speaker, that where we have such situations, those open spaces that were invaded, where houses were built must be returned. Houses built there must be demolished because it is criminal for people to allocate open spaces meant for recreational facilities for residential purposes. We have got a lot of land and people can build uprising flats. We must reserve what is there for the future of our children. We want our children to have sporting facilities. Imagine what a swimming pool can do to the community. You hear people screaming, shouting and ululating in support of the participants. That takes away people from their homes and it also reduces domestic violence. There is a lot that we benefit from sporting. I am of the opinion that we are not doing enough and the Ministry is not doing enough. Local authorities must have a strong policy and a budget to the development of sporting facilities and maintaining them. It is one thing to have a sporting facility and it is also another thing to have functional facilities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, my other recommendation is also that the money that we get as sports levy must be enough to at least develop some of the facilities and maintain them. It is us Members of Parliament who are at very close contact with the people who are in our constituencies and we know exactly what they need. I think all the 260 Members of Parliament, if you ask them a question on the facilities that are needed in their constituencies, the first one is the sporting facilities. So, it is important that we raise enough money such that we can invest in making sure that sporting facilities are maintained.
Lastly Mr. Speaker Sir, we cannot have a situation where a whole country of Zimbabwe does not have a stadium that is up to standard. If we have not been booted out of the AFCON preliminaries and the league games, we will be travelling to Zambia to watch our own team. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is not acceptable. Rufaro Stadium can be easily renovated to match the international standards.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would want to say, the Committee did a fantastic job to expose the situation in the country as far as sport is concerned. It is also important that the report is taken seriously by the Ministry and the response by ensuring that it gives timelines as to what it is going to do to make sure that we have facilities that are functional. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker for allowing me to contribute to the motion moved by Hon. Tongofa, seconded by Hon. Chipato. It is a very critical subject because the youth are the heart of the nation. They must be given the priority and attention they deserve. This report, as in Section 32 of the Constitution, talks about the recreational facilities and sporting facilities which are around and the Constitution is very clear. The Constitution is very clear; it says ‘they must’. This is a must, so in a way, we have to be seen to be adhering to the Constitution so that we align with the SDGs of the world that we are part of. Now, if we cannot respect our own Constitution, how then are we able to really be part of the global world because the global world requires you to follow the Constitution? So, 32 is very clear.
We have looked at interact centres and the question here is, what is an interact centre? I saw that the Chairman kept on talking about it. I do not know if Members in their constituencies are privy to an interact centre. What is an interact centre? Interact means, of course talking. They are talking in terms of what, sport, drug rehabilitation, avoiding drugs, what is it? Are they meeting to interact while drinking beer or what? Is it where artistes can equally meet and so forth?
So to me, it is a deeper situation, which requires a deep thought and analysis in terms of what needs to be done. About 60% of the population and over is the youth but where are they in terms of many issues? We heard of a fact finding mission where they went to a number of places and I do applaud them for doing that because when you go on the ground, you are able to see a true picture of what is on the ground and so forth. They came to this House to report on the true picture, which in a way is a bit gloomy but again it is not their fault but there also has to be an aspect of certain authorities which control these areas. As the Chairperson, Hon. Tongofa was saying – he spoke about rural and urban authorities being key to the development of these areas and how serious they are in terms of doing that. What are the councils doing in resolving that there must be recreational facilities in each ward, in each area, so that people participate? You will see that the level of corruption has escalated to a point that people do not want even recreational facilities. Recreational facility is taken away and there is residential development because people want to make money.
Gweru Sports Club is a good example. If I am not mistaken, they have resolved that it is turned into a residential place or some industrial place. So where will people then participate in recreational facilities. I used to play rugby at Gweru Sports Club. There is tennis court, swimming and so forth. In terms of the council, rather than raising enough funds to rehabilitate those facilities, they are busy in wanting to sell and resolutions are being made by corrupt people so that they make money. So, who has the youth at interest, when local authorities themselves are not setting aside money to be able to rehabilitate those facilities? It is going to cost more to build a new facility but common sense would allow somebody to raise money and rehabilitate the facility, than allowing them to die and build another centre.
The population of Zimbabwe has increased. How many new recreational facilities outside those built by Rhodesia are there? All these country clubs you see; the recreations you see are a result of Rhodesia having realised that recreation was critical for a man and woman’s body. It helps your mind. It helps in a number of issues and so forth. So we must take stock and say how many recreational facilities have been built by local authorities with the land which is there. It is a Constitutional provision and who is against that Constitutional provision? Where they have earmarked a school, they put housing there because they are making money. On wetlands, they have done the same, they put housing. You now see a scourge of drugs; who is responsible for these drugs? It is the leaders of today, who have neglected their responsibilities to adhere to the provisions of the Constitution.
Why is the Portfolio Committee on Local Government not calling the councils to give a master plan? When I got in as a legislator in Norton, I asked for the master plan of Norton. It had been done; it has to be reviewed from time to time. I implore all Members of Parliament to go to council and say can I see the master plan of this Constituency. The master plan is able to give a way forward in terms of all the schools, where are the recreations and with the population growing, are we able to absorb this population from a housing perspective; from social amenities, which are critical. When I talk about social amenities, I am talking about health centres, schools, recreational facilities. For as long as you are a legislator here and you have not asked for a master plan then you are going blind. You must be able to ask for that and I asked for it. I invited people from the University of Zimbabwe and now Norton has a master plan. We have not yet reviewed the master plan. When you see the master plan, where there is supposed to be a recreational facility and it is not there, you are able to say where is it? Now you can bring in ZACC to be able to arrest people because the master plan is talking about a recreational facility but you have built houses. So why do you build houses where it should be a recreational facility.
There is drug disheartening all over – vana vanotamba kupi? Imi makakura muchitamba, ko vano tamba kupi? Because Havana kwekutambira, vanoputa mbanje, vava kutora guka, vava kutora madrugs ese, mutoriro vari kutora. Tozoti a, icourge yemadrugs. Without realising that recreation is important for them to interact and we knew when we were growing up kuti mwana ari kutamba kwakati. Vana mai nana baba vaitoziva kuti mwana anotamba nanhingi nanhingi, bhora ropera odzoka kumba. But today, how do you take stock of your children when they have no recreation facility that you can say, uku tinofanira kunge tichienda tichinovaona ikoko. Not only that, those recreational facilities were monitored by experts in sport, child care, zvese, even vana kucreche vanenge vachionekwa kuti vari kutamba sei, mabhora ariko…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Hon. Mliswa, may you use one language please?
HON. T. MLISWA: So, to me these were structured in such a way that you would get – there was food. This is where you would give your son or daughter $1. With $1 they would get food, drink, water, everything because the council would be able to subsidise. That is the key word, it is able to subsidise because it is getting rate payers’ money and because they have to explain; for ratepayer money they have to come up with a good package. To me that is not happening. Not only that, those facilities are income generating facilities. Weddings were held there, churches can be there, conventions, my fellow colleagues who belong to political parties here, can do rallies there. You can pay, they are not interested in which political party you belong. What they are interested is in you paying your money. That money goes to council, it is able to now assist that club to sustain itself. Without you ploughing back, it becomes a problem. So there is now a way of having funding. The balls are there. Not only that, it has an effect on the national sporting agenda. We are dismally performing in all sports, why, because there are no centres. Cricket, if you go to the West Indies, they play cricket on the beach. We have never heard that they sold the beach. There is Bryan Lara and Viv Richards, if you know of cricket. The great legends of cricket were playing on the beach. That is how they learn cricket, that is in West Indies. Where are we in terms of our own people? You go to the rural areas, they go to the schools, you see them playing football. Vofudza mombe, but varikutamba bhora, umwe arikunoona mombe and so on. Sorry Mr. Speaker Sir, I need to come from time to time. There are times when I go to English and then Shona but English becomes the key language. So to me, we need to really understand all these issues. We spoke about the corporate social responsibility. Hon. Members here, you have got companies in your constituencies, how much are they contributing to the constituency in terms of corporate social responsibility? How many clubs have they built, how many schools have they built, how many clinics have they built? Surely, there is no Member of Parliament who is excited about being given fuel to get around yet at the end of the day you are getting around - for what?
It is there in the Constitution, Section 13 (4) of the Constitution talks about your local resources being the ones that you used to empower your people. Why are you not using that provision? Surely, no one should come and tell you. We have the Constitution, we make laws, that is why people are saying Zimbabwe is good at making laws but they never implement the laws. Section 13 (4), zvinhu zviri munzvimbo imomo hupfumi hwevanhu vari imomo, and that is it. Go to every company and say how much are you putting into this area to grow?
So, corporate social responsibility - they do it willy-nilly, they are not serious, they are fake companies who have not done anything to grow this country. They are taking out more than they are ploughing back. In that aspect, I regret the suspension or the repeal of the Indigenisation Act which was 49% to the majority, 10% was to the locals, 10% to the workers, 31% was to the Sovereign Wealth Fund which in case of emergency, where there is COVID, can be utilised. Today how much has the Sovereign Wealth Fund got?
I am talking about laws which had been there which were good - were taken out; we were hoodwinked by the foreigners saying no, 41-59% is too much. We relaxed it, how much foreign direct investment has come in after we repealed this? It is our people who are poorer because we removed a law which empowered the people.
The late former President R.G Mugabe was critical and was serious about the empowerment of the people, may his soul rest in peace. We were given farms, he then said let us go for these companies, we did it. He fought for this country to be empowered.
We have lost the economic emancipation of this country through wanting to appease the foreigners at the expense of our people. This is emotional. How then do you explain to generations to come that the country is ours with nothing tangible? The youths are now abusing drugs. We need to revisit our laws; we need to be serious if we are true legislators. We need to stop being whipped at the demise of people suffering - they will not bring you back. I pray that any leader or legislator who believes in being whipped and not representing the people, may God do what he has to do and may the ancestors of our country make you to suffer because when you were in power, you made people suffer. You went before the people and said I will represent you. Are you representing the people?
The Khumalo, hockey stadium, state of the art, I am glad that the Chairman talked about it. The reason, hockey is being played but Mr. Speaker Sir; why not use that as an international stadium for SADC tournaments? You need to have a swimming pool to swim; you need to find a swimming pool. So we do not need to be playing hockey for people to find a good hockey stadium here – that is state of the art. I am glad that Bulawayo with the little resources it gets sets the example. They are marginalized in many ways but they have maintained it. Go to Chitungwiza to the Aquatic Complex; go to the National Sports Stadium, avemarara but Bulawayo and the people of Matabeleland must be applauded for maintaining this stadium because it is totally opposite to what is happening in Harare and Chitungwiza. Let it be put out there to the nation, to all countries as a stadium that they can come and be able to do that where they can visit the city of queens and kings where you will see the most beautiful women, light skinned, that is our country – that is important.
I want to also talk about the disabled; we have been talking about the disabled here and we talk about it when it suits us. It is not on the agenda. What have we done about the disabled? Where are the disabled people’s sporting facilities? There must be a hockey stadium for the disabled, a football stadium for the disabled. It is not a choice to be disabled; that is the way that God has made it. They are over a million 10 to 15% of the population. Should we honestly remind each other that there must be a toilet, way, car for the disabled? Why are we letting God down? Which God do we pray to?
At Danhiko, you could show a lot about the former First Lady but I do not want to talk about the bad, she used to do something at Danhiko for sport. So I am not about looking at what bad people do, I am different, I look at what good they do. So who is sustaining those sporting activities there? She used to do it and it was important from a national point of view, Danhiko would be there. The late President R.G. Mugabe would be there, pulled by the wife that these are our orphans, let us take care of them. So, what are we doing now to ensure that the orphans are taken care of? Right now, they are crying, there is no one to help them. You ladies are here, Women’s Caucus; why not caucus with the First Lady to continue with that programme? Who is stopping you? You are being whipped again, you are afraid to talk to the First Lady? If I speak, you say ah atuka vakuru! No, I will keep on telling the truth; when things are not good, they are not good. We will not mince our words. The Executive must be able to act in terms of disbursement of money.
Finally, the information centres for Members of Parliament; those could be a conduit to doing a lot. May it be a law that a Member of Parliament is given four hectares, not under any Hon. Member’s name but under Parliament so that anybody who goes into office, people make use of that area. Four hectares are there, it is a centre with everything, why are we not being given money for that?
We have passed the budgets here, we have not received the information centres, and we are going towards the elections. So whatever we have passed in this House, 30% has been disbursed, so how can you say you are a nation moving forward? How can you curb corruption? Without resources, you are wasting time. We burn midnight candles here to pass the budget but 30% is given. So, how can the Minister even come for a supplementary budget when he did not disburse all the moneys?
Corruption is on the rise because of 30% disbursement. Hon Porusingazi for example is given insufficient coupons to go to his constituency in Chipinge, he will be forced to ferry people along the way to supplement his fuel. We are at a threat from a security point of view because of poverty, because of the non-delivery of the budget in this country. For as long as the budget we pass here, money is not disbursed on time, it is a problem and people will continue to suffer. May those that were given the gift by God to say the truth, say the truth without fear or favour, may that spirit of people being true legislators speak and may that spirit of whipping and being intimidated come to end. It is about time you get up and represent people. I thank you.
*HON. RAIDZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank you for the opportunity that you have given me to support this report that was tabled by Hon. Tongofa, seconded by Hon. Chipato. The issue that they raised is very important, and is pertinent for our country as well. In order for us to be a nation, we need to consider our youth and their future as well. So the work that was done by the Committee as it went on tours to assess the recreational facilities in different areas for various sports was important. What the Committee witnessed is the case in all the other areas that they were not privileged to go to, especially in Mberengwa East Constituency.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this is a matter that requires us to work together so that we preserve the future of our children for sustainability. As a country, our young people are now abusing drugs and that is leading them into so many challenges. When the issue of recreational facilities was initiated, it was because it was important in bringing up well-mannered youth in the society. This initiative must be taken up. We need to ensure that the future of our youth is preserved so that our country can have well-mannered good leaders with sound minds, and educated leaders who have grown up in a good society. Some of the things that we have heard are sorrowful Mr. Speaker.
Some of the planning that was done for particular cities, some areas were reserved for recreational purposes or even if you were to travel to other areas, the high density suburbs where most people stay, there are areas whereby the recreational facilities are not in place. The grounds were left for them to engage in recreational activities but you find that those areas are no longer available. The absence of such areas is all because of the corrupt individuals, especially those who are voted into office as councillors. Instead of making sure they preserve these lands, that is where we hear of them being selfish and forgetting about the youths, and from the media, we hear that such areas where children used to engage in recreational activities, they end up allocating residential stands to people, and these are not given to people for free but people have to buy them as stands.
This is corruption Mr. Speaker, and this is a matter that has been raised. We expect the Government to look into it and investigate so that the corrupt individuals can be interrogated because they are destroying the livelihoods of our children as well as sustainability. People now are more concerned about money forgetting about the future of our children. They do not have foresight as well. So it is one issue that we need to consider that is happening in the local councils. We are saying that such areas left for recreational purposes should be left as they are so that children can be able to engage in different sporting activities such as soccer, netball, and other things so that they do not lie idle and end up abusing drugs. They are engaging in drugs because there are no recreational facilities for them.
Mr. Speaker, if we are to look at the outlook of other areas that are there, we will find that as outlined in the report, there is a lot of work that needs to be done for face-lifting such areas. We know that other countries have reasons for failure to assist in terms of corporate social responsibility but we want to urge companies that they need the young people to be brought up and be well groomed so that they can work in those companies. So I want to promote the issues of the triple Ps, that is public-private-partnerships, and we request that these private players also partner with the Government in face-lifting these recreational areas because we want to assist the youth of Zimbabwe. We thank you Mr. Speaker because the report has come in at the right time, and as leaders, we need to come up with measures as to how we can assist our youth so that they do not engage in drug abuse.
The other thing that I want to urge the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation is that these centres can create opportunities for youths to be self-sustainable. What is of note is that the structures are no longer in place to assist the youths. We have heard that even the grounds-men who are there to maintain the area are no longer there. So we need to ensure that we address the issue of coming up with structures that enable the youth to get money. They can also hire out these facilities to raise money, and we can preserve such areas to ensure that at the end of the day, we protect our youth because our future is in the hands of our youth that we see today. I thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity.
HON. KASHIRI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the report that was presented by the Chairperson of the Committee on Sports and Youth. Hon. Speaker, most of the things have been said by the previous speakers. What I just need to do is to pose a couple of questions to ourselves as Hon. Members. We have identified the problems within the centres but as Parliament, did we allocate enough funds to these centres? Did we allocate money for the centres to look after themselves? It will be remiss for us to keep talking about lack of resources and the running down of centres when we have not supplied them with the requisite resources.
It is my thinking that we need to identify projects for each and every centre in every province whereby our youths can get a project to sustain their centres. For example, I will speak about Magunje Constituency, we have an irrigation scheme at Magunje Centre and we also have a centre for the youths there, it is hardly financed. If we were to allocate 1 acre stand in that particular irrigation, I will produce enough resource to support the centre and other facilities on the centre.
As we go forward, every region has its own comparative advantages. In Matabeleland North and South, there is somewhere that we can pick up a project for each particular centre Hon. Speaker Sir and this will go a long way in looking after these youths. The youths are our future, if we do not support them, who is going to support them Hon. Speaker Sir? I do not have much to say, I just wanted to share that kind of thought with the Hon. Members, I thank you.
(v)+HON. S. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to deliberate on the report which is before the House regarding recreational facilities for young people which was moved by Hon. Tongofa. This is quite an emotional report in that Zimbabwe was endowed with different recreational facilities before independence and young people could engage in different sporting activities in halls, stadiums, swimming pools and other amenities. However, such facilities have deteriorated after independence and they are in a deplorable state.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we are not seeing any effort being taken to make amends, in that regard, I would like to implore the Government to take action. Young people are slowly degenerating into a normless society where you find young people engaging in different illicit activities like drug and alcohol abuse. The only activity which we find our young people engaging in is the slug, these are found in shopping centres and such facilities are exposing young people to alcohol, drugs, marijuana which has calumniated in our young people being continually intoxicated. I would therefore like to propose that we converge as Hon. Members to map a way forward for posterity, in the upcoming Parliament. I would then suggest that for the 210 constituencies, Hon. Members should be empowered with their constituency development fund to rehabilitate recreational facilities all over the country. If we do that, then our young people would have proper recreational facilities which will in turn take them away from the streets as they participate in constructive activities, from drugs, alcohol and other vices to swimming pools, soccer pitches and halls.
Our young people are very talented but they do not have the right platform where they can demonstrate their creativity. Mr. Speaker Sir, I believe that recreational facilities do not need much capital but a small budget can make a difference. Our halls are not user friendly to the disabled. Funds permitting, then the CDF would resuscitate sporting facilities which will culminate in user friendly halls for the disabled who use chairs and other aids. This is a passionate issue to different Members of Parliament. It is our desire as Hon. Members to have a neutral platform outside this august House where we can deliberate on these issues for the sake of our young people who are the future leaders of our nation. We will not be here in the near future and our young people need to be sober people who will take over the leadership of our nation. We need to stand together and speak with one voice as we fix the broken down sporting and creational facilities. Our young people are spending most of their time seated on bridges watching pornography as groups and doing other illegal activities.
I would therefore implore this august House to capacitate Members of Parliament so that this issue is dealt with forthwith.
HON. MAVETERA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker, I thought I could also add my voice to this very important report by the Portfolio Committee of Youth. Hon. Speaker Sir, I just have a few issues that I thought we could also add to making sure that at least when we talk about youth issues they can be addressed very well.
It is quite important for us to look at the budget that we bring forth, especially here in Parliament for the youth. I have noticed that a lot of times you will come to realise that when we speak about the youth budget - we have got a youth bulge in the country and also when it comes to the demographic dividend, the youths constitute 67% of the population. I think this is quite important that we need to then be able to look at it and also find out that when we are talking about the budget, it also has to be reflected because of this demographic dividend.
Hon. Speaker Sir, if you look at the state of the interact centres, it needs for us as a country, to at least have a flagship interact centre that we have to put forth which will be able to make sure that any young person who is supposed to then be able to benefit from these interact centres can be able to actually go there. I know we have decentralised them but I think it is quite important for us, just like what His Excellency Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa is talking about whereby we have got a flagship school which is a model school.
I also feel it is quite important for us to have a model interact centre whereby we are going to look for a budget which will go forth to make sure that at least we have got one interact centre which will be recognised that this is one of the best interact centres and whenever we need to then be able to renovate, when we need to then be able to also revamp these interact centres we will be looking forward to one which has done well. I think this is quite important for young people to feel that they can also be part of the interact centres and for young people to also feel that at least it is something which is quite modern.
I feel that the modernisation of interact centres like what the Portfolio Committee said is very important. The moment that we do not look at us modenising these interact centres, it only means that we are investing, but the young people will not feel that at least they can be able to associate themselves with these. I think this is quite important for us to go forward.
On the youth budget Mr. Speaker sir, I think we need to get to a point whereby we need to make sure that at least the youth budget really becomes meaningful. I am being honest with you Mr. Speaker Sir. Every time when we come to budget time we are here debating about the budget for the youth and I know a lot of times that we speak about this Hon. Mthuli Ncube, our Minister of Finance and Economic Development always says that the youth budget resides in other ministries. So now, what we are calling upon is that at least since it resides in ministries, we need to be quite clear to say each and every Ministry has to be allocated a portion of the youth. Let me thank this New Dispensation which has brought about the invention of youth desks. So it means that we have got a youth desk which is in each Ministry. It also then entails a budget which will go towards this so that at least we can have modernization and we can then be able to effectively look at youth issues.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also speak of the issue of the Zimbabwe Youth Council. Let me applaud the Ministry for appointing, at least we now have got a youth chair who is also a female. Let me applaud the Ministry for also choosing a female candidate to be a Zimbabwe Youth Council chairperson. We had talked a lot of times about the Zimbabwe Youth Council and we are happy that now we have got female representation and we have got a woman who is also representing the youth of Zimbabwe. So for us, we feel that it is quite a great honour and indeed when we see this happening, it also means that we are also acknowledging what young people and what the youth are doing, especially the women. Let me thank the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation for doing that. However, there is still the issue that it has not been fully constituted. If it comes to the issue of these interact centres, if we have elected or if we have appointed all these other sectors which are agriculture, mining, which are sectors which are supposed to then constitute this board, it means that they have got now greater emphasis on looking at these interact centres so that at least now, in line with NDS1, we have got the three pillars of NDS1 which are agriculture, mining and of course tourism. So it means that all these will also be able to feed into making sure that the interact centres will be able to speak into NDS1. We have had a challenge of us making sure that at least it is quite important for us as a country going forward. For us to achieve Vision 2030, it is quite important that we are able to make sure that all these programmes can then be able to interlink. All these programmes, we will be able to make sure that they can then be fused in so that at least we can then be able to move forward. However, let me be able to applaud the recognition that we have got when it comes to the issues of arts.
Let me go on and say it is quite important for us again to also be having even studios. I have spoken about this a lot of times but let me appreciate that now within the last budget we had $100 million which was supposed to go to the people that are supposed to be into arts and people that are also supposed to be into media. I think this is something that we need to applaud., When I look at the interact centres, they are skewed towards making sure that at least we have got the arts also going there, but we need studios in these interact centres. It would be good for us when we look especially on the budget to make sure that at least we have got a studio, be it an arts studio, it would be good.
You know Hon. Speaker, I was once an actress and because of that, I know what it means when it comes to the value which is in one being able to get on the limelight and involve themselves in media. You get this exposure, you get this confidence. We have got a lot of young women, young men who are out there who have got a lot of talent. What we want is capacity and I am very happy that we have got this $100 million which was set aside. We want now to also go to these interact centres so that we can get studios which we can then find young people also going there involving themselves in drama.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me be honest with you, everyone in here especially politicians, most of them are actors and actresses. So I think they should be able to also make sure that when they talk within this Parliament they speak of making sure that we promote the actors and actresses of this country. If you look at the entertainment that they are getting right now, most of it is coming from actors and actresses. I am being honest with you. Some people may not know they are MPs but people who are acting in Zimbabwe, people who are actors and actresses, they know them. That is one thing we should understand. So there is great need for us to make sure that we set up studios, we set up a model which will make sure that the interact centres become very effective, but I am very happy and I really want to thank the Portfolio Committee on Youth. It had to go out of its way to make sure that at least they come up with a very good report which they came with today so that we can really speak about the youth issues.
Let me say I am quite happy that now we, as a Parliament, are speaking about youth issues, which I think we need to really applaud. Hon. Speaker Sir, let me take this opportunity to thank this Parliament for we are now seeing a lot of youth issues coming through and certain issues which are burning, but however the final issue before I sit Hon. Speaker, is that of the Youth Bill. I think the Hon. Minister of Youth said that it is now at the Attorney General’s office and I am very happy that His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa also spoke about it that there is need for us to conclude on that Bill. We are waiting for that Bill as young people, unfortunately now I am 36 years old and no longer a youth but I am very happy that during the time that I was a youth, I really would speak about the issues of the youth. I am still a bit youthful, so I am sure I can still speak about the youth but we want a conclusion on the Bill so that now we can see a lot of young people also benefitting from all the provisions contained in the Bill. We are kindly asking from the Hon. Minister, Hon. Kirsty Coventry – I am very happy that she is a very energetic young woman who is doing very well for the country of Zimbabwe.
We are happy that recently we had a Junior Parliament which was well attended. There were a lot of young people out there and we are happy that we also had a gender balance. I know that a lot of men always argue to say, why is it that when you talk of gender balance, it is only to women but now we are happy that it is also men and women. We are happy that we had Hazel who was differently abled and she managed to make sure that she finished her term. Now we have Unathi from Bulawayo and that balance is very important for us going forward as a country. We are grateful that we have a male candidate now so that it also helps us as a country; I know people vote for it but it helps us so that everyone is included. His Excellency said that “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.” So if the country is built by its citizens, everyone should participate in building the country. So everyone is important. We are happy that even Amai, Her Excellency Amai Mnangagwa also has an all-inclusive agenda which takes everyone on board. I think when we do this, that is how we can be able to make sure that we go forward as a country. Thank you very much the Portfolio Committee on Youth and I think all the Hon. Members who went there, thank you very much for also valuing the issues of the youth. I thank you.
(v)HON. MAGO: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our Chairperson, Hon. Tongofa for presenting our report on the state of youth centres in Zimbabwe. I would like to thank Hon. Chipato for seconding. Mr. Speaker, youth centres are not being taken seriously out there as recreational or infrastructural synergies are not seen as important. It should be noted that youth are busy bodies. When they are left idle they tend to indulge in things like drugs and alcohol abuse and even making babies when there is no training and there are no resources to look after their babies and then we end up with yet another problem of baby dumping and street kids. The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation needs to be provided with adequate funding, especially for youth recreation.
Existing facilities need to be maintained and secured to remain in good shape. The current state that they are in now, they will surely remain places for drug activity by the youths and most painfully, school going children. At Nemamwa in Masvingo, there is a very vibrant athletic club but they do not have the grounds or facilities to do their activities. At one time they had to use Mashava as their home ground, 70 kms away, hence expensive to run for a rural club, with little funding or sponsorship. There is a facility in Mutare which is a joint venture between council, businessmen and Nyaradzo Funeral Services. Such good effort is encouraged and councils around the country should try and emulate that.
Generally, the youth felt neglected, they stressed that councils do not consider their issues at all. All they are concentrating on are issues related to making money. Councils should desist from the habit of fleecing out facilities that should benefit the youth, especially churches. Yes Mr. Speaker, churches should not be ignored as they help in giving direction to our youth but they should be offered places that do not prejudice the rightful people to utilise their designated areas.
As already alluded to, most facilities we toured have no provisions for people with disabilities, and this cannot be over-emphasised. Lastly, when local authorities do their budgets, we hear them talk about so much money having been allocated for recreational facilities and wonder what happens on implementation. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TONGOFA: Hon. Speaker Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that all Orders of the Day and notices of motions for today be stood over until the notice of presentation of Bill is disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
FIRST READING
JUDICIAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3: 2022.]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) presented the… – [AN HON. MEMBER: Not audible, we are not hearing him] – Let them come to the House, we are no longer prohibiting Members to come to the House Mr. Speaker Sir, I cannot strain myself. I think an announcement has been made that people can now come into the House. Mr. Speaker Sir, – [AN HON. MEMBER: We cannot hear] – come into the House…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MAVETERA): Hon. Minister, may you please connect.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Madam Speaker, I do not think there is any need to connect. An announcement was made that everyone must come into the House. I cannot be laboured by people who do not want to do Parliament Business whilst they are somewhere, they must come to the House.
FIRST READING
JUDICIAL LAWS AMENDEMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2022]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) presented the Judicial Laws Amendment Bill [H. B. 3, 2022].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 20 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day Number 21 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, MEDIA AND BROADCASTING SERVICES ON ZIMBABWE DIGITAL MIGRATION PROJECT
HON. MOKONE: I move the motion standing in my name, that this House takes note of the report of the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project.
HON. SHAMU: I second.
HON. MOKONE:
1.0. Introduction
1.1. The call by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) required that all states in the Southern region completely migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting by June 2015. In an effort to comply with the ITU requirements and improve the broadcasting environment, the Government of Zimbabwe embarked on the Digital Migration Project, with the aim of digitalising the whole broadcasting chain from the studios to the transmission equipment. The project commenced in 2015 and was expected to be completed in 2017. Pursuant to its oversight function, the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services conducted an inquiry into the progress made towards the Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project. To that end, this report provides highlights of the Committee’s findings, observations and recommendations with respect to the progress made on the Zimbabwe Digital Migration project.
2.0 Objectives
2.1 To assess progress made towards the completion of the Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project;
2.2 Assess the state of the transmission sites in view of the Community Radio Stations and the 6 television players which are coming on board;
2.3 Have an understanding of the challenges being faced in completion of the project; and
2.4 Offer recommendation for speeding up the completion of the project.
3.0 Methodology
3.1 The Committee held oral evidence sessions on the progress made on Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project with the following institutions: Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ); Transmedia Corporation (Pvt) Ltd; and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
3.2 In a bid to assess the progress made towards the completion of the digitization project, the Committee conducted verification visits to transmission sites in Kotwa, Harare, Gwanda, Bulawayo and Kamativi, Hwange.
4.0 Committee’s Findings
4.1 Background of the Digitisation Project in Zimbabwe
4.1.1 The Committee was informed that the process of digitisation started in 2006 during the regional conference held in Geneva with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). An agreement was signed in Geneva (GE06) heralding the roadmap for the migration of television broadcasting from Analogue to Digital. It was submitted that ITU members of states in the Southern Africa region were expected to complete the migration by June 2015, Zimbabwe having commenced in 2015, it was expected to complete in 2017. At the time of the Committee’s enquiry, the project was 43% complete. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) highlighted that the migration to digital television comes with a number of advantages, amongst them were more television channels, better picture and audio quality, high-definition television supported and efficient spectrum utilisation.
4.2 Progress on Analogue to Digital Migration
4.2.1 During an oral evidence session with BAZ, Transmedia and ZBC it was submitted that eighteen (18) out of the forty-eight (48) sites were digital-ready. The Permanent Secretary informed the Committee that fourteen (14) new transmission towers were completed and were awaiting equipment installation whereas four (4) transmission towers were at different stages of construction. It was further submitted that seven (7) transmission towers were to be decommissioned and no construction work was commenced on six (6) new identified sites. It was highlighted that five (5) out of twenty-four (24) radio sites were digitally installed.
4.2.3 The Committee was informed that the digital signal was to be received through Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) on the eighteen (18) sites and Direct-to-Home (DTH) for the rest of the country. Additionally, it was highlighted that two (2) live uplink terminals which relay the digital signals to the satellite were installed, the main one in Harare and the backup in Bulawayo.
4.2.4 Digital Television Reception Equipment
4.2.4.1 The Acting CEO, submitted that for one to receive Digital TV services in Zimbabwe, the following reception equipment was required:
- Option 1: Digital or Integrated TV and an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) antenna/ Aerial pointing to the nearest digital TV transmitter site.
- Option 2: Analog TV, Set Top Box (Digital Terrestrial TV decoder) and UHF Antenna/ Aerial pointing to the nearest digital TV transmitter site.
- Option 3: Digital/ Integrated TV set with a digital satellite TV tuner and a satellite dish pointing to Eutelsat 7B, the satellite used for signal distribution in Zimbabwe. This is the same satellite Kwese TV used to use; so former Kwese TV viewers may need little or no dish tuning at all.
- Option 4: Analogy TV, satellite dish pointing to Eutelsat 7B and free to air Digital Satellite TV decoder.
4.3 Status of Funding of the Project
4.3.1 The Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project is funded by the Government of Zimbabwe and initially the project was costing US$175,000,000 and after rescoping the project, the amount was reduced to US$145,000,000. The Committee was informed that funds were allocated towards the project since commencement in 2015 as shown in the table below:
Year |
Amount |
Amount |
Disbursed by |
Disbursed to |
|
USD |
ZWL |
|
|
2015 |
4,986,301.37 |
|
Interest Accrued |
BAZ |
2015 |
14,629,456.95 |
|
RBZ T/Bills |
Huawei |
2015 |
13,139,460.00 |
|
RBZ T/Bills |
BAZ |
2016 |
16,207,595.64 |
|
RBZ |
BAZ |
2017 |
5,000,000.00 |
|
RBZ/MIP |
Huawei |
2018 |
10,000,000.00 |
|
MIP |
BAZ |
2018 |
582,000.00 |
|
MIP |
BAZ |
2019 |
|
35,738,000.00 |
MIP |
BAZ |
2020 |
|
199,400,000.00 |
MIP |
BAZ |
2021 |
|
300,778,000.00 |
MIP |
BAZ |
Key: Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Treasury Bills (RBZ), Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services (MIP) Table 1: showing the amount disbursed from 2015 to 2020.
4.3.2 The Committee was informed that the Project was initially allocated ZWL $684,682,000 for the 2021 financial year by Treasury and the allocation was further increased by ZWL $ 213 million. From this budget allocation, ZWL$300,778,000.00 was disbursed to the Project with the balance of ZWL$596,904,000.00 still expected to be disbursed before the end of 2021. It was submitted that US$71,360,059.00 was required to fully complete the project and conservatively the project will end in 30 September 2022 if the funds were to be disbursed timeously.
The breakdown and status of the utilisation of the $300 778 000 is shown in Table 1 below:
Item (Scope of Work) |
Amount ZWL |
Contract renewal with Eutelsat satellite service lease |
$ 70,200,000.00 |
Revamping of FM Transmitters |
$ 98,400,000.00 |
Procurement of Frequency Planning Software & Portable Spectrum Monitoring Equipment |
$ 9,800,000.00 |
Procurement of Aucom Service Level Agreement for Head end |
$ 4,000,000.00 |
Huawei Legacy Debt |
$ 62,000,000.00 |
Procurement of TV Studio Media Asset Management (MAM) equipment |
$ 32,800,000.00 |
Procurement of Digitalization of 2 Radio Studio (Mbare Studios) |
$ 20,000,000.00 |
Project Management |
$ 3,570,000.00 |
Table 2: showing the status of utilization of the disbursed amount.
4.4 Appointment of a Project Manager
4.4.1 The Permanent Secretary informed the Committee that the project lacked a drive, thus they were considering employing a project manager whose focus will be the fulfillment of the project and his/her performance contract will be centered on the DTT project.
4.5 Digitalisation Tour: Status of Transmission Sites
4.5.1 Kotwa Transmission Site
4.5.1.1 The Committee visited Kotwa transmission site which is one of the eighteen (18) sites that was completed through the Project. The Committee was informed that the site was an abandoned Tel-one site and it houses digital television only including the recently licensed television broadcasters. Kotwa has two (2) digital transmitters integrated in one rank which accommodate twelve HD services and at the moment its running three that is two ZBC channels and ZTN. The installed transmitter covers a radius of forty (40) to sixty (60) kilometer (km) and providing coverage to Nyamapanda, Pfungwe, Suswe and Susamoya. Additionally, the site had a downlink satellite that receives signals, generator, power system (automatic voltage regulator and uninterrupted power supply) and the Set-top box. The Committee gathered that the use of a generator is unsustainable as it consumes fifteen (15) litres per hour.
4.5.2 ZBC Pockets Hill
4.5.2.1 The Committee toured ZBC Pockets Hill during which they were informed that two out of eleven studios were installed. Six channel playout system which play six high-definition channels that are used for monitoring, play out and signaling were installed. Additionally, ZBC has a Master Control Room which receives signals for internal and external studios. The power room consists of back up batteries, the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and an 800KVA Generator. It was highlighted that US$1.3 million is required for procurement of equipment whilst US$200 000 is required for construction of structure for studios in every province so that all languages are catered for.
4.5.2.2 The Committee was informed that the satellite uplink system civil work was completed and satellite capacity was secured from Eutelsat. The satellite uplink system is used to send signals to transmitters in other areas and to receive satellite directly from the uplink using UHF antennas. It was submitted that the site has radio and television transmitters, power bank and two generators for continual supply of power to the equipments. It was further highlighted that the Head- end equipment was installed at Pockets Hill and is the section where signals converge. The Committee was informed that at the head-end the Transmedia monitors the reception of signals by the citizens and they also conduct quality assurance.
4.5.3. Gwanda Transmission Site
4.5.3.1 The Committee was informed that the Gwanda Transmission Site is one of the eighteen sites that was completed under the digitisation project and it is one of the existing sites. The site had TV and an FM radio stations, but the radio services need to be revamped as they would require it to cover at least a radius of about 100km and the equipment had outlived its lifespan. It was submitted that currently FM Transmission site has a range of 40 to 60km because the transmitters and antenna systems are old and they need to be replaced. The Acting CEO, BAZ highlighted that they submitted a budget proposal for revamping of radio service for 2022 and nothing was allocated.
4.5.3.2 The Committee was informed that the site had small air con units which did not cope with the temperatures, however they were in the process of buying one big unit for the cooling system. The site had two transmitters covering a radius of 50km covering parts of West Nicholson, parts of Filabusi and other areas which are within the 50km radius. The official from Transmedia highlighted that they were ready to avail the digital TV services to the viewers, however the challenge was of unavailability of receiving gadgets known as Set-Top boxes.
4.5.4 Bulawayo Montrose
4.5.4.1 The Committee visited Bulawayo Montrose and was informed that it was the second biggest transmission site with a redundant system whereby if a fault is experienced on the satellite in Harare, the satellite in Bulawayo will take over for the distribution of the signals. It was submitted that the site has eight transmitters with analogue and digital system. The site was 50% complete as they installed the digital TV transmitter and they were yet to renew the FM radio system. The Committee was informed that Montrose has the analogue TV transmitter currently servicing the Bulawayo area and covering a radius of about 50km.
4.5.4.2 It was further submitted that the site had six national radio services, four for ZBC and two for the private players that is Star FM and ZiFM and two commercial radio stations. The site also houses transmission system for Khulumani FM and another one for Skyz FM. The Committee was informed that they were going to install 5 000 watts transmitters so as to improve on quality service and availability in the interim. It was highlighted that the transmission site did not have an allocation for community radio stations since there were no licensed community radio stations for metro areas.
4.5.4.3 The Committee was informed that the site had two satellite distribution system, the primary was the internet protocol (IP) based fibre network which connected Montrose and Pockets Hills and the standby facility from the satellite system. It was highlighted that an approximation of US$20 million is required for all sites to be fibre connected. It further highlighted that the procurement process for equipments was cumbersome as they had to follow the national procuring procedures and the PRAZ sits once per week to review all submitted bids from a whole of Government departments. It was highlighted that the BAZ purchases broadcasting equipment from different countries and the importation of some equipment was affected by the issue of sanctions for instance the purchase of spectrum monitoring equipment in Germany.
4.5.5 Kamativi Transmission Site
4.5.5.1 The Committee toured the Kamativi Transmission Site and was informed that the site was one of the existing sites. The site was 100% done with both TV, radio and the signals from the site covered up to Binga centre which was 120km. It was highlighted that the coverage also goes as far as Victoria Falls Airport, Jotsholo and overlapping with the site in Lupane. The site has 5 000 watts transmitters. The Transmedia Corporation submitted that they decided to put a gap filler (small low cost transmitters) in Binga as the Kamativi site was not reaching areas after Binga side going to Siabuwa and Siakobvu. It was highlighted that the gap fillers cost about US$10 million.
4.5.6 Challenges being Faced in Completion of the Digitisation Programme
4.5.6.1 Unavailability of Set-Top-Boxes
4.5.6.1.1 The Committee was informed that for the majority of Zimbabweans to receive the new television services either on DTT or DTH platforms, there was need for Set Top Boxes (STB) which were not available. It was submitted that Zimbabwe required approximately of 3.5 million STBs to meet the intended target of viewership. The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe published the Broadcasting Services (Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services) Regulations of 2020 which provide the conditions for the supply of television receivers (STBs). The invitation to supply STBs was extended to any potential supplier, provided their samples meet the specifications prescribed in the regulations.
In 2021 the Authority had certified two (2) suppliers through a type approval process to distribute the approved STBs in the market. However, there has been no significant traction from these suppliers to provide the commercial units. This turned to be another hurdle hindering the migration process.
4.5.6.2 The Committee was apprised of the following recommendations with regards to the purchase of set-top-boxes:
- The Central Government may consider stimulating the local market by injecting funds towards the provision of set-top boxes;
- As the market has been opened to private players who, however, remain skeptical about uptake, the central government can waiver import duties to lower economic barriers and give confidence to the private sector;
- The Government may consider providing subsidies to vulnerable families to offset market failure. This will be made available in the form of coupons that will be given to the vulnerable people who wish to buy Digital TV reception equipment; and
- BAZ to monitor the retail market to ensure the availability of type-approved receivers to protect consumer interest purchase of Set-top Boxes.
4.5.6.3 The Committee was informed that underfunding, late disbursements of funds, inaccessibility of foreign currency on auction floor and shortages of foreign currency were other impediments of the completion of the project. It was submitted that to date
ZWL$300,778,000.00 was disbursed to the Project with the balance of ZWL$596,904,000.00 still expected to be disbursed before the end of 2021. It was highlighted that the above-mentioned challenges had affected the procurement of equipment and installation of digital transmission sites, hence affecting the dissemination of information to the citizens especially the marginalised community.
4.5.6.4 The Transmedia Corporation submitted that load shedding was affecting service provision and transmission of signals. The transmission sites were using generators as a back-up plan, however, it was submitted that the cost of fueling backup power was unbearable.
5.0 Committee Observations
5.1 The Committee noted with great concern the slow pace of progress with regards to the installation of digital transmitters as this is slowing the completion of the digitisation project. It was noted that BAZ was installing 2 or 3 transmitters per year since commencement of the project in 2015. At their current pace they would take almost 15 years to install all the 48 transmitters.
5.2 The Committee observed that the slow pace of migration to digital was short changing the players putting investment into broadcasting as they will operate on an analogue system which is associated with poor quality. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe licensed 6 new television broadcasters and these players are expected to produce quality programmes, yet only 18 transmitters were digitally completed. This will affect their profitability due to low viewership.
5.3 The Committee did not agree with the idea of employing a project manager considering that institutions such as ZBC had engineers who can assist in the monitoring of the Project implementation.
5.4 It was noted that several transmission sites did not have the much-needed security which made them vulnerable to theft and vandalism of equipment.
5.5 The Committee noted that there was need to educate members of the public on the use of satellite signals. Transmedia should provide education to the citizens especially in remote areas on how they can use the satellite signals to receive news and information. Transmedia should also demonstrate how the gadgets (Set-top boxes) can be used in order to receive satellite signals.
5.7 The Committee was disturbed by the slow pace being taken by ZBC with regards to installation of digitalised studios. Further, the Committee was concerned that some of the technologies at ZBC were being redundant way before their use due to lack of adequate funding on time. It was observed that a further delay in the completion of the digitization project would lead to the equipment reaching its lifespan to the point that it would require replacement before being used for the benefit of the citizens.
6.0 Recommendations
6.1 The Committee recommends the following:
6.1.1 That the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should timeously disburse the funds to the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to enable the Ministry to complete the digitization project;
6.1.2 The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should assist the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in accessing foreign currency so that they can acquire digital transmitters by August 2022;
6.1.3 The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services should by September 2022 delegate responsibility of the project management to the engineers that are within the ZBC who are already on the payroll and they should report to the Ministry on progress regarding the completion of the Project on a monthly basis;
6.1.4 The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services should provide set-top-boxes to the citizens so that they will be able to access high quality signal on both TV and radio by
October 2022;
6.1.5 The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should waive import duty on Set-top-boxes by August 2022 to make them affordable;
6.1.6 The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services should introduce a law that restrict the importation of television without a digital tuner and that does not comply with the current waves of the digitization programme by December 2022;
6.1.7 Transmedia should ensure that at every site there are adequate security measures by September 2022;
6.1.9 The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in conjunction with the Ministry of Energy, Power and Development should install solar power plants at all transmission sites as back-up in case of power cuts by December 2022.
7.0 Conclusion
7.1 The Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project is an important national programme which will bring a lot of development and employment creation. Progress on the ground has been done, as eighteen (18) transmission sites were now digital. However, late disbursement and underfunding of the project has stalled the progress hence the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should prioritize the funding of the project.
Mr. Speaker Sir, as I conclude, let me say that as a nation, we are very behind in as far as digitisation is concerned. We are amongst the few Southern African countries that have not digitised fully. The other Southern African countries have done that and we as Zimbabwe can do that. We can only do it if we get funding from the Treasury, only if Treasury gives us the foreign currency that is required for the completion of this project. So far, out of 42 transmitters, only 18 transmitters have been installed. The project was begun before 2020 and right now we are in 2022 and have only installed 18 transmitters. With those few words Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank you.
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me the opportunity to second this very important motion that has been moved by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services which is dealing with the Zimbabwe digital migration project. In a nutshell, the report is saying money must be made available in order for us to complete this project. The report is underscoring the need for Zimbabwe to comply with the call by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for all States in the Southern region of Africa to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting. It has been made abundantly clear that Zimbabwe is lagging behind. We are now five years late from the date that had been earmarked for this project to have been completed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of money has become the major challenge and when we listened to the Chairman of the Committee as she presented the report of the Portfolio Committee, we continued to go back to the issue of why are we not progressing? The answer goes back to lack of funding or delay in release of funds. In the allocated budget for the remaining sub-systems of the Media Asset Management, the amount of money that was allocated has been almost halved by now because of the ever changing exchange rates and this obviously affects the functioning of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation because MAM is an integral part of the functional play out system of the ZBC.
Now, we know that this project was earmarked for completion but it has not. Mr. Speaker, when you look at the equipment that is needed to be used by ZBC and especially, if you look at the Montrose Studios, lack of funding for MAM will result in Montrose Studios remaining a white elephant. We will be soon going for elections and we know that the whole country will want to hear what it is that will be happening because it is an important stage in the democratic purpose of our country. Therefore, ZBC would welcome the equipping of their two digital units for outside broadcasting news gathering. Unfortunately, these were not included in the last budget for funding and therefore completion will no longer be a thing that we can expect to happen.
These delays Mr. Speaker Sir, adversely affect the performance of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. These delays in funding also affect the creation of employment amongst media practitioners. Each and every year, we chain out young men and women from the various institutions that train our journalists, where do we think they will go to? We need to create employment and this can only be done by supporting Zimbabwe’s digital migration project for it to be carried out to its logical conclusion.
Mr. Speaker, we have spoken about the lack of funding and that this process does affect the performance of the television channels. Indeed, we cannot increase the number of television channels if there is no funding for availability of the necessary equipment or infrastructure that is needed in order for us to move forward. Furthermore, the issue of audio and picture quality and efficient use of the spectrum, they need to use their ability to produce, broadcast and deliver service in an efficient manner but at the same time, ensure that there is efficient spectrum utilisation.
The mover of the motion, Hon. Mokone, has come out with very clear recommendations. We are appealing through this august House for Government to take these recommendations seriously. They are very clear. We know what it is that has got to be achieved and the question of there being that political will to make sure that funds are made available. It is very embarrassing when our Minister of Information and Deputy Minister here goes on various international fora, meeting colleagues from Africa and for us to be able to stand up and contribute to debate knowing very well that we are the ones who are lagging behind. Yet, countries that are even much smaller than us in terms of economic power have already succeeded in achieving complete migration from analogue to digital. I am therefore appealing to this august House to give full support to this report and hopefully that the powers that be will also respond positively as quickly as possible. I thank you.
(v)HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I also want to add my voice to this report by Hon. Mokone and it was taken up by Hon. Shamu. The attempts by Zimbabwe to migrate from analogue to digital project by 2015 which already shows that we were far behind, I just want to pick some areas like if you look at Kotwa. A challenge which we saw there whereby the generator which was being used to generate power was quite disturbing considering that at Kotwa, the site has got connection to ZESA power. As we got there, the power was stopped and it was reported that they had gone for quite some time without power from ZESA, which shows that some of the issues that make us lag behind are not all that expensive, it is a question of making sure ZESA works together with those who are doing digital projects and also that ZESA be capacitated so that we do not see a transmission sign that is using a generator. A generator is very expensive and it then hinders progress in the digitisation process.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when we went to Gwanda we saw a transmission signs that needed simple security around the transmission. In Gwanda, right round the fence that protected the transmission sign, the fire had burnt the site. Next time we do not even know what the fire might end up doing. I am trying to say that we need to have security around our transmission sign. Even the Kotwa one, they were relying on TelOne security which was nearby, implying that we are not very much serious about security issues because these transmission signs have got some gadgets that can be vandalised at any time.
While we were at Gwanda, we also learnt that sanctions play a role in some material that is supposed to be imported. They indicated that their material is ranked in the military group where they would say we would not allow Zimbabwe to import such material. The issue of sanctions was actually spelt out, hence when people say there are no sanctions, they should know that there is one predicament that we face because of the sanctions. Mr. Speaker Sir, our rural communities are not even aware that there are satellite signals and it is very important that rural communities are educated. They also need to be told about these sets of boxes which go together with signals. Mr. Speaker Sir, I recommend that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education should research into the production of these boxes so that they can be made available to many users as much as possible before they generate interests in the migration process.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to congratulate Zimbabwe for having 100% completion of Kamativi. If more funds could be made available so that we have more stations and get to the same status, and also improve on those machineries because we were told that we are not even halfway the required number. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MOKONE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, Nos 24 to 26 be stood over until the rest of the Orders have been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE ON THE FACT FINDING VISITS TO PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE INDUSTRIALISATION PROGRAMME
Twenty-Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce on the Fact-finding visits to Projects implemented under the Industrialisation Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. MATAMISA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT ON THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME
Twenty-Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the Rural Electrification Programme in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. MATAMISA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. MATAMISA, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Eleven Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday 16th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITION RECEIVED FROM MR. W. TARANHIKE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that on Wednesday, 8th June, 2022, Parliament received a petition from Mr. W. Taranhike requesting Parliament, through the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, to intervene in the Commercial Union of Zimbabwe’s disputes.
NON-ADVERSE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also wish to inform the House that I have received Non-Adverse Reports from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on Statutory Instrument Nos. 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 100, 103 and 104 published in the Gazette during the month of May, 2022.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Today is 16th June and it is a day recognised as the Day of the African Child. I join the nation and fellow citizens of Zimbabwe in celebrating this day. As I do so, I take cognisance of the fact that the Constitutional Court recently passed a landmark judgement in which it moves the age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years.
I therefore call upon the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to come to Parliament with a Bill that actualises the provisions but criminalise the involvement of sexual activities for children under the age of 18 years so that at least we make it a reality for us to protect these children who are below the age of 18.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chief Whip, if you can take that message to the Leader of Government Business for the amendment of the relevant pieces of legislation on that Constitutional Judgement.
HON. BITI:Thank you for observing that I was the advocate. It is that the Minister of Justice and Government was obliged to come up with a comprehensive Bill protecting children, not just vis-à-vis sex or child marriage but also things like pornography and cyber bullying. So the Minister must come up with a comprehensive Bill - protecting children, giving life to the children’s rights set out in Section 81 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: While you are up standing there, would that also impinge on the Child’s Bill. Do we need to have a re-look of that Bill?
HON. BITI: The implicit ruling by the Constitutional Court is that the Child Protection Adoption Act must also be revisited. It still sets the age of a child at 16 and does not offer sufficient protection, particularly for those children between 16 and 18. Also children still face discrimination from the inheritance point of view. So I have a daughter called Zoey, she cannot inherit from my own estate, which is why the Constitutional Court says the Government must come up with a comprehensive Bill protecting children in their entirety, including child labour. Children are working in farms, tobacco, cotton in Gokwe and so forth. This Bill must protect children. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Understood for the elaboration. I would like to thank Hon. Chikwinya for making that statement, supported by Hon. Biti. I thought you were going to go further than what you have stated. You see that commemorating day was in recognition of the role played by the youngsters in South Africa. That was a turning point on the role of the youths in fighting for independence and freedom and the 1976 massacre of those youngsters touched the entire world to the extent that this day is highly recognised. In fact in South Africa, they declared the whole of June as Youth Month. . I am sure we will celebrate with our own here in Zimbabwe and share their aspirations and struggles to self actualise as they grow up – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 17 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 18 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE HON. SPEAKER:I was waiting for you Hon. Markham. I have a guillotine to place on your neck. Are you ready for it?
HON. MARKHAM: I am quite ready for it.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I take this opportunity to inform you that one of the assignments that you challenged the Chair to follow up; the issue of the Global Settlement Deed, which is worth $3.5 billion and I had instructed it be sent online to you. Have you received it?
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have received it, plus one for the Dutch farmers. However, it appears to be a summary, I still have to go through it.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There are seven other issues outstanding. I am hoping that by next week we shall have collected all of them for your attention.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT ON THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the Rural Electrification Programme in Zimbabwe.
HON. TSUURA: I second.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I wish to move a motion on the report by the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development. This report basically is about the energy projects that the Rural Electrification Fund has embarked on since the inception of REA.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Rural Electrification Fund was established in 2002 through the Rural Electrification Fund Act, Chapter 13:20 to facilitate rapid and equitable electrification of rural areas in Zimbabwe. The fund has electrified more than 10 000 rural institutions through grid extension, solar mini grid systems, mobile solar systems and biogas digesters. Consequently, the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development resolved to conduct an inquiry into the rural electrification programme.
- OBJECTIVES
- To understand the sustainability of biogas technology as a potential source of alternative energy in Zimbabwe;
- To assess the progress made on grid extension, solar and biogas projects that were completed during the period of 2015 to 2020;
- To appreciate challenges faced in the implementation of the projects; and
- To make recommendations for improved implementation of the projects.
- METHODOLOGY
3.1 This report is informed by oral and written submissions from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Chief Executive Officer and officials from Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The oral evidence meeting was held on 22ndApril, 2021.
3.2 In order to get official and technical insight into the progress made on projects that were completed between 2015 and 2020 and challenges being faced in the implementation of the projects, the Committee conducted verification visits to selected solar, biogas and grid extension projects from 26th May to 29th May, 2021.The Committee visited the following projects;
District |
Institution |
Project |
Harare |
Petrotrade Mabvuku |
Solar project |
Goromonzi |
Pig Industry Board |
Biogas project |
Mutasa |
St Davids Bonda Mission |
Biogas project |
Nyanga |
St Mary’s Magdalene High School |
Biogas project |
Chimanimani |
St Patricks High School |
Biogas project |
Makina business centre |
Grid extension |
|
Buhera |
Mudanda Primary school |
Grid extension |
Mudanda Secondary School |
Grid extension |
|
Mudanda Clinic |
Grid extension |
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Hon. Member, you are the Chairperson?
HON. GABBUZA: Yes.
THE HON. SPEAKER: In future, make sure that your reports come through my office so that we scrutinise them, approve or disapprove and suggest any amendments or corrections. I do not recall flipping over the small papers you are holding currently. In future, make sure that the report follows the due process. You may proceed.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The report actually went through all those processes. My small paper is simply a summary of the report. I did not want to go through all the details.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, no. We need the whole report for purposes of Hansard and that report is very critical and it must go as it is in full on our website, not summaries. No.
HON. GABBUZA: Hon. Speaker, I have submitted it.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You have to table the presentation. You do not have to summarise.
HON. GABBUZA:My apologies Hon. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker for the guidance.
4.0 COMMITTEE FINDINGS
4.1 Overview of the Rural Electrification Programme in Zimbabwe
4.1.1 Rural Electrification Fund (REF) is managed by a Board of Directors which report to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development. REF undertakes two major sub programmes namely; electricity grid extension and alternative energy technologies. Up until 2021, REF focused more on electricity grid extension with minimum effort towards development and dissemination of renewable energy technologies. However, the launch of the National Energy Policy in 2012 and National Renewable Energy Policy in 2020 widened the mandate of REF to cover renewable energy technologies such as solar and biogas.
4.1.2 REA is the implementing arm of the fund that runs day to day operations. The fund also established a special purpose vehicle named Hotspeck Enterprises which is responsible for producing adequate transmission wood poles for the Rural Electrification Programme. Hotspeck Enterprises operates under three divisions; namely Pole Plant, Renewable Energy and Contracting and Consulting Services. The pole plant has a capacity to produce 100 000 poles per annum against REF’s annual requirement of 50 000. The Renewable Energy and Contracting and Consulting Services divisions provide services on commercial basis.
4.1.3 The Committee was informed that all rural public institutions such as schools, health centres, government extension offices, chiefs homesteads and business centres were electrified on 100% capital subsidy from the fund. Up until 2019, these customers paid for internal wiring and service connection fees to Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC). However, REF Board resolved to include these costs as part of the project funded on 100% capital subsidy for the institutions except for business centres. It was reported that rural villages and households that constitute a group of 10 households can be electrified on 50% capital subsidy from REF. In addition, individual homesteads that cannot form group schemes can apply for electrification on 40% capital subsidy. However, these customers were expected to do internal wiring and pay service connection fees to Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority to be connected to the grid.
4.2 Funding of the Rural Electrification Programme in Zimbabwe
4.2.1 The electrification programme is funded from several sources such as the 6% levy from ZETDC electricity sales, contributions from rural customers, loans, grants, the fiscus and other statutory appropriations. It was highlighted that the electrification programme also receives financial support from income generated from local and regional sales of excess transmission wood poles produced by Hotspeck Enterprises pole plant.
4.3 Performance of the Fund from 2002 to date
4.3.1 As at 30 March 2021, a total of 9 577 rural institutions were electrified since the establishment of the fund in 2002. The rate of electrification of rural public institutions was estimated at 60% for primary schools, 72% for secondary schools and 88% for rural health centres. It was indicated that about 419 solar mini grid systems were installed at rural school and health centres between 2007 and 2021. Additionally, 82 biogas digesters were constructed at public institutions such as boarding schools, hospitals and prisons between 2012 and 2021 whilst 433 mobile solar systems were installed at remote rural centres.
4.3.2 According to the submissions from REA, the performance of the fund was affected by a steady decline in revenue from the levy and the fiscus. The situation was exacerbated by high inflation rate from 2018 to date and as a result, the fund failed to procure materials and equipment for project implementation.
4.4 Rural Energy Master Plan
4.4.1 Rural Electrification Fund (REF) crafted a 20 year Rural Energy Master Plan (REMP) (2016-2035) which provides a systematic and prioritized approach to rural electrification through grid and off grid technologies. According to the plan, about 68% of rural communities would be electrified through grid electricity while 32% through off grid technologies. About US$2.13 billion was required for the rural electrification programme in the REMP.
4.4.2 It was indicated that REF would continue to electrify all outstanding rural public institutions using the REMP. Around 1894 primary schools, 575 secondary schools and 217 government extensions constituted the rural public institutions earmarked for the grid electrification programme. Furthermore, REF would accelerate the upgrade of solar mini grids on rural public institutions installed under the 2006 to 2015 programme and institutions in the REMP would be covered under this initiative. It was reported that 347 primary schools, 56 secondary schools and 10 government institutions would be electrified through solar mini grids.
4.5 ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMMES UNDER REF
4.5.1 Grid extension projects
4.5.1.1 Despite receiving more funding than it required, the fund managed to do less projects than it had targeted for in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, REF targeted to electrify 519 institutions but electrified 142 institutions and they had received ZWL$28 million against a requirement of ZWL$21 million. In 2020, the fund targeted 364 institutions but electrified 155 institutions and had received ZWL$196 million against a requirement of ZWL$147.5 million. The failure to achieve the targeted number of grid extension projects for 2019 and 2020 was attributed to high inflation that caused a steep increase in prices of project materials.
4.5.1.2 During the visit to Makina Business centre in Chimanimani, it was indicated that REF invested around US$80 411 in 2020 to construct a 0.7kilo metres (km) of 11kilo volt (kV) line to connect the Hlambiso micro-hydro network to the grid. However, there was no electricity at the centre due to wiring and connectivity challenges. It was highlighted that REF was responsible for the design and construction of backbone infrastructure whilst ZETDC was responsible for connecting the beneficiaries of the project, operation and maintenance of the grid network. The Manicaland Provincial Manager of REA, Mr. Magadze reported that beneficiaries of grid extension projects took long to wire premises and this delayed connection to the grid.
4.5.1.3 He also explained that the institution faced setbacks such as shortages of transformers during implementation of grid extension projects. As a result, it affected the mandate of REF to facilitate rapid electrification of rural areas in the country as experienced in Madzivire, Mudanda and Vhiriri in Buhera, whose grid extension project estimated at US$ 230 181 was completed in 2020 after commencing in June 2017. The Committee was informed that there were also challenges associated with vandalism and this derailed the work of the fund. Nevertheless, the institution disseminated information against vandalism and the importance of protecting electricity infrastructure within rural communities.
4.5.2 Solar projects
4.5.2.1 The Italian Government donated solar mini grids equipment to the Government of Zimbabwe in 1997 and these were installed at over 400 institutions. The installation of the equipment commenced in 2007 but performed poorly from the onset. According to the submissions from REA, the systems with a 0.84 kilowatts (kW) solar generators were designed for a maximum of four teachers’ houses per institution. However on the ground, the maximum number of teachers’ houses was eight. As a result, the number of users outweighed the capacity of the system which affected its efficiency.
4.5.2.2 It was also reported that solar batteries spent over seven years in the warehouse before being utilised and this affected their durability. The charge controller for the solar mini grid had obsolete technology that affected its capacity to fully charge batteries. Nevertheless, the fund resolved to install new appropriately designed solar systems in areas recommended for solar technology in the Rural Energy Master Plan by 2022.
4.5.2.3 The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magombo informed the Committee that REF targeted to install solar micro grid systems at 40 public institutions in 2019 and 20 public institutions in 2020. In 2019, the project was expected to be pre-financed by the bidder but the successful bidder failed to secure foreign currency. In 2020, the funding required was ZWL$74 million. However, REA failed to raise the amount due to cash flow constraints and the tender was cancelled.
4.5.2.4 The fund targeted to install community solar mini grids in Gutu (Masvingo), Tsholotsho (Matabeleland North) and Gokwe North (Midlands) in 2019 and 2020. The targeted projects were affected by incomplete tender processes for material procurement, termination of tender due to high budgetary costs, cash flow constraints and late disbursement of funding (ZWL$44 million) by Treasury in 2020.
4.5.2.5 During the visit by the Committee at Petrotrade in Mabvuku, it was reported that REF installed the solar project estimated at US$26 164 with a capacity to power one fuel pump at a time. The project reduced the burden on the grid, costs for generator, carbon emission penalties from Environment Management Agency and improved the service delivery by the fuel station. The Committee was also informed that Petrotrade was benefitting from the solar project and had installed a similar system at its fuel outlet in Bindura.
4.5.3 Biogas Projects
4.5.3.1 From 2009, a number of institutions benefitted from the initiated programme on biogas which was 100% capital subsidized and REF constructed a total of 82 biogas digesters to date. Of the 82 biogas digesters, three were constructed on commercial terms at Kotwa, Mimosa Mine and Harare Institute of Technology. The biogas digesters were installed by REF but the beneficiaries were responsible for the operation and maintenance of the projects. REF would assist the beneficiaries in the maintenance of the systems at a cost.
4.5.3.2 During the meeting held on 22 April 2021, the Committee was informed that REF constructed five bio-digesters in both 2019 and 2020. It utilized about ZWL$3 million from the levy. It had targeted to construct 12 bio-digesters in 2020 but Treasury did not disburse ZWL$3.4 million of the allocated funding of ZWL$6.4 million. At the time of the visit, some of the biogas digesters that were constructed during the period of 2015 to 2018 were reported to be facing challenges. The following is a summary of the state of biogas projects visited by the Committee;
District |
Institution |
Project |
Year |
Project Cost |
Status |
Reason |
||||
Goromonzi |
Pig Industry Board |
Biogas 50m3 |
2015 |
US$35 000 |
Partially working |
-Clogging on burner nozzles
-High replacement costs |
||||
Mutasa |
St Davids Bonda Mission |
Biogas 50m3 |
2015 |
US$26 768 |
Working |
|
||||
Nyanga |
St Mary’s Magdalene High School |
Biogas 50m3 |
2017 |
US$31 282 |
Not working |
-Suspected blockage
-Insufficient feed |
||||
Chimanimani |
St Patricks High School |
Biogas 50m3 |
2018 |
US$22 103 |
Not working |
-Insufficient feed |
||||
4.6 Sustainability of biogas technology as a potential source of alternative energy in Zimbabwe
4.6.1 Biogas technology is one of the commendable alternatives to cooking energy especially in the rural areas of Zimbabwe. Studies that were conducted before 2012 that led to the creation of the Zimbabwe Domestic Biogas Programme (ZDBP), showed that there was a great potential to introduce biogas as a clean, affordable and sustainable form of energy to replace traditional firewood and paraffin. REF launched the Rural Institutions Biogas Programme in 2013. The aim of the project was to provide rural public institutions with alternative energy for cooking and lighting as well as waste management system.
- Magombo, the Permanent Secretary for Energy and Power Development, highlighted challenges being faced in sustaining biogas technology in Zimbabwe and these included non-availability of appropriate biogas appliances on the local market and qualified biogas digester builders. She added that users failed to feed digesters with adequate and appropriate feed stock and there was low acceptance of the technology by some institutions and individuals. It was also reported that the implementation of the technology was affected by lack of affordable initial capital investment by some rural institutions and individuals.
- During the visit by the Committee, some of the beneficiaries of the biogas projects highlighted that the technology was unsustainable due to clogging, wear and tear of the equipment and unfavourable import duty on biogas heaters. The Committee was also informed that limited availability of well trained and skilled biogas technicians was another barrier that also delayed its adoption in communities. It was indicated that beneficiaries felt disengaged from the onset of implementing the project hence could not familiarize with the technical and management of the project to ensure sustainability.
- It was again highlighted that the type and availability of bio digester feedstock was a challenge in sustaining the operations of biogas digesters. Of the four biogas digesters projects visited, those with success stories were relying on pig manure while those that relied on human waste were non-functional. As a result, the sustainability of the digesters was dependent on the performance of animal husbandry activities at institutions. The beneficiaries also highlighted that the awareness of a new technology was dependent on the promotion activities by REF. Many districts across Zimbabwe were not aware of the biogas technology despite having biogas digesters that have been operating for more than five years within provinces.
- During the meeting held on 22 April 2021, Dr. Magombo explained that the biogas programme would be sustainable when the challenges are addressed. She highlighted some of the strategies that would be employed to ensure sustainability and these included promoting local production and availability of appropriate biogas appliances, training biogas digester builders countrywide and users on proper usage and operation of biogas digesters. She again indicated the need to carry out awareness campaigns on the benefits of biogas technology.
- Additionally, there was need to assist beneficiaries through subsidy to lower investment cost of biogas digesters. There was also need to conduct research and development in order to come up with affordable biogas technologies. It was reported that the sustainability of biogas technology would be achieved through the availability of feedstock (cow dung, pig waste, human waste and organic agricultural waste), water and labour.
- CHALLENGES FACED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REF PROJECTS
5.1 High Inflation
The year 2019 was characterized by high inflation and this resulted in a steep increase in prices of project materials. Hence, REF only managed to buy 586 509 metres of conductor against a target of 2 856 840 metres. The fund also managed to buy 32 transformers against a target of 497 in 2019 and procured 163 transformers against a target of 335 in 2020. The steep increase in prices was experienced on project materials. As a result of high inflation and general shortage of foreign currency, suppliers of project materials failed to procure the project materials in adequate quantities while on the other hand, REF could not mobilize adequate financial resources from the levy and Treasury sources.
5.2 Shortage of Foreign Currency
The Committee was informed that the bulk of project materials used on REF projects were imported. In 2019 and the first half of 2020, suppliers of project materials and equipment such as conductor and transformers failed to deliver equipment and materials due to lack of foreign currency for imports. In 2019, the tender for solar mini grid systems for rural institutions was terminated because the bidder failed to secure foreign currency to purchase the solar equipment. Similarly, suppliers of conductor as well as transformers failed to meet REF’s requirements due to shortage of foreign currency as well as steep increases in prices. In 2020 when the auction floor system was introduced in the country, REF applied for foreign currency but did not receive much because priority was given to other sectors of the economy.
5.3 COVID-19 Pandemic
Covid-19 had a devastating impact on REF operations, particularly in 2020 because most of the materials used for projects are imported from China. During the first half of 2020, the majority of orders for materials could not be delivered because of restrictions. The materials that were sold by local suppliers were costly because there were no alternative options. Moreover, REF could not operate consistently in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown.
5.4 Cashflow Constrains
About ZWL$2.5 million which was expected from Treasury was not released in 2019 and the allocation of ZWL$44 million for 2020 was only released in November 2020. As a result, these cash flow constraints impacted negatively on REA’s ability to implement projects. It was also indicated that the 6% rural electrification levy was inadequate for the Rural Electrification Programme and REA had not received the expected levy in full over the years. The following is the schedule of the 6% rural electrification levy received from ZETDC against what was expected for the period of 2015 to 2020;
YEAR |
CURRENCY |
6% LEVY EXPECTED |
6% LEVY RECEIVED |
VARIANCE |
% RECEIVED |
2015 |
US$ |
43 714 767 |
32 290 291 |
11 424 476 |
74% |
2016 |
US$ |
43 958 903 |
32 993 250 |
10 965 652 |
75% |
2017 |
US$ |
45 721 688 |
33 079 096 |
12 642 592 |
72% |
2018 |
US$ |
49 151 962 |
41 300 211 |
7 851 751 |
84% |
2019 |
ZWL |
194 148 535 |
95 789 342 |
98 359 193 |
49% |
2020 |
ZWL |
1 452 736 386 |
430 705 280 |
1 022 031 106 |
30% |
- COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
The Committee made the following observations;
- There is no coordination between REA and ZETDC on the hand-over and take-over of grid extensions projects completed by REA. As a result, it takes long for rural institutions to get connected to the grid.
- There is no consistency in prioritizing outstanding targeted projects on yearly basis.
- There was gross under performance by REA on achieving set targets due to high inflation and inaccessibility of foreign currency. On the other hand, REF continued to set unrealistic targets amidst a myriad of challenges.
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is not timeously availing funding allocated to REF in the budget and this is affecting the implementation of projects.
- Most of the rural areas are not informed about biogas technology and its benefits.
- There are no monitoring mechanisms put in place by REA to assess the performance of implemented projects.
- There is no standardization of the cost structure of biogas digesters with the same capacity. The same sized digesters constructed in the same year have a massive variance in terms of construction costs.
- The solar and biogas projects constructed by REA were too expensive and this contradicts with the vision to promote the use of affordable clean energy.
- There was no due diligence done on the feasibility studies of biogas projects. Therefore, most of the projects had poor designs, poor quality and inaccurate location which affected the efficient use of biogas technology.
- There was inadequate training of users and lack of technical support from REA on the management and operation of biogas projects to be sustainable. As a result, some of the users were not interested in taking up the responsibility to sustain the project.
- Most of the beneficiaries of biogas pilot projects with success stories were relying on pig manure while those that relied on human waste were non-functional.
- COMMMITEEE RECOMMENDATIONS
In light of the above observations, the Committee recommended the following;
- There is need for coordination between REA and ZETDC on the hand-over and take-over of completed grid extensions projects, to ensure timely connection of rural institutions to the grid when projects are completed by REA. As such, REA and ZETDC should come up with a memorandum of understanding by December 2021, to establish formal linkages.
- REA should carry forward the outstanding targeted projects of the previous year into the following year before coming up with new projects by January 2022.
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should avail funding allocated to REF in the budget to ensure projects are implemented in time.
- There is need for vibrant awareness campaigns in rural areas and information dissemination on biogas projects and its benefits to the rural communities by January 2022.
- REA should put in place monitoring mechanisms by January 2022 and timely assess the performance of implemented projects.
- REA should come up with a standard affordable cost structure for constructing biogas digesters with the same capacity by January 2022.
- REA should do due diligence on the feasibility of biogas projects and come up with designs, quality and location that promote the efficient use of biogas technology whenever they plan to construct biogas digesters.
- REA and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development should adequately train biogas users by February 2022 and constantly give technical support on the management and operation of biogas projects to promote sustainability of the projects.
- Ministry of Energy and Power Development should partner with financial institutions and development partners by February 2022, to provide affordable loans to individuals or institutions that want to construct biogas digesters.
- Ministry of Energy and Power Development should engage the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in order to come up with a policy by January 2022, that reduces the import duty on biogas equipment to promote adoption of the technology in the country.
- REA should ensure that it constructs biogas digesters for institutions that have variety sources of feed, apart from human waste, to ensure sustainability of the biogas projects by March 2022.
- REA should enforce stringent measures against vandalism of electricity infrastructure installed in rural communities and sensitise the communities on efficient methods to protect the infrastructure against theft by January 2022.
- CONCLUSION
The Rural Electrification Programme has a great responsibility to achieve universal access to sustainable modern energy services by rural communities in Zimbabwe by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7. Therefore, the Committee is expectant that the relevant authorities will consider and implement the above recommendations to improve the quality of projects being implemented in rural areas and promote positive response from the beneficiaries of the project. I thank you.
*HON TSUURA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for giving me the opportunity to second the report by the Portfolio Committee on Energy. This Committee moved around Zimbabwe inspecting the works of REA and we discovered that they have embraced solar technology in their operations. We found out that there are some service stations like PetroTrade which use solar energy. PetroTrade functions so well with solar energy. Hospitals, schools and other places where people access facilities also use solar energy. We also discovered that a lot of schools and hospitals have electricity infrastructure but REA takes time to complete those projects, which then results in vandalism of electricity poles and a lot of people forget how the project would have started.
Some people who undertake these projects do not have the necessary knowledge on what steps to take with ZESA so that electricity is installed in their households. We discovered that this is a major challenge as a lot of people do not have knowledge on what steps to take.
We also discovered that there are some people who use biogas but the biogas electricity is not functioning because people do not have knowledge. At some schools, students are shunning bio digester toilets meant for biogas production instead opting for blair toilets because they are ashamed of being seen using those toilets which generate biogas electricity. Others allege that witchcraft may happen if their waste is used while others fear satanism. We discovered that funds from Government are not used in such projects. In some places, biogas functions properly and when those facilities have a blockage, they do not want to repair them as they do not want to touch human waste and this causes destruction of such facilities.
As we went around, we discovered people do not have foreign currency to buy the supplies for biogas. Funds are not disbursed as soon as possible. In conclusion, let me say we are looking forward to educating people about the biogas project and the disbursement of funds to them so that they can do their projects well. I thank you.
*HON. DUTIRO: I would like to thank Hon. Gabbuza for the motion concerning Rural Electrification Programme. I would like to add a few words concerning biogas and bio digesters which were constructed in rural areas. The bio digesters which were built by REA in conjunction with other NGOs are new in rural areas. It was not clear who was supposed to benefit from these. If you take a closer look at those bio digesters, they were built in places where there are old aged people and the youth were not involved in the setup of these bio digesters and this led to the destruction because the old people did not have enough knowledge in operating the bio digesters so that they function properly. REA must work in conjunction with extension officers, agricultural officers in order to share knowledge so that the project will be a success. Electricity is a challenge in this country. We have 1 200 megawatts, our capacity is 2 000 plus and our demand is almost at 3 000. Therefore, we have a shortfall and the Rural Electriciation Programme must proceed so that we have enough electricity that is solar and coal powered. We have easy access to coal power because we have coal in Hwange. We have a problem of climate change, we have no one to process coal so that we generate electricity. We must look for other alternatives so that we electrify our country. There is resistance in the rural areas for rural electrification using biogas sources. Therefore, solar power is not proper to use for cooking and other sources. We need engineers to take a close look at that so that we use Zambezi River to have electricity. We cannot depend on Zambezi River because if we have no rain, we do not have electricity in the country. We are a signatory on an agreement that developed countries must give developing countries money so that they use for this issue. We have no access to the funds to build hydroelectric power, solar power and other sources of power so that people will have enough electricity in the country and that is why we do not have anything from Paris Agreement. Other Committees attend the Cooperation of Parties and other officials from the Ministry of Energy attend as well but the Committee does not attend and we wonder if we are moving forward as a country.
Madam Speaker, we are causing degradation by cutting down trees. The Committee of Energy must take part in COP so that they present their problems and find out new things that are there. For example, to change people’s lives, they should know the type of funding available so that we are successful. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me add my voice on the report submitted by the Committee on Energy. The critical situation in Zimbabwe is that the use of renewable energy has not been accepted by the people mainly for example for biogas the costs are out of this world. It is because biogas equipment is coming and people are paying duty. The moment you pay duty on biogas equipment then the element of renewable energy as clean and cheap energy falls off. The first thing that must be done is, the national energy policy of Zimbabwe must be brought to the august House for debating and then Hon. Members make contributions on what are we looking at when we say national energy policy. Are we saying those people who use electricity must only be in urban areas and those in rural areas must continue to use firewood, so there will be wahuni and the wamagetsi in Swahili? That element has to change; wherever there is somebody, he or she needs electricity and electricity should be there either from ZESA or from solar which is very easy and cheap. When it was introduced in Zimbabwe, there was no standardisation. Our electricians did not know how to connect solar gadgets, so they continue to say it does not work. Also, again it was overpriced. The propensity of our businessmen to make profit in Zimbabwe has killed the solar business just like what is happening now in rural areas, the cost of bread has gone up. I do not understand why our business people have resorted to exorbitant profits hence people have resorted to mbambaira/ sweet potatoes and mufarinya/cassava. So the same thing will happen to the use of solar energy. When things are expensive people will say it is for the whites and the rich people and they do not use them yet we are creating a big disadvantage to our people.
On the use of coal for energy, the situation of this world is that those who have things do not want others to have. We have a huge deposit in this country; we must continue to build power stations that use coal until we reach the level of those developed countries on how they did it and if they do not want to do that they must provide the money to the Government of Zimbabwe. We must use coal until the developed countries come and say here is the alternative for you.
We must have hydro stations along every river in Zimbabwe and we forget about coal other than that we need to continue using coal. I was happy Madam Speaker to here that Hwange 7 and 9 is almost completed. Let me explain to other Hon. Members, the electricity that is being generated and say Zimbabwe requires 3 000 megawatts, it constitutes about 10% of the total energy requirement. When we talk of energy requirement, we talk of those using firewood, those using rambi reparaffin, it is part of the energy requirement of everybody but that is not happening. As it does not happen, it creates a very difficult situation for the people of Zimbabwe.
I am rounding off by saying, we need to be participating in international organisations that deal with energy, like what Hon. Dutiro has mentioned the element of COP. There is also the element of IRENA, International Renewable Energy Agency; Zimbabwe is a member. There are finances available but the challenge we face in Zimbabwe -the money from IRENA, they wanted to divert it and put it in Jatropha production, where out there in Mutoko they produce bio-diesel.
When you look at that project for bio-diesel, it is nothing but it is standing there to create employment for one or two people. We go there, sometimes they have got 40 bars of soap, that is all. At times five drums of diesel – when we are planning things for the nation, we must be serious. So, we must take the money from IRENA and use it may be to establish a plant that makes solar panels. United Arab Emirates, yes they have got oil; they have everything but most of their energy is now fired from solar panels. They have got big solar farms, not our situation here where we have – it takes years and years to put up a solar farm. According to IRENA, it takes exactly 60 days, that must be fired but in Zimbabwe, solar farm takes seven years. There is consultancy for this. There is a consultant for the use of the line. There is assessment to see whether the line has the capacity; many other things. We want to be doing many things that are not necessary and yet the nation is suffering.
In most of the rural areas, pass rate is zero percent. People have no access to lighting to use for studies. So, if light was available, then we would not get these zero percent pass rates. I had a school in my area where it went on social media. They had three percent pass rate. So, three percent of 1000 students; what is that? It is really a mockery to the education system. So energy must be made available to every Zimbabwean so that students can study; pupils can read. Everybody can participate and we can also watch television and see what is happening in other areas. You cannot try to blame - who do we blame now if there are five schools in one area who get zero percent? Can you say that they are cursed that the mothers of that particular area are giving birth to children who are dull?
Energy is critical for the development of any society. Now we are on IT and gadgets require energy to charge them. I have electricity at home and every day there are not less than 20/30 people wanting to charge their cellphones. Cellphones are there but there is no point in charging them. So, as Parliament of Zimbabwe, as Government of Zimbabwe, we need to focus on making energy available to our people. This will make us be able to achieve Vision 2030. We do not achieve Vision 2030 using marambi. We cannot achieve it carrying water on our heads. Vision 2030 is an Upper Middle Income, where in the morning you eat egg and bacon. Even what you drink is not musombodhia, you are drinking something that is meeting the standards of life. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. May I speak in Shona so that my constituents can also understand. I stand here to support the motion raised by Hon. Gabbuza, supported by Hon. Tsuura. As a member of the Committee on Energy and Power Development, I was among the Hon. Members who went to those various areas in our country. As you heard from the Chairman of this Committee, Hon. Gabbuza, we realised that REA indeed has reached to several places that had no electricity; be it schools, clinics and other areas and villages where they are a bit organised and there are connections of rural electricity.
What I think should be rectified is, we should remove the use of wooden poles in the system because these days we see a lot of those poles being destroyed by termites. We should use concrete poles or else use other poles which are not treated gum poles. I saw that the project was very much accepted in one area in Manicaland at Madzivire High School as well as the business people there, especially Madzivire Primary and Secondary School. They really showed appreciation of that.
If possible, Committees like the one on Energy should regularly go around for visits because the workers of REA project worked very hard when they heard that the Committee was going there. If we do not do that, sometimes they spend years to complete one project. So when they know that the Parliamentary Committee will visit regularly, they will work hard to meet the deadline.
With regards to solar systems, we went to Mabvuku as well as Seke. We realised that the use of generators is no longer viable. Even a child cannot pass because they are very noisy. They are expensive to use because they need fuel and also the fumes that they release are very bad. I realised the same when I was using the older car than the Prado that I have now, when I used to suck petrol. It is very bad for health. Solar is clean energy, it does not have problems. You would not pay any rent to anyone. It comes straight from the sun. Our country has a lot of solar energy available, especially in Hwange, Binga, Buhera et cetera. If you go to several places in this country, the sun is in abundance. In some countries, this solar energy is dedicated to specific areas like strategic institutions of national importance. The use of solar energy is very impressive. It is accepted and it is now being used, especially in residential areas. Sometimes boreholes that give water to many people, we use solar energy for that. It can pump water as far as 10 km to 20 km. This country must channel a lot of resources towards that so that we move from the other conventional electricity generated from hydro or thermal. Let us move to solar energy.
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development are the ones that give recommendations. That is the source of all wisdom. Even a newly born baby sees a light, so I hereby request that the Ministry of Finance should channel a lot of resources to the Ministry of Energy because indeed this is showing that we are moving from darkness to light. I have decided to take this opportunity to support the report presented by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Hon. Gabbuza, supported by Hon. Tsuura. Thank you.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I also want to add my voice to this debate presented by Hon. Gabbuza, seconded by Hon. Tsuura. The coming of REA helped very much the rural areas. There was a lot of darkness but those who are organised managed to form groups and they have been receiving electricity from 2013 up to 2018. They have organised themselves as groups and are getting access to electricity.
However, the challenge is, if the transformer is stolen, the people are not able to replace that transformer. When they go back to REA, they are told that the transformers are not there. People also do not have requisite resources to employ security guards. I hereby request that Government should channel a lot of resources to procure transformers so that they may be able to assist groups who are supposed to contribute to the procurement of these transformers and subsidise them. Once you get used to electricity, when you fail to get it, it becomes difficult. There is now electricity in schools and clinics.
Moving to biogas, many people use cow dung. People need to be taught on how to construct that, as well as, tubing process. Homes that we saw using it are very good. However, it requires young women who still have energy and a lot of cattle because the dung is required from time to time. It needs attention from time to time but if you are able to install it and have access to it, it works very well. The manure can also be taken to the fields and gardens. There is need to impart knowledge on its use. People need to be taught about biogas energy. They also need to be taught on how to form those groups that they use to apply for electricity.
On REA, another speaker alluded to the fact that most of our rural areas are lagging behind because of lack of access to electricity. Some of the schools have their transformers stolen and they have not been replaced. The children are finding it difficult to learn without electricity. Some of the things require televisions or cell phones for learning purposes, they then fail to learn through that method. I also propose that these committees should be given a lot of resources to travel because it shows that the Government workers work hard when they hear that a Parliamentary Committee is going there. I thank you.
*HON. RAIDZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this report presented by Hon. Gabbuza, seconded by Hon. Tsuura. It was indeed a good report that outlines challenges that REA is facing in supplying electricity, as well as, the monies that are being paid by the customers who use them. They also talk about the use of some of the funds. It is also mandated to give electricity to rural communities. According to the findings of this Committee, we heard that there are some things that they are doing very well but they are also some things they are failing to do due to several challenges. Some of the challenges include money. They are not getting the funding on time to do their work. The other thing is that they are not providing service to people, like adequate supply of electricity. His Excellency the President, Cde. Mnangagwa said that Vision 2030 is supposed to give people a better livelihood. Looking at electricity, if the relevant authority is given the required support and resources, I think we will be able to fulfil the vision outlined by His Excellency the President of this country.
The mandate of REA must be to focus much on giving electricity to rural communities so that the rural communities will not be left behind in terms of development. When people get access to electricity, they will be able to use that electricity not only for domestic use but also for other entrepreneurs that will give them revenue. So we are saying electricity is very important and it contributes to the development of people’s livelihood.
So the REA Department must work harder in everything they are doing so that people’s livelihoods can be improved. The other thing that I would like to say is that since they realise that conventional electricity is difficult they should increase output from solar energy because that will ensure that people will get electricity faster and it should be cheaper. They should research through their engineers at REA on how best they can do this so that they can supply solar generated electricity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in schools, we are saying children must not be left behind in learning especially in this COVID-19 era. If children do not have access to electricity they are left behind in school. Children in rural areas must be able to access e-learning so that they catch up with children from the urban areas. Duty that is being charged on all solar products must be decreased from 60% to even 10% that can help us to ensure that people access electricity and solar power.
The budget allocation for REA must be increased so that the rural electrification programme can be a success. We have heard about biogas generated electricity, it is only known by the employee of REA but some of the people in the rural areas, especially from the constituencies that we represent like Mberengwa do not know anything about it. They are supposed to ensure that they spread the information to the majority of people so that REA is on the same page with the people. Training must be extended to many people and REA must put a lot of money in teaching people about various forms of electricity and biogas.
Even in the Bible, it is written that my people perish because of lack of knowledge. REA should take their message to the people and teach people and all existing infrastructure must be safeguarded and maintained properly; they must teach people on how to maintain the infrastructure. They must have a maintenance department. I am saying this from experience. In my constituency at Svitsa clinic, REA put up electricity some 10 years ago and now it is not working, it only worked for a year. There could be a very small problem that needs fixing yet people are going for years without electricity.
The chiefs benefited from the electricity programme. At Chief Mataruse they installed solar powered energy; that system only worked for a year and up to now it is down. There is no support service as well as maintenance and follow ups on people they would have supplied with electricity to see that they are not facing any challenges. With these few words, I would like to say I thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I am in support of this report.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to support the report brought by Hon. Gabbuza and seconded by Hon. Tsuura. I would like to talk about REA especially with regards to my constituency. People are failing to get electricity through the REA project; it is very expensive, and people are now thinking that the Hon. Member of Parliament will have money to give to people.
I met a lot of people who said they bought poles or have done partly some of the process. Sometimes they hire contractors who do not do the full job or sometimes they bring untreated poles. Only those who benefited from REA when it started are the ones who benefited properly. The rest where I come from in Makoni Central, there is nothing. All the funding that we hear is being given, where is it going? We have asked for an explanation on this funding, where is the money going to after people are being taxed on the rural electrification programme yet the rural areas are not even benefiting?
People are poor out there, they do not have enough money, and one of the Hon. Members said the tax should be increased. Let us first of all see how the current money is being spent before we can increase it. I thank you.
+HON. CHASI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to add my voice to this report that has been tabled by Hon. Gabbuza, seconded by Hon. Tsuura. The issue of electricity is an important one. I would like to thank the Government for the initiative of REA.
I also want to add that this is a task that needs patience because in the rural areas country-wide, people are suffering because they do not have electricity. In some areas, they do not even have firewood. People are chasing one another and fighting so that they can collect cow dung to use as fuel for cooking.
What the previous Hon. Member said is very important. In other areas, electricity cables will be passing through the school yet that particular school is not connected to the electricity. With the introduction of online learning due to COVID-19 pandemic, it then becomes impossible to apply it. Other schools in the rural areas were given computers and laptops but without electricity, everything is impossible.
At the clinics, the issue is the same; there are a lot of areas where there are electric cables that were just left idle. I think that the mandate of REA cannot be fulfilled if we say people in the rural areas should pay for their electricity to be connected because they do not have the money. It would be much easier if people in rural areas are connected to the electricity grid and they pay over a period of five years. This will allow them to use electricity to create income generating projects so that they repay the electricity connection fees.
Most people who are in the rural areas are old and for them to pay for electricity to be connected may be impossible because they do not have the money. I am appealing to the Government that it takes the burden for connection of electricity in the rural areas. After the electricity has been connected in the rural areas, people can now be billed to pay for electricity. If it can be implemented in this way, everything will be fine.
On the issue of solar energy, it is another pertinent issue. There are areas like Beitbridge, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and other areas which are always sunny and favourable to use solar energy. Therefore, I suggest that REA should also shift its focus of using electricity that is generated from Kariba and concentrate on using solar energy so that we can connect schools and boreholes through solar energy. There are some areas where there are boreholes but they can no longer pay for their electricity bills, meaning that they will be cut off from the water supplies. Therefore, if we use solar energy, they will have their water continually. If this was enabled, it would assist us a lot.
The issue of electricity will assist the nation in creating employment. The young men in the rural areas can begin to do welding as a source of income and others can engage themselves into agriculture and irrigating their crops using this solar energy.
I do not see it as justified that we do not have electricity in rural areas yet there are a lot of ways to create electricity. There are ways of generating electricity in rural areas. In my view, I think REA should make awareness campaigns in the rural areas so that people are aware that they can create electricity if you have bio-harvester. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to add my voice and ventilate on a few issues in the report by Hon. Gabbuza, seconded by Hon. Tsuura.
Firstly, I want to commend them for a report which is flawless bringing out very pertinent issues in terms of power generation, usage, plundering of the resources, how to avert, avoid and completely eradicate the scourge of plundering.
There are just a few issues that I want to touch on; the capacitation of REA, the modus operandi and how I propose that it be capacitated. The previous speaker who stood on this pedestal and platform spoke to the issues of the incapacity of the rural folk in terms of paying for electricity. The establishment and the laying of cables, especially for loads of kilometers are quite usurious. It is not for the faint hearted; if you do so, nine times out of 10, the material used is prone to vandalism.
We debated in this august House about the issues of copper that is being plundered or that is being pilfered. The thieves are actually vandalising and we suggested as a House that all copper dealership licences should be revoked because Mhangura Copper Mine which used to produce copper is closed until such time when we have production lines or when we can produce from our mines. That material, we are using the copper cables from REA and ZESA as the mine. What it means is that we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
We have the Minister of Energy crying foul in terms of vandalism and here we are with impunity continuously producing or issuing out licences. So we stood right here and requested that Government revokes those licences for the very reason that we do not have an operating mine that produces copious amounts of copper for cabling for ZESA and electricity production.
Having said that, I was on the point of the various amounts needed for laying those cables, so I agree and go further to say there is need for those that are going to come into bed with REA on a PPP basis, where there is no Government capital outlay; they should be given tax havens and tax concessions and holidays, pretty much along the same lines as the Special Economic Zones scenario where the investor comes in and takes holiday for five years or three years and they are situated in a geographical location whose tax incentives and modus operandi are actually tailored in a way that is going to encourage investment and copious amounts of the same.
So I encourage REA to go into partnership with producers of energy because this has become a global village. We can no longer operate in silo systems in a way that is not coordinated with the global community. We have a lot of people, a lot of banks and a lot of institutions that have a lot of money that they can utilise in energy generation at very low interest rates if we have to say that. All they want is to have a safe haven for their money and also get a little bit of income in terms of returns through robust resilient, effective and efficient business initiatives. I encourage that REA goes into bed with these institutions.
Secondly, if it has not been done, the issue of revoking the licences of copper dealership in Zimbabwe should be revoked immediately. Isaiah 6: 1 says, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord”. Let us use this report that has come here. It is not too late to make sure that we stop in the tracks the plundering of the resources that REA seeks to establish in the Rural Electrification Programme. Otherwise, what we are doing is that we are going three steps forward and four steps backwards.
I speak like this because we have got a derelict Dabuka marshalling yard which had about 300 kilometers of copper wire which was plundered from Gweru to Harare. That was a lot of cabling and if they had not been any plundering of the copper resources in ZESA and in the REA’s spheres of operation, we could have added into the clients of ZESA more than 600 000 more clients, but you will find that we still have about nearly half a million or 600 000 clients and what did ZESA use or REA use to replace the plundered resources? They used enough cabling for 600 000 more clients.
So, we could be having more than 1.2 million clients from the resources that were used to duplicate what was stolen from ZESA. The issue of the theft of copper cables is real. You find that there are no deterrent enough sentences that are going to make sure that the theft is stopped in its stray. To complement, augment the issues of curtailing the theft, I propose that we remove the licences and revoke those that are in place because we cannot for sure monitor and police the current scourge of plundering of those resources and theft which is gigantic and humongous in proportions.
The Third and last issue that I want to touch on is the issue of renewable sources of energy and other sources of energy that the report spoke to and about. It is that of bio-digesting. There is natural flow of human waste that is currently occurring in urban local authorities and there are bio-digesters that have been established. I talk about Harare Metropolitan Council that has defunct bio-digesters which have not been in use because they have not been repaired.
More so, it could be the reason why the workers are shying away from human waste in terms of capacitating, maintaining and rejuvenating those bio-digesters whose contract and agreement is in place and is currently subsisting. For the past 7 to 9 years, those bio-digesters are lying derelict and defunct.
May I make a clarion call therefore to resuscitate these bio-digesters - they could add a few megawatts into the system especially for Harare Metropolitan to alleviate the plight of the innocent, unsuspecting citizens of Harare in order that they do not pay these usurious amounts may be for 13 cents, 12 cents kilowatt hour or otherwise.
It is my hope and view that we will first deal with those bio-digesters before we establish more. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to vociferously, effectively and efficiently represent the people of Chegutu West Constituency who in name include; Lameck Nyamarango, Sarah Chikukwa, Marjory Ruzha, Patricia Nyamadzawo, Mr. Makoni and Mr. Green, who would have made me debate in the manner that I have to actually bring in their issues into this august House through Section 119 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that speaks to and about the representative role that I am endowed with. Thank you for the opportunity Mr. Speaker Sir and good afternoon.
HON. SVUURE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 5th July 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE ON THE FACT FINDING VISITS TO PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE INDUSTRIALISATION PROGRAMME
HON. SVUURE: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce on the fact finding visits to projects implemented under the Industrialisation Programme from 2019 to October 2021.
HON. S.K. MGUNI: I second.
HON. SVUURE:
1.0 Introduction
The Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce undertook fact finding visits to companies that received funds from the 2019 National Budget to date under the Industrialization Programme from the 18th to the 21st of October 2021. The visited companies are Chemplex Corporation, Olivine Industries, Sable Chemicals and Radar Investments. The funds were disbursed through the Industrial Development Corporation’s lending facility. The activity was funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB) under the Tax and Accountability Enhancement Project (TAEP) in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe.
2.0 Objectives
- To ascertain how the ZWL20 million loan received by Sable Chemicals, ZWL 170 million by Chemplex Corporation, ZWL 5 million by Olivine Industries and ZWL 20 million by Radar Investments were utilized; ii. To get a detailed breakdown of the projects that were implemented by loans extended to these companies by IDC in 2019, 2020 and 2021, including but not limited to projects that were completed, projects that are still in progress, the envisaged benefits of the projects in resuscitating industry and contributing to the attainment of Vision 2030;
iii. To appreciate the challenges faced in implementing the projects; and
- To appreciate challenges being faced by Willovale Motor Industries, if any, and proffer palatable recommendations.
3.0 Methodology
The Committee held oral evidence sessions with the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe and undertook fact finding visits to Chemplex Corporation, Olivine Industries, Sable Chemicals and Radar Investments. It held meetings with management of all the aforementioned companies and toured the projects that were implemented as a result of the loans granted to them by the IDCZ. The Committee took the opportunity of the said visits and visited Willowvale Motor Industries where it met with management and briefly toured the company’s premises.
4.0 Committee Findings
4.1 Brief Anatomy of the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe.
4.1.1 Shareholding Structures
The investment shareholding structures for the IDCZ range from 100% like Chemplex to 17% at Modzone, with Foreign Direct Investment partners like Italians in dimension stone mining and processing, Indians and Singaporeans in Surface Wilmar Investments and Olivine Holdings, Chinese in cement as at SINO Zimbabwe Cement Company and, Iranians at Modzone and Motira, and local conglomerates TA Holdings at Sable chemicals and ZFC.
4.1.2 Group Investments and Sector Clusters
The group investments comprise, large, medium and small, created, acquired or rescued, subsidiary and associate. The acquired or rescued are mostly capital-intensive industries with old and obsolete plant and equipment (Chemplex, Olivine, Willowvale Motor Industries, Deven Engineering, Modzone Enterprises, Ginhole Investments), being mainly subsidiaries except for Modzone Enterprises which is an associate. The relatively newly created regional and export oriented and automated strategic industries are Surface-Wilmar Investments, Sunway City, Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company, Motira (Private Limited) being mostly associates.
Sector coverage-The group covers a wide cross section of sectors, in Argo Industries, Motor and Transport, Glass, Textiles, Packaging, Metal extrusion, Industrial minerals, Animal and health, furniture, chemical and fertiliser, dimension stone, insurance and real estate.
4.1.3 Statutory Objectives of IDCZ:
- With the approval of the Minister, to establish and conduct new industries and industrial undertakings.
- To facilitate, promote, guide and assist in the financing of: (i) new industries and industrial undertakings (ii) schemes for the expansion, better organisation and modernisation of and the more efficient carrying out of operations in existing industries and industrial undertakings.
- Without prejudice to the function and powers conferred upon other relevant agencies or institutions of the Government and so far, as maybe practicable, to assist and support the development of small scale or medium scale industries and industrial undertakings.
- Within the scope of its functions and powers, to implement policies of the Government in regard to decentralisation of industry, choice of technology and such other matters connected with industrial development as the Minister may specify for that purpose.
- To undertake the development of management and technical expertise in the carrying out of operations in industries and industrial undertakings, including the development of expertise in project analysis, evaluation of investment opportunities and the provision of consultancy services.
- To take such measures as maybe necessary or expedient to enable the Corporation to exercise direct and effective control over enterprises in which it has made an investment; to the end that the economic requirements of Zimbabwe maybe met and industrial development within maybe planned, expedited and conducted on sound business principles.
4.1.4 Mandate, Vision and Mission
The IDCZ is mandated to establish and conduct new industries and industrial undertakings. Its vision is to contribute to the transformation of Zimbabwe to a value adding and beneficiating middle income economy. Lastly, the IDCZ’s mission is to identify, develop, mobilise resources and finance industrial project opportunities into commercially viable ventures in partnership with local, regional and international investors, and technology and market access partners.
4.1.5 The Industrial Development Fund
The Corporation is allocated funds through the National Budget under Programme 2 of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Budget known as the Industrialization programme. The corporation commenced lending activities in 2019, after receiving seed capital from the government as its sole shareholder. It opened a special bank account where all the lending fund movements are being tracked for easier control and transparency. The fund is in local currency (RTGS) and is managed as a revolving facility, meaning that as other beneficiaries repay, the reserve being built becomes available to others. Total funds received from government by IDCZ from 2019 up to 31 October 2021 are as follows, July and December 2019, ZWL$64 000 000, 2020 April to end of year, ZWL$ 60 000 000 and in 2021 from July to end of October ZWL$ 100 000 000. This gives a sum of ZWL $ 224 000 000 as at 31 October 2021.
The fund targets corporates who are either existing or new who are into manufacturing and value adding activities across the country and priority is given to those who are able to exploit our local currency to export or have the potential to do so or to import substitute.
4.1.6 Disbursement summary -The total amount disbursed by IDCZ as at 19 September 2021 was ZWL$289 522 580 to fifteen companies and out of these, six managed to pay off their loan obligations while the remainder were still running.
4.1.7 Interest Rates & Charges- At inception, the corporation started at 15% per annum, then reviewed to 25% per annum up to the time of the visit where it was charging 35% per annum. The interest rates are guided by the RBZ rates for the productive sector. The corporation also charges an administration fee of 2% of the total amount disbursed to cater for visits related to monitoring to ensure that funds are being used for the approved purpose.
4.2 Disbursements Summary for the Visited Companies
4.2.1 The Acting General Manager for the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe, Mr. Tranos Mutingwende presented before the Committee the funds that were disbursed by the Corporation to the four visited companies from 2019 to end of October 2021 as illustrated in the table below.
Name of Company |
Capital Expenditure (ZW$) |
Working Capital (ZW$) |
Total (ZW$) |
Chemplex Corporation |
68 000 000 |
102 000 000 |
170 000 000 |
Olivine Industries |
- |
5 000 000 |
5 000 000 |
Sable Chemicals |
- |
20 000 000 |
20 000 000 |
Radar Investments |
10 000 000 |
10 000 000 |
20 000 000 |
Total |
78 000 000 |
77 000 000 |
215 000 000 |
The corporation submitted a document before the Committee that summarises the general purpose of the funds disbursed to the above companies as well as the utilization of the same funds which was in line with their business proposals. Having been equipped with this information, the Committee conducted field visits to Chemplex Corporation, Olivine Industries, Sable Chemicals and Radar investments to verify the above, assess the progress made in the implementation of the projects and appreciate the challenges faced if any, as illustrated in the subsequent paragraphs.
4.3 Chemplex Corporation
4.3.1 The committee visited Chemplex Corporation on the 18th of October 2021. It was briefed by the Acting CEO, Mr J. Chigwende that the group received ZWL$60 million in 2020 and ZWL$110 million in 2021 from IDCZ. This sums up to ZWL$170 million received as at 31 October 2021, a confirmation of the submissions from the IDCZ. The ZWL$110 million was for capital projects and working capital to enhance capacities and efficiencies in the fertilizer value chain and traded chemicals. The funds were split as follows ZWL$68m (US$0.8m) for fertilizer plants capital projects and ZW$32m (US$0.4m) for working capital for traded chemicals and veterinary remedies. The division was categorised as essential services under COVID-19 as its products which range from sanitizers, water chemicals, cattle dips and fertilizers were key in surviving the scourge as well as curing the January disease that ravaged livestock at the beginning of 2021. It is important to note that the loan was repaid fully and that it was part bailout for defaulted account by City of Harare then of ZWL $370 million for the supplied water treatment chemicals. The subsequent paragraphs give a detailed breakdown of the utilization of the ZWL$170 million that was granted to Chemplex and its impact.
4.4 Zimphos
4.4.1 The company was granted ZWL$ 34 million from the ZWL $ 60 million that was received by Chemplex Corporation in 2020. ZWL$ 23.4 million was used to procure raw materials for water chemicals production namely bauxite, sulphuric acid and coal whilst the balance of ZWL $10.6million was used to service the water treatment production plant, (boilers, compressors and other spares) to enhance increased production.
4.4.2 In 2021, Chemplex Corporation allocated ZWL$60 million to ZIMPHOS for the purchase of a new Granulation Plant and a new Blending plant. ZWL $42.5million was utilized for purchasing the former and ZWL $25.5million the later. At the time of the visit, the two plants were not yet delivered at ZIMPHOS, however the procurement process was in motion and delivery and commissioning was expected to take place in January 2022 which was 12-15 weeks from the time of the visit. The selection process of a Civil Works supplier was in motion, running parallel with the equipment manufacture and delivery.
4.4.3 The loan improved the supply of water chemicals by almost double especially to City of Harare where an average of four truckloads were done daily from the previous two resulting in improved provision of clean water supply to the City of Harare. It contributed to the improvement of capacity utilization from 45% to 75%. Plant efficiencies also increased which resulted in price reduction of over 30% in 2021 supplies to the customers. However, the City of Harare debt skyrocketed to ZWL$400 million and as at 31 October 2021, it was at ZWL $90 million as required deliveries were being met but with default payments.
4.5 G & W Industrial Minerals
4.5.1 Mr. Chigwende briefed the Committee that, there was growing demand of agricultural lime for both commercial customers and Government input schemes and stock feeds for various customers. These products were in short supply but G & W has vast limestone resources to be exploited for these products. The company operations had been suspended over the years. Recently, an amount of US$500 000 was injected from own resources to resume operations for the production of affordable agricultural lime and the ZWL$ 10 million from the government. The latter was spent on spares and repairs on the equipment that was at the time of the visit close to 90% available for full production of 3500 tonnes per month to 5000 tonnes per month. The plant was producing 1000 tonnes per month.
4.5.2 Production has already started at one of the mines in Concession area and refurbishment work being completed at a mine in Rushinga. At the time of the visit, production of 3500 tonnes per month of agricultural lime was projected to be mined in the fourth quarter of 2021 and it was projected to increase to 5000tpm from 2022 onwards. The plant was also to produce stock feeds. It was highlighted that an additional amount to the tune of ZWL$7million working capital was needed for purchasing of spares and packaging material to ensure production and supply of at least 3000t pm.
4.6 Chemplex Animal and Public Health (CAPH)
4.6.1 Chemplex Corporation commands a market share of around 55% on animal and public health chemicals through its division, Chemplex Animal and Public Health (CAPH) and has a potential to grow the market share to more than 70%. The division manufactures cattle dips, tick grease, worm remedies, antibiotics and wound remedies. It also manufactures Malaria vector control chemicals, tsetse fly control chemicals, grain protectants, poultry flea dust, rodenticide and sanitizers. Strategic raw materials for cattle dips and public health chemicals are imported from China, India, and South Africa. Adequately financed, CAPH has the potential to supply dipping chemicals and tick grease requirements for the department of Veterinary Services. The Division also has a potential to manufacture and supply grain protectants to protect the bumper harvest from the Pfumvudza initiative, thus enhancing the country’s food security.
4.6.2 CAPH got ZWL$17million from the ZWL$110 million disbursed to Chemplex Corporation by the government through the IDCZ. At the time of the visit, ZWL$7 million worth of raw materials had an allocation at the RBZ auction system queuing for foreign currency release. The balance of ZWL $ 10 million was yet to get foreign currency allocation. In 2020, the division was given ZWL$10 million from the ZWL$ 60 million that was received by Chemplex Corporation from IDCZ. The money was used to procure raw materials for the production of an equivalent of 4 000 litres of sanitisers, raw materials for the production of cattle dips and packaging materials. Part of the money was also used to modify the existing dips plant for the production of sanitisers. At the time of the visit, production and supply of sanitizers was still ongoing. The division also produced cattle dips and these were supplied to the department of Veterinary Services and other customers. The dips helped to mitigate the impact of the January disease and the programme was still ongoing. As a result of the loan, capacity utilization increased by 5% from 25%.
4.7 Chemplex Marketing
4.7.1 The Committee was briefed by the Acting CEO, Mr. Chigwende that Chemplex Corporation has a market share in traded chemicals of around 15% through its operating division Chemplex Marketing. It has the potential to increase to 60% from its strong brand and a huge order book which it fails to fulfill due to working capital funding challenges. Cognisant that the ballooning of the import bill is precipitated by the importation of industrial chemicals for mining, food industries, water treatment chemicals for local authorities which can be produced locally, it gives a huge potential for Chemplex Marketing to exploit the market opportunity through production of water treatment chemicals.
4.7.2 The division got ZWL$ 16 million from the ZWL$ 60 million that was granted to Chemplex in 2020. The money was used for importation of raw materials for the manufacture of water treatment chemicals. These are sulphuric acid, hydrated lime and aluminum sulphate for portable water and Power Station water purification chemicals. The loan resulted in improved supply of clean water through provision of adequate water treatment chemicals to the City of Harare and other customers. There is also the uninterrupted supply of power station water chemicals at ZPC Hwange for national power generation.
4.7.3 The division got ZWL$15 million from the ZWL$110 million that was granted to Chemplex Corporation in 2021. At the time of the visit, ZWL$7 million worth of raw materials had allocation at the Auction Market waiting for foreign currency release. The balance of ZWL $ 8 million was yet to get foreign currency allocation.
4.8 Challenges at Chemplex Corporation
4.8.1 The Acting CEO outlined to the Committee, the challenges bedeviling the group. He said that although the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe promised to support on forex allocation, not enough forex has been allocated to the corporation as at 31 October 2021. Compounding the financial challenges was that, the Government through its fertilizer programmes owes Chemplex group (ZFC, ZimPhos, Dorowa) US$11.6m (approximately ZW$1billion) for winter fertilizer supply, thereby holding back funding for summer preparedness. The financial situation was worsened further by the City of Harare’s debt of over ZWL $90 million and the slow payment of the debt was choking the supply chain. The non-payment of the VAT debt by the City of Harare has been a burden on the group.
4.8.2 Electricity charges at Dorowa Mine are at 60% in United States dollars and 40% in local currency (RTGS$) whilst 70% of the group’s products are supplied to local markets in Zimbabwean dollars. Hence, he appealed for the electricity charges to either be wholly levied in local currency or for the 60% to be in local currency and the 40% to be in foreign currency.
4.9 Assistance Required by Chemplex Corporation
4.9.1 Mr. Chigwende briefed the Committee on a number of projects that needs funding assistance from the IDCZ. These are Dorowa magnetite project for US$2.5m, Dorowa Phosphates project for US$13m in tranches, ZimPhos sulphuric acid plant for US$9m, CAPH projects for US$1m and GMP plant for US$3m-US$6m, Bauxite Mine purchase for approximate US$2.5m and Phosphoric acid plant refurbishment for US$30m (medium term). He also highlighted the need and importance of government support for the projects to get some momentum. Also that Government fertilizer orders should be released early in the year for ample time to prepare and collections to happen early and avoid congestion. Ideally, the ZW$ funding for fertilizer should be put in place as working capital and cash covers for forex.
4.9.2 Further to the above, he appealed to the government through the Committee for the enactment and operationalisation of a Statutory Instrument that awards all government tenders to Chemplex Corporation for water treatment chemicals, cattle dipping chemicals, grain pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural lime. Also, a Statutory Instrument that increases procurement threshold for buying locally from US$300 000 to US$1 million to be operationalised and raw materials for the production of cattle dips and water chemicals to be duty exempted in support of the restocking programme and clean water supply.
4.9.3 Lastly, he appealed for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to continue prioritising allocation of forex to capital projects and project funding. At the time of the visit, this has started happening and should just be followed through.
4.10 Olivine Industries
4.10.1 Olivine Industries manufacture a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) like margarine, baked beans, bathing and washing soaps, cooking oil among others. The company accessed ZW$ 5 million from IDCZ for working capital to procure raw materials for soap and margarine production lines. The raw materials procured are palm steering for soaps, I.E fats for margarine, caustic soda, butter flavour and fragrances for making Jade soap.
Challenges and Impact of the Loan
4.10.2 The CEO, Mr. S. Mangani briefed the Committee that Olivine industries require around US$ 5million to US$ 6million per month to operate optimally on its various product lines. At the time of the visit, the company was operating at 30% capacity due to limitations precipitated by the lack of access to adequate foreign currency from the Auction System. Hence the ZW$5m which at that time translated to around US$ 60 000 was utilised to purchase ancillary items which had no significant impact on the overall company performance with reference to job creation, import substitution, and exports.
4.11 Radar Investments (Pvt) Ltd T/A Macdonald Bricks
4.11.1 The company operates two brick making plants in Bulawayo under a brand name Macdonald Bricks at Willsgrove and Montgomery plants. The two plants operate within clay mining claims with a combined resource that is expected to last for another 80 years. Their clay deposits produce high quality Standards Association of Zimbabwe certified bricks that meet both local and export standards. The two plants complement each other as Montgomery focuses on face bricks while Willsgrove focuses on the high volume non face bricks. All Macdonald brick products are clay based and range as, Face Bricks mainly used for aesthetic reasons, Industrial Bricks commonly used for load bearing structures and Common Bricks used for building walls.
4.11.2 Radar Investments (Pvt) Ltd was granted ZWL $20million loan funding for the purchase of raw materials and for working capital to enhance capacity and efficiencies in the construction value chain. The company split the funding as follows, ZWL $10million for plant and equipment for its Willsgrove Brick Factory, ZWL$5 million for the purchase of raw materials and ZW$5 million for working capital.
4.11.3 The Committee toured the Willsgrove plant and witnessed the factory sheds/structures that were built with some of the loan funds to house the new brick making equipment that was imported by the company from China. The sheds were made of new steel beams and roofed with Inverted Box Rib (IBR) Zinc roofing sheets.
Impact of Loan
4.11.4 As a result of the upgrading of the plant and equipment at Willsgrove, the company has a combined annual output of 100 million bricks per annum. Prior to accessing the loan, the company was operating at 40% capacity due to financial constraints however, at the time of the visit it was operating at +/- 80% capacity due to the positive impact of the loan received from IDCZ. The introduction of new technology at the new Willsgrove plant resulted in low production cost which was being cascaded down to the customers through reduced prices by 3% per pallet of bricks. The company, directly and indirectly created employment for +/-300 people. This is through direct and downstream employment in transport, packaging and other plant spares cluster industries.
4.12 Sable Chemicals
4.12.1 Sable Chemicals manufactures Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers from ammonia gas imported from South Africa using railway tankers. The importation follows the impairment of its electrolysis plant which sucked ammonia gas from the air using the electrolysis process which was using a disproportionate amount of electricity. For every tonne of imported ammonia gas, the company produces 2.1 tonnes of fertilizer. It commenced its operations in 1960 and is the sole producer of nitrogenous fertilizer in Zimbabwe with a capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (AN) fertilizers per year which can supply the entire market.
4.12.2 The General Manager, Mr. B. Nyajeka briefed the Committee that the company was granted ZWL$ 20million loan for the purchase of ammonia gas, a key raw material in the manufacture of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers. The company initially applied for ZW$40 million on 25 February 2020 when the exchange was at US$1:18 ZWL$ which at that time was equivalent to US$2.2m which was enough to purchase 4000 tons of Ammonia gas for the manufacture of 8 000 tonnes of AN. However, on 28 July 2020 an amount of ZWL$ 19.45 million net of charges was disbursed to Sable Chemicals. On 7 August 2020 the company went to the RBZ auction and got the foreign currency at a rate of 1:85, equivalent to US$229 000. The company paid for ammonia equivalent of 407 tonnes and produced 814 tonnes of AN. The fertilizer was sold to ZFC, Omnia & National Tested Seeds. The company paid back the loan on the 30th of June 2021. Hence, when the Committee toured the plant there were traces of manufacturing of fertilizer taking place at Sables Chemicals but the fertilizer that was produced as a result of the loan was long sold.
Impact of Loan and appeals by the company
4.12.3 Mr. Nyajeka, reiterated the importance of the loan received from the IDCZ as it improved the capacity utilization of Sable Chemicals from 15% in 2020 to 80% in 2021. It also contributed to downstream employment in the agricultural sector, import substitution as well as foreign currency savings
The General Manager requested for the timely release of ZWL$ funding by the Treasury to local fertilizer manufacturers to allow for perennial production of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers as this increases the availability of ammonia gas. He also reiterated the need for capacitation of the Land Bank (AFC) and continuation of the IDCZ’s finance facility to fully implement the Import Substitution Program.
4.13 Willowvale Motor Industries
4.13.1 The Committee visited WMI and it was briefed by the Acting General Manager Mr. Matanhire that the company was established in 1961 and IDCZ bought the company in 1967 and opened it for contractual assembly. The company was restructured into an automotive group called Motec Holdings under a joint venture partnership between Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDCZ), Mazda Corporation of Japan and Itochu Corporation (C Itoh & Co then) of Japan. This agreement was signed in 1989 and expired in 2014. WMI, a subsidiary of Motec Holdings (as it was then), started to concentrate on assembling the Mazda brand, achieving significant gains in productivity. Over the years, the partnership contributed to the enhancement of production capacity, quality and skills development to enable the company to produce world class vehicles for Zimbabwe and the region. The assembly line is one of the most flexible in the world as it is capable of producing any automotive products that include passenger vehicles, light and heavy commercial vehicles, bus chassis and tractors. The company was operating on contract assembly basis and from 2017 to 2020 has assembled
BAIC picks-ups from SKD kits. Below are vehicle brands (Baic and Mazda) assembled at WMI.
Challenges and Assistance needed at the company
4.13.2 The committee was informed by Mr. Matanhire that WMI was bedeviled by a plethora challenges and chief among them was a debt of US$ 2.1 million owed to suppliers of vehicle kits in China. The debt antagonized the relationship between the company and the suppliers resulting in the later not sending the kits to WMI. Further to the above, some of the equipment was obsolete. It was backdated to 1920, 1961 and 1999. This is exemplified by the secondhand painting facilities that were purchased in 1961. Having said this, the Acting General Manager appealed for an overhaul retooling of WMI.
4.13.3 Further to the above, the Acting General Manager said that the company needs an injection of approximately US$ 15 million to produce 150 cars per month and US$5-8milllion for the overall retooling exercise. He proposed that there was need for the government to buy a minimum of 4000 units/cars per annum to keep the company viable as was before.
Committee Observations
- The loans were used for the intended purposes.
- The loans contributed to increased capacity utilisation and employment creation.
- There is need to adequately fund the Industrial Development Fund so as to contribute substantially to the re-industrialization of the country.
- Erratic disbursement of the Industrial Fund by the Treasury affects the planned projects of beneficiaries as the money loses value through inflation due to prolonged periods between the date of approval of the loan and the date of disbursement.
- Most equipment at Willowvale Motor Industries was obsolete and the entire factory roof needs to be refurbished.
- Electricity charges in foreign currency at Dorowa Mine are too high.
Committee Recommendations
- The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should timeous disburse the budgeted Industrial Fund to the IDCZ for forward lending so as to circumvent waning of the value of the fund through inflation in particular and for it to contribute substantially to the re-industrialisation of the Zimbabwean economy in general. Hence, Treasury should make sure that by August 2022, all the budgeted funds for Industrialization are released to the IDCZ.
- The Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should proactively support the local Motor Manufacturing Industry by providing a facility which guarantee loans to civil servants for the purchase of locally produced cars a situation prevailing in South Africa and Botswana by the end of 2023.
- The Ministry of Energy and Power Development should engage the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) by the end of July 2022, to lower electricity rates in foreign currency (USD) at Dorowa Mine from 60% to at least 40% so as to improve the viability of the Chemplex group, as 70% of products produced by the group are consumed locally where payments are made in local currency.
- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through its Auction System should immediately prioritise allocating foreign currency to project funding, particularly the beneficiaries/companies that receive loans from the Industrial Fund for capital projects or import substitution.
- The Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, by 31 November 2022, should enact a Statutory Instrument that bans the importation of phosphate which is produced in abundance at Dorowa Mine.
- The Committee is in support of the enactment and operationalisation of the enactment and operationalisation of a Statutory Instrument that awards all Government tenders to Chemplex Corporation for water treatment chemicals, cattle dipping chemicals, grain pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural lime. In this regard, the Government should come up with this Statutory Instrument by the end of December 2023.
Conclusion
In reiteration, the Committee commends the above beneficiaries of the Industrialization programme for positively utilising the loans extended to them by the IDCZ. However, the Committee appeals to the Government of Zimbabwe to continue support the reindustrialisation program by allocating more funds to the Industrialisation programme. I thank you.
HON. NGUNI: Thank You Hon. Speaker for affording me the opportunity to support this motion. I would like to add my voice to the monitoring and evaluation as well as the injection of capital, especially in relation to the budget and reviving of our economy in relation to our industries in Zimbabwe, as well as the purchasing of equipment and machinery that is necessary in this country. Hon. Speaker, Sir, Zimbabwe is a country that can develop quickly if we follow up on all the monies that are disbursed to various ministries. When you look closely at people in industries who wish to uplift their companies, what is dragging them behind is the money that they are being given. I will say this in relation to Olivine Industries which is one of the companies with potential to grow. The management that we met expressed their concerns and wished they could increase their manpower and grow the company so as to be able to employ more people. They even showed us the machinery that they had imported using their own funds but has been sitting idle for more than two years because of lack of resources needed to mount and connect the machines to electricity and water. What was now dragging them back was the capital which was supposed to be deposited to them from the budget. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is supposed to be above other ministries in terms of budget allocation but if you look at the budget given to this Ministry it falls far short to capitalise the companies needing assistance. I urge us as a nation to look at these companies which can assist us create foreign currency but they are not being funded sufficiently. If we manufacture more of our local products, this could also result in price decreases. If you look at the goods that we import, they need to be transported and the transport costs a lot, which effectively results in price increases and failure to pay our workers. Most of the companies have shut down and the only way to revive these companies is to create a meaningful budget for the indigenisation programme. These companies can assist in creating employment for our youths who are hard hit by unemployment. Many people are leaving the country to seek greener pastures because of lack of employment. If our industries are revived, the number of people leaving the country would decrease and most of them would prefer to work in their country. Most of the people that leave to go and work outside the country are subjected to brutal working conditions and they do not enjoy working out there. Opening new companies in this country would create a conducive environment for them to work at home. Another company that I want to cite is Willowvale Motor industry. I would want to mention that we saw top of the range executive vehicles, durable, very strong and suitable for the Zimbabwean terrain. These vehicles can compete with vehicles from the foreign market but what I noticed is that they lack funding. So the Ministry of Industry and Commerce needs to be funded.
Another issue is that of giving civil servants loans. If you do not give money to civil servants, how are they going to purchase these vehicles and who will purchase the vehicles? We need to grow this company so it can manufacture more cars. We met with our Minister for Industry and Commerce who reiterated that we should buy local products. This could also help grow our industries like Olivine and Willowvale Motors to have the capacity to supply enough goods for its consumers. Then there is the Buy Zimbabwe initiative – in other countries they restrict the importation of goods that are locally manufactured. We also have to do the same in order to protect our local products such as cement, margarine and even cooking oil which is produced at Olivine industries. If you look at products produced locally you do not even see them on the shelves. The money that they target on a daily basis is US$6000 but they do not have the money. Government should inject capital in such companies as Sable Chemicals in Kwekwe. They were telling us that they pay a lot of money to import chemicals used in the production of fertiliser. If they are however given enough capital they can manufacture a lot of fertiliser and even export some of the fertiliser. They mentioned that the money raised from exports was a lot and they could bring in foreign currency and probably stabilise inflation. There are a lot of good things that can happen to our economy if we produce our products locally. We should not import more than we export in this country. This could assist us in managing the inflation that is ruining our economy. Currently we are dependent on importation and this is fuelling inflation. When you look at the amount disbursed to assist the companies, it was $240 mil dollars. If you convert this amount to foreign currency, you will also see that I am not criticising what is not there, it is something that we are not taking note of. I encourage that if we are preparing such a report, we need to analyse and scrutinise because in the long term, this could assist. Most of the countries in industrial revolution like India, China, Malaysia have injected more funds into industry and it produced fruits. Their fruits seem like they are better than us but if we put our heads together, we will see the importance of funding the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The other thing which was mentioned on the issue of funding, we noted from the industry that we visited, they delay releasing funds and by the time these funds are released, the currency would have lost its value. I want to encourage that there should be no delay in the disbursements of monies. Companies would also have made quotations of the items that they want to import but by the time the funds are released, the money would not be enough for the goods that they would want to import, hence they end up in debt with their suppliers and they fail to acquire enough machinery.
We were fortunate enough that all the industries that we visited had managed to pay up the debt they had incurred out of the shortfalls that they had made. That was caused by the delay of funds to be released. They would want the money to be released in three months but it would take six to eight months to get to them. I urge that after funds have been allocated, disbursements should be done as soon as possible and not to delay the process because inflation is one of the challenges.
I want to thank you Hon. Speaker and the good job that was done by the whole Committee and the sacrifice that they made going around the country following up on all the monies that Government would have released to various organisations. I pray that this would be done regularly, they should monitor regularly all the funds released by the Government. The Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs in Charge of Implementation and Monitoring headed by Hon. Minister Dr. Gumbo, should be visible and make follow-ups to see that there is no company that misuses the funds that have been allocated to it. Monies have been allocated to ministries but there are no boreholes, roads and clinics that are being constructed. I urge ministries to be visible and to be on the ground.
HON. SVUURE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 21st June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SVUURE, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Thirteen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 21st June, 2022.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBAWE
Thursday, 16th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
NON-ADVERSE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to
inform the House that I have received Non-Adverse Reports from the Parliamentary Legal Committee, on the following:-
Statutory Instrument Nos. 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 103 and 104 published in the Gazette during the month of May, 2022.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Today is a Thursday and as you would know, it is time for Questions without Notice. I do have apologies that have been submitted by the following Ministers: -
Hon. General (Rtd) Dr. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care;
Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs;
Hon. Dr. A. J. Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement;
Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development;
Hon. F. Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development;
Hon. Dr. K. Coventry, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation;
Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement;
Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development;
Disappointingly, in the Chamber today, we only have two Ministers so far, and very disappointingly I must say. The Hon. Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, and the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, as usual, Hon. M. Chombo. Assuming the other Ministers will join us, can we start with these two Ministers here present?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you Hon. President. My question is for the attention of the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. Hon. Minister, what is the policy on illegal settlers on resettlement land in terms of the police arresting them? Is it that they have to first of all report to the Ministry of Lands before the arrest or if it is an illegal settlement, they have to proceed to arrest?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira for the question. Yes, illegal settlement is not allowed, it is illegal from the word ‘illegal’ itself. However, police do not just go and start arresting people; what needs to happen is to establish.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Minister, you are not connected.
HON. KAZEMBE: Yes, it is the Ministry of Lands that complains to the police that this person is settled illegally because it is the Ministry of Lands that can determine whether the person is settled illegally or legally. That is how it works. I would like to sincerely thank the Hon. Senator.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. We were told that the issuance of important documents such as birth certificates and national identification documents has now been decentralised. My question is, I was hoping that the influx of people at the Central Registry Office in Harare would go down but we still see long queues winding there. I am at pains to understand what exactly is happening. Do we have an infinite number of people acquiring birth certificates and national identification documents? Thank you Mr. President.
*THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Mr. President. First and foremost, I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for the question. Yes indeed, it also surprised us as to why people are still following long queues when the President has decentralised. We started a programme of issuing birth certificates and national identification documents and other documents under the programme called mobile registration. As we speak, the process is ongoing; officers are on the ground in all the rural areas. I may want to inform the august House that on the 30th of May, the number of people who had acquired national registration documents exceeded 508 000 and those who acquired birth certificates were 549 000, including such documents as death certificates which are also being acquired there. We do not know why people are now forming long queues. The programme which was launched by His Excellency the President is moving smoothly. We are in the middle of executing this programme and we did not expect the queues to go away within two or three months. The programme is ongoing until September. We hope that by the time we reach September, everyone will have acquired registration documents and birth certificates to those eligible to receive such documents. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President. My question goes to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. Hon. Minister, you will recall that there were some houses which were built 10 to 15 years ago countrywide and to date, some have not been completed. When do you think they can resume and finish the construction of those houses? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. President and thank you very much Hon. Sen. Mohadi for that question. Surely, we have incomplete buildings dating back to – some of them to almost 20 years or more. Most of the projects that were stalled was mainly because of financial difficulties. What we did is, we went all over the country to make a list of all the buildings which were incomplete and made a requisition for funding from the Ministry of Finance. Some of them have taken shape like in Lupane and in Siyakobvu and many buildings are shaping up right now but we still fall short of financing. It is something that my Ministry is seized with and also the Central Government. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MANYAU: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. We have a lot of people who are living with disability who are self-employed and are into handicrafts. If we are to sell their products outside the country, we will be empowering them and the country will also gain foreign currency. What measures do you have in place to assist us as people living with disability to ensure that we find markets to sell our products? As people living with disability, we do not have the necessary exposure to these markets despite the fact that we have very good art craft work that can earn us a lot of money. We may be taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who are underpaying the disabled. Thank you.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. MUSABAYANA): I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for the pertinent question. First and foremost, I would like to talk about the issue of trade. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, we strongly do as the President has suggested in international trade. You will observe that a lot of the work that is being done by ZimTrade, which is a company that incorporates the Government, which is in partnership with the Government and the private sector. It mainly looks at the issue of opening up markets in countries the world-over. As we speak right now, this year we were in Dubai for Expo 2020. A lot of the goods that were on display are curios such as sculptures and other things. As Government, we shouldered that burden to ensure that all those that are into handicrafts and crockery work, commonly referred to as doilies, be ferried free of charge and be sold at such markets. This shows that the Government is truly interested in ensuring that those people that are living with disabilities are given markets.
We have several places in this country such as hotels or other places where people that are living with disability are there and they have their handicrafts. They are even getting awards. I will give an example of Mawati in Marondera. There is a woman that we found there. She uses her feet and she does sewing and crochet things. She exports a lot of products out of the country. So that lodge or hotel has received several accolades from outside the country. We do not want those that are living with disability to just produce their curios, but they should go to ZIMTRADE or even as individuals and they will be assisted. They will be empowered in terms of what the requirements for exports are. So as a Government, we will then see how best we can assist them so that when they have these international exhibitions outside the country we assist them.
There is an opportunity. There are markets to be explored and to be tapped into. As a Ministry, we urge them to work hand in glove with us so that the youth and those living with disabilities are assisted. We have a desk for the youths as well and we will be coming up with a desk for the people that are living with disabilities in everything that we do. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to pose my question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Affairs. Mr. President, what is Government policy as regards the bilateral relations with other countries such as South Africa? They are busy clamouring that Zimbabwe should be investigated by the international world because of the disappearance of people, specifically Blessing Ali who disappeared. What is Government policy because the police are still investigating and yet this is now being broadcast on television stations in South Africa?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. MUSABAYANA): I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi for the question. Mr. President, first and foremost, as a country - Zimbabwe is guided by our Constitution which was adopted in 2013. If you look at section 12, it says as Foreign Affairs we are guided in the manner on which we conduct our operations as regards our relationship with other countries.
Zimbabwe is an independent country and it has a legitimate Government that leads this country. It is a sovereign State. We do not care what outsiders are saying as regards our politics or our governance for as long as our Government is abiding by its Constitution. We have very good bilateral relations with South Africa. The head of the South African country and ourselves are brothers. They work hand in glove with each other. This may have emanated from either newspapers or those which are on television or on social media who just give their opinion as happens during this time of the year. We have the Commonwealth meeting that is there next week in Rwanda. It is common cause that if we have such meetings, we have amongst us people that advocate for punitive measures against Zimbabwe. They want to portray Zimbabwe in bad light in terms of governance when in fact that is not the correct position. The people that are making those allegations are doing so as individuals. It would then become our concern if it were the South African Government that then is raising such aspersions.
You should never listen to them. Dismiss them as social media. No one is going to come in here and investigate anything in this country unless if our Government has allowed them to come and do so. There is no one who has the right to come and do that in our country. Who should be investigating who because we are a sovereign State. Furthermore, let me put it on record that we work very well with SADC and we abide by the SADC principles as well as the African Union as we are a member State of the African Union who is in good standing with the African Union. So it has not come from either SADC or the African Union. It is just a trivial issue. You should not waste your airtime or you data on that. Just ignore them. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. We are aware that you are responsible for law and order in the country but we saw in Chitungwiza people’s houses being burnt. People were going berserk on the streets. As the Minister responsible for law and order and our security in this country, is anything being done in terms of such an incident so that peace is maintained? I thank you Mr. President.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Let me thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for such a pertinent question that she has raised that as the Government of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage which is responsible for the police and maintenance of law and order and peace, what are we doing to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. First and foremost Mr. President, it is something that we do not expect to happen from Zimbabwean citizens in a free and independent country with its own Constitution, as has been earlier on referred to by my colleague, the Hon. Minister.
Before I say where we are going, it is important to explain so that everyone gets to know where we are coming from or where we stand. As has been referred to by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, we have a problem with people that whenever there is an offence that is alleged to have been committed, they politicise the issue. An offence is just but an offence regardless the stature of the person, whether tall or short, thin or fat and belongs to a certain religion or any political party; that is neither here nor there. The law will take its own course. The people that were there have said this was a case between lovers which went bad and the offence will be treated just like that.
As leaders of political parties, I urge you not to clothe any offence that has been committed with a political party. The case is being investigated to get to the bottom of what happened. As has been correctly pointed out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, whenever there is a gathering that is going to occur; as has been pointed out, we have people that have an anti-Zimbabwe agenda and that everyone should look down upon Zimbabwe and label us as the bad guys. They do it every year whenever there is an international gathering, whether it is the United Nations or anything. Before we get there, there will be allegations of abductions and certain things. The script is the same.
What I want the Zimbabwean citizens to know is that Zimbabwe is not a banana republic. Zimbabwe has its own laws. If there were others that used to do hat and get away with it, that was in the past. Our Government and police force has people that do their work diligently. When I get to the question that Hon. Sen. Tongogara has asked, it is a case that is under investigation and we are not going to leave any stone unturned. We know that they are reading from the same script that they would want to cast Zimbabwe in bad light as a lawless nation.
We want to tell this House that the alleged offender who was a fugitive from justice as we speak now is now in police custody. The truth will come out and I will not go deeper into the case because it will now be appearing before the courts. The alleged murderer or suspect has now been arrested and is in the hands of the police. He is already giving a narration of what transpired. Hon. Sen. Tongogara and the Zimbabwean citizens should be free to live well because this country abides by the law. We have a police force that is responsible for law and order. This country will never become ungovernable. Those that committed arson, it does not matter whether they belong to any political party or whether they are tall or short, whoever falls foul of the law shall be arrested and the world over, we are renowned as police officers that do their work diligently.
We carry out our investigations with a tooth comb and 2023 is now by the corner. Everyone should go and freely vote. The President is on record urging everyone to ensure that we conduct free and fair elections that should be conducted peacefully. There are some that would want Zimbabwe to be painted as a bad and hence, they would want to incite outsiders or the international community. Those that have committed offences are going to be arrested. Any likeminded person who would want to commit such offences should know that the police will be out there. No one is above the law. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. KHUMALO: My question comes as a supplementary question to the question which was raised by Hon. Sen. Tongogara regarding perpetrators of violence who act on behalf of other people who are sent to do such atrocities. How about those who are behind such violence because these are the people who are creating havoc in the country? What happens to those who are sending people to perpetrate violence because as long as they are not arrested, then violence will not end in the country? I thank you.
HON. KAZEMBE: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I would like to thank both Hon. Sen. Khumalo for the question and Hon. Sen. Mohadi for the interpretation assistance. Yes Mr. President Sir, it is very tricky to assume that people have been sent by somebody to kill someone, unless if it is clearly stated in court or the investigations clearly show that somebody actually sent someone to do this, then that person becomes also co-accused and they are accountable and are taken to court. I want to thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOYO: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, and in his absence, I direct it to the Leader of Government Business. There are people who lost their homes through arson. Some were just innocent bystanders. It is not easy to rebuild Mr. President. What is going to happen to those who lost their houses through arson?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. Our Social Welfare Department, during such calamities like accidents and arson, have got offices in different areas where we come from. They work together with the Ministry of Home Affairs who carry out investigations to determine how victims of arson are surviving and where they are staying so that paper work is generated in response to such and that they can have accommodation. I cannot go into specifics on a specific case. It is important that the Hon. Senator puts the question in writing so that it is directed to the responsible office which would respond accordingly. For instance, if someone is insured, the insurance is going to pay but others might be desperate without any covering. So the Social Welfare Department will respond accordingly. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF NTABENI: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Kazembe Kazembe. The Police Commissioner released a statement that when a police officer is seen carrying a spike, that officer will be arrested. He also said that police officers are not supposed to interfere with service vehicles which carry people, risking people’s lives passing through red robots. What is the position since this is happening? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Mr. President. Let me thank the Hon. Senator for his pertinent question. Indeed, it is true that the police gave a statement that it is illegal for police officers to use spikes to stop motorists. This is the announcement that was made by Government as a policy. I believe that the Hon. Senator said interference with vehicles which ferry people, that is not true. What was banned is the use of spikes to stop motorists. We said that it is important to find alternative means of stopping suspected violators of traffic rule. We need to stop motorists who might be suspected.
Let me also inform this august House that Government is coming up with policy through the electronic traffic management system which will be done by the Ministry of Home Affairs together with the Ministry of ICT. When we install the system, there will not be a reason for police officers to use spikes and other deterrent ways of stopping motorists because the new system will be using surveillance cameras and other electronics which will be monitoring traffic. They can capture number plates and the pictures of the motorists which will be stored at CVR. Within a short time, the police officers would know who passed through a red traffic light and who violated traffic regulations. This is what Government is doing at the moment. It is possible to eliminate spikes. What the Hon. Senator said that there must not be interference is not correct. Government said police cannot risk the safety of people. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. May the Minister favour this House by explaining strategies and programmes being put in place by the Government via the Ministry of Health and Child Care to reduce morbidity and mortality due to communicable diseases?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the pertinent question about communicable diseases. These are diseases that can be transmitted all over. As Government, it has always been our policy to have these diseases kept under surveillance. We have as a Ministry, environmental technicians who are supposed to be moving around towns and rural areas looking for possible transmission and sources of communicable diseases. Once it is picked, as Government, we rush there together. There is always an Epidemiological Department specifically assigned for diseases. We have a director for each communicable disease that is there who gets to work everyday surveilling the possible outbreaks. Also, these environmental health technicians and everyone in the Health for that matter are out on awareness programmes about the transmission of some of these diseases and prevention methods are put in place. Where someone gets problems, appropriate management is done from as low as village health centres where we have village health workers. They are also taught how to prevent communicable diseases.
After village health centres, we have rural health centres where this teaching is there as well and we have environmental health technicians supervising the village health centres and rural health centres up to district level. We have a doctor or director assigned to look after the communicable diseases in those areas and move up to the province, where the Provincial Medical Director has got an EHT who specially works on those diseases as well up to the Ministry level where we have a Chief Director running with that. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. I will ask my question in Shona so that the Minister understands. My Shona is at window level but I am certain that he will understand what I am trying to say. These days, a lot of things are happening in high density areas. People are moving around with machetes breaking into people’s homes and killing people. As I speak, in Bulawayo, three people were killed in such a way. Last week, an armed robbery and theft also took place. What is the Ministry of Home Affairs doing in order to protect the people? People are now spending sleepless nights and are no longer happy. How are you going to assist us Hon. Minister? In the past we used to have police patrolling during the night dealing with such eventualities. Why are police officers no longer doing night patrols? Do you have shortage of police officers or you now have a change of laws and operations? Give us some light on how best you are going to tackle such a problem.
*THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, your Shona is not at window but roof level. Indeed, this is a development which is not pleasing that people are now robbing households and this is on the increase. Figures of arrests have also risen and the police are doing their duty. Yes, we might have challenges here and there but the truth of the matter is that Government is running with the matter. We are looking into the issue of patrols by police officers. We would also want to increase the fleet of motor bikes and motor vehicles so that a lot of police officers will be on patrol in the various places where we live.
The increase in the number of offences is not only akin to Zimbabwe only. I was fortunate enough to meet my counterparts in South Africa last week when we had the SAPCO meeting where the heads of police officers meet. I met my South African counterpart, Minister Bheki Nxele, the Prime Minister from Namibia and others. We discussed these issues and I then realised that this offence is prevalent in the region. The crime rate has gone up. Be that as it may, I am happy that the meeting came up with resolutions and programmes that a research be conducted as to why there is this high rate of crime. People are now committing crimes and run to neighbouring countries. We are now coordinating our approach and we hope that as various Ministers of Home Affairs, we will be able to get to the bottom of things. It is my hope that the Ministry of Finance is busy putting funds to ensure that we are mobile.
We are also conducting awareness campaigns in areas where we live. There are many people who are keeping a lot of money in their homes because some are into gold mining. Keeping money in homes is dangerous because that is why armed robbers are now being attracted to households. This invites criminals and is harmful to us. As Government, I would like to assure this House that we are doing all that we can to ensure that we bring down the crime rate and empower the police so that they are mobile and are able to carry out their duty. I thank you.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. We hear that there is an outbreak of monkey pox in other countries. How prepared are we as a country against this disease? What causes this disease and how is it spread? What signs and symptoms are there for one to know that he has contracted this disease?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Monkey pox is one of the viruses that get spread almost similarly to other viruses. It can be through fomites – things that we use like towels and so forth. It can be spread easily as well. Its origin is said to be down from West Africa, Europe and then all over. In our country, we have not recorded a case as of now.
One will know that they have been attacked by this virus if they develop a rush which is bigger and very uncomfortable. One can also have pains, shivering, headaches and all those virus infection like symptoms, even generalised body weakness. The person might also lose appetite. This infection literally behaves like the COVID-19 except that this is more particular because of the nodules that appear on a person’s body. It can actually be fatal if not taken care of. Prevention is the best. What we are doing now with our masks and making sure that we clean ourselves before eating is because it can also be transmitted by taking infected food. It is almost similar to other viruses except that then when it comes, there are nodules or a rush that appears on the body which is a bit more visible.
As Government, we are on the look-out for this. We have very strong surveillance systems, like I mentioned earlier on that we have EHT who specifically check out on these symptoms. We also take blood samples from people time and again to make sure that we do not miss it. This is how we are doing it. The virus is there mainly in Europe but the transmission of viruses is because of easy movement of people. We are definitely on the look-out and on guard.
HON. SEN MOHADI: My question goes to the Minister of Home Affairs. How best can the Ministry minimise corruption at the borders? You find that during the past two years, our borders were closed because of the construction that was taking place. Now that the construction is complete and the borders are open, the people no longer use the border but instead use the undesignated places to cross. No one is arresting them though there is police guarding down the river. Those people just go scot free and Government is losing a lot of money because a lot of goods are being smuggled through the undesignated crossing places.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Let me start by thanking Hon. Sen Mohadi for the pertinent question. This question is in two parts, with one talking about corruption and the other talking about people crossing the border through undesignated points which comes back to corruption at the end of the day. Let me deal with corruption first. Mr. Speaker Sir, corruption, like I have always said religiously takes two to be corrupt. One person cannot corrupt themselves. I always say we have a collective responsibility to stop corruption. If we are really serious, we can stop it. Whilst it is police’s responsibility to arrest those who commit crimes, some of the issues cannot be left to the police alone. The entire nation needs to take part as we are all responsible collectively.
Coming to the border, there are a number of departments there. There is ZIMRA, Immigration, Port Health and Ministry of Transport, so you never know who exactly is corrupt. So, Government has been sending ferret teams consisting of police, the President’s department and the Army to try and arrest this scourge. This has helped as we have accounted for a lot of people at the border. Also, to ensure that those that we send do not end up getting involved, we have been changing teams and that has yielded results. In fact, the police spokesperson has been giving statistics of people who are getting arrested every week trying to bribe the police. We have also started deploying covert police officers who in some cases pretend to be travelers. Some have boarded buses and attempted to bribe our police officers. So, even police officers who are involved have been arrested. These police officers have been deployed to man the road blocks so as to account for those who are not using designated areas.
The other intervention that Government has done is to upgrade the border because congestion causes corruption as people try to find fast ways of gaining access. If there is efficiency, we expect that people will follow the designated routes. So Government has upgraded Beitbridge Border Post. I know the Hon. Senator comes from that area and she will agree with me that the new look Beitbridge is very different from what was there. There is also technology that has been deployed there to ensure people are assisted smoothly. Technology is envisaged to be the solution to corruption because technology does not take bribes nor does it go for tea. Technology removes the human interface because every time there is physical interface, there is likely to be corruption. So it is critical that there be efficiency at the border so that people will be served timeously and there will be less corruption.
Now, coming to the borders, it is a bigger challenge but Government is doing something about it. In some areas, we are now deploying through the entire security sector drones to man our borders. We have also created some teams in certain border areas, in particular stretching from Botswana all the way down. We now have patrols there. Work is still in progress and we have to improve our roads as well as deploy more suitable vehicles. Treasury is seized with that matter. However, we do have a challenge along our borders but Government is attending to that. I thank you.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 67.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Hon. President Sir, I move that time for questions without notice be extended for 15 minutes.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE HON DPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: We will extend by five minutes because we have already overshot our time by ten minutes.
HON. SEN MWONZORA: My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. Over the past week or two, we have seen a surge in politically motivated violence in Chitungwiza and Kuwadzana for instance. What is causing this and what is Government doing about it? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Hon. Sen. Mwonzora for that important question. I think part of that question I responded to earlier on in detail. So, I will respond to the question what is causing the violence. I will be very blunt and say it is politicians who are causing this. Politicians are inciting violence which is something we do not expect from leaders. Leaders are supposed to lead by example. I did mention earlier on that Zimbabwe is a peace loving country but for reasons; we know that people cannot wait for elections – maybe they are worried that they are going to lose. I am not talking about any particular party but I am simply saying that politicians, those who are involved in the game. There are elections coming next year, 2023 is around the corner but because some are scared of losing, they now resort to violence. They now want Zimbabwe to remain on the spotlight. So they are inciting violence so that there is reason for Zimbabwe to be put on the agenda.
I said it earlier on but maybe Hon. Sen. Mwonzora was not in but for his benefit, I will repeat. We are aware that people have an agenda to destabilise the country to suit their political objective but as Zimbabwe, we have the law in our country. We have the Constitution of Zimbabwe and able men who can deal with those malcontents. As I mentioned earlier on, it is there for everyone to see, this is a public domain – politicians inciting violence, telling people to go out there to kill people and burn houses. We cannot have such leadership in this country and if you do that, obviously the law will take its course.
Like I mentioned earlier on, this is not a banana republic. The law will take its course, our police are very competent, and will deal with the situation. So Hon. Sen. Mwonzora, you can sleep well, knowing that you are in a safe country. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Mr. President, my question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. Mr. President, I would like to know from the Hon. Minister how far has the Ministry gone in establishing the 10 provincial rehabilitation centres for drug substance abusers.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. President and thank you Hon. Senator for the pertinent question asking how far the Ministry is in establishing rehabilitation centres for addicts or rather, rehabilitating those affected with addiction to drugs or whatever.
Like I said last time, addiction or these drug problems are real health problems in that the people who get addicted have a change in their normal body functions which if they are withdrawn or the drug that they are using is withdrawn suddenly, can be fatal. So the best way to deal with it is, we have first and foremost, the acute level where a person is admitted whether it is confusion, shivering, having fits or whatever. We admit them into acute wards that are already established mainly at our central hospitals. The Hon. Minister has directed that we have a ward or two per each provincial or district hospital to take care of these people at acute level.
When they are a bit better, they then can be taken to other areas – other than acute emergencies. The Ministry has identified areas like old beer halls or council buildings. We have said each province/district must have these rehabilitation centres established – we call these, halfway homes. Where the person is between going back into hospital going to the community, these areas are there to really try and adjust the addict or whoever to go back into society. So these are being established all over the country urgently because we are now aware that the drug addiction problem is very high in our country.
So the Hon. Senator can rest assured that acute emergencies, we can deal with. Halfway homes are being established as we speak. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. Firstly, I want to thank and applaud him for the rehabilitation of hospitals countrywide. My question is; what measures do they have to rehabilitate army hospitals especially in the camps because the status of these hospitals is deplorable? I thank you.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Mr. President, I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question, and also for applauding us for the rehabilitation we are engaged in. Currently, our army hospitals are in a deplorable state but at Manyame, we are in the process of constructing a new hospital. Rehabilitation of hospitals will be a continuous process because illness does not select anyone. So, together as we rehabilitate other hospitals, we will also rehabilitate the army hospitals throughout the country. I thank you.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE, in terms of Standing Order No. 67.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: There is not
a single Minister who is present to answer questions with notice that were submitted; sad, very, very sad. Leader of the House, if you could take note of that, not a single Minister has turned up for those with questions on the Order Paper.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 3 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2021
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President Sir, I rise that this House takes note of the Report of the Judicial Service Commission for the year 2021 presented to this House in terms of Section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I so submit Mr. President Sir.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2021
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President Sir, I move that this House takes note of the Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House in terms of Section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2021
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President Sir, I move that this House takes note of the Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2020
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I move that this House takes note of the Report of the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission for the year 2020, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Motion put and agreed to.
COMMITTEE STAGE
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 5A, 2021]
Eighth Order read: Committee Stage: Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill [H. B. 5A, 2021].
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 29 put and agreed to.
Schedule 7 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 5A, 2021]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. I now move that the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill [H. B. 5A, 2021] be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, the Senate adjourned at Eleven Minutes past Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 5th July, 2022.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday 15th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: There are visitors in the Speaker’s Gallery and I do not know who they are, who are they? My dear visitors, are you from a particular school or what - [AN HON. MEMBER: They are saying they are from University of Zimbabwe] –Confirm you are from the University of Zimbabwe – [VISITOR: Yes, we are from the University of Zimbabwe] – Sorry, we have not been advised. You are welcome, students from the University of Zimbabwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that I have received apologies from the following members of the Executive:
Hon. General (Rtd.) Dr. C. G .D. N Chiwenga – The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care;
Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri – Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs;
Hon. M. Mutsvangwa – Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services;
Hon. M. Ndlovu - Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Hospitality Industry;
Hon. Prof. Ncube – Minister of Finance and Economic Development;
Hon. Dr. A. J. Masoka – Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement;
Hon. Kazembe – Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
Hon. Dr. K. Coventry – Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture;
Hon. J. Haritatos - Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement;
Hon. R. Maboyi – The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage;
Hon. Dr. J. Mangwiro – The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education on examination fees. Considering that people are struggling, especially families that are led by older people; I wanted to find out what policy says considering the President’s mantra, ‘living no one and no place behind’. It seems we are going to leave some people behind because they are not going to write examinations because of exorbitant fees.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Thank you very much to the Member for the question. Yes, the issue of fees has been raised at a number of fora and I think even a letter to Parliament has also come. That matter I think is being handled by the relevant Committee on Primary and Secondary Education. However, I need also to say the issues have been heard. Government is paying 55% of the actual cost of writing an examination and candidates are expected to pay 45% for public schools. Then some of the children whose parents cannot afford fees and who are under BEAM, will be covered under BEAM. I thank you.
HON. PETER MOYO: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. We would want the Minister to respond again using the language which was used by the questioner. The Hon. Member asked the question in Shona and the Minister is responding in English, can she respond in Shona for the benefit of the questioner?
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, can you respond to the Hon. Member in the language she used.
HON. CHIBAYA: I think the Hon. Minister did not respond to the question asked by Hon. Kwaramba…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! That statement is supposed to come from the Chair.
HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister, this issue has been raised on several occasions in this august House and the reason why as Members of Parliament we continue to raise the same issue is because nothing has been done. The question is; what are you doing about the issue of fees? Thank you.
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I think in my response, I did indicate that the cries have been heard and the relevant organs of Government are attending to that. I think that is how far I can go – [HON. MEMBERS: There is no answer.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, can you come again. I was recording something. I did not hear your response.
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I said that issues around the amount of examination fees have been raised at different fora and the relevant fora where this has been raised will be looking into that and if anything comes out, the House will be informed. As of now on the fees, Government is paying 55% of the actual cost of running an examination. That is one way Government has reduced the burden on the parents. The matter has not been concluded. It has been heard. I thank you.
HON. WATSON: Thank you Hon. Speaker for the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. I think that the concern that the Minister is avoiding is on why the examination support mechanisms are discriminatory…
HON. KWARAMBA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. I think there is a lot of interference, we cannot even follow. People should switch off their cellphones because we cannot even hear what people are saying.
HON. WATSON: I think one point of the concerns of parents that the Minister is avoiding is the discriminatory nature of the ZIMSEC fees. Why is Government only subsidising public school students and not students across Zimbabwe? Thank you.
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I think the issue is that the level of poverty differs. Private schools carry the full cost and going to a private school, I am sure people opt for private schools because they have got the means. Government takes care of those vulnerable children who go to public schools. The level of affordability of the fees is not the same and the priority is given to the most vulnerable. Thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Good afternoon Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order is, the Hon. Minister has to take note that there are sections that pupils go into private schools not because they can afford. Some pupils go into private schools…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! You are now debating. Ask your supplementary question.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Hon. Speaker, it is important that I put this across clearly to the Hon. Minister. The assumption that….
THE HON. SPEAKER:You cannot debate, ask your supplementary question.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Hon. Minister, what is it that you are doing to help pupils who are in private schools, not necessarily because they can afford but because public schools are not enough to cater for the generality of pupils across the country? We have fewer schools to manage students at public level. What is it that we are doing to help the pupils who are in private schools simply because we do not have enough public schools to manage them?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Speaking as a former teacher and headmaster, going to private schools is a matter of choice. Secondly, for anyone to say students are forced to go to private schools - we need evidence of that nature so that the Minister can answer that matter accordingly. Without that evidence, I am sorry we cannot perceive it.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. While we acknowledge a good number of children that have been given an opportunity to benefit from BEAM, may the Hon. Minister inform us how far they have gone in terms of paying fees for those children in our schools? Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That question requires a written notice. Hon. Member. When the Chair is speaking, you take your seat. Can you sit down? The Hon. Minister cannot give statistics from his head here. You will need a written question so that he can research and come back to you accordingly. Write that question and the Hon. Minister will do his research.
*HON. NYABANI:Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. This year, people did not get adequate yields in several provinces and people are starving. May I know the Government’s plan to distribute food with immediate effect to avoid starvation? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Nyabani for that very pertinent question. Hon. Speaker, we are in the process of compiling the data that we need in order to fashion an appropriate intervention for food deficit mitigation throughout the country. We have just received the ZIMVAC report for the rural areas and we are using that information on vulnerability, including even temporary food insecurity to come up with a programme for food deficit mitigation. I am sure that within the next two weeks or so, we will be able to come up with these figures and approach the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement so that we can have the grain that we need in order to make those interventions. It is a matter that we are really seized with right now because we know the desperate situation that some communities are in at the moment. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. BITI: I seek clarification from the Hon. Minister. Hon. Speaker Sir, I am shocked that we have a terrible situation in that the GMB has in fact run out of grain. The reason why I am shocked Hon. Speaker is that the 2021/22 agricultural season grew by 36% and was the basis of the growth rate of 7% claim by Hon. Minister Prof. Ncube who is sitting over there. The Government itself has been claiming that it has two million tonnes delivered. If we have two million tonnes, I seek clarification to where that maize disappeared to. They were claiming a bumper harvest yet there is no more food. Where has the food gone or it was never delivered?
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Hon. Speaker, my intervention did not insinuate in any way that we did not have food. What I referred to was a situation where we are compiling data on who should get food and the food will be provided by GMB. So, the issue is not whether GMB has food or not. The question was when do we provide the drought relief. Indeed, I can say with certainty that we have food in our strategic grain reserve – [HON. BITI: So why are we importing?] - We are not importing Hon. Biti.
Hon. Biti having stood to ask a supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, you cannot ask two supplementary questions. With all due respect, you cannot ask two questions. Hon. Minister of Finance, I think there was confusion in terms of the relay of messages. We have read you here as having tendered an apology and I was surprised that you are here. So, the Clerks-at-the-Table should correct that. Thank you.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works. What is Government policy regarding recruitment of employees by local authorities, especially those who do the general work?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I thank Hon. Chinyanganya for that question. Recruitment of workers under the local authorities, first they have to declare that there is a vacancy and they advertise in the newspapers. There are three categories. The first one is for the CEOs who we hire after interviews from the local authorities. We have the level of the Town Clerks, the management and the general workers whom you specified. They advertise in the newspapers and they specify the requirements that are needed.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Deputy Minister for your response. The information that I have gathered Mr. Speaker Sir, is that with the casual labourers, the local authorities have to submit the type of vacancies that are there at the Ministry and the Ministry approves. My supplementary question is, what is the Ministry doing to make sure that the requests that are made by the local authorities are expedited? As we speak, they are facing a lot of challenges in as far as undertaking their work is concerned because they are waiting for responses from the Ministry and the Ministry is not forthcoming. I will give an example Mr. Speaker Sir. Kadoma City Council submitted their request during the beginning of the year and approvals have not been given and a lot of work needs to be done, especially in the area of sewer reticulation. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you very much Hon. Speaker and I thank you very much Hon. Chinyanganya for the follow up question. When they submit the request to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, we have to look into their budget to see if they can afford to hire general laborers and the current labour on the ground; is it not adequate to really undertake the required jobs. Normally in my Ministry, we do not sit on requests. Today I approved one for Gweru. You can ask the staff at Kadoma to give me a call or come to my office to check if we are really sitting on Kadoma City Council request. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I Chair the Public Accounts Committee on Local Government. There is some information coming in; I want to know from the Minister how they deal with the general Council workers who are paying the management as far as the information that is coming from the Harare City Council? They are paying as much as US$500 to keep their jobs. How is the Ministry treating such issues where casual workers go to an extent of paying these huge amounts to keep their jobs, does it not smell a rat?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Nduna. That is a hypothetical question which stinks of corruption and if that is the case, that matter should be reported to the police – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.] – Unless if the Hon. Minister has information to assist...
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker and I thank Hon. Nduna for the follow up question. As the Hon. Speaker has reiterated that it is corruption but we have picked up the issue of Harare City Council. I think you are raising the issue whereby they recruited the Municipal Police and there were some complaints that were lodged by the public. What we did is that there is an audit team that has been brought to make sure that they look at all those issues that were raised by the public. So, very soon you are going to get a report and if there were indeed any corrupt deals that were done, this will be unearthed. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. The Government has launched the National Development Strategy 1 and the intention was to uplift the economy and promote developmental issues. This has proved that the economy is actually doing the opposite. Civil servants are not getting enough salaries; in fact, they are only managing to buy...
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your question Hon. Member?
HON. CHIKWINYA: The question is that in view of the dwindling levels of the quality of life where poverty is on the increase, what is the new strategy under which the Minister may be able to announce to Parliament which can give confidence to the citizens that the Government is able to provide solutions with regards to the current economic challenges which we are facing?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank the Hon. Member for that question. The implementation of the NDS1 strategy is going well; they are 14 pillars, if I can remind Hon. Members of this august House. There are 14 pillars which we are following religiously. We have developed a results based framework with specific targets, we have crowded members of the development community to work with our Government - [HON. HWENDE AND HON. BITI: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Hwende and Hon. Biti, if you do not agree with what the Hon. Minister is saying, you wait to ask supplementary questions. Hon. Hwende, that is unparliamentary language, withdraw that, including Hon. Biti – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.] – you do understand that you said anonyepa.
HON. BITI: I withdraw Mr. Speaker kuti anonyeba.
HON. HWENDE: I withdraw.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you, just listen and then make a supplementary question. Hon. Minister please proceed.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. BITI: Haunyepe, you are not a liar.] – as I was about to explain I will carry on. The implementation of the NDS1 strategies is going well. I will be very happy to share the results for the first year of implementation 2021 which was presented to Cabinet and it was our intention to have perhaps a public event to discuss the 2021 results from that implementation process. We have 14 pillars and on every pillar, we have made great strides. Let me give you some examples, if we say with the infrastructure and public utilities pillars, the results are there for own to see. The roads, dams, emergency road rehabilitation programme, even in urban areas where Government has to innovate by invoking certain laws to make sure that they will intervene and deal with those roads which the city councils have failed to manage and develop; that is the first one.
I must hasten to say that we have used Government resources to do this, which really means taxes from our citizens; we have not been having any loans from outside expect for loans here and there but it is largely tax payers’ money. Look at Muchekeranwa Dam, Marowa/Nyathi Dam, Vungu Dam in Midlands have started. Zimunya Dam in Nkayi has started, Tuli Manyange Dam in Matabeleland South has also started. Silver Stream is also being sorted out and Kunzvi Dam is also being looked into.
Let us look at Mbudzi Interchange; it is going to be a world class piece of infrastructure and all of that is from the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1, which is the first pillar - Infrastructure. The second pillar is Agriculture; in the first year of implementation of NDS 1, agriculture did well. We had the highest level of grain output which we have not had in 40 years.
This year, if we fine-tune 1 or 2 things, the winter wheat programme is going to be the best way you have ever heard probably in 15 years. So the NDS implementation is going very well indeed.
Let me move on to the macro-economy; our use of a dual currency has worked very well with industry in the last two years. We have managed to deploy $3, 2 billion for use by our manufacturing sector. We have seen capacity utilization exceed 60% level, the highest levels in many years which even dominate some of the years that we saw under the unity government. So the implementation of the NDS 1 currently is going very well.
HON. HWENDE: On a point of order! The Hon. Minister is not answering the question.
THE HON. SPEAEKR: Order, order! Do not take the position of the Chair. It is only the Chair who can say that. Allow the Hon. Minister to finish and then ask supplementary questions – [HON. CHIBAYA: Inaudible interjection.] – Hon. Chibaya, do not tempt me to send you outside again.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: On the macro economy, we have seen an effective use of both our currencies, the USD and the ZWL as the main currencies but we are accepting other currencies of course. Both of those main currencies are necessary for us to manage the economy. We have deployed 3, 2 billion USD to our manufacturing sector and we have seen the capacity utilisation levels increased to the highest levels we have seen in many years.
Looking into the mining sector, we have a pillar, since I was asked whether the NDS1 started; there is a pillar on natural resources management. Again, we have seen a robust performance within the mining sector in terms of new investments and we have also been very pleased to see robust resilient prices in the international market. So, our earnings for the mining sector remain strong especially in the PGM sector and the gold sector.
We have not been so lucky when it comes to managing some of the international forces, the spill overs from the geo-political situation resulting in inflation, high fuel crisis which we have some control but not full control but we have done our best as Government to manage the upward increase in fuel prices. So, we have done a lot.
Now, I will address the issue of civil servants, I heard mention of civil servants in the question. We remain seized with the matter; we are always responsive to civil servants needs. This year alone we managed to retain the 75 USD per person for the COVID-19 risk allowance then we added a 100 USD in addition to that in April. Now, we are seized with yet another review of salaries and we are listening carefully to the requests of civil servants, we are on to it and again in the next few weeks we will deal that. We will not only cover civil servants, we also cover Members of this House, and everyone is included. We will make sure that we improve the income levels for everyone so they can afford some of these prices that we have seen in the market which has been hiked by some unscrupulous individuals. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I think the Minister did not understand my question. I did not ask about NDS 1, I referred to it and I pointed out all the shortcomings such as civil servants meager salaries. There are no medicines in hospitals and there are a lot of problems.
The Hon. Minister is talking about pillars but the pillars he is talking about do not refer or translate to people’s earnings, which issue is supposed to be addressed. So, I am saying NDS 1 has failed, therefore, what are we going to do?
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Member is contradicting himself. One moment he wants to stress one area where there is a problem, next point he will say the NDS 1 has failed. So, it is either you stick to one point and not delve into the whole issue of the NDS.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. In the rural areas where we come from, the civil servants are earning money that can only afford a dozen of bread. There are no medicines in the hospitals, people are suffering. What is the Government doing to ensure that they alleviate the suffering that people are going through?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: First of all, the Hon. Member was very clear about what strategies the Government has in dealing with poverty. That one is a social protection question and Government has a robust programme for dealing with social protection programmes. It starts with the issue of providing grain to those who are vulnerable. We have a clear programme and this was articulated clearly by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
We also have cash transfer programmes that we have been running for years. We also have programmes for supporting the elderly, the disabled and so forth. By the way, I must also remind this august House that the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme is also a social protection programme that protects the vulnerable. We give inputs, fertilizers, seed and we support them. The programme has been very successful; it is supporting about two million households in our rural city.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Murai, you will get your chance to ask your supplementary question, I can see you are burning but wait until the Hon. Minister finishes.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. That was the first question I was dealing with because there were two questions. The second one is on strategies for increasing salaries. These are very clear. We have pursued largely a two pronged strategy for salaries only, the monetary benefits. We have a ZWL component and we have a USD component. We introduced the USD component in order to manage the inflationary pressures that civil servants are facing. The first thing we did was to introduce the USD75 amount as part of the COVID-19 risk allowance measures and then we added USD100 per person. I suspect the Hon. Member who asked the question is a beneficiary of both the USD75 and USD100, which is a strategy that we have implemented.
As I speak, we are seized with discussions with the leaders of the civil service in terms of the union to agree on a new package. We are working hard on it and we should be able to conclude in the next few weeks and Hon. Members of this august will also be beneficiaries of those discussions. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. CHIKWINYA: In my supplementary question, I was very clear Madam Chair and I said Government departments, across all departments are pegging their fees in USD and allowing payment of RTGs at the prevailing rate. Why does the Minister not allow pegging of salaries for civil servants in USD and pay at prevailing RTGs rate? He did not answer that question. Thank you.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Madam Speaker Ma’am, that is a proposal that I now remember he has just put on the table. He has proposed that we should peg salaries of civil servants in USD. We are not ready to do that. Our accounting currency is ZWL. We peg the budget in this House in ZWL. Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: My point of order is from a practical point of view where inflation is real. The exchange rate has gone up and the question is disposable income. How can the Minister guarantee that with the prices going up and inflation, the money that the civil servants and all of us are being paid here will be able to have value when there is no increase in salaries? I am saying things are going up but workers are not paid enough according to the percentage of the prices that are going up. How can people survive with that little when things are going up? We should feel for our people and we should not walk out of this House as if all things are rosy. What is the Minister doing to factor in the percentage of inflation on the salaries that are paid to the workers so that their money has value? It is not about the ZWL because we need it but the salaries should catch up with the hike in prices. Thank you.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: First of all, I would like to thank the Hon. Member Mliswa for mentioning that he likes the ZWL. We like that and what we are doing to make sure that we can catch up with inflation is that we are having discussions on how to improve salaries. We are taking into account the current inflationary levels and the hike in prices in our shops. I can assure the Hon. Member that in reviewing salaries, we are taking into account the levels of inflation and the hike in prices. Also, what we have done as a Government is to allow private players and citizens to bring in basic commodities duty free. This is designed to make sure that we put down pressure on price hikes. We also introduce further competition into the market and we have seen some monopolies trying to take advantage of the situation. We want to make sure that they are not successful in doing that. So both the duty free strategy in terms of importation of basic materials and commodities and the increase in salaries and what we are working on will go a long way in improving the purchasing power of salaries for our civil servants. I thank you.
(v)HON. MOKONE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to find out from the Hon. Minister. We have seen so many tricks that you have tried to employ to resuscitate the economy but it is not working. Why can you not dollarize once and for all? You are saying that you have given people leeway to go outside the country and get goods – how are they going to get those goods when they are paid in RTGs? Thank you.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Hon. Mokone for your question. She basically said - why do we not US dollarize? That is a very bad idea to only accept USD in our country. At the moment, you have choice. We have dual currency in the main and that is wonderful. If you decide you want to accept USD only, obtain the USD. It is up to you and you have a choice to do that. That does not exist in other countries but we also want to make sure that our own ZWL is circulating and it is our accounting currency.
Let me further explain what will happen under US dollarization which is what happened during the Unity Government. What happened is that there was deflation and deflation means that we had negative growth and that was totally undesirable. We also had an increase in bad debts and that is why we ended up creating ZAMCO to clean up the problem that was created by the USD. The competitiveness of our industry was basically shut down. We just became a nation of importers and we de-industrialised and that destroyed our industry which has only been resuscitated by the introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar during the Second Republic.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, do you not think that it was ironic that during the USD regime, we had no foreign currency. We had no reserves. We could not even pay our foreign debts. We only began paying our foreign debts after introducing the Zimbabwe dollar. It has given us the leeway to do what we do. What we did during the Unity Government, we could not fix our roads. We borrowed money from South Africa to do the Plumtree-Harare-Mutare Road. This time around, we are not borrowing, we are using our own resources and that capability has been afforded by the introduction of our own domestic currency. If you introduce the USD only, tomorrow you will wipe out the banking sector completely because you have to convert all those Zim dollar balances into USD. You will wipe out the bank balances of companies. Is that what you want? You will create a serious situation if you adopt the USD in this country. It is a very bad idea. No Minister of Finance should want that because it means you are walking on one macroeconomic tool when the toolbox is incomplete. You only have fiscal policy but no monetary policy. So, it is a bad idea. I thank you.
(v)+HON. M. DUBE: What plans does the Ministry of Transport have to mitigate road accidents caused by heavy trucks that travel at night?
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): I want to thank the Hon. Member who posed that important question where he wanted to find out what Government’s policy is in terms of preventing accidents that we see on the roads mainly being caused by huge vehicles that flash other motorists, especially considering the time that they travel.
I would like to thank the Hon. Member for bringing that important question. Indeed, it is Government’s concern for all motorists, not only big haulage trucks but even small vehicles, they must not flash at other motorists. They should dip their headlights in accordance with the good safety practice on the roads. Those big vehicles, because they are higher, they cause a lot of accidents because they do not dip their lights. We will keep on educating motorists.
As for heavy haulage vehicles that carry dangerous substances, they should not travel after 6 pm. I call upon the police to ensure that these vehicles do not travel on the roads at night. I would like to emphasise that indeed that is a very important question. Let us all respect safety guidelines as we travel on the roads at night to dip our lights and not flash other motorists.
HON. NDUNA: I am alive to the fact that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe is now getting about US$10m to US$20 million annually according to Statutory Instrument 45 of 2005. To what extent is this money being used to alleviate the plight of the innocent unsuspecting citizens of Zimbabwe in terms of being involved in these catastrophic accidents that are leading to five deaths per day due to road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe at night caused by these heavy duty vehicles? To what extent is the TSCZ involved in using that copious amount of money to alleviate the plight of the citizens of Zimbabwe?
HON. MHONA: Let me hasten to thank Hon. Nduna for that very pertinent question. Just to correct my learned friend and colleague that they are not getting the money that he has stated in hard currency. Like any other organisation, it is going through Zim dollars and above all, it is a substantial amount that he has indicated.
To address the question by Hon. Nduna, it is true Madam Speaker that Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe does superintend over the issues of safety on our roads. If you can relate to the issues that have been coming through the media that they have raised the awareness where we are doing campaigns so that we inform the people of Zimbabwe on the dangers and safety measures that we must uphold when we are using our roads. I am happy to say this is an ongoing process and I have directed TSCZ to also rope in those villagers along the highways so that we train those villagers so that they can also assist during…..
Visitors in the Speaker’s Gallery having walked out of the gallery.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. Visitors in the Speaker’s Gallery, you do not just walk out like that, you need to bow to the Speaker, and then you leave. That is the culture of Parliament in case you did not know. So, even if you are going to the gents, you do that. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): I was saying in terms of awareness, it is true that Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe must move with speed in making sure that we raise awareness to bring about the safety to the citizens. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Allow me to refer you to the original question. It spoke about the extra lights fittings, fitted on the ordinary vehicles or the heavy duty vehicles. The question was why the Government is not implementing the law because these extra fitted lights are illegal. Why is the Government allowing these vehicles to move freely passing through all roadblocks and VID checks yet these extra fitted lights are the ones that are largely causing accidents?
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also want to thank Hon. Chikwinya. Apparently, I have got Ndebele blood so I did understand part of that. My apologies for not covering adequately the other part. The point that the Hon. Member raised is very correct, we have got a Statutory Instrument in place that prohibits motorists from putting additional lights. We have actually mandated together with the stakeholders, that is ZRP and also VID to make sure that those who put extra lights if they do not comply, will be fined heavily. I am happy to say even as you drive Hon. Members, let us make sure that we partake in the exercise of bringing sanity back into our roads. Those who are actually using those lights must be punished. I want to assure the House that whenever you come across such motorists who are very errant in terms of their conduct, let us also help even the police force so that they enforce effectively to bring sanity back to our roads. Thank you.
(v)HON. NYONI: My question is on reduction of these vehicles on the roads, what measures have you put in place to improve the transport system?
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Hon. Nyoni for that question. I thought maybe he wanted to say bulk from road to rail. I do concur that we also need to take off the load from our roads, if you can actually check that the state of our roads is in terms of managing and maintaining our roads. It is ideal so that the load being carried through our roads can be moved to rail. I am happy to also update the august House that we have major milestones in terms of rehabilitating our roads and they will be seeing the procurement of locomotives and also wagons before the end of this year so that we reduce the burden of transporting our loads by road but we will now be using the railway line. I thank you.
HON. WATSON: Thank you for giving me opportunity to ask a question. My question goes to the Ministry of Finance. He has just spoken of successes and failures of the fiscal policies. Why is it that key ministries like the Ministry of Health had 14% of their operational budget to date? We heard about poverty levels, many Zimbabweans rely on public health institutions and operational budget means that even for the doctors and nurses - there is nothing they can do.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Watson for that very important question. I think she should have directed the question to the Ministry of Health who are basically rolling out programmes and often request budget from the Ministry of Finance but I will still proceed to answer. I believe that the Ministry of Health has really worked hard and has scored many successes in managing our health sector, first of all in the way the whole COVID situation has been managed by triggering and instituting lockdowns timeously. Secondly, the whole vaccine acquisition programme that we had with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, working together and the entire vaccination programme itself has also gone down well.
Madam Speaker, right now we have enacted a programme on the COVID-19 vaccination and again that is doing very well. So basically, this Ministry has really worked well if you look at what they are doing when it comes to rolling out new hospital facilities. Also, the timeous disbursement for the infrastructure that was burnt down in Mpilo Hospital is commendable. I went there to check over the weekend, the buildings that were burnt down have all been rehabilitated. What is remaining is an old building that was done I think in 1992 and I am just mentioning one hospital.
We have seen progress everywhere; just the other week, we went to a new health facility in Harare South for which we have contracted in partnership with a UK company called MMS. I am just highlighting certain things that the Ministry has been doing. We are using the normal budget for that and disbursing that budget timeously. We have no issues of budget being held back; that is being disbursed timeously. We continue to support the Ministry and should they want more budget allocation, we are happy to extend that budget. They have enough resources within what Parliament approved. I do not understand why there will be that problem when in fact they have so much money to spend but they have done a good job in doing what they have done so far. Thank you.
HON. WATSON: My question has nothing to do with the Ministry of Health per se but it has to do with the Ministry of Finance disbursements. Why is it that you have only disbursed 14% of operational budget which buys drugs, dialysis kits and those requirements for medical facilities? What is the point of opening a new medical facility if it will only have bandages in it?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: It is very important to open new medical facilities unlike what the Hon. Member is suggesting. We want to open additional facilities and make sure that they are properly equipped with the right level of personnel. The Ministry of Finance does not force ministries to take money from them. The Ministries request money. There is a process for disbursement and Ministry of Health has followed that process and the Ministry of Finance has responded accordingly on those draw-downs. I thank you.
(v)HON. TOFFA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. The point here Hon. Minister is that the Ministry of Health has only received 14% of the budget currently. So they received $19 million, meaning that the funds are being eaten away by inflation. So, our concern as a Committee is that the Ministry of Health is not getting the funding timeously. Why is that so Hon. Minister?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. The Ministry of Health is receiving its funding timeously and we will continue to do so. As Ministry of Finance, we will always respond to whatever request any Ministry presses upon us and we respond timeously. Unless of course we have cash flow challenges, which happens from time to time but I can assure you that we are responding timeously to that very important Ministry. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. I need a point of clarity from the Minister before I ask my supplementary question. He can answer them together. My point of clarity is, the Minister is saying he is distributing the money timeously. That now means the Ministry of Health is not asking for the money. Can the Minister confirm that the Ministry of Health has received all the money that they have asked for and they are the ones that are causing the delay so that only 14% of the budget has been disbursed? That is my point of clarity.
However, given that the exchange rate, for example when we did the budget, the parallel rate was ZW$200 and the Government rate was ZW$85. It is now three times that. If you have only distributed the original budget of 14%, the things are costing three times more, it means that your 14% is divided by three. In other words, you have distributed nothing to the Ministry of Health. Can the Minister confirm that if the Ministry of Health is getting everything they require, then we should be now at 50% of the budget issued? I thank you.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I can confirm that the Ministry of Health has received all the resources that it has asked from Treasury timeously. So far we see very good performance from that Ministry. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Minister, we have seen the Chinese totally causing havoc; environmental degradation. When you go to Shurugwi, for example Boterekwa; in my Constituency, the mountains; the roads they have done that. We have laws which are there to ensure that, that does not happen. The Chinese too must respect the laws of this country. Is it failure by your Ministry to enforce the law to allow the Chinese to destroy the environment of this country with impunity? What is your Ministry doing to ensure that the environment is protected using the laws, especially the Chinese who have ignored that there are laws in this country?
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I want to acknowledge that the question raised by the Hon. Member is very pertinent and also to acknowledge that the issue of environmental degradation is a major cause of concern, particularly when it comes to illegal mining. As Government, we have come up with a number of initiatives. First, to promote the formalisation of mining, working mainly with the Ministry of Mines where we have come up with concessionary fees for certification of small to medium scale miners.
I want to clarify that this challenge is not specific to a particular race but this is a challenge we are facing nationally and we have to address it as such. We have also come up with what we call an orderly mining initiative, working again with the Ministry of Mines where no one is allowed to mine unless they submitted a site of works plan to the Ministry of Mines and they have an EIA certificate from the Ministry of Environment through EMA. The major challenge we are facing is that of illegal mining; people who will go into mining without obtaining these critical documents, which then form environmentally sustainable mining activities. Just to pick on the example that the Hon. Member has raised, three mining operations were stopped just last week in Boterekwa, where all of them were found to be operating without EIA certificates. Those illegal processes had already started and we will make sure that the law takes it course. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question to the Minister is - why are your officials not pursuing every mine on your operation with EMA, every place where there is mining, to ask for the EMA certificate? If it is not there, they close, why should they be invited? What are they doing in those offices where they have got cars, Land Cruisers? May we see an operation vhara mine kana usina EMA. Then we will know that the environment is being protected. I know Minister you are very involved on the ground. You have come to Norton before and there has been action but we cannot rely on the Ministers to come all the time. Your officers on the ground, within the areas – EMA is there as we speak at district level and at provincial level, why is there not a concerted effort to hold joint operations with the Ministry of Mines? It could be better so that these things happen.
Finally my question, makaita macell ku Matabeleland South, kuri kufamba sei? Vanhu variko here kumacell? - [Laughther.] –
HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I want to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question. We try our best to deploy our officers on the ground. It could be an issue of constrained resources. The incident that I mentioned was not by invitation. It was one of the routine patrols that we conduct as the Ministry through EMA.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, the issue of illegal mining is also quite a challenge. I would want to remind the Hon. Member that not so long back, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through Police, launched Operation “Chikorokoza Chapera.” We saw that a number of people who are involved in illegal mining are very mobile. They will not be in one station for more than a week in search of gold and yet all this results in massive land degradation. We have offices in every district, we have equipped our officers with all terrain vehicles – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chibaya and Hon. Nyabani, order!
HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I was saying we have equipped our officials in all our provinces. Just last week, I was handing over 16 vehicles to EMA, again for purposes of making sure that they are able to move around and are able to identify areas where there is this massive land degradation. Thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. MATEWU: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. Is the Minister admitting that his Ministry has failed to reign in these illegal miners because this has been going on for a very long time? When does the Minister expect to have fully reigned in all these illegal miners who are causing miscalculated degradation? Thank you.
HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I thank the Hon. Member for the question. I just want to highlight that the issue of illegal mining is breaking of the law. It is primarily the duty of law enforcement agency to reign in on any acts of illegality that are taking place. Surely, EMA’s mandate is not that of arresting people who are breaking the law. Yes, if it comes to environmental laws, we are monitoring environmental compliance and we are working closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to make sure that those who are violating environmental laws are brought to book, especially illegal miners. This is why the police on a number of occasions embarked on operations to arrest those who are violating the law. Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.
HON. HAMAUSWA: I have a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon. Hamauswa?
HON. HAMAUSWA: Madam Speaker Ma’am, you will remember last week I raised an issue on the tragedy that happened in Warren Park where we have lost precious lives due to the mining that is happening. I requested a Ministerial Statement. I think it was going to be okay because the Ministerial Statement that I asked was bordering on the failure of EMA to enforce the regulations with regard to the protection of the environment and also responsible extraction of mineral resources. Since the Minister is here, may I also reiterate that we still need maybe a Ministerial Statement that covers areas where people are dying and also people are losing their lives, specifically for Warren Park where there are mining activities that are happening. We have buried two young boys in Warren Park as a result of mining that is happening. EMA has not issued a statement. We have not heard even a statement from Government or Council to say to the people of Warren Park we are sorry about the loss of lives and these are the steps that we are going to take. We would want to know from the Minister what is actually happening in Warren Park so that we will not continue to lose precious lives. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Hamauswa. I am sure the Hon. Minister has taken note of that.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. It is established there are miners who are plundering the roads in the places that they are mining their minerals. Section 13 (4) of the Constitution says the minerals should be enabled to create a conducive environment or to give back in the areas that those minerals are being extracted. Would it please the Minister to stop the mining activities of those miners who are making our roads dilapidated, deplorable and disused without repairing the same?
HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. As Government, we have no tolerance whatsoever for any illegal mining activity that takes place. That is why I have said that whenever we find that there has been any illegal activity taking place, we move in and make sure the law will take its course. If there are specific areas like the Hon. Member has highlighted, we are happy to go there, even today and make sure that the law takes its course. Thank you.
(v)HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for affording me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Whilst we appreciate the introduction of fixed paid water meters in several of our urban areas, my question to the Minister is, is he aware that whilst we were told that these meters were free of charge, people are being levied a fee of $10.000 rental for these meters every month. I thank you Madam Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker, this is a very specific question that relates to charges that are being levied on water meters, I suggest that he puts the question in writing so that the relevant Hon. Minister can adequately respond. It is not policy at all, I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are right, Hon. Ndiweni, please may you put your question in writing so that the Minister can do some investigations and come with the response.
*HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. What is government policy regarding road accidents that occur at road intersections, especially on highways? This is a cause of concern because a lot of lives are being lost this way.
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam Speaker and I want to thank Hon. P. Zhou for her question. It is the duty of us the parliamentarians to see that our roads have been rehabilitated to avoid road carnages. Regarding our trunk roads, you will find that where there are road traffic signs like robots that it will help cars to give way to each other. We must alert the Ministry of such dangerous roads so that this can be attended to as it is the duty of all of us to report to the Ministry of such roads. We work with council to put robots so that accidents are minimized.
It is also a major concern that there are a lot of people who drive carelessly without even taking due care when they proceed to enter such junctions. It is very important to look and observe the laws of the roads when approaching round-abouts and cross roads. We will however continue to educate people on road signs and taking caution when driving. I thank you.
HON. P. ZHOU: I know of certain roads that have become a problem like in my constituency where I come from, the highway Kwekwe/Bulawayo when we are approaching Kwekwe where the road turns to Zhombe, that is a blind spot - a lot of lives have been lost there. There is not even a road sign or anything; cars just proceed without giving each other way. What is Government’s policy on such highways?
*HON. MHONA: I want to thank the Hon. Member for the follow up question. I will meet the Hon. Member outside of this House and direct her to go and meet our Ministry officials at this road from Zhombe to Bulawayo. She will meet the officials, the engineers there so that they will agree on the way forward. I know the area and I want to believe that this problem will be solved so that we do not continue to lose precious lives. I thank you.
HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – [HON. CHINYANGANYA: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members order, order Hon. Chinyanganya.
HON. CHIBAYA: My question is that Hon. Minister, pensioners are struggling, what they are getting is not sufficient for them to go to the bank and collect their money. What is your Ministry doing to address the plight of pensioners?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you very much Madam Speaker. As far as Government pensioners are concerned, the Hon. Member would be informed that …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, please be connected.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Madam Speaker, and let me thank Hon. Chibaya for that important question regarding the welfare of pensioners. As far as Government pensioners are concerned, the Hon. Member would know that each time the salaries of civil servants are reviewed their pensions are also reviewed depending on the grade at which they retired from the civil service. So every time there is an increment in the civil service, there will be also an increment in the pensions of Government pensioners.
As far as the National Social Security Authority is concerned, there has been a steady increase in the amounts that are paid to pensioners to where we have gotten to a minimum being paid of about 60 USD per month; that one is our social protection element of the pensions, so the minimum has increased over the last year from about 12 USD equivalents to about 60 USD.
Last year just like we are doing this year, they have also been bonuses paid in order to cushion those pensioners. I am sure that bonus is going to be paid this month; in addition there are also some supplementary grocery allowances that are being paid just in order to cushion the pensioners. So, these are some of the things we are doing.
There are other private pensioners, those I do not have jurisdiction over but for Government pensioners as well as for the social security aspect paid out by NSSA, this is what we have been doing. I thank you.
HON. BITI: My esteemed question to my good friend the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare is that given the fact that salaries are in ZWL which is depreciating by the day because of inflation and the fall in the exchange rate, why does the Government not consider moving away from the pay as you go way of calculating pension to a defined benefit scheme which will then protect pensioners because they will be paid from a stand-alone fund? Why not make the radical shift to the defined benefit scheme? Secondly, why is the Government not implementing the recommendation of the Justice Smith Commission of Inquiry in the insurance and pension sector of 2017, in particular the recommendation around compensating the USD 5, 68 billion worth of pensions that were lost up until 2008 and the conversion that took place in March of 2009. I thank you.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me thank Hon. Biti again for that very important supplementary question. Indeed, he is right regarding the movement to defined benefit scheme. This is exactly what Government has done or is in the process of doing because we have now set up the Public Sector Pension Fund which is a defined benefit pension scheme.
The legislation for that is already being crafted and will be coming to this august House but in the mean time, a seed amount has been given by Treasury. This money is already being invested in support of this new scheme. It is currently managed under the Public Service Commission. With regards to his question regarding the implementation of the Justice Smith Recommendations on the compensation, that matter is being finalised by Government and an announcement will be made very soon.
+HON. E. NYATHI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. What are the measures put in place by the Government for school children since this year there is drought? I thank you
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would really appreciate if this question could be redirected to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. I do not have the details of the school feeding programme that is run by that Ministry. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. What I know is that there is a policy for school feeding but I do not know administratively where that issue is at the moment. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nyathi, your question must be directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
+HON. E. NYATHI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am redirecting the question to the Hon. Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for the question. The programme for feeding school children is in place. However, it is not yet operational since we procured the foodstuffs at the beginning of the year and they are yet to be delivered to the various schools countrywide. This is due to the issue that there was a change in suppliers and the other suppliers who were engaged last year failed to provide the food this year and we tendered again this programme so that we can have new suppliers. The other suppliers have started distributing to local and rural areas. We are only covering children at primary schools as of now. We have not yet supplied at secondary schools. Thank you.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
Responses to question 12, 13 and 14 having been submitted.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. My point of order is we must change the standing rules and come up with punitive measure to those who come with questions and they are not here. I think there must be some measure taken so that they can probably not have an allowance. It is a waste of time for Ministers to prepare and the person is not here. Why do we allow them to get away with murder? I think the Standing Orders must change to come up with punitive measures of dealing with such people.
HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. I think you have raised a valid point. Hon. Members, when you ask questions you must be here or you must be on virtual to hear the response from the Hon. Ministers.
NUMBER OF ROADS REHABILITATED UNDER THE EMERGENCY ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAMME IN CHIWUNDURA
- HON. CHIMINA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to appraise the House on the number of roads that were identified and rehabilitated under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme in Chiwundura and the criteria used to identify such roads.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr. Speaker Sir, the roads were identified through submissions from Vungu Rural District Council, a key partner who is well versed with vital information regarding road networks in that area. Vungu RDC identified ten (10 roads in Chiwundura namely; Steingot 12km, St. Patricks 12km, Gwenhoro 19km, Flamingo 6km, Foxton 24km, Zaloba 17km, Kabanga 30km, Plasworth 13km, Highlands 14km and Connemara 30km.
Of these roads, Highlands, Kabanga and Gwenhoro were rehabilitated in 2021. Currently, we are rehabilitating Steingot Road which we have done 3.5km up to date. For the remaining 6 roads, we will rehabilitate them as soon as we get funding from Treasury.
MEASURES TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF UPGRADING TWO ROUNDABOUTS ALONG HARARE-BULAWAYO ROAD
- HON. HAMAUSWA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House the following:
- The measures being put in place to ensure the completion of upgrading the two roundabouts along the Harare –Bulawayo Road, in Harare.
- The measures being put in place to reduce the daily road carnage at Warren Park D roundabout along Harare-Bulawayo Road.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam Speaker and let me also thank Hon. Hamauswa for that very important question. I thought he was going to start by acknowledging after he raised very important interventions pertaining to the accident that we were witnessing along that stretch. There were robots that were put in place but alas, he has not stated that and I also want to thank him for raising further questions regarding the issue of round-about. In order to ensure the completion of the projects, the same contractor working on the neighbouring project on Warren Park traffic circle is tasked to complete the round-about at Kuwadzana. Once the upgrade of the traffic circle is completed and there is better flow of traffic, road accidents will be reduced. Fewer collisions mean less injuries and a lower risk of fatalities. Furthermore, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe continues to conscientise the motoring public to exercise safe driving habits. The Zimbabwe Republic Police is also a key partner in ensuring enforcement of road rules and speed limits, among others.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry is seized with the issue of Kuwadzana and Warren Park traffic circles upgrade to reduce congestion and road carnage. I must agree with the Hon. Member that it has taken long and we are also trying to push, which is also another stumbling block that some of the contractors when they are given these tasks, they might not move with speed as anticipated. As asked by Hon. Hamauswa, one of the measures that have been put in place is addition of two slip lanes on both traffic circles to allow motorists to change roads without entering the traffic circle. This reduces the volume of traffic entering the circle by introducing a left-in and left-out lanes before and after the traffic circle, thus increasing road safety. The comfort and mobility of non-motorised travelers is also a resultant benefit of such a measure. In addition, on Kuwadzana traffic circle, there is also dualisation of the High Glen approach to improve the capacity of the road.
I want to say good news to Hon. Hamauswa, that we will also be rehabilitating the same road from Mbudzi roundabout connecting to Kuwadzana roundabout which is going to be a major milestone and we are going to revamp that road completely so that we offload the traffic that is earmarked to go towards Chirundu so that it does not come through the greater part of Harare but they will now be using Highglen to Kuwadzana roundabout. I want to thank Hon. Hamauswa and to say I will continue monitoring the progress and we hope that the contractor who is currently there and moving at a snail pace will actually expedite the process of the completion of these circles. I thank you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Before I ask my supplementary question, I would want indeed to appreciate and thank the Minister and his team that they have responded to the request by the people of Warren Park and they did install the robots. I really appreciate when we ask questions and the Ministry responds. It is encouraging even to the people that we represent. I also thank the Minister because we also have two roads which are being constructed as a result of the request from Cold Comfort that I have made here in Parliament. They have requested that these roads be rehabilitated and work is actually in progress.
My question to the Minister is - is it not possible to put speed humps that are similar to those that were put along Mazowe Road at National Defence University and also in Hatcliffe we have seen humps that were put there and even after Whitehouse as you go to Snake Park there are also speed humps that were also put to make sure the motorists reduce their speed and also to put signs because on a daily basis we are recording accidents and some of the accidents are not being reported? This is my supplementary question to the Hon. Minister.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER
SWITCHING OFF OF CELLPHONES.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: May I remind Hon. Members to put their cellphones on silent whenever you are in the House.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker and once again thank you Hon Hamauswa to say yes, he has been raising these issues and I am very happy that what we want is to deliver service for the betterment of our people and for the safety of people of Zimbabwe. I do agree with him that if you have identified such and this is a plea to other Hon Members – normally we do not put humps in highways but we put rumble strips that will reduce the speed and I am happy to engage closely with Hon. Hamauswa so that we can visit and make sure that we put rumble strips, especially on the particular areas that have been highlighted. So, I do concur and also to relay the message of your people in Cold Comfort and Warren Park to allay their fears that we will move with speed in implementing the request. I thank you.
(v)HON I. NYONI: My supplementary question is the Harare Bulawayo Road. What are the long term plans to reduce congestion considering that traffic is increasing, particularly in the evenings on this part of the road that he has mentioned?
HON. MHONA: Let me also thank Hon. Nyoni for the follow up question. The idea of having slip lanes is to reduce traffic and it is true that we are witnessing quite long queues along Harare-Bulawayo Road. I am sure if the slip lanes are functional it will lessen the queues that we are talking about in terms of those cars proceeding to Bulawayo; they will just go straight into the circle and those turning to Warren Park will no longer go through the circle. I am sure after the completion of these slip lanes the Hon. Member is going to witness a tremendous improvement in terms of the traffic flow.
However, I agree with him that some of the sections will need interchanges and as we rehabilitate Kuwadzana-Highglen-Mbudzi Roundabout, we would also consider having such interchanges. I thank you.
HON. SARUWAKA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. When we started on Written Questions with Notice, you said questions from number 1 to 10 are deferred. My problem which is not sitting well with me is that I have a question which has been on the Order Paper since last month and it relates to a missing person. I do not understand why a question of such magnitude cannot be answered by the Leader of Government Business because the Minister responsible was favoured with that question last month. For you to defer it to next week, when we are talking of someone who has been missing, I do not see that sitting well with me and my community. I wanted to check with the Leader of Government Business whether he has received any information. If you check on social media, the community is apprehensive and for the question to continuously be deferred, I do not think we are taking the lives of citizens seriously.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We deferred the question because the Minister is not in the House but we are requesting the Chief Whip to remind the Minister to come to the House with a response. Hon Deputy Chief Whip, may you convey the message to the Hon Minister.
(v)HON. C. MOYO: I think the intervention from Hon. Saruwaka was, was the Leader of Government Business not given any information regarding the matter?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are out of order Hon. Moyo!
PLANS IN PLACE TO IMPROVE WATER RETICULATION SYSTENS IN WOODLANDS SUBURB
- HON. CHIMINA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the following;
- Plans put in place to improve water reticulation systems in Woodlands Suburb, particularly in Ward 16 of Chiwundura.
- Government policy regarding attachment of private
properties by local authorities to settle debts.
- Criteria used to allocate ZINARA funds for development
of roads, considering that some local authorities are allocated more than urban councils which have more roads to construct and rehabilitate.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Madam Speaker Ma’am, Woodlands is a suburb in Vungu Rural District Council but water is being provided by the Gweru City Council. Due to water supply challenges, the Gweru City Council is in the process of upgrading its pumps to improve water supplies. The plans in place are to improve pumping capacity at Gwenoro Pump Station and this requires approximately USD3 500 000.00.
- Construction of online pump station on the existing waterline from Ivene to Mkoba II as well as extending the line to Woodlands. This requires approximately USD15 000.00.
iii. Construction of 20 mega litres reservoir at Woodlands, the cost is approximately USD750 000.00.
- The Government policy regarding attachment of private properties by local authorities to settle debts.
Madame Speaker Ma’am, according to Local Government Circular Number 3 of 2010, local authorities are not allowed to attach private properties to settle debts. I will read the circular that was written on 24th March, 2010, addressed to all the local authorities – all provincial administrators.
“1. It has been noted that majority of our people habitant in communal and resettlement areas are confronted with challenges in meeting their financial obligations due to councils.
- The current micro-economic dispensation has grossly eroded the disposable income of the generality of the households, making it difficult for them to raise cash to pay development levy or rates, and any other service charges, which may be agreed upon for the sustenance and development of the local authority areas.
- We appreciate that local authorities were not spared by this economic quagmire of the previous years, as alluded to above yet they are expected to provide basic services, some of them of a human rights nature such as health, water and basic sanitary facilities to the same marginalised communities.
- Therefore, the need for active participation and involvement of all stakeholders in terms of financial and material support cannot be over emphasised.
- However, this Ministry has noted with great concern, the engagement of debt collectors to induce payment of levies to local authorities by those who may not be in a position to raise the expected amounts.
- The assigned debt collectors are found confiscating scotch carts, ploughs, wheel burrows, cattle, goats and many of such valuable items, which do not only form the basis of production, but also culturally of emotional essence.
- This trend which has spread across the country, has further impoverished the subsistence farmer who is still reeling from the effects of the economic decline of the recent years.
- This Ministry is therefore, directing all local authorities to desist from contracting debt collectors to recover unpaid levies with immediate effect.
- The practice of engaging debt collectors is prohibited forthwith.
- Please ensure councils comply accordingly.”
This is the circular that we sent out in 2010 on 24th March.
- The criteria used to allocate ZINARA funds for the development of roads, considering that some local authorities are allocated more than urban councils that have more roads to construct and rehabilitate.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. However, you may want to redirect the question to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development who are responsible for the issue raised. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My point of clarification Hon. Speaker arises from the last statement before the Hon. Minister made reference to Hon. Chimina’s question, where you spoke of a circular that was written in 2010 where the Ministry is directing local authorities not to contract debt collectors.
My point of clarification is, is that a standing circular now? We are seeing that local authorities have contracted debt collectors in our communities. The debt collectors have issued statements of demand where they are going to take legal action with regards to that. In the absence of such legal action, how are local authorities supposed to follow-up on debts as owed by residents?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, and thank you Honourable for the follow-up question. There has not been any other circular to supersede this one – so, it is still in effect.
We are bound by the Constitution; we have to provide things like water and so forth. You really cannot go out or cut the livelihood of the common person. So, there should be other means for them to be able to collect that rather than engaging debt collectors who are going to charge even more. Let us say that you owe $100.00, they can either end up requesting you to pay more than $500.00 as charges. So we are just encouraging local authorities to engage other means rather than engaging debt collectors who are going to pile more debts on the consumer.
HON. CHIMINA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is on question (a). The Hon. Minister indicated that they have plans in place to improve water reticulation in Woodlands suburb but she did not give us timelines to implement the Ministry’s plans.
I once asked about the Ministry’s plans in constructing roads and the drainage system in Woodlands but the Ministry only gave us the plans and up to now, the situation is still the same. I thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Thank you very much Hon. Chimina for that follow-up question. We did the scope of work and we have come down to the amount that is required. As you know, we do not control the pace but it is controlled by the Ministry through Treasury and we have forwarded this request. Our devolution funds fall short of the required amount and we are waiting for Treasury to assist us. Gweru has asked for borrowing powers and we have approved that. We hope that they are going to use that money to address this problem. We cannot put a timeline because it is not my Ministry that controls the pace. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary is on the issue of debt collection. The Minister referred to other means. If a council cannot collect debt, there is no motivation for anyone to pay levies. Therefore, in one memo, you have bankrupted every single council in this country because there is no point in paying your debts if they are never going to be collected. My second question is on the issue of ZINARA. It is unclear to us as Members of Parliament as to which funds are being used to repair roads and which roads are being repaired. For example, I have asked six times now for the Emergency Road Repair Programme list of roads for us to know so we can identify which is being used from ZINARA funds and which is being used from local council income and which is going to be used from devolution funds but it all seems to be cloaked in mystery. Can someone clarify and give us the information? I thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker and thank you Hon. Markham for that follow-up question. On my preamble, before I ended the prescription that was given by my Ministry to local authorities, I specified that the environment that we are talking about is not a normal one. The community is reeling from economic difficulties. That is why we say up until that time they are out of that quagmire, will we give the directive that the local authorities cannot attach using the debt collectors. They should find other means to do that. Had it been a normal economic environment, we could have said yes, and would not have issued this circular. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Mr. Speaker Sir, I asked what other means other than debt collectors?
HON. CHOMBO: Other means, they have to be creative as local authorities but we are saying it is engaging debt collectors – you can employ other means as a local authority to try to make sure that you recover some of the debts. We are just saying desist from engaging outside debt collectors. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Minister, there was also a question that he raised in connection with ZINARA.
HON. CHOMBO: I thank you Hon. Speaker. The other question that Hon. Markham raised related to the Ministry of Transport which I said I really could not answer that one - it will have to be forwarded to the relevant Ministry. I thank you.
RESTORATION OF SHUTTLE BUS SERVICES BETWEEN MARKET SQUARE AND SIMON MUZENDA STREET
- HON. CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House when the Government will restore the shuttle bus services between Market Square and Simon Muzenda Street.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. Speaker and thank you Hon. Chidziva. My response is that, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) restored the shuttle bus service between Market Square terminus and Simon Muzenda Street terminus on Monday, 13th June, 2022. The services on this and other routes are affected by the number of vehicles or commuter omnibuses which are available to ZUPCO for operations.
ZUPCO has confirmed that it has resumed the service with an initial fleet of four commuter omnibuses. From time to time, the number of units offered for this service will be reviewed to respond to demand. Members may wish to note that this particular service is offered during the off-peak hours - that is between 8 am and 5 pm. During peak periods, the units will be deployed to transport the public on residential routes. I thank you.
PROGRESS MADE REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF EGODINI MALL
- HON. I. NYONI asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House the progress made regarding the construction of Egodini Mall project by the contractor Terracotta Trading P/L (TPPL) which was awarded the tender in 2016, with the projection that the project will be completed in April 2022.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. Speaker and thank you Hon. Nyoni. Mr. Speaker Sir, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. In terms of the contract between the City of Bulawayo (BCC) and Terracotta Trading Private Limited (TPPL) which is the developer, it is BCC’s responsibility to provide the developer with vacant possession prior to commencement of work. After successful negotiations between BCC and various informal trader associations and public transport associations, the site was handed to the developer in March 2018.
As agreed between BCC and the developer, the development will be implemented in a phased approach. Upon site handover, the developer embarked on Phase 1A being the first phase of the development which includes inter alia, 1 100 informal traders stores, 90 bay tax rank, spare parts retail and tax association offices building, public ablutions and security control tower and offices.
The primary focus of Phase 1A is to enable informal traders and public transport operators to return to the site as soon as possible whilst the rest of the development continues. The original topographical layout of the site did not fully lend itself towards adequately accommodating over 1100 informal traders who were already operating on the site. Hence, amongst other site imperatives there is need for the redevelopment project.
The developer was tasked with undertaking spatial planning to ensure that amongst other considerations; more than 1 100 informal traders would be provided with appropriate trading facilities as part of the overall redevelopment scheme. To address this, the developer undertook geotechnical, topographical, environmental, engineering and architectural studies and designs that were completed in June, 2018, culminating in the developer being granted a demolition and bulk earthworks permit from BCC and EIA certificate from the Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe (EMA) in June 2018.
During community consultations in 2018, local residents associations requested that employment procurement and contracting opportunities for the project should be made available in a transparent manner. Residents associations requested that the developer should build a contract centre office on site and that any prospective job seekers, contractors and suppliers should register on an electronic data base maintained by the developer at the contract centre office and that the developer should provide employment, supplier and contracting opportunities through the electronic data base.
The contract centre office requested by residents associations was constructed and opened by the Mayor of Bulawayo in October 2018 and to date, it has over 4500 registered job seekers and 155 registered contractors and suppliers.
From the contract centre office database, the developer appointed a reputable civic contractor to undertake bulk earthworks. Work started in January 2019 and was successfully completed in November 2019. The scope of this work package included the following;
56 323 m2 of site area was cleared, 15 unsafe buildings were demolished, 50323m3 of in situ material was cut to stock pile, 44568m3 of in situ material suitable for platform construction was filled from the stock pile, 11 232m3 of in situ material unsuitable for platform construction was cut to waste on request from BCC. Some of this material was used by the developer at the developer’s own costs to fill dangerous pits left by sand poachers in various townships, thereby contributing to community safety and reversing the effects of environmental degradation in communities.
4 182m3 of ex situ materials suitable for platform construction was imported to site from approved borrow pits and 56323m2 of final lays were compacted to required engineer specifications. Similar other projects, the emergency of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the beginning of 2020 and the requisite national lockdown regulations had an adverse impact on the project. Work disruptions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020 caused operational challenges resulting in delays in the project’s timetable. Notwithstanding, DCC eventually issued the developer with a building permit in October 2020 which allowed the developer to start construction works on 18 January 2021 after the annual construction industry shut down as per NEC for construction industry circular 009/2020.
However, a national lockdown announced by Government on 3 January 2021which was further extended to 2 March 2021 delayed the planned construction start date to mid March 2021. Additional national lockdowns during the first half of 2021 further contributed to delays in the project timetable. In July 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce approved an application for the appointed civil contractor to work on site within the stipulated 40% operational capacity limitations in terms of revised national lockdown regulations. This approval by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce enabled the developer to limit the impact of further delays on the project time table as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the nature of the project, that is complete development and not a refurbishment the developer made a strategic decision not to use any of the existing underground municipal services infrastructure that it found on site due to its significant age and its limited operational capacity. On restarting work and working within the 40% capacity limitation from July 2021 to September 2021, the developer started by decommissioning all the old services infrastructure and installing new bulk infrastructure services on the site. This critical work package, its scope of works included the following internal systems, fresh water reticulation, sewer reticulation, storm water reticulation, electrical reticulation and fire reticulation.
In March 2022, top structure construction of the taxi rank and related infrastructure started. Final platforms have been completed with stabilised layers curing. Island construction commences in mid June 2022 and will be completed at the beginning of July 2022. Laying of final asphalt road surfaces will be completed in July 2022. Fabrication of all the taxi rank’s structural steel will be completed in June 2022 and the steel structures have been delivered to site awaiting installation. Currently, practical completion of the taxi rank and associated infrastructure is expected at the end of July 2022 with passengers being able to commute as from 1 September 2022 subject to opening of the facility by the relevant authorities.
In March 2022, top structure construction of the 1100 informal trader stores and related infrastructure started. Brick work for all informal trader stores is expected to be completed by the end of July 2022. Fabrication of all the informal trader structure steel work is 80% complete. Currently, practical completion of the informal trader stores section is expected at the end of July 2022 with qualifying informal traders getting beneficial training occupation on 1 September 2022. On completion of Phase 1A, the current hoarding will be relocated to allow the public to access the Phase 1A area while the developer will start construction of the Phase 1B area. Construction of the Phase 1B area is currently expected to start in October 2022 and to be completed in September 2023. The Phase 1B area will include the following; 2500m2 bus terminal building, 1200m2 fast food retail, 2700m2 grocery retail, 700m2 anchor and fuel station. I thank you.
HON. I. NYONI: Mr. Speaker Sir, let me thank the Minister for the detailed response on this very important project that will change the face of Bulawayo. Currently, the informal traders are clogging the city streets particularly 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street resulting in ordinary people finding it difficult to move around. Also, the taxis are causing some congestion in the city centre and Lobengula in particular, which I am sure after completion of this project will see a decongestion of the city centre.
Can the Minister inform this House when the project will be totally completed so that the city centre will go back to its normalcy because why I am asking this question, rumours have been circulating that the contractor has been facing financial problems. That was one of the reasons that had caused the delay in its completion which was scheduled for April 2022. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Hon. Nyoni for that follow-up question. As for the taxis, we are currently in talks with the Municipal police and also the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture Heritage to make sure that they put order in the behavior of the rampant taxi driver. You also mentioned that the developer has been facing some financial constraints due to non-payment, I agree with you. We have had to divert some of the funds to other emergent needs as COVID. We could not meet some of our payments on time but I think now we are on course financially and we have been in negotiations with the developer. You are going to see some action; of course our completion dates, we still have it as September, 2023 but if it changes, we will advise you in advance.
HON. WATSON: In all the description that the Minister gave, the one thing I did not hear given the population that will be in that area was the number of public toilets because public urination is a huge issue in Bulawayo Central and particularly, the CBD area. Maybe I missed it but how many public toilets will be included in the ultimate construction?
HON. CHOMBO: I will just read my first paragraph which reads “as agreed between BCC and the developer, the development will be implemented in a phased approach. Upon site hand-over, the developer embarked on Phase 1A being the first phase of the development which includes inter-alia 1100 informal traders’ stalls, 90-bay taxi rank, spare parts retail and taxi associations office building and last but not least, public ablutions”. Thank you.
HON. WATSON: But how many?
HON. CHOMBO: I did not specify but I think as we go, we will identify how many we need. Thank you.
RELOCATION OF PEOPLE FROM MAUNGANIDZE AREA
- HON. NYAMUDEZA asked the Minister of Local
Government and Public Works to inform the House the following:
- What the alternative place for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works would be to relocate people from Maunganidze area to pave way for the expansion of a Growth Point in the area.
- Why the Government delayed the implementation of a Growth Point status of the Maunganidze Growth Point by 42 years as evidenced by the fact that it was published in the 1982 Gazette.
- Why the Ministry wants to peg housing stands on this piece of land against the wishes of the local people despite the fact that there is an arable irrigation scheme near the Growth Point which was published in the Gazette for irrigation purposes in 1982.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the pertinent question. Maunganidze Growth Point in Chipinge District was gazetted on 25th June, 1982. Critical to note is that the Growth Point is a planned development area earmarked for urban Growth Point expansion under the jurisdiction of the relevant planning authority, Chipinge Rural District Council.
The other portion of the Growth Point is not inhabited and is available for further development. The current lay-out plan took into account people who are already settled in the area in question. Furthermore, a council resolution is in place which approved the regularisation of 100 households affected by the development and they will be allocated stands according to the lay-out plan. The families will be required to pay service fees for the stands.
Government has been implementing the Maunganidze Growth Point status on a phased approach. Currently, there are 400 households in the urbanised settlement where water, sewer is reticulated and the houses are fully electrified.
HON. NYAMUDEZA: This area across the bridge, there is an establishment of a Growth Point which did not disturb the former settlers who were already there. There is a place behind the settled area which is inhabited. My question is - why can we not have the Growth Point moving to that area? The other issue is people who are going to be displaced have drawn water and electricity to their houses, who is going to compensate them? There is quite a big area which is arable near the irrigation scheme. Why are we not turning that area into an irrigation scheme rather than putting stands on that area because that is arable land? This area was gazetted for an irrigation scheme long back in 1982 but now the rural council want to turn it into a housing area.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Hon. Nyamudeza for that follow up question. As I indicated that there was a council resolution which is in place and further consultations are acceptable because times change and I think it is one of the issues that I will take up with Chipinge Rural District Council that we come together and try to address this issue.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: My supplementary to the Hon. Minister which she has to put into consideration with regard to the Maunganidze area is that there was an investment which was done between 1982 to date. Without the knowledge of this programme of the Growth Point status, the knowledge was there but the implementation never happened. People put up buildings which are very expensive. Outside the buildings there was an investment to bring electricity and water to the area using their own monies. All that involved a lot of money and there was no involvement of council in terms of allocation of the stands and set up of the area, Maunganidze. So, when a decision has to be made and when the consultation has to be made, there is need for the Hon. Minister to put into consideration all these issues as well as to engage the local community before any implementation. Thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Hon. Member point noted. I thank you.
Time for Questions With Notice having expired
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the time for questions with notice be extended by ten minutes.
HON. MARKHAM: I second.
Motion put an agreed to.
FREE SANITARY WEAR TO LEARNERS IN HIGHFIELD WEST CONSTITUENCY
- HON. CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to inform the House when the Government will give free sanitary wear to learners in Highfield West Constituency.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): As Hon. Members might be aware, our approach is based on resource allocation in a constrained environment. Therefore, top of our priority are rural primary and secondary schools where the procurement and distribution is currently underway. As for urban areas, we are initially targeting P3 and S3 schools (peri-urban) then the most disadvantaged high density schools which is where Highfield West Constituency would fall. For schools in the higher income bracket, the policy applies as a guide for schools to mobilise own resources and incorporate this in the school development plans. I thank you.
POLICY REGARDING USE OF PHOTOCOPIED TEXT BOOKS AND OTHER STUDY
- HON. I. NYONI asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to explain to the House the Government policy regarding the use of photocopied text books and other study pack materials by students.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): Our position on this aspect is guided by the laws of the country. In Zimbabwe, through the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05], any creative work is instantly protected upon creation and this protection extends to cover literary, musical, artistic, audio visuals, sound recordings and broadcasting works.
With the Zimbabwean Act, most works are protected for 50 years from the date of creation. Therefore, learners, teachers and schools are encouraged to abide by the laws of the country. The Copyright Act however, allows anyone to photocopy copyrighted works without securing permission from the copyright owner when the photocopying amounts to a ‘fair use’ of the material. I thank you.
HON. I. NYONI: What is the Ministry doing to ensure schools have adequate textbooks, considering that in some schools, it is quite a challenge and we have had a situation where at one time these photocopied textbooks were confiscated from schoolchildren by law enforcement agents and this looked improper to me?
HON. E. MOYO: In terms of provision of textbooks, schools are normally encouraged to look for resources through levies, partners and so forth. The Ministry at the Apex level works with partners through Global Partnership in Education (GPE) and for the provision of textbooks, Treasury also comes in handy. For example, this year, we have distributed over 4.5 million textbooks and largely these covered heritage studies.
ACCOMMODATION FOR STAFF IN HATCLIFFE AT CHINESE FRIENDSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
- HON. MARKHAM: asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to inform the House on the following:
Why the Chinese Friendship High School, after 5 years of completion, there is no accommodation for staff in Hatcliffe?
When will the school be allocated adequate learning materials for practical and science subjects?
When will the Ministry construct Government primary and secondary schools in Hatcliffe?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): The issue of institutional accommodation for teachers is one of our priorities as a Ministry. As Hon. Members might be aware, the Government pledged to construct houses for teachers as part of the incentive packages announced early this year. Inter-ministerial and stakeholder engagements have begun on this with the programme expected to be launched soon. All schools across the country are expected to benefit including the Chinese Friendship High School in Hatcliffe.
Regarding the allocation of adequate learning materials for practical and science subjects, the Ministry is working with partners to ensure all schools have adequate learning materials. We have been working on a programme to distribute science kits to schools and with more funding, we intend to cover all schools, including the Chinese Friendship High School.
On construction of Government primary and secondary schools in Hatcliffe, I would like to assure the Hon. Member that the Ministry is seized with the matter of construction of schools with more than 3000 new schools earmarked countrywide. In this calendar year, we have a budget to construct 35 new schools with work on the first eight set to commence. In Hatcliffe, the Government has taken over Hatcliffe 3 Primary from the local authority with the intention of constructing structures in line with the enrolments. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: I would like to thank the Minister for the response. I just like to highlight for the Minister to follow up and not necessarily answer. The Chinese Friendship High staff accommodation was part of the building project whereby the Chinese who bought the property had housing on the property which, for some reason is no longer part of the property any more. This is now being used by an individual for leasing to people who have nothing to do with the secondary school. The school is suffering tremendously from the take over and high turnover of staff because of lack of accommodation. This has been brought to the attention of the Ministry more than once by me, and I plead with the Minister to investigate why that property which was supposed to be handed over as the staff houses was not done.
On the question of learning materials and science equipment, could the Minister investigate why IT which is only just off the road cannot be installed at the school which would make a vast difference to the lives of 1300 children? Finally on the issue of the government and primary schools for Hatcliffe, I would like to remind the Minister that Hatcliffe is a forgotten suburb of Harare. We have a population that is four or five times more since 2000. Since independence, we have Hatcliffe Primary 3 and Friendship but the population is huge. My problem with Hatcliffe Primary 3 that the Ministry has very kindly taken over has six classrooms, a roof that leaks like a bucket, no cement on floors and 1000 children. I thank you.
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Member. All the issues you raised are noted. We will carry out that investigation to determine what happened to that accommodation which is being rented out and all the issues that you have raised. I thank you.
PEGGING OF MINES TO PROSPECTIVE MINERS IN MATEBELELAND SOUTH
- HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development when the pegging of mines to prospective miners would be done in Matabeleland South in view of the fact that these people are failing to secure mining claims.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): I would like to start by thanking Hon. Mokone for the question. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development would like to inform the House and the Hon. Members that pegging of mining claims in Matabeleland South has not been stopped. Any prospective miner is allowed to apply for a prospecting licence and proceed to peg on areas open for pegging and register mining titles as per the regulations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of adequate resources, the Ministry has been experiencing backlogs in mining title registrations. However, the Ministry has come up with a special programme to clear all backlogs in all the provinces. The Ministry also acknowledges that most of the prospective areas are covered under the Exclusive Prospective Orders (EPO) applications, rendering those areas not being open to prospecting and pegging. In that regard the Ministry and the Mining Affairs Board is expediting processing of EPOs. It is expected that as companies conduct exploration they will be releasing ground as they focus on their targeted areas and the released ground will be communicated to the public. I thank you.
MEASURES TO ENSURE SAFETY OF ARTISANAL MINERS
- HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House on the measures being taken to ensure the safety of artisanal miners across the country.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the pertinent question. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has taken various steps to ensure safety of artisanal miners. These include:
- Intensifying inspection of all mining activities with special emphasis on safety, health and environmental protection issues (SHE) and enforcing of compliance to mining regulations.
- The Ministry is also conducting SHE awareness campaigns across all provinces in the country, educating the small scale miners on SHE issues. Amongst these are ground support systems, ground and surface water management, dangerous grasses detection systems, etcetera.
- Formalization of the sector through registration and enforcement of sustainable, orderly and responsible mining.
- Training of small scale miners on first aid encouraging them to form rescue teams in all mining districts. I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY
- HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to inform the House when the Ministry will initiate empowerment programmes for women and girls in the Mberengwa Constituency.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHLANGA): I would like to thank you for raising this question Hon. Raidza. As a Ministry which is mandated among other things, to empower young girls and women, we strive not to leave any one behind despite our little resources. In Mberengwa East, we have embarked on empowerment initiatives which have seen us funding some groups namely, Rural Poultry Project which was funded under the Women Development Fund in January 2022 and it is located in Ward 3. In the same ward, we have also done pre-assessments for Virimai Poultry Project and funding through the Zimbabwe Community Development will be availed once internal processes are completed. Project proposals from Flying Eagle and Front Wheel both from Ward 3 are also being considered for funding by my Ministry and once Treasury avails funding, the two groups will each receive funding as per their project proposals. We intend to fund more projects and conduct more training on various projects including detergent making, baking, as well as business development training. Thank you.
REHABILITATION OF ROADS IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY
- HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development when the following roads in Mberengwa East Constituency will be rehabilitated: (Zvishavane-Rutenga, Ingezi-Vutsanana, Ingezi-Mahlamvana, Mahlamvana-Tom and Gomonhenga –Matibi Mission Hospital.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCUTRAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): As asked by the Hon. Member, I will answer each of the five roads individually for clarity. Firstly, Rutenga-Zvishavane road is under the Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Motorised regrading of the road is underway with assistance from Zim-Alloys Private Limited who are providing fuel. My gratitude goes to private companies that are playing a part in assisting Government to improve roads. Further, gravelling of five kilometres of the same road is at tendering stage.
Secondly, Ingezi-Vutsanana Road is under the District Development Fund (DDF) and it requires 10 km gravelling. Further, the upgrading of Murongwe Bridge is also to be done by DDF as in-house works. Thirdly, Mahlabvana-Murongwe Road is under DDF and plans are underway to reshape 30 km of that road.
Mahabvana-Tom Road is part of Mberengwa-Mataga Road which is 76 km under the Department of Roads. 40 km of Mberengwa-Mataga was regravelled last year by Road-Trackers Private Limited and a further 5 km is under construction by Drawlink Civil Engineers. The project is now at surfacing stage. Furthermore, a target of 15 km of road gravelling is at tendering stage.
Lastly, Gomo Nhenga-Matibi Mission Hospital Road is under DDF and targeted for 10km regravelling. Additionally, Mbuya Nehanda-Machipisi Buchwa Road, under Mberengwa Rural District Council, rehabilitation is underway by Zada Construction. Regravelling of 10 km and bush clearing of 15km is nearing completion.
FUNDS RELEASED BY ZINARA TO MBERENGWA RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL DURING THE PERIOD 2020 TO 2021
- HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House how much ZINARA released to the Mberengwa Rural District Council for the period 2020 to 2021 and how these funds were utilised.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mberengwa Rural District Council budgetary allocation from ZINARA was ZWL44,109,138.44. They received ZWL4,410,913.84 which was used for rehabilitation of their designated roads, including Mbuya-Nehanda Machipisi Buchwa Road. Every road authority received ten (10) percent of their allocation for mobilisation of works. They will get further disbursements as they progress and acquit.
SERVICING OF CANAAN AND WESTERN TRIANGLE IN HIGHFIELD WEST CONSTITUENCY BY ZUPCO
- HON. CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House when ZUPCO buses will service Canaan and Western Triangle Bus Terminus in Highfield West Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): I wish to advise the Hon. Member to direct the question to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
PROGRESS MADE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLINICS IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY
18. HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the progress made in the construction of the following clinics in Mberengwa East Constituency;
- Bayayi Clinic in Ward 20
- Zvomukonde/Ingezi Clinic Ward 4; and
- Madekwana Clinic in Ward 8
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Bayayi Clinic in Ward 20, the project started in 2019 and is one of those being funded by devolution funds. The project consists of: - construction of a clinic block that has been roofed, plastered, floored, fittings and glazing done. Outstanding works on the block include tubing, painting, ceiling, plumbing, furniture and equipment;
- Three F14 houses, one at footing, second at window level and the third one at roofing;
- Waste management area and pits excavation - works are in progress;
- 1x2 squat hole staff blair toilets is now completed with painting to follow, public toilet squat holes were excavated;
- Fencing of the premises now completed;
- Provision of water not yet carried out;
- Provision of power not yet done and
- Works have been at stand-still for some time since the Rural District Council (RDC) had shifted to Marirazhombe for it to be completed and commissioned.
Allocations to this project have been mainly from devolution funds. So far the expenditure for the project since 2019 to date amounts to ZWL$4 718 938.98.
- Zvomukonde/Ingezi Clinic Ward 4
New clinic block is being financed by council’s own revenues.
- Clinic block has been completed and electrified with outstanding works comprising outside toilet block and plumbing.
- F14 house is at excavation stage.
- Small pharmacy is funded through the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
- New pharmacy block has been completed with shelves yet to be fitted.
- Madekwana Clinic in Ward 8
Current Status
- Two winged clinic block plastered, door fittings done, roofed and floored;
- One staff house is at slab level;
- Fencing of premises now completed;
- Funding has been mainly from plough back, devolution funds, Community Development Fund (CDF) and beer levy;
- 1x2 squat hole public toilets completed and
- Devolution funds spend so far on the project amount to ZWL$607 858.30. The other expenditure has been from council’s own revenue.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Twenty-Six Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBAWE
Wednesday, 15th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Mr. President. I move
that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 5 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on the effects of
drought on the national herd in the dry regions of the country.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: Thank you Mr. President Sir, for
allowing me the opportunity to debate on this motion that was tabled by Hon. Sen. A. Dube which is a very important motion on the effects of
drought on the national herd in the dry regions of the country -that is, Matabeleland, Masvingo and part of Midlands.
Mr. President Sir, this motion came at an opportune time. The current situation in the rural areas is bad where there is drought which is affecting both human beings and livestock. This comes as a result of global warming and climate change which is also affecting Zimbabwe among other countries around the globe. Mr. President, looking at our depleting grazing land, our livestock does not have grass - even the streams, rivers and dams are drying up. We anticipated that the responsible Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement would look into this issue so that our livestock that need grazing land are in a better state.
Looking at this, the Ministry then should consider capacitating farmers whether they are commercial, communal, A1 or A2 so that they can be given loans or equipment whilst they pay bit by bit so that they can harvest grass in their fields so as to make stock feeds for their livestock. Such machinery could be grass cutting machinery so that there is a complete set for individual farmers so that they can cut the little grass on their fields. Even when the Government intervenes, the farmer should have his/her own stockfeed.
Mr. President Sir, I want to encourage the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to look into this issue and work on the sinking of boreholes in rural and farming areas so that livestock has access to water. The Hon. Minister should also make it a point that those who breed livestock have irrigation projects where livestock can benefit from the different stock feeds that can be generated from such areas. If there is not enough food, there should be other areas where people can harvest stock feed which will be given to other areas. In Matebeleland, a lot of people breed livestock. We are looking at A1, A2 and communal lands. It is very difficult as there is no grass, the grass has dried up. That is why I value the suggestion that the Minister of Agriculture should take action so that this shortage of livestock feed is alleviated.
The Government should fast-track the implementation by assuring that grazing land is protected because we find people burning bushes and paddocks. For that reason, the responsible authorities should monitor paddocks and grasslands in farming areas so that we protect these places. I also implore the Government to provide machinery to be used by farmers to protect their grazing land like putting fireguards around paddocks and grazing land so that these are protected. In view of that, particularly facing climate change, it has become very difficult to be prepared. However, if we are not prepared, we lose livestock. In Matebeleland, we believe and anticipate that farmers breed cattle. Let me also say that the Government should consider farmers who do not have dams so that A2 farmers are empowered with small dams like the programme of water harvesting, through the diversion of water from small streams and dams where different farmers can be capacitated. Not only looking at big dams but smaller dams.
With these few words, I would like to thank you Mr. President and the Hon. Member for moving such an opportune motion which seeks to ensure that the Government empowers farmers. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF NTABENI: Thank you Mr. President. I wish to add my voice to the motion on livestock. It appears our national herd is diminishing. Yes, there is drought, we need to have cattle feed but what is of paramount importance is the water. Water needs to be availed, water is life. There are no dipping chemicals and as a result, our cattle are not dipping. The Minister or the Government should come up with ways of providing chemicals for dipping – most cattle are dying from lumpy skin; five to seven cattle can be lost. Where are we going to get these cattle once they diminish? We are grateful that the Minister got us tick grease but it is not enough on its own, one cannot apply it all over the body. The dipping chemicals – once the cattle dips into the tank, it is wholly immersed in the water and all the ticks are killed. What if someone has over 100 cattle, the dipping chemicals serve our purpose better than tick grease. Thank you Mr. President.
+HON. SEN. NKOMO: Thank you Mr. President Sir, for giving me this opportunity to debate the motion which was moved by Hon. Sen. A. Dube regarding the drought that is currently prevailing. This is quite a pertinent motion which was moved by Hon. Sen. Dube because drought does not just affect us as human beings but our ecosystem including our wildlife and domestic animals which give us foreign currency through domestic and foreign tourism, which is what we need.
Mr. President, because of drought, we lose a lot of wildlife. As I am speaking right now, in the previous years, you would find impalas and other animals dying which affected tourism because of drought. As human beings, we are much better because we have aid, either food or other forms of aid but our animals, domestic or wild animals do not have an option. I come from Matebeleland South, especially looking at the Matobo District where I come from, the desert is slowly encroaching into Zimbabwe from the South. We have a lot of areas where there is no grass, whether there is rainfall or not, we have open spaces, which means that the desert is slowly approaching the Matobo District. We need to take note of that because if we have such open space, it means that our cattle and livestock do not have grazing land in such dry areas and during this particular time.
Mr. President, it is important that we be vigilant so that we eradicate the effects of drought. We are in June right now and in Matabeleland South it is quite a tricky time. We get worried in that we do not have enough grazing land which will lead to farmers losing their cattle. After every five years we lose a lot of livestock because of drought. I would like to implore the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement which is responsible for livestock to come up with programmes which are going to be perennial programmes. These programmes should not come up because there is drought but they should always be running programmes, especially supporting what my fellow Senators said that if possible Mr. President, then those provinces which were not affected by drought should also contribute in the augmentation of the provision of stock feeds by cutting grass in different areas so that stock feeds are distributed throughout the country.
Every province should have access to stock feeds from those regions which have resources thereby supporting other regions like 4 and 5. There are some provinces which are dependent on livestock. Their livelihoods rely on that, whether it is in paying school fees for their children and other needs. So it is important to note that when such people lose their livestock then their livelihoods would be affected. Government cannot take responsibility for food aid and every other programme but there is need that we complement such efforts, particularly when faced with a drought.
We also note that there are some rivers in Matabeleland South, rivers which have water which can assist different communities, but I would also like to urge responsible officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to identify such rivers so that dams can be constructed next to such rivers so that we secure people’s livelihoods through the provision of water for livestock and human beings.
Mr. President, it is important that as we are debating this motion and putting this request, we appreciate that Government is doing a lot in emancipating the people and we appreciate that President E.D Mnangagwa and his Government is working hard through the provision of irrigation schemes, dams and other projects. So we request that this effort should also be taken to other areas which have not benefited from such efforts. We saw the President in Mangwe in Makorokoro area officiating at an irrigation project. That Mr. President, is a good initiative which people appreciate. With those few words Mr. President, I would like to thank you for affording me this opportunity to debate this motion which was moved by Hon. Sen. Dube. I thank you.
ÙÙHON. SEN. NYATHI: I would like to thank you for affording me this opportunity Mr. President, to debate the motion which was moved by Sen. A. Dube talking about the prevailing drought which is a result of inadequate rains and which is affecting water for our livestock.
Mr. President, I would like to say that we have domestic animals as well as wildlife which all need water. I want to agree with what has been said by my fellow Senators that if we have small reserves of water then our livestock can survive, but without water then it is very difficult. So what is happening about this issue should be looked into and we should ask ourselves how we can support our livestock and even wildlife. We benefit from wildlife.
In Matabeleland North where I come from, there is no water. We have some areas which are very dry. You will find that the dams, rivers and other places are drying up. For that reason, we find livestock and our domestic animals converging at watering points. Now there is no difference between domestic animals and wildlife. As residents who come from that area, we need to separate domestic animals from wildlife because there are some diseases that are spread by the meeting and mingling of domestic animals and wild life, so sometimes we end up having to go and buy medicines for treating our cattle and our domestic animals.
In our national parks in Matabeleland North, there are dams and such dams in the past used to be of use to our wildlife, but nowadays you find such dams drying up, which is affecting our wildlife. So my request is that may the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement stand so that there is enough water because without water then there is no life because water is life. May the Hon. Minister also maybe engage with Hon. Members so that we suggest what should be done so that we secure the future of our livestock as well as wildlife? As this august House, as this Senate, let us debate issues which are tangible and issues which can be done so that we find them being implemented. For instance, in Matabeleland North, there are a lot of dry areas. There are a lot of things which should be done so that such areas have water. We have dams which are not operational because of siltation. There is no water in such dams. People walk for 20km to go and find water and to make sure that their livestock have water. So my request is that the Hon. Minister should come to this august House so that he witnesses and hears our contributions as Hon. Senators because if we are facing such a challenge as human beings and as farmers, then it is our responsibility also to make sure that our wildlife and domestic animals have grazing land and they have water.
It is important that in those areas where we find enough grass then stock feeds should be harvested and taken to those dry areas which do not have enough grazing land because if we do not have livestock and if we do not have wildlife then our ecosystem is not complete. For it to be complete, we need to have enough resources for our livestock, even for our wildlife which gives us tourism in Zimbabwe. It is because of tourism that we receive foreign currency. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Good afternoon Hon. Senators, thank you Mr. President. This motion which reads as, the impact of drought on our national herd which has its recommendations. This issue requires that it be referred to the relevant Thematic Committee which I believe is Peace and Security. I do not know if the Chairperson of that Committee is in this august House. If it were possible, the Committee should carry out verification visits to find out what is actually obtaining on the ground so that the relevant Minister will also be in the picture.
There has been a discussion on livestock and wildlife because the majority of them have died due to shortage of water but on the issue of the diminishing livestock and wildlife, it is caused by drought as has been mentioned but the January disease has worsened the problem. Where I come from, part of Masvingo, Midlands and other areas, this is a very serious matter. It is actually a crisis as people have lost their cattle. The issue of cattle dipping as has been stated by Hon. Chief Ntabeni is true. The teak grease on its own is not working. You cannot apply teak grease all over the body of a bull like a human being. Dipping entails that the beast is immersed in water mixed with dipping chemicals. We are copying the greasing method from others.
Mr. President, we have a lot of people that used to have a lot of cattle but alas, they no longer have even a single one. I know a man who stays in the Charumbira area who was employed by ZINWA. He was pensioned and got his lump sum and bought a lot of cattle. He believed that he would sit pretty with a herd of 35 but the last time I heard, he was only left with two beasts. Maybe now he has nothing left. This was proceeds from his pension but he has lost out. We need to implement what is in the motion to come up with urgent monitoring interventions or drought relief programmes.
As soon as we are through with this motion, we should make an addition of the restocking of livestock. There should be a Presidential Scheme that helps people that lost their cattle recently. We recommend that it be included. Yes, we have the Presidential Poultry Scheme, so let us also have a similar scheme for cattle. The numbers of cattle that people used to have are known by the dip attendants and they should just produce their books for reimbursement or compensation because others can no longer have draught power because of such ailments or cattle diseases.
If there is a crisis in the country, there will be a lot of corruption. Because of the diminishing national herd because of the scarcity of chemicals that Chief Ntabeni has mentioned, people would buy the chemicals from the Veterinary Services Officers. These officers would sell these chemicals corruptly to other people. It is being touched on the motion on corruption. We need a special focus on the issue of the depleted national herd. The Peace and Security Thematic Committee should also carry out verification visits. I volunteer that you start in my own area of jurisdiction. Once you come to my area, you will see sufficient evidence that people are suffering and that the national herd is now depleted. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MANYAU: On the motion on drought that we are talking about, it is my plea that we all observe that drought also affects people living with disabilities. There are some people that are very poor and once there is a drought, the relatives that normally support them will be unable to support them. It is therefore my plea that the Chiefs in these areas where they reside in when they deal with the issue of the Zunde raMambo remember the people that live with disabilities because in the majority of cases, they are the ones that suffer most whenever there is a drought and are also affected by climate change. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 16th June, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasion, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. DENGA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 16th June, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion of the Report of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December 2021.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. President for according me this opportunity to add my voice to the report presented by Hon. Sen. Mohadi to this august House. This was the SADC Parliamentary Forum which was held in December 2021. The purpose of the meeting was to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the SADC PF but it was not just celebrating but also the agreement which was made in Malawi to transform it to the SADC Regional Parliament. On that particular day, the participants also spoke about the late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda who was the former President of Zambia. The Hon. Members were discussing his contributions to the development of Zambia. The late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda is celebrated for assisting many countries in attaining independence. Zimbabwe also got independence because of his grace and allowing our forces to be accommodated in Zambia whilst we were fighting against the imperialist system. We appreciate Dr. Kaunda for allowing other African citizens to be housed in Zambia and to be trained to fight even from Zambia as a base. He did not just assist Zimbabwe but was there for South Africa.
Dr. Kaunda accommodated South African freedom fighters for a long period of time. Because of his vision for an independent Africa, it is also noted that there was a book of condolences for the late former President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. This book was then handed to the Embassy of Zambia in Zimbabwe. This was done through the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Jacob Mudenda. During the same meeting, there were a lot of motions which were moved and one of the motions expressed that there was need for Southern Africa to have a one stop investment shop which will allow free trade in any Southern African country through the ease of doing business and through the bureaucratic approach. A one stop shop allows people to trade easily under one roof without any bureaucracy.
They also spoke about water harvesting during rainy seasons in African countries for posterity so that people can use such water during dry seasons for irrigation and other domestic uses. There was also a request for more dams because Southern Africa is facing water shortages. This is important and I also believe that we have dams so that we can harvest water and store it in reservoirs.
The issue of visas and immigration was discussed for people who would want to travel across different parts of Southern Africa so that they can do so without any hassles and going through many immigration laws. Just like European countries, there are no impediments like the cumbersome immigration laws and procedures we get here. It was expressed that this should be done in Southern Africa. In the same meeting, our Speaker Hon. Jacob Mudenda was elected to Chair such an august meeting. We appreciate that and we are happy that we are getting recognition as Zimbabwe because of the competent people that we have. In the same meeting, I believe there were five representatives in all meetings and it became evident that all five representatives participated in the meeting. They contributed positively.
You find in other meetings, there are some people who do not contribute but our delegation was very fruitful. It is important that as Members of this august House, we represent our country and also contribute in different meetings. With these few words Mr. President, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to support the report which was presented by Hon. Sen. Mohadi, I thank you.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to say a few words pertaining to this report.
Before I wind up this motion, I want to say a few words. I am happy to report that ever since we have been trying by all means for the SADC PF to become a regional Parliament, because it is only the SADC which does not have a Parliament so far. I am happy to report we are towards finishing that issue.
Secondly, I am happy that SADC PF recognised the work that was done by our former President Hon. Kenneth Kaunda and the history that was rendered at the meeting. It was pleasing. May his soul rest in peace. We will always remember the work that he did.
I would like to thank all Hon. Members that gave themselves time to debate on this report. Let me say that they should also take note that I am thanking them from the bottom of my heart because some do not take reports as important.
Lastly, I would encourage Ministers to respond to reports and motions in this House. We are a bit disturbed and worried about them not attending to our pleas so that we have a way forward always but it seems as though we are just debating for interest sake or for nothing because what we report here has no end. Without much ado, I move that this motion be withdrawn.
Motion that this House takes note of the Report of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December, 2021 put and agreed to.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
HON. SEN. MATHUTU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 16th June, 2022.MOTION
EFFORTS TO CURB CORRUPTION
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion to introduce deterrent sentences for those engaging in corrupt activities.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA:Thank you Mr. President for affording me the opportunity to wind up my motion. First and foremost, I would like to thank all the Hon. Members who contributed to the debate on this motion which is a hot topic in our country because corruption has destroyed our country. I would want to thank them once again. I would also want to thank ZACC which was tasked by the President to look into corruption and how it can be ended in this particular country. At the moment, we hear that they are looking for ill gotten wealth that was taken and stashed outside the country. They are doing it with a view to repatriate the funds to this country where it rightly belongs so that it can aid our country. It is my plea that I should urge ZACC to pursue this good duty that they are doing to bring back our wealth that was stolen but this country is full of thieves that are busy stealing. I would also want to further urge that these issues should be thoroughly investigated so that when an individual is accused of stealing, tangible evidence is found so that the culprit can be convicted.
I have observed that at times investigations are carried out and half baked cases are taken before the courts, individuals are let off the hook once the allegations are made that an individual is accused of corruption, the cases will be very week. There will be no strong evidence and the case can just die a natural death as if the accused person has never been arrested. If a person has been accused of stealing, it just ends as it is. That is when people would start saying that so and so was arrested on allegations of theft, how was the case concluded. There was no closure on the case. I believe that investigations are very important and that when investigations are carried out, they should be done properly. Sufficient evidence should be produced so that when one appears before the court of law, it will be common knowledge that this person stole and is a candidate for imprisonment. This helps us once the culprits are incarcerated and people would know that our Government has teeth and it can bite. This will act as a form of deterrence.
I also want to urge our judicial officers to treat corruption cases as top priority so that whoever is arrested facing corrupt charges will be quickly brought before the courts and tried in time. Currently people are being arrested and it takes months before the case is been tried. With the technology that we now have Mr. President, it is our plea that what is being done by our Government currently - that a lot of places have modern technology to see that everything is being done in a transparent manner, would help us a lot if those same machines were to be installed in offices so that people can just deal with computers. All our work will be controlled through e-governance so that we eliminate the human element because if you go there to collect a form, the person simply looks at you and fumbles with the papers and you will not get anything and then there is a request for a bribe. That is how corruption starts. If it were possible, it is my plea that at the offices there be modern technology that removes the human element. It would help us a lot once we take that direction as we fight against corruption. We may reduce, deter or completely eradicate corruption.
There is nothing meaningful coming out towards fighting corruption. For corruption to take place, it takes two to tango. There will be the briber and the receiver of the bribe. There is need for public education from the traditional leaders who are the people in the communal lands. The public servants know that corruption is not right and bribery is not right. Once people have been enlightened that bribery is a bad practice and that if anyone solicits for a bribe, they must be reported so that the culprit is dealt with. That should reduce corruption. With those words Mr. President, I now move for the adoption of the motion. I thank you.
Motion that this House-
MINDFUL that Government established the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to deal with challenges of corruption in the country,
DISTURBED that despite such noble endeavour by Government incidents of corruption continue to proliferate unabated as if to make a mockery of the measures put in place;
NOTING with concern that this scourge needs to be tackled and nipped from the bud before it disturbs our everyday lives as it continues to rear its ugly head among our societies;
CONCERNED that at times even those tasked with the responsibility of preserving our laws and order do end up being caught on the wrong side of the law as they fail to resist the effects of corruption which continues to spread like fire;
NOW, THEREFORE this HOUSE,
Calls upon the Executive to introduce deterrent sentences for those engaging in corrupt activities
Calls upon the judiciary to fast track all cases of corruption through special courts that will be established to deal with such nefarious activities, put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Mr. President, with your indulgence, I intend to proceed by way of winding up this motion. This motion on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, is a motion that was thoroughly and exhaustively debated by Members of this House. Indeed Mr. President, this House expressed its loyalty to Zimbabwe and went further to offer its respectful thanks for the speech which the President was pleased to address to Parliament. The fact that nearly three quarters of the Members of this House debated thoroughly on this motion is a clear testimony of the support and trust that they have for the President. It is a clear testimony that the President is a listening President and is a servant leader as witnessed by the contents of his speech which ranged from social services to matters of the economy of this country. I would like to applaud that Mr. President.
On that note, allow me to thank all the Hon. Members that debated SONA thoroughly as I earlier alluded to and take this moment to move for the adoption of the motion. I thank you.
Motion that a respectful address be presented to the President of
Zimbabwe as follows: –
May it please you, your Excellency, the President:
We, the Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer our respectful thanks for the speech, which you have been pleased to address to Parliament, put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. SEN MATHUTHU, seconded by HON. SEN CHIRONGOMA the Senate adjourned at twenty Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 14th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Institute of Loss Control and Private Security Managers Bill (H.B. 5, 2022).
PETITION RECEIVED FROM THE ZIMBABWE CONFEDERATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR TRADE UNIONS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also have to inform the House that on Wednesday 1st June, 2022, Parliament received a petition from the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions requesting Parliament to exercise its legislative function of aligning public service laws to the Constitution by engaging the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as a way of effectively ensuring strict adherence by Government agencies to their mandate.
The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
CHANGES TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House of changes in the membership of Committees as follows:
Hon. V. Ndebele and Hon. F. Nyika have both been appointed to serve on the Portfolio Committees on Higher and Tertiary Education and Primary and Secondary Education.
Hon. M. Chinyanganya has moved from the Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education to the Public Accounts Committee.
Hon. Sibanda, are you saying Hon. V. Ndebele and Hon. F. Nyika are both from MDC-Alliance.
HON. L. SIBANDA: Yes, they are MDC-Alliance members.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It is not clear to me whether both are going to serve on these two Committees concurrently or they are going to serve respectively in the order of their names, which is which, are you saying both of them are going to serve in the two Committees?
HON. L. SIBANDA: Yes.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have a request here to make a statement on a matter of national interest.
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of national interest emanates from a provincial hero’s funeral which was held in my Constituency on Saturday. A business colleague by the name Michael Nyamusamba was declared a provincial hero, I attended the funeral. I was surprised to see at the hero’s funeral that there were slogans and regalia. I thought heroes are above parties. What really surprised me is that the funeral takes place in my Constituency in Rusape and I was never acknowledged. Some MPs from other constituencies were acknowledged, given chairs to sit and they were sitting in the shed. I stood in the sun yet I am the MP of the place. My question is, should a hero’s funeral be taken on party grounds? – [Laughter.] – These people think using their legs, they do not really think. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, withdraw that statement.
HON. TEKESHE: With all due respect Mr. Speaker, I can withdraw the statement but the way they are behaving; they really behave like they are using their legs.
THE HON. SPEAKER:You cannot withdraw the statement conditionally.
HON. TEKESHE: I withdraw Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Wind up, your minute is getting over.
HON. TEKESHE: Can you please indulge me because this is very important, for it is a national thing. The one I defeated was acknowledged. The next door Member of Parliament was acknowledged; they gave them chairs. So, if ZANU PF loses elections, does it mean there would be no heroes and war veterans? We need to respect these people as a nation. I am standing here because of those people. So, when I attend that place, I should also be respected as a Member of Parliament who was chosen by the people. We are where we are – yes they can say bwa, bwa but we are where we are because we fail to respect each other.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I get your point.
HON. TEKESHE: Mr. Speaker Sir, just a second.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Ok wind up, your minute is over.
HON. TEKESHE: We are where we are, our economy, our politics because of this attitude of big brother who is a bully. The way they are bullying me is because of that. Why can you not take a page from Odinga and Kenyatta who came together? That is politics, nothing else but the nation is what we want. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -MR. Speaker, the way these people are behaving, I can start doing that as well here.
THE HON SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. There is no specific guidelines in terms of how the public should conduct themselves in terms of carrying out proceedings for the burial of a lost member who might be a liberation hero or a liberation war hero. We no longer have provincial but we have liberation hero or liberation war hero. As to the dress code, that has not been defined in any Act including the Heroes Act, and also in terms of the Hon. Member not being recognised, it could be a question of whosoever was director of ceremonies there. It is a matter that was very local in a sense. In any case, there was no harm in recognising you as the Member of Parliament for the place. So let us have a code of conduct in the law, which you must make yourselves as the august House. Then that law will have to be followed accordingly. At the moment we do not have anything in the Heroes Act in terms of the dress code. I thank you.
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. If you were in my shoes, Speaker of Zambia, President….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Please do not be emotional. I said there was no harm in recognising you and I do not know the circumstances of this particular instance, but there is no harm in recognising you.
An Hon. Member on virtual having continued commenting.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you stop your comments please?
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that all Orders of the Day be stood over until Orders of the Day, Numbers 37 and 31 have been disposed of, in that order.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE HELD IN GLASGOW
Thirty Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Question again proposed.
(v)HON. MUSARURWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I rise to wind up this motion. I would like to thank Hon. Members who contributed to the motion on our visit to Glasgow. Hon. Speaker, it was debated by Hon. Members that climate change is a very topical issue and attracted interest from quite a number of Members. I would want to move that the motion on the Report of the Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference be adopted. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Just before I ask for the adoption, can you enlighten me on whether the Hon. Minister of Environment responded to the report?
(v)HON. MUSARURWA: No, he has not. It was a take note report Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES ON BENCHMARKING VISIT TO RWANDA
Thirty-First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on the Benchmarking Visit to Rwanda.
Question again proposed.
HON. CHINHAMO-MASANGO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Members who contributed towards the ICT report. I really liked the idea of ICDL. It is a way to go and should be looked into. The removal of human contact which was brought in as a country in trying to fight corruption, we will only be able to achieve that if there is less human contact.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move that the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on the Benchmarking Visit to Rwanda held from 10th to 15th October 2021be adopted. Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that we revert to Order of the Day, Number 26 on today’s Order Paper.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONDEMNATION OF PEOPLE WHO CALL FOR UNWARRANTED SANCTIONS ON THE COUNTRY
HON. TOGAREPI: I move the motion standing in my name;
That this House-
ACKNOWLEDGING that Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy that accommodates divergent political views from all parties in the country;
COGNISANT that such tolerance of all views by Government is not a sign of weakness but the pillar and cornerstone of goodwill as envisaged by our peace loving people all over the country;
NOTING with disdain the deplorable and potentially explosive political gimmicks by forces of negation who always vilify the Government and have the audacity in their stunts to advocate for the perpetuation and perpetration of very illegal and retrogressive sanctions on their own motherland by foreign governments;
CONCERNED that each time the country gears for elections, such political malcontents rear their ugly heads and start speaking with forked tongues wherein they advocate for sanctions on one hand and still want to participate in fair and free elections on the other hand without any repercussions for their unpatriotic and destructive utterances and calls for the tightening of sanctions;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon this House:
- To condemn in the strongest of terms such people who have nothing to contribute to our nation other than to call for these unwarranted sanctions on our country.
- The banning of holding of Government Office positions by those who continue to advocate for sanctions against the county and yet still continue to enjoy benefits from such responsibilities.
- The banning of the swearing into office of anyone advocating for sanctions against the country.
HON. NGULUVHE: I second.
HON.TOGAREPI:Thank you Hon. Speaker. I move this motion aware that in 1980 when we attained independence, there were issues that the people of Zimbabwe demanded and wanted to enjoy as equal citizens of Zimbabwe. There was the land issue and also there was the one-man-one-vote. At independence, we won the one-man-one-vote and every Zimbabwean, despite colour, was given the right to vote. So, every Zimbabwean has the freedom to participate in the political activities of this country freely but not in a way to disadvantage or destroy the unity of our people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we have seen in the politics of this country new opposition parties. From independence, we had opposition parties but at the advent of the 2000 period, we saw many political parties largely sponsored by the West coming on the political scene with different political agendas, that of destabilisation, fights and violence. That culture of politics has been staying with us for a long time. We also realised over the years from that period that hate politics has come through the same sponsorship of the enemies of Zimbabwe. We then realised that some also go to the extent of manufacturing lies, misrepresenting events in Zimbabwe, destroying the image of the country through unfounded allegations. That has destroyed the cohesion within our society.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this situation has persuaded me to say we need to deal with those who want to disturb the democracy that we have. Those who want to see us as Zimbabweans fighting our own country, disturbing the development of our country must be dealt with through various laws of this land. In my view, if somebody wants to fight his country, subject his people to sanctions for example and lies about happenings in our country to the extent that one would misrepresent facts that will then see Zimbabwe being seen as an unsafe country - it is time that we have laws that will deal with such people.
Mr. Speaker, it is my proposal in this motion that such people must not be allowed to hold office. If somebody lies about this country, lies about the politics of our country and it is discovered and verified that this person was doing it for politics, that person must be denied a right to participate in the politics of this country. We need some laws in the country for people who claim to be politicians because politicians must be people who would want to see this country moving forward. Politics and development go hand-in-hand, but if you are a political leader who would then want to lie about your country, go about blacklisting your country, the leadership and the people by asking for sanctions, you are not a good person for this country. You cannot come back and say you want to run that country in a political office like Government being a councillor or Member of Parliament whilst you were saying things that destroyed the image of your country. We have such people who would go to other countries, look for enemies to come to Zimbabwe, and telling donors not to donate anything to this country. We have political parties who claim that without them, there is no politics in Zimbabwe.
We have political parties who, if they lose elections, they will say elections were rigged. They will only accept elections where they have won. Such people are not good politicians, if I am a politician and I go for elections and lose, I should be civil enough to accept defeat so that when I come tomorrow and win, the same person who I once lost to must also accept that somebody has won. We have a culture that is being developed in this country where some people always oppose and create situations. If there are international events like CHOGM in Rwanda, that is when you start hearing stories, people manufacturing stories that will see Zimbabwe being labeled for things that we may not have done, even when there are only investigations. They do not listen to that, they take legal issues into politics, criminal issues into politics. We have characters who paddle lies and they claim to be political leaders.
Madam Speaker, it is my strong view that those people who are politicians today, who are leaders of political parties, who are religious leaders; you also see some people who claim to be Pastors are Reverends getting into politics to tarnish the image of the country. When we have characters like that, they should be laws and one of those laws is the Patriotic Act. People who can go around the world demonising their country then come back to enjoy the same benefits from a country they are trying to destroy must face the music. They will remain citizens of this country but they cannot hold political offices after the people of Zimbabwe have suffered.
People have gone around telling donors not to support the health sector of this country and the consequence now is that people are dying in hospitals because of lack of medication because of somebody who has gone around saying do not support the Government of Zimbabwe. Such characters when they come back to say they want to lead this country, are not good for us because these are missionaries and we cannot allow them to do this.
Laws must be put in place to defend the people of Zimbabwe from political vampires, those who believe that when they are in politics, everyone else must suffer if they are not voted into office. We have characters that live all their political life dealing with people or trading people’s pain. People are suffering and once people suffer, they are okay with that, they start building that in order for them to receive money from donors. We are going for an election and the horses have already bolted, the whole game has started and we need just to stop this through enacting of laws.
We need to come up with laws that will defend the people of Zimbabwe so that politics is not used to make people suffer. So, it is my view Mr. Speaker, that a law must be enacted that will defend the people of Zimbabwe, a law that will ensure that when we are dealing with politics, it is a level playing ground, nobody uses the pain of the people of Zimbabwe and nobody must make us suffer for him to get into political office. The issue that I am raising is, it is time that we are an orderly society where the politics of lies and the issue of people going around the world lying about their country must come to an end and people who lie about their country must pay for it.
Madam Speaker, it is my view that as Parliament, as the Government of Zimbabwe, it is time that we deal with such political malcontents. We need to deal with them and the law must come to protect the people of Zimbabwe against those political missionaries. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. NGULUVHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise just to second the motion moved by our Chief Whip. Yes, in 1980, we got independence after our forefathers wedged a bitter struggle. Unfortunately, when we got our political independence, not all of us got our minds liberated. Some of us did not understand that we were not only fighting for political power but for the rights as stipulated in the Bill of Rights to decide on what to do and on how one wants to be ruled.
I think the mistake which was made in 1980 was - I would like those of us who took part in the struggle, who before were given a gun first had to go under a tree and were taught thoroughly what we were fighting for.
So when we got our independence, but because some people wanted to be in power and we had defeated the people who did not want to relinquish that power, especially when we decided to take our land which was their source of income, they then discovered that they could not just easily leave that. Our people were united in 1980 when we took our independence but we should have continued to teach them why we should have continued to be united as a people. We should have continued to tell them that if we have differences as people, we must sit down as Africans and resolve our problems amongst ourselves, not to wait for someone to come from outside to tell us how to resolve our differences.
This is the reason why for whatever reasons some of our people because they wanted power decided to collaborate with erstwhile colonizers and that brought us to the sanctions. I still believe there is a need to pass a Patriotic Bill. In other words, we have to be patriotic to our country. We may have our differences, but when it comes to defending the interests of this country, we must be one. I do not want to mention one country but you will be surprised one super power, once you go out of their country - you cannot denounce the foreign policy of that country even if you are a former president of whichever party. Once you do that, you will be prosecuted.
There is need for us as the National Assembly to come up with a law which gives us parameters that we as a people, there are things which bind us together which we can resolve as a people together, not to go and look for an outsider to come and influence what is taking place in this country.
So, I agree with the Chief Whip; why should someone go and ask that people should impose sanctions on us? We all know that we can pretend, ZIDERA did not just come, the Americans did not just come to say we are putting sanctions on you, it is our people who actually went to America and asked for ZIDERA. Then one wonders why we did ask for ZIDERA. It was because we had taken the land, the land which we were fighting for over 100 years. So I totally agree that there is need that we come up with laws which bind us together that we cannot denounce our own country. Definitely, you cannot sacrifice the people to suffer in order for you to get to State House.
I do not know if the lawyers in this country can assist us to come up with a law which says if you are found guilty you are not supposed to hold such an office. I thank you.
HON. R. R. NYATHI: I also want to add my voice on the motion that has been raised by Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Nguluvhe. Madam Speaker, the topic has been spoken in this House several times. I remember some other time, I stood up to speak on this motion and the late Hon. Alum Mpofu spoke about it and it was debated in full.
However, my surprise is, why is it that the law is not being set? It is also critical for us to note that when Zimbabwe became independent, Zimbabwe did not come on a silver platter. All of us seated here have got brothers and sisters who passed on during the war of liberation. As a result of that we know that there are several members that are lying out there and some stand unburied even today because they wanted us to be independent so that we can rule ourselves, run our own affairs, be in a position to determine our destiny and that we will be in a position to take back our land and use it productively as we are doing today.
So I want to second the motion and say the issue of coming up with a Bill to say anyone who speaks against his country to the detriment of the country and our people; that person is not fit for any office of leadership. I therefore, stand to second that motion that may that Bill be enacted, not now but as soon as yesterday. I thank you.
HON. B. DUBE: (Part of speech not recorded due to power outage.) Madam Speaker, I am sure we are having a connectivity challenge and I do not know whether we will wait for it to connect?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have to wait for the connection for the benefit of those who are on virtual. You can now continue Hon. Dube.
HON. B. DUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I am sure I am now connected.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, you are connected.
HON. B. DUBE: Madam Speaker Ma’am, I love the first part of the reading of this motion that it is acknowledging that Zimbabwe is a multiparty democracy that accommodates divergent views of all parties in the country. What this implies is that we must understand that Zimbabwe is not a choir where everyone must sing to one tune. We must understand that the nation is made up of different people who have different views but at the end of the day, what we must all agree is that Zimbabwe is the only home that we have especially for some of us. I do not have any other country that I wish to belong to except Zimbabwe. I assume that every other Zimbabwean has that same belief that Zimbabwe is the only home that they have.
If we agree on that, the point then becomes how we administer our politics. Our politics must be administered with tolerance, which means that we must be able to tolerate different political views and political parties as a starting point. If we agree on that, it means we have a shared view. What is the problem in Zimbabwe currently is that there is no nation that was built since 1980. After1980, we managed to build a country and we managed to define boundaries, but we did not manage to build a nation based on values and principles, which is why our politics has a lot of violence. Our politics has a lot of hate speech as even my Chief Whip was indicating and someone was clapping hands and celebrating that an MP was ignored and denied a chair during a national function of the burial of a hero.
If you are doing that, at what point do you expect that same person to cooperate with you when you do not regard them as human beings like you and a national leader like an MP cannot be acknowledged at national events and cannot be respected by anyone. The main challenge that we have in Zimbabwe is a majority of Zimbabweans especially politicians. They love their political parties more than the country Zimbabwe. The people that I have seen in my political journey love their political leaders and their Presidents at political party levels more than they love their country so that even if that person is wrong and messing up, they will not be in a position to say yes or no. So the problem that we have cannot actually be regulated through the Patriotic Bill because patriotism is not a concept that you can regulate through legal processes. It is an attitude that one has towards their country. How do you cement patriotism, make everyone feel that Zimbabwe is their home? Allow everyone to enjoy even when people come for Independence Day celebrations, acknowledge me as an MDC person when I come there. Accept that Zimbabwe has ZANU PF which is present at the Heroes Acre every time when you are burying a hero. Also acknowledge that Brian Dube can come there as a member of the MDC and still is a member of Zimbabwe. Accept when you see Happymore Chidziva coming there and say this person is from CCC and is here and a Zimbabwean. That way, you would not need to then regulate anyone.
The reason why people end up possibly doing what the Chief Whip was saying, trying to do things through unorthodox means, is because of the intolerance that is there that makes people end up going for other methods of trying to get their voices heard. If you cannot be heard in your own country, you may end up thinking that audience from outside may be relevant. What I believe in is national dialogue. Let us agree that we need to dialogue as political actors. We need to dialogue as national leaders. We need to understand each other. I must know Hon. Chinotimba better than what I read in the newspapers. I must be able to understand a war veteran. I was not there during the war of liberation. If I was alive and grown up, I could have gone to war but I did not. I must only hear from him and respect him. The reason why I end up failing to respect a war veteran is because I only know the other side of a war veteran possibly who was doing a ZANU PF slogan. In that case, when I see a war veteran, I see a ZANU PF member yet I am just supposed to see my liberator.
We must be able to separate especially our war veterans who fought for us all. They did not fight for ZANU PF neither did they fight for ZAPU. They fought for Zimbabwe. When I ask my elders at my home, they tell me that they actually did not do much of these slogans that they are doing now. They were just focused on the nation. I am wondering where we lost it. We only lost it when we got criminals around our leaders who want to exploit political processes for personal gain. These are the ones who are misleading our leaders and causing our leaders to be intolerant. The undeserving leaders that we have in the county both in the ruling party and in the opposition, those people who are there not on merit but because of praise and worship of leaders are the ones who are giving us problems because they are intolerant, rude and they have ideological concoctions. What they intend to do is different from what Zimbabwe was established to do.
My point is that let us dialogue as a country and agree on a national vision and Zimbabwe we want. Include the churches, civic society and all political players including those that you call minority political parties and come together and agree that even when we are going for elections, we are going for elections because there are prescribed number of positions that are there but not that we are going for war. An election is more like a war in Zimbabwe where someone can die because they want to choose who to vote for someone. My idea is that these political leaders that we have today must swallow their pride from across the political divide and understand that they have a responsibility not to incite their followers and supporters not to be insulting other people and agree that different as we are, we remain Zimbabweans. Different as we are, we have a responsibility towards this country. This county is the only home that I have and I do not want anyone to undermine me. I belong to the political party that I chose, MDC that is what I want and that is what I believe in. No one from any other political party, be it ZANU PF or CCC must demonise me for my choice that I have made because it is me. They must follow their party and seek support without undermining the other. This is the problem that we have.
Relating also to the issue of sanctions, I think the main challenge that is there is that it has been used to explain away some failures by Government which is why at a personal level, I believe that those sanctions must be removed so that those who fail, will fail whilst we know there is failure because this person is a thief, they committed corruption. Currently the challenge that we have is that people are explaining away their failures on the basis of the so called sanctions. Everyone comes and says, why are we failing to do this – they cite sanctions. I believe they are not good for anyone and they are being used to blackmail my party falsely because some people have actually tried to lie that MDC called for sanctions. In my view, I believe that they are not necessary and do not serve any purpose except to allow some incompetent people to explain away their incompetence. Let us have them removed and at the end of the day, let us have a political dialogue where every Zimbabwean would agree on what is best for this country. What is best for this country is to elect Members of Parliament, councillors and President on merit and not using these unorthodox means of violence and blackmailing and lying that certain people are not patriotic and certain people are. Patriotism is an element that is inherent in every human being and naturally every Zimbabwean loves their country.
Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I spoke with a high voice because I am actually angry when I speak about these things because I do not see the promises of Independence and the liberation struggle being fulfilled in our time. It is our responsibility to make sure that we correct certain wrongs. I thank you.
*HON. DUTIRO: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate on the motion raised by Hon. Togarepi - the issue concerning patriotism and those who do not care about Zimbabwe and look down upon their country whereas they have the opportunity to solve their problems in their country and unite. It is not good moving to other countries and put sanctions so that we suffer as a country. The problem is every time we have elections; we do not do that in unity. The greatest problem we have is that some of us do not understand democracy. Democracy does not start at national level but it starts in each and every political party. If the political party does not know what democracy is, it is hard for them to understand democracy at national level.
We must have elections in our political parties. A political party must have elections so that they understand what democracy is. Therefore, we are saying political parties must exercise democracy. Currently, Zimbabwe belongs to SADC which has principles and guidelines for holding elections. Therefore, those political parties who contest without democracy must not contest elections because they do not understand democracy at national level. As a result, they end up resorting to violence. SADC is the one which supervises elections in Zimbabwe and last year we had elections and SADC was leading because we are a signatory to SADC but you find that some people opt to go abroad to report their cases instead of reporting to SADC which is closer to home.
Madam Speaker. I am saying that if a political party does not have internal democratic process, it must not contest national elections. I thank you.
+HON. R MPOFU: I want to support the motion that was raised by Hon. Togarepi and the seconder. The motion is quite emotional because as we are here in this House with my fellow Hon. Members, we need to have ways that unite us and understand our background, where we are currently and where we are going. You find that there is no one who is concerned about this. Even though people want to discuss some important issues, they just put political issues that disturb the debates. People do not understand that there is a lot of conflict and that blood was shed for us to have peace. If it was not ZANU and ZAPU, Smith and his friends would still be in charge of this country.
People should know that they fought for this country so that we have a free country, and they should understand that everyone is now liberated and free to choose his political party but you find that someone in this country is busy undermining the ruling party, saying that they are failing - since 1980 they did not do anything. When the whites left they saw that they messed and they left it in that condition. Where do you expect us to get the money from? Food is expensive for everyone; it does not choose that this person is from this party. The unaffordability of commodities now needs all of us to put our heads together and understand. Some of us are advocating for the lifting of sanctions while others are going behind our back supporting these sanctions.
Madam Speaker, even if you were just preparing food for the liberation fighters, you also fought the war. We are here because we were elected by the people so that we can represent them. We are not here to fight always but we are here so that we unite our people. We are supposed to advocate for the sanctions to be lifted. Regardless of the fact that I cannot see you with my eyes but I see you in my spirit that we are one. We need the British to lift these sanctions, what have we done wrong, what have our children done? My spirit is really troubled that we cannot unite and unity is a small thing that we can do and develop our country. Even if you come in power and lead, how can you lead people when there are sanctions? Let us fight together as a team so that sanctions can be lifted, sanctions must go! – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – We are just one. If I was able to see; I was once someone who could see but if I tell you what happened to my eyes you will be shocked. There are people who removed my eyes. I do not hate anyone, we are all friends here but my issue is on sanctions, that sanctions must go. Regardless of the religion that you believe in, either you are from an African religion or Christian religion, please let us pray that sanctions should go. If we are not united we are not going anywhere. Thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. SEWERA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I support the motion raised by the Chief Whip and the seconder. Before I speak further, I would like to say I support the theme of this motion. There must be a law in place for people who go around advocating for sanctions going outside the country to do that, they must be prosecuted. Let us not forget that our country Zimbabwe came after a protracted struggle, after liberating this country through war.
Madam Speaker, the people who were defeated still exist up to date. We are not saying we do not want the opposition in this country but we want to say we want a home grown opposition. There are a lot of opposition parties in several countries, be it in Britain, there are Conservatives, Labour Party; we have never heard any of those people calling for sanctions that bring hardships towards the citizens of that country. So Madam Speaker, considering the history of this country, there is an issue pertaining to those political parties. Some of them are not political parties, they are political clubs without an ideology, without a history, they are people who are just being given money. We end up fighting amongst each other whilst we are Zimbabweans yet they are simply exacerbating internal fights so that they effect regime change. We see them doing that on social media; they always say that if ZANU PF falls, we will remove people who benefited from the land reform. People who benefited from the farms are locals because we fought for economic independence, not only political independence. That is why they go around looking for their puppets. This country will not go anywhere. As a result, all these children who are going around selling out, we must have a law that persecutes such people. We know all of them and where they went calling for sanctions. The law must be put to apply in retrospect from the time ZIDERA was enacted. With those few words, I am saying that this law must be put in place like yesterday. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I also want to add my voice on this motion raised by Hon. Togarepi, supported by Hon. Nguluvhe. My view is, the law may be in place but I do not think it can solve everything because it can be selective. If you look at what happened in 2008, there is a law that says no one must be murdered, yet people died and no one was persecuted. What I am trying to say is, on our own, we must find each other, be it as political parties; yes we may put laws in place against people who called for sanctions and the like but we must unite as Zimbabweans.
This ‘big brother’ syndrome whereby whatever is done by ZANU PF is acceptable and condemnation of what is done by opposition parties. If you hear what I say as my concern, it is that I am a Zimbabwean. From what I said, I cannot be denied a seat because I am a Zimbabwean, so who will protect me? I saw some people accepting that it was okay that I was denied a reserved seat at the National Heroes Acre. Going there is because I support the idea of celebrating that hero, that is what I was talking about here. If that was not the case, maybe I would have been executed. The whole idea is, let us be patriotic. Let us support what is good and let us all condemn what is bad regardless of which party… [Part of speech not recorded due to power outage] –These are animals. When you were talking, we were quiet. Now you want to respond because I am talking, you are an animal.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Tekeshe, withdraw your words where you said these are animals.
*HON. TEKESHE: Madam Speaker Ma’am, these are animals but I withdraw. Their behaviour resembles that of animals. However, I withdraw Madam Speaker that these are animals. So, what I am saying is, we can do as if we are joking here but this motion that was brought by Hon. Togarepi is a very good motion but it must consider both sides. I also must have rights of being respected in this country. If I fail to have coverage where I do good things and then I am denied a place to sit at the National Heroes Acre, what do I do? I end up going to Studio 7 and I am labeled a sellout. So, what must I do? I must be given acknowledgement where I do good. Let us all unite regardless of political affiliation.
The other thing is, as Zimbabweans we are always in election mode. From the day the election ends up to the next election, we are always in election mode. After elections, let us unite and relate with each other properly. Do not forget that this ZANU PF will one day be out of power. Hon. Mliswa said to Hon. Chombo some time ago, ‘refurbish these jails because one day you will be an inmate’. Indeed that came to pass. So, do not always say things that are said by opposition Members are bad simply because they come from the opposition. We need to also acknowledge that I was wronged when I was denied a seat. So, what I am saying is; yes that law is good but let us not rush to condemn the ones who called for sanctions. So what do you expect me to do? I end up doing that because here I am not accepted.
When Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai united, this country progressed very well. So, if you deny me access, I will go my own way whilst you go your own way. Our economy suffers as a result of that because we are not united. Some people prioritise political gains not the country. - [Part of speech not recorded due to power outage] – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: He is giving examples; he is not debating about heroes.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker for protecting me. That is exactly what we must do in this House. Thank you Madam Speaker, you have protected me very well. This is our country and we should not denounce our country but the big brother should work together with the young brother instead of becoming a bully because the whole House turns into bullies. This one bullies the other and the other will bully the next.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Tekeshe, stick to one language.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. So, we need to unite and move forward as one country. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Madam Speaker, I stand to also add my voice on this motion that was raised by Hon. Togarepi, supported by Hon. Nguluvhe. The main message that is being debated here is, I was where I was, watching Americans and there was a court session that emanated from the matter of the riots that took place at the Capitol. What they were saying is what happened is not acceptable in that country. Even where I am here, I am not allowed to go to America. They are chasing every black person in Britain and so on because they are saying they went there illegally, yet they are everywhere in African countries. The point that I want to make is, whose country is Zimbabwe? Who is supposed to protect this country? It is the people. When we quarrel in this country, it is better for us to face each other instead of inviting foreigners. Why are you calling that foreigner an outsider? What do you want that person to do?
It is not about quarreling or trying to say it is because I was not recognised at the Heroes Acre. The issue is on someone who goes outside insulting his or her father. What type of a person is that? That is the real issue. We are supposed to be honest and truthful. Right now, the country is no longer playing soccer because someone went outside the country and said Zimbabwe is not supposed to play soccer. Someone goes and says that soccer must never be played as long as I am not the leader.
I heard the President of CCC saying we left everything, be it slogans and the headquarters under Mwonzora. He was implying that they left the issue of sanctions with Mwonzora, yet Mwonzora announced that he is calling for the removal of sanctions. What we are saying is we expect CCC to start afresh and call for the removal of sanctions. In brief, we are saying the sanctions must go.
Madam Speaker, the whites that we fought against never run short of plans. As we speak, they went to Zambia and Botswana and put their bases. Their intention is not to protect Zambia or Botswana. Does Zambia not have its own army? All they want to do is to re-colonise countries led by the blacks. Let us put a law and say we do not want American soldiers here. Look at what they are doing. Right now, they are murdering each other. They want to come back bit by bit. What they want here is to put their puppets. If my favourable Honourable wins, it simply means their puppet has won. What we are rejecting are puppets. We want real people, black owners of this country and not people who are manipulated and told what to do. A black man who is called general manager will be a sellout. No black man gets high office when he is not a sellout. Let us unite, be it opposition or not. All those people who compete for posts should say the truth that indeed the sanctions must go.
If CCC wins, we will keep quiet. There is no need for us to go out and demonstrate. That is what we are refusing. Let us unite and the sanctions must go. Let us not insult each other. How we relate here is different from how our people relate. With this Hon. Member from Harare Central, we talk with each other. If he sees me, he runs to me but when they go out, they tell the people that we are not in good books. Let us teach people good things. Let us teach them to stop violence and to guard against the whites who want to re-colonise this country. Sanctions must go, regardless of which part competes or seeks elections. If they vote, let it be peaceful. What we are saying is, if there is anyone who goes out there to call for sanctions, we must know that the person is not a patriotic Zimbabwean and is not one of us. That person must be arrested and imprisoned.
This motion is not about going to the Heroes Acre and fail to be recognised. CCC must first of all accept that there are heroes. They must accept that this country was liberated by heroes. It did not just come on a silver platter. It came after shedding of a lot of blood. If they do not accept that, what platform do they want to be given when they do not accept that this country came after a protracted struggle? They go about saying this country must be returned back to the whites and they also say take it back to where it was tied so that we can untie it. They say farms must be given back to the whites, so what respect do you want to be given? No person who speaks ill of this country must be respected, this is very bad.
*HON. TEKESHE: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
*THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. TEKESHE: My point of order is that the Hon. Member is encouraging hatred amongst Zimbabwe instead of motivating people to live peacefully.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Tekeshe, Hon. Chinotimba is just giving an example that anyone who speaks ill of his country must not be respected. He did not insult anyone. Hon. Chinotimba, please proceed.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: I thought they wanted to accuse me of insulting the president of CCC party.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chinotimba, debate the motion.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: What I am saying is that sanctions must go; the country is being destroyed by sanctions. Anyone who imposes sanctions on this country must face the law and that law is long overdue - so that we live peacefully and well in this country. I thank you.
(v)HON. SIBANDA: On a point of order Madam President.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sibanda, I recognize you, I will choose two or three from ZANU PF and then choose from other parties as well. Your turn will come.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I want to thank the mover and seconder of the motion. The motion we are facing has a historical context where we were oppressed as Africa for over 500 years. The historical element where we were oppressed really also requires a lot of education, even when Hon. Members are elected, they must come for orientation to understand where Africa is coming from. During the slave trade, there were some Africans who were slave hunters and during the rise in African Nationalism, in Congo, there was Morris Tshombe, they killed Patrice Lumumba; that concept, that desire to be associated with our colonizers, that desire to be associated with Europeans does not come out of many of us very easily. It was from the political side to the religious side. I remember when I wanted to be baptized they wanted to give me another European name so that when I die, I go via Europe to heaven. I said no I will remain Simbaneuta Mudarikwa. We went through a very difficult time; even those who were taken as slaves had to be baptized first. The first ship that took slaves across the Atlantic Ocean had a religious name.
All those things compounded on the minds of our people; you will have a person who has no direction, Bob Marley says a person who does not know his role as a patriot of a country is a cabbage in the society. A cabbage lives for four days then the next thing it is rotten. This is the situation we are facing. Our education syllabus requires to be overhauled so that our people can understand where we are coming from. We live in a very difficult situation even when we go around the way we speak English, some speak English more than Prince Charles.
What I am trying to say is, even the country of Zimbabwe, how it came about; it was a property of Cecil Rhodes. We were ruled by a company for 34 years. Cecil John Rhodes with his BSAC (British South African Company) was in charge of this country, Zambia and Malawi. So that process of being owned by a particular company has some Cecil John Rhodes’s ideology in the mindset of some of our people. We had a difficult situation as Zimbabwe and after 34 years of being ruled by Cecil John Rhodes, we then moved into a situation where colonialism was now instituted through different institutions and had to deposited in the minds of our people. The concept of people running away from Zimbabwe going to other countries and saying please give Zimbabwe sanctions is criminal. The Patriotic Act must come in as soon as possible. It is criminal in the sense that sanctions were even issued outside the United Nations. The sanctions were issued outside the United Nations. Sanctions were issued outside the normal, United Nations as a convention. The 1945 Convention of the United Nations does not allow our country to go to another and issue illegal sanctions. So it is something that is criminal and it must be put to an end. This is the type of politics and in political language it is called politics of discontent. Let people suffer, and then they will uprise. The nation is not moving economically whilst we are cutting ourselves into pieces. So, it is very important that we realise the importance of managing a country.
As Parliament, we make laws for the good governance of this country. So, there are people who want to be out of Zimbabwe, the laws must be put in place; those people must never be issued with passports. We cannot have such a situation whereby one bites the hand that is feeding them.
Mr. Speaker, the element of finance, the element of money going round and being abused for different political parties - the Government of Zimbabwe has done very well by creating the Political Parties Finance Act where political parties that have done well are given money by the Government. So, why do you want to look for money outside when you are paid on the basis of the pro-rata performance of your political party?
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for allowing me to contribute and also thank Hon. Members, they were silent when I was contributing because when I am contributing, I am a former Minister and I have value in what I say.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Togarepi who has brought up such an important motion, seconded by Hon. Nguluvhe.
Hon. Speaker Sir, when Zimbabweans decided to fight for their liberation, they did so out of love for their country. They were not just fighting but they had love for their country. This was enshrined even in the songs which they sang - “Nyika yedu ye Zimbabwe ndimo matakazvarirwa”. That was a sign that they loved their country, whether they were in Zambia or in Mozambique, they would not sing about Zambia or Mozambique, those were just bases that were helping people to fight the struggle.
Hon. Speaker, the syllabus for those who fought for this country, who went out of the country to fight for Zimbabwe, started with national grievances. Under national grievances, the major and topical issue was the land issue and you will actually realise why we got punished because we wanted our land. The moment we got that land, then we were punished. However, those who want to go out and make us to be punished even more deserve to be punished as well.
You will find Hon. Speaker Sir, that people who want to make sure that where we are trying to reconcile within ourselves as a nation, they continue coming creating misery, opening up wounds even those that were actually brought into our people many years ago. They want to make mileage through talking about such issues. They do not feel like wanting people to reconcile so that we can have our own country going on well in all spheres. We still have a challenge within ourselves where you find some people have no ideology which they are following. They are just doing things out of no ideology, without even understanding what our people want.
Hon. Speaker Sir, we cannot fail to get a definition of patriotism as Zimbabweans. We are very educated people, we can define patriotism in line with what Zimbabwe wants and that definition is going to come up. Why should people feel patriotism is hard to define when people are there in Zimbabwe and we know what we want as Zimbabweans?
So, it is very important that we have a Bill that has to do with patriotism in our country so that our country is going to flourish and our people are going to run away from some of these hatreds that are published time and again. Some continue repeating even an error that happened in 1980, they are talking about it and they continue to talk about it so that it makes sense when there is no sense. So, we must learn to make sure that we are fighting for a country; we want a country that is going to be made up of people who are united, people who do not want to go out and look for our enemies and continue dividing us.
HON. KASHAMBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for affording me this opportunity to debate such a critical motion raised by Hon. Togarepi about patriotism in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Speaker Sir, that is an important Bill because as we can see right here in Zimbabwe, right now in Parliament, this whole bench is empty. It is empty because of lack of patriotism. The Hon. Members of CCC are in my constituency right now in Seke, Nyatsime, demolishing people’s houses, burning some of them all because of lack of patriotism. They are now politicising everything that happens in this country.
They have politicised the passionate murder of Moreblessing Ali. I come from the very constituency, I have been there but because of lack of patriotism, Hon. Members from this august House and some of them prominent lawyers are misleading the nation by distorting the information that is on the ground. Now people have been incited so that they turn against their Government, which is lack of patriotism and such lack of patriotism will cause distabilisation of our economy and distabilisation of our currency because people want to prove to their handlers or whoever that they can change and they are bringing regime change. Mr. Speaker Sir, because of emotions and what is happening in my own constituency, it is being spearheaded by my own colleagues in Parliament, some who are prominent lawyers in this country. I cannot speak much but maybe to raise an immediate motion that the issue of violence in this country as we go towards the harmonised elections must be debated exclusively. Thank you.
(vHON. TOFFA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to add my voice to the motion that was raised by the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Togarepi. I would like to start off by saying we are all Zimbabweans before we are any political party, religion and so on. As I listened to the debate brought about by Hon. Togarepi, I could not but help feel a sense of bullying. The citizens of Zimbabwe are going through a very difficult time right now and they expect us to be debating on issues of substance that were taken out of the situation we are in right now.
I do not see how our country is being affected by action and how it affects our production, and our progressiveness. If you look at the fact that our country is one of the richest countries in the world, when you look at the amount of minerals we have, per capita is there. What anybody has to say should not even affect us in the slightest. What we are lacking to do is actually find the pitfalls of our issues and in my humble opinion, I believe that we should be debating issues of corruption. Corruption is so rife and it is unbelievable.
We see it and these are people that should be brought to book and those are the people that should be thrown into jail. We do not want such people to be running our country and that is what we should be talking about. When Hon. Togarepi was talking about people going and speaking about the country, it felt so childish and it reminds me of the situation when we were young and in Ndebele we say ukabibele likamama wami lami ngizakaba ibele likamama wakho...that kind of thing ...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Sorry Hon. Toffa. I do not think it is proper and parliamentary the way you seem to be castigating Hon. Togarepi. I do not accept that, can you withdraw that statement. Just continue with your facts.
(v)HON. TOFFA: Which one Mr. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Earlier on you said he was sounding like he is bullying and now you are coming back saying that it is childish. I do not think it is parliamentary. It does not need any clarification and what I am ruling on is what you have just said.
(v)HON. TOFFA: Okay for progress’s sake, I will not argue with you. I will withdraw the fact that I said it is childish. Mr. Speaker Sir, the other day there was a debate in the House, some Hon. Members were reporting on the United Emirates Expo and if you look at how that country is progressing and how well they have done and the fact that they have to import almost every single thing that they use, whereas we have everything exporting intellect and yet we are saying, I do not know whether it is wrong to say what Hon. Togarepi said that we are saying do not help Zimbabwe as though we are destitute. We are not destitute but we just need to manage our resources well.
I look at countries such as Switzerland and in that country no woman is allowed to go to work until the child is six years old. That country has no water. I asked them how they were doing so well. They have got one mineral which is waters and their brains. We are not lacking in that but we find ourselves huge on corruption. We seem to be encouraging corruption because nobody is brought to book. You find small fish for example former Minister Kagonye who has been imprisoned. If she did wrong, she should be. There are people that are smuggling gold and diamonds and look at our resources, they should be going back into our country. Our mining sector - when we go out for public hearings in the bushes of Zimbabwe, we see a hive of activity going on, but it is not turning out to something tangible but we should be the Dubai of Africa. We are attracting the attention to Zimbabwe because what we are doing is infringing on the rights of expression. Our Constitution on Section 60 talks about freedom of conscience.
Every person has the right to freedom of conscience including freedom of thought, opinion, religion, belief, freedom to practice and express these in private or public. We say our constitution is the supreme law of the land and here we are - our Government Chief Whip is talking about taking away those rights. As Government, and as Parliament, we should be leading by example and what we do should be cascading down to our communities, our constituencies and to our young people. Our young people do not even know why they have to vote. They do not want to register to vote because they do not see why they should do it because all we do in Parliament is see how we can fix each other up. So that is what we are teaching our young people out there.
As much as I said we should be patriotic, that does not mean that we should be vindictive. Patriotism means that we should look at how we can progress our country and how we should support one another and to see where things are wrong.
Part of speech not recorded due to power outage.
*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: I support the motion raised by Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Nguluvhe. This motion is a very painful one if you look at it. As a country, we go through a lot of suffering because there are some people who are not even thinking about what is happening in this country. They are just concerned about their selfish ends. A lot of people talk about sanctions but they do not understand what they mean. What sanctions simply mean is that if you want to sell goods to any of the countries that has imposed sanctions on you, you cannot sell to those countries. You have to sell through middlemen. It means you cannot get the benefits that you are entitled to.
Sanctions destroyed this country because even a bank cannot allow you to open a nostro account from which you can get a visa card. How can one operate? If you want to travel, you cannot do that and this is because of sanctions. Some of our people here in Zimbabwe went abroad to beg for these sanctions. There are people who are involved in domestic violence, be it at beer halls; those fights are attributed to this country or the ruling party. One party attributes all those negatives to someone and there is one party that does that. We must unite and work together as a country. If there are people who oppose, they must oppose something that is relevant to this country. We do not want people who are sent to cause commotion, violence and chaos in this country and calling for sanctions after twisting issues.
There is rule of law in this country. If you do something wrong you will be arrested. You cannot break the law and expect not to be arrested simply because you belong to a certain political party. I support the motion raised by Hon. Togarepi that there be a law that penalises people who go around calling for sanctions. We must also have a law that says anyone who wants to lead people must be compassionate to the people that they lead and not lead people whilst you do not care about their lives. There must be a law that prosecutes anyone who speaks ill about their country. Some of those countries like United States have such laws. Nobody goes outside America and speaks ill about their country. Let us speak good about our country. If there are things that go wrong, let us correct them properly and not call for sanctions upon this country. I do support this motion.
*HON. NYABANI: I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to debate on this motion brought by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Nguluvhe. This motion has come at a right time according to my view because when you see chickens fighting and you find a wild cat chasing after those chickens, what it is simply trying to do is to separate them so that it can devour one of the chickens. These sanctions brought about by America were imposed because we took back our land. We are children of one family fighting and someone decides to go to America which has caused all this suffering where people do not have water and medicines in hospitals. Where I come from, we consider such a person a lunatic who needs mental treatment. How can a person support an enemy who has been fighting against us for all these years? Asking assistance from an enemy to mediate in the internal affairs of one’s country is wrong.
According to me, that law must be enacted. There is no household that has no rules. Even a burial society has rules. When you put rules at home, it does not mean that you do not like your children. You want them to behave properly. So, that law does not mean that it is destroying someone. It is supposed to put order. That law is long overdue and it is meant to nurture them properly. Such rules are meant to ensure that children behave in a proper manner. We do not want to see people shedding crocodile tears here. With those few words, I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: It is unfortunate that the virtual platform is gone, but I would like to thank Hon. Members who debated on this motion. I want to thank them that they have debated very much aware of the needs of people of Zimbabwe to be loyal and patriotic. Mr. Speaker Sir, maybe I should say that the Government, through the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, must help us to come up with this law - a law that will ensure that the people of Zimbabwe protect the interests of their country more than personal self-centered interests. After having said that Mr. Speaker, I move for the adoption of this motion.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that we revert to Order of the Day, Number 17.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Seventeenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. MASVISVI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I am Hon. Daveson Masvisvi representing Gokwe Central Constituency. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am so delighted to present my maiden speech in this august House.
Gokwe Central Constituency is made up of two segments. First being Gokwe town with six wards and rural with four wards – both with an estimated population of 120 000 people combined.
Mr. Speaker Sir, may I take this opportunity to thank our President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for his visionary leadership and mantra, ‘no one and no place shall be left behind’.
Mr. Speaker Sir, as a new Member of Parliament, I want to testify on unprecedented developments in my constituency through devolution and Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programmes (ERRP). To date, Gokwe Town Council has received millions in devolution and ERRP programmes. The money has been utilised towards public institutions, infrastructure, and road development. The majority of the projects are at 90% level of completion. The major accomplishment by Gokwe Town Council through the devolution funds has been the construction of a state of the art polyclinic which at full capacity will employ 30 nurses and four doctors while assisting thousands of people in Gokwe Town with health service delivery and thus reducing pressure from Gokwe District Hospital and surrounding clinics. Gokwe Central Constituency will forever be grateful to the President, Cde. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa and his Government for introducing devolution funds.
The rural wards of my constituency are also benefiting through devolution and ERRP funds. Major accomplishments of Gokwe South Rural District Council have been acquiring of earth moving equipment including a grader, front-end loader, and two tipper trucks using devolution funds. The equipment is being employed to construct and rehabilitate road networks across the constituency. Roads to traditional leadership homesteads and other key Government institutions like schools and clinics will be rehabilitated to be more trafficable.
Mr. Speaker Sir, under water and sanitation in Gokwe Town, we rely on underground water supply instead of dams. Persistent load shedding is negatively affecting ZINWA operations of pumping water from underground and to our residents. Unscheduled power cuts have on several occasions caused breakdown of pumps leading to prolonged dry spells in town which is a potential health hazard to our residents since they are forced to seek water from unprotected sources. Gokwe Town Council has started drilling and equipping solar-powered boreholes to improve the situation. As a Member of Parliament for Gokwe Central, I want to appeal to ZESA to manage load shedding in Gokwe Town to allow the continuous pumping of water by ZINWA.
Mr. Speaker Sir, my rural wards depend on manual boreholes. In the four wards in my constituency, there are 94 boreholes – 54 are functioning and 40 are either on mechanical breakdown or have collapsed and hence need flushing. There are several schools and clinics in my constituency without a nearby reliable source of clean water, hence competent civil servants continue to shun such institutions. It is my humble plea that Government continues to drill more boreholes and rehabilitate those that are not functional to ensure that everyone has access to clean water from reasonably closer distances. Ideally, if resources permit, more boreholes should be turned from manual to solar-powered since we always have intense sun heat in my constituency. There is also need to capacitate DDF so that all broken down boreholes are attended to quickly to reduce the down time of most of the boreholes. Mr. Speaker Sir, some areas need small dams to water animals including livestock. I appeal for assistance to construct at least a dam in each of the four wards in my constituency.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of agriculture, we applaud His Excellency the President, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for assisting communal farmers with Presidential Input Scheme in the form of Pfumvudza for crops and Presidential Tick Grease Scheme that has largely saved our livestock from tick borne diseases. Gokwe’s economy is largely agro-based hence support to agriculture is a gesture that is well appreciated by many in my constituency. I call upon the Government, through COTTCO, to do value addition and beneficiation of cotton through the establishment of cotton seed processing and weaving factories. Gokwe districts, being north and south, are the largest cotton producers in the country, and extending value addition means creation of employment, and other opportunities for people in my constituency.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on education, we have critical shortage of learning institutions in my constituency. In urban wards, we have four high schools and four primary schools. It is my desire that we have an additional three high schools and three primary schools to match the demand for places at schools, more so in the rural wards, we need an additional three high schools and three primary schools. All schools in my constituency require increased specialist classrooms, ordinary classrooms, staff houses and improved sporting facilities. We also have shortage of teachers in both primary and secondary schools. I will be glad if more qualified teachers are deployed to Gokwe.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I appeal for food assistance at schools as the majority of our learners are likely to go to school on empty stomachs as drought has negatively affected the 2021/2022 harvest. Even our communities now need drought relief support. Mr. Speaker Sir, we were not spared by COVID-19 lockdown induced closure of schools resulting in multiple dropouts due to early child marriages, loss of interest in school whilst some went for gold panning. I am working with stakeholders like the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, social development departments, police and other progressive non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) to drive the young people back to school to create a bright future for them.
Mr. Speaker Sir, regarding the land issue, Gokwe has no white-owned large scale commercial farms. During the Land Reform Programme, people from my constituency did not benefit. There are a lot of people who desperately need land and some of them have settled themselves on private owned small-scale commercial farms of Chemagora and Mapfungautsi forest. It is my desire that following the recent land audit, people from my constituency be considered and get priority in land allocation.
Lastly Mr. Speaker Sir, as a Member of Parliament, I lament the dreadful effects of sanctions on our economy and call upon those who called for them to do the honourable thing and demand for the unconditional removal of the cruel illegal sanctions to allow our country to move forward. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 18 to 29 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 30 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ON THE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICY (IEP) AND BETTER SCHOOLS PROGRAMME – ZIMBABWE (BSPZ)
Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on the Inclusive Education Policy (IEP) and Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ).
Question again proposed.
(v)HON. A. NDEBELE: Mr. Speaker Sir. On a point of order, I just want to say something relating to the rules.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What rules would you want to check on Honourable?
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. At the height of the lockdown, it was an established rule that whenever the internet connectivity went down, debate inside the House will stop immediately. I remember on two or three occasions the House had to adjourn on the basis of loss of internet connectivity. I realise that today we had three glitches in that regard but debate seems to have been going on full swing in the House. I just want to check with you Hon. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much for your point of order. What was actually happening is that the internet was cutting off briefly and then coming back, so we could see the technicians were busy working on the internet and we continued hoping that the internet would be restored and here we are, the internet has been restored and business of the House has to continue.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Mr. Speaker Sir, the cutoffs were not brief. Those Hon. Members who are on the virtual platform were disadvantaged. As you can see, people like Hon. P. D. Sibanda were on the waiting list when they wanted to come back, you told them that their time was up, so they were prejudiced.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I never stopped Hon. Members in connection with the lapse of time. It was only that there was a disconnection of internet and when it came back, I called Hon. Toffa who was on that waiting list. Unfortunately, the internet had to cut off and we reverted back to the House. Anyway, your point has been noted Honourable.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Thank you.
*HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to also add my views on this motion after taking our tour with this Committee and receiving a petition about BSPZ. It talked about inclusive education by BSPZ.
I will dwell much on BSPZ. Where we went, we met a lot of problems as well as complaints. We discovered that we had a lot of complaints from people about the misuse of the funds they contribute to BSPZ. It is supposed to contribute to the development of the school. They complained that they are the ones who contribute financially yet they do not have their inputs in terms of ideas. They are requesting that they should be given an opportunity to air their views. They are only told of how that money is spent, be it constructing a house or anything else yet they are not given an opportunity to suggest how the money can be spent. So we also concur that the parents should have an opportunity to air their views on how that money should be spent.
We have realised that the new curriculum has this CALA and many people do not know much about it. We are suggesting that this money that parents are contributing towards BSPZ should be spent on empowering or further training of teachers so that they are able to understand how this CALA should be undertaken. We realise this fund is administered only by those in the Committees or the PSI yet the parents need to also contribute.
We realise that as a country, we want this development in terms of the education infrastructure, but we are not yet prepared to implement the new curriculum. Even the teachers do not seem to fully understand what they are supposed to do. So as a Committee, we suggest that Government should ensure that in all the teachers’ colleges in this country, there must be a compulsory subject whereby each and every teacher, before they graduate, must know how to handle braille when they meet children living with visual impairment or sign language for those who use that. Every teacher must be empowered to cater for the children living with different disabilities or special needs.
Yes, we realised that indeed in our schools, our children must be educated, they must go to school together with children with special needs but some parents are keeping their children in their homesteads because they are not able to take them to school. We also request for the provision of wheelchairs because parents cannot carry their children on their backs to school. We also suggest that we have special infrastructure for children with special needs such as access to ablution facilities. Our schools must be adapted to be user friendly for children with special needs so that they get all the required facilities.
I would like to thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to add my views on the tour that we carried out. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at One Minute past Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBAWE
Tuesday, 14th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
CHANGES TO THEMATIC COMMITTEES MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish
to inform the Senate of the following changes to Thematic Committees membership:
(a) Hon. Sen. E. Baipai moved from the Thematic Committee on HIV and Aids to the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security;
(b) Hon. Sen. T. Chisorochengwe moved from the Thematic Committee on HIV and Aids to the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development; and
(c) Hon. Sen. S. Cheza moved from the Thematic Committee on Human Rights to the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I move that Orders of the Day,
Numbers 1 to 5 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 6 has been disposed of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the effects of
drought on the national herd in the dry regions of the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you Hon. President. I also want to add my voice to the motion that was tabled by Hon. Sen. Dube on the issue of challenges being faced by people and wildlife in this country.
Hon. President, we request the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to puts in place policies that will address the issue of the challenges that people and animals are facing in Regions Four and Five which has resulted in the loss of animals, leaving people with nothing to survive on. Most people in rural areas survive on farming, and their domestic animals – such animals require water and pasture. For the people to survive, they need water because water is life, and they also need water for their irrigation purposes. So our request is that Government assists, through the Ministry. We know that in these regions, there are rivers that cannot keep a lot of water. We therefore request that measures be put in place for the construction of dams like what is happening in other provinces where there is irrigation. Through these dams, there can be irrigation that can produce fodder for the animals or produce that humans can consume.
Mr. President, if you look at regions such as Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo and areas like Chivi, Mwenezi, Beitbridge, and some parts of Manicaland; there is not enough rainfall. In Mashonaland East, if you look at areas like Mudzi and Mutoko, most of those areas have rivers but they cannot retain water for long. So we request that Government looks into the matter to ensure that people in those areas, since they survive on their domestic animals, be assisted.
Hon. President, I am also of the opinion that in areas that are close to these provinces, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement should investigate on areas that are suitable for growing grass so that they can bale the grass which will then be transported to areas where there is no grass and fodder for their livestock. As the Hon. Minister was speaking here in the Senate, he alluded to the fact that permits are being awarded to companies that are into livestock feed production to enable them to import raw materials from outside the country for animal feed. Our request is that the Hon. Minister expedites this process.
Mr. President, you are aware that people do not have disposable income to buy such food with the high prices. So we look forward to the Government subsidising for this feed which will enable us to restock, and also enable us to get cheaper meat because the cost of beef has gone up. It is as if we are importing beef. This is not the livestock we used to get from Cold Storage Commission. It will also enable us to get foreign currency as we export beef to the European Union and also Egypt and other Asian countries will also import their meat from Zimbabwe. So we request that the Government look into this matter because it is an issue that can bring sustenance to our country. However, we also realise that when we do our budget, this is an issue that is rarely looked into.
On the issue of livestock, the Government should ensure that the dip tanks are available and at the right time because in other areas in the past months, some livestock would go for four months without being dipped. Now we see that there is progress as livestock is being dipped every week. Most of the diseases that livestock is exposed to is encountered because the dipping system was not being done regularly. I request the Government to look into this so that our livestock can be dipped every week. With these few words, I would like to thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Dube who brought this important motion. I have a few words because a lot was said by my colleagues. I would like to talk about the challenges being faced by our livestock. Mr. President, in this country, we faced challenges through droughts that occur and have an impact on people as well as livestock. In the past years, we faced challenges in terms of livestock diseases. It is now the fifth year recording of the number of cattle dying because of diseases and the national herd is now a challenge.
As a Government, we delayed the process of addressing this issue. Most people in this country no longer have livestock and this has been recurring over the years. As I speak, the Government has delayed in addressing this issue and we have failed to address it so that it does not continue. Livestock is like the people’s bank because if a person has livestock, they can sell it to buy food and even pay school fees for their children. So most people lost their banks and it was worsened by the drought; it has made life unbearable for the people. My request is that the department that looks into the welfare of livestock be capacitated. Most people ended up using poles from their cattle kraals as firewood and they no longer have livestock for draught power to enable them to farm. Others are also failing to pay school fees for their children because they have no other sources of income.
So, my request is that people who look into the welfare of livestock should be aware of such issues and should be proactive. If we cannot address or have no idea on how we can address the issue of diseases affecting our cattle, we can obtain that knowledge from outside the country. The people of Zimbabwe look up to the Government to address such issues and right now with the challenges people are facing in both urban and rural areas, we are in trouble. There is also drought that has resulted in hunger and poverty.
Most of the people in farms are not producing, they only engage in farming for their own sustenance. So our request is that we come up with measures to curb issues of loss of livestock and also issues of drought. For example, construction of dams will be helpful when there is drought where farmers can engage in irrigation farming to sustain livelihoods. Mr. President, I humbly request that as we have water that flows along the Zambezi River, what if we come up with an initiative to dig a trench from the Zambezi River and divert the flow of water, it can be 40kms to 50kms so that we bring water into the country. After a period of 10 years, that water will be flowing to as far as Harare.
So our request is that the relevant ministries look into that, it is not a one-day project but if we take it upon ourselves that we dig maybe 20 metres to 50 metres, we will surely get to Harare after some years. That water can have tributaries that will serve different areas. Those are measures that will alleviate the poverty and address issues of hunger and drought. Even as our children grow up, they will also appreciate what the Government will have done and we will have left a legacy that they can look back on and applaud us for the work done. However, right now the situation we have, where we do not have a plan of where we are going to get water is not ideal. Let us harness water from the Zambezi River. Some countries are doing that and they are surviving yet we are not doing anything. It is something that the Government can do; it is not a once-off initiative but it can be done over a period of time. I thank you Mr. President.
ÙÙHON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President. First and foremost, I would like to thank Hon. Sen. A. Dube who introduced the motion to this august House. Allow me to express my concern on the drought that affects our livestock in region 5.
Mr. President, the drought that affects our livestock is the same as the drought that affects human beings. Region 5 is one of the regions that receives very little rainfall. This is below the average rainfall that a region should receive annually. In region 5, the boreholes do not have sufficient water and the water table is very low. Even though they dig boreholes that are more than 100 metres deep they are not able to reach the water table at times. The livestock in region 5 are also affected by the water table. This causes a challenge to the livestock because there are a lot of problems when it comes to getting water. Even the people in region 5 appear as if they rear their livestock for business because it is impossible for them to do crop cultivation in those areas. From their fields they just harvest a little that they can just consume with their families.
When it comes to livestock in Matabeleland region, it is now a business because that is where they get a little income, enough for their families. Even the pastures for the livestock are not that good. As I am speaking right now, the livestock are in danger of dying from drought. We are kindly appealing for assistance in the cultivation of banner grass in region 5, not only banner grass but even fodder crops. These can boost the livestock feeds, especially during the dry season where the food for the livestock is limited. How can this be done since we mention that the issue of water is also a challenge? There is Zhove Dam and Manyange Dam in Gwanda. There should be piped water that assists in irrigation schemes. People cannot only irrigate fodder crops but they can also include farming crops to feed their families. I also appeal to the Government to provide us with supplementary feeding. This can be brought to places that are closer to people so that people who have funds can buy supplementary feeds for their livestock during this drought season.
In areas like Chivi which is region 5, there is need to create water sources to harvest water so that the little rainfall that they receive can be harvested and conserved in these water sources so that people can use and also provide their livestock with drinking water. There are some rivers that cannot store water. People dig shallow wells along the river banks so that they can get clean water for both domestic uses and for their livestock.
We are also appealing that new dams be set up in region 5. This could ease the shortage of water because it is impossible for the shortage of water to be totally eradicated. This could help the people in region 5 to make sure that they do not lose much of their livestock to drought. If you look closely you will find out that in the past two years there was drought. People had now large herds of livestock amounting to around 300 to 500 cattle. Currently, no one owns such large herds of cattle. People lost most of these during the drought, now some have nothing and others have around 50 to 100 cattle left. There is no business that people can do because the herds that are left are only for feeding the family. If everything was in order as before the drought, they could sell some of their livestock to raise income for businesses and slaughter some for food. We are appealing to the Government that this situation in Matabeleland be looked into closely.
One other issue is that these herds of cattle can be provided with doses of vaccines as per the farmers’ calendar. This is possible if livestock vaccines can be provided in the nearest veterinary stores. This includes cattle dipping because cattle are supposed to be dipped after every two weeks. However, it is impossible because our farmers do not have money to go and purchase these medicines. The basic vaccines like costico vaccine are supposed to be readily available to farmers. Farmers are supposed to follow their beef calendar so that their herds are not affected by livestock disease outbreaks
Mr. President, I can say a lot because I also reside in region 5 and I know that life in region 5 is difficult. The economy in region 5 is based on livestock. It is difficult because in the field they do not harvest much and with the issue of climate change, it has made it even harder because it is even affecting livestock production. In those areas that I mentioned, there is need to take care of livestock. Most of their livestock are dying almost each and every year. This is caused by the drought which is caused by climate change that is an eminent issue. With these few words, I thank you Hon. President. This is a motion I feel we should support because people that are staying in region 5 can also get assistance. I thank you for the opportunity.
+HON. SEN. D. M. NDLOVU: I would like to thank Hon. Sen. A. Dube for moving such a pertinent motion regarding livestock because I believe that livestock suffer more than people because they do not have an alternative. Whilst people can go to shops to buy food, livestock do not have an option, the only thing that is left is for livestock to die. If there is not enough water, where at times some dams are silted, livestock die in such muddy dams while the owners are watching. As there is no cavalry, livestock stuck in muddy dams end up dying and people will only discover bones and carcasses whilst human beings are much better as they do not die of hunger but there are several ways of alleviating hunger and poverty.
In most communities, there are donors and even Government departments that give food aid. At times during a drought season, you find Government distributing grain and other commodities. In the past, we have faced drought. Even when people were consuming yellow maize and they did not die but with livestock, it is very painful because they only survive on grazing and browsing. They only drink water from the rivers or dams and do not have an option. For us human beings, even other countries which have bilateral relations with Zimbabwe can chip in to sink boreholes in different areas but for animals, there is no other way.
To me, I believe that the suffering that is faced by livestock is more serious than what people go through because we receive donations as human beings and food aid whilst animals do not have such aid. So, I appreciate that such a motion has been moved – [Part of speech not recorded due to power outage] –
I would like to thank Hon. Sen. A. Dube for taking note of the importance of livestock. In the past, there was this common adage that without livestock then you are not a man and you do not have a bank. For those who were farmers with bigger kraals, they were considered to have bankable wealth. So, for wildlife, it is important to note that wildlife can be consumed just like domestic animals. Some have various purposes like their skins, horns or hooves can be used for different things, especially in various traditional ways. Now we ignore such important tasks. It is important that we recognise our livestock as well as our wildlife, particularly the provision of water.
Even if it is determined that we can sink a metre so that we reach 100 m, so that we can get water for our livestock, then we have to do that. We find some people who smoke throwing cigarette stubs in bushes and at the end of the day, wild fires spread, depriving our livestock and wild animals of pasture. As people, it is our responsibility and we are at fault because we are depriving our livestock. You find some gold panners who at times scoop water from rivers so that they access gold depriving our livestock of their water. This is because of our actions, mostly illegal actions affecting livestock.
As Hon. Senators, if we take up this challenge that was brought to this august House by Hon. Sen. Dube, then it would be prudent that we work together so that our wildlife and livestock is catered for, especially looking at their livelihoods. The maker knows why he created different things, even the smallest ant has a particular use in the ecosystem. With these few words, I would like to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Mr. President Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. President Sir, for giving me this opportunity to support the motion which was moved by Sen. A. Dube. This is a very important motion regarding the resuscitation of our economy as a nation which came about as a result of COVID-19, that culminated in businesses failing to thrive under the prevailing conditions. The lockdown era affected a lot of small to medium enterprises because most of them survived on importing goods which were for resale to local customers. Vendors survived on plying their trade in the streets. Even the suspension of intercity travel and other transport operators affected their businesses. Those who are in communities who were not able to access inputs like fertilizers and seeds could not carry out their business activities properly. This did not only affect them but also transporters who depended on transport for their livelihoods.
One area which I believe was affected drastically is the tourism sector, with a lot of hotels which are not operating resulting in the loss of employment for most of the people who were employed in the tourism sector. From 2020 to 2021, most hotels were closed but what we note is that with the reopening of such businesses, these tourism operators have not recovered but it is important that they pay for their licences which are expensive and beyond their reach. In that regard, the Government should consider the tourism players so that licences are reduced. Such licences to operate tourism facilities are very expensive and beyond the reach of most local business people. With regards to that, I would like to implore Government to intervene so that permits are affordable.
In the past two years, we did not receive adequate rains and this has resulted in a lot of our dams not being able to supply major towns. In the past year, a lot of people tilled their land in anticipation for the rain season but the rains did not come as anticipated. This has brought drought. I would like to implore the Minister of Finance to look into the food security of our nation, particularly the provision of grain. The Minister of Agriculture should also consider intervening so that our people do not suffer the effects of drought. There is need also for the sinking of boreholes in different communities and dams so that people who are in peripheral areas are able to access water. In every village, it is important that a borehole is sunk so that there will not be congestion in the few boreholes that are there (Part of speech not recorded due to power outage.)
I was talking about the shortage of water in different communities and I was saying that the Hon. Minister should look into the issue so that boreholes are sunk in every village for the benefit of people and livestock. I would also like to appreciate the fact that in the previous Budget Presentation, the Hon. Minister spoke about the funding of sinking boreholes in different communities. I believe this is already happening, particularly in areas like Matabeleland which are dry areas and the water table is very low. This is drastically affecting the economy of Zimbabwe which then prompts us as this august House to look into this issue that our communities would be found benefiting from such initiatives. I propose that the Minister of Finance looks for funds for food aid for different communities.
I live in Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North. You find that 300 km from our area, elephants are moving into communities in search of food and during the process they destroy people’s silos and other facilities - which is now affecting people’s livelihoods. The provision of water in different areas will not just benefit people but our wildlife. With these few words, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th June, 2022.
MOTION
EFFORTS TO CURB CORRUPTION
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion to introduce deterrent sentences for those engaging in corrupt activities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 15th June 2022.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ON HIV AND AIDS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV and AIDS service delivery system.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. With your indulgence Mr. President, I intend to round off the debate on this motion which talks about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV/AIDS service delivery. It is true that the lockdown restrictions impacted negatively on service delivery due to restrictions in movement to an extent that even the patients that were supposed to be moving from point A to B to access their services could not do so because of the restrictions. However, as I stand here, I am quite happy that restrictions have been eased and service delivery has resumed and is now moving smoothly. It is only proper that I also thank all the Hon. Members of this House who debated this motion extensively. On that note, I move for the adoption of the motion that this House takes note of the First Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS on the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Restrictions on HIV and
AIDS Service Delivery System in Zimbabwe.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) ROLL-OUT PROGRAMME
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Implementation of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) - Roll – Out Programme
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. It is quite true that the antiretroviral therapy roll-out programme was adversely affected during the period that we are talking about in that the antiretroviral drugs were in short supply as resources had to be channeled towards COVID-19. Due to the shortage of supply, most of the patients suffered drastically. There was also no secrecy to people who were supposed to be receiving their retroviral drugs. As they moved from point A to B, they had to carry with them letters that approved their movement and as they got to the road blocks, the police manning the roadblocks demanded those letters to see if the person was genuinely moving from point A to B. However, I am also quite happy that COVID-19 has slowed down a bit and supply of the retroviral drugs has also improved significantly. I also want to thank all the Hon. Members who did justice to this motion and on the same note, move for the adoption of the motion that this House takes note of the Second Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS on the Implementation of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Roll-Out Programme.
Motion put to agreed to.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MATHUTHU seconded by HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI, the Senate adjourned at Twenty-Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 9th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM THE BUDIRIRO RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AND MR. MILFORD NKOMO
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on Monday, 30th May 2022, Parliament received a petition from the Budiriro Residents Association requesting the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to invite the Budiriro District Officer, Director of Public Planning, Director of Works, Director of Housing and Social Services and the Director of Finance to explain why land meant for public schools was allocated for other uses.
The petition was deemed in admissible and the petitioners were advised accordingly.
I also have to inform the House that on Monday, 30th May 2022, Parliament received a petition from Mr. Milford Nkomo of Waterfalls, Harare, requesting Parliament to conduct an investigation into the welfare of pensioners and ensure that their monthly pensions are above the poverty datum line.
The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service Labour and Social Welfare.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Good afternoon. I rise to present my motion of national interest guided by Section 76 of the Constitution which provides for the right to healthcare. The Constitution provides that every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic health care services…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you do not seem to be connected.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My apologies Hon. Speaker. I rise to…
Hon. Zwizwai having crossed between the Chair and the Member holding the floor.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Zwizwai, you cannot walk across a Member who is holding the floor. Please go back.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I rise to present a motion of national interest guided by Section 76 of the Constitution which provides for the right to healthcare. Hon. Speaker, as of yesterday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care increased healthcare services by 1748% taking consultation fees from RTGS300 to USD12 or equivalent at the bank rate of that day. In my view, this upward increase provides for contravention of this right as provided for in Section 76 as the majority of our Zimbabweans will not be able to afford basic care. I would therefore request Parliament, through you Hon. Speaker, for us to have the Minister of Health and Child Care to come and explain and justify the cost structure under which he has been guided for him to move from 300 RTGS which was about a dollar to about US$12. I believe public health institutions must cater for pensioners, people who are not working and civil servants all of whom cannot be able to access US$12 per day per ward. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. The message will be passed through the Hon. Chief Whip.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker, good afternoon. I rise on a point of privilege. Just to reiterate; a month ago I stood regarding issues that had been promised by various Ministers in this House and to date, despite your will a month ago, still nothing has happened. This relates mainly to the Ministry of Finance on the documents for the Global Settlement Deed which is worth $3.5 billion - I have received nothing; the $38 million for the Dutch farmers loan, I have received nothing; the list of the ZAMCO loans acquired, I have received nothing; the complete breakdown of the 3.3 billion which was included as an acquisition in the last, budget I have received nothing.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also included with the Minister of Local Government and Public Works - I have still and I am still trying to pursue for a meeting to discuss the acquisition of agricultural land in urban areas as to what is the intention and how it was done under what instrument. The second last one Mr. Speaker is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has promised this House and myself to release the ERRF roads so we can see which roads are due and when and who the contractors are. To date, nothing has happened.
Finally Mr. Speaker Sir, in your hands you offered to look into the Justice Uchena Report. This is the 11th time I am mentioning it in this House regarding the release of the Justice Muchena Report so that we can see what is happening pertaining to the $3 billion prejudice we have suffered, of land that has been acquired legally or illegally and is in that report.
Mr. Speaker, in your ruling may I please ask that we put a timeline on this.
THE HON. SPEAKER: While you are still upstanding, did you get a copy yourself of the report?
HON. MARKHAM: No, Hon. Speaker, the only communication I have had in all these issues which I have asked is from your office about the Justice Uchena Report, since then I have had nothing.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What I can recollect is that I have written and perhaps I need to follow up personally now with the various Ministers concerned. Your list has increased to about eight. Am I right?
HON. MARKHAM: That is correct, it has always been eight
THE HON. SPEAKER: It has always been eight: I thought you were saying in addition.
HON. MARKHAM: No, that is the original list I brought up a month ago.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Let me follow the matters personally.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, of concern is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development because there are documents readily available. There is no reason for them to hold them back. They are public information.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Appreciated, thank you.
HON. CHIDAKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of national interest, my point of national interest being that Zimbabwe plays a host to quite a number of conferences as we are also hosted in a number of countries where we attend conferences as citizens or Parliamentarians.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the New Dispensation has committed to region integration and international re-engagement. There are three women, Ratchel Kagwia, Josephine Nireri and Inimo Osman who came for a week long training session on women issues hosted by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network which is EMNET in partnership with women and law in Southern Africa who were arrested at Victoria Falls Airport and the reasons for the arrests are not yet clear. These visiting women were detained for three hours Mr. Speaker Sir, and their materials that include 50 note books, two banners, 34 thermal mugs, 30 African baskets, 30 kikos or kangas and some publications and training materials are being confiscated.
Mr. Speaker Sir, such continual harassment of visitors, tourists and the likes continues to put Zimbabwe on the wrong side of the map and equally it does not do well to the efforts of re-engagement regionally and internationally. Now Mr. Speaker Sir, I plead with the Immigration officers and Members of the ZRP to respect foreigners as we also expect to be respected in the various countries that we visit for conferencing and any other activity. Countries like Rwanda, Egypt and Kenya for example, make it so seamless to hold conferences in their countries. They depend on tourism and their countries are growing and as Zimbabwe we can do so much better. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Chidakwa. Such a statement may canvas a response from the Executive and you make some allegations that need to be responded to. We cannot leave it as a statement of national interest. Either you ask an oral question next week or you ask a written question so that the appropriate Minister can respond accordingly.
HON. CHIDAKWA: Appreciated Mr. Speaker Sir. Thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 17 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 18 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. BRG. GEN (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order arises from a ruling which was made yesterday by the Chair wherein the Deputy Minister present, of Local Government and Public Works had requested to present a statement on the Pomona Deal and then it was referred to today. So I want to get guidance from the Chair. Is the Deputy Minister or the Minister of Local Government and Public Works still coming to Parliament to present the statement today?
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have been waiting for them and I hope they care coming.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ON THE VISIT TO DUBAI EXPO
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Visit to Dubai Expo.
HON. BRG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: I second.
HON. SHAMU:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Hon. Webster Kotiwani Shamu, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade undertook a visit to the Dubai Expo 2020 in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the 13th to the 17th of March 2022, at the invitation from the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency. The costs for the visit were borne by ZIDA. This was the first world Expo held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) as well as in the Arab World. The Republic of Zimbabwe was participating in the Expo for the first time. The visit was part and parcel of Parliamentary Diplomacy that seeks to deepen and strengthen ties between Zimbabwe and members of the international community.
1.2 Zimbabwe, which seeks to capitalise on the Government’s operative mantra, “ZIMBABWE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS,” participated in one of the most prestigious fairs in the world, the Dubai Expo 2020. The participation was driven by the need to open up investment opportunities with the United Arab Emirates as well as 192 Countries that participated in the event through the auspices of ZIDA, ZIMTRADE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
1.3 The Hon. Chairperson’s delegation comprised of officials from the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency and ZIMTRADE.
2.0 Zimbabwe National Day Celebrations, 14 March 2022
2.1 The Chairperson participated in the Zimbabwe National Day celebrations, at the Expo 2020 Dubai on the 14th of March 2022 together with a team from ZIDA led by the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. D. Shinya. The celebrations included among other things, a Diaspora Engagement Forum and the Zimbabwe-Dubai Business Forum. In line with the Government’s re-engagement policy, His Excellency the President, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa graced both events and engaged the Zimbabwe diaspora community resident in the U.A.E. Key issues that arose from the Diaspora Engagement Forum are as follows:
-The President emphasized the need for Zimbabweans from all walks of life to play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of their motherland regardless of geographical location as mandated by the Constitution of our land.
-The Diaspora community was encouraged to repatriate acquired critical skills in order to speed up the development of Zimbabwe as well as to stir the national ship from the murky waters in line with His Excellency’s rallying cry, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.
-A renowned medical doctor, Alan Nhapi who has been operating in Australia for about two decades, passionately appealed for land to the Zimbabwean Government to construct a state of the art hospital for the treatment of chronic diseases in Victoria Falls or near the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Consequently, the President tasked the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Hon. Dr. John Mangwiro to work closely with Dr Nhapi in order to ensure that Government avails the land for the construction of the hospital, much to the appreciation of the attendees.
-The Diaspora community implored the President to be allocated agricultural land. In response, the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement, Hon. Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka indicated that once the land audit and farm rationalisation exercises were complete, Government will be in a better position to redistribute land.
-More so, whilst awaiting the completion of the aforesaid exercise, the Hon Minister encouraged the diasporans to partake in farming through joint ventures with those in possession of farming land, but facing resource constraints to fully utilise the land.
2.2 Zimbabwe National Day Business Forum
2.2.1 On the 14th of March 2022, ZIDA after collaborating and planning with Commissioner General Ambassador Mubi and her team, led the hosting of the Zimbabwe National Day Business Forum at the St. Regis Hotel Downtown, Dubai. It was a penultimate event for the country at the Expo 2020 Dubai, as it was the culmination of six months of work in attracting potential investments into the country.
2.2.2 His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe was the keynote speaker at the event which was oversubscribed by a significant majority of local Emiratis (nationals of U.A.E). The UAE Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr. Jassim Muhammad Al Qasimi attended the forum. Also, at the event were business people from the Zimbabwe’s private sector who came to share their experiences on the investment climate in Zimbabwe and to seek potential partnerships/business linkages with their Emirati counterparts.
2.2.3 The Zimbabwean Government was represented by Cabinet Ministers from the economic cluster and invited senior Government officials. The following key Government Ministries were represented at the forum-
Ministry of Finance & Economic Development;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
Ministry of Industry and Commerce;
Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Development;
Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; and
Ministry of Energy & Power Development
The following paragraphs highlight the key issues and outcomes from the business forum.
2.3 KEY NOTE ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, DR. E.D. MNANGAGWA
Key highlights from His Excellency’s address were as follows-
2.3.1 That the establishment of ZIDA set the stage for a more conducive investment ecosystem as it provided for a one stop shop investments services centre for the registration and processing of all investment proposals including the issuance of associated permits/licences.
2.3.2 That through the enactment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act [Chapter 14:37] and the operationalization of the Agency, Government had taken a deliberate position to secure investments by allowing foreign investors to invest in all sectors of the economy, guarantee their investments against expropriation, guarantee free flow of investors’ funds into and out of Zimbabwe as well as according them fair and equitable treatment before the law in line with fundamental norms of International Investment Law.
2.3.3 That Government adopted a deliberate strategy to channel more resources towards speeding up key infrastructural development projects so as to spur economic growth and development.
2.3.4 That the engagement and re-engagement drive with the international community had since started bearing fruits and that the Government was working tirelessly to stabilize the exchange rate so as to build a strong foundation for the growth of a robust economy that will benefit Zimbabweans from all walks of life.
2.3.5 That in line with Chapter 10 of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) page 171, the Government had managed to improve the country’s image and international relations, allowing Zimbabwe to claim her rightful place among the community of nations. As such, the country was viewed in a different light by multilateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund whose forecasts point to a positive growth trajectory for the country’s economy.
2.4 Overview of the Domestic Economy by Hon Professor Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development highlighted the following;
2.4.1 The Zimbabwean economy experience a strong rebound, with the International Monetary Fund estimating growth at 6.3% during 2021 and is expected to moderate to three percent during 2022, on account of risks from the pandemic and vulnerability to climate and other exogenous shocks. In 2022, the economy is expected to grow by 5.5%, slightly lower from the 2021 growth estimates.
2.4.2 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) removed Zimbabwe from the list of countries that are considered to be insufficiently compliant in implementing Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) standards on 4 March, 2022 following the successful implementation of the FATF Action Plan.
2.4.3 The Government of Zimbabwe has adopted policy measures to stabilize the currency and lower inflation, including among other things, fiscal consolidation and restrained reserve money growth.
2.4.4 Sectoral Contribution to GDP
The mining sector would experience strong growth due to favourable international mineral prices, increased private investment and supportive mining tax regime.
The manufacturing sector would benefit from increased access to foreign currency for retooling and importation of raw materials, domestication of value chains and stable macro-economic environment.
Climate proofing strategies in agriculture would reduce the impact of climate change, improve productivity and resilience.
Construction sector would continue to benefit from Government’s infrastructure programmes as well as private housing development.
The tourism sector was likely to recover as global travel restrictions ease whilst domestic tourism would benefit from the aggressive Covid-19 vaccination drive.
2.4.5 Inflation and Exchange Rate developments
Year on year inflation for the month of February 2022 decreased to 66.1% from 32.6% recorded in 2021. To mitigate the inflation and exchange rate risk, both fiscal and monetary policy measures will prioritize stability of exchange rate and inflation. The measures include implementing a credible reserve monetary targeting framework, enhancing efficiency and transparency of the foreign exchange auction market, and improving policy coordination between Treasury and RBZ.
2.5 Trade between Zimbabwe and U.A.E, Investment and Partnership Opportunities
2.5.1 Mr. Hassan Al Hashemi, the Vice President responsible for International Relations, Current and Emerging Business Opportunities in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce gave an overview of trade and investment opportunities available for both countries. Key highlights are as follows-
2.5.2 Trade between Zimbabwe and U.A.E had grown to more than US $1 Billion in 2020 with the UAE becoming the number two recipient of Zimbabwe’s exports behind only South Africa;
2.5.3 Between January and March 2022, Zimbabwe had exported goods and services valued at US$833million to the UAE with minerals accounting for the bulk of the receipts.
2.5.4 The Emiratis were encouraged to seek further investment opportunities in Zimbabwe where there is abundance of untapped potential in the various sectors of the economy.
2.7 Testimonials of the Investment Climate in Zimbabwe
2.7.1 Mr. Laurie Ward, Director in Albwardy Investments LCC (UAE) which operates in Zimbabwe as ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe and owns Meikles Hotel, gave strong recommendations for Zimbabwe as an emerging investment destination. He gave a testimony on the seamless acquisition of the Meikles Hotel which was necessitated by the unwavering support from both the Government of Zimbabwe and the private sector. He also briefed the attendees that his company was planning to expand its portfolio in the hospitality industry due to the availability of vast opportunities in the sector.
2.7.2 Mr. Stuart Lake, the non-Executive Chairman for Invictus Energy Limited (Australia) Muzarabani Oils and gas project- an independent upstream oil and Gas Company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, also gave a positive report on the investment climate in Zimbabwe as testified by the acquisition of licences and permits by his company from the Zimbabwean Government in a short period of time through the support from ZIDA and Government Ministries.
2.7.3 The company had finalised outstanding contracts and agreements, and was working with local communities in order to commence the implementation of its projects. Preparations were at an advanced stage for a drilling programme that was expected to commence in June 2022.
2.8 Signed Memorandums of Understanding and Agreements
2.8.1 A memorandum of understanding was entered into by and between the private office of H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi and the Republic of Zimbabwe represented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Developing concerning co-operation in the provision of holistic solutions for agricultural development and food security in Zimbabwe.
2.8.2 A joint venture Agreement was entered into by and between NV Group Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA)
2.8.3 It is also important to note that there was a pending Memorandum of Understanding between ZIDA and the World Central Corporation (Dubai South) that was to be signed virtually in April 2022 after finalisation of all Agreement clauses.
3.0 Observations
3.1 There was a lot of appetite to invest in the Zimbabwean economy as exemplified by a considerable number of investors that have shown a lot of interest to invest in the country. These include IntraPharm which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Palladium IP, a diaspora led initiative to bring back intellectual development platforms into the country’s Special Economic Zones and Nivesall, a manufacturing company from Singapore which plans to establish factories in Zimbabwe.
3.2 There are multiple sources of information centres between the potential investors and the country which result in loss of potential investments as investors are taken through numerous non- essential meetings before finally being handed over to ZIDA.
3.3 A lot of interest was shown in the literature and information packs distributed by ZIDA. However, visibility and effectiveness of ZIDA in international settings is very low as most entities indicated that they hardly had an opportunity to interact directly or indirectly with the agency before.
3.4 There is no direct link between ZIDA and diaspora investment groups. As such, no products/programmes are tailor-made by ZIDA to tap into potential investments from these investment groups. Given that diaspora remittances exceeded US $1 Billion in 2021, these investment groups can be reliable sources of investment financing if tapped into.
3.5 The Dubai South development which is at least 12 times the size of the planned Masue Special Economic Zone could serve as a benchmark project for ZIDA and other government entities in Zimbabwe, as it covers almost all strategic aspects of the planned Sunway City, Special Economic Zone. These are real estate services, urban development and free zone facilities.
4.0 Recommendations
Informed by the foregoing, the Committee recommends,
4.1 That the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency should create a platform that is tailor-made to attract and safeguard investments from diaspora investments groups by end of November 2022.
4.2 That ZIDA should develop a comprehensive marketing programme earmarked to make its services/products visible, accessible and available to every potential investor in the world by December 2022.
4.3 That Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Finance and Economic Development and Local Government and Public Works together with ZIDA should conduct a benchmark/study visit to Masue Special Economic Zone in U.A.E with a view to adopt best practices for the construction of Sunway City Special Economic Zone by 31 December 2022.
5.0 Conclusion
As Ambassador Mubi said, indeed the Expo 2020 Dubai gave Zimbabwe an opportunity to sell reforms undertaken by the Second Republic which are key to reposition the country as an investment magnet in the world. The thrust of the Expo was well in sync with our nation’s vision of becoming an upper middle income society by 2030 and the mission of promoting brand Zimbabwe. Hence the exhibition helped the country to attract the much needed foreign investments which are a vital cog in the attainment of Vision 2030. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. BRG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: We encourage and applaud such opportunities for this Parliament and this country indeed to attend such an international expose that gives Zimbabwe an opportunity to attract foreign investment and showcase what we are able to do. It has been quite a long wait for this country to attract investment; some of it because of the negative perceptions that the country has been receiving since the Land Reform Programme. We have our Excellency, Cde E. D. Mnangagwa himself leading who has shown that he attaches so much importance to re-engagement efforts in the country and that our friends and partners out there come and invest in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe possesses a lot of opportunities across all sectors of the economy - be it in tourism, industry, education, technology and mining. These opportunities are vast and they are there for the world. Zimbabwe has a potential to be a major industrial power under the Second Republic and it is encouraging that the President is leading from the front. It is encouraging that ZIMTRADE and other organisations that are charged with selling Zimbabwe are taking this mantra seriously. In the past few years, the country has said all our ambassadors and the people who are in foreign missions would have a key result area of seeing that they bring investment to Zimbabwe and these are fruits of such a policy. We believe that very soon it will bear fruits.
It is encouraging that while the West with its sanctions is shunning Zimbabwe, countries in the Middle East and the Far East are finding investment attractive. I therefore call upon this House to applaud and adopt this report as presented by Hon. Shamu.
*HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you for affording me this opportunity to debate on this noble issue, the Dubai Expo. It reminds me of the unity between the people who are living in the desert where nothing grows. Although I did not go there, the people who live in the desert came up and put their minds together and managed to build in that area so that those who are coming from areas where there is rainfall go and envy. The good work has been done in the desert.
A country like Zimbabwe has everything from livestock to natural resources. Creation started here in Africa and as Zimbabweans, we have failed to put our heads together to build something which is very beautiful so that other people can envy us and that we can even move forward forging development without asking for sanctions from the West. My plea Mr. Speaker Sir, on the Dubai Expo is that as a National Assembly, can we be united and build something which is concrete and we revive our industry and all other areas of the economy without looking for other people to impose sanctions on us.
Let us be united and develop our country. Look at what the Arabs have done, they have chosen to partner with us for economic development. We have been oppressed by the West and we are independent from the oppressors and the country is now enjoying democracy. Right now there is disunity in the country because some other Zimbabweans are going to western countries begging for sanctions so that the country suffers. It is not different from people who stay together in the same area and go around bad-mouthing each other. We must work hard and help each in pointing where we fail so that we can develop.
Opposition parties are welcome because they are able to point where the ruling party is failing but if the opposition is begging for sanctions to be imposed on the country, it is not good. Let us copy what has been done in Dubai so that we can be united and move forward for economic development.
I want to thank Hon. Shamu for this very important report. For sure, the country is being built by its citizens. So if we say let us not have medicines in the hospitals, who will suffer at the end of it all? Who is going to vote for us tomorrow if we are begging for sanctions which is causing lack of medicines in the hospitals? I am very happy that all those who had gone outside the country have been engaged so that they come back into the country, open businesses and are free to operate. I do not know how best the country can do but the engagement and re-engagement process is very fruitful. Everyone is free to come back and invest in the country, even those who had gone outside the country because of the Land Reform Programme, they have been given the opportunity to come back and invest through engagement and re-engagement process.
Our country is a blessed one. Let us not complain saying things are difficult in the country. Let us go and work hard. Since a lot of people complain that things are very hard, what are you doing as an individual? Let us go out and work hard. It is time for us to change our mindset. Let us be united and fight for a common cause. If we have ideas from both sides, let us come together so that our country can move forward economically, socially and politically. I thank you.
(v)HON. C. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to a motion that has been brought by Hon. Shamu, seconded by Hon. Mayihlome.
Firstly Hon. Speaker, I googled the theme of the Dubai Expo 2020 and it reads as follows; ‘Connecting minds; creating the future’ and these are not only minds Hon. Speaker, they are global minds and it is important to be part of the global action on a global conference.
Secondly, I want to applaud that ZIDA is now in operation since they paid all the costs after inviting our Hon. Chairperson and I think it is noble that he takes over the position after doing a tremendous job of putting our country on a global map.
Hon. Speaker Sir, another issue is the investment opportunities that are created when we partake in such foras. It will be time for us to network, benchmark, learn and attract new clients. The part of new product launches globally, mind you Hon. Speaker, more than 190 countries were exhibiting on this fora, so it is very important that we take on all the investment opportunities that are provided by such an epic expo.
Another point to note also is the diaspora engagement fora as well as the Zimbabwe Dubai Business fora where our chairperson and His Excellency attended. Surely that was a good forum so that we can see whether our diaspora policy is working and is operational and also to make sure that we can also increase diaspora remittances from the diaspora, but most importantly also Hon. Speaker, is maybe to allow or to work on the modalities so that our diasporans are given time to vote come 2023 harmonised elections.
Another development from this fora Hon. Speaker, was the issue which I want to mention Dr. Allen Nhapi who is operating in Australia who said he wants some land in Victoria Falls so that he can construct a state of the art hospital. It will help the nation to address Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 and therefore improve the lifestyle of our people and I thought the relevant Ministry, I think it is the Local Government and Public Works that they must expedite the process so that Dr. Allan Nhapi will also give a testimonial and maybe as a reference point, that it is easy to get land when you want to build or construct whatever you want to construct in our nation.
Hon. Speaker, Cabinet Ministers were part of the delegation and I am happy that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade was there, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development was also represented. I think we will then await to see whether they learnt a lot since we are faced with a currency crisis and other macro-economic issues so that we can see that there was an improvement after the visit.
Equally Hon. Speaker, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will be waiting to see the agreements coming into fruitful implementation so that employment can be created and a lot of resuscitation in terms of our industry is realised. Also, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development was there. We also anticipate to see the outcomes. It was not just a visit. When you attend an epic world expo like this, we want to see results back home. So it is also my view Hon. Speaker that the Cabinet Minister of Energy and Power Development was part of the delegation and our country is faced with a whole lot of energy problems. We want to see and await the benefits of that visit. So surely, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, one day we want to see him say from the Dubai Expo 2020, we learnt this and we want to see the reflection of those benefits in our constituencies back here in Mpopoma-Pelandaba so that we can see it was not a waste of time to have Hon. Minister of Energy and Power Development attending such a programme.
I have a problem that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry was not part of the delegation. I was hoping that it was going to be a foundation for our Hon. Minister to learn and also maybe to benchmark or have these agreements at that fora with over 192 countries but unfortunately, he was not part of the delegation and equally the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. It is my view that they were supposed to be part of that delegation so that they can also tap or benchmark what is happening in over 192 countries Hon. Speaker.
Let me buttress more Hon. Speaker, on recommendations which I think are very important and they take away issues to note. ZIDA has to improve in terms of creating a platform so that they can connect to the global village. When I went to Rwanda, we bought some cellphones from a Rwandese manufacturing company through an initiation by the Rwanda Board which is similar to our ZIDA Board and that was very good to have a cellphone manufacturing company based in Rwanda through some initiatives from the Rwanda Board. Surely, our ZIDA Board has to improve and create a platform so that one day in the near future, we can have these investors who are more into production setting their plants and machinery in Zimbabwe and create value addition for whatever they may want to manufacture.
Hon. Speaker, in conclusion, it is worth a celebration that our country attended Dubai World Expo 2020 where people from different backgrounds and perspectives converged in a six month long mega event to gain a lifelong knowledge sharing experience as well as utilising the lucrative business and trade opportunities by interacting with foreign nationals on a global platform. I so submit Hon. Speaker Sir. Thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MATANGIRA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday 14th June 2022.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yesterday I indicated that there will be a statement by the Hon. Deputy Minister regarding the Pomona project and I would request the Hon. Deputy Minister to proceed accordingly.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
POMONA WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Allow me to submit this presentation before the House, which seeks to clarify the issue of the Pomona waste to energy joint venture between the Harare City Council and Geogenix B.V as follows:
The Pomona dumpsite has been in existence since time immemorial, including concerns around the hazards it poses, it had become an eyesore. Council in 2016 and 2019, tried to find interested investors to invest in Pomona dumpsite and received various expressions of interests including Geoginix B.V. Unfortunately, no bidder was awarded the contract for Pomona dumpsite. In 2020, Geoginix resubmitted its proposal to City Council for a joint venture for the development of a waste to energy plant. The proposal was presented to ZIDA, a Government statutory body responsible for the promotion, entry, protection and facilitation of investment in Zimbabwe. Geoginix B.V is an internationally owned company, hence the need to follow laid down procedures as provided for by the ZIDA Act Chapter 14:37 which regulates the operations of foreign owned companies.
ZIDA, in terms of Sections 34 and 36, forwarded the proposal to the Cabinet Committee on joint ventures who in turn presented the proposal to Cabinet for approval. It should be noted that Cabinet is the highest executive authority. The Council who is a lower tier and an organ has an obligation to implement the Cabinet decision, which they did when they resolved to enter into the contract in line with the Cabinet decision. On 3rd May, Hon. Markham, Combined Harare Residents Association, Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association and Centre for Alternative Development Trust filed a court application against the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, City of Harare and Geoginix seeking an order that nullifies the contract. It is also noted that a group of councillors have decided to cause disruptions on the implementation of such a lucrative venture which has many benefits including employment creation, power generation and refuse management.
It is imperative to note that the matter is now before the courts of law and is therefore sub judice, hence the project will continue as per the dictates of the contract until the court makes a determination on the matter. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Since one of the applicants mentioned is here, Hon. Markham, I want confirmation whether the matter is indeed before the courts.
HON. MARKHAM: It is confirmed it is before the courts.
THE HON SPEAKER: What the Hon. Minister has read out is a section that dealt with the law which allowed the contract to be accepted, which is the ZIDA Act Chapter 14:37 and also in terms of Section 34 and 36 of that ZIDA Act. In those circumstances therefore, the question that was raised of the legal framework has been answered by the statement. However, the Chair cannot allow debate and clarification because the matter is sub judice, before the courts. - [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjections] - I have ruled that the matter is sub judice. If you are not – Order, order - [HON. HWENDE: No, this is a corrupt deal, you cannot protect corruption. This is Parliament and you must allow debate. Yesterday you promised us that we are going to debate.] -Order, order, order, Hon. Hwende. I will respectfully ask you to listen very carefully. You have to hear what the court says in terms of – [HON BITI: On a point of order] - Can you sit down, I have ruled that the matter is in the courts. Hon. Biti, can you sit down, can you sit down, can you sit down or you go out, leave the House. If you do not want to listen to me, leave the House, leave the House. Order Hon. Biti, leave the House.
HON. BITI: The issue is not sub judice, I have got the court application with me.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down, can you sit down.
HON. BITI: Mr. Chair, have you seen the ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am not the Chair.
HON. BITI: Have you seen the court application?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down?
HON. BITI: Have you seen the court application?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down?
HON. BITI: I can sit but have you seen the court application?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down?
HON. BITI: Before you make a ruling on this, can you see the court application.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down.
HON. BITI: Yes, I will.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. If there are issues as to whether the matter raises issues of corruption or whether there is some prejudice against the City of Harare, that will be ventilated by the courts –[HON. BITI: But this is not before the courts.] – I have asked Hon. Markham – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Hon. Hwende and Hon. Hamauswa having stood up.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down. I am attending to Hon. Biti – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order!
Can you sit down, I am attending to Hon. Biti. Can you sit down? Can you tell your colleagues to sit down? – [HON. BITI: Chimbomirai vakomana, chimbomirai. Eee, Hamauswa, can you sit down? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order! – [HON. BITI: Chimbomirai akomana] – I do not want you to get out of the House. Can I attend to what I am being given here? Be orderly. In this case, this issue becomes void and there is no Pomona Deal. So, I am saying in my ruling, this court application is the crux of the matter; was this contract entered into and has it validity or not. Once the court has filed this matter, then we proceed accordingly but if it says the contract is null and void, then there is no issue. I thank you Hon. Biti for that one.
HON. BITI: Mr. Speaker, if I can respond.
HON. TOGAREPI: Is this now a new way of running Parliament?
HON. BITI: There is a narrow issue before the court…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, can you please sit down.
HON. BITI: Will you allow me a right of reply.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Whether the issue is narrow or expansive, let the courts decide accordingly. I will not entertain any further debate. I have ruled.
HON. BITI: The right to be heard is a fundamental right.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, I do not want to charge you.
HON. BITI: I will sit down. You asked the Minister to explain the law. The Minister has not explained the law. The law has nothing to do with this court application.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you leave the House!
HON. BITI: You can chase me but you cannot chase my submissions. My submissions are solid. This application is too narrow.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Get out of the House! You are not a judge.
HON. BITI: I am a senior lawyer. Delish Nguwaya stole COVID funds and it is the same Delish Nguwaya in this deal. July Moyo is the most corrupt Minister in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Hon. Biti was escorted out of the House.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that all the other Orders of the Day be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 28 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR WATER AND SANITATION
HON. HAMAUSWA: I move the motion standing in my name that:
AWARE that Section 77 (a) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that every citizen has the right to safe, clean and potable water and the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right;
WORRIED that the water crisis in Zimbabwe has contributed to the outbreak of water-borne diseases and other unhygienic conditions in society;
DISTURBED that the continuous erratic water supplies within both rural and urban local authorities remain a recipe for disaster especially in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic; and
NOW, THEREFORE, this House resolves to urgently request for a supplementary budget from Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which will be devoted solely for water and sanitation in the year 2022, in view of the need to maintain hygienic standards especially during the COVID-19 global epidemic.
HON. MUSHORIWA: I second.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Aware of Section 77 (a) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides that, “every person has the right to safe, clean and potable water and that the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right;
Cognisant that Section 46 (1) (c) states that when interpreting the Chapter on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, “a court, tribunal, forum or body must take into account international law and all treaties and conventions to which Zimbabwe is a party”. In this regard, Zimbabwe is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on Elimination on Discrimination against Women and the Convention on Rights of the Child General Comment No. 15 of ICESCR entitles everyone to available, accessible, sufficient, acceptable and quality potable water. Article 14 paragraph 2 of CEDAW stipulates that State parties shall ensure to women that the right “to enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in relation to water supply” is ensured. Article 24 paragraph 2 of the CRC requires State parties to combat disease and malnutrition “through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking water”.
ACKNOWLEDGING the inalienability of the human right to water to the right to life, health and clean environment’
MAINTAINING that the incessant erratic water supplies within both rural and urban local authorities in Zimbabwe remains a recipe for disaster especially in the context of COVID-19 global pandemic;
WORRIED that the water crisis in Zimbabwe has birthed gender based violence at or near public boreholes, outbreak of water-borne diseases and deaths, I propose the following Mr. Speaker;- an urgent call for supplementary budget devoted solely to water and sanitation in the year 2022 especially considering the need for maintaining hygiene standards during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This has to be complemented by a 2023 budget that mainly speaks to water and sanitation. This budget should address pipe replacement, construction of alternative water sources and treatment plants, rehabilitation of both sewer and water treatment works.
I would also want to give a demonstration of how the water situation is actually affecting Harare as a Metropolitan Province. The City of Harare has two water plants which is Morton Jaffrey and Prince Edward. The design capacity of these two treatment plants if operating at full throttle is 705 mega litres per day. The City of Harare provides water, not only to residents in Harare but also to Chitungwiza, Norton, Ruwa and Epworth. Daily water demand for Harare Metropolitan Province is 1200 mega litres against a design capacity of 705 mega litres. I would want to emphasise that when the water and sewer system in Harare was designed, it was meant to cater for around 400 000 people but now it is estimated that this water infrastructure is supposed to serve more than 4 million people. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address this situation Madam Speaker.
When we also look at situations in rural areas, we are also realising that the water bodies that were constructed in the 1980s are no longer adequate and are also being affected by a number of factors, including climate change. Dams are drying up as early as October or September so when we record full capacity of dams, maybe in March when we reach September, those water levels are going down to a point that we are likely to have conflicts between villagers who are moving from one village or from one area to another crossing through other areas in search of water for their animals. So this is going to really affect the rural areas as well. As a result, this situation cannot continue because there is need to make sure that Zimbabwe complies with national laws as well as with international laws, Madam Speaker.
When we look at the City of Harare, besides this situation, currently City of Harare is producing less than 200mega litres per day due to a wide range of issues which, when combined, have caused the issue of access to water to be a serious problem. As I speak, Chitungwiza Municipality is also facing serious challenges with water where they are also receiving less than 20 mega litres per week, meaning less than 2 mega litres a day. Chitungwiza Municipality requires 75 mega litres per day to satisfy customer demand. So the burden for this challenge is also affecting the women who have been affected by unpaid care work. You will find that women have to queue at boreholes.
I would like to speak on the issue of boreholes. There is no study that has been done in Harare to ascertain the nature of the aquifer in Harare. There are no hydrogeological studies that have been done to give authenticity of verifiable results on the availability of underground water in Harare. As a result, you will find that a number of MPs in Harare, even in other rural areas and other urban cities have spent most of their CDF drilling boreholes, yet this is a strategic resource which the Government should actually intervene to provide a solution.
The boreholes that we are seeing in urban areas are those bush pumps and in this era, we cannot continue to expect the people of Harare, Gweru or Bulawayo to use bush pumps. We call upon the relevant Ministries to declare water as a state of emergency the same way the state of our roads was declared a state of emergency so that we bring in development partners to resolve this problem of water, not only in Harare. As I said, we are also talking of rural areas, we are talking of farming communities. I have been to various farming communities, Madam Speaker, dams need to be scooped. You are a farmer also, you understand this that the dams that are there need support from the Government, from the Treasury to make sure that besides coming up with extra water reservoirs but the existing ones need to be recouped so that we also address the issue of siltation.
Madam Speaker, I also call upon the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry to make sure that the catchment areas where we have water sources are protected. We have seen a wanton destruction of the environment. We have seen also the wanton destruction of important water sources such as wetlands that are being also destroyed. These are important to ensure that we always have sufficient and clean water. Those areas need to be protected. Without such protection, it would be difficult for the population of Zimbabwe to enjoy their right as enshrined in the Constitution. This is why section 301 (1) (a) of the Constitution requires that an Act of Parliament must provide for the equitable allocation of capital grants between provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities. This should not be less than 5% and this is echoed by section 301 (3). This is also important if such funds are availed on time to local authorities in the sense of devolution so that certain funds can be used to rehabilitate the water infrastructure that we currently have.
We also note that the allocation that has been given, and I am speaking in the case of Harere, Ruwa and Chitungwiza; there has been allocation made to the construction of Kunzvi, Muda and Vusami dams. These dams actually require millions of dollars but when you look at the allocations that are being made in the national budget, it means we might take up to 70 years or so for these dams to be constructed. As a result, this is why I am calling for an urgent intervention by the Treasury to bring up a supplementary budget that makes sure the problem of water is adequately addressed and also as I said, I will repeat that the situation should be declared a state of emergency. When we are saying a state of emergency, we are talking to a situation which is similar to a land that has been left by a vanquished army infested with land mines that have to be removed for that land to be reused.
So this is the kind of situation where we are. We have an emergency situation which needs to be addressed by the Government of Zimbabwe. Knowing our economic realities, it is difficult now to see an immediate solution to the crisis of water and sanitation delivery. This is why we are proposing that this should be declared a national disaster. Once it is declared a national disaster, this means we are opening for support from development partners. We are saying they must be given a national task force that is maybe a multi or an inter- ministerial task force that can be set up to make sure we address this issue of water. If water is a problem in the farming communities, it therefore means that our farms are not going to produce food. It means that our farmers are going to have problems that are related to water-borne diseases. This problem will not only affect the people in the urban areas. I also want to reiterate that there is need to also be aware that this water issue should never be politicised. It is not an issue which we can allow politics to be at play because it is affecting the industries, our mining communities, our farming community and even the people who would want to come and visit Zimbabwe. I have heard people who live in other areas outside Harare saying they cannot stay in Harare because of the water situation in Harare. ou cannot drink the water in Harare. In most cases the water is a mixture of water and soil and then it becomes muddy. It is water that you cannot trust. Most of the people in Harare can testify that they are not sure whether the water is safe or not.
I would want to conclude by arguing that even the issue of boreholes, I have left some important aspects. I have talked about the failure or non existence of verified results of hydro-geological studies that would ascertain the quantity of water underground. Secondly, it means we would sink boreholes but they will not produce enough water for our people. It means also that if you drill a borehole and even when donors come to drill a borehole, the water has to be tested because there are sewer bursts that are happening and chemicals being deposited from industries. So we cannot subject our people to borehole water. When we were growing up in the rural areas, we used to know that borehole water was safe. But it is not necessarily always true that borehole water is safe. The borehole water has to be tested but we do not have the capacity for testing those boreholes. So we have people who are being subjected to unsafe water under the pretext that maybe borehole water is the safest. This is the challenge that we have. If you go around constituencies and districts in Harare you are going to see more than 10 boreholes per constituency that are not functional. Those boreholes need to be continuously repaired. If we are going to have boreholes, my proposal would be to let them be solar powered. We also need the DDF to also support the urban constituencies. Even when we drill boreholes in my constituency in Warren Park, there are more than 87000 people who stay in that constituency. So, how many boreholes are we going to have in Warren Park? Therefore Madam Speaker, I call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to consider the water problem seriously and to implement the master plan of water infrastructure that was sponsored by World Bank. I do not see any reason why that master plan is not being utilised.
Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe is endowed not only with natural resources but also with talented human resources, the engineers who can help this country to get out of the challenges that we are facing. It is therefore my clarion call for the Harare water master plan that was sponsored by the World Bank to be implemented. There is need to replace the whole water and sanitation system in the City of Harare. In respect of all other urban areas, if you check on sanitation and water, the toilets that we see in townships and at bus termini were built in the 1980s. The population has more than doubled and could be ten times more than the population that was there in the 1980s. If you go to Ximex Mall where Hon. Paradza was saying the people were working well, the area is stinky because there are no toilets. However, with technology - you go to other countries such as Zambia, you will find that urban authorities can use refurbished material to put more pay toilets in our cities. If you go to Kaguvi where we have these informal motor mechanics working there, you do not find a pay toilet. There is need for a strategic move by the Central Government to ensure that we take the provision of water and sanitation seriously. There are certain things that do not cost much but there is need for Government to intervene. We need to debate this issue with the picture that we need to move with technology. Harare City Council is aiming to attain a world class city by 2025. With the situation in our country, I think that needs to be revised unless Government intervenes with the support to build Kunzvi Dam, Musami Dam, etcetera. Those are the things we would want to know from the Government side. When are those dams going to be constructed so that the water situation is addressed?
I conclude by saying we cannot be the bread basket of Africa again if we do not consider aspects such as water harvesting and combat the effects of climate change that are actually affecting the availability of water resources in our country. We are going to continue to see women being beaten. People are fighting each other at boreholes because some are crossing over to other people’s areas to have their cattle drink water. So at the end of the day the industry will not stand, the economy that is being envisioned by the much acclaimed Vision 2030 or 2050 cannot be achieved if there is no water and sanitation in this country. When I was in primary school, it was policy that when there is no water at a school for certain hours the school had to close. However, it has become normal and people can go for two weeks without water. There are areas that have gone for 10 years without receiving tape water. This is a crisis that needs to be addressed. I thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate the motion moved by Hon. Hamauswa. Madam Speaker, the plea by Hon. Hamauswa is a noble one and it is an emergency, it is urgent and I think this House will need to support this motion. Firstly, Madam Speaker, the challenge of water is indeed a national problem and it is rightful that the Hon. Member calls for the need for water to be declared an emergency. Everywhere you go, be it urban or rural area, we have huge challenges. If you look at Harare, Bulawayo, Gwanda and all other urban settlements, you will see that the common denominator and challenge facing the people of Zimbabwe is water. You go to growth points, the challenge is water too. Given such a situation where we have a challenge of water, what needs to be done is for Central Government to come in and ensure that all local authorities, be it urban or rural, are well capacitated so that they provide water to each and every person because water, according to our Constitution, is a right. I think it is crucial that we do that.
If we look at our water bodies, some of them were built some years back and were meant for very few people. Hon. Hamauswa gave the example of Harare – we take our water from Chivero. In fact, the water in Harare is recycled water because our source of water is downstream. What City of Harare does when they process water for Harare, Chitungwiza, Norton and Ruwa is purely to recycle the water. The problem that we have in terms of sewer bursting is that the entire raw sewer goes back to that source of water. This is the reason why they talk of having Kunzvi and Muda coming on board so that water will come upstream and that could help.
It is also a fact that for a long time, we have heard and we have been told about the Zambezi Water Project so that Bulawayo and other areas along the Matabeleland North corridor will benefit but these things have continued being said on paper without being implemented. If you then check, it does not matter where you go. I think most MPs have drilled some boreholes but if you check some of the tests that are now being done – we are being told that most boreholes have been condemned and we now need water purification tablets and other treatments to make that water drinkable by the people.
Madam Speaker, you will recall that this Parliament last year approved a motion requesting that the Hon. Minister of Finance, in his budget, allocates at least 2% of the budget towards infrastructure development or resuscitation, especially within the old locations in various cities and towns of Zimbabwe. Most of the pipes that were put in Harare between 1959-61 there-about, were galvanised pipes and have now outlived their duration. One of the challenges that we now face is that most areas no longer have water. In fact, it is now a known fact in Harare that those that are lucky will count that they get water on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and it is switched off the other days and switched on, on Monday. This situation is unattainable.
The other challenge and I think we have heard this one wherever we have gone for budget consultations – Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) which manages all the water in this country which is underneath; that authority is under-funded and under staffed in terms of having key personnel that can make that water authority function. ZINWA is now known for more of the bills that it sends rather than provision of water. If you go to any city or growth point, there is always a problem or query with ZINWA. The issue on ZINWA is that Government needs to capacitate ZINWA so that it can provide water. We cannot be a country having a borehole at a 200 square metre, it is not a development. You drill a borehole in Dzivarasekwa on a 200 square metre or you go to Dotito Township on a 200 square meter and drill a borehole, that is not development. That is not what we want.
This is the reason why ZINWA in its proper days, they would fine people who drill boreholes without the concern of ZINWA. Over the years, because ZINWA just like any authorities have not been funded sufficiently. Everything is now laissez faire. People can do what they want to the detriment of the common good of the nation. My view is to support what Hon. Hamauswa said.
Government recognised that roads were an emergency and indeed Hon. Mhona and his Ministry have been doing some work on the road. What we now need is to declare water as an emergency so that the relevant Ministry should actually do the work. We have been told that Government has put aside some money to buy (Technical glitch) in various areas. Whilst it is an important step especially in some rural areas, it is not good enough. We need sufficient water investment and the best way to do that is to declare an emergency, appeal to other Non-Governmental Organisations and UN to assist the country in terms of this issue of provision of water. Once we do that, you will see that our children – it does not matter from which political party or church; they will have a better life rather than the current system that we have. You cannot safely drink water here in Zimbabwe. It is actually a pity if you go to countries in Africa that we used to laugh at some years back in the 80s and said that they are backward – they have now leap-frogged us in terms of the ability to provide basic needs like water. This is the reason I make an appeal that Hon. Members, this is a national crisis. Water is a national crisis – let us support this motion brought by Hon. Hamauswa and allow the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, to bring in a supplementary budget especially the mid-term review this month so that a supplementary budget is brought forth towards resuscitation and re-investment into the water provision in this country. Once we do that, I believe as Hon. Members we would be representing our people, the people that made us come to this House. To that extend, I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Allow me to add my voice with regards to this very important motion raised by Hon. Hamauswa, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa. Before I delve into my motion, allow me to thank the Government Chief Whip for heeding to this request to bring forward this motion as I had made this request on a matter of national importance on Tuesday 7 June 2022. You will take note that the motion was Order Number 28 and there were other Orders before it but the Chief Whip has seen it fit that this motion be discussed as requested by a fellow Member of Parliament. I want to thank the Chief Whip for that.
Madam Speaker, I would also implore under the same spirit that the Minister of Finance takes heed of the debate coming through this motion and also the prayer by Hon. Hamauswa that a supplementary budget be devoted solely for water and sanitation in the year 2022. I believe that the Hon. Minister is a follower of parliamentary debates and therefore he is going to respect the prayer as such.
I am motivated to contribute to this debate on the basis that I represent Mbizo Constituency in Kwekwe. I have been exposed to quite a number of cities, Harare being one of them. As we undertake our work mostly here in Harare, we also visit other cities during parliamentary work and also during our private business. I agree with Hon. Hamauswa that it is high time that Government must declare the water situation in our country a state of national disaster.
In my question of national importance on Tuesday, I moved that Government declares the water infrastructure situation in our country a state of national disaster so that we unlock funding. I have received various opinions from people who followed that presentation through the various channels of media. With some, we are in disagreement over the model but what we are not disagreeing on is that the water infrastructure situation in our country is just bad. We do not have a problem with water, the resource, so we have been favoured with a climate that we know every summer we receive rains and our dams are filled with enough capacity to be able to supply our residents with water. The problem is on delivering this water from source to the residents.
In Kwekwe for example, the water infrastructure was designed in 1961; by then Mbizo had Section 1, 2 and 3. It was also feeding ZISCO Steel which also Torwood, with about 3 sections. The industry had not yet even grown to the extent under which it then began to grow in the 1990s. What it simply means is that the designers of that water pumping system did not envisage a population which we currently have or rather even if they envisaged that they thought we were going to take measures to improve where they had left, where they had put in five pumps, we were supposed to by now pumping with ten pumps. Where they had put in a 450mm diameter pipe, we were supposed to be now using a 900mm diameter pipe to accommodate more volumes of water. The 1961 designed pump station is what is currently there today. Pump station designed for three sections for 12000 people is now feeding 120000 people. It simply means that the infrastructure is now the bottle- neck.
The other problem that is now happening is that we are now having local authorities that are selling stands but these stands do not come with a package of this infrastructure. If you go to Hopley, Cowdry Park in Bulawayo or Epworth, people are now drilling wells at their stands. People are building a house and they drill a well. From that well, it becomes their source of water. It cannot be if you want to define our urban settlements as being truly urban.
The Government of Zimbabwe is a signatory and a committed member of the UN SDGs and within the SDGs is sustainable goal No. 6 which speaks of water and sanitation. Sustainable Goal No. 6 says to achieve universal and equitable access of safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030. I want to believe that the Head of State when he sat and pronounced Vision 2030 for Zimbabwe, he also took into effect some of the international visions which are supposed to guide member States. Therefore, the provision of equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all cannot escape Zimbabwe Vision 2030 when it is also an international vision for all under SDG No. 6.
As we deliberate this matter as Parliament of Zimbabwe, we must not lose focus that we are already bound by another international commitment which we made at UN level. Therefore, I implore that Cabinet puts their mind together and be blind to politics. We are the only nation which prides our Head of State as the highest office in our country which goes to open a borehole. That cannot be. We must be seen to be opening pumps starting to say this pump station is going to be feeding 1 million people in Chitungwiza, not to go to Chitungwiza to open a borehole. We are reducing the integrity and character of our Head of State. I hope we can be apolitical if we are beginning to talk about water.
Parliament is incurring a cost of supplying Members of Parliament with potable drinking water which is called mineral water. There is no Member of Parliament, from yourself the Chairperson to the last person in terms of the hierarchy of Parliament, who wants to drink taped water from the institution of Parliament. If what I am saying is challengeable, I will challenge any Member of Parliament to go out and take a glass of water from the taped water here in Harare, none. Parliament has acknowledged that. It has seen it fit to incur a cost from the taxpayers’ money to buy water for Members of Parliament instead of Members of Parliament producing a solution for them to be able to drink safe, clean taped water, they have found a solution in buying mineral water. What is happening to my grandmother in Mabvuku, Mbare and Mbizo? We all cannot survive on mineral water which comes at a cost.
There is a notion by other citizens to say local authorities must be able to bear the brunt of infrastructure development in their particular cities. I move that with the level of economic meltdown in Zimbabwe which is agreed by everyone, with the levels of low income of the majority of our citizens which is agreed by everyone, tariffs and rates paid by residents cannot sustain infrastructure development. With that, I also move to the fact that let us have a democratic structure of pay as you use. With cell phones Madam Speaker, you pay then you phone and with the highway, you pay for your tollgate then you drive; with electricity you pay and you enjoy your electricity. We must also adopt the same mechanism with everything that we are using. As such, I would move that we also adopt the ‘pay for your use’ in terms of water by local authorities putting up prepaid water meters that will assist residents in two ways. You pay for your actual bill and the council collects and therefore may channel some of that money in terms of maintenance of the water infrastructure.
So what we are calling for is Government intervention in constructing the water infrastructure so that at least we get tapped water to every house. Thereafter, local authorities will then begin to maintain using a ‘pay for use model’ which is a bankable mode. Local authorities can approach infrastructural development banks where they amortize their revenue collection mechanism for a loan and this loan is then made to be able to assist residents.
Right now in the constituency that I represent, people are paying for what are called estimates. The water meters are not functioning. One of the biggest requests under my Constituency Development Fund is to fit in these water meters but we cannot service the whole constituency. So people are paying estimates and they are complaining over the estimates because they think that council is overcharging them. Therefore, they are not even paying. Local authorities are now trying to move residents by increasing rates and tariffs, which means that residents are failing to even pay.
Kwekwe City Council is on record for collecting only 30% or for what it is supposed to collect and I think that is the situation all over the whole country. It simply means that the residents cannot bear the brunt of the high tariffs and high rates. Therefore, this is why I agree with the mover of this motion that we need Government intervention with regards to construction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure for us to be able to get water.
I have listened to the mover of the motion saying almost every Member of Parliament has been requested in their constituencies to drill a borehole. We become a laughing stock on the regional fora and on the international fora whereby the highest request is for Members of Parliament to be drilling boreholes. This is the only time and this is the time we have managed to get to be able to congregate to solve our national problem as one, to move that the Minister of Finance listens to us as Parliament because it is us who distribute the resources. So we are moving collectively in support of Hon. Hamauswa that we gather together and tell the Minister of Finance. The next step which I may want to hear from the Minister of Finance is that feasibility studies be conducted.
The local authorities must be able to present how much they want each per local authority in the next month or so and then we come here as Parliament and we approve that budget and then it comes to be sustained by Government and local authorities also submit with them what is it that they are going to do to make sure that they are going to be able to collect enough. I know it may be a controversial issue in terms of installation of prepaid water meters but if we are going to agree to that, we are paying for cellphones for us to phone, we are paying for power for us to be able to enjoy lighting, therefore I think we can also agree that for us to get water, we must also be able to pay and these are my submissions Hon. Speaker. Thank you.
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this topical debate. Allow me first of all to thank my brother from Warren Park, Dr. Hamauswa for bringing up this motion. I also want to thank my other brother Hon. Mushoriwa for supporting and seconding this motion. Before I go into my debate, my first job from college was to work in a treatment works plant. I used to treat sewage and I used to treat water. This comes from my heart that when we talk of water, we speak of what we call E. coli levels. E. coli is a shortfall - Escherichia coli. It is considered safe by WHO to have between one to ten of E. coli in water – it is regarded as loads between eleven and hundred, it is taken as medium risk and above that it is high risk.
Sadly, the water in Harare falls in that high risk. Therefore, like the Hon. Members have spoken about - even Hon. Chikwinya passionately spoke about it to say nobody can drink the water that comes from a tap from Harare. I do not remember when I last drank water from the tap from Harare. When I want to drink water from Harare I drink from a borehole.
I want to come to the report which was referred to by Hon. Hamauswa which was funded by the World Bank in partnership with Analytical Multi-Donor Trust Funds AMDTF and it was managed by Michael Waster. I want to speak on phase one. I read from the report which says - report assessment, identification and characterisation of water pollution and source degradation in Zimbabwe. Why am I going into that report - it is because of one thing. That report says phase one research was conducted by Amon Murwira and others and I will go into them.
Madam Speaker Ma’am when I googled to say who is Amon Murwira, the Wikipedia says that Amon Murwira is Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. At that point when that world buying document was reported in November 2014, Professor Murwira was one of those who conducted that. It was on water quality and what did that report conclude?
The report concluded that – I think you have seen the Minister is interested in things concerning mapping and so he is the guru in satellite imagery, in GIS, in selecting food sampling and the results that they came up with read as follows: the results of phase one of that project or the use of satellite imagery as a quick way of accessing water quality in Zimbabwe, the report found that he was able to map out water surfacing even in the Runde catchment area, for instance. This satellite technique was proved to be faster than traditional mapping methods which decided which water sources were good and which water sources were bad.
It was found that there was an inverse, correlation of physical measures of water, especially in the physical measures of tables, in the source of degradation, hot spots were found in Umzingwane, Sanyati and Manyame catchment area. That report also stated that the quality of water at Lake Chivero and Mazvikadei Dam was not very good. Lake Chivero was more contaminated than Mazvikadei with regards to chlorophyll concentrations, turbidity and less transplant. That is beyond doubt. When I leave research and I come back to the ground, I go back to my constituency and I say in Mt. Pleasant even in the beautiful area of Borrowdale West which falls under my constituency and even in Pomona, there are residents who have never seen what council or ZINWA water looks like and that is very sad because the design that we are having now was for the 1950’s, by the 1970’s it was supposed to have changed. Water which was meant for 300 000 people is now supplying three million people. So naturally, that is when the issue of boreholes comes in to try to augment the supply which is lacking.
However, that is not a solution because even the report that I was referring to that was prepared by, among them Hon. Prof. Murwira, it shows that even ground water itself was susceptible to pollution. The report says of all the 13 samples that were tested, six tested positive of eco-life. Eco-life is the presents of sewage in a sample. So six of 13 samples, it means on average, we can say about 45 to 48% of water sources in Zimbabwe are contaminated by eco-life.
They have to be treated to a very good level but you find that, for example the water in Harare, even if you treat it, it is so polluted that you cannot even get to the basic even from medium risk. What it calls for is for new sources of water. Actually, the report also says “four were found to be contaminated with salmonella. So, if six are tested of eco-life and four tested of salmonella then it means only three sources out of 18; that is statistically dangerous.
My call also is to support what the previous speakers have said to say this is now a national emergency just like the roads. Now, we need to look at declaring it as a state of national disaster. I remember when a national disaster was declared for roads, immediately contractors were found and solutions were found and roads started to be repaired. So, Government should also turn a good eye on this issue so that we also improve our water sources.
When I was campaigning, I was telling the people of Mt Pleasant to say I propose that even Mazowe Dam, it is about 40 km away from Mt Pleasant, why can Mazowe Dam not supply part of the northern suburbs which have got no water before the Zambezi pipeline when that programme eventually comes to be now at a bigger level. So let us have these dams like Mazowe, Kunzvi Dam being fast tracked.
I now want to say as I close, Escherichia coli patho-types, for example enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic have been identified as pathogens which are responsible for most moderate to severe diarrhoea in low income countries and that is something that really pains, whether in rural areas or in towns of Zimbabwe. So, we need to do away with this eco-life and the only way to do it is not through the sources that we are raising now because they are insufficient but we need to introduce new sources and we need to invest more in those sources of water. I thank you. Water is life.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Hamauswa for this very important motion that touches at the core of our lives, all life of all living organisms. It is critical that we have water that we can use for various things such as drinking, sanitation, water that is accessible and clean. I really want to say it is the duty of everybody, all stakeholders, State actors and everyone who works towards availing safe water.
We have seen a renewed effort by the New Dispensation to quicken availing of this water; we have seen the Kunzvi Dam, Musami, Nyatsime, Matabeleland and Zambezi water projects, being worked on. Government is putting a lot of resources to ensure that these sources of water can see the light of day and the availability or accessibility of water can be improved for people.
So, I think the main effort that we have seen Government over the years has been to ensure that we have clean water and we also have water for sanitation. However, what we have seen over the years are challenges that have been faced by local authorities. Local authorities would like to run everything autonomously many times when things are good and they are enjoying money and abusing office as they run their councils. However, when things get bad, they want Government to come in and they want the Central Government to assist.
That dishonesty; the challenges that we face today, people have been paying rates for many years and those resources paid for water or provision of water have not been used for what they are expected to be used for, that is providing clean water, ensuring that infrastructure that will then provide water is looked after. We have seen over the years a lot of deals, shoddy, corrupt deals that have affected the availability and accessibility of water by mainly urban citizens.
This has also then created the dangers that we see. We have seen the coming in of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery because the water that we are getting from urban authorities has not been that clean and that has left the citizens of this country exposed.
I think the other area without even looking at the issues my colleague Hon. Member has raised, the first thing is to deal with the finances and capacities of these local authorities, whether they have the capacity to run projects or supply of water as we would expect. Surely there should be a lot of researches that have been done by many universities, water experts that we cannot do without water today.
Surely, the investment, for us to get reliable clean water or enough water, is a long term investment which may challenge our capacity as a country but today we need to have a solution. Our people are exposed to bad and dirty water. What can we do? Both from local authority and from the parent Ministry, what can we do today so that our people can get clean and safe water? I think this needs to be a priority for us as a people to ensure that we get clean water.
Madam Speaker, as my Hon. Colleague said, there is the issue of celebrating a borehole, surely we need to have water and there is no water. This is a basic need, a basic right. There is a quicker way of giving our people water. What we may be thinking about or worried about is maybe bringing in scientists to check on the safety of the water that we are getting from boreholes. For us to say we do not want boreholes when the water that comes from the taps from Harare City Council is rusty and smelly; we will have the whole population dying if they continue taking it. Even if they want to resist taking Harare water, after three days, you say maybe let me try, “mvura haina n’anga.”
I think what Government is doing at the moment is to try to mitigate a bad situation, that will expose our people more. Our Government is doing a good job and what we now need is combined efforts from all the people of Zimbabwe, all those Non-Governmental Organisations and experts at universities. What can we do? We have water as Zimbabwe, even as Harare. There is water but it is contaminated. How can we deal with it? We need to find the solution now to ensure that our people get clean water. Like I have said, Government has already provided resources and built relationships with international organisations to construct dams to ensure that the water is there. What we now need is combined a effort and ensure that we deal with the rot that we find in local authorities.
HON. NDEBELE: On a point of order Madam Speaker, the gentleman’s voice is dying. I am sure he is no longer connected.
HON. TOGAREPI: I think I am connected now. Thank you. What we need now is combined effort without blaming anybody but to heed to the motion that we need a combined effort. We should find a solution and that solution must come now through Government playing its part. I think the areas that local authorities cannot deal with are areas of big investments in creating dams, pipelines that will bring the water to Harare. Those things may need Government to intervene and Government has indeed intervened. That is why we see the Zambezi Water Project almost through. The local authorities must have people who are honest – [HON. A. NDEBELE: Why can you say the Zambezi Water Project is almost through? You are misleading the people.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MAVETERA): Order, order! Who has given you the floor Hon. Ndebele? Order!
HON. TOGAREPI: I am talking about the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. It is almost there. It will be through and local authorities cannot do that. Once the Government has done that and water has been brought to Bulawayo, surely it is the local authority out of people’s contributions they pay every month that we will then see clean water being supplied to citizens of urban centres.
I definitely would want to agree with the submission that we need to work together. Government is doing its part. I think local authorities should now come on board and ensure that whatever they get as rates is used specifically for areas that they have received these revenues from. If they receive rates for water, let them use the money to ensure that water is available to the people of Zimbabwe and not enriching themselves. People of Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo have the right to get clean water.
HON. A. NDEBELE: I have a point of order Madam Speaker.
HON. MAVETERA: What is your point of order?
HON. A. NDEBELE: I need to correct the Government Chief Whip. It is not Buluwayo but Bulawayo.
(v)HON. S. K. MGUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me to debate on the motion that has been moved by Hon. Hamauswa, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa on the issue of water. Water is life and we cannot compromise access of water to the communities. I have got some few comments, especially when we come to the issue that has been tabled by the Hon. Member.
My first observation is that there are four basic needs of human beings. Water is number one. There is also shelter, roads. If we look at these four basic needs, I will concentrate my contribution on water. When it comes to our water, we have a vision that has been proclaimed by our President of Vision 2030. It will not be a reality if we do not have potable water for our local communities. We still have got schools and clinics that do not have water, especially in rural areas. We still have got communities who are still travelling more than seven to ten kilometers looking for water. This means our dream of Vision 2030 will not be a success if those issues of water are not addressed.
I know that the Government has got plans. We applaud our President’s Vision. We have been told that there are rigs which were purchased to carry out this exercise. This is just to augment the plans of Government that we are on the right track. As long we fulfill our dreams, we are going to realise that we want to achieve.
Secondly, we have got dams. I think we have never attended to the pertinent issue of our dams. There are dams that have been destroyed by the cyclones in the recent years, like Cyclone Eline destroyed a lot of dams. Those dams are still lying idle; they have not been attended to. We need to also look at that as a Government. I know there is a programme that is running. In the province there is a dam that is done. We have got Gwayi-Shangani in Matabeleland North but in every district we still need those dams, especially those that were destroyed by the cyclones. They need to be attended to.
We also have the issue of siltation. The dams are silted, I think we also need to attend to that if we want to realise our dream of Vision 2030. We need actually to - maybe those dams that are silted can be de-silted or new dams can be constructed. What I like is that we have a deliberate plan whereby we attend to those dams because some of the dams were playing a very critical role especially in rural areas. You know Matabeleland region rears cattle, our cattle need water and people need water. So these dams were very critical, especially when it comes to supply of water.
We have got some other issues like the clinics which do not have water. We have schools without water and schools will be closed when there is no water. The President has a vision, which he made clear to us. He always wants us to play that role to fulfill his dream. He cannot do everything on his own; we are here to augment this dream to be achievable. I thank you.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Let me thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Hamauswa and the seconder of the motion, Hon. Mushoriwa. The population is increasing and therefore, the demand for water resources is also increasing. We need to plan ahead at this point and ensure that our water infrastructure is in order for it to be able to cater for the rest of our citizens. Therefore, I implore the department of ZINWA to build the capacities that are necessary to ensure that particularly in our urban areas. You look at places like Mbare where many people are living in densely populated environments, we need water in those areas so that the Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 (SDG) is achieved by our nation.
I know certainly that when we talk about budgetary matters, we keep on referring to the Minister of Finance to say, may he prioritise water and sanitation. Someone is also saying may he prioritise health infrastructure. Someone is saying may he prioritise road infrastructure but I think we are all aware of the budgetary limitations that the country is facing. Therefore, the call for the removal of financial sanctions in our country to ensure that the capital flows into our country are smooth and the country can capitalise on that to develop this nation.
The sources of developing finance in this country have been constrained for quite a long time and therefore, I call for collective action in terms of the removal of sanctions in this country. I think it is important to emphasise at this point that the realisation of SDG Number 6 is important. There should also be an equivalent realisation that we need to work collectively to remove sanctions in this country so that our people can live a life that is good, that is comparable to citizens of other nations. So it is important that we work towards ensuring that we have got the capacity and we have the financial flows into the country that allows the country to be able to cater for all these needs. The budget on its own, yes every year we seem to have challenges in terms of satisfying the needs of citizens. I am saying here mainly because I also realise that the financial flows into the country are too constrained.
Members can also take note that it is important that in our communities we mobilise communities to also build small dams, weir dams so that they can be able to access water. Water harvesting and water storage has become key in today’s civilisation to ensure that people can access water. Be that as it may, we still need to work together in this House to ensure that we challenge the real problem. The real problem is the flow of finance into the country which is being constrained by these evil sanctions. We need to work together in this House, both sides, so that we can be able to deal with this situation. Madam Speaker Ma’am, I thought I should add my voice to this subject, a very important subject because water is life; without water people cannot survive a good life. In many communities people are walking about 10 to 15 km to find water, especially in August, September and October when it is dry. We need now to build capacities for Government to be able to provide water to such communities. I thank you.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. First and foremost, I would want to thank Hon. Hamauswa the mover of the motion, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa, which pertains to water. It is true that water is not readily available. It is not peculiar to Zimbabwe alone. I did my research a few days ago and realised that water is a problem the world-over, especially in Africa and Asia there are such difficulties in accessing water.
What I want to point out is that boreholes are a good intervention. This is a low hanging fruit and it can be referred to as a quick win. Once a borehole is installed where water is not readily available – I am a resident of Harare. We spent about a week without water, so if the President comes to give us these boreholes, he would have done us great because for a week or more in other places, if you are to carry out your research, they are no longer used to running water from the tape. Once the Government has done that, we give them kudos for a job well done.
It is my considered view that the leadership of local councils should manage the affairs well because some of them do not care. They have no policy in terms of how they deal with the delivery of water and how they are going to solve that problem. They will be busy looking at their perks. I also urge citizens and residents in these local areas to pay their water bills but once they have paid, we conducted a research and found out that they said that once they pay their water bill, they will still be billed for what they would have already paid. Once you lose a receipt, you would have lost it. If you had not paid through swipe and had paid through cash, they could even tell you that you have not paid and they will still charge you a second time for the same bill that has already been paid for. I urge councils to look after their accounting system well so that people do not unnecessarily have to pay for what they have already paid for because in the council’s records, there is nothing to show for it.
I have also observed the reason why we do not have water. It is because we are now building in wetlands. Wetlands were created by God so that they can be used as a source of natural water purification so that you are able to get clean water, but it has become the norm these days that people are being offered residential stands in wetlands and as a result, the ecosystem has now been disturbed. So the Government is trying to put in place dams and with the little that we have as residents and citizens, we should work together hand-in-glove so that we show that we are for the development of this country. We should not be selfish; we should not be pointing fingers at each other because it does not help us. At this hour, what we need is to act in concert and work with a common purpose even paying those that would have put boreholes in place. I thank you.
(v)HON. MOKONE: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the mover of the motion, Hon. Hamauswa and the seconder Hon. Mushoriwa. They brought up a very pertinent motion before this House.
Madam Speaker, if your memory serves you right, I am one of the people in this House who is always advocating for water for my people in Matabeleland South. So when Hon. Hamauswa brought up this motion, I was very happy because it meant that he is actually speaking the same language that I have been speaking before this House.
Madam Speaker, water is a constitutional right and as such, it becomes a human right issue and clean water and sanitation is one of the SDG goals that were outlined by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030. So there is need to prioritise the issue of clean water. We have seen people being deprived of this key right in the cities. If you check most of the cities across the country, these days, people are drawing water from sources that are very ancient. Cities have been reduced to the early stone age period where people used to draw water from wells. Where I come from in Gwanda in Matabeleland South, a week hardly passes by without shortage of water. You see towns and borders like Beitbridge and Plumtree running dry and these are key borders in our nation of Zimbabwe, they cannot afford to be without water even for an hour.
I have witnessed the provincial capital of Matabeleland South, that is Gwanda, running dry for quite some time. You can think of places like hospitals. As I have said that Gwanda is a provincial capital, which means that everyone who is not feeling well or every major operation is referred to the provincial capital. Madam Speaker, can you think about what happens in the hospitals when there is no water especially to the women. You can imagine the situation that happens at the Maternity Ward when there is no water.
The other issue that I would also like to raise is the effects of the shortage of water to the school going age. At times we have seen school children not going to school because they will be trying to get the precious liquid. So it is quite prudent for us to actually prioritise clean water so that people can live very health lives in Zimbabwe.
Madam Speaker, at this moment, I would like to also talk about water harvesting. When you look at the nation’s economy, it is agrarian and it also depends on mining. It is agrarian, which means water is very key. At this point in time, we should be actually appraised of developments that have happened towards the construction of the Thuli-Manyame Dam in Matabeleland South and the Zambezi Water Project. There is need for us to prioritise such projects because they actually speak about water harvesting.
Madam Speaker, the last issue that I would like to talk about is the issue of pipes. If you see most towns these days, they always experience pipe bursts. It is because of the population that is now in the towns. Most of these pipes were actually installed when the population was not as large as it is now, especially in the city where I come from, there are always pipes bursting because of the large population that is in these small towns.
Lastly, I would like to support the motion that has been brought by Hon. Hamauswa and I would like to say there is need for Government to prioritise the issue of clean water and safe water across the country. I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Madam Speaker for recognising me. I just wish to raise a few points with regards to this motion raised by Hon. Hamauswa. Madam Speaker, I think there are three things that we must admit that we have failed as a country and which are an indicator of failure.
If you find a town building paid toilets, that is an admission of failure. If a town or a population starts drinking bottled water, that is an admission of failure and sinking boreholes in towns, that is an admission of failure. Madam Speaker, when we grew up, all these three things were taboo in urban areas. We never knew about them. Clearly like somebody said, you drank straight from the tap because tap water was clean. Now, because we have failed to manage our water systems, we have those three things. Why do we have this water problem? I think partly it is because of poor planning or lack or planning altogether. I am saying so because in cities, there is what we generally call the urban sprawl, the movement of people in and out of towns, going further away from the CBD. That rate of urban sprawl must be known by the local authorities; they should know the rate at which the city is expanding so that they are able to calculate the amount of water that is commensurate with the level of growth. There is also a natural increase of people living in the city. Therefore, the local authority must be able to plan according to the growth rate and rate of urban sprawl. I doubt if you ask any local authority now what their rate of growth is, they would give you an answer. That is exactly what is causing some of these problems. The cities are growing and nobody is providing the necessary calculations for that growth to move in tandem with the requirement for the water. Ignorance is also part of the problem. Part of the ignorance is caused by the skills flight.
In most of our local authorities, that institutional memory of the water or infrastructure distribution system is no longer there. When you design a water distribution system, it must be drawn on a diagram to show where the valves are, the size of taps, size of pipes, the distribution lines et cetera. Even when you change your valves, you must be able to go back to your drawings and change so that whoever comes will have a clear picture of what changed within the original system. I am raising this because I remember that in one of the cities - if not Gweru, it should be Kwekwe, they had a huge water shortage problem which went on and on and they tried to bring in more water but there was still a shortage until one old man was brought in and said, ‘no there is a valve number so and so which is continuously closed’ and they did not know where that valve was.
Similarly, I remember we had a very big water problem in Binga town until we called in some old man who advised that we check the whole distribution line so that we establish the problem. Clearly, there were some valves that were not even on the diagram which never opened and those gave the water problems. I think part of the problems that we have in the cities is lack of that institutional memory where people would know where things are and how to manage those old systems. Fine, the system could have been overgrown but the existing systems are not operating to their maximum capacity because people do not seem to know what is there because people who knew are no longer there.
Evidence of ignorance also is seen when you ask the Harare City Council what our problem with water is, I think historically ever since I came into this Parliament, there was a time when we were told that the problem is Kunzvi Dam and as long as you build Kunzvi Dam, water will increase and Government will put in more water bodies and we will have solved our problems. Some even said the problem is shortage of electricity and we need to have a dedicated line which will power the Morton Jaffrey Water Works and ZESA did that but the problems never abated. At some stage, some were saying the water treatment plant needs revamping and the Chinese camped there for months if not years trying to sort out Morton Jaffrey works but to no avail. The little water that is there in Harare, not all of it but about 20% gets to the people. Most of it is lost because the system is old and the people managing the system have no idea where things are and how to manage that system. As long as we do not work on that, we are failing to address the system.
One other point I wanted to raise from this motion, there is talk of water all over the country. I think one of our major problems is siltation of dams which is being caused by human activities, our own carelessness as human beings. If we look at how this country was designed, the early planners of this country left a very big forest area around the watersheds which was untouched and nobody settled there. But we have gone ahead and moved into these areas which are meant to prevent siltation because that is the source of our rivers. I know for a fact that Mzola Forest for the Gwayi River was clearly protected and nobody would enter there but people are now settled in those areas causing a lot of soil erosion and eventually bringing in a lot of soil into our river systems. So, as long as we do not realise that there is need to leave buffer zones where our rivers originate and pass through to avoid that siltation, we will continue to have problems.
Lastly, boreholes are necessary but they are not a solution to ending our water problems. Boreholes have their own problems such as the issue of maintenance. For instance, in rural areas, they do provide clean water according to the Ministry of Health although sometimes with a lot of minerals.
Boreholes do not solve water problems in communities because there are always breakdowns and the technical skills in those areas are not available. Boreholes will also not assist animals because they will not be able to pump water for themselves. So they should only be a stop gap measure until we have enough dams and other sources of water that are not difficult to manage. It reminds me of those boreholes that were promised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water. We were told that there will be 10 or so boreholes per village. I am sure that was last year but I have not seen even a single one that was sunk. So, as long as our approach is like that to solving problems, our water woes will never end. By this time of the year, we must be saying out of the seven boreholes per village, so far three have been sunk if that has happened. In my constituency, that programme has not started. We were told several lids were purchased from China but they have not arrived. If they have arrived, they have not come to the constituencies. So as long as we have that lacklustre attitude to solving problems, water will continue being a problem.
We are blessed in this country. We have almost six months of rainfall but that rain flows to the Indian Ocean and we do not have mechanisms to harness water. The few dams that are there are all old dams which need a lot or rehabilitation. The few that we were able to construct some of them have been destroyed. We know that Zimbabwe is a drought prone area, we have seasonal rainfall and we do not have perennial, all year round so our strategy should simply be to make sure every two kilometres, there is a dam in every river so that whatever rain falls on our land is all harnessed and very little gets to the Indian Ocean. If we did that I am sure we will have solved a lot of our water challenges and besides that dam, the water will assist to recharge our boreholes and we will have no dry boreholes in the country. I thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. C. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to this very important motion that was moved by Hon. Hamauswa and proudly seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa. Indeed water is life and it is a constitutional matter, Section 77 where every person has the right to safe, clean and potable water. What is important on that particular section is that the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its limits towards the progressive realisation of this right. Here we are Madam Speaker, we are trying to come up with a measure of making sure that we realise that right.
I want to say I used my constituency development funds to do water kiosks in my constituency. The water kiosks were initiated by Bulawayo City Council where they were installing Jojo tanks with some taps. I did that in Ward 9 in Mpopoma and Ward 13 in Pelandaba. I could have used the funds to do other projects like refurbishing our youth and women centres. I took that money and made sure that the Jojo tanks were installed in my constituency. Indeed, we need to support the prayer from Hon. Hamauswa seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa.
Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project was mooted in 1912 and today we are in 2022. If I can do just a mental arithmetic, it is now 109 years and for sure Bulawayo has a perennial problem of water shortages. After 109 years, still Gwayi –Shangani is a dream. Across the political divide we must support the prayer from Hon. Hamauswa, that we have a supplementary budget to solve water and sanitation issues. The most embarrassing thing in this COVID era, the residents in Emabutweni as well as Iminyela, more than 30 people are using one ablution facility. I do support that we declare wateudget for these sanitation issues.
In trying to buttress the point, on 9 July 2021 according to New Zimbabwe online publication, the headline said the Government was struggling to fund the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project. The only solution is that let us have a supplementary budget and declare water a national disaster and unlock several opportunities so that we can solve this perennial problem.
I want to talk about SDG goals. Several Hon. Members were highlighting Sustainable Development Goal 6 that ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The supplementary budget will not onlyr as a disaster and I do support that we do a supplementary b address SDG 6 but it will address SDG No. 1 that is ending poverty amongst our citizens. It will also address Sustainable Goal No. 2, that is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Not only that Madam Speaker, SDG No. 3 ensures health and promote the well-being of our citizens. Above all, SDG 11 - that is making our cities and human settlements inclusively safe resilient and sustainable. There is no doubt that if we have this supplementary budget it will solve all these problems which are being faced by our citizens and address all these ills. Yes, let us declare it as a national disaster so that we unlock all funds that can come as we did on our roads and we are making some improvements. I so submit.
(v)HON. P. ZHOU: I also want to support the motion which has been brought about here in the august House. Shortage of water to me and from what I have read, it increases the burden on women as we walk long distances to access it especially in the rural areas. Women face that burden which is generally done by women and girls. Men sometimes do help but I realise that in the rural areas, especially in Zhombe, women do have that burden. The implications of carrying water for long distances may include pains of the body on the chest or back pains.
Water is a women’s issue because it steals the women’s time, even to feed her family and do other things at home because when water is not readily available at home that is a burden to women. According to what I read, girls and women spend an estimated 200 million hours a day trying to find water for their families. Sometimes that water is dirty and not safe for drinking. The shortage of water becomes a personal issue to me. In Ruwa where I sometimes live, there is a water crisis because we get water once a week on a Friday. People have to stay at home to make sure that they utilise that water, fill drums and buckets.
I want to thank Government for trying to make sure that each and every ward has two or several boreholes that can provide clean drinking water. Research has also shown that worldwide more than five million die every year from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water. I really feel that at this time in Zimbabwe if we are looking at Vision 2030, it is very necessary that the local council do not abuse funds which they have. They should utilize these funds to improve water and sanitation for the communities. The Government should assist these local councils. The local councils should also partake from devolution funds and make sure that they improve the sanitation and water situation in the towns. In the rural areas, more boreholes should be sunk and many should be repaired, and many sunk close to the schools, clinics and even in the areas where our livestock have to access water for drinking.
To attain the Vision 2030, we really need a lot of clean water and it is my recommendation that we also implement rain water harvesting systems to collect and store rain water for drinking or for use in the toilets because during the rainy season, sometimes in a day, we can have 100 millimeters of water falling and all of it goes to waste. So we should increase these rain water harvesting techniques.
In conclusion, I want to support the motion moved and seconded by the Hon. Members who are both men and we know men generally do not fetch water but I want to thank them because they are supporting the women. As I have said before, the issue of water crisis becomes a personal issue for women and I want to urge men to help especially the Hon. MPs, the male ones to make sure that when they receive their CDF, to make sure that almost every time they should look back and say how many boreholes have I sunk especially in the rural areas. I rest my case. Thank you.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Thank you so much for the opportunity for me to contribute towards this motion which I am grateful for. Thank you to Hon. Hamauswa, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa on this motion. I rise in support of this motion and I also support the proposal for the water situation, the water crisis to be declared a national disaster that emergency measures be put in place to make sure that we come up with both urgent short term solutions and also well thought-out long terms solutions. The right to water is not negotiable in Zimbabwe. It is protected under the National Constitution. Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees that right to safe, clean and portable water.
This provision reflects the country’s obligation to provide water to the citizens as required in the human rights instruments that the country has ratified. All the international protocols that promote access to clean water which Zimbabwe has signed over the years are guaranteed through Section 77. It is therefore the duty of the Government of Zimbabwe and public officials of Zimbabwe to ensure that the millions of citizens of Zimbabwe have guaranteed access to clean water.
Today we are very far from where we were even when you compare in the 1980s, especially in the urban areas. It was normal in cities of Zimbabwe and in the towns of Zimbabwe in the 1980s, for ordinary citizens to have access to clean water from their water taps. There was no need for citizens to buy bottled water. They relied on municipal water. It was normal for citizens in the 1980s to have consistent water supplies from the supply dams around the cities but what we have seen since independence is a rise in the population of the urban areas.
There has been a massive rural to urban migration where we have seen a massive growth of population for some of the urban areas in this country or should I say for most of the urban areas of this country which has led to extreme pressure in terms of the water supply situation. What makes this situation worse is that since independence, most of these town supply dams have remained the same. There has not been a massive investment in terms of building new water supply dams.
We even have a worse situation for the City of Bulawayo where some of its original supply dams have now been declared no longer useful mostly due to siltation. So what you see in Zimbabwe today is a situation where most of our urban areas have increased massively in terms of population while at the same time there has not been a huge investment in terms of building new water supply dams. This has inevitably led to a water crisis situation.
I have also noticed that we have seen a very disturbing phenomenon. In the 1980s, shortly after independence, it was very rare in Zimbabwe to see manual boreholes being erected in the urban areas in Zimbabwe. The only kind of boreholes that were associated with the urban areas of Zimbabwe were the most sophisticated ones that used diesel or electricity. Those that are manual were only seen in the rural council of Zimbabwe. If you go across most towns in Zimbabwe today, you will see that there has been a massive increase in the number of boreholes that are manual. The ordinary that we used to see in the rural areas in the 1980s have now become a common sight in the towns and cities of Zimbabwe.
This is a symptom of the failure of the water supply system. As parliamentarians, we can also confirm that in the recent years when it comes to high impact projects that the residents have been pushing for, you will see that most of the project proposals for the Constituency Development Fund have been focusing on water. Hwange Central Constituency which I come from, this year and last year, both their proposals for Constituency Development Fund focused on water access. This emphasised the need for us to urgently address and resolve the water situation.
I need to also point out that if we do not address the water situation, we are creating another crisis because what has happened in recent years is that we have not only seen a proliferation of manual boreholes in cities such as Harare, but we have seen also a massive number of increase of the diesel, electricity or solar powered boreholes that is also going to affect the ecosystem of Harare because the water table is under threat. That means the ecology of these cities or towns is going to be affected and all other animals or organisms that depend on water in terms of the wetlands, swamps and the consistency of rains - all are all going to be affected.
More importantly, you might see a situation where some of the land being unstable because of the massive reduction of the water table - that means some of the buildings, constructions and big cities like Harare might also collapse unexpectedly due to the massive decline of the water table. So it is an infrastructural engineering disaster time bomb that we are sitting on as the water table continues to rescind.
I am in full support of the need for all of us to come together, there is no need for us to blame each other, there is no need for Parliament to blame the Executive - there is no need for anyone, the local Government or the Central Government to be blamed. This is not the time to politic - it is the time to fulfill the expectations of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. In line with Section 77 of our Constitution, it is our responsibility to unite and make sure that citizens of Zimbabwe have easy access to safe, clean and potable water which is presently not the situation.
It is my strong view that we should declare, as a country, the water situation a national disaster so that we may unlock the emergency funds that are available once a disaster situation is officially recognised so that we are able to harness the financial resources that we have as a country to decisively react to the situation before it gets out of hand.
I need to also emphasise that if we do not resolve the water situation, we may have other problems like epidemics that are water related. There are diseases like dysentery, cholera and others that can arise and create a big crisis in the densely populated urban areas of Zimbabwe if the water crisis is not resolved. Consistent water rationing; I am aware that the City of Bulawayo has already issued a notice in the last few days that it is going to retain the water rationing. This obviously leads and causes a risk of health hazards and waterborne diseases.
We need to come up with a long lasting solution to the water crisis, especially the one affecting the urban areas. I think it is important as Parliament of Zimbabwe, that we work together from across the political divide to support this motion, to make sure that the water crises situation in this country is declared a national disaster.
In line with Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, we make sure that we have put in place a proper water national strategic plan or a sustainable plan on water supplies and also to make sure that we have a sound policy in terms access to water for citizens of Zimbabwe.
I want to encourage us as Parliamentarians to push for the Government not to only declare the water situation a national disaster but also to have a national water summit where all concerned parties apart from Parliament of Zimbabwe, whether it is community development organisations, residents association, private sector, business sector, women, youths and all the interested stakeholders that we have a meeting with the Government officials and come up with an urgent plan with short term solutions and also the long term solutions.
However, the bottom line is that we can no longer continue to pretend that all is well - something has to be done urgently. We need to take action now because access to water is no longer easy for the majority of the citizens of this country. Let us take action now, declare lack of access of water in Zimbabwe a national disaster now. I thank you.
*HON. NYAMUDEZA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would want to thank the mover of this motion Hon. Hamauswa and the seconder Hon. Mushoriwa. The budget for the Ministry that deals with water needs to be increased. We may not talk much about it but as has earlier on been said, starting next week, they should sit down; that is the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, should put their heads together. They should be looking into the issue of wetlands in towns.
The Local Government ministry should stop pegging stands in wetlands. We see that there has not been a stop to the pegging of residential stands in wetlands. During the rain seasons, a lot of houses were damaged because their foundations were destroyed by the rains. The Ministry of Environment should go to the communal lands and engage the local leadership and conduct workshops so that wherever people are resettled, they should also be talking about river bank cultivation where people are being resettled so that they are not going to experience water shortages or problems like in other areas.
We should have been talking about the Matabeleland Water Project because it should have come up on the grid by now. There are certain places like in the Eastern Highlands where I come from - there is more than adequate rainfall. There is a lot of the rain that falls in that area but is not being harvested. There are no dams that are being constructed in those areas.
In my constituency, there is a problem. There are rivers that flow on a daily basis but there are no dams. If you look into all the whole of Manicaland, no dams have been constructed. Areas in Zimbabwe, the water that we have can be harnessed and be used to serve three quarters of the Zimbabwean population. The motion that has been raised calls upon the Government, at all levels - whether it is in the urban or rural areas, water should be harvested so that we have food security. This is an important motion calling on the Government to look into this issue and that there should be unity of purpose. As a country, we should come up with solutions to alleviate water challenges. I thank you Madam Speaker.
+HON. G. DUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity in support of the motion which was moved by Hon. Hamauswa, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa. Indeed, it is true that we agree as Hon. Members that water is a basic necessity which is in short supply throughout Zimbabwe taking into cognisance that Government is not putting up enough means to provide water for communities. Madam Speaker, I would like to make it clear that in areas like my place of origin, Victoria Falls along the Zambezi valley, the irony is that there is a shortage of water because there is no proper machinery which can be used to channel water from the Zambezi River to the community.
Madam Speaker, as I am speaking, in a city like Victoria Falls which is a tourist resort area, residents, lodges and other business entities can go for a week or two without tap water as a result of obsolete equipment which does not have the capacity to supply the whole city. Residents of townships like Mkhosana are not accessing water but those who are able to access water are residents of the affluent suburbs and hotels. Furthermore, this is a national problem and my desire is that Government should take note of such challenges, considering that the Constituency Development Fund and the Devolution Funds are not enough to cater for service provision projects. For instance, Victoria Falls has only two reservoirs which supply the whole town. I would also like to implore the Government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to take note of tourist resort areas like Victoria Falls and Kariba so that they can benefit from revenue which is being collected, whether it is 10% or 15% which will be channeled to water reticulation. I also believe that this would result in the refurbishment of dilapidated infrastructure, pipes and other equipment in townships. There is a lot of revenue which is being collected in these towns but the challenge is that such monies are being taken to Harare. It is my request that looking at the challenge of water shortage, there should be a retention fund in all towns because only the affluent are able to access water whilst those who live in high density areas are facing water shortages.
The Zambezi River is endowed with a lot of water, whilst those who live along the valley are facing water shortages. It is also prudent that Government should intervene, at the same time channeling resources towards the provision of water. This can be done through the National Parks and recreational facilities in towns like Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba. Looking at the sinking of boreholes in different areas, they cannot be sufficient because of the depth that is required to reach the water table in arid areas. It is prudent that whatever revenue generated in such areas should be channeled back to the communities so as to alleviate water shortages. With these few words, I would like to support the motion which was moved by Hon. Hamauswa and supported by other Hon. Members. Thank you.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to support the motion raised by Hon. Hamauswa and supported by Hon. Mushoriwa. I have observed that we now have problems in our cities. We were not aware of the problems that these pipes corrode due to age. As a result, in Rusape we do not have piped water. We would want an emergency being declared so that the pipes that are in the cities are changed. The Government should be looking into that and those that are in Government should know that each and every item has a lifespan. Once the lifespan of these pipes is gone, we are about to have problems due to corrosion and water pipe bursts. The Government should also come with solutions as well as what has been said by Hon. Gabbuza that we should be aware that there is population growth in these cities. We should be moving with time and also anticipate population growth.
Even if you look at the vehicles that we have in towns, our planning should be way ahead and never behind so that there should not be any congestions. The issue of water provision should not be politicised. There are some areas where boreholes are sunk because these areas are controlled by the ruling party and nothing is being done for those areas that are controlled by Members of the Opposition. Thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 14th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Nine Minutes past Six o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 14th June, 2022.
ADVANCE COPY- UNCORRECTED
No. 51
PARLIAMENT
OF
ZIMBABWE
_________________
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
_________________
FOURTH SESSION – NINTH PARLIAMENT
_________________
THURSDAY, 9TH JUNE, 2022
_________________
Quarter past two o’clock p.m.
The Speaker in the Chair.
Prayers
Members Present
Banda G;
Banda S,
Biti L T
Bushu B.,
Chamisa S.,
Chanda G. ,
Chibagu G.,
Chibaya A
Chidakwa J.,
Chidamba S.,
Chidziva H
Chihururu C.,
Chikombo W
Chikudo Rueben,
Chikukwa M. R,
Chikuni E.,
Chikwama B.,
Chikwinya S
Chimbaira G.,
Chimina L.,
Chimwanza J.
Chingosho C. P.
Chinotimba J.,
Chinyanganya M.,
Chipato A,
Chitura L,
Chiwetu J Z
Chiyangwa P,
Chombo M,
Dube B,
Dube G,
Dube M.,
Dube P,
Dutiro P,
Dzepasi G,
Dzuma S.,
Gabbuza J. G.,
Gandawa M. A,
Gezi T.,
Gonese I T,
Gozho C,
Gwanongodza E.,
Hamauswa S.,
Houghton J. R,
Hungwe T
Hwende C
Jaja J.,
January S.
Kabozo S.,
Kankuni W,
Kapuya F.,
Karikoga T.,
Karumazondo M. T.,
Kashambe M. T.,
Khumalo M.,
Kwaramba G.,
Maboyi R M.,
Machando P.,
Machingauta C.
Machingura R,
Madzimure W
Madziva S.,
Mafuta S. V.,
Mago N,
Mahlangu S
Makari Z H
Makone S.
Makoni R R,
Makonya J,
Makope M
Mamombe J,
Mandiwanzira S C,
Mangora B.,
Maphosa L.,
Marikisi N.,
Markham A. N.,
Masenda N. T,
Mashakada T.
Mashonganyika D,
Masiya D.,
Masoka N
Masuku E,
Masuku P.,
Masvisvi D
Matambo J
Matangira T. R,
Mataranyika D. M.,
Mataruse P.,
Matewu C
Matsikenyere N.,
Matsunga S
Mavenyengwa R.,
Mavetera T. A.,
Mavhunga M,
Mawite D.,
Mayihlome L,
Mbondiah M,
Mchenje S. M.,
Mguni Hlalani
Mguni S K,
Mhere E.,
Miranzi B.
Mkandla M.,
Mkaratigwa E.,
Mlambo M. M.,
Mnangagwa T. M.,
Mokone S,
Molokele-Tsiye F D,
Moyo C.,
Moyo L.
Moyo Peter,
Moyo R.,
Mpame C.,
Mpofu M. M.,
Mpofu R.,
Muchimwe P T,
Mudau M
Mugadza M
Mugweni C. T.,
Mukapiko D. L.,
Mukunyaidze S. E. I.,
Munengami F
Munetsi J.,
Munochinzwa M.
Muponora N.,
Murai E
Murambiwa O,
Murire J, Rtd. Col. Dr
Musakwa E,
Musanhi K. S,
Musarurwa W.Y.
Mushoriwa E.,
Musikavanhu D. A.,
Mutambisi C,
Mutodi E.,
Mutsenyami C P
Ncube E.,
Ncube M
Ncube Soul,
Ndebele A.,
Ndebele V
Ndiweni D.,
Ndlovu S.,
Nduna D. T.,
Ngome J.,
Nguluvhe A.,
Nhambo F.,
Nhari V,
Nkani A.,
Nkomo M,
Nyabani T,
Nyamudeza S,
Nyashanu M. Dr,
Nyathi E.
Nyathi R. R,
Nyika F
Nyokanhete J,
Nyoni I,
Paradza J,
Paradza K.,
Phulu K I
Raidza M.,
Rungani A,
Sacco J. K.,
Saizi T.
Samambwa E.,
Samson A.,
Samukange J. T.,
Sansole T. W.,
Sanyatwe C.,
Saruwaka T. J. L.,
Seremwe B.,
Sewera J N,
Shamu W. K.,
Shava J.,
Shirichena E.,
Shongedza E.,
Shumbamhini H.,
Sibanda D P
Sibanda L.
Sibanda M.,
Sibanda O.,
Sikhala J.,
Simbanegavi Y.,
Sithole G K,
Sithole James,
Sithole Josiah,
Sithole S,
Tarusenga U D
Tekeshe D.,
Tembo M
Tobaiwa J
Toffa J.,
Togarepi P.,
Tongofa M.,
Tshuma D.,
Tsuura N.,
Tsvangirai Vincent
Tungamirai T.,
Watson N J,
Zemura L,
Zhou P,
Zhou T,
Ziyambi ,
Zizhou M
Zwizwai M
In attendance in terms of section 138(2) and (3) and section 104(3) of the Constitution
Printed by Order of the House
Absent with leave
- The Speaker informed the House that on Monday, 30th May 2022, Parliament received a Petition from the Budiriro Residents Association, requesting the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to invite the Budiriro District Officer, Director of Public Planning, Director of Works, Director of Housing and Social Services and the Director Finance to explain why land meant for public schools was allocated for other uses. The petition was demeed inadmissible and the petitioners were advised accordingly.
- The Speaker also informed the House that on Monday, 30th May, 2022, Parliament received a Petition from Mr Milford Nkomo of Waterfalls, Harare, requesting Parliament to conduct an investigation into the welfare of pensioners and ensure that their monthly pensions are above the poverty datum line. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
- Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Tekeshe, moved: That Orders of the Day and Notice of Motion Nos. 1 to 17, for today, stand over until Notice of Motion No. 18, has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to
- Hon. Shamu, seconded by Hon. C. Moyo, moved:
[Days elapsed: 3]
That this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Visit to Dubai Expo (S.C 18, 2022)
On the motion of Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Matangira: Debate adjourned until Tuesday 14th June, 2022.
- The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works made a Ministerial Statement regarding the Pomona Waste to Energy Joint Venture Project between the Harare City Council and Geogenix BV.
- Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Chikwinya, moved: That Notices of Motions Nos. 19 to 27, for today, stand over until Notice of the Motion No. 28, has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
- Hamauswa, seconded by Hon. Chikwinya, moved:
[Days elapsed: 10]
That this House;
AWARE that Section 77 (a) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that,
every citizen has the right to safe, clean and portable water and the State must take
reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of the resources available
to it, to achieve the progressive realization of this right.
WORRIED that the water crisis in Zimbabwe has contributed to the outbreak of
water borne diseases and other unhygienic conditions in society;
DISTURBED that the continuous erratic water supplies within both rural and urban local authorities remain a recipe for disaster especially in the context of the Covid-19 global pandemic; and
NOW, THEREFORE, this House resolves to urgently request for a supplementary budget from Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which will be devoted solely for water and sanitation in the year 2022, in view of the need to maintain hygenic standards especially during the Covid-19 global epidemic.
On the motion of Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Tekeshe: Debate adjourned until Tuesday 14th June, 2022.
- On the motion of Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Tekeshe: The House adjourned
at four minutes past six o`clock pm until Tuesday14th June, 2022 at a quarter past
two o’clock in the afternoon.
HON. ADVOCATE J. F. N. MUDENDA,
Speaker.
TUESDAY, 14TH JUNE, 2022
ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICES OF MOTIONS
- The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs:
That this House takes note of the Report of the Zimbabwe Electroral Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
- Committee: To resume on the Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill
(H.B. 6, 2021) – (Progress reported 5th May, 2022- The Minister of Finance and
Economic Development)
(Clause 4 under consideration)
(See Notice of Amendments)
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Copper Control Amendment Bill, (H. B. 3, 2021) - The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. (Restored 2nd November, 2021 – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
Question proposed: That the Copper Control Amendment Bill, (H. B. 3, 2021) be now read a second time - The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage,
- Adjourned debate on the motion on the Second Reading of the Police Amendment Bill, (H. B. 2, 2021)- The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. (Restored 2nd November, 2021 – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
Question proposed: That the Police Amendment Bill, (H. B. 2, 2021) be now read a second time - The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
- Second reading: Public Finance Management Amendment Bill (H.B. 4, 2021)– The Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Second reading of the Health Services Amendment Bill (H.B. 8, 2021) – (Adjourned 7th June, 2022 - Hon. Dr. Nyashanu)
Question again proposed: That the Health Services Amendment Bill (H.B. 8, 2021) be now read a second time – The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care.
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill (H. B. 10, 2021) – (Adjourned 17th May 2022 – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs).
Question proposed: That the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill (H. B. 10, 2021) be now read a second time - The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
- Second Reading: Children’s Amendment Bill (H. B. 12, 2021) – The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
- Second Reading: Child Justice Bill (H. B. 11, 2021) – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
- Second Reading: Labour Amendment Bill (H. B. 14, 2021) – The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
- 11. Adjourned debate on motion on the Second reading of the Insurance Bill (H.B.1, 2021) - (Adjourned 12th April, 2022- The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development).
Question proposed: That the Insurance Bill (H.B.1, 2021) be now read a second time - The Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the Judicial Service Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. (Adjourned 7th April, 2022 – Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
[Days elapsed: 13]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Annual Report of the Judicial Service Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe- Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
- Adjourned debate on the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. (Adjourned 7th April, 2022 – Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
[Days elapsed: 15]
Question proposed: That this Annual House takes note of the Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
- Adjourned debate on the motion on the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2020, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. (Adjourned 7th April, 2022 – Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
[Days elapsed: 17]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2020, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
- Adjourned debate on the motion on the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. (Adjourned 7 th April, 2022 – Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
[Days elapsed: 15]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2021, presented to this House in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for the year 2020 (Adjourned 10th March, 2022 – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs).
[Days elapsed: 21]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Annual Report of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for the year 2020, presented to this House of Parliament in terms of section 323(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe – The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
- Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech (Adjourned 17th May, 2021- Hon. Mutambisi)
[Days elapsed: 50]
Question proposed: That a respectful address be presented to the President of Zimbabwe as follows: -
May it please you, your Excellency the President:
We, the Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe, desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer our respectful thanks for the speech, which you have been pleased to address to Parliament - Hon Mutambisi
- Hon. Mokone
Hon. Shamu
[Days elapsed: 15]
That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on the Zimbabwe Digital Migration Project.
(S.C. 8. 2022)
- Hon. Gabbuza
Hon. Mnangagwa
[Days elapsed: 14]
That this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the Rural Electrification Programme in Zimbabwe [S.C. 44, 2021]
- Hon. Mnangagwa
Hon. Tsvangirai
[Days elapsed: 11]
That this House takes note of the Report of the 144th Assembly of the Inter- Parliamentary Union and related meetings held from the 20th to the 24th March 2022, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.
- Hon. Tongofa
Hon. Saruwaka
[Days elapsed: 11]
That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation on the state of Youth Centres in Zimbabwe (S.C. 12, 2022)
- Hon. Svuure
Hon. S.K. Mguni
[Days elapsed: 11]
That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and
Commerce on the Fact-finding visits to Projects implemented under the
Industrialisation Programme from 2019 to October 2021 (S.C. 10, 2021)
- Hon Mokone
Hon J. Sithole
[Days elapsed: 8]
That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on the Benchmarking visit to Kenya on the Legislation and operationalization of Community Radio Stations held from 14 – 20 November 2021 . (S.C. 1 2022).
- Hon. T. Moyo
Hon. Madhuku
[Days elaped: 5]
That this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on the Benchmarking visit to Kenya, Zambia and Ghana on education financing (S.C. 16, 2022).
- Hon. Nyabani
Hon. Raidza
[Days elapsed: 21]
That this House-
DISTURBED by the excessive and prevalent abuse of drugs by youths countrywide;
NOTING the situation is exacerbated by the unemployment rate among youths who consequently end up spending most of their time idle and end up resorting to taking all sorts of drugs;
CONCERNED that such abuse of drugs has devastating consequences on our future generations and the Nation as a whole;
NOW THEREFORE calls upon the government
- To put in place measures that will curb the abuse of drugs by youths through self-help projects so as to keep our youths fully occupied all the time.
- Set up rehabilitation centres and Hospitals to assist our youths who are addicted to drugs to the extent of treating such abuse as a way of life.
- Legislate for stiffer penalties for the importation of those substances that give rise to incidents of drug abuse in the country.
- Hon. Togarepi
Hon. Nguluvhe
[Days elapsed: 18]
That this House-
ACKNOWLEDGING that Zimbabwe is a multi-party democracy that accommodates divergent political views from all Parties in the country;
COGNISANT that such tolerance of all views by Government is not a sign of weakness but the pillar and cornerstone of goodwill as envisaged by our peace loving people all over the country;
NOTING with disdain the deplorable and potentially explosive political gimmicks by forces of negation who always vilify the Government and have the audacity in their stunts to advocate for the perpetuation and perpetration of very illegal and retrogressive sanctions on their own motherland by foreign Governments;
CONCERNED that each time the country gears for Elections such political malcontents rear their ugly heads and start speaking with forked tongues wherein they advocate for sanctions on one hand and still want to participate in fair and free elections on the other hand without any repercussions for their unpatriotic and destructive utterances and calls for the tightening of sanctions;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon this House:
- To condemn in the strongest of terms such people who have nothing to contribute to our nation other than to call for these unwarranted sanctions on our country.
- The banning of holding of Government Office Positions by those who continue to advocate for sanctions against the county and yet still continue to enjoy benefits from such responsibilities.
- The banning of the swearing into office of anyone advocating for sanctions against the country.
- Adjourned debate on the motion on the erractic water supplies in both rural and urban local authorities (Adjourned 9th June, 2022- Hon. Togarepi)
Question proposed: That this House;
AWARE that Section 77 (a) of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that,
every citizen has the right to safe, clean and portable water and the State must take
reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of the resources available
to it, to achieve the progressive realization of this right.
WORRIED that the water crisis in Zimbabwe has contributed to the outbreak of
water borne diseases and other unhygienic conditions in society;
DISTURBED that the continuous erratic water supplies within both rural and urban local authorities remain a recipe for disaster especially in the context of the Covid-19 global pandemic; and
NOW, THEREFORE, this House resolves to urgently request for a supplementary budget from Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which will be devoted solely for water and sanitation in the year 2022, in view of the need to maintain hygenic standards especially during the Covid-19 global epidemic.- Hon Hamauswa
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Visit to Dubai Expo (Adjourned 9th June, 2022- Hon. Togarepi)
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Visit to Dubai Expo (S.C. 18, 2022)- Hon. Shamu
- Adjourned debate on motion of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on
Budget, Finance and Economic Development on the Petition received from
Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) (Adjourned 7th June, 2022- Hon. Dr. Nyashanu)
[Days elapsed: 2]
Question proposed:That this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development on the Petition received from Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) on retention of funds and funding model for Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. (S.C.17,2022) - Hon Dr. Nyashanu
- Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on the Inclusive Education Policy (IEP) and Better Schools Programme – Zimbabwe (BSPZ) (S.C. 15, 2022) (Adjourned 19th May, 2022- Hon. T. Moyo)
[Days elapsed: 4]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on the Inclusive Education Policy (IEP) and Better Schools Programme – Zimbabwe (BSPZ) (S.C. 15, 2022) – Hon T. Moyo
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on the Benchmarking Visit to Rwanda held from 10th to 15th October 2021 (S.C.6, 2021) (Adjourned 19th May, 2022- Hon. Masango)
[Days elapsed: 4]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on the Benchmarking Visit to Rwanda held from 10th to 15th October 2021 (S.C.6, 2021) – Hon. Masango.
- Adjourned debate on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the Petition from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-Harare Province, calling for the Amendment of the State Services (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Number 17 Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020 (S. C. 3, 2022) (Adjourned 18th May 2022- Hon. Mayihlome)
[Days elapsed: 4]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the Petition from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-Harare Province, calling for the Amendment of the State Services (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Number 17 Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020 (S. C. 3, 2022)- Hon. Mayihlome
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Mines
and Mining Development on a self-assessment of the Diamond Sector in Zimbabwe
(S.C. 12, 2022) – (Adjourned 17th May 2022- Hon. Mutambisi)
[Days elapsed: 6]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the motion of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development on a self-assessment of the Diamond Sector in Zimbabwe (S.C. 12, 2022) – Hon. Mkaratigwa
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic, Financial Management and Utilisation of Public Resources in the Country’s Provinces by Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (S.C. 13, 2022) –
(Adjourned 12th May 2022- Hon. Togarepi)
[Days elapsed: 7]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic, Financial Management and Utilisation of Public Resources in the Country’s Provinces by Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (S.C. 13, 2022) - Hon. Mbondiah
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Joint Portfolio Committees on
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprise Development on an Enquiry into the Prevalence of Sexual Harassment in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (S.C. 1, 2022) – (Adjourned 4th May, 2022- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade)
[Days elapsed: 11]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the joint Portfolio Committees on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprise Development on an Enquiry into the Prevalence of Sexual Harassment in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (S.C. 1, 2022) – Hon. Maphosa
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on fact-
finding visits to Sable Chemicals, Lancashire Steel and ZISCO Steel (S.C. 3, 2021) –
(Adjourned 3rd May 2022- Hon. T. Moyo)
[Days elapsed: 12]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce on the fact-finding visits to Sable Chemicals, Lancashire Steel and ZISCO Steel (S.C. 3, 2021) – Hon. S.K. Mguni
- Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference – (Adjourned 15th March, 2022- Hon Musarurwa).
[Days elapsed: 19]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the Report of the Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland from 31st October to 12th November, 2021 (S.C. 1, 2021) -Hon Musarurwa
- Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the Operations of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority – (Adjourned 10th March, 2022- Hon T. Moyo).
[Days elapsed: 21]
Question proposed: That this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the Operations of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (S. C. 23, 2021) - Hon Gabbuza.
- Committee of Supply.
WEDNESDAY, 15TH JUNE, 2022
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE.
* QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE.
*1. Hon. Nyabote: To the Minister of Industry and Commerce to inform the House what progress have been made in promoting value addition of raw granite stone considering the June 2019 government policy pronouncement banning the export of raw granite stones.
[Deferred 16th March 2022]
*2. Hon. G. Sithole: To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when government will transform the Dungwiza Cave situated at Chaminuka Shrine to a Historical Site that can bring revenue to the Chitungwiza.
[Deferred 4th May, 2022]
*3. Hon. G. Sithole: To the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House;
- what plans are there to ensure that citizens in Diaspora can also cast their vote in national elections.
- what corrective measures are in place to ensure that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not continue to move voters from their registered polling station without their consent.
[Deferred 4th May, 2022]
*4. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House plans available to relocate Gwanda Prison to a more specious area considering that the place is now overcrowded.
[Deferred 18th May, 2022]
*5. Hon. Ncube E: To ask the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to explain to the House government policy regarding supporting persons with disabilities, making a living through begging on the streets, usually accompanied by minors.
[Deferred 18th May, 2022]
*6. Hon. Saruwaka: To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House on the following;
- The progress made in the investigation of Livingstone Sunhwa, who went missing on the 6th of November 2021 at St Matthias – Tsonzo area in Mutasa Central.
- Measures taken to officially declare Livingstone Sunhwa as a missing person.
- Whether any form of punishment has been meted on the Police Officer who is allegedly said to have flogged and tortured Livingstone Sunhwa before his disappearance.
*7. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to inform the House when the Ministry will initiate empowerment programmes for people with disabilities in Mberengwa East Constituency.
*8. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to inform the House when the Ministry will initiate empowerment programmes for women and girls in the Mberengwa East Constituency.
*9. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House when the following roads will be rehabilitated in Mberengwa East Constituency;
- Zvishavane – Rutenga
- Ingezi – Vutsanana
- Ingezi – Mahlamvana
- Mahlamvana – Tom; and
- Gomo Nhenga – Matibi Mission Hospital
*10. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House how much ZINARA released to the Mberengwa Rural District Council for the period 2020 to 2021 and how these funds were utilised.
*11. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when the Ministry will construct police posts at Mwembe and Ngungumbane Business Centres in Wards 8 and 20, Mberengwa East Constituency respectively.
*12. Hon. Raidza: To ask the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the progress made in the construction of the following clinics in Mberengwa East Constituency;
- Bayayi Clinic in ward 20
- Zvomukonde/Ingezi Clinic ward 4; and
- Madekwana Clinic in ward 8
*13. Hon. Chimina: To ask the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the following;
- Plans put in place to improve water reticulation systems in Woodlands Suburb, particularly in Ward 16 of Chiwundura.
- Government policy regarding attachment of private properties by Local Authorities to settle debts.
- Criteria used to allocate ZINARA funds for development of roads, considering that some Local Authorities are allocated more than Urban Councils which have more roads to construct and rehabilitate.
*14. Hon. Chimina: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to appraise the House on the number of roads that were identified and rehabilitated under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation programme in Chiwundura and the criteria used to identify such roads.
*15. Hon. Chimina: To ask the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform the House when ZESA will have electricity connected to residents of Woodlands Phase 2 in Gweru given that the electricity infrastructures were installed in 2014.
*16. Hon. Sithole Josiah: To ask the Minister ICT, Postal and Courier Services to inform the House when the following wards, 2, 3, 7, 8, 26, 28 and 29 in Bikita South will have mobile network connections.
*17. Hon. Chidziva: To ask the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform to the House when Government will revamp ZESA as an entity to ensure that it timeously responds to electrical faults in the country.
*18. Hon. Chidziva: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House when ZUPCO buses will service Cannan and Western Triangle Bus Terminus in Highfield West Constituency.
*19. Hon. Chidziva: To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when Police will investigate and take action against well known Drug Lords selling addictive and harmful substances in the Highfield West Constituency.
*20. Hon. Chidziva: To ask the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House when the Government will restore the shuttle bus services between Market Square and Simon Muzenda Street.
*21. Hon. Chidziva: To ask the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to inform the House when the Government will give free sanitary wear to learners in Highfield West Constituency.
*22. Hon. Chinyanganya: To ask the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to inform the House the measures being taken by Government to address the plight of pensioners who are spending more than 5 days queuing at banks in an effort to withdraw their meagre pension payouts.
*23. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when the issuance of passports will resume in Matabeleland South Registry Offices.
*24. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development to inform the House the progress made towards the construction of the Thuli Manyange dam in Matabeleland South.
*25. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Mines and Mining Development when the pegging of mines to prospective miners would in Matabeleland South in view of the fact that these people are failing to secure mining claims.
*26. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House the measures being taken to ensure the safety of artisanal miners across the country.
*27. Hon. Mokone: To ask the Minister of Health and Child Care to explain to the House the plans that are being put in place to build more clinics in the provincial areas.
*28. Hon. I. Nyoni: To ask the Minister of Health and Child Care to appraise the House on when Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo will be operational.
*29. Hon. I. Nyoni: To ask the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to explain to the House the government policy regarding the use of photocopied text books and other study pack material by students.
*30. Hon. I. Nyoni: To ask Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the
House the progress made regarding the construction of Egodini Mall project by the
contractor Terracotta Trading P/L (TPPL) who was awarded the tender in 2016, with
projection that the project will be completed in April 2022.
*31. Hon. S. Hamauswa: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House the following-
- The measures being put in place to ensure the completion of upgrading the two roundabouts along the Harare –Bulawayo road, in Harare.
- The measures being put in place to reduce the daily road carnage at Warren Park D round about along Harare-Bulawayo road.
*32. Hon. S. Hamauswa : To ask the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform
the House the measures being put in place to implement the policy which ensures that all
police stations will handle traffic accident so that efficiency and responsiveness by traffic
Police officers are not compromised in cases of road traffic accidents.
*33. Hon. S. Nyamudeza: To ask the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House the following:
- What the alternative place for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works would be to relocate people from Maunganidze area to pave way for the expansion of a Growth point in the area.
- Why the Government delayed the implementation of a Growth Point status of the Maunganidze Growth Point by 42 years as evidenced by the fact that it was published in the 1982 Gazette.
- Why the Ministry wants to peg housing stands on this piece of land against the wishes of the local people despite the fact that there is an arable irrigation scheme near the Growth point which was published in the Gazette for irrigation purposes in 1962.
NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS
Insurance and Pension Commission Amendment Bill, 2021 (H. B. 6, 2021)
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE
BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
On page 4 after line 13 of the Bill, above the clause 4 (“Functions and Powers of the Commission”), insert the following clause:—
“4 Delegation of functions by Commissioner
(1) Subject to the Insurance and Pension Commission Act [Chapter 24:09], the Commissioner may delegate to any officer employed by the Commission any functions that is conferred or imposed upon him or her by this Act, other than this power of delegation.
(2) Any officer to whom a function has been delegated in terms of subsection (1) shall exercise it subject to the Commissioner’s directions.
(3) A delegation in terms of subsection (1) —
- may be revoked or modified by the Commissioner at any time; and
- shall not preclude the exercise by the Commissioner of the functions so delegated.
(4) Anything done by an officer in the exercise of a function delegated to him or her by the Commissioner in terms of subsection (1) —
- may be set aside or revised, subject to this Act, by that officer or by the Commissioner; and
- shall be deemed, until set aside, to have been done by the Commissioner.
(7) This section shall be construed as being additional to and not as derogating from, the Commissioner’s powers of delegation under any other law.”
And to renumber subsequent clauses accordingly
Police Amendment Bill, (H B 2, 2021)
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE
by hon. mayihlome
The Bill is amended by the insertion of the following clauses before clause 15 in line 7 of
page 5—
“15. Amendment of section 35 of Cap 11:10
Section 35 of the principal Act is amended by the insertion after subsection (3) of the following subsection—
(4) The officer or board of officers, as the case may be, presiding at a trial in terms of this Act, shall have powers to issue a warrant of arrest against any accused member who fails to appear before such a court of a single officer or board of officers without just cause:
Provided that such accused member has been summoned, notified or warned to appear before such officer or board of officers.”.
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSES
The Bill is amended by the insertion of the following clauses before clause 19 in line 28 of
page 5—
“19. New section inserted in Cap 11:10
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 61—
61A. Protection of Police property
(1) The Minister may, by notice in a statutory instrument, declare and make known what mark or marks applied to any arms, clothing, equipment, animal, vehicle, aircraft or boat shall denote the property of the Police Service therein.
(2) Any person who—
- with fraudulent intent, applies to any arms, clothing, equipment, animal, vehicle, aircraft or boat any mark referred to in subsection (1); or
- fraudulently defaces or conceals any mark referred to in subsection (1) on any arms, clothing, equipment, animal, vehicle, aircraft or boat; or
- unlawfully receives, possesses, sells or delivers any arms, clothing, equipment, animal, vehicle, aircraft or boat bearing any mark referred to in subsection (1) or forbid den by or under this Act to be sold, pledged or otherwise dis posed of;
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) In any prosecution for a contravention of subsection (2) the burden of proving that he had no fraudulent intent in applying, defacing or concealing any mark referred to in subsection (1) or, as the case may be, that the receipt, possession, sale or delivery of any arms, clothing, equipment, animal, vehicle, aircraft or boat was lawful shall lie upon the accused.
- Repeal and substitution of section 66 of Cap 11:10
Section 66 of the principal Act is repealed and substituted by—
- Wearing of uniforms, badges, etc of Police Force
(1) In this section—
“uniform” means any article or apparel including a badge, button, braid
or insignia worn with any particular items of clothing and tie designed for the Police Service.
(2) No person shall be allowed to be in possession of, manufacture, trade, sale, exchange or dispose of or wear any uniform designed for the Police Service or anything which might reasonably be mistaken for any such uniform or as to be likely to deceive, unless the person—
- is a member of the Police Force entitled by reason of his appointment, rank or designation to wear such uniform, badge or button; or
- has been granted permission by the Commissioner to wear such uniform, badge or button.
(3) Any person who contravenes Subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”;
and the subsequent clauses shall accordingly be renumbered.
Amendment of Clause 20
Clause 20 of the Bill is amended in line 39 of page 5 by the insertion of sub-clause (2)
after paragraph (c)—
“(2) Section 72 (“Regulations”) of the principal Act is amended in subsection (2) by the insertion of paragraph (o) after paragraph (n)—
(o) the appeals procedure of the decision made by the delegate of the Commissioner-General on matters regarding any policy, directive, Standing Orders or Regulations.”.
Copper Control Amendment Bill, (H B 3, 2021)
AMendment of clause 7
The Bill is amended in clause 7 on page 3 in line 7 by the deletion of “imprisonment for
a period not exceeding ten years, or both” and the substitution of “twice the value of the stolen
copper whichever is the greater; or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 25 years or
both”.
Private Voluntary Organisations (Amendment) Bill, 2021(H B. 10, 2021)
amendment of Clause 2
BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
On page 1 of the Bill, in Clause 2 —
- in paragraph (a)(i) before the definition of “funds or other assets” of the following—
“Financial intelligence Unit” or Unit means the financial intelligence unit referred to in section 6A of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24];
“Office” refers to the Office of the Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations;
- in paragraph (b) by the deletion of subclauses (4)-(7).
AMENDMENT of Clause 3
BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
On page 3 of the Bill, by the deletion of clause 3 and substitution of the clause as follows—
“ New Parts substituted for Part II of Cap. 17:15
Part II of the principal Act is repealed and the following is substituted—
PART II
Office of the Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations
3 Office of the Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations
(1) There shall be an Office of the Registrar of private voluntary organisations in the Ministry responsible for social welfare, in which shall be lodged the register of private voluntary organisations.
(2) The Office shall be headed by a Registrar who shall exercise general supervision and direction of the registry and shall be assisted by one or more assistant Registrars, inspectors and such other officers as may be necessary for the proper administration of this Act, whose offices shall be public offices and form part of the Public Service:
Provided that until an appointment of a Registrar is made, the person for the time being holding the office of Director of Social Welfare shall be the Registrar.
(3) Subject to this Act, the Registrar shall—
- consider and determine every application for registration and every proposed cancellation or amendment of a certificate of registration; and
- hear representations by any association, organization or institution claiming entitlement to be registered as a private voluntary organization; and
- advise the Minister and registered private voluntary organizations in respect of any matter arising out of the administration or operation of this Act or any other matter referred to it by the Minister or the Registrar; and
- to promote and encourage the co-ordination of the activities of registered private voluntary organisations having similar or related objects; and
- to submit to the Minister an annual report concerning the administration and operation of this Act; and
- maintain at his or her office a Register of Private Voluntary Organizations in which he or she shall enter all such particulars in relation to the registration of private voluntary organizations and their constitutions as he or she is required to enter by or in terms of this Act or any other enactment or decision of the Court;
(4) The Register shall be open to inspection during office hours by any member of the public on payment of the prescribed fee, if any.
(5) Subject to the directions of the Registrar, the other officers referred to in subsection (1) shall perform such of the Registrar’s functions as the Registrar may assign to them.
(6) The Registrar shall have power to delegate any of his or her powers to any officer other than the power of delegation.
(7) The Registrar may in writing authorise an assistant registrar, inspector or other officer referred to in subsection (2) to exercise any of the functions of a Registrar under this Act.
(8) Subsection (7) shall not be construed as limiting the power of the Chief Registrar of Companies and Other Business Entities to delegate functions under any other law.
(9) The Chief Registrar shall provide every inspector with a document identifying him or her as an inspector, and the inspector shall produce it on request by any interested person.
PART IIA
Private Voluntary Organisations Forum
4 Private Voluntary Organisations Forum
(1) The Registrar shall annually, on a date and at a venue to be notified not less than three months beforehand in the Gazette, organise, convene and host a Private Voluntary Organisations Forum to discuss any issue or issues of concern generally to private voluntary organisations:
Provided that the venue of the Private Voluntary Organisations Forum shall rotate annually through every provincial centre of Zimbabwe in such order as the Registrar shall determine.
(2) The notice of intention to organise, convene and host the Forum shall include the following—
- the proposed venue or venues and the proposed date or dates for the Forum; and
- the proposed agenda for the Forum, if any; and
- an invitation to relevant stakeholder organisations and other persons interested in issues of concern generally to private voluntary organisations to submit—
- suggestions for topics to be included in the agenda for discussion at the Forum; and
- lists of proposed participants at the Forum, specifying for each proposed participant what credentials he or she possesses that may be of benefit to the Forum’s deliberations.
(3) Before publishing a notice in terms of subsection (1) the Registrar shall constitute (whether on
a permanent or ad hoc basis) a committee (“the Pre-Forum committee”) of the Forum with the following terms of reference—
- to draw up a proposed agenda for the Forum; and
- to advise the Registrar on the financial, organisational and logistical requirements for convening and hosting the Forum; and
- to solicit financial support or sponsorship from the State, the private and parastatal sectors and
civil society organisations to enable the Forum to be convened; and
- receive reports from the subcommittees (if any) constituted in terms of subsection (4).
(4) To assist the Pre-Forum Committee in discharging its terms of reference the Registrar may constitute a subcommittee in every provincial centre of Zimbabwe chaired by a member of the Pre-Forum
Committee.
(5) On the establishment of a committee, the Registrar—
- shall appoint at least one officer of the Office as a member of the committee, and that officer or, if two or more officers of the Office are so appointed, one of those officers, as the case may be, shall be chairperson of the committee; and
- may appoint as members of the committee persons who are not members of the Office and may fix terms and conditions of their appointment.
(3) Meetings of a committee may be convened at any time and at any place approved by the Registrar.
(4) If the chairperson of a committee is absent from any meeting of the committee, the members present may elect one of their number to preside at that meeting as chairperson.
(5) A majority of members of a committee shall form a quorum at any meeting of a committee.
(6) Anything authorised or required to be done by a committee may be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present.
(7) At all meetings of a committee each member present shall have one vote on each question before
the committee:
Provided that in the event of an equality of votes the chairperson or person presiding at the meeting
shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote.
(8) Subject to this section, the procedure to be followed at any meeting of a committee shall be as fixed by the Registrar.
(9) The Registrar shall cause minutes of all proceedings of and decisions taken at every meeting of the Pre-Forum Committee to be entered in books kept for the purpose.
(10) Any minutes which purport to be signed by the person presiding at the meeting to which the minutes relate or by the person presiding at the next following meeting of the Pre-Forum Committee or the committee concerned, as the case may be, shall be accepted for all purposes as prima facie evidence of the proceedings and decisions taken at the meeting concerned.
(11) The person presiding at the meeting shall cause copies of all minutes that have been signed to be sent to the Registrar for his or her information.
(12) After publishing a notice in terms of subsection (1) the Pre-Forum committee shall—
- draw up a proposed final agenda for the Forum; and
- select from the lists referred to in subsection (2)(c)(ii) a proposed final list of participants at the Forum; and
- transmit its proposals made under paragraphs (a) and (b) to the Registrar, whose decision on
these issues shall, subject to section 16, be final.
5 Conduct of Private Voluntary Organisations Forum
(1) For the purpose of conducting a Gender Forum the Registrar shall constitute (whether on a
permanent or ad hoc basis) a committee (“the Forum committee”) of the Office of the Registrar with the following terms of reference—
- to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the Forum; and
- to keep minutes of or record the proceedings of the Forum, or to cause the proceedings of the
Forum to be minuted or recorded.
(2) The conclusions of every Gender Forum shall be embodied in written resolutions for presentation to the Minister.”
Insertion of new Clause 3a
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 4 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 3 of the following clause—
“3A Amendment of Section 7 of Cap. 17:05
Section 7 (“Partial exemptions of private voluntary organisations”) is amended—
- in subsections (1) by the deletion of “and after consultation with the Board”;
- in subsection (2) by the deletion of “in consultation with the Board”
- in subsection (4) by the deletion of “level three” and substitution of “level five””
Insertion of new Clause 3B
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 4 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 3A of the following clause—
“3B Amendment of Section 8 of Cap. 17:05
Section 8 (“Temporary Authority to collect contributions”)is amended in subsection (1) by the deletion of “after consultation with the chairman of the Board”
Insertion of new Clause 3C
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 4 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 3B of the following clause—
“3C New section substituted for section 6 of Cap. 17:15
Section 6 (“Private Voluntary Organisations to be registered”) of the principal Act is repealed and the following is substituted —
Private Voluntary Organisation to be registered
6(1) In this section—
“sanctionable trust” means a trust that may be dealt with by the Registrar in terms of subsection (7) on the basis that it is reasonably suspected of being in violation of subsection (2).
(2) No trust, body, or association of persons corporate or unincorporate or any institution—
- whose objects or any of them include any of the objects specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) of the definition of “private voluntary organisation”; and
- is not exempted by virtue of any of the sub-paragraphs (i)- (x) of the definition of “private voluntary organisation”;
shall, to the extent that it does not exclusively use its own funds or assets (that is to say, funds or assets generated by its own investments or other gainful activities carried on by itself) but instead—
- seeks or obtains financial assistance from any source within or outside Zimbabwe; or
- collects contributions from the public, for the fulfilment or purported fulfilment of those objects;
shall commence or continue to carry on its activities unless it has been registered in terms of this Act (even if it is a trust registered with the High Court referred to in sub-paragraph (iii) of the definition of “private voluntary organisation” in section 2).
(3) No person shall collect contributions from the public except in terms of this Act.
(4) No person (other than a trustee of a sanctionable trust in respect of which no action by the Registrar in terms subsection (7) has yet been taken) shall in any manner take part in the management or control of a private voluntary organisation, knowing that the organisation is contravening subsection (2).
(5) Any person (other than a trustee of a sanctionable trust referred to in subsection (4)) who contravenes subsections (2), (3) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable—
- in the case of a contravention of subsection (2), to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment;
- in the case of a contravention of subsection (3), to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year one years or to both such fine and such imprisonment;
- in the case of a contravention of subsection (4), to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(6) No unregistered private voluntary organization shall be entitled to receive a grant from the State.
(7) The Registrar may in respect of any sanctionable trust dispatch to the trustee or any of the trustees of the trust in question, a written notice setting forth the basis on which the Registrar reasonably suspects the trust of being in violation of subsection (2) and requiring that the trustee commence within thirty (30) days the registration of the trust as a private voluntary organization in terms of this Act.
(8) Any trustee who having received a notice in terms of subsection (7) fails to comply with such notice shall, together with any other person who is a joint trustee of the trust in question, be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment, and the trust in question shall (even if no trustee is prosecuted under this subsection) be guilty of an offence in terms of subsection (2), and depending on the circumstances, subsections (3) and (4).
(9) Notwithstanding the common law, a trust together with its trustees can be charged jointly in respect of any offence alleged to have been committed by it and its trustees against subsections (2), (3) or (4).
(10) A trustee served with a notice under subsection (7) shall have a right within fourteen days of the date when the notice was dispatched to make written representations to the Registrar to have the notice withdrawn on the basis that the notice was made in error and if the Registrar—
- accepts such representations, the Registrar shall notify to the trustee in writing, of the withdrawal of the notice; or
- rejects such representations the Registrar shall notify the trustee in writing accordingly and the thirty (30) day period within which the trustee must take the actions specified in subsection (7) commences from the date of the notification of such rejection.”
substituion of Clause 4
BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
On page 4 of the Bill, by the deletion and substitution of clause 4 as follows—
“4 Amendment of section 9 of Cap 17:05
Section 9 (“Registration”) of the principal Act is amended—
- in section 9(1) by the insertion of “and a prescribed fee.” after “constitution of the organisation.” ;
- by the insertion of the following new subsection—
“(1a) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) the Registrar shall require particulars as shall be prescribed, including information related to beneficial ownership and persons in control of the private voluntary organisation.”;
- in subsection (3) by the deletion of “submit any such objection to the Board for consideration” and the substitution of “submit any such objection to the Board for consideration” and substation of “take such objection into consideration.”;
- by the repeal of subsection (5) and substitution as follows—
“(5) Where the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements referred to in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) have been complied with, he or she shall consider the application, together with the constitution of the organization, any objection to the grant of the application and any further information supplied in connection with the application may—
- after considering the application, grant it and issue to the organization concerned a certificate of registration subject to such conditions as he or she may impose; or
- reject the application if it appears to the hi, or her that—
- the organization is not bona fide operating in furtherance of the objects mentioned in its application for registration; or
- the organization does not, in respect of its constitution or management, or any other information required to be provided by the Registrar comply with the provisions of this Act.”;
- in subsection (6) by the deletion of “Board” and substitution of “Registrar”.
substitution of Clause 5
BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
On page 4 of the Bill, by the deletion and substitution as follows—
“5 Amendment of Section 10 of Cap. 17:05
Section 10 (Cancellation or amendment of certificate”) of the principal Act is amended as follows—
- in subsection (1) by the deletion of “Board” and the substitution of “Registrar”;
- in subsection (1)(a) by the repeal of paragraph (a) and substitution as follows—
“(a) on any ground, other than a ground referred to in section 9(5)(b) (i) or (ii) upon which he could have rejected an application for registration by the organisation concerned ;or”;
- in paragraph (f)(ii) by the deletion of “three” and substitution of “one”;
- in subsection (2) in the chapeaux by the deletion of “Board may at any time direct the Registrar” and substitution of “Registrar may at any time”;
- in subsection (2)(b) by the deletion of “Board” and the substitution of “Registrar”;
- in subsection (4)by the deletion of “three” and the substitution of “twenty-one days”;”
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 6A
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 6 of the following clause—
“6A New section substituted for section 14 of Cap. 17:15
Section 14 (“Appeals”) of the principal Act is repealed and the following section is substituted—
“14 Appeals
(1) Any private voluntary organization which is aggrieved by any decision of the Registrar relating to the rejection, either wholly or in part, of an application for registration or exemption or to the cancellation, amendment, surrender or restoration of a certificate of registration or exemption, may appeal against that decision to the Minister.
(2) Upon an appeal the Minister may––
(a) uphold the decision of the Registrar; or
(b) refer the decision back to the Registrar for re-consideration;(whether with or without directions on how the decision is to be reconsidered) on any one or more of the following grounds¾
- allowing extraneous or irrelevant considerations to affect the decision; or
- failure to take into account relevant considerations in arriving at the decision; or
- any material mistake of fact or law that tainted the decision; or
- interest in the cause, bias, malice or corruption on the part of any person involved in making or contributing to the decision;
- gross irregularity in the proceedings or the decision of any person involved in making or contributing to the decision.”
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 6B
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 6A of the following clause—
“6B Amendment of section 18 of Cap. 17:05
The principal Act is amended in section 18 (“Branches not controlled by private voluntary organisations”) by the deletion of “after consultation with the Board” .
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 6C
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 6B of the following clause—
“6C Amendment of section 19 Cap. 17:05
The principal Act is amended in section 19 (“Audit of accounts”) in the proviso by the deletion of “Board” and substitution of “Registrar”.
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 6D
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 6C of the following clause—
“6D Amendment of Section 20 of Cap. 17:05
The principal Act is amended in section 20 (“Inspections and examination of accounts”)by the deletion of the chapeaux in subsection (1) with the substitution of the following—
- The Registrar, or any of the Office’s inspectors shall be empowered—"
Insertion of new Clause 6E
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion after clause 6D of the following clause—
“6E Insertion of New Part in Cap.17:05
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of a new Part after Part III as follows—
Part IIIA
Conduct of Private Voluntary Organisations
20A Principles governing private voluntary organisations
(1) Every private voluntary organisation shall endeavour to conduct itself and its operations in accordance with the following principles namely that—
- to ascertain the identity of donors and the sources of donations:
Provided that if the donor is anonymous, the private voluntary organisation must satisfy itself by other means that the donor is acting in good faith within the law and that the donation is made in good faith without intent to evade the law;
- to refuse donations from illegitimate or immoral sources and to report to the Registrar and the appropriate authorities any such donation of which it becomes aware;
- to ensure that its resources and every donation is used for the charitable objects for which the private voluntary organisation is registered;
- to account transparently to its stakeholders including its donors and beneficiaries for the manner in which it distributes its funds and implements its programmes;
- to use formal channels (that is to say registered banking institutions or other financial intermediaries regulated in Zimbabwe or in any other state) for the transmission of its funds at every point from source to destination;
- not to discriminate between beneficiaries on the grounds of nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religious belief, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability or economic or social status, or whether they were born in or out of wedlock:
Provided that it shall not be deemed to be discriminatory for a private voluntary organisations to favour beneficiaries of a particular group if its express object or one of its express objects is to benefit any disadvantaged group or members of such group of a particular description in terms of ethnicity, social origin, language, class, religious belief, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability, economic or social status, or persons born out of wedlock;
- not to conduct themselves in any politically partisan manner whether by using its resources to benefit members of a particular affiliation or making any test of the political allegiance of its beneficiaries;
- to be sensitive generally to the cultural values and norms of the community in the area where they will be primarily operating;
- to economically and socially benefit the community in the area where they will be operating;
- in as far as possible to employ personnel who are Zimbabwean citizens or permanent residents as members of their staff;
- the implementation of fair and safe labour practices;”
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 9A
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 10 of the Bill, insert a new clause as follows—
“9A New section inserted in Cap. 17:15
The principal Act is amended by the insertion after section 22A of the following sections—
22B Co-operation with foreign counterpart authorities
(1) The President, or the Minister with the President’s authority, may enter into agreements with the Government of any other country or territory with a view to the rendering of reciprocal assistance in any or all of the following—
- the registration of private voluntary organisations and the exchange of information related thereto;
- the exchange of information and the rendering of mutual assistance related to the combating of the transnational abuse of private voluntary organisations form for criminal purposes, the monitoring of the quality of the assistance given and the keeping of records of requests for information or assistance and of the responses thereto;
- the administration of any office or offices that are a counterpart to the Office of the Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations, including the mutual secondment and training of the staff of the Office and such offices.
(2) In particular, an agreement referred to in subsection (1) may empower the Registrar or the financial intelligence unit of the Reserve Bank, on his or her or its own behalf or on behalf of any law enforcement agency, to seek beneficial ownership or other information in respect of any company from the foreign counterpart, and, likewise, may provide beneficial ownership or other information in respect of any company to the foreign counterpart.
(4) The President may at any time revoke any such proclamation by a further proclamation in the Gazette, and the agreement shall cease to have effect upon the date fixed in such latter proclamation, but the revocation of any proclamation shall not affect the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
(5) Any agreement referred to in subsection (1) may be made with retrospective effect if the President considers it expedient so to do.
22C Information sharing on private voluntary organisations of concern with foreign counterpart authorities
(1) In this section—
“private voluntary organisation of concern” means a private voluntary organisation suspected of terrorist financing or involvement in other forms of terrorist support.
(2) The FIU, may in consultation with the Registrar enter into agreements with a counterpart agency of another Government of any other country or territory with a view to the exchange of information and the rendering of mutual assistance related to the combating of the transnational abuse of private voluntary organisations form for criminal purposes, the monitoring of the quality of the assistance given and the keeping of records of requests for information or assistance and of the responses thereto.
(3) In particular, an agreement referred to in subsection (1) may empower the Registrar or the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank, on his or her or its own behalf or on behalf of any law enforcement agency, to seek beneficial ownership or other information in respect of any private voluntary organisation from the foreign counterpart, and, likewise, may provide beneficial ownership or other information in respect of any company to the foreign counterpart.
(5) Any agreement referred to in subsection (1) may be made with retrospective effect.
(6) For the avoidance of doubt, the FIU shall be the point of contact to respond to international requests relating to private voluntary organisations of concern.
22D Minister may give policy directions to Registrar
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may give the Registrar such general directions relating to the policy the Registrar is to observe in the exercise of his or her functions as the Minister considers to be necessary in the national interest, which policy directions must¾
(a) not be inconsistent with any provision of this Act; and
(b) be issued in good faith, apply prospectively and not retrospectively, and be of general applicability; in particular the policy directions¾
(i) must not be issued in relation to any particular application or appeal pending before the Registrar and must not apply so as to influence or direct the Registrar on the outcome of any particular application, appeal or other matter that is being considered by the Registrar immediately before the directions are issued, or
(ii) must not prejudice the application of the rules of natural justice by the Registrar in the exercise of his or her quasi-judicial functions;
(c) clearly delimit the scope of their application and must otherwise not be vague or ambiguous in their terms; and
(d) clearly express the national interest at stake;
(e) must be clear (whether expressly or by necessary implication) that they apply or are in force for a fixed or indefinite period, or that they expire on the happening of any event.
(2) Before giving the Registrar any policy direction, the Minister shall inform the Registrar, in writing, of the proposed direction and the Registrar shall, within thirty days or such further period as the Minister may allow, submit to the Minister, in writing, his or her views on the proposal.
(3) The Registrar shall take all necessary steps to comply with any direction given to it in terms of subsection (1).
(4) When any direction has been given to the Registrar in terms of subsection (1), the Registrar shall ensure that the direction and any views the Registrar has expressed on it in terms of subsection (2) are set out in the Registrar’s annual report.”
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSE 9B
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 10 of the Bill insert a new clause as follows—
9B Amendment of section 23 of Cap. 17:05
The principal Act is amended in section 23 (“General offences and penalties’) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3) as follows—
“(4) Any private voluntary organisation—
- that supports or opposes any political party or candidate in a presidential, parliamentary or local government election; or
- is a party to any breach of Part III of the Political Parties (Finance) Act [Chapter 2:12] as a contributor of funds to a political party or candidate or otherwise; or
- wilfully denies any beneficiary assistance in furtherance of its charitable objects solely on the basis of that beneficiary’s political affiliation, or wilfully makes such assistance conditional upon that beneficiary’s political affiliation; or
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine or such imprisonment.
(5) Subsection 4 shall not apply to a private voluntary organisation which assists members of disadvantaged groups to become candidates for election to parliament or any local authority:
Provided that such assistance must be afforded in a strictly non-partisan manner.”
SUBSTITUTION OF CLAUSE 10
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 10 of the Bill insert a new clause as follows—
10 Amendment of section 28 of Cap. 17:05
Section 28 (“Regulations”) of the principal Act is amended—
- by the insertion after paragraph (e) of the following—
“(e1) requirements to be submitted when applying for registration;
(e2) increased monitoring and supervision measures for private voluntary organisations found to be high risk;
(e3) measures of systems that private voluntary organisations can use in order to self regulate and prevent being misused in terms of section 22;
(e4) the disclosures of sources of funding from outside Zimbabwe whether in the application, the audit report or both;
(e5) any other matter of concern to assist in the combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing in the area of private voluntary organisations;
(e6) any other measures that promote accountability, integrity and public confidence in the administration and management of private voluntary organisations;
(e7) any other measures in addition to provisions in the law and the Money laundering and proceeds of Crime act or any other enactment to ensure effective coordination and information sharing to the extent possible among all levels of appropriate authorities or organisations that hold relevant information on private voluntary organisations;
(e8) any other matter of concern to ensure efficient regulation of private voluntary organisations.
- by the amendment in subsection (2) of “fine of level four” and the substitution of “fine of level
AMENDMENT of Clause 11
BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
On page 11 of the Bill, by the deletion of clause 11 and substitution of the clause as follows—
“11 Schedule inserted in Cap. 17:05
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following Schedule —
Civil Penalty Orders
arrangement of PARAGRAPHS
Section
- Interpretation in Schedule.
- Power of Registrar to issue civil penalty orders.
- Limitation on issuance and enforcement of civil penalty orders.
- Service and enforcement of civil penalties and destination of proceeds thereof.
- When hearings on question whether to serve civil penalty orders may be held
- Evidentiary provisions in connection with civil penalty orders.
- Designated officers.
Interpretation in Schedule
- In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires—
“citation clause”, in relation to a civil penalty order, is the part of the order in which the Registrar names the defaulter and cites the provision of this Act in respect of which the default was made or is alleged, together with (if necessary) a brief statement of the facts constituting the default;
“date of issuance”, in relation to the service of a civil penalty order, means the date on which it is served in any of the ways specified in paragraph 3(1);
“defaulter” means the person on account of whose default a civil penalty order is served, and includes an alleged defaulter;
“designated officer” means an officer of the Registry or other person designated and authorised by the Registrar to undertake duties in connection with the implementation of this Schedule;
“penalty clause”, in relation to a civil penalty order, is the part of the order that fixes the penalty to be paid by the defaulter, and “fixed penalty clause” and “cumulative penalty clause” shall be construed accordingly;
“remediation clause” in relation to a civil penalty order, is the part of the order that stipulates the remedial action to be taken by the defaulter;
“show cause clause” in relation to a civil penalty order is the part of the order that requires the defaulter to show cause why the civil penalty order should not have been served or should be withdrawn.
Power of Registrar to issue civil penalty orders
2.(1) Where default is made in complying with any provision of this Act or of regulations or orders made under this Act for which a civil penalty is specified in this Act and Schedule to be leviable, the Registrar may, in addition to, and without derogating from, any criminal or non-criminal penalty that may be imposed by this Act or any other law for the conduct constituting the default, serve upon the defaulter a civil penalty order of the appropriate description specified in this paragraph.
Specified Civil default
- (1) A registered private voluntary organisation shall be guilty of a civil default if there is well founded information available to the Registrar indicating that it has received any donation from an illegitimate or immoral source.
(2) Upon receipt of the information referred to in paragraph (1) the Registrar shall serve upon the defaulter a civil penalty order providing for—
- the taking by the PVO of the remedial action specified in the order to enable the PVO to ascertain the legitimacy of the source of future donations received by it;
- the suspension of the penalty for a specified period not exceeding fourteen days, by the end of which the PVO must satisfy the Registrar that it is in a position to be compliant in the future;
- upon the civil penalty becoming operative because of non-compliance with the requested remedial action, a penalty of one hundred united states dollars (or the equivalent at the auction rate of exchange ruling on the date of issuance of the order) for each day not exceeding ninety days during which the PVO is non-compliant;
- the suspension of the operation of the civil penalty order for a period of 48 hours from the date of its issuance to enable the alleged defaulter to show cause to the Registrar why the order should not have been issued, that is to say, to show that the order was issued in error:
Provided that—
- if no such cause is shown within that period the order shall be deemed to have been issued with effect from the beginning of such period;
- if within that period it is shown that the order was issued in error the designated officer shall withdraw the order and make the appropriate notation of withdrawal in the civil penalty register.
(3) A registered private voluntary organisation shall be guilty of a civil default if there is well founded information available to the Registrar indicating that it has not used formal channels (that is to say registered banking institutions or other financial intermediaries regulated in Zimbabwe or in any other state) for the transmission of its funds at every point from source to destination.
(4) Upon receipt of the information referred to in paragraph (1) the Registrar shall serve upon the defaulter a civil penalty order providing for—
(a) a combination of—
- a fixed penalty of the amount of one thousand united States Dollars dollars(or the equivalent at the auction rate of exchange ruling on the date of issuance of the order)
- a cumulative penalty over a period not exceeding ninety days of five per centum of the outstanding amount of the fixed penalty for each day (beginning on the day after the service of a civil penalty order) that the fixed penalty or any outstanding amount thereof remains unpaid by the defaulter;
- the opening (within a period not exceeding fourteen days) by the PVO of a banking account with a registered banking institution or other regulated financial intermediary and
- upon the civil penalty referred to in paragraph (b) becoming operative because of non-compliance with the requested remedial action, a penalty of one hundred united states dollars (or the equivalent at the auction rate of exchange ruling on the date of issuance of the order) for each day not exceeding ninety days during which the PVO is non-compliant;
- the suspension of the operation of the civil penalty order for a period of 48 hours from the date of its issuance to enable the alleged defaulter to show cause to the designated officer why the order should not have been issued, that is to say, to show that the order was issued in error:
Provided that—
- if no such cause is shown within that period the order shall be deemed to have been issued with effect from the beginning of such period;
- if within that period it is shown that the order was issued in error the designated officer shall withdraw the order and make the appropriate notation of withdrawal in the civil penalty
Limitation on issuance and enforcement of civil penalty orders
3.(1) No civil penalty order may be issued more than twelve months from the date when the default or alleged default occurred or ceased to occur.
(2) A single civil penalty order may be served in respect of two or more defaults committed by the defaulter within a single period not exceeding six months, but if the aggregate of such defaults results in the defaulter becoming liable (either immediately or within seven days from the service of the civil penalty order) to a penalty or combined penalties in excess of the equivalent to more than twice the highest monetary penalty for which that person is liable in respect of any of those civil defaults, the Registrar may select one or any combination of those defaults which will not result in the defaulter becoming so liable, while reserving the right to serve a second or further additional civil penalty orders in respect of the defaults not so selected if the defaulter does not comply with the first civil penalty order.
Service and enforcement of civil penalties and destination of proceeds thereof
4.(1) References to the Registrar serving upon a defaulter any civil penalty order in terms of this Schedule, are to be interpreted as requiring the Registrar to serve such order in writing to the defaulter concerned—
(a) by hand delivery to the defaulter or his or her director, manager, secretary or accounting officer in person, or to a responsible individual at the place of business of the defaulter; or
(b) by delivery through a commercial courier service to the defaulter’s place of business or his or her principal office in Zimbabwe or other place of business of the defaulter; or
(c) by electronic mail to the defaulter whose electronic mail address is known to the Registrar:
(2) The Registrar officer shall not extend the period specified in a civil penalty order for compliance therewith except upon good cause shown to him or her by the defaulter, and any extension of time so granted (not exceeding in any case 30 days) shall be noted by the Registrar in the civil penalty register.
(3) The Registrar may, if the defaulter is a corporate defaulter—
(a) in the same civil penalty order, name the corporate defaulter and every officer of the company, syndicate, other corporate person or partnership concerned as being so liable separately, or issue separate civil penalty orders in respect of the defaulter and each of the officers concerned;
(b) choose to serve the order only upon the corporate defaulter without naming the officers if, in his or her opinion (which opinion the Registrar shall note in the civil penalty register), there may be a substantial dispute of fact about the identity of the particular officer or officers who may be in default:
Provided that nothing in this subparagraph affects the default liability of officers of the defaulter mentioned in subparagraph (6).
(4) The Registrar may, in the citation clause of a single civil penalty order, cite two or more defaults relating to different provisions of this Schedule if the defaults in question —
(a) occurred concurrently or within a period not exceeding six months from the first default or defaults to the last default or defaults; or
(b) arose in connection with the same set of facts.
(5) Where in this Act the same acts or omissions are liable to both criminal and civil penalty proceedings, the Registrar may serve a civil penalty order at any time before the commencement of the criminal proceedings in relation to that default, that is to say at any time before—
(a) summons is issued to the accused person for the prosecution of the offence; or
(b) a statement of the charge is lodged with the clerk of the magistrates court before which the accused is to be tried, where the offence is to be tried summarily; or
(c) an indictment has been served upon the accused person, where the person is to be tried before the High Court;
as the case may be, but may not serve any civil penalty order after the commencement of the criminal proceedings until after those proceedings are concluded (the criminal proceedings are deemed for this purpose to be concluded if they result in a conviction or acquittal, even if they are appealed or taken on review). (For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that the acquittal of an alleged defaulter in criminal proceedings does not excuse the defaulter from liability for civil penalty proceedings).
(6) Every officer of a corporate defaulter mentioned in the civil penalty order by name or by office, is deemed to be in default and any one of them can, on the basis of joint and several liability, be made by the Registrar to pay the civil penalty in the event that the defaulter does not pay.
(7) Upon the expiry of the ninety-day period within which any civil penalty order of any category must be paid or complied with, the defaulter shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both (in the case of a corporate defaulter, every one of its officers is liable to the penalty of imprisonment, and to the fine if the corporate defaulter fails to pay it).
(8) The amount of any civil penalty shall—
(a) be payable to the Registrar and shall form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund or if a retention fund for the Office is established in terms of section 18 of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] shall form the funds of that retention fund; and
(b) be a debt due to the Consolidated Revenue Fund or retention fund referred to in paragraph (a) and shall be sued for by the Registrar on behalf of the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Registrar in any proceedings in the name of the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Registrar in any court of competent civil jurisdiction:
Provided that for this purpose, the court of the magistrate in the district where the defaulter has his or her principal place of business shall be deemed to have jurisdiction to hear the suit even if the monetary amount sought would otherwise exceed its prescribed jurisdiction.
(9) Proceedings in a court for the recovery of a civil penalty shall be deemed to be proceedings for the recovery of a debt as if the defaulter had acknowledged the debt in writing.
(10) If the designated officer in terms of subparagraph (8)(b) desires to institute proceedings to recover the amounts of two or more civil penalties in any court of competent civil jurisdiction, the designated officer may, after notice to all interested parties, bring a single action in relation to the recovery of those penalties if the orders relating to those penalties —
(a) were all served within the period of twelve months preceding the institution of the proceedings; and
(b) were served—
(i) on the same defaulter; or
(ii) in relation to the same default or set of defaults, whether committed by the same defaulter or different defaulters; or
(iii) on two or more defaulters whose registered offices are in the same area of jurisdiction of the court before which the proceedings are instituted.
(11) Unless the Registrar has earlier recovered in civil court the amount outstanding under a civil penalty order, a court convicting a person of an offence against subparagraph (7), may on its own motion or on the application of the prosecutor and in addition to any penalty which it may impose give summary judgement in favour of the designated officer for the amount of any outstanding civil penalty due from the convicted defaulter.
When hearings on question whether to serve civil penalty orders may be held
- (1) If, in response to a show cause clause, an alleged defaulter satisfies the designated officer, that it is not possible within 48 hours to demonstrate that the civil penalty order was issued in error due to a material dispute of fact, or because the alleged default in question was not wilful or was due to circumstances beyond the alleged defaulter’s control, the designated officer shall afford the alleged defaulter an opportunity to be heard by making oral representations to the designated officer, for which purpose—
(a) no later than 96 hours after the issuance of the civil penalty order, the alleged defaulter must furnish to the designated officer an affidavit sworn by him or her giving reasons to show that the civil penalty order was issued in error due to a material dispute of fact, or because the alleged default in question was not wilful or was due to circumstances beyond the alleged defaulter’s control;
(b) within a reasonable period from the receipt of an affidavit referred to in paragraph (a) the designated officer may serve copies of the affidavit on any person who, in the designated officer’s opinion, is affected by or may be a party to the default, together with an invitation to the parties to attend at a meeting to be presided over by the designated officer (giving particulars of its time and venue) to enable the parties to make oral and written representations at that meeting on the question whether the civil penalty order was issued in error to the alleged defaulter and whether it should be issued to some other person or not issued at all; and
Provided that in such invitation or at the meeting the designated officer may restrict the parties to submitting written representations only, before or no later than 48 hours after the conclusion of the meeting.
(2) The following provisions apply to every meeting convened under this paragraph in connection with the issuance of a civil penalty order—
(a) if the alleged defaulter fails to attend at the meeting the designated officer may proceed to issue the civil penalty order;
(b) the alleged defaulter bears the burden of showing on a balance of probabilities that the civil penalty order was issued in error due to a material dispute of fact, or because the alleged default in question was not wilful or was due to circumstances beyond the alleged defaulter’s control;
(c) at the conclusion of the meeting the designated officer may—
(i) in the presence of the parties (if any) at the meeting announce his or her decision verbally whether or not to issue a civil penalty order, and, if so to upon whom, and if the designated officer decides to issue the civil penalty order the designated officer shall do so within twenty-four hours;
(ii) cancel the civil penalty order or re-issue it with effect from the date of his or her decision on the same or another defaulter, or re-issue it with effect from the date on which it was initially issued if the designated officer finds that the defaulter’s objections to its issuance were baseless, vexatious or frivolous:
Provided that the designated officer may defer making a decision by no more than 48 hours after the conclusion of the meeting and give notice of his or her decision, and the reasons for it (together with the civil penalty order, if any), to the alleged defaulter or any other person found to be liable for the civil penalty.
Evidentiary provisions in connection with civil penalty orders
6.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule the designated officer shall keep a civil penalty register wherein shall be recorded—
(a) the date of service of every civil penalty order, the name and the physical or registered office address of the person upon whom it was served, the civil penalty provision in relation to which the defaulter was in default, and the date on which the civil penalty order was complied with or the penalty thereunder was recovered as the case may be;
(b) if the alleged defaulter responded to the show cause clause in the civil penalty order with the result that—
(i) the order was cancelled because it was issued in error, the fact and the date of such cancellation; or
(ii) a meeting was held in accordance with paragraph 5, then—
- a record or an adequate summary of any representations made at the hearing by way of an entry or cross-reference in, or annexure to, the register (and if recorded by way of annexure or cross-reference, the representations must be preserved for a period of at least six years from the date when they were made to the designated officer);
- a record of the outcome of the hearing, that is to say, whether or not the civil penalty order was cancelled, and if not the date from which it was to have effect and whether a different defaulter was served with it.
(2) A copy of—
. (a) any entry in the civil penalty register, and of any annexure thereto or record cross-referenced therein, authenticated by the designated officer as a true copy of the original, shall on its mere production in any civil or criminal proceedings by any person, be prima facie proof of the contents therein; or
(b) any civil penalty order that has been served in terms of this Act, authenticated by the designated officer as a true copy of the original, shall on its mere production in any civil or criminal proceedings by any person, be prima facie proof of the service of the order on the date stated therein upon the defaulter named therein, and of the contents of the order.
Designated officers
- (1) Any reference to the Registrar in this Schedule shall be construed as a reference to a designated officer.
(2) The Registrar shall furnish each designated officer with a certificate signed by or on behalf of the Registrar stating that he or she has been appointed as a designated officer for the purpose of this Schedule.
(3) A designated officer shall, on demand by any person affected by the exercise of the powers conferred upon the Registrar under this Schedule, exhibit the certificate issued to him or her in terms of subsection (2).”.
INSERTION OF NEW CLAUSES
By the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
On page 17 of the Bill insert a new clauses after clause 11 as follows—
“Part II
Consequential Amendments
Money Laundering and proceeds of crime Act [Chapter 09:24]
12 Amendment of section 2 of Cap. 9:24
The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24] (hereinafter in this Part called the “principal Act”) is amended in section 2 (“Interpretation”) by—
- in the chapeaux of the definition of “competent authorities”
- the insertion of the following definition after the definition of “proceeds” —
“ proliferation financing” means any offence referred to in section 9A;”
- by the insertion of the following paragraph in the definition of “serious offence”—
“(c1) a proliferation financing offence;”
13 Amendment of section 3 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 3 (“Unit and competent supervisory authorities to cooperate in securing compliance with this Act”) in subsection (3a) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”.
14 Amendment of section 6B of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 6B (“Functions of Unit”) in subsection (1)(c) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing” .
15 Amendment of section 6C of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 6C (“Further provisions on the Director-General, staff, agents and inspectors of Unit”) in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”.
16 Amendment of section 6E of Cap.9: 24
The principal Act is amended in section 6E (“Unit to have access to information”) in—
- subsection (3)(b) by the deletion of “Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10:27] and the substitution of “Freedom of Information Act [Chapter 10:33], Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07].
- In subsection (6)(d) subsection (3)(b) by the deletion of “Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10:27] and the substitution of “Freedom of Information Act [Chapter 10:33], Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07].
17 New section inserted in Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended by the insertion after section 9 of the following section—
9A Proliferation Financing
- In this section—
“proliferation financing” means the act of providing funds or financial services which are used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, acquisition, possession, development, export, transhipment, brokering, transport, transfer, stockpiling or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery and related materials (including both technologies and dual-use goods used for non-legitimate purposes), in contravention of national laws or, where applicable, international obligations;
(2) Any person who by any means directly or indirectly wilfully provides or collects funds, provides financial services or makes such services available to persons, or attempts to do so, with the intention or in the knowledge that such funds are to be used in whole or in part—
- to manufacture, develop, produce or participate in the development or production of a nuclear biological or chemical weapon for use in terrorist acts or
- to distribute or supply a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon to carry out a terrorist act or
- to train persons or groups of persons to develop or produce or participate in the development or production of nuclear biological or chemical weapon for use by a terrorist or by a terrorist organization for any purpose
- to carry out any other act--
- that has a purpose by its nature or context, to intimidate the public or to compel a government or an international organization to do or refrain from doing any act ; and
- that is intended to cause—
- death or serious bodily harm to a civilian or in a situation of armed conflict to any person not taking an active part in the hostilities; or
- the risk, damage interference or disruption of any of the following kinds—
- serious risk to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public; or
- substantial property damage whether to public or private property involving a serious to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public;
- serious interference with or serious disruption of an essential service, facility or system whether private or public not being an interference resulting from lawful advocacy or from protest dissent or stoppage of work.
commits the offence of financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five million united states dollars and imprisonment for a term not less that thirty-five years imprisonment.
(2) An offence under subsection (1) is committed regardless of whether—
- the funds are actually used to manufacture, develop or produce nuclear biological or chemical weapons to commit or attempt to commit a terrorist act;
- the funds are actually used to distribute or supply a nuclear biological chemical weapon to carry out a terrorist act;
- the person alleged to have committed the offence is in the same country or a different country from the one in which the nuclear, biological or terrorist act occurred or will occur.
(3) a director or person in charge of a legal entity who commits an offence under this section is liable to a fine not exceeding twenty five million united states dollars and imprisonment for a term not less that thirty-five years imprisonment.
(4) Where a body corporate or its director, manager, secretary or other similar officer concerned with the management of a body corporate has been convicted of an offence under this section, the court shall have power—
- to revoke business licences;
- to order the body corporate to be wound up ; or
- to forfeit the assets of the body corporate to the recovered assets fund;
- prohibit the body corporate from performing any further activities.
(5) The taking of propriety steps including but not limited to requiring material or participating in the planning of an offence under this section shall be an offence and the person who commits such an offence is liable to the same penalty as provided for in the offence.
18 Amendment of section 12A of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 12A (National Money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment and risk mitigation)—
- in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (2) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (3)(a) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing” in subsection (3)(b) by the insertion after the words “terrorist financing” of “and proliferation financing” ;
- by the insertion of a new paragraph in subsection (3) as follows—
“(c) identify and assess the money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks that may arise in relation to virtual asset activities or operations of virtual asset service providers.”
- in subsection (7) by the deletion the words “and anti- financing of terrorism” and substitution of “,anti- financing of terrorism and anti-proliferation financing” ;
19 Amendment of section 12B of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 12B (Assessing risks and implementing risk-based approach by financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions)—
- in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing” ;
- in subsection (4) by deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
20 Amendment of section 12C of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 12C (“Establishment of National Anti-Money Laundering Advisory Committee”) in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing” ;
21 Amendment of section 12D of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 12D (“Establishment of National Taskforce on Anti-Money Laundering and combating of Financing of Terrorism”)—
- in the section head by the repeal of the section head and substitution as “Establishment of National Taskforce on Anti-Money Laundering, combating of Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing”;
- in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and combating terrorist financing” and substitution of “, combating terrorist financing and proliferation financing”” ;
- in subsection (2) by the deletion of the words “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”” ;
- in subsection (4) by the deletion of “anti-financing of terrorism” and substitution of “, anti-financing of terrorism and anti-proliferation financing”;
- by the insertion of new subsections after subsection (4) as follows—
“(5) The national taskforce shall come up a Charter in which it may outline matters of concern including processes and procedures of cooperation and coordination within the country in terms of combating money-laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing;
(6) The Minister responsible for finance may cause the Charter referred to in subsection (5) to be Gazetted.”
22 Amendment of section 15 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 15 (“Customer Identification Requirements”)—
- in subsection (1)(e) by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (2) by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”;
23 Amendment of section 16 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 16 (“Timing of customer identification and verification”)—
- in the chapeaux of subsection (1) by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (1)(b) by the deletion of “and terrorist financing” with substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation risk”.
24 Amendment of section 18 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 18 (“Reliance on customer identification by third parties”) in subsection (1)(a) by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”.
25 Amendment of section 19 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 19 (“Customers not physically present”) in subsection (1)(a) by the deletion of “and financing of terrorism” of “,financing of terrorism and proliferation financing”.
26 Amendment of section 20 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 20 (“High risk customers and politically exposed persons”)—
- in subsection (1)(a) by the deletion of the words “and financing of terrorism” and substitution of “, financing of terrorism and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (3) by the deletion of “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”
27 Amendment of section 21 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 21 (“Customer Identification and account opening for cross-border”)—
- in subsection (e) by the insertion after the words “financing of terrorism” of “,and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (f) by the insertion after the words “financing of terrorism” of “,and proliferation financing”.
28 Amendment of section 25 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 25 (“Internal programmes to combat money laundering and terrorist financing”)—
- in the section head by the deletion of the words “and financing of terrorism” and substitution of “, financing of terrorism and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “and financing of terrorism” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (1)(c)—
- in the second line by the insertion after the words “financing of terrorism” of “,and proliferation financing”;
- in the third line by the insertion after the words “financing of terrorism” of “,or proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (4)—
- in the chapeaux by the deletion of “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
- in paragraph (b) by the deletion of “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
29 Amendment of section 26A of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 26A (“Higher risk countries”) is amended in subsection (3) by the deletion of “and terrorist financing” and substitution of “, terrorist financing and proliferation financing”;
30 Amendment of section 30 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 30 (“Obligation to report suspicious transactions”)—
- is amended in (1)(b) by the insertion after “finance terrorism” of “ and proliferation”;
- in subsection (4) by the insertion after “terrorist financing” of “or proliferation financing”;
31 Amendment of section 31 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 31 (“Inapplicability of confidential provisions and prohibition against tipping-off”) is amended—
- in subsection (2) in the third line by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”;
- in subsection (2) in the fourth line by the insertion after “financing of terrorism” of “or proliferation financing”;
32 Amendment of section 37 of Cap. 9:24
The principal Act is amended in section 37 (“Sharing of information with foreign counterparts”) in subsection (2) by the insertion in the chapeaux after “financing of terrorism” of or proliferation financing or potential proliferation financing”
33 Amendment of section 103 of cap. 9:24
Section 103 (“Regulations”) is amended in subsection (2) by the insertion of the following paragraph—
“(e) any requirements or issues related to the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions as may be required to be prescribed.”
Part III
Consequential Amendments
Criminal Matters (Mutual assistance) Act [Chapter 09:06]
34 Amendment of section 2A of Cap. 9:06
The Criminal Matters (Mutual Assistance) Act is amended in section 2A (“Purpose of Act and powers and responsibilities of Prosecutor-General”) in subsection (1) by the deletion of “and financing of terrorism” with the substitution of “,financing of terrorism and proliferation financing”
35 Amendment of section 6 of Cap. 9:06
The Criminal Matters (Mutual Assistance) Act is amended in section 6 (“Refusal of Assistance”) in subsection (3) by the deletion of “and financing of terrorism” and the substitution of “,financing of terrorism and proliferation financing”
BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
Institute of Chartered Loss Management and Private Security Management Bill (H.B 5, 2022) – Hon. Dr. Col. (Rtd) Murire (Referred 5th May , 2022).
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 9th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Today is a Thursday and in accordance with the Standing Orders of Parliament, we are supposed to start with Questions without Notice. I do have a list of Ministers who have tendered their apologies and they are as follows: -
Hon. Dr. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care;
Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs;
Hon. Sen. M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services;
Hon. J. G. Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works;
Hon. Prof. Mavima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare;
Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development;
Hon. Prof. Murwira, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development;
Hon. Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage;
Hon. Muswere, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services;
Hon. Dr. Coventry, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation;
Hon. E. Ndlovu, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;
Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development;
Hon. Mavhunga-Maboyi, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage;
Hon. Kambamura, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development;
Hon. E. Moyo, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; and
Hon. M. N. Ndlovu, Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
In light of the fact that I do not see any Minister present, I am going to ask Hon. Members to allow us to move to debate our own motions.
The Clerk will read the First Order of the Day.
Hon. Sen. Eng. Mudzuri having stood up
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Sen. Mudzuri, I had already ruled that there is no point in having Question Time because there is only one Minister present. The message is going to reach where it is supposed to go.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I feel it is not enough that we do not speak to you but it is really disappointing that you can rule but we have talked about this so many times here in this august House that Ministers must come. You can rule that we go to the next item but it is becoming routine that Ministers do not come. Are we going to let it go and we just keep quiet? What are we taking ourselves for? This is your House and I think you should be more emotional than us that Ministers do not take this business seriously. Yes, we can debate but still when we debate, we need Ministers to take notes to ensure that what we are debating gets to Government. They are still not coming, so I am not sure whether we are here to spend the tax payers’ money debating to ourselves and listening to ourselves without Ministers. I do not know what you can do other than going to the President and ask him to ensure that these people come because these are his appointees.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you Hon. Sen. Mudzuri, that is exactly my point other than repeating or regurgitating what we did two weeks ago, I do not see what else we can do besides seeking an audience with the highest authority in the land and advising them that this is most disastrous and unacceptable.
We now have two Ministers.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I propose that we ask questions to the Leader of the House rather than going to debate motions even though you have ruled.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Yes, I am told that we expect a few more Ministers to come but still we have registered our displeasure at the turn-out and the apparent lack of seriousness in terms of observing question time in the Senate. We will proceed with the two Ministers whilst we wait for the other Ministers to come.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. President for allowing me this opportunity. My question goes to the Leader of the House. Leader of the House, is it now Government policy to allow the monetary runaway inflation that is taking place daily and allowing people as near to this Parliament as possible, waving money in the street to sell and nothing happens? They are waving and if you want us to go with the President today, we will see them waving money to sell. I do not know whether it is Government policy to allow people to be where they are and marketing money? At the end of the day, the common man in Chiendambuya and in my village in Zaka are suffering. They cannot manage the dollar that they are using.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I believe that issue requires the Minister of Finance to give a detailed comprehensive statement so that it can be exhausted. So, my suggestion to Hon. Sen. Mudzuri through you is, if the Minister can be requested if it pleases him to come here so that he can articulate the state the Ministry is doing together with RBZ authorities to ensure that the economy stabilises. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think that makes sense. It is long overdue for the Minister of Finance to come and advise this august House as to what steps he is taking to stabilise the economy. The points which we have made are valid and I think we can only benefit from a detailed statement from the Minister of Finance on that.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Sorry Hon. President. My question is expanded to the activities of selling money which the Minister of Finance is not the only one responsible...
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think that is relaying to the economy.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: The Minister of Finance is not the only one responsible but it extends to the Government policy on allowing such things to happen in the streets.
HON. ZIYAMBI: My response is that the Minister should come and give a comprehensive statement still stands. It is a manifestation of an underlying condition where you see people waving money in the streets. The measures that are being taken can only be articulated well so that Hon. Members can benefit when the Minister comes and issues a statement as to what they are doing. At policy level, there is no Government that would want runaway inflation to happen.
So at policy level, I can tell you that there is no policy of Government that such a thing should happen but it requires the Minister to give a detailed response why we are seeing a manifestation of what is happening like you allude to, of people waving money in the streets. I believe that would be for the benefit of Members of Parliament and Hon. Senators so that you can also explain to your constituents what is happening. You will benefit more from the technical person rather than from a policy perspective if he comes and gives a statement. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Education and in his absence the Leader of Government Business will assist me. BEAM is assisting us very much in the rural areas especially in the upcoming schools. What is Government policy in terms of timeous disbursement of funds because the funds are taking too long and disbursement is very slow? I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you very much Mr. President and also the Hon. Sen. for the good question. The question is explaining some of the problems that are being faced in the disbursement of BEAM funds that are meant to assist school children but the most important thing is that there is Government policy on BEAM that is meant to alleviate the plight of needy children in schools. So his additional dimension of the school is just a need for administration to be properly carried out to fulfill that policy. They are the ones that are supposed to ensure that the money is disbursed from Treasury and on time to the respective beneficiaries. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Leader of the House on the issue of maize being transported to GMB for USD90. Is it a policy or what is the correct position with regards to the fee that was announced on radio or it is just for bringing people forth to submit their grains?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chirongoma for his question. He is from Mashonaland West and I understand very well where he comes from. They are into maize growing and he is very concerned on the issue of price. Talking about the producer price which was announced last year, our currency was at USD80 to USD90 thereabouts, but when we started selling maize it was around USD300 and we had a lot of complaints from farmers because the money that was being disbursed could not get them back to farming. I know the money that was going to be paid to farmers was announced towards last year but due to fluctuations in the rates and complaints from the farmers, we paid attention to that because they could not continue farming due to the rising prices. The President suggested we look closely at this issue and he gave a directive together with the Ministry of Finance looking at the prices that are always escalating and we said those who come first will be first served for bringing their grains to GMB and will get a bonus of USD90. The price will remain at 75 and a bonus of USD 90. He also further said on USD 90, the surrender rate for those farmers who are going to be paid using their banks will be 20%.
So the USD 90 is actually a bonus for those who would have brought grain to GMB and the deadline for paying that USD90 to farmers is on the 31st of July this year. If ever we are going to increase the money that is going to be paid to farmers on top of that USD90, it will be allowed but for now we are working with the deadline of the 31st of July.
HON. SEN. RWAMBIWA: My question goes to the Leader of Government business. We are seeing a lot of grass on the roads, what exactly are we supposed to do so that we have our roads clear and we are able to move without any hindrances? A lot of accidents are happening as a result of these things. I am a victim of this tall grass.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you very much Senator Rwambiwa for the question. The tall grass on our high way roads has become a hindrance to all motorists. It is very true that it is not supposed to be looking like that on our roads. It should be made easy for our motorists on the roads.
If it is Harare and the urban areas, it is the responsibility of City Councils; they are the ones that are supposed to be working on those roads making sure that grass has been cut. However, if it is a highway, then it becomes the responsibility of the Government to make sure that there is clarity for motorists, there is visibility and all the obstacles are removed.
HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you very much Mr. President. My question sought a response from the Minister of Transport but since he is not in the House, I will direct it to the leader of the House. What arrangements does Government have with regard to the expansions being done on the highways from Harare to Beitbridge? We have seen that our roads have widened but the ridges are still narrow, we are seeing a lot of accidents on these roads. What is it that Government has in place to rectify that because bridges remain narrow whilst roads are being widened?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Denga for his question. I am happy with his observation that roads have been widened; a lot of great work has been done on the widening of the road. We saw it fit to fix the issue of widening roads, now we are moving on to fix the bridges which are of concern to motorists. We are happy that we have widened roads and now we are going to embark on rectifying the issue of widening bridges.
Our plan as Government going forward is to work on those bridges as well so that we have everything finished and motorists are not left with any hindrance on the highway.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you very much Mr. President, I will continue to direct my questions to the leader of the House. If I remember very well in Bulawayo, it looked as if the President was commissioning new trains but up to this day we have not seen any. As Government, what are you seeing on this issue where we are seeing no trains on the railways? People are paying a lot of money for transport; they are being swindled by private transporters. We are seeing a lot of trucks going up and down on highways instead of seeing trains like we used to do back in the day. These trucks are actually damaging our roads.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Hon. Speaker. The Hon. Sen. alluded to the fact that for development to take place in a country, our railway system should be functional. Indeed road trucks destroy the road network, so some of the goods that we are transporting by road are supposed to be transported by railway. Government is really eager to ensure that our railway system is functional. In 2017, we sought to work with DIDG for the resuscitation of railway infrastructure network with our diaspora children but they failed to raise the required funds. We gave them an opportunity to put their house in order but they failed to rise to the occasion. As we speak, the Ministry of Transport is working on that. Right now, we have this new steel plant at Manhize. We need a functional railway system because that steel is supposed to be exported. I am talking about the businesses that Hon. Minister Mutsvangwa is always talking about. We need to resuscitate our railway network so that it is functional. We have those plants and the Minister of Transport will tell us very soon on their plans. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Hon. President for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. As Government, how prepared are you in terms of food security? You referred to incentives that were given to farmers, especially grain farmers. Is there any difference now in terms of grain delivered to the GMB? We hear that at some point, our GMB reserves had gone down. Do we have any mitigatory plans in case our harvest is very low so that we avert starvation? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Mupfumira for that important question. For you to be called a person, you need to have food. What I would like to tell the Hon. Senators is that before we even started receiving this year’s harvest, we had enough stocks in our strategic reserves. We are not starting from zero. We still had grain in our silos. So what we are saying is we do not want to consume the strategic grain reserve but we want to add to what we have. This is because we do not know what will happen in future. It is a bonus because the President has given us a target to fill our silos, so the Ministry of Lands is encouraging production.
As we speak, the hectarage of wheat right now has surpassed last farming season’s hectarage by 2%. I am talking about the hectarage that has been planted by Monday. We are saying the plan is we should not starve. We have enough maize, as well as enough wheat. We are also being encouraged, through the Ministry of Lands, to plant sunflower so that we have cooking oil. The research that has been done is that it is easier to get cooking oil from sunflower than soya beans. That is why we introduced that programme to encourage farmers to grow sunflower. In terms of starvation, we need to applaud Government and the President for the plans that he put in place. We will have sufficient food until the next farming season. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MANYAWU: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. We see buses that are being bought in the country have steps but there are no facilities for disabled people to either embark/disembark from those buses. What is Government plan to address that problem that the disabled people are facing? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for that important question. If you look at our disability policy, it says that all constructions or buildings should have facilities or ramps for people with disabilities to access them easily. I really got the question on buses. I will talk to the Minister of Transport to say, yes you are bringing in a lot of buses but you are forgetting the plight of people with disabilities. They are supposed to facilitate easy access for people with disabilities and it should be in line with the policies that we launched as Government. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. The Government came with a programme to scale down on farms and also give to those who do not have access to land. Some of the farmers who had their farms downsized are refusing to vacate the farms because they say their cases are under the courts. What is Government doing to address the issue?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. Our system functions in a way that we have the three arms of the State namely, the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature. They all report to the President. Our laws allow people to appeal to the courts when they feel they are wronged. Counter appeals can be made until the issue is resolved totally by the courts. Until the courts finalise those issues, we are supposed to accept their rulings. That is what we call rule of the law. We cannot do anything besides appealing for the expeditious resolution of those cases so that they are resolved amicably. Thank you.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for the explanation that he gave. It is within the legal framework. My question is, such people who were legally allocated the land, what can they do to get their rightful benefits.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. The issue is not about the latest beneficiaries. The issue is between the earlier beneficiary and the Government. The one who receives the land as a second beneficiary has to wait for the resolution of the dispute. Until the issue is resolved, the initial beneficiary has power of that land. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you Mr. President Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Is it legal for farmers who grow their crops and Government puts a Statutory Instrument (SI) stopping the farmer from selling their grain to buyers of their choice?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. The Hon. Sen. asked that question but they are the ones who put in place that SI. The Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) looked into that SI and they agreed that it does not violate the Constitution. What happens is, it starts working with effect from the day it is announced but it is brought to Parliament because they are the ones who have the power to enact that law. As Government, we are only given power to enforce the SI but the PLC is the one that has the power to scrutinise that SI. If you give it a green light, it will work but if you want it to be debated, it will go through that process and voting can take place until its finalisation. Hon. Senators. you are the ones who gave us that SI. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you Minister for your response. What I would like to say is, that SI has not been brought to the National Assembly or the Senate for debate. So, …
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, order Hon. Sen. Denga, SIs do not come to the Lower House or to the Upper House. SIs are written to Parliament and referred to the PLC and the procedure which the Minister has explained that the PLC scrutinises the SI and if it deems that that SI is not contrary to the Constitution, you will hear the President of Senate and the Speaker announcing that this month we have received SI so and so and they are not against the Constitution.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President. I wanted my question to go to the Minister of Agriculture. In his absence I refer it to the Leader of the House. My question is; our Cold Storage Commission depots (CSC) - are they going to function like they used to work in the past or that is the end of them?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chirongoma for his question. CSC is coming back in full force. Government has since found a partner, through the Ministry of Agriculture. The company is called CSC Boustead. It is working on final preparations which will ensure that CSC goes back to its golden days. So as Government, we are working on rooting out all unscrupulous dealers who were in the agricultural sector, be it in production or market chain. There were people who were monopolising meat industry, so we want to rectify all that so that CSC functions properly. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I would like to thank the Minister for the response. The President of this country, Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa repeatedly says the country will be built by its rightful owners. The Minister is talking about CSC but the infrastructure has been destroyed. There are some companies that are running their businesses there and there is a lot of vandalism. I went somewhere where even the fence was destroyed. Can Government not protect the infrastructure to ensure that it is well looked after? If Government has such plans to resuscitate it, it will be good to have the infrastructure well kept. I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. I think that is what is now happening because the companies have started working. They are now looking at the CSC assets. So, I hope that in the shortest possible time, you will be seeing progress. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Our jails are full and there are juvenile prisoners in these jails. What plans are there to get rid of some lighter issues, given the issue of diseases that are found in jails so that we may reduce the number of prisoners? Our jails are too full of prisoners and the space is very small. What plan do you have to decongest the prisons?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I would like to thank you Mr. President and Hon. Sen. Chief for the question. This is a very good question and my response is as follows; In my own perspective, I do not think he has said anything wrong. We have 42 years of independence. We do not have access to justice that gets to village courts that we inherited from the whites. As it stands, if people in the rural communities; if someone steals your chickens, you will part with a lot of money trying to come to terms with getting justice. It is something that can be brought before chiefs and they can deal with such issues. Some small matters if brought to the courts - they will deal with them, but when we are dealing with the traditional courts, may we allow ourselves as a people to say can that be factored into the legislative framework that we are working on so that we decongest and have a smooth running of what you just mentioned.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you very much Hon. President. Allow me to thank the Minister of Justice. The Marriages Bill was gazetted last week and so I want to thank him for that. In my supplementary question, the Traditional Leaders Act is not the Executive positive. You are the one who is supposed to look for that amendment. We expect you to bring the amendments to us. We are waiting for you to work on that legislative framework. Thank you.
* HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. My response remains the same to say all the chiefs and all the citizens in the country, may we come together and decide what is it that we want? Do we want to continue with the status quo or we generate a high breed? So I would like to encourage the chief to say yes you have said exactly with clarity but it needs dialogue amongst us all so that we come up with something that is solid and something that gets it easy for everyone as citizens in this country.
*HON. SEN. GWESHE: My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business. I use Charter Road which is now Simon Mazorodze when going home and I was so pained seeing a police officer sitting at the back of a truck and people laughing at him. What plans do you have for them in order to restore their dignity? It is not safe for them to continue living amongst us and people laughing at them. Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Hon. Sen. for the question. This is a very important issue. Police are not allowed to be engaging. We have a programme already in place but the problem we have is that we could not expand financial pace. Homes are being built for police personnel and transport is being worked on. If you look on the roads, you will see new vehicles. A lot is being done towards rectifying this situation but we do not wake up and we find a house already in place. It is a process. If our Committee on Defence was to go around the country, they will see that there are a lot of infrastructural developments going around at different police stations. There are a lot of changes happening like cars and homes being built. The desire is there but it was agreed that we will work within the confines of our money and we will not go beyond. We cannot stretch our pace. Thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Dr. Mangwiro. If you look around this House, you will see that everyone is wearing a mask. I was watching BBC, the American Senate and everywhere else in Europe and America are no longer wearing face masks once they have been vaccinated. What is our Government policy around people wearing these masks? I understand even in UK and other countries; they are adapting to conditions of COVID. What is our policy in continuing everyday to be wearing masks in buses, this august House, Parliament and other institutions?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Hon. Chair. I want to thank the Hon. Sen. Mudzuri for the inquisitiveness of his question. Yes, a few days ago I was in Europe, you find they no longer put on masks. Yes, people have different approaches, in China right now, they have lockdowns, and of course people have got different aspects. As the Government, pertaining to COVID-19, those who are in doubt, if you saw the number of people who died in Europe and those who died here, you find that it was more there than here.
So, as Government, we are saying we stick to science, we want to follow science which is now there. We do not necessarily follow what is trending on television or on Facebook. We normally stick to science; science says for now, vaccination is the solution so that we prevent any further deaths or illnesses that might happen. Definitely, we want to continue to encourage people to get vaccinated. Now some people are getting the 3rd, some are getting 4th jabs; we want to continue doing that.
We still believe and we also know that the virus is lethal; we cannot take it for granted. We follow science as scientists in Zimbabwe; we have committees that sit down every Monday to discuss the COVID-19, we have a chief director that runs the COVID-19 pandemic so I definitely want to encourage Hon. Members to continue doing what the Ministry of Health is encouraging because we all know that the virus spreads by breathing like what I am doing, goes into the nostril so masks will help prevent the spread of the disease.
I want to encourage even people with hypertension, blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, those on HIV treatment everyone to get vaccinated. Let the people know that we are vaccinating from the age of 12 upwards so that people get protected from the virus.
The Senators’ question helps us clarify the situation about the COVID-19 virus. We are all aware that it is a lethal virus, it has killed people we know, and it has killed people in Europe, China and everywhere. The best prevention method is vaccination and like I was saying, we are a scientific community and therefore we follow science. This is what we are continue doing until we see that things have improved to the extent that we do not have COVID-19.
If you check statistics, yesterday we had a death, people are still dying one or two, even if the numbers are less, the President said no one must die of this virus but we are still finding their death. Yesterday we had 111 people infected and we know this virus just needs one person to be infected to have this thing spread.
We definitely want to encourage people to continue putting on their masks and we do not encourage people to follow what is trending in other countries because we do not know what science they have, how much they have vaccinated their people and what else they are doing that we are not doing. What we are seeing is that we find it necessary that people continue to get protected against the virus. We are now vaccinating from the age of 12 up wards, we are also vaccinating those with hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, cancer, asthmatic and even the old age we are vaccinating. We are going up to the 4th jab and some are still on 3rd jab. So, we want to continue to encourage people to get vaccinated and continue to put on masks as before until we get evidence scientifically that we should now put down our guard but for now, we want to continue following science which protected us in the past. I thank you.
Questions without Notice interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 67
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I move that the time for Questions without notice be extended.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Hon. Minister, you had your own explanation. You have touched on the fact that the high blood pressure people, the diabetic people must get vaccinated and that as a nation, we are following science. I want to follow up on this issue, how far is the Ministry assisting the elderly, those with blood pressure and other chronic diseases that might be affected by this vaccination to ensure that they get their drugs which will sustain them? Right now, I take drugs which take USD 100 just for blood pressure.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I am asking.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: You are debating now; can you ask your question.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: The question is, how far are they helping these elderly people who might be having …
Cell phone rang.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Can you please switch off your phone. The ten minutes is going up.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Mr. President, I am sorry. My point is, how far is the Ministry assisting with social safety nets to ensure that the elderly and those with conditions can get medication? Right now medication is going for a torrid price in RTGs where a dollar is over 500 rtgs. There are a lot of pensioners who might need this help. While we follow science by wearing masks, we are not following enough science to have social safety nets for people who might need medication by assisting them so that they continue not to have challenges around COVID.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Hon. Sen. Mudzuri for the concern for the elderly. I am sure the Hon. Senator is aware that the over 65s get their medications and treatment for free. During COVID, we had outreach teams that were going to visit the elderly in their homes. The policy of the Government is that when people are going for outreaches, they are not just going for COVID. We have these Village Health Workers who also help to identify the elderly who cannot help themselves so that when a team goes out into the area, they take those medications for such people.
Also as Government, we are in the process of encouraging local production of medicines. We are empowering local companies to manufacture drugs locally so that we make the prices cheaper. In the past, medicines used to go through a long chain to procure. As Government, our policy is that we buy from the manufacturer whatever medicines that we are unable to manufacture locally. It is very important that we are trying to do these things and our hospitals and clinics are encouraged to make sure that the elderly are catered for in terms of the law. When it comes to COVID, we have said to them and it is natural that if it is an elderly patient or someone who cannot help themselves, our teams go there, give them their jabs and look after them to make sure they have their medicines. Our policy is to make sure that they are provided for with the means that I have just mentioned above. I thank you.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. It is said that 70% of bed occupants in mental health institutions is occupied by people who use drugs. Why are they being housed in the mental health institutions instead of rehabilitation centres? Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Did you get that Hon. Minister?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Yes Mr. President. The Hon. Member is saying that 70% of mental institution centres are those with drug use problems. Why should they be there because they must be at rehabilitation centres? Thank you very much Hon. Senator for the enquiry. It is quite a pertinent one in that we are aware that drugs are a problem to the young ones who are in the habit of using them. When we say a person is on drug use, what it means is; the general normal function of their brain changes permanently to mimic the use of the drug. Their thinking becomes different from what they were. They will be behaving in a manner that you will say this is now untoward. We may end up sending them to these institutions because they can be violent and harmful to themselves or to the society.
When they get better, as Government, we are creating what we call halfway homes which my Minister, the Vice President has said that all central hospitals, provincial hospitals and district hospitals must have wards for the Psychiatric Department. Each province, district and various areas must also have what we call halfway homes. When these people leave the mental institutions, they go to these halfway homes to be rehabilitated in terms of reducing their frequency of drugs usage, being given other ways of survival other than going back to the bad habits. Finally, they can go to where they are taught skills. It is a policy that would be established up to village level where we have village health centres. It is not that they are going there to try and wean them from the drugs only. The drugs cause permanent change to the brain function to the extent that they now get described as either psychotic, they become schizophrenic, paranoid, suicidal and all that. So, they go there.
Also, we have said the old disused beerhalls and all those council places are being renovated. You saw the Vice President opening the first one in Kwekwe to make sure we have in the locations and everywhere rehabilitation centres where we can try and reduce accumulation of the patients into our psychiatric units. Besides that, we are expanding this whole thing countrywide. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 67.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS(HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 11 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 12 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 5A, 2021]
Twelfth Order read: Second Reading: Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill [H. B. 5A, 2021].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. I rise to present my Second Reading Speech for the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill. This Bill is a very beneficial measure that Government is putting in place in compliance with the Constitution. Its enactment is not only demanded by Section 210 of our Constitution. It also commends itself to our country for being the right and moral thing to do. In saying so, please do not think I am attacking the honour and integrity of our security services. Without them, the peace and safety of our beloved country will be impossible. Many members of the security sector have paid with their lives to keep our people safe and in our home country.
The words of a certain famous epitaph are true of our heroes “when you go home, tell them of us” and Mr. President Sir, let me take this opportunity to thank them for their priceless service to our country. I want to invite Hon. Members of this country to do the same. I think they deserve a pampam for the work they are doing to keep us safe – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – If you can give a round of applause for our security services for what they do to ensure that we are safe, I am sure Hon. Members will agree that this is one of the safest countries in Southern Africa and we owe it to those great men and women who keep us safe.
I will not go into the particulars of this Bill, which are adequately addressed in the explanatory memorandum thereto. I urge Hon. Members to have a look at the explanatory memorandum and appreciate what the Bill says. I wish here to advert to certain very pertinent concerns expressed to me by the security service themselves in order to put their minds at ease.
Firstly, as a matter of a general principle, let me say what we all know, each one of us is not the best judge of our own conduct. Psychologists and scientists of human behaviour have studied the phenomenon of what are called cognitive biases at great length. These biases affect institutions as well as individuals. We need each other to tell each other where we are going astray.
This is what friends do and I put it to you that the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission, if it discharges its mandate faithfully and properly, will be a friend to the security services and not an adversary. It is not in the interest of the security services themselves that there should be within their ranks a single individual who dishonours their reputation by his or her misbehaviour towards any fellow service members or towards any member of the public they are supposed to serve.
The perennial problem of who will guard the guardians - the guards, will never leave entirely. Over the millennium, one solution that societies have come up with to cope with this problem is to appoint other guardians so that the guardians guard each other as well as themselves. This is the basis of the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers. Each one of the three branches of Government may blunder but if any one of them does, either or both of the other branches can step in as a remedy or check on the straying branch. In this way, the peace of the State and social harmony and progress are secured for the benefit of us all.
It has been properly represented again to me that allowing the Commission to be the place of first resort with regards to complaints against the security services may not be appropriate, practicable or desirable in any case. It would in many cases mean that the security sector is unjustly deprived of its power of discipline and self regulation over its own members. I accept this but would only add that this right or privilege of the security service must not be abused.
In conclusion, I urge you Hon. Members to pass this law and in doing so, raise another important milestone in the development of our democracy. I therefore move that the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill [H. B. 5, 2020] be now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time
Committee Stage: Tuesday, 14th June, 2022.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the House adjourned at Three Minutes to Four O’clock p.m., until Tuesday, 14th June, 2022.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 8th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have received the following apologies from Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers: Hon. Rtd. Gen. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs; Hon. Sen. M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon. J. G. Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works; Hon. Prof. P. Mavima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. D. Garwe, Minister for National Housing and Social Amenities; Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development; Hon. R. M. Maboyi, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. Hon. M. Chombo will be joining us at around three o’clock p.m.
HON. BITI: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, there is a ruling which was made by the Hon. Speaker that there will be no points of order on Wednesdays.
HON. BITI: It is a point of procedure Madam Speaker. It arises from the absence of Ministers in the House. Madam Speaker, we are all aware that the country is burning with so many issues. Inflation in May was 132%, the cost of bread is now about ZWL900, the cost of cooking fat is US$7, school fees have gone up – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Hospital fees have gone up. So we would like Ministers to be here so that we exercise our right to ask them questions. The country is burning so we need members of the executive to be sitting on your right so that we can ask questions. Today is Members’ day and it is pointless if the esteemed Ministers are not here in the august House. We would like a ruling on that important issue. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Biti. – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Defer question time to tomorrow.] – Order Hon. Zwizwai. Some of the Hon. Ministers have sent their apologies and I am sure some will be joining us as we go. Thank you.
HON. CHINGOSHO: My question Madam Speaker Ma’am is directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. What is the Ministry’s policy on pegging approved stands with special reference to stands for schools?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVLOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I want to thank Hon. Chingosho for that question on what Government policy is on the pegging and allocation of stands for schools. Education is a priority for the Government of Zimbabwe as stated in our Constitution. Therefore, there are procedures that are there which I do not know what kind of detail the Hon. Member may want to know but the policy is that for every settlement, there is land that is reserved for education. I thank you.
(v)HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. I want to know the policy with regards to the pricing of grain, especially maize. Whilst we appreciate the Government’s move in offering an incentive of $90 per tonne which was effected two days ago, is it not prudent and better and would be supportive to our farmers to pay the price that we are paying to import maize and pay it to our local farmers so that the local farmer does not side-market their grain and in addition, the local farmer will have funds to go back to the field and plough for the next year. As I speak, I come from a constituency where there is maize…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you are now debating, go straight to your question.
(v)HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is on the policy, why we are not offering the same price in buying local maize as compared to the price that we are paid on imported maize. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): I thank the Hon. Member for the question. It is much appreciated and gives me an opportunity to further clarify the Government pricing policy on grains.
The maize pricing policy is based on an agreed cost plus model which takes into account the fact that Zimbabwe is high production cost based compared to other countries in the region, although we desire to eventually lower the cost of production. We import fertilizers, especially which are costly in the cost production model, constituting 32% of the total cost. We therefore think at this stage the cost plus model is more reflective of Zimbabwe’s specific circumstances.
Now let me come to the import parity pricing model. The import parity pricing model presupposes that the cost of production in Zimbabwe and incurred by Zimbabwean farmers is similar to the jurisdictions, for example from which we import maize, Brazil, Mexico, Zambia and Malawi. Import parity pricing currently gives US$280 per metric tonne. The cost plus model that was approved by Cabinet yesterday gives us the equivalent of US$333 per tonne. The $75 000 per metric tonne at the official exchange rate of 380 and the US$90 incentive for the early delivery by farmers announced from when we opened the selling season on 1st April through the 31st July. That we think is a more appropriate approach especially in the current macro-economic environment. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question was - it would be prudent and transparent if instead of coming up with incentives and the like, if what the Minister says that they are now offering more than the import price, why do they not peg it to the import price because we have many people there and it would mean a lot if they just said the price that we are buying grain is exactly the same as the import price. You would find so much grain would be delivered to GMB as of next week. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, again I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question which is a suggestion about what would happen should certain things be done without the proof that indeed that will happen, first the suggestion that if we paid then the deliveries would be accelerated. The cost incurred by farmers on the farm are in Zimbabwean dollars and in United States dollars and we think that the model that we have proffered is the best under the circumstances although we are prepared to consider any other suggestions which will incentivise and motivate farmers to deliver the grain as the policy is intended to do. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker Sir, the price offered by the Government yesterday is now effectively US$239. If you divide the $75 000 with the official exchange rate and you add US$90, you get to $239 per tonne when externally FOB is $289. The Minister says the target is US$300 but quite clearly, from the figures I have just given it is US$239. So the critical question to the Minister is, why simply not abolish the Zimbabwean dollar component and just pay all the amounts in United States dollars so that the farmer is adequately remunerated? What is going to happen Mr. Speaker Sir, is that we are going to have a drought because farmers are not going to deliver to the GMB. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, you have asked the question. Thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank the Hon. Member again for a suggestion. The numbers that he has proffered, we are talking about $75 000 per metric tonne which even if you use the exchange rate that he has suggested and then add the US$90, we will certainly be above US$300. So they can revise their arithmetic in that regard.
The import parity Mr. Speaker Sir, is not the price that the farmers in those jurisdictions are paid. It is the price of landing maize. Let us clarify this aspect. The price of landing maize in Zimbabwe is not the cost that farmers are paid. So you need to subtract that and if you do so, you will find that Zambia is at US$180 and Malawi is at US$225. So Zimbabwean farmers are actually getting more than the other farmers in the region because of the cost plus pricing model which takes into account exactly what the Member has said that the micro economic environment is different and therefore our farmers need to be rewarded differently. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. DUTIRO: My question is a supplementary question to the Minister. I would like to know if the Minister is aware of the retailer’s exchange rate which is being used by these retailers as and when these farmers go and buy some fertilizers and also the issue of the interbank exchange rate. In spotting the auction rate, the interbank exchange rate which is used by CBZ as and when the farmers borrow, is the Minister aware of those two different exchange rates, the retailers exchange rate and the interbank exchange rate where these farmers borrow and where these farmers buy their fertilizers and inputs from retailers? Thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Hon. Member for highlighting the multiple exchange rates at which farmers access inputs and the likely impact this will have on farmer’s viability. In arriving at the cost plus and the suggested price that we have given, we have had input from a lot of stakeholders inclusive of farmers unions and therefore we have taken this into consideration. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MARKHAM: Hon. Speaker, due to lack of confidence in GMB and the Zimbabwean dollar component of the payment to farmers, what is the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement doing to give confidence to the farmers that they will be paid the real money on time? I cannot understand why the Ministry does not just offer a straight United States dollar price. I thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: The GMB has certainly improved quite a lot in its operations over the years but it is not where we want it to be as stakeholders. Let me just put things into context in terms of the payment modalities. The GMB has established 1 800 collection points. We have endeavoured to pay farmers within 72 hours of delivery. In some instances, last year we could not meet this – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! If you make interjections, can you do so with decorum Hon. Biti? There is no Mthuli, there is Prof. Mthuli Ncube. Thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: The GMB has a very wide network. We establish seasonal collection points amounting to 1 800 throughout the country, first to improve farmer convenience so that they are paid timeously. This year we now even have a system where farmers will be paid at the collection point unlike in the past and this is for the first time in the history of the country. We used to get the grain sent to the depot, the reconciliations done and then farmer payments. So that results in the delay of payments, but this time around we are paying at the collection point.
In terms of the resources for paying farmers, these are availed by Treasury. The resources are availed by Treasury on a weekly basis. As of yesterday, grain amounting to ZW$850 million had been delivered and of this, ZW$560 million had been paid. We are slightly behind but none of these payments are more than 72 hours and we will endeavour to do our best under the circumstances.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order, Hon. Chinotimba, I know you are a farmer but Hon. Nyabani is the last one to ask a supplementary question. We have to go by our Standing Orders please. Thank you.
(v)*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question is on late payment of cotton farmers. Currently, the payment being given to people for maize has been inflated and cannot buy anything. What plans do you have in place to incentivise people to continue farming because it looks like people are just farming and giving the crops freely to GMB? The farmer is not benefitting anything from what he is farming and farming as a business is currently not sustaining the farmer.
*HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Hon. Nyabani for your important question. He spoke about cotton and maize. So let me start with cotton. Starting this year, we look forward to seeing cotton companies paying for cotton in the same manner that tobacco is being paid for because cotton is also sold outside the country. So it is also an export crop and 75% of the amount will be paid in US dollars and the other 25% will be paid in RTGs. We are working so that this starts next Monday when selling of cotton starts so that the farmers can benefit from their crop. It is Government policy that every farmer benefits from farming because it affects most people in the rural areas.
Going on to the maize crop, Government policy is to ensure that farmers view farming as a lucrative business. We always say people should not look too far for jobs because jobs are just under their feet, but in soil where they can do agriculture. So when we are putting laws in place, the intention is to ensure farmers are given adequate payments for their crops. Yesterday we sat in Cabinet and the resolutions we came up with, we believe, will make farmers feel incentivised to want to take their grain to the GMB. In April this year, Government already planned for the next planting season. All the other years we were planning in August but this year we did that much earlier because of what is happening in the world, which will result in us not getting adequate inputs. So we look forward to assisting our farmers starting with productive social investment also called the Presidential Input Scheme. We look forward to assisting about three million households with those inputs. We also look forward to CBZ and AFC assisting with the national enhanced agricultural productivity scheme (command agriculture). Government will assist with Government guarantee to ensure farmers continue farming. Then we have other companies such as millers and stock feeders who can source their own funds from banks. I assure all of them that Government is doing its best to ensure that all payments for all farming produce are paid for timeously. We continue to ensure that farmers are assisted to go back and do their farming. I thank you.
+ HON. L. SIBANDA: Good afternoon Hon Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Environment. What is Government policy pertaining to the buying and selling of wild animals?
+ THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. M. NDLOVU): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for seeking clarity regarding the sales of elephants. Government policy is that wildlife belongs to the Government. In that regard, there is no permission to trade in wildlife but what happens is that if you have a place where you can look after wildlife, then Government determines whether you have the right place to do that. There are some people who have wildlife in their farms. They can trade if someone is interested but I have not heard a case of anyone who has bought elephants in rural areas. I thank you.
+HON. L. SIBANDA: My supplementary question is that since there are elephants in rural areas, what does Government policy say? Does it say only councillors can charge the sale of elephants without consulting the community, traditional leaders and other stakeholders? I will give the example of Tsholotsho where there are people who were buying elephants or they were charged for a particular elephant. However, someone expressed interest and the money that was indicated in that tender was lower than the charge that was expected by the traditional leaders and community. They were informed that the lower price was determined by COVID-19. I would like to know if that is allowed that an individual can determine the price of an elephant without consulting? I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is that CAMPFIRE?
+HON. M. NDLOVU: I believe that it is now clear because the question was referring to the sale of wildlife, it was generalised but now it is very clear. The Hon. Member’s question is with regards to hunting of wildlife. I will clarify again what Government policy is with regards to that and also state the plans that are there in uplifting different communities where people live together with animals.
Councils are given a particular quota which can be hunted during the hunting season per year. Such a hunting quota is then put to competitive bidding so that hunters can put their bids to the council indicating the money that they are going to pay. We are looking forward to those who will be offering higher bids, their bids will be taken up by councils. However, this case is specific to Tsholotsho which is unique but I know that some of these issues might need further investigations so that we understand what transpired.
CAMPFIRE laws say that when the money has been received, that money should be shared with the community and traditional leaders. What determines the cost is the bids that come. Right now, we have noted that there is a lot of competition. There is human wildlife conflict. As Government, we have noted that it is important to reward the people who live in such communities. There is a statutory instrument that we are drafting which is going to be enacted soon which says that revenue that is generated from hunting quotas should be given to the communities because such communities are affected by the human wildlife conflict especially their fields and their livelihoods. I thank you.
HON. BITI: My question is directed to the esteemed Acting Leader of Government business, Hon. Professor Murwira. The Constitution of Zimbabwe is clear that local authorities are run by those that are elected by citizens. Is there a change of policy and is there any explicit change of the Constitution because we now see serious interference with local authorities in particular the City of Harare with regards to the recently concluded and controversial Harare-Pomona dump site agreement in respect of which the City of Harare is being levied the sum of US$22 000 per day for receiving or not receiving its own trash to its own dumpsite over a contract in which the majority of councillors ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you summarise your question?
HON. BITI: The question therefore is, why is the Government not allowing the local authority to make its own decisions? Why is the Minister of Local Government giving guarantees on a contract on devolution funds in the absence of a devolution framework and law?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): It is Government policy that local authorities function within the confines of the Constitution and the law. If there is anything to the contrary, then it has to be treated appropriately.
Coming to the issue of Harare, we know that Harare has had problems over the years in terms of the operations of its facilities. It is known that Harare last supplied enough water to its residents many years ago. They are producing about 300-400 mega litres per day out of a requirement of 1200 mega litres. There has been a lot of gap in terms of service provision within the City of Harare.
The roads have also been in a very bad appalling condition for so many years, then comes the issue of Pomona which falls right within the same framework. The Pomona Dumpsite has been causing problems, burning every year while the local authority is there. The local authority is headed by a Ministry - it is not an independent body but it is within the law because they have approvals that come from the Ministry. As I said, if there are specific complains then they have to be treated in that specific manner but Government overally exercises responsibility over the local authorities.
To this end, we are aware of a ZIDA approved, a Cabinet approved and Council approved deal for waste recycling which is happening at Pomona Dump site. The issue is that if there are specific issues that can be raised they can always be raised but in terms of the Pomona Deal, it has gone through all the public processes that are known in terms of its approvals. If we are intervening with the city council through its processes – ZIDA also went on to approve this deal, we believe this can clean up this city. This city is dirty and we really have to work on it in national interest and make sure that we have cleaned up this city in a very sincere manner and not to take it as a piece meal. Harare is dirty and it is a fact. We must do something about it.
If there are any processes that have to be challenged, that is a separate issue but let us focus on the strategic national issue of making this city livable. The most important thing that has been asked by Hon. Biti is so that this issue is discussed. I think this is very important. We take that with the greatest humility that we can but we have to answer that question in terms of whether the process was followed or not. We believe the process was followed. Are there people who are sulking, maybe there are people who are sulking but they have to use appropriate channels to actually put their points forward but Harare is dirty and it has to be cleaned.
HON. BITI: The Pomona Agreement has not been agreed by the local authority. The local authority has suspended the same.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, you are debating. Ask your supplementary question.
HON. BITI: The Constitution is clear that local authorities are run by those that are duly elected. On what basis is Cabinet coming in to justify an agreement that is costing ratepayers US$22 000 a day? On what legal basis are you operating and interfering?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker and again I wish to thank Hon. Biti for seeking further clarification on the issue of Pomona and he is talking about a sum that is being talked about in terms of what the ratepayers are paying. The Pomona Agreement was done using a certain process that is legal. It is a fact. If there are people or citizens or residents who are challenging that deal, it is appropriate that they do so. However, it is very clear to Government that all processes to the best of our knowledge were followed.
We are not very clear why people can defend a dirty city, defend potholes, and defend things that are meant to clean up our city. It is very important that we keep focused on the national interest and make sure that we are focusing on the issue of national interest because we are all staying in this country and in this city.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the importance of this question is so important that we are able to talk about it right now. It is very important we are not talking about people running an authority, running it and running it down are two different things. I thank you –[HON. BITI: Musa defender mbavha inonzi July Moyo].
HON. HWENDE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. The question from Hon. Biti is very clear…
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is a point of order – [HON. HWENDE: Haaaaaah]
THE HON SPEAKER: Hon. Hwende, a point of order is permissible to be raised. There is no need for you to rant about it – [HON HWENDE: He is insulting me]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Leave that to me.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I think our Ministers need protection from the Members on your left. They are insulting especially Hon. Biti – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Ndosaka uchida kubvisa Speaker. Aiwa mudhara ndozviziva zvavari kuda kuita]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Order! Hon. Zwizwai, you are out of order. I am not mudhara.
HON. HWENDE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. The question from Hon. Biti was very clear. He asked in terms of what law is central Government interfering and ordering the Harare Municipality over the Pomona deal. He even went further threatening the arrest of the Mayor.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Supplementary question.
HON. HWENDE: In terms of what law are you interfering? -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Biti, you raised a question, so can you listen.
HON. HAMAUSWA: On a point of order. The Minister is now here.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, let the Leader of Government Business take over.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Hon. Speaker, the question that is being asked is a very important question and it is very important that we focus on the main issue of trying to solve problems in Harare legally. What we have said is that this issue of Pomona, if there are specific issues – [HON. MEMBERS: It is according to what law?]- It is according to the laws of the Republic of Zimbabwe - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please can you sit down!
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Hon. Speaker, I wish for your protection - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! The question is very specific and it requires some research, so Hon. Minister, I am sure you can come up with a statement to indicate the legal framework perhaps next week. Thank you.
HON. MURAI: Supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down Hon. Murai. Order Hon. Hwende, you asked a question on the basis of which law and I have ruled that this is a specific question which requires the Minister to refer to the law and then come back and give you that legal framework. Thank you - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. ZWIZWAI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir
THE HON. SPEAKER: Are you contesting my ruling?
HON. ZWIZWAI: I am not. You are a very generous gentleman Mr. Speaker Sir. All I am simply saying and what I want to say is that in terms of your deportment as the Speaker of Parliament, if a point of order is raised, you are very quick to refer to the Standing Rules and Orders. Why do our Ministers not refer to the law if they are learned people who have been appointed to duty and that deportment?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, I get you.
HON. ZWIZWAI: You are going to correct me in each and every turn as you always do here.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please, can you sit down.
HON. ZWIZWAI: And you cannot correct the Ministers to say that they need to go and research. Why?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order.
HON. ZWIZWAI: But Hon. Speaker this issue…
HON. HAMAUSWA: Can you recognise me Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down, I did not recognise you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: May you recognise me Hon. Speaker. I am an MP for Harare. May you recognise me so that I tell you one thing that is coming from the citizens I represent?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Can you sit down? Hon. Hamauswa, you only stand up to be recognised. Do not ask the Chair to recognise you. Sorry you are out of order and I am not giving you the floor.
HON. ZWIZWAI: What about my point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have ruled already. The statement will be given next week.
HON. MURAI: My supplementary question to the Minister is that from the deal, it seems the Netherlands based company will be pocketing something like $22 000 everyday which amounts to almost $1 million a month. What benefit are we getting as citizens of Harare from the deal if you can run us through even in terms of monetary benefits? Thank you.
HON. MATEWU: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You cannot raise a point of order, I have recognised the Hon. Minister to answer a question.
HON. MATEWU: The Minister is here Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have ruled that the Leader of Government Business should do it.
HON. MATEWU: But he is struggling.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down.
PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. It is very important to realise that there are legal processes that were followed. The objective is to clean up the city and also it is to generate energy. Those are the strategic points that were raised by the City Council when this agreement was being proposed. In actual fact, it is the City Council that wrote to ZIDA according to the ZIDA Act and consummation was done and final approvals according to the ZIDA Act are done by Cabinet and all these things were done, but it was originating from the City Council.
The benefits were clearly stated and Hon. Speaker, with all the respect we can have, it is these answers if people go to the City Council - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Zwizwai, you cannot be upstanding if another Hon. Member is holding the floor. Can you sit down please? - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order!
HON. PROF MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. The benefits of this programme are well stated in public because after that deal was approved coming from city council through ZIDA, the benefits were made public and it is public knowledge. It is therefore important that if there are any things that are contrary and any problems that a member can have, they are allowed to challenge those things and then they will be answered appropriately. I thank you. - [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjection.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down and can you withdraw the statement.
HON. CHIBAYA: Yes.
(v)*HON. NYABANI: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. Most people in urban areas paid council for stands since 2008 to date but council has not given anyone the stands. What plans does Government have in place to ensure that those who paid their monies for stands get their stands?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Hon. Nyabani for your question. The issue of stands is a major issue because he is saying the stands were sold by council but we are not sure whether those stands were sold to them by council or by land barons or whether these stands are in areas that we call dysfunctional settlements which we are trying to rectify. I view the question as specific so I ask the Hon. Member to put his question in writing or if he is able to come to our offices, he can do so and we will talk over the issue. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My supplementary question is to find out from the Minister if she is saying Government is not aware that councils sold stands and some of the people who bought those stands are now deceased and others were asked to top up with US dollars in areas like Chitungwiza?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Nyabani, can you please put your question in writing so that the Hon. Minister can give you a more comprehensive response.
HON. A. NDEBELE: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. The economy is self dollarising. As of yesterday, we learnt that teachers’ monthly salary can only buy 30 loaves of bread. Government itself is charging for services in US dollars while the people of Zimbabwe are getting increasingly tired of the rigmarole issuing from Treasury that eventually things will level out. The question coming from the people who sleep on hungry stomachs is when. What is the monetary policy that Government is adopting towards to arrest hyperinflation immediately, because the quality of life of our people has gone down shockingly.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): As far as we know, the economy is production. It is not exchange in policy. During an interview yesterday, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Prof. M. Ncube highlighted to us on the press that there is no term called dollarisation – not in any dictionary of economics. I leave it for research. The most important issue which is there is that the Government is working to make sure that production and productivity in the economy is enhanced and that everyone puts their hands on deck.
However, this question warrants a very robust answer and with your indulgence, I would kindly ask if this can be a Ministerial Statement that can be brought by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to fully explain the measures that are being taken by Government to make sure that he arrests inflation but also promote stability within the financial sector.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Ndebele, I think to be fair to the question which requires a detailed statement, I suggest that you put it in writing so that the Minister can reply in detail.
HON. NDEBELE: Hon. Speaker, the gentleman has already been kind to offer that they are going to bring a Ministerial Statement but as a people’s representative – out there where I come from, the people are getting tired of all these flowery statements. We are looking at practical things that will transform the quality of our lives immediately. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are in agreement?
HON. NDEBELE: Yes, I am in agreement that a statement comes to this House as well as that practical and waterproof steps must be taken to arrest the economic malaise bedevilling our people.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sure that the Hon. Leader of Government business has taken note of that.
I have been advised by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Local Government that there is a statement that had been prepared on the issue of Pomona. With your indulgence Hon. Members, can that be done first thing tomorrow? Agreed? – [HON. MEMBERS: Yes!] – Thank you very much.
HON. MURAI: My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. It seems Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is in deep crisis as far as power supply is concerned. We are experiencing a lot of problems ranging from cables, single phasing and load shedding. The citizens are enduring a lot of problems because of that. What plan do you have so that we can have a permanent solution to the issue of power supply?
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for his observation that he has packaged to a question as to what the Government is doing with regards to the issue of short power supply.
There are a lot of interventions that the Government has embarked on. We are very much aware that our internal power generation capacity is constrained. We have Hwange Power Station with an installed capacity of around 920 megawatts that is from time to time failing to produce adequately as would have been expected from that power station. The most that Hwange Power Station can do these days is around 350 megawatts but the Government has already taken an initiative to rehabilitate that power station. We got a loan facility from the Indian EXIM bank of around 310 million which will be used to upgrade and rehabilitate the power station back to its installed capacity of 920 megawatts. This will affect Units 1 to 6. Apart from the rehabilitation of Hwange Power Station, you are all aware that Government took an initiative in the past three years to upgrade Kariba Power Station to increase generation. An additional 300MW were added and it is now at a capacity of 1050MW upgraded from 750MW. Apart from that, Hwange Power Station is being expanded by way of two more supply units, which is Units 7 and 8. We are expecting Unit 7 to come through by November this year, with the other unit coming through next year in the first quarter of 2023. Those are the initiatives that Government is making by itself.
This House maybe aware that there was deregulation of policy to allow for participation of private sector in power generation. We now have the private sector participating through power stations on solar and also on thermal power supply. Already we have ZZEE which is in Hwange whose plant came through in November last year and they are feeding to the greed 50MW every day. These are the initiatives that the Government has embarked on to ensure that we increase the supply of electricity to the citizens of Zimbabwe.
HON. MURAI: In terms of load shedding Hon. Minister, is it not possible to come up with a clear plan so that it is not done in a haphazard manner? I am seeking clarification whether it is possible for the Ministry or ZESA to come up with a clear plan such that the residents may plan because we have some residents who are asthmatic and diabetic who need machines which use electricity. Citizens need a clear timetable to say on a certain date, we are going to do load shedding for eight hours so that they can plan accordingly.
HON. SODA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me put into context that load shedding is not getting up to eight hours that the Hon. Member has just spoken about. There could be some other issues affecting power supply maybe in a particular area. We are having challenges with power outages occasioned by theft of cables, transformers that are being destroyed and vandalised by some people. At times these power outages that citizens are experiencing are as a result of vandalism of infrastructure that is available for power supply.
As for the request that the Hon Member has just made, that is very possible. It is also important for purposes of planning but we can still request ZETDC to give an update and times where people may expect to be load-shedded. That is very possible.
HON. HWENDE: My supplementary question is - what is the total amount of energy that we are importing? Secondly, why are we still giving NAMPOWER electricity ten years later, after the deal when we are clearly struggling here in Zimbabwe?
HON. SODA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Imports range between 200 to 350MW a day that we are taking from either South Africa EDM or Mozambique HCB. Imports are dependent on availability. There are times when we are also failing to access imports from these countries. Usually that is what causes us to get into precarious situations which results in load shedding.
In response to why Zimbabwe continues to supply Namibia about 80MW, that was a condition precedent for the loan that was procured for the expansion of Kariba Power Station. We will continue to supply them so that the money is utilised for repayment of the loan that was procured for expansion of Kariba Power Station.
HON. CHIBAYA: Why can Government not consider removing duty on solar and other power generating entities?
HON. SODA: Let me thank the Hon. Member for that suggestion. The suggestion has already been taken care of. As we speak, our Renewable Energy Policy, we are offering the suggestion as one of our incentives to allow for development of power stations in Zimbabwe. Duties have been scrapped when importing equipment especially for renewable energy. So, I would say that has already been taken care of.
HON. BITI: Can the Hon Minister clarify that duty has been provided to households particularly for solar panels, invertors and batteries because it is at household level where the greatest power cuts are. I thank you.
HON. SODA: Thank you Madam Speaker, let me also thank Hon. Biti for the question. Yes, this offer is available to everyone including importers at household level. Thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. As a point of correction, I would just like to point out to the Minister these new capacities he is talking about. It is actually fixing what was there before. Our generation capacity is 500 megawatts below what it used to be. So, all what we are doing is restoring what we installed before. Having said that, by admission of his own officers, they have 300 000 households awaiting connection and we have a massive steel work going on in Mvuma. I cannot see what policy Government has to increase the generation, could the Minister help me?
HON. SODA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. May the Hon. Member repeat the question; I did not get that one clearly.
HON. MARKHAM: Given that there are 300 000 households awaiting connection plus a new billion-dollar project in steel at Mvuma, where is the new generation coming from? Could the Minister help me? I do not know any policy for generation of power. I thank you.
HON. SODA: I thought this is what I articulated from the first question where I spoke of rehabilitation of Hwange Power Station with the intention of bringing it back to its installed capacity of 900 mega watts moving from the current generation of 350. Also the expansion of Hwange Power Station through units 7 and 8 which will bring an additional 600 megawatts. Apart from that, we are also considering partnering with Zambia to develop the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme which will give a new capacity of 2400 megawatts which will be shared between the two contracting States, that is Zimbabwe and Zambia; 1200 megawatts each.
In the long run, we are also considering partnering with Mozambique. Again, with Zambia to develop 10 more additional gorges that are along the Zambezi River which will give us an estimated capacity of around 15 000 megawatts. So, that is what we are also considering apart from the participation from the independent fire producers.
Already, the licence, the capacity or the licences that have been issued by ZERA amount to 94 with a total capacity of 7 megawatts. So, those are the initiatives that the Government is mapping to ensure that even the 300 000 houses that you mentioned, there is a lot of work that the Government is doing to ensure that that capacity will be provided at a time when those houses will be connected.
The Government, through a partnership that is between ZESA and Rwanda Energy Group, there is some funding which will be used to construct the backbone infrastructure that is required to connect the 305 000 houses that are awaiting to be connected. I thank you.
*HON. KARUMAZONDO: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. Is there a Government policy with regards to the rental charges?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Madam Speaker. The Rent board is not under the purview of Local Government and Public Works, it is under the scope of National Housing and Social Amenities. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Minister. I call upon the Leader of Government Business to assist in answering the question.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would want to thank the Hon. Member for the question that he wants to find out if there is a law that deals with issues of rents. Hon. Speaker, this question, I am not certain that I can provide a full answer on this one. I suggest that the Hon. Member puts the question in writing so that there is clarity in terms of the position. Thank you.
(v)*HON. SEWERA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. What is the Government policy as regards…
Hon. Chombo having conversing with another Hon. Member.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Sewera. Hon. Minister Chombo, may you please listen to the question. Go ahead and ask the question Hon. Sewera.
(v)*HON. SEWERA: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Local Government. In the communal lands, we do not have village heads. They are now being considered as a person without any position. What measures does the Ministry have in mind to ensure that there will be someone who will be acting as a village head? Thank you.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Madam Speaker. I am grateful for the question that was posed by Hon. Sewera who wants to find out about the welfare of village heads. As a Ministry, with our department of traditional leadership, we have measures in place that ensure that we assist traditional leaders. However, I would want to point out that the type of assistance that we give we mainly target the chiefs. Village heads are being given allowances and these allowances as of now do not include funeral assistance. We envisage that very soon we should be in a position to assist as regards funeral and medical assistance. Some of our village heads cannot access medical facilities because they do not have the resources. Thank you.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question is, some village heads are being given allowances. In the resettlement areas where we live, our village heads are not receiving anything. May they be treated equally the same with their counterparts elsewhere – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Of course, they are referred to as chairpersons but we refer to them as village heads because they are performing functions of village heads. They are village heads in other words. Even if they are chairpersons, they are not receiving anything. It is my plea that they should be treated in the same manner as chiefs. Thank you.
* HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank Hon. Kwaramba for the supplementary question. I understand what she was saying that there are some village heads in certain areas where chieftainships had not been resuscitated at the end of the liberation struggle. We are still waiting for legislation to come through Parliament so that such chieftainships are revived. There are certain disputes as regards boundaries. As a result, some chiefs are illegally installing village heads that are not in the Ministry’s data base so that we are able to pay them. We are busy trying to ensure that these boundaries are resolved, that legitimate village heads are properly installed in terms of the law and they are in our records. This is a priority issue. Mashonaland West as a province, we will be dealing with it next month. I thank you.
(v)*HON. MASHONGANYIKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question pertains to the same issue of village heads which has been responded to by Hon. Chombo. The headmen and village heads, are their conditions of service the same or they are different? This is because the two have distinct badges - one for the village head and the other for the headman. Are these two the same? Thank you.
*HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank Hon. Mashonganyika for the supplementary question on the issue of village heads. There was a bit that I did not clearly understand but be that as it may, I am going to proffer an explanation to the question. We have three tiers. We have the chief who is selected by the community and is appointed by the President. The headman is appointed by the chief and the name is submitted to the Permanent Secretary who does the vetting. Then the village head is appointed in most of the cases by the headman or the chief and we will just be given the names but we are not the ones who install these village heads. The headman and the village head earn different salaries. The three of them, the chief, the headman and village head earn different salaries. We are trying at the moment that the village heads also get good pecks as the headman and the chief. I thank you.
(v) HON. M. M. MPOFU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. May he clarify the policy position where known murderers, most dangerous criminals are released on bail every time they commit crimes. They would have served not more than three years. During that bail era, they commit similar offences and go to neighbouring countries to hide. The saddest part about this situation is that the community where they would have committed those heinous crimes would live in fear if they hear of them being out on bail. It is of paramount importance to know how the Ministry intends to make people have confidence in our judiciary system? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMEMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. The Hon. Member raised a very pertinent question. These are issues of the judiciary. Government is towards the delivery of justice, with the best standard possible. Where it comes to specific cases, maybe those specific cases can be written down and be investigated accordingly. The Government policy is very clear when it comes to the upholding of peace and security as well as justice for the people.
Government has also signed extra addition treaties with our neighbouring countries such as Botswana for example and these actually help in making sure that we can apprehend people even if they are extra territorial to Zimbabwe. I thank you.
HON. MARKAHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. My question pertains to the consistent increase in fuel prices. In the case of diesel, we are at US$1.68 compared regionally, Zambia is at US$1.22, Malawi which the Minister of Finance passes the buck saying is more expensive than us is only at US$1.44. My question is, what is the Government policy, particularly pertaining to taxes because taxes are 45 cents of that in a littre? Taxes are 27% of the title cost. My concern with Government policy is that nothing is happening, it is redundant particularly where it involves every single service in this country like agriculture, mining, transport, manufacturing, everything. I need Government to pay more attention in addressing the price disparity with our neighbours so that we can be competitive. What is Government proposing to help us with these exorbitant prices, particularly the tax? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Let me also thank the Hon. Member for the question that he has raised. Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe is the second highest in the region and it is not true that fuel is cheaper in Malawi than it is in Zimbabwe. That is not true. We are a net importer of our petroleum products. The intervention that the Government has made to ensure security of supply of fuel and also to try to contain prices currently is through blending where we are blending our petrol with unleaded, which we are importing. Given our situation, every time when there is an increase on the global market, we have to bear the brunt because we are importing and the increases that we are currently enduring are occasioned by the firming of oil prices on the international market.
I would be glad if Parliament can look into the issue that the Hon. Member has just alluded to, that is the issue of taxes. My understanding is, it is this Parliament which passes the taxation levels that are implemented by the Ministry of Energy in coming up with the price for our fuel. So if this Parliament now sees it fit to review what they passed through the Finance Act, which is the charging Act, I think they are the ones that are supposed to review the Act which they passed which we are just implementing. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Questions without Notice interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms if Standing Order No. 68.
HON. MARKHAM: Can I not ask my supplementary, seeing I asked the question?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Time has expired Hon. Markham.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I rise to move for an extension of 10 minutes.
HON. MATEWU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, may I ask the Minister if he could bring to this House a statement purely on the taxes that are paid that bring it up to 27% of the price. Could the Minister bring to this House what taxes are charged on fuel so that we are furnished with what is happening? I thank you.
HON. SODA: Thank you Madam Speaker. The Hon. Member is still querying the issue of the taxes that are being charged on fuels and I indicated that the taxes are passed by Parliament. Of course it might appear like the fuel prices are being affected or influenced by the taxation levels, but I will still repeat that if Parliament feels that the taxation levels are burdensome, it is Parliament which must review what they passed through the Act which is the Finance Act. All the Ministry of Energy and Power Development does after obtaining the movements on the global market through the FOB determination is just to implement the Act which this House has passed.
So whether that is burdensome, I think it is this House which is supposed to be looking into the issue of taxes. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MARKHAM: On a point of order Madam Speaker. I asked if the Minister could bring to us the taxes that are currently being charged, line by line, so we can make an informed decision. I will wait for your ruling Madam Speaker.
HON. SODA: I think it has been made very clear Madam Speaker. I will certainly furnish this House with the levels of taxes that are being charged.
HON. MATEWU: Thank you Madam Speaker. When the Hon. Minister was responding to the question, I counted three times that he said or he rebutted that we have actually the second most expensive fuel in Zimbabwe in SADC, rebutting the fact that it had been said to him that we are actually the most expensive. What I just want to know is, is the Hon. Minister really proud to be the second most expensive country in terms of fuel? Thank you.
HON. SODA: Hon. Madam Speaker, we are not proud. Thank you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. When the Minister made the first response, he referred to the issue of blending. May the Hon. Minister let Zimbabweans know the charges that we are paying to ethanol or the amount we are paying to ethanol per litre and in what form of currency is Zimbabwe paying to ethanol? My supplementary is informed by the fact that there is no significant difference between the price of diesel and the price of blended petrol. So may the Hon. Minister let us know why we should continue on the blending side and how much are we paying and in what form of currency.
HON. SODA: Our ethanol costs US$1.10 per litre and when the FOB price is above 50c, the effect of blending is to reduce ultimately the price that will be offered on the market. As we speak, the price of petrol has been reduced by 6c which was occasioned by the increase that we effected from the blending mandate of E10 to E15. We managed to contain the price by 6c so that the benefit of blending and we still envisage to get up to 20% where we think we will be able to reduce ultimately the price of petrol by 8c. I think I have responded to the question on what price we are buying the ethanol, which is US$1.10.
The other question is in which currency is this ethanol being paid for the DFI participants who will ultimately be selling the blended petrol in US dollars, they pay for their ethanol in US dollars. For those that will be covered through the ZWL facilities and ultimately being mandated to sell their blended petrol in local currency, they are also paying for their ethanol in local currency. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
AWARDING OF MINING RIGHTS TO A CHINESE COMPANY
- HON. HAMAUSWA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House whether it is true that the Ministry awarded a Chinese company rights to mine in Warren Park and if so, the Minister to confirm;
- whether the affected residents were engaged on this development;
- what measures were put in place to ensure that the people of Warren Park would not be negatively affected by the mining activities considering that extraction of gravel poses devastating health hazards to the community.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has not awarded any mining rights to any Chinese Mining Company to mine in Warren Park. The Ministry’s Provincial Office, that is Mashonaland West Provincial Office was however approached by the Harare City Council asking for a licence to start a brick laying company. The provincial office notified the council that the Ministry does not offer brick laying licences. The provincial office also notified the Gold Mobilisation Taskforce to this effect. I thank you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: I understand that within the Ministry they have monitoring mechanisms that are being invoked when they are arresting illegal miners in other areas such as Mazowe where there are makorokoza. So, is the Ministry aware that there are ongoing mining activities that are taking place at Warren Park Mereki shops? Also, is the Ministry aware that the mining of gravel by City of Harare has caused the death of two people now because there is no land reclamation that is taking place? May I know the response from the Ministry regarding the deaths that have occurred in Warren Park as a result of the gullies that were left after the extraction of gravel and those mining activities that are taking place? They are not being monitored and the Ministry said they have not awarded any licence. What is the Ministry doing to investigate what is currently going on because it is something that is visible?
HON. KAMBAMURA: Like I indicated in my first response, the Ministry is not the licencing authority of such kinds of extraction but that is done by the local authority which is the City of Harare. Then on the issue of monitoring and surveillance, usually it is done by the Ministry of Environment together with the local authority that issued that licence. On our part, like I have already alluded to, we requested the Gold Mobilisation Task Force Team to go and check if ever there was any mineral like gold being mined. However, like the Member said, it is necessary that the licencing authority checks on all those extraction activities to see if they are being done according to the law and also to engage the Ministry of Environment to see that those people are compliant. That is the same Ministry that issues the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports for that organisation to commence any activities. So if ever there is a breach, the law should take its course. I thank you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker Ma’am. I think you remember the last time when I asked you to indulge me because of the deaths that occurred in Warren Park. Maybe through you Madam Speaker, may you allow me to request the Minister of Environment to issue a ministerial statement over what has happened in Warren Park because we have engaged EMA to no avail despite having lost two precious lives? We cannot be a people’s Parliament when people die and the government departments that are responsible fail to issue even a statement after being engaged. There was no single statement from either the Harare City Council or from EMA to say to the people of Warren Park we are sorry about the deaths that happened. There is no sign that such happenings are being investigated. The happenings have not only caused deaths but they are a threat to the health of the people of Warren Park D because of the dust that is coming out from the extraction that is going on. It is also important Madam Speaker for you to know that if you go to Warren Park it has now been declared a liberation city. Indeed it cannot be a liberation city where there is mining that is causing health hazards and people are dying because of the gullies left by the miners. In this regard, a ministerial statement will suffice and show the people of Warren Park that indeed we have a government with a listening ear which is concerned about the lives of its people. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chief Whip, may you please convey the message to the Hon. Minister of Environment to bring a ministerial statement as requested by Hon. Hamauswa.
RENEWAL OF TRIBUTE AGREEMENTS BY MWANA AFRICA
- HON. M. MPOFU asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House:
- whether or not Mwana Africa is in a position to renew tribute agreements countrywide considering that the company has a stake in half of the country’s gold claims where economic livelihoods of rural communities are depended on;
- what the Ministry considers as practicable and sustainable in as far as employment creation, with the 2030 Vision in mind is concerned.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): In June 2015, Mwana Africa went through an internal corporate governance wrangle with shareholders China International Mining Group (CIMGC) which saw the majority shareholders kicking out Mwana Africa former Chairman Mr. Kalaa Mpinga at an extra-ordinary meeting in London. Mr Mpinga was voted out as group chairman together with the Mwana Africa Board. The company changed its name to Asa Resources Group. In July 2019, Asa Resource Group and its associates entered into an agreement with Sotic International Limited in terms of which the seller disposed of its shareholding in Mwana Africa Limited, Asa Gold and Zimnick Limited. In September 2021, the shares were in terms of the agreement transferred to Kuvimba Mining House (Pvt) Ltd. In terms of this agreement, Kuvimba took over assets owned by Mwana Africa which included Shamva Gold Mine, Jena and Freda Rebecca and these assets are fully operational and employing local people in their communities.
On question b, the Second Republic has set its sights towards transforming Zimbabwe into a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030. The mining sector is expected to play a leading role for us to realise that vision. Currently, the mining sector directly employs over 50 000 people. The employment is expected to increase underpinned by a number of upcoming mining projects which are at various levels of implementation. These projects are in the areas of exploration, resuscitation of closed mines, opening of new mines, expansion of existing mining projects and mineral beneficiation and value addition. The major investments include but not limited to Eureka Gold Mine, Caledonia Mining Corporation (Blanket Mine) Expansion, Shamva Gold Mine, Unki Mine Expansion, ZIMPLATS Expansion, RioZim Murowa Diamonds Expansion, ACDC Expansion, Tsingshan Iron and Steel Project, Muzarabani Oil and Gas Project, Dinson Colliery, Prospect Resources Arcadia Lithium and Bindura Nickel Corporation amongst others.
(v)HON. M. M. MPOFU: Since we have the policy of ‘use it or lose it’, some of the claims are not being worked on when people are still struggling and also some are being worked on illegally and they are causing a lot of challenges in terms of bringing in cash because they are not controlled. Can we not do anything as a Ministry to help formalise some of these claims?
HON. KAMBAMURA: In 2019, Government effected the ‘use it or lose it’ policy and since we started applying that policy, we have seen a lot of cases being challenged at the courts. The issue to do with private claims solely rests with the owners of those mining claims whether they should issue to mining committees surrounding them or not but there is no policy actually which mandates them to tribute those claims. It would be under an arrangement between the miner and the communities to come into agreement with the support of Government to issue out mining tributes to the communities which they are working on.
Mining companies will have mining plans, some which span to ten or so years but there are some claims which have been lying idle for 40 or so years. Those claims are the ones which Government was targeting on the ‘use it or lose it’ policy. Like I have said, some of these claims faced a lot of resistance and have gone to the level of High Court where the owners have tried to resist Government taking back the mining titles.
(v)HON. MADZIMURE: For the principle of ‘use it or lose it’ to work, the Ministry must have a register of those claims and they should be able to inspect whether there is any work going on these claims. Is the Minister telling us that they have a register?
HON. KAMBAMURA: The moment one registers a mining claim, it goes into our records and register which is kept at provincial mining office.
PRODUCTION OF PASSPORTS AT GWANDA PROVINCIAL PASSPORT OFFICE
4 HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage – a. when the production of passports will resume at Gwanda Provincial Office.
- What measures are being taken to fight an increase of robberies in Gwanda Town?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): The Civil Registry Department produces both machines readable and e-passports. Currently, the department is experiencing challenges in the production of machine readable passports due to breakdown of machinery and efforts are underway to address the situation. Production of machine readable passports will resume as soon as repairing of machines is complete. However, following the launch of the e-passport by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Ministry has since embarked on a programme to roll out issuance of the e-passports to provinces and districts and in Gwanda, the project is expected to be completed by 30 August 2022.
- As a Ministry, we are concerned by the incidence of crime especially robberies. You will agree with me that one robbery is a robbery too many. At this outset, I have deemed it appropriate to point out that Gwanda Town is surrounded by areas richly endowed with gold reserves where mining activities are flourishing. As synonymous with most areas where gold mining takes place, criminals tend to behold the areas as favourable hunting grounds; resultantly they flock into such areas to prey on those who are involved in the mining itself and the buying of the precious mineral or other commercial activities. From January to date, a total of 30 robbery cases have been recorded in Gwanda Town of which 12 were plain robberies, 16 involved other weapons and two involved fire arms.
Having said that, according to the briefings availed to me by the Commissioner-General of Police, the police continues to intensify their operations to such areas throughout the country to fight robberies among other serious crimes.
As previously alluded to in my response to a related question sometime in the same month last year, which I presume may still be in public memory, the Commissioner-General of Police has taken note of robbery reports, not only in Gwanda Town but throughout the country where there are numerous ongoing measures aimed at curbing robberies be it plain or armed. Specifically in Gwanda Town, police have put in place various strategies and initiatives which include but not limited to the following:
-Intensifying foot, cycle and motorised patrols in crime-prone areas;
-Mounting of security roadblocks, intensifying stop and searches;
-Heightening awareness campaigns encouraging members of the public to desist from the habit of using paths that pass through secluded and unlit areas at night and strongly discouraging the keeping of large sums of money at home or business premises or even to move around with it;
-Promotion of public participation in policing. To this end, it is suffice to mention that previously when robberies were not yet rife, most of the town’s residents were reluctant to directly participate in the fight against crime and opted to stay aloof. However, due to continuous engagement, I am reliably informed that they are now forthcoming and joining the popular Neighbourhood Watch Committees to patrol their respective neighbourhoods;
-Engagement of various stakeholders with a view to enhancing inter-agency cooperation in the fight against crime. For instance, efforts have been made to engage Gwanda Town local authorities lobbying for the provision of street lighting as most areas are light-deficient and
-Lastly, at national level, the Police Command is engaging the judiciary urging them to impose stiffer penalties on perpetrators of violent crimes which include robberies.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased to mention that as a result of these sound policing strategies, 23 robbers have been arrested since January 2022. Notably, a pistol and a motor vehicle were recovered in one of the arrests. As a Ministry, we remain committed to maintaining peace and security across the country. I thank you.
TWENTY FOUR HOUR SERVICE AT ESIGODINI HOSPITAL PHARMACY
- HON. BRG. GEN. (RTD) MAYIHLOME asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to inform the House when Esigodini Hospital Pharmacy will offer 24-hour services, considering that patients seek medical attention throughout the day.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Esigodini Hospital is manned by 1 pharmacist, 2 pharmacy technicians and 1 dispensary. There are not enough personnel to be able to offer 24-hour service. However, there is a person on call when the pharmacy closes for the day. The person is there to provide emergency services.
UPGRADING OF MUSHUMBI CLINIC TO A DISTRICT HOSPITAL
- HON. CHIBHAGU asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to explain to the House
When will the Government upgrade Mushumbi Clinic to a district hospital?
When will the Ministry procure adequate beds, medical facilities, furniture among others at Angwa Clinic in Mbire.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Government will not upgrade Mushumbi Clinic to a district hospital, rather the Government will construct Mbire District Hospital opposite Mushumbi Secondary School. The preliminary works will commence in the year 2022 and construction works will be in 2023.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care noted that we do not have adequate medical facilities in our health facilities in the country. In view of this we have plans to ensure all our health facilities are capacitated. We have two phases, so far phase 1 started with central hospitals, provincial hospitals, district and mission hospitals. The rural health centres will be benefiting from the phase 2 of the plans which we hope to implement before end of this year.
Relatedly, beds can be procured by the Provincial Medical Directors’ (PMD) Office and in the event that they do not have funds, they can ask head office to pay for them and this procurement would be done through a tender process. It is important to note that PMDs have a budget, but if the funds are not adequate, they request head office to assist in payment.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
MEASURES TO ENSURE CHITUNGWIZA GENERAL HOSPITAL HAS ADEQUATE MEDICATION
- HON G. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to inform the House
a) What measures are in place to ensure that Chitungwiza General Hospital has adequate medication and working cancer treatment facilities?
b) What measures are put in place to ensure that Makoni Maternity Clinic is adequately capacitated with child delivery necessities.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO):
Cancer treatment
Currently cancer treatment facilities are at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals covering the northern region and Mpilo Central Hospital catering for the southern region. In this regard, cancer patients from Chitungwiza Central Hospital are referred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for radiotherapy.
As at head office level, we do not address issues at institutional level but at a level of majority of the institutions.
May you note that your institution has an open door policy which means that you can approach local managers on issues of the institution? The concern is being addressed through motivation for budget release by Treasury to enable these institutions to procure services from NatPharm.
Makoni Clinic
In order to capacitate safe child deliveries, the following steps are being put in place by the Ministry of Health and Child Care Family Health Department:
- Assessment for adequacy and functionality of essential equipment and supplies.
- Assessment for human resources for health that is to see that there are adequate health workers in the maternity section and related sections.
- Recommendations from these two assessments will give the basis to guide in procurement of essential equipment.
- On the job training for healthcare workers to equip them with necessary knowledge and skills to prevent maternal and prenatal morbidity and mortality will be carried out.
- Quarterly support and supervision to the clinic to check on skills and supplies
- Continued quarterly Zimbabwe Assisted Pull System (ZAPS) to the clinic. This is supply of commodities to the clinic.
DRILLING OF BOREHOLES IN HURUNGWE NORTH CONSTITUENCY
- HON GANDAWA asked the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to inform the House on how many boreholes the Ministry intends to drill in Hurungwe North in the year 2022 and 2023 against a national target of 35000 boreholes.
THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR MASUKA): Two boreholes shall be drilled per ward. There are 26 wards in the entire Hurungwe District which translates to 52 boreholes. Hurungwe North Constituency has four wards which are Ward 7, 8, 9 and 22. At the prescribed rate of two boreholes per ward, this constituency will get 8 boreholes during the 2022/2023 season.
Questions with notice were interrupted by THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of standing order number 68. .
MINISTERIRAL STATEMENT
DEPLOYMENT AND REGARDING OF TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is mandated to provide relevant high quality education product to all its clients through both formal and non-formal routes. One of the key resources that enable the Ministry to fulfill its mandate is availability of the teaching force for primary and secondary education.
The competence based curriculum introduced by the current Government - there are new learning areas and it demands more teachers because of that introduction of new learning areas. Since 2019, there has been a freeze on posts under which the Government announced the number of authorised new teaching posts to be filled. The other reason why there are vacant posts is because of the attrition that we experience in the teaching profession.
The Public Service Commission authorised 10 000 posts initially and reduced that number to 5 000 posts for the year 2022 with Treasury concurrence. Of the 5 000 posts, 3 904 have been filled and the balance of 1 096 will be filled in September, 2022. In addition to this, another
1 454 attrition posts have since been filled. In line with e-governance thrust, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Public Service Commission have introduced an e-recruitment platform which requires all newly qualified teachers to register on line.
This register is used for the systematic deployment of teachers according to match between the vacant posts and the year of graduation from the Teacher Training College. Under this system, teachers within the critical skills area get deployed earlier than others with more readily available qualifications. The critical skills shortage areas are ECD, sciences, technical and vocational and indigenous languages and special needs areas. The teacher-pupil ratio is now as follows: ECD, 1: 25 pupils, junior school, 1:40, lower to secondary 1:33, O level 1:30 and A level, 1:20. These are the ideal numbers that we are expected to have in schools but we have more children in schools because of shortage of teachers and also because of the capacity of our classroom blocks.
The resource unit, visually impaired, their ratio is 1:10, special class is 1:19, hearing impaired is 1-7, intellectual challenges is 1:7, physical disabilities is 1:15 but again you find that these figures are higher in this country because of the challenges that we have in terms of the teachers that we have. For technical subjects, it is 1:100 per learning area. These are carpentry and tailoring which we do in schools.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, our classes are supposed to be half of the total numbers that are in classes and this has also caused a challenge. At present the total number of schools is 10 100 with an enrollment of more than 4.6 million pupils and a total teaching establishment of 136 000. In terms of Section 75 (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, these learners are entitled to be in class and they are entitled to education.
As indicated below, our greatest deficit is at the infant level which is ECD A to Grade 2. We have taken the necessary precautions to place the majority of teachers at infant level from the allocation that is funded through Treasury since January, 2022. The table below shows the number of teachers that were deployed.
TEACHER DEPLOYMENT
LEVEL |
NUMBER OF TEACHERS DEPLOYED |
INFANT |
2164 |
JUNIOR |
1215 |
SECONDARY (FORMS 1-4) |
431 |
ADVANCED (FORMS 5-6) |
94 |
TOTAL |
3904 |
Our deployment pattern takes into account the available vacancies in each district. We have for instance, some districts in Harare and Bulawayo that have almost full complement of staff except for critical shortage areas while the majority of the districts in rural areas are experiencing an acute shortage of teachers, hence are prioritised. As noted above, we deployed fewer teachers to the secondary level because of the need to strengthen the foundation at primary school level. Table 2 shows the required teachers post, the latest deployment shown in Table 1.
Teacher Requirement after Latest Recruitment
Level |
TEACHERS NEEDED |
INFANT |
14 527 |
JUNIOR |
6 527 |
SECONDARY (FORMS 1-4) |
3 170 |
ADVANCED (FORMS 5-6) |
1 107 |
TOTAL |
25 331 |
REGRADING OF TEACHERS UPON HAVING TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS
The Ministry is continuing with the opening exercise of regrading all teachers who previously did not have pedagogical qualifications in line with PSC regulations. The Ministry is communicating the procedure of regrading through its structures. We call upon teachers with pedagogical qualifications to approach the nearest district office for regrading.
UPDATE ON THE TEACHER CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Teacher Capacity Development Programme was launched in 2014 in preparation for the demands of the competence-based curriculum. This saw the two Ministries of Education working together towards the signing of MoUs between the MOPSE and State Universities.
The majority of the teachers that are in the sector are now qualified. The Ministry had made a deliberate move to ensure that all personnel that are involved in the teaching and learning get the pedagogical qualifications as required.
Apart from teachers that have taken the initiative to upgrade themselves, the Ministry, in collaboration with local universities, has trained some semi-qualified teachers through the Teacher Capacity Development Programme. Through this programme, selected teachers undergo some training during school holidays so that they become fully-fledged teachers. The following universities have signed a memorandum of understanding to deal with semi-qualified teachers in the areas indicated:
Bindura University of Science Education
- Bachelor of Education in Physics
- Bachelor of Education in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Education in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Education in Biology
National University of Science and Technology
- Bachelor of Education in Physics
- Bachelor of Education in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Education in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Education in Biology
Great Zimbabwe University
- Bachelor of Education in Nambiya
- Bachelor of Education in Tonga
- Bachelor of Education in Shangani
- Bachelor of Education in Venda
- Bachelor of Education in Kalanga
- Bachelor of Education in Xhosa
- Bachelor of Education in Sesotho
University of Zimbabwe
- Bachelor of Education in Building Technology
Zimbabwe Open University
- Post Graduate Diploma
Midlands State University
- Bachelor of Education in Information Communication Technology (BED ICT)
Lupane State University
- Bachelor of Education in Agriculture Sciences
As soon as they get the requisite qualifications, these teachers are eligible for salary upgrade.
Continuous Assessment of the Competence Based Curriculum - One of the transformative initiatives under the competence based curriculum is the recognition of continuous assessment as a component of the final public examination results at Grade 7, 0 and A level. Continuous assessment is something that teachers have always done as part of teaching and learning. What has changed is the system of standardising and moderating the activities assigned to individual learners and the assessment thereof for recognition under the combined formative and summative final learning outcomes at G7, 0 and A levels.
The curriculum framework takes a holistic approach to assessment. This approach entails assessing learner competences on a continuum that includes knowledge, skills, abilities, values and traits. The assessment learning activity (CALA), as enshrined in the competence based curriculum, requires all learners to perform, demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and proficiency.
Learners living with disabilities are not an exception. They are also expected to demonstrate the above attributes like any other learners. The CALA component takes into account learners living with disabilities since they are best assisted in various ways depending on the severity of their disability. For example:
- Some learners are assisted by amanuensis to write their CALA.
- A multi-disciplinary approach is employed. Therapists assist learners by designing gadgets like head pointers to help them work on their CALAs independently.
I so present and at the same time, I had brought in a breakdown of the summary of teacher staffing levels by province to make sure that everybody knows the numbers of teachers at infant level, junior and at secondary level for all the provinces in Bulawayo.
(v)HON. I. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Minister mentioned that the teachers would have done science subjects at university and also need to get a diploma in Education when they go into the teaching profession. Can the Minister also clarify what the Ministry has got in place for the training of headmasters? I am sure headmasters also need some trainings of some sort. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like the Minister to explain why we have people who have qualified longer than others still not employed? We still have people who qualified in 2015 who have not yet been deployed. What is the rationale? Secondly, when is the deployment and employment of teachers going to be decentralised so that it is done at provincial and even at district level?
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Minister spoke about the ratio of teachers to children being so high. Why do we have that ratio, yet we have got a lot of trained teachers who are roaming the streets? Secondly, the Hon. Minister spoke about shortage of teachers in some subjects like Chemistry, Building and Carpentry. Is it not because of the poor remunerations you are offering these teachers?
(v)HON. R. NYATHI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Minister for giving a very good citation of what is happening within her Ministry. I realised that the exploitation of secondary school teachers and the prevailing number of teachers, there is a very big variance of almost 1.739. My question to the Minister is that I do understand that all over Zimbabwe, those that have finished O’ levels and A’ levels, we have a lot of their results being held by schools because they have failed to pay for some reasons. What is the Ministry doing to make sure that all the efforts of educating a child from ECD to A’ Level and all the investment that the Government has done bears fruits? At the same time, that person is not able to access employment simply because he or she does not have an O’ Level or A’ Level certificate. What is the Ministry doing to assist these children? Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. MOKONE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would want to thank the Minister for a well detailed Ministerial Statement. The Hon. Minister mentioned the problem of high teacher to pupil ratio. This is not the problem per se because the main issue here is the issue of remuneration of teachers. Teachers are shunning the teaching profession because they are not well remunerated. From her presentation as well, I would like to applaud the Ministry for signing an MOU with the universities. I think there is a problem there because as soon as these finish in universities, they then look for greener pastures because of this low remuneration that you are giving them.
The last issue that I would like to know from the Minister is the issue of decentralising the deployment of teachers. I think it is key to decentralise the deployment of teachers because as you know, ECD children prefer teachers who speak their mother language so that they grasp the concepts very well. I would like to know from the Minister when they are resuming the process of decentralising recruitment of teachers? Thank you.
+HON. MAHLANGU: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Hon. Minister, I did not get you properly in your Ministerial Statement when you were talking about CALA. I think we still have a challenge, especially in the rural areas. As we speak, we are now halfway through the year and looking at Grade 7s in the rural areas, where there is no electricity, I did not hear properly what you said in your Ministerial Statement, concerning these children because I think they are being left behind. I think for CALA, electricity, laptops and computers are required.
When I listened to the Ministerial Statement, I did not hear anything on how those pupils in the rural areas are going to be assisted. Even the young ones, I do not think they really understand CALA because they are behind time. Could you please assist us in your Ministerial Statement? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Members for their contributions and appreciation of the Ministerial Statement. In terms of training, the first question was on headmasters, that they need to be capacitated. The capacity building programme that we have as a Ministry involves all teachers. It does not select. So headmasters can also go for training in their respective areas of need, in terms of upgrading.
We have actually witnessed in the Ministry that some teachers decided not to use the facility which is there and decide to pay for themselves yet it is an expense and we are trying to reduce expenses. Some decide to go for other qualifications. Headmasters can also choose the relevant subjects to go for training, we will capacitate them.
The second question is, teachers that have been qualified since 2015 are still roaming the streets. This morning I had the opportunity to interview my Human Resources Director on this issue. The answer I got is that in most instances we have got more primary school teachers than secondary school teachers. You will find that those teachers will have specialised in areas that have got many people already trained in them. So there is need for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to sit down before the end of each year to make sure that we train within those required skills, instead of just training people in the same skills and yet we have got enough teachers in that particular area.
The other challenge is that when a teacher has qualified, he/she is expected to register with the Ministry. Some teachers do not register with the Ministry so that they get to be on our register. Our register is the one which is passed on to the Public Service Commission, who are the recruiting authority. So, we are calling upon Members of Parliament to advise their constituency members to help us and when they qualify, they go on line or they come to our nearest district offices to register.
Of course, low remuneration is a challenge. I have tried since I joined the Ministry, to negotiate with Government to improve the salaries. We have got a challenge, Government is trying, resources are limited but we are pushing for continual improvement of remuneration of our teachers. Also, there are teachers who do not have Ordinary and Advanced level. We used to have a programme with ZOU, where a teacher who goes into training with ZOU without enough Ordinary Level subjects was given an opportunity to supplement the subjects so that by the time they complete their Diploma in Education they would now have their required number of Ordinary Level subjects. So, our challenge is the shortage of teachers in specific subjects. When I am talking about shortage of teachers, I am talking about teachers in Mathematics, Science, technical subjects, vocational subjects - those are the subjects that we are critically in need of teachers.
Decentralising of recruitment, it is in the agenda. We are discussing with the Public Service Commission because we are not a recruiting authority. The recruiting authority is the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare under the Public Service Commission.
Then Hon. Mahlangu, on CALA, yes you are correct that it was not very clear in the Ministerial Statement. Today I was talking to the Minister of ICT; we are going to install computers in all schools. We want all children in rural areas to have access to computers. I am pushing very hard together with the Minister of ICT. I think starting tomorrow we will be giving computers to schools. We have a programme and if you look at the programme at ZITF, we had a programme which we are embarking on together with United Nations (UN). We want to ask the private sector companies to be with us in the capacitation of children with computers, not only computers but we are saying to them that they can actually invest in solar energy in the respective rural areas where there is no electricity. So we are embarking on that exercise. Some of the private sector players who have come on board include Old Mutual, Econet and TelOne. So those are the partners that we are now bringing on board and those individual investors who can take part like Hwange, where we have got solar power plant that is facilitating the locals. If you go to Gwanda, again there is another solar plant that has facilitated our children to have access to electricity.
At the present moment, we really have got problems with school children, but we record instructions which we give teachers on memory sticks, then the children will learn following up. Again, we are going to introduce the UN system, which system has been very helpful. I thank you.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I think there was a question which she skipped which was asked by Hon. Mokone in relation to deployment of teachers who teach subjects in a language which is specific to a particular area. For instance, people who come from Binga prefer their children to be taught in Tonga. People who come from Matabeleland prefer their ECD students to be taught in Ndebele.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Sorry Honourable, could you give the Minister time to note the questions.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: Thank you, can I just repeat Mr. Speaker Sir? There was a question that the Hon. Minister skipped to respond to. Hon. Mokone asked a specific question to say when is deployment going to be done for teachers who teach specific courses or specific languages. For instance, if you go to Binga, they prefer their ECD classes to be taught in Tonga. If you go to Matabeleland, they prefer their ECD classes to be taught in Ndebele which is not prevailing at the moment. So the Minister has not responded clearly to me and other Hon. Members to say when do we get to see a Tonga speaking teacher teaching in Binga, when do we get to see a Ndebele speaking teacher who teaches ECD, teaching the young children? That has not been responded to.
Lastly Mr. Speaker Sir, if you may indulge me; on 18th May, I asked a specific question to the Minister in relation to ICT schools which she has identified as Ministry to be given computers from the Ministry. She has not responded to me. She had given the House two weeks to respond. I am not too sure if she is ready with that answer. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for giving such a vibrant Ministerial Statement. Now Mr. Speaker Sir, may I know from the Hon. Minister what the Ministry is doing to protect children and in this case with reference to children who are being funded by BEAM in our schools because we have observed as we were going around the country as a Committee on Primary and Secondary Education that children are being sent home while they are on BEAM and we are actually going to face a crisis. So I am asking the Ministry what they are doing as the custodians of those children that are going to be drop-outs. Thank you.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: My question to the Hon. Minister relates to the continuous learning, the CALA. Hon. Speaker there is a challenge in that firstly, there is no standardisation across the country in terms of the CALA even amongst the districts, even assuming that you cannot standardise urban and rural but at least for districts within the same province.
Secondly, in response to the CALA, we now have a situation Hon. Minister and I want your clarification in terms of how the Ministry is going to deal with this issue where there is now a risk of downgrading our education system whereby some teachers are now doing CALA for the students and in return they are actually getting paid and getting money. We know of stories where O’level students including even Grade 7 students have actually been asked to pay amounts to teachers for CALA. In fact this CALA business has become very lucrative for teachers.
So my question to the Minister is, what mechanisms is the Ministry putting in place to avoid a situation where we end up downgrading our education system through unscrupulous means done by teachers in the provinces? I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: I want to apologise to those Members through you Mr. Speaker Sir, whose questions I had not responded to. When is the deployment going to be done of those teachers in various schools? I think I was asked to bring a list of teachers that we deployed, I do not know whether I am correct.
On 18th May, I talked about the ICTs in schools and one of the Members requested that we give them a list of schools. We have prepared that list. Unfortunately, my phone has switched off but I have got a list of the schools that have got electricity in that particular constituency. I think it is Mashonaland West. I have got the list; I had brought it. They sent it to me hoping that I was going to have the phone working, unfortunately it is not working, it has switched off but the Hon. Member, I assure him that next week or even tomorrow when I have charged my phone, I can give him the list of schools that have got electricity because we prioritise schools that have got electricity.
On the issue of languages, it has been proven that a child who is in ECD up to Grade 2 needs to be taught in their mother language. We have tried to get teachers from Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, different languages without success. We have finished recruitment of those teachers except a few, I think this morning I was very hard on my people that were trained last year and graduated. Unfortunately, after graduation, they did not register with the Ministry. So we have since put them in the register. I think those were trained under Minister Nyoni. I do not know whether there are Tonga people there, but I think the majority of them are Ndebele.
So we are working very hard and what we are asking our Members of Parliament to do, I think I sent a circular to the Members of Parliament, is to say can you assist us to encourage your children in Suthu, Khalanga, Venda and these other languages to make sure that they join the teacher training colleges. We do not have enough teachers within those language bases and as a result, our children are failing. We cannot address the zero pass rate unless we have children starting school being taught using their mother language.
Then on protection of children, yes BEAM is there but it delays to pay. It is the same with the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans. Those children whose school fees are paid by the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans. We have tried and I have spoken to Hon. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri and the Minister of Labour because he is in charge of that fund. We are not directly in charge of that fund. I have tried my level best since I came into office to try and talk to these Ministers to ensure that children are not thrown out of school. It is a child’s right to be in school. I have spoken to my headmasters that there is no need to chase children away from school but they have to deal with the parents as it is not the children’s problem. It is the parent’s problem and in this instance, it is the Government of Zimbabwe which is the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, which the headmasters must deal with through our offices. So I think that approach will assist us to keep the children in school. We will continue to advise our headmasters.
Yes, continuous learning, there is no standardisation in provinces. This continuous learning thing, the problem is that it is operationalised within the environment that is in existence. So, the projects that these children are doing emanate from the environment and so we cannot standardise throughout the province because what is in Gokwe is not in Binga. The environment is different for each province and even within one province. Lupane has got different products that children can pick and decide to produce that product. In Binga, it is different so standardisation is a problem.
We are trying by all means to help our students in various provinces. There is the risk of down grading. Yes, but I think we really need to engage the Anti-Corruption Commission. I have said that even in Cabinet that as Zimbabweans, we should learn to respect ourselves. The culture of wanting too much money every time and being greedy is a problem in our society. It is the same when you look at our cities. I was in London last week and I felt ashamed of the dirt that is here in our city yet in London you cannot even pick a stick of matches on the streets. So I think it is the cultural mindset change among our people that is needed to make sure that you do not cheat. You are cheating the child and tomorrow that child will be a destitute because when he/she goes to university, he/she will fail. I do not understand why a black woman or black teacher should sabotage a child by doing work for them. I think it is high time the Anti-Corruption Commission should go into schools and identify – as well as parents who can tell us what is happening in these schools. There are few of you guys and few of us who do that, except for one man here in Harare who has been coming to my office to inform me of what is happening and I sent my people there to stop it. We really need information from the public. I thank you.
THE HON. TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Minister.
(v)HON. S. NDLOVU: My question to the Minister is, when we talk of CALA, in the rural areas we have schools that do not have electricity and computers. I believe that CALA has got 30% marks so for those writing exams this year, CALA has to be marked. How are they doing the CALA without electricity and computers because they have to research and print?
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Hon. Member, yes it is a challenge that in some of our schools, we do not have computers or electricity. I thought I talked about that extensively that we are working on that. I know it will be difficult now but I think the teachers will be innovative enough to make sure that children use whatever they have at their disposal to come up with projects that can give them marks under CALA. I was in one school in Mashonaland East the day before yesterday - the children are so innovative that they produce beads from seeds found in the village. That is why I was referring to the environment. They were very innovative young children producing very nice beads. They are assessed on that particular activity and they get their marks. I think the teachers should be more innovative to assist the rural children who do not have electricity and other gadgets. We are however working vigorously on the gadgets. I think there is one country from the developing world that has done very well, which is Brazil. All their children were given tablets and they set up satellites even in the Amazon. That is what we were told last week in the UK that they have done very well. We hope that one day we will also get there. Bit by bit, we will get there. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Minister. You have been so practical, articulate and eloquent. Thank you very much. We really enjoyed your presentation and the way you have answered the questions from the floor. Thank you very much.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Six Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 8th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Mr. President, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 5 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Effects of Drought on the National Herd in the Dry Regions of the Country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my views on the motion raised by Hon. Sen. A. Dube and the seconder. It is a fact that a man’s riches are gotten through livestock. If you do not have livestock, you cannot be counted amongst men who are rich. Lobola is paid with cattle but with the drought prevailing in the country, our livestock is perishing. In region 5 where there is Manicaland, Buhera and other parts of Chipinge, most people survive through keeping livestock. Some judges were schooled through selling cattle. As Government, we need to map a way for our people to have livestock and to see that the livestock has enough feed. Where there are dams, there is need to embark on irrigation and growing of cotton so that we feed our national herd. Our country was famous on the EU quota of beef. Our people are aware that if they go out of the country and come back, they have to eat our local beef. It is painful to experience drought because it affects our livestock. Our cattle die because they will be affected by diseases like theileriosis and other diseases that affect livestock.
So my plea is that livestock such as cattle should be preserved because that is where our riches come from. If you want to get a loan from the banks and you use your cattle insurance ticket you qualify for a loan. If you have cattle, then you are on the safe side, you will have a good life. Ninety per cent of our daily meals include beef, even lobola is paid for through cattle. So even when there is drought, let us try by all means to work with Agritex officials so that each area is assisted with irrigation facilities and by so doing, there will be enough cattle feed.
+HON. SEN. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to also add a few words on this motion raised by Hon. Sen. Dube with regards to keeping our national herd. In the past, when we used to get less rainfall, there tends to be less grazing land for our cattle and this is a challenge to our livestock. In drought times, there will be less water and this results in our livestock also surviving on borehole water which is a challenge to our livestock especially if there is less rainfall because there will not be any water in swamps or water bodies. The shortage of rainfall is negatively affecting our livestock and as a result, our cattle fail to get water. The same challenge of drought year after year results in our cattle suffering from a number of diseases.
Once our cattle are affected by lump skin, they result in reduced breed. So, to livestock farmers, such diseases contribute negatively to cattle rearing as farmers fetch less when they sell their cattle. The same as the cattle skin is also negatively affected and it does not give farmers enough money. The same drought contributes to soil erosion and because of soil erosion, grass dries out which in the long run results in certain areas running out of grass. Instead of grass growing, we just get different weeds growing from that particular land.
If we can get enough rainfall, we will get grass growing without any challenge. Our plea to the Government is that during such times as drought, we get chemicals that treat cattle from different diseases because farmers get a challenge of getting chemicals and in most cases, they tend to be expensive. Our cattle die because of shortage of chemicals and their unaffordability to buy the chemicals. I would like to applaud the Government for the provision of tick grease, but from region 4 and 5 where I come from, we rarely get this tick grease.
As such, we have quite a number of diseases that kill our cattle like heart water. Therefore, our plea to the Government is that we need to get these chemicals distributed equally to the different provinces. Government should look into the issue of growing plants or food that can supplement livestock feed. If possible those regions with enough grass should be cut and sent to those regions that do not have enough grass so that their livestock can survive from it. Region 4 and 5 does not have enough grass and if there is less rainfall, these places quickly run out of grass. Even wildlife gets to be affected because of lack of grass.
Therefore, I would like to encourage our Government to look into those regions that survive on cattle ranching, to see to it that there is enough feed for our cattle so that in cases where these cattle are affected, there are places where feed is stored to supplement the same regions. I greatly appreciate the motion brought by Hon. Sen. A. Dube because we come from regions where we survive on cattle ranging. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to also debate on this motion presented by Hon. Sen. Dube regarding taking care of our livestock especially during terrible droughts. Indeed, cattle are very important even during the time that we grew up. Cattle would define the status of a homestead and where I come from such homesteads were recognised simply because they had cattle. Cattle are very important. We use them for ploughing and in the past they were key to agricultural practices.
We started by digging holes but as we went on, we realised that cattle were used as draught power. Such people were very much respected. Cattle are very important as a source of meat as well as dairy. If you recall, at a wedding where there is no cow slaughtered, that wedding would be considered a flop or without adequate food, but if a cow is slaughtered, that wedding will be very much respected. The same applies to funeral events and that was a very good cultural practice.
Even with regards to chiefs, if somebody commits an offence, they are supposed to pay using a cow or goats. So that signifies the importance of livestock - where we go around, we see cattle and where we see very good cattle is Matabeleland South Province. I saw very good breeds and I have seen some other places with such good breeds, especially in region 4 and 5 so much that I feel like going to buy from there if I get money.
Now, we are advanced in technology, I have seen at our local university where I stay, that is Chinhoyi, they have advanced breeds and they use advanced technology of artificial insemination. You simply choose the breed that you want and you get the breed. So I am emphasizing the importance of cattle.
Mr. President with regards to the problems that we have during drought, cattle hardly get feed especially if they graze. Sometimes you get people getting hay bales from other areas where there will be good hay to feed cattle where there will be drought. I also realised that the Second Republic employed mitigation measures where there will be shortage of water; there are dams that have been made to provide for cattle livestock. We encourage people around those areas where there are dams to avoid activities that lead to siltation because they affect the water levels of any water bodies.
The Government has also introduced a teak grease programme. It is a very good programme because the teak grease flows over the cow and that is very helpful. In the past we used to have effective dip tanks but because of change in set up, right now you can also use spraying dipping activities. They can assist to destroy teaks.
We also would like to look at the dairy products: people feed children or the elderly as well as for tea. We need to take good care of cattle to safeguard our livestock herd. We also need to look at our breeds so that that information can be availed to the public and disseminated through various groups.
The other problem that we have in the country is that we no longer have vaccines. We are supposed to have all those vaccines, depending on the change of the season, at the onset of the rain season or after the rain season. We need to have various vaccines.
We also have the challenge of cattle rustlers, we hear of thieves stealing a lot of cattle, be it 5 or 10. It is a very bad thing, sometimes the cattle rustlers work as syndicates, conniving with locals. Therefore, we need to safeguard our livestock.
Mr. President, I would like to conclude and thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I am very glad to debate on this motion raised by Hon. Sen. Alice Dube.
+HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President for the opportunity to add my voice on the motion moved by Hon. Sen. Dube. I would like to thank my Hon. Colleagues for the contributions they submitted. . Mr. President, I think we all know that drought is related to climate change. Over the years, our country has been affected by drought. We know that it is difficult for us to control climate change but we can come up with measures that will help us in making sure that during those years that we get enough rainfall, we can harvest the water. For instance, last year and the previous year, we had enough rains but the challenge is that most dams had been silted.
I stay in the rural areas and there are no dams that are being rehabilitated. No de-siltation programmes are being done. If only Government can come up with a programme that will assist in de-silting because we cannot control rainfall but what we can do is to collect the rainfall that we receive instead of letting it run off to seas and oceans.
In other areas Mr. President, people still survive on dam water. They drink from the same source with their livestock and wild life. It is disheartening that if this water is dirty, then they are to suffer from different diseases. The other challenge is that there has not been enough funding, especially in rural areas to get boreholes, only Government can intervene. Like what other Hon. Members said with regards to region 4 and 5, which have got good cattle breeds, we all remember that CSC used to be in these regions because of the good cattle breeds. What we ask for from our Government is that we resuscitate such programmes of cattle rearing so that they continue with such projects and help them send their children to school and reduce the burden from the Government. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: Thank you Mr. President. Let me also add my voice to this debate raised by Hon. Sen. Dube. In most cases, when somebody is diagnosed of kwashiorkor, the treatment is feeding and the same applies to the condition of our cattle. In case of drought, we are supposed to take care of them. We are encouraged to take good care of them, they are State property. In cases of drought, it becomes difficult but we should prioritise them.
I would call for assistance for every homestead to take care of their cattle, especially by way of having paddocks. We should also have smart agricultural concepts of “pfumvudza” where we plant stock feeds. There are special plants that can be grown so that cattle may not starve. We also need to have adequate dip tanks. We also have those earth dams that we find in local areas. Those are very important to supply water for the cattle so that they avoid ingesting a lot of soil that may be hazardous.
People are usually taken care of by the Social Services in terms of drought. So, we also want the Ministry of Agriculture, the Livestock department to do the same thing so that they avail assistance as mitigation in times of drought, considering that livestock is different from Human beings because they do not communicate. However, we may be aware of the coming droughts. Livestock is important for the livelihood of people. Thank you Hon. President.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MAKUMBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. RWAMBIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December, 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to contribute with regards to the natural resources that were mentioned in this motion. In rural areas, there are a lot of precious resources that need to be safeguarded. It is my thinking that our economy could be fixed if there is acknowledgement of Zunde raMambo, which works in accordance with the natural resources found in this country. We should give allowance for things to be kept in silos so that people do not run out of resources. Even with grain, we should be able to be in a position to give to the Government; to Ministry of Finance so that we have smooth running of things.
Most of our resources are found in different communal areas, with letters from the Ministry of Mines, taking everything from these clichés. Nothing is being left for the Government to assist it. It is important that we have something left for the Government so that they are able to operate as a country. I thank you.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
EFFORTS TO CURB CORRUPTION
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion to introduce deterrent sentences for those engaging in corrupt activities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ON HIV AND AIDS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV and AIDS service delivery system
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) ROLL-OUT PROGRAMME
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Implementation of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)- Roll – Out Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Thirteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. A. DUBE, seconded by HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA, the Senate adjourned at Twenty Two Minutes past Three o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 7th June, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
HON. CHIKWINA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My motion of national importance is informed by the fact that in February 2021; having noticed that the state of our roads had been dilapidated nationwide, the Government came up with a policy of emergency road rehabilitation programme to assist local authorities. Now, I take note that the state of our water infrastructure delivery system nationwide has also dilapidated to the extent that residents cannot sustain rehabilitation of the same. I therefore move for two issues. Number one, that the motion by Hon. Hamauswa to discuss water as he implored the Minister of Finance to assist local authorities, be given precedence and this is directed to the Leader of Government Business. Number two, that the Minister of Local Government indulges Parliament to persuade Government to take upon the programme of water infrastructure development throughout the whole country as a priority so that we get taped water to our residents. Thank you very much.
THE HON. SPEAKER: While you are standing Hon. Member, on the water situation, I was not very clear on what exactly you want.
HON. CHIKWINA: Hon. Speaker, I implore the Government to, on the same thinking that they did on roads, take over water infrastructure development from local authorities and rehabilitate the same before they give it back because residents, through their rate payers, cannot sustain that. It is a massive project; it has to be sustained only either through a supplementary budget or by the Government.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The matter will be directed to the Minister of Local Government. Hon. Chief Whip, if you can liaise with the Leader of Government Business and let us hear from the Minister of Local Government what the Hon. Minister thinks about that situation.
HON. CHIMINA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of national interest is in regards to the examination fees announced by ZIMSEC. The fees announced are against the students from poor backgrounds. They will not be able to raise the fees due to the harsh economic conditions in the country. Chapter 4, Section 75 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for basic education, including adult basic education and further, education which the State through reasonable legislative and other measures, must make progressively available and accessible.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the fees were pegged in USD at prevailing bank rate while the citizens’ earnings are not pegged in USD prevailing bank rate. It is my considered view that examination fees must be charged in RTGS and be reviewed downward. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: A very good observation but it has been overtaken by a petition that we have received. The Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education is looking into the matter.
HON. MARKHAM: I have a point of order. A number of us Members of Parliament have not received any e-mails, including the Order Paper.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. I will check with the Clerk of Parliament.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
DEATH OF HON. LEONARD CHIKOMBA
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Members, before we proceed. It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform the Hon. Members and this august House of the untimely death of our colleague the Hon. Leonard Chikomba who was involved in a car accident on 28th May, 2022 while we were on recess. I therefore invite all Hon. Members if you can rise so that we observe a minute of silence.
All Hon. Members observed a minute of silence.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: On 31st May, 2022, we received communication from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on the appointment of the following Members of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A) to fill in the vacancies in the National Assembly that have occurred following the recall of Hon. N. Mguni and Hon. Dr. T. Khupe in terms of Section 124 (1) (b) of the Constitution with effect from 27th May, 2022. The Hon. Members to be sworn in are Ndebele Visitor, representing Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and the other is Nyika Florence, representing Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.
Section 129 (1) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the 3rd Schedule. Section 129 (2) states that the Oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament. I therefore call upon the Acting Clerk of Parliament to administer the Oath of a Member of Parliament.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN
HON. NDEBELE VISITOR and HON. NYIKA FLORENCE subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the law and took their seats – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Member on my left, can you observe protocol? I do not want to name you for the record.
HON. CHIBAYA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I will not give you because you are disrupting this ceremony.
HON. CHIBAYA: Mr. Speaker pane munhu akapfeka yellow – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Chibaya, you rise properly. Do not behave like we are at some beerhall. You rise, you are recognised and then you make your point of order.
The yellow you are talking about, as far as I am concerned, does not distinguish the Hon. Member as belonging to that particular party – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Order, order, point of clarification from the Chair. A tomato is a tomato and is red. So, in this particular case, the Hon. Member belongs to Members on my right who are ZANU-PF and there is no generic association.
HON. BITI: Point of clarification Hon. Speaker Sir. Is your decision then that Members of the Citizens Coalition for Change are the only ones who are proscribed from putting on yellow? Anyone else can put on yellow except Members who were elected on 26th March 2022?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, as long as there is no generic relationship.
HON. BITI: So Members of the CCC cannot put on yellow?
THE HON. SPEAKER: As long as there is no generic relationship.
HON. BITI: But ZANU-PF has yellow.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, but that is not generic to triple C. It is as simple as that.
HON. BITI: Is that a fair and rational objective ruling Hon. Speaker Sir?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, I stand by that.
HON. BITI: Can that decision stand in a court of law?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you, I have heard you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON SPEAKER
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM MR. K MAPHOSA, GUGULETHU MOYO AND MR. CLAUD KAHARO
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on Thursday 26th May 2022, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from Mr. K Maphosa of the Matebeleland Institute of Human Rights requesting Parliament to amend the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
I also have to inform the House that on Thursday 26th May 2022, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from Gugulethu Moyo of the Lower and Upper Rangemore Residents Forum, Umguza District, Matebeleland North Province, requesting Parliament to exercise its oversight role by holding the Umguza Rural District Council and the Private Housing Developers accountable on the provision of household water and sanitation services in the urbanised Umguza Ward 16. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Furthermore, on Thursday 26th May, 2022 Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from Mr. Claud Kaharo of Number 4455, 75 Close, Budiriro 3, Harare, requesting Parliament to amend Section 74 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe to bring sanity to the environment. The petition was deemed to be inadmissible and accordingly the petitioner has since been advised.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that all other Orders of the Day be stood over until Orders of the Day, Numbers 24 and 6 have been disposed of.
HON. L. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE PETITION RECEIVED FROM ZIMBABWE REVENUE AND ALLIED WORKERS TRADE UNION (ZIMRATU)
HON. DR. NYASHANU: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development on the petition received from Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) on retention of funds and funding model for Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
HON. MUSHORIWA: I second.
HON. DR. NYASHANU:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 According to Section 149 of the Constitution, read together with Standing Order No. 191 and Appendix E, every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority, including the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation.
1.2 On 10 September 2021, the Speaker of the National Assembly informed the House that Parliament had received a petition from Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) whose prayer was for Parliament to consider a proposal for ZIMRA to have a retention fund through a fixed percentage funding model as provided for in Section 27 of the Revenue Authority Act. The petition was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development. The Committee conducted an enquiry into the issues and came up with this report with recommendations.
METHODOLOGY
2.1 The Committee invited for oral evidence the following stakeholders to discuss the issues raised in the petition:
- Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) on 24 November 2021;
- Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) on 24 November 2021; and
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) on 28 February 2022.
COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS
The Committee inquiry had the following findings:
- Oral evidence from the Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU)
- That the Retention Funding Model is supported by the current provisions of Section 27 of the Revenue Authority Act (Act). This section provides that:
‘At the beginning of each financial year, the Minister shall cause the Authority to retain sufficient moneys from the revenue collected to meet the expenditure which the Authority proposes to incur during that financial, as shown in the budget or supplementary budget approved by the Minister in terms of section twenty-six for that financial year.
Section 28(1) and Section 26 of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23.11] has provision for a fixed percentage funding model and appropriation funding model. The Retention Funding Model will improve the predictability and availability of funds thereby enhancing operational efficiency for the Authority.
- That the above arrangement, though provided for in the Act was not being implemented, rather the current model is a funds release towards approved budget lines arrangement where ZIMRA receives funds, not as prescribed in section 27, but in tranches released by MoFED. This has been the source of inefficiency as the Authority is failing to timeously meet its financial obligations particularly those of interest to the trade union that relate to staff welfare over and above operational needs. In 2021, for example, ZIMRA received only 54% of its operational budget and this impacted on staff welfare issues over and above the other operational requirements of the Revenue collector.
- That the current arrangement has led to micro-management of ZIMRA by the MoFED limiting the powers of the Board to make decisions on operational issues. This is evidenced by a correspondence addressed in to the then Commissioner General, Ms F. Mazani reference 2018 ZIMRA Staff Costs Budget in which the MoFED made operational decisions on:-
- Salary review- In 2018 the Ministry pegged salary increases for Managerial and non-managerial grades at 10% and 15% respectively. This was a directive and rendered collective bargaining process immaterial. It reflects unsound corporate governance, strips off management’s power to remunerate and can create labour disputes.
- Staff recruitment – The Ministry made direct decisions as to how many staff is to be recruited at Beitbridge, Chirundu, Forbes and Loss control among other divisions. Without the Ministry concurrence to this recruitment, management could not proceed to recruit. Section 5 (1) of the Revenue Authority Act is clear that the operations of the Authority shall be controlled and managed by a board known as the Revenue Board. This board currently includes the parent Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. Interference in Board decisions creates bottlenecks in the system.
- Staff retention –The Ministry is overstepping its mandate when it does approvals which ordinarily should be management decisions which may be done with the concurrence of the Board. This current approval process has affected efficiency of decision implementations and suppressed ZIMRA from making quick administrative and operational decisions even within the confines of the budget. The MoFED must give autonomy in the real sense to the Board to run the affairs of the Authority as entrenched in the Act.
- That the current budget based funding model is posing the following challenges, among others;
- Inadequate funding for key operations for example staff uniforms and ICT equipment;
- Inadequate funding for key capital projects like motor vehicles (Conditions of service and patrols);
- Weakened Industrial relations- lack of collective bargaining;
- High staff attrition due to delays in addressing staff welfare issues;
- Limited on the powers of the Authority – Second Schedule of Revenue Authority Act 23.11, which provides for staff loans has not been exercised fully due to paltry funding of the authority. As such, there has not been any motor vehicle loan facility for workers in levels 10 to 16 and the majority of those in level 9 have not benefited since establishment of ZIMRA due to this funding and disbursement model.
- That the implementation of the retention model has several benefits such as:-
- Reducing bureaucracy in the approval process to finance critical administrative and operational decisions of the Authority;
- Facilitating for quick internal resource allocation in consultation with the Revenue Board;
- Grants acceptable autonomy in funds application and ensure timely funding of critical projects;
- Enhance Staff capacity and retention through timeously attracting, developing and retaining talent that is dedicated and motivated to support the attainment of Authority’s mandate;
- Efficient implementation of Human Capital policies for example Uniform Policy, Staff Motor Vehicle Scheme Policy, Housing Allowance Policy, Transport Allowance Policy, Staff Advancement Policy, Remuneration Policy and Staff Incentive Policy among others.
- Quickly embrace digital transformation through updating ICT systems, Data processing Centres and interfacing of tax systems to external systems in order to achieve mutual synergies. This will in turn maximise revenue collection and operational efficiency.
- That ZIMRA being a performance based organization, ZIMRATU is praying for five (5) percent retention of actual revenue collected in each successive three-month period in the fiscal year in excess of the amount estimated to be collected during that period, provided that the amount payable as retention and performance based does not exceed an aggregate of 3.5% of actual revenue collected for any three-month retention period.
- Oral Evidence from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)
- ZIMRA is a legal person created through the Revenue Authority Act. The concept is motivated by the need to bring out efficiencies in revenue collection. The current funding model for ZIMRA is in accordance with the Revenue Act 23:11 except for disbursements.
- That Section 26 and 27 of the Revenue Act provide for annual budgets and retention of funds by the ZIMRA. It submits a budget to the Board and the Board to the Minister who exercises discretion upon receipt of the budget. The discretion always leads to underfunding of the authority leading to inability fully exercise ZIMRA’s mandate. There is no flexibility in terms of the Board’s decision making and often leads to ZIMRA failing to attract the best skills required in the industry.
- That ZIMRA is convinced that the funding arrangements that are in place are in line with the current legislation. The authority also desires to have a reform of the current funding arrangement so that they are able to effectively discharge their mandate. Section 28 of the Revenue Authority Act is clear that where the Authority raises additional funding outside the normal revenues, those funds should form part of the Authority’s own funds. International best practise is that revenue authorities retain 3% to 3.5% and such an arrangement will go a long way in creating a flexible environment in which the Board and management can operate.
- That ZIMRA has sought approval, without success to use the extra revenue generated to fund its operations and has not received an express guidance and instruction to the effect that the money forms part of the consolidated revenue fund. ZIMRA, in its interpretation of the law is convinced that this money belongs to the revenue authority and is therefore in the process of making a submission to Treasury to this effect.
- That a framework for establishing a ZIMRA retention fund already exists and is enshrined in the Revenue Authority Act which empowers the Board to exercise its discretion and create avenues or invest monies or invest into opportunities that can generate funds for the Authority. However, the discretion to invest has been exercised because of the current arrangement where the budget is too restrictive. Retention, in essence exists but the funds are released on a quarterly basis instead of the beginning of the year as provided for in legislation.
- That ZIMRA is constrained to adjust employees’ salaries with flexibility as expected and that has affected employee morale. In 2021, for example, negotiations started in April of 2021 and the union was not amused that Management could not give a satisfactory response as they awaited concurrence from Treasury which usually comes very late. These challenges create very sour industrial relations within the organisation. As a key entity for mobilisation of Government revenues, ZIMRA’s workforce is one of the key inputs into revenue mobilisation programmes hence the need to ensure that they are well motivated to ensure maximum mobilization of revenue for the government and reduce corruption.
- That the ZIMRA Board does not have flexibility to guide management on the use of funds without express authority from Treasury. That bureaucracy creates inefficiency that has affected smooth flow of operations.
- That ZIMRA has not been able to purchase new fleet of vehicles for operations since 2016 and only received 10 in 2021.This is mainly because allocations are in local currency and like any other entity ZIMRA queues for foreign currency at the auction system. ZIMRA has a foreign currency component which it collects and could go a long way to assist in the area but authority to use it has taken long to come.
- Oral Evidence from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
- That the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 302 states that all revenues are to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the Public Finance Management Act Section 16 (2) and Section 18 (9) provides for the same.
- That the MOFED acknowledges the critical role played by ZIMRA in resource mobilisation and the importance of timeous release of funds for its operations.
That although Section 27 of the Revenue Act provides for retention, Government has since moved away from that arrangement. Finances are controlled from a central fund where Parliament does the appropriation. This aids in transparency and accountability in the management of resources.
That ZIMRA falls under the MoFED’s vote and as such its allocation is a grant/transfer in terms of classification. In practice, disbursement of funds for ZIMRA does not follow the same mechanism used for all Ministries, Departments or Agencies (MDAs).
- That ZIMRA as a collector of revenue receives disbursements per quarter which enhances predictability of budgets and makes planning easier unlike Ministries which are required to do payment runs. This kind of system is working efficiently though there is room for improvement.
- That the tax to GDP ratio for Zimbabwe fluctuates but compares well with other countries in the region. Zimbabwe is even better because it relies on domestic resources to finance the budget with very little Official Development Assistance (ODA).
- That engagement between ZIMRA and MOFED are currently ongoing with a view to improve on disbursements.
- COMMITTEE’S OBSERVATIONS
The Committee made the following observations:
- All stakeholders involved in the ZIMRATU petition were prepared for the oral evidence session serve for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as displayed by their poor responses during the meeting.
- Section 302 of the Constitution provides that there should be a Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) into which all fees, taxes and borrowings and all other revenues of the government, whatever their source are paid. However, it provides for an exception in Section 302(b) that ‘Unless an Act of parliament permits the Authority that received them to retain them, or part of them in order to meet the authority’s expenses.
- ZIMRA was created as an agency of the state in terms of an Act of Parliament, the Revenue Authority Act Chapter 23.12. Therefore, the provision to retain such funds in Section 27 of the Revenue Authority Act is in compliance with Section 302(b) of the Supreme Law. Section 28 then specifies what then constitutes funds of the authority.
- There is no conflict or ambiguity between the Public Finance Management Act, Revenue Authority Act, Statutory Instrument 144 of 2019, Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions) 2019 on the issue of retention. The PFMA does not prescribe retention and cannot supersede what the Constitution provides for. It is therefore clear that nothing in either Section 16 (2) or Section 18 (9) violates the right of ZIMRA to retain funds.
- The argument by the MoFED on issues of transparency and accountability are covered in Section 32 of the Revenue Act which provides that ZIMRA will be audited by the Auditor General with the full powers conferred to it under the PFM Act. Moreover, in the spirit of enhancing transparency, Section 33 of the Revenue Authority Act provides for appointment of an Internal Auditor guided by Section 19 of the PFM Act.
- In other jurisdictions like Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Rwanda, similar retention models are in use and the MoFED can use them as a benchmark. The report tabled by this Committee after a benchmarking visit to Rwanda highlighted that Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is allowed to retain 3% of collected revenues although they noted that it is too high and is currently striving to reduce the cost of collecting taxes to between 1 & 2%. In addition to the 3%, the Authority is also allowed to retain 22% of any surplus on revenues collected, of which 10% is awarded to staff as cash, 10% retention fund (awarded to staff who have served RRA for a certain period of time while the 2% is set aside for staff training.
- That ZIMRA’s collective bargaining process has been constrained due to the interferences by the Ministry which dictates the salary increments for the employees [Annex 1]. The MoFED is breaching the provisions of Paragraph 9 of the Second Schedule of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] which peremptorily obligates that Government must-
(a) not be involved in the day-to-day management of public entities and should allow them full operational autonomy to achieve their defined objectives;
(b) let boards of public entities exercise their responsibilities and should respect their independence.
4.8 That the Permanent Secretary for MoFED sits on the ZIMRA Board was against the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act Section 11(5) (ii) which states that:
no permanent secretary of a line Ministry or other agency shall be appointed to or hold office as a member of any such Board.
- COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee, therefore, recommends that: -
- The MoFED should allow ZIMRA to retain three (3) percent of the revenue collected in each fiscal as stated in Section 27 of the Revenue Authority or otherwise review the percentage in accordance with the performance of the economy by December 2022.
- The MoFED should allow ZIMRA Board to make critical decisions on staff recruitment, remuneration, without interference but within the confines of the budget.
- Huge Capital Expenditure such as infrastructure and ICT development projects should be outside the 3% retention ratio and should be raised separately, according to best practice funding infrastructure.
- CONCLUSION
- The Committee believes that ZIMRA as the sole government agent mandated to collect revenue on behalf of Government must be adequately funded. Zimbabwe as a country is losing a lot of revenue due to ZIMRA operational challenges that require predictability and timely funding to deal with. As such, the Committee recommends that government invests in strengthening revenue collection through allowing ZIMRA to retain a certain percentage of its collections and then give the board performance targets which they have to meet without excuses relating to funding challenges. Thus, the Committee tables this report with the hope that the 2023 budget will address the major concerns raised therein. I thank you.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me the opportunity to second the report of the Budget and Finance Committee as presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Dr. Nyashanu. It is crucial for Members to understand that ZIMRA is the cash cow of this economy. It is ZIMRA that makes the wheels of this Government turn because it collects money on behalf of Government; including all taxes such as corporate tax, PAYE, VAT and other taxes. The query or the cry from the ZIMRA staff members was to say that in the previous years, it used to perform well and the workers were so happy in terms of their working environment. Over the years, that has now been eroded and this is the basis upon which the petition was brought to this august House.
I want to start by the presentations that were done by ZIMRA staff members and the board. It is the presentation which was then done by the Ministry of Finance that left a lot to be desired. The personnel that came to represent Ministry of Finance came unprepared. They had not done any research and just came to the Committee for the sake of fulfilling an obligation. The two directors that came were Ms. Chimhini and Mr. Kunaka. They did not do justice because they could have helped Parliament in terms of the issue. Secondly Mr. Speaker Sir, what we discovered and which is clear is we believe that ZIMRA needs to be allowed to retain that 3% so that it can function properly. Two years ago, your Committee on Budget and Finance went across ZIMRA borders. What we discovered was that ZIMRA is using some of the old vehicles and the level of ICT within the ZIMRA offices leaves a lot to be desired, the accommodation of staff members leaves a lot to be desired. So the call by ZIMRATU, supported by ZIMRA management for the retention of the 3% is important and hence the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should actually allow ZIMRA to retain that.
Importantly Mr. Speaker Sir, one of the confusions in this issue is to do with the manner in which the board of ZIMRA currently is like. We have a situation where the Permanent Secretary of Finance and Economic Development Mr. Guvamatanga, sits on the board of directors of ZIMRA and yet the law is clear; the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act is very clear, no senior members of Government and it specifically states no permanent secretary should sit on a board of an authority. So what we have is, we now have a situation where there is confliction of roles. Mr. Guvamatanga is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, sits on the board and deliberates on the issues and then the board matters are then referred to the Ministry and he then makes another decision. At the end of the day, it confuses and makes ZIMRA Board redundant. So to that extent Mr. Speaker Sir, we support and we ask Members of this august House to support this finding by the Committee, that ZIMRA be allowed to retain 3% of their revenue so that the revenue generation and revenue collection will be enhanced in this country. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It was not clear in your recommendations Hon. Dr. Nyashanu, did you recommend reconstitution of the board?
HON. DR. NYASHANU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In our Committee report, we cited the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act to say the interference by the Permanent Secretary is in breach of that Act.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Why did you not include that in your recommendation because that is a substantial issue?
HON. DR. NYASHANU: I think it is an oversight really.
THE HON. SPEAKER: To make an observation is insufficient. You should have gone further to say the board must be constitutional and giving out the Permanent Secretary as provided by the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: It is an oversight Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker Sir, modern States function on the ability to collect revenues from their citizens, which revenue they will then use to do the public good payment of civil servants, payment of public services like health, water and education. There is a reciprocal obligation between the citizens and the State. The citizens pay taxes to the State and they pay duties to the State. So it is an obligation on them. In turn, they expect the State to discharge its own obligations, the provision of security, territorial integrity, basic services, military intelligence, police, street lights, roads, railways and so forth. So there is a social contract between the citizens and the Government which is founded on reciprocal obligations.
The Tax Collection department becomes such an essential component of statehood, such an essential component of nationhood because without taxes, you do not have a State and equally citizens know that without taxes there is no State and we cannot expect reciprocal obligations, which is why part of the fight of the industrial revolution; the graduation from the feudal state into the industrial state was citizens rising against the Magna Carter and saying there cannot be taxation without representation. If you want to tax us, then you must allow us to create Parliaments that will represent us. So tax collection is therefore part of modern State building, part of modern nation building.
That being so Hon. Speaker Sir, the revenue collection entity becomes so key because without revenue, you do not have a State and which is why until recently, Tax Collection departments were departments of Ministries of Finance. In the case of Zimbabwe, the Revenue Authority was only created in 1990 by the Revenue Act of 1990 which created the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, now a parastatal but hitherto, it was a department and a huge department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development must recognise the importance of a tax authority because it is part of their job; it is part of their core business. So part of the core business of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is actually to collect revenue which responsibility they have passed to a parastatal, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, but I submit Mr. Speaker that for an efficient revenue collection authority to exist, it must be well funded; it must be well capacitated, which is why the standard across the world is that the Revenue Authority itself retains part of the money that it actually collects. It does not wait for an allocation like other ordinary parastatals. It is a parastatal sui generis because it is actually doing a direct job of the State and a precondition of the existence of the State, which is tax collection.
During my time Mr. Speaker Sir, the retention was actually as high as 11%. So the debate which we used to have with the authorities then - Mr. Pasi, was that this money is too much and we then carried out a base line survey which established that the average retention is 3% which in some cases, if you have got a huge cake, if the GDP is huge, 3% becomes too much, which is why in developed countries, the retention is 0.8%. It is under 1%, which makes sense and if you have got a trillion dollar GDP, the country retains more than 2%. So Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the petition and the findings of the committee. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority needs to be well funded to pay its staff. If you do not pay the staff sufficient or decent wages, you will leave them exposed to bribes. There are so many complaints over the ZIMRA staff at Beitbridge. Mr. Speaker Sir, US$5 billion worth of goods come through Beitbridge every year and we should receive at least US$500 million of duty through Beitbridge alone, but they receive far much less than that. Part of the reason being that they have underpaid staff who are then open to bribes and inducements.
For ZIMRA to operate in this day and age, you need technology. One of the systems that they use is a system called ASYCUDA, a system that makes the clearance of goods paperless. This system was developed by Zimbabwe International Tax Organisations. It needs renewal every single year but to renew it, you pay millions of dollars to the software developers. The only country in Africa that has developed its own system is South Africa. One of the challenges was to make ASCUDA talk to the South African system. That requires money Mr. Speaker Sir. That must also be sorted. There are also modern gadgets that deal with smuggling. If you have recently been to the OR Tambo Airport, they have a scanner at the entrance. That technology is 40 years behind. These days they use infrared technologies which, without scanning your bag, they can scan you. You know Mr. Speaker Sir, that our ports of entry including this Harare International Airport have been centres of massive leakages. Zimbabwe is annually losing gold worth a billion dollars through smuggling. Zimbabwe is also losing annually, cigarettes worth a billion dollars through smuggling. Part of the problem is that at our ports of entry, we are using archaic equipment such as weigh bridges that have been underwhelmed by thieves that are using modern technologies to by-pass 1950, 1940 technology. So, ZIMRA needs to be empowered so that it can buy this modern equipment that every other country is using. If you go to South Africa, you will not see those scanners, you will not be asked to put your goods through scanners but trust me they are watching you. They can even tell the colour of the underwear you are putting on because of the modern machines which they have. You cannot see them but the machines can see you but those machines require money. So, I submit that we need to fund ZIMRA so that it imports these modern gadgets that are equal to the challenges caused by modern smugglers.
Then we are talking about housing of the staff. If you go to Beitbridge, you will be shocked by the hostels that the workers are staying in. If you go to Chirundu, some of them are literally living in the bush with elephants and lions. If you go to Forbes Border Post, many of them are renting small residences in suburbs such as Sakubva, Devonshire and Chikanga. It is important that you build decent housing with schools, crèches, bars and sports clubs as well as other amenities, because most of the people in these borders live elsewhere. You could be staying in Dotito and you are transferred to Beitbridge or from Chiendambuya to Nyamapanda. Apart from houses, they also need vehicles to combat and empower these people.
Another thing that has been happening is you have people and you have seen reports about this. Zimbabwe is used as a major centre for laundering. Zimbabwe is used as a major excuse for smuggling. So many people will bring goods through Beitbridge, with the ostensible basis that they are being imported to Zambia or Malawi yet the goods are remaining here. There is technology now that allows ZIMRA and port authorities to actually trace those goods. If it is fuel, there is technology that can enable you to say this fuel passed through Zimbabwe and is now being off-loaded in Kinshasa or Lubumbashi but that technology requires resources. So ZIMRA must be empowered to have resources.
Finally, the ZIMRA head office is at Kurima House, Kwame Nkrumah but for an organisation that employs and does the kind of thing that it does, it requires its own head office. They have got land in lake Mturikwi and have plans in lake Mturikwi across the road. I submit Mr. Speaker Sir that they need to be given resources so that they have their own head office. The reason why they have to have their own head office is that they need to be central. Right now we have a situation where customs department is elsewhere, income tax department is elsewhere and income tax is split now between large scale tax payers like Delta and Econet and the rest of us who earn nothing in another office. VAT is in another office and so forth. That does not auger well for your normal decent tax administration. The current system where they get 54% of their allocations amounts to de-institutionalising of ZIMRA. There has been so much de-institutionalisation of our institutions in this country, be it the Judiciary, Parliament or the Civic Society. We need to build strong institutions. Modern democracies are founded on strong institutions. The tax collection authority needs to be a strong institution. The Judiciary needs to be a strong and independent institution. So, I support the motion.
Lastly, on Mr. Guvamatanga, the law is very clear. This Parliament passed the Public Corporate Governance Act in 2017 or there about and it is clear that a Permanent Secretary cannot sit on a Parastatal Board. Moreso, one that he is sitting on. It is embarrassing that Mr. Guvamatanga is sitting on the board of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. The Board is an executing agency. The Permanent Secretary is the overseer, so how can the overseer oversee himself. That is corporate incest Mr. Speaker Sir and it should not be allowed. I also want to say you heard the Chairman complaining about the officers who came to give evidence. If you read the report of the Auditor-General, the one Ministry where there are more complaints than anywhere else is the Ministry of Finance. In one report, there were 57 instances of non-compliance. This is a basic issue and I submit that the report must be amended by the inclusion of the recommendation which we all support that the Corporate Governance Act must be respected and that George Guvamatanga cannot sit on any of the boards let along the ZIMRA board. I thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Welcome to the House Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I totally agree with the observation that ZIMRA should be funded adequately for it to be able to perform its very important duty -that is collection of revenue for the state. Surely, failing to fund ZIMRA adequately is like a recipe for disaster because once they are not funded correctly and adequately, we are exposing this organisation and its employees to vices like corruption, bad business practice and failure to perform effectively, as expected.
When we look at ZIMRA at the moment and it being underfunded, it is like when one goes hunting and catches an animal that must be enjoyed by everybody except the hunter. You bring in a kill and people decide to give you or not but they still want you to go out and hunt. I think the Committee should give us the finer details as to why ZIMRA is not getting what it is expected to get, especially when we are looking at the provision in the Act that is clear that they must be given some retention of the revenue (3%) that they collect. Why are we not doing it? Is there any specific reason? I think the report should tell us the reason. Is it intransigence on the Permanent Secretary or the Ministry that they just do not want to do it or there is a specific reason? I think we need more clarity on that or maybe the Minister should come here and explain why that retention is not being allowed at this juncture.
In the report, I read that there is so much demand or desire by the Ministry, employees and maybe the management at the authority that they would want autonomy. It is overemphasised. Is it for good intentions or good practice or it is because these people feel that if they have autonomy, they will either perform well or they will be free to use the funds they receive. I do not know for what reason - whether for the good of the authority or it is actually people looking at themselves and say if we have autonomy, we can use this money in the way we want. I am failing to get it. ZIMRA was established through an Act and it is doing whatever it is doing on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe under the Ministry of Finance. I am worried about why they are so much worried about autonomy because the way they are operating today is enshrined in the Act. What has brought this about? I think there are a lot of grey areas in explaining these challenges that are being raised in this report. We would either want the Minister or we go back to the authority and get information on why they are clamouring for autonomy when the Act defines their relationship with the Ministry.
I also would recommend that ZIMRA get enough funding so that they have enough vehicles and accommodation for the workers because as they are not looked after, they can be abused by those they would get service from. We need them to be looked after but they should be looked after in the context of the capacity of their employer and not to have one sector of our economy or one department in Government being looked after because they have access. They do this on behalf of Government and they cannot be found overnight being better than everyone – they are not the only department but they are only lucky that they are there but they cannot be given a free or open cheque for them to enjoy the resources of this country better than everyone else. While we really appreciate the issue of them being looked after very well and funded enough for them to collect more revenue for them also to perform for the country but we also want everything they expect to get to be defined in the laws of the land that govern the establishment of ZIMRA as an authority. I thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. SANSOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to fully support the request by ZIMRA for them to have retention funding model to enable it to function effectively. Apart from enabling ZIMRA to meet operational policy, I think this will enable the organisation to not only meet but exceed its revenue. I am sure we all know - [Technical challenge] - ZIMRA is like a heart pumping blood to all the organs of the body – it supplies money to all the organs of Government. There is no need for the Ministry of Finance to micromanage like they are doing now especially in view of the fact that in the last financial year, ZIMRA had received only half of the so called budget.
I think that the management also ZIMRA staff issues by Ministry of Finance renders the board ineffective and board members will not perform as per their expectation because of constant interference by the Ministry of Finance – worse still having the Permanent Secretary sticking on the revenue. This is not proper Madam Speaker.
I agree with the recommendations of the Committee that ZIMRA be given autonomy to run its affairs and retain 3% of revenue collected to enable them to make key management decisions and also be able to procure capital equipment especially ICT equipment. Thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. I. NYONI: Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Let me support the report presented by Hon. Nyashanu, seconded by Hon. Mushoriwa. ZIMRA plays a major role in collecting revenue for Government. Here we are talking about revenue such as VAT, PAYE and customs duty for our Government to fulfill its functions such as construction of infrastructure, payment of salaries to Government workers, fund efficient running of hospitals, schools and other obligations. It is important that efficient collection by ZIMRA is done.
In the report, it is stated that ZIMRA is currently underfunded and the result is lack of proper equipment by ZIMRA and underpayment of staff. We are also aware that staff who are underpaid, the result is corruption and below par-performance. It is therefore important to improve staff salaries and incentives as these are highlighted by the Committee in their report. The request by ZIMRATU that retention amount is increased makes a lot of sense; is reasonable and should be supported.
I noted that the Committee also highlighted disbursements on retention amount, which takes quite some time as far as the previous financial year was concerned – 54% of disbursements had been done. However, a reasonable time of three months makes some sense. It is from that platform that civil servants can import vehicles duty free. This includes Members of Parliament who have a rebate of duty and also includes other civil servants who can import up to a value of US$10 000 depending on their positions. This facility is not extended to members of staff at ZIMRA yet these are the same people who collect all the revenue and process all these imports. It is important that this incentive should also be extended to ZIMRA staff.
We are also aware that ZIMRA operates 24 hours in some areas particularly at Beitbridge Border Post. We usually hear of staff shortages at Beitbridge Border Post and the recent one was where staff were taken from other centres such as Harare to Beitbridge and there was an accident that occurred involving critical staff. It is important that there is decentralisation of recruitment of manpower and timely recruitment to improve on revenue collection.
Lastly, this has been said by other speakers - the Permanent Secretary should not sit in the ZIMRA Board because this is a clear conflict of interest. I submit Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Thank you to the Chairperson of the Committee for the presentation. I confirm and agree entirely with the contents of the report. I will just like to buttress some debates here and just bring to the attention of the House that it is very unusual for management and the union to agree as these did when they did their presentation on just about every issue.
However, the Ministry of Finance personnel who came to sit before the Committee must and only displayed the content as far as I am concerned and they gave the impression that they were above the law and were just going through the motions to sit before the Committee.
The second issue I would like to bring which has a major effect on the presentation is that the budget and the banking of their own funds is absolutely essential. When you consider the issues and shortfalls like ICT or vehicles, they have to go out and work on enforcement, assessment and travel because they are centred around Harare. This is a major issue for ZIMRATU and management to contend with. The issue has been covered well and I do not want to dwell on the board’s position. The board’s position is a blatant miscarriage of justice. I believe that the Minister should answer to all these questions that who appointed the Permanent Secretary into the position on the board. It became very apparent in the interviews that the board was being dictated to by the Ministry of Finance. Ministry of Finance must not do that. The abuse of the board’s positions must be changed immediately because this year the Ministry of Finance themselves have been glutting about ZIMRA being above what was budgeted. If that is the case, why did they not give the full budget allocation? This is again in my view contentious of Parliament when you do the budget. What is the point of our budget if it is not going to be adhered to by the people who are supposed to implement it, which is the Ministry of Finance? I so move and I thank you.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. DR. NYASHANU: Madam Speaker, I move that the rest of the Orders of the Day be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 6 has been disposed of.
HON. L. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
HEALTH SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 8, 2021]
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Health Services Amendment Bill [H.B. 8, 2021].
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I rise to present the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on the Health and Child Care on the evidence gathered during the Public Hearings on the Health Services Amendment Bill, [H.B. 8, 2021].
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Following the gazetting of the Health Services Amendment Bill [H.B. 8, 2021], the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care undertook public hearings in accordance with Section 141 (a) and (b) which states that, “Parliament must (a) Facilitate public involvement in its legislative and other processes and in the process of its committees; (b) Ensure that interested parties are consulted about Bills being considered by Parliament, unless such consultation is inappropriate or impracticable.” The Committee split itself into two teams and conducted the public hearings in each of the 10 provinces of the country. Thus, this report is a summary of the key findings by the Committee.
2.0 COMMITTEE FINDINGS
2.1 Submissions in support of the Bill
2.1.1 Most of the participants applauded the aim of the Bill to replace the Health Services Board with a Health Services Commission. However, the participants stressed the need for the Commission to operate in the same manner as other Commissions established by the Constitution.
3.0 Submissions Opposed to the Bill
3.1 Clause 5, Section 16A Restriction of right to strike for Health Service
3.1.1 It was indicated that Section 65 (3) of the Constitution must be read together with Section 65 (4) which provides that every employee is entitled to just, equitable and satisfactory conditions of work. The participants stressed that collective job action is a strategy used by workers whose constitutional right to satisfactory conditions of work is being violated. It was also indicated that Section 16A of the Amendment Bill constitutes a serious intrusion into labour rights and constitutional freedoms of health service professionals.
3.1.2 It was also pointed out that Section 16A (3) criminalises being an executive member of a trade union group that organizes collective job action. As a result, this section is discouraging trade unions which contradicts with Section 65 (2) of the Constitution that provides rights for people to form or join trade unions.
3.1.3 It was further highlighted that the restriction of the right to strike for Health Service under Section 16A does not provide any compensatory guarantees which is expected under the International Labour Organisation. It also does not complement Section 104 (4)(a) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] that provide grounds for essential workers, such as health workers, to resort to collective job action in the event that their health and safety is in danger.
3.1.4 The participants also raised that Section 16A (5) (a) involves relevant councils in employment issues yet under the Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19], councils are not regarded as an employer therefore they should not have powers to make decisions of punishing a health worker or deregistering them.
3.1.5 Section 16A contradicts with Section 24 of the Constitution which enjoins the state to remove restrictions from labour relations. It was argued that Section 16A (4)(b) of the Amendment Bill that forces health professionals to return to work contravenes with Sections 54 and 55 of the Constitution that prohibits slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour. It was also stated that the Bill should align with Section 56 of the Constitution that emphasis on equality and non-discrimination, by foregoing the criminal punishment imposed on health workers who would have chosen to exercise rights available to other employees of the State.
3.1.6 The participants were concerned with health professionals being the only group deemed as essential services in line with Section 65 (3) of the Constitution. It was also stated that the term ‘essential service’ should come with deserving incentives that equals the term. Therefore, the Bill should address the grievances that are triggering collective job action by creating a platform for communication between Health Service and Government. The participants proposed that the Labour Act should not be repealed.
3.1.7 Delete Section 16A (2) (b) ‘no collective job action’ and substitute with ‘incentivize’3.1.8 Delete Section 16A (3) that reads, ‘Any individual who is a member of the governing body of any trade union or representative body of members of the Health Service which incites or organises any job collective action contrary to subsection 2(b) 25 or (c) shall be guilty of any an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or to imprisonment for a period no exceeding three years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.’
3.2 Clause 2, Section 4 Functions of Commission
3.2.1 It was highlighted that, the proposed Section 4 (3) under Clause 2 of the Amendment Bill takes away the independence of the Commission from the Minister of Health and Child Care. Hence it was proposed that the Commission should be independent from the Executive and the Minister should be guided by the Commission. It was proposed that the Commission should be independent to make its own appointments. It was also proposed that the Commission should be answerable to Parliament only.
3.2.2 The participants stressed that the Health Service Commission should be regarded in terms of Section 321 (2) of the Constitution which advocates for the effectiveness or independence of Commissions not to be compromised.
3.2.3 The participants suggested that the Commission should be better in improving the health care system which the previous board has failed to do. The Commission should ensure that there is adequate medicine, personal protective equipment and all tools of trade required by healthcare workers.
3.2.4 The Commission should be granted an independent budget vote which is separate from the Public Service and Ministry of Health and Child Care.
3.2.5 A statutory independent tribunal like the Labour Court or Labour Officers should be created which will judge the legality or illegality of a collective job action. The proposed Amendment Bill should borrow from the Labour Act wherein Labour Officers determine the ‘show cause’ process before referring to the Labour Court for confirmation.
3.3 Clause 3, Section 5 Membership of Commission
3.3.1 The participants disagreed with the proposal for the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission to be the person who is also the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission. The participants were concerned with the overwhelming workload that comes from bearing two positions that are demanding and cited that it may affect the effectiveness of the Commission. It was proposed that the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission should be separated from the Chairmanship of Civil Service. The participants stressed that the Chairperson of Civil Service is already failing to bring better results for the Civil Service.
3.3.2 The participants also expressed concern on the Minister of Health and Child Care being involved in the appointment of the Commission, which differs from the practice of other Commissions that only involve the President to make his own appointments. It was recommended that Section 5 should read as follows;
(1) The Commission shall consist of—
(a) The Chairperson and a deputy Chairperson appointed by the President;
(b) A minimum of two and a maximum of five other members appointed by the President;
(c) Three other practicing health professionals, recommended by the Health Professions Authority, of at least seven years’ continuous experience working at a public medical facility at the time of their appointment; and
(d) One person who shall be recommended by the Health Apex Council.
3.3.3 Some participants proposed that the membership of the Commission should include Persons with Disability.
3.3.4 The participants also proposed that the appointment of Commissioners should be facilitated by the various electoral boards that already exist in the Health Service and the Commission should not be appointed by the Executive because it will serve the interests of its appointer.
3.3.5 Some of the participants proposed that the Commissioners should appoint their own Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.
3.3.6 Section 5 (1) (c) should ensure that the Commission has 10 or 11 Members that represent the 10 provinces in the country.
3.3.7 The appointment process for the Commissioners should be transparent and stakeholders should have an input.
3.4 Clause 4, Section 10 Secretary and other staff of the commission
3.4.1 The Committee was also informed that, the proposed Section 10 (2) must not restrict the role of the Secretary to be reserved for Medical Practitioners only, which refers to a medical doctor when interpreted using the Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19]. It was therefore proposed that the role should be open to any health practitioner and the term ‘medical practitioner’ should be substituted by ‘health practitioner’. The participants further stressed that making the Secretary role to be occupied by any qualified health practitioner will ensure gender balance in the Commission since the medical profession is highly characterized by male counterparts whilst the nursing field is mostly dominated by females.
3.4.2 Section 10 part 5 (b) should present clear conditions under which the Commission may revoke such functions to avoid spurious interference with the secretariat.
3.5 The Bill is not addressing pertinent issues to do with health financing which is required to revamp the health care sector that is in a deplorable state.
3.6 The Bill should provide clarity on what the Government should do to improve the health care system to ensure there is retention of healthcare workers instead of restricting the Health Service.
3.7 The Bill is taking away the responsibility of the Government to be accountable and burdens the healthcare workers to carry the weight of making the health care system work. It is also taking away the platform for engagement between employer and employee.
3.8 The participants also proposed that in the future, all Bills crafted should be done so in consultation with Health Service or interested parties so that the country comes up with feasible laws that address the shortcomings in the healthcare system.
3.9 The participants stressed that laws should address root causes than demotivate morale of the interested parties.
3.10 The proposed Amendment Bill should align the Health Services Act to the Constitution as is stated in its preamble. The proposed Amendment Bill has not shown where the old provisions have been misaligned to the Constitution.
3.11 The participants proposed for the whole Bill to be rejected and redrafted in consultation with the Health Service.
3.12 The participants suggested for Government to improve the efficiency of the current Health Service Board to address the grievances in the Health Service rather than replacing it with a Commission which is bound to fail as the current Board.
4.0 Committee’s Observations
4.1 The Committee noted that Clause 3 is silent on the critical skills that those appointed to be members should have for example, a legal person.
4.2 The Committee noted that there seemed to have been little or no consultation done by the MoHCC in the drafting of the Bill as most of the provisions of the Bill were rejected by the interested and affected stakeholders, especially the health workers during the public hearings due to its seemingly punitive nature towards job action by the health workers.
5.0 Recommendations
Flowing from the above findings and observations, the Committee recommends that:
5.1 Clause 3 should clearly stipulate the critical skills that those appointed to be the members of the Commission should have.
5.2 Given the overwhelming rejection of the Bill by the interested and affected stakeholders, the MoHCC should withdraw the Bill and conduct a thorough consultation process with all the interested and affected stakeholders in order to redraft the Bill.
6.0 Conclusion
The Committee is of the opinion that a good law must serve the interest of the people and it must be reasonable, it should not be too harsh or rigid. Thus, the Health Services Amendment Bill should be recrafted in such a way that it protects the health workers, boost their morale at work by creating good platforms for negotiations and cordial work relations between the employee and the employer as well as creating an enabling environment for quality health care services in the country. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to make my contribution on this very important legislation to us on the Health Services Amendment Bill. First and foremost, I would like to say I would have wanted the Hon. Minister of Health to be present during the debate on this Bill. I implore your office to relate to the Executive that when we are discussing these Bills, we are doing it so that at least we can have a national consensus. It is not an individual debate like mine. So a Committee Report carries the weight of the people who have been consulted. Therefore, I am sure the Hon. Minister, it is only fair for him to be able to be with us.
Nonetheless Hon. Speaker, the memorandum of the Bill speaks to aligning the health services profession of the health services regulations to the Constitution but the contents of the Bill intend to achieve the opposite. It takes away the right to strike yet the Constitution promotes the right to strike. It takes away the right to trade unionism yet the Constitution allows for the establishment of trade unions. It takes away the right for one to join a particular organisation of their choice with regards to collective labour organisations and yet the Constitution provides for that.
So I would first of all immediately want to agree with the last recommendation and observation by the Committee that this Bill should be withdrawn. It has no place finding itself under debate in this Parliament. We cannot have a Bill that has its memorandum trying to align the law of the Constitution yet in the contents, it is trying to achieve the same. We are actually wasting the time of Parliament and I will therefore move for the adoption of that particular recommendation that this Bill must be struck off and consultations be done.
We risk over-legislating with regards to civil service and our workers in Zimbabwe. I am not very sure of how many jurisdictions either in Southern Africa or in Africa or internationally who have a plethora of legislations trying to manage workers in your own country. We have the Labour Relations Act, the Public Services Act and now we are trying to come up with the Public Health Services Act. We are dealing with the same people. Let us look at what happens when they negotiate for their salaries. They go to the APEX Council which is one and the drafters of this Bill could not escape trying to locate the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission as the Chairperson of the Commission again under the Health Services Commission.
This shows you that it is supposed to be under one person because you cannot be a Chairperson of the Public Service Commission and you want again to be a Chairperson of the Health Services Commission. It simply shows that the functions, the authority, the powers and the intention and objectives are the same. In my view, I think instead of continuously rupturing the regulations with regards to specific sectors of the workers in our country, let us bring them to one. Let them all be managed with the Labour Relations Act as it applies to the various sections of the workers in Zimbabwe.
We have one Minister of Labour and therefore, every other employee must be guided by the regulations as monitored or as superintended by that one particular Minister of Labour to have Labour Relations as it pertains to health services professionals. Perhaps we can excuse the military and the police because of their disciplined nature of work, but we have teachers having their own commission, nurses having their own commission and dip-tank supervisors having their own commission. I do not think it is fair for us as legislators and people who are trying to make laws for the good governance of mankind. Again it falls back to the issue of saying this Bill must be struck off and further consultation be made.
The Bill promotes discrimination. As I was seated and listening to the presenter on behalf of the Committee, you can hear the militants in this Bill. You can hear the militarism of the Hon. Minister coming out now in a civil service space. He is trying to exercise his natural militaristic experience which he had in the army, trying to bring it to a civil space – it cannot be. Someone must be able to advice the Hon. Minister that he is now a civil servant leader and not a military leader. He used to be and we respect him so much with whatever he did as a military leader but he cannot bring military dictates to a civil space.
You cannot order nurses and doctors not to go on strike. They are workers and they must be able to express themselves. You cannot order nurses and doctors not to be able to join a trade union. They are not soldiers; they are not a disciplined force who takes command. They are not a commandant element. You cannot order nurses and doctors not to be able to bargain for their salaries because they are not a military commandant. So, I understand...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, I think you should debate the Bill and not the Minister.
HON. CHIKWINYA: No, but the Bill was sponsored by the Minister and therefore, he has to take responsibility of his actions over this Bill, he is the one who sponsored it. So if I come here with a Private Member’s Bill, he must also interrogate my intentions because law making is about the intention of the legislator. So, we cannot escape the character of the Minister.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: You cannot debate the character of the Minister. You should debate the items in the Bill.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I stand here guided by you Hon. Chairperson. It is not my intention to debate the character of an individual in Parliament but the character of the contents of the debate depicts the character of the Minister himself. Therefore, it is one mirror and the other, if you see the militance in the Bill, you see the militance in the Minister, and so you cannot escape that. Anyway I will move on.
Hon. Chairperson, I think it is high time if we are a Parliament that prides itself in listening to the people, we must be able to…
HON. MUSANHI: On a point of order! I stand to be guided. Hon. Chikwinya is not following what the Chairperson has ruled. He is actually arguing with the Chairperson. So, I do not know whether he is chairing himself or what?
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Musanhi. That is what I told the Hon. Member that he must debate the issues in the Bill not the person of the Minister.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I agreed Madam Speaker and I had actually moved two points forward but simply because he belongs to that particular faction and he wants to please his faction master, I also agree with him.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: May you withdraw that Hon. Chikwinya!
HON. CHIKWINYA: Which part?
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: That you are saying faction, we are not talking about factions here.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Faction, faction, we are not talking about factions here, I withdraw.
Madam Speaker, I was saying if we are to call ourselves a Parliament of the people, we must be able to listen to the people and this report strictly takes us to that provision of Section 141 of the Constitution with respect to public consultations when we are trying to come up with a particular law.
Instead of calling for muscling of the space under which the workers can talk about their issues, we are removing that particular space. This Bill is removing that particular space. We must actually create a condition of dialogue. I want to believe that and I also want to believe that in your personal capacity, you have attended a funeral for nurses or doctors; they are always reciting this poem which they actually say that it is a calling. Those people are not there to make money as a pre-condition. They are answering to a call. Not all of us can be doctors and not all of us can be nurses because that job is not an easy job but when they are calling for conditions of service, that makes them to feed their families and children, you pull away the rug under their feet to say just work and shut up. You are simply providing for conditions of a soft genocide.
Your relatives, my relatives are going to die with no one caring for them in hospitals because we have taken away the right for the people who are supposed to take care of them to speak. Let us create conditions for them to speak out and let us hear them. Where they are saying we have no bread, let us say we have got half a loaf of bread, can you please take it whilst we are working on something? We have no cooking oil and you tell them we have got half a litre, can you please take it whilst we are looking for something else rather than to tell them to keep quiet forever as if they are working in a mortuary, that is not fair.
So, I would again agree with the report of the committee to say further consultations must be done. In fact, this Bill is wrongly placed at a time whereby we are promoting dialogue as a nation. We must be speaking to each other with regards to whatever issues which are affecting us, whether socially, politically or economically and we are trying to bring in a Bill that muscles that particular space. In view of this, the Bill must actually be struck off as a matter of urgency.
Lastly, I support the fact that we do not need a commission. We simply need to empower the board to be responsive to the issues of the health professionals, to bring in a Commission, and to me it is trying to simply sneak in these exuberant powers which are trying to suppress the rights of the workers through another name.
Let us take the issues as they are from the health professionals. Let us look at the powers of the board as is currently constituted and we see if it cannot deal with them. You are going to find that it is able to deal with them decisively, what we have simply done is to fail to give them resources.
We must be a nation that is shy among other nations. How come we are the only nation where a certificate of first aid is a passport for someone to go to UK? A certificate which is obtainable in two weeks is more valuable than a PhD in Zimbabwe. People with PhD’s are failing to find their way outside the country but a person with a certificate of first aid from St John’s is finding their way out of Zimbabwe. Let us create conditions which are conducive for our medical professionals for them to remain in Zimbabwe.
If we are going to pass this law, we have simply put the final nail on the coffin, we no longer have any health profession to talk about. We must be able to listen to them responsively as a listening Government like what you purport in your rallies. Listen to them and respond to what they are saying. Therefore, I move that this Bill as for the recommendation of the Committee, guided by the input of the citizens who were consulted throughout the whole country, this Bill must be struck of as a matter of urgency.
(v)HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important report. Let me begin by thanking Hon. Toffa for the presentation. I know a lot has been said in terms of the rights and everything else that goes with workers but perhaps to really refresh the minds of the colleagues in the House, Zimbabwe is a signatory to ILO Convention 87 and 98. In 2009 we had a commission of enquiry that came to Zimbabwe from the ILO to see that we had actually broken all the rules in terms of the right to collective bargaining for workers and the right for workers to join trade unions or organisations of their choice. We seem to be tracking back or to trap ourselves to going back into issues that we were thinking we had already surpassed. I am also not sure Madam Speaker, on the mischief that this Bill seeks to cure because from the presentation that has been given by Hon. Toffa, you can actually be taken down memory lane that the Labour Act is actually being violated through the back door. Why do I say so Madam Speaker? I belong to the Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and we are in the process of actually analysing the Bill on the Labour Management Bill.
These rights, the issues that have been mentioned in the proposed Bill by the Minister are also issues to do with the Labour Act. When we talk about the Constitution, it gives rights of the workers in Section 65 and precisely these are the rights. Madam Speaker, it would have been better or it is my proposal that we need to actually refer to the Ministers of Health and Child Care and the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to actually take the issues where there is a conflict also on the realisation that we do not actually violate rights of the workers.
I want to appreciate the point which has been mentioned in the report that the bulk of the workers in our health services are women. This is an already impoverished constituency Madam Speaker from salaries, and work positions. Madam Speaker, they endure pathetic hours of work. We are debating this motion unfortunately. Where we have had COVID-19, who has been at the forefront? It is the Health workers. So when it comes to even their rights and when we talk about their rights, we need to do some kind of retrospection that we are not actually putting salt on an already bleeding wound.
Madam Speaker, to come to my conclusion, there is need for this Bill to actually be relooked because already we have the marginalised constituency of workers, majority being women. You are also a woman Madam Speaker and I hope and trust that you will also be persuaded, even the councils that are not regarded, we have a problem because when workers form their organisations they need to be recognised and the Constitution does recognise the rights of the workers. So we cannot give with the right hand and take away with the left hand. The right approach has to be respected and this Bill has actually to take into consideration that it might put Zimbabwe back to the track of 2009 where we have actually been reported to the ILO in violation of workers’ rights and also the Public Service Commission has to do its work in informing or advising Ministers on what has to be tampered with and what can not to be tampered with. I thank you for the opportunity.
(v)HON. WATSON: Thank you Madam Speaker for this opportunity. I will be very brief. I just wish to support the Committee report and thank Hon. Toffa for her presentation and to support Hon. Chikwinya and Hon. Mpariwa. The feeling - to sum up the feeling of the participants in the public hearings was that the Bill does not seek to address the root cause of the problems in our Government’s health institutions, that it merely seeks to clamp down on health professionals who will then simply be forced to migrate either into the private profession or out of the country. It will increase the problems in public health institutions, not decrease them because it does not seek to solve the root cause of the problems in public health institutions in Zimbabwe.
So apart from the fact that it is unconstitutional, it is against ILO, things that we have signed up to, it is against the Labour Act as it stands and amending the Labour Act to suit this particular Bill for a commission seems like ,how is that aligning the Constitution? That is merely changing the playing field to suit the moment and the strong feeling is that from the participants and from the Committee deliberations, is that the Bill needs to go back to the drawing board with proper consultation of the stakeholders as a whole, the health professionals themselves plus the public. Thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. DR. MATARUSE: Allow me to thank our presenter Hon. Toffa for presenting the good report which was produced by our Committee. I am a member of the Committee. I want to just emphasise a few issues. The first issue is that the Bill was rejected by the workers and all stakeholders on the basis that they were not consulted and they wanted to give input into the Bill right from the start.
It is draconian and takes away the right of workers and the third issue is that it is unconstitutional. You will find that the Labour Act states that there should be satisfactory conditions of work. Further-more, this Bill is supposed solve problems in the health delivery sector, for example the exodus of health workers to greener pastures but this Bill seems to worsen the condition. A Bill is supposed to bring managers closer to their workers but this particular Bill actually drives them apart. The people were saying that if you pass this Bill, you will not find anyone in the hospitals because of the situation.
Parliament is supposed to make good laws for the good governance of this country. This law actually is bad and will bring ill in our health institutions and as a Committee, we recommended that this Bill be withdrawn and it should go back for redrafting. As a Committee, we actually recommended Parliament to give us a chance to discuss this Bill with the Minister before it is presented in Parliament and we have been denied that but I do not see why we are rushing to pass this Bill when the Committee still is not happy from the findings and we wanted to discuss this issue with the Minister before this issue is presented to Parliament. I am sure that there is a procedure for the Committee, if it does not want this Bill to presented to Parliament, to discuss with the Minister and sort the mess out before it comes to Parliament and it gives us a feeling that it might not be the Minister who really wants this Bill to really go through, it could be some other people because he did not actually present it in Parliament, he is not available to defend this Bill in Parliament.
I strongly recommend that this Bill should go back to the drawing board. I support my Committee report. Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me time to air my views, and the views of my Committee.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE (SPKNG): Thank you so much Hon Speaker for allowing me to add my voice to this debate. I would like to start by thanking Hon. Toffa for presenting the report on behalf of the Committee. I am a Member of the Committee and I was able to participate in the public hearings on the Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to align itself to the Constitution of the country; in particular, I am focusing on Section 76 of the National Constitution as adopted in 2013, which says the right to healthcare; “every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to access basic healthcare which includes reproductive healthcare services”. In my own view, this Bill is very retrogressive and will not be able to align the Health Services Act to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, especially Section 76. What it will achieve is the opposite. If this Bill is passed in its present form, it will be one of the worst pieces of legislature ever passed by this Parliament. I am strongly recommending that as Parliamentarians, we do not accept but totally reject this Bill. When we were consulting the public during public hearings, almost every health professional who attended the meeting showed high level of shock and surprise that we were actually going around the country with such a shocking piece of legislation. As Parliament of Zimbabwe, we need to realise that this Bill does not achieve its intended purpose and must be returned back to the sender. It particularly violates the workers’ rights to unionise, collectively bargain and negotiate as a community. It also violates their right to negotiate with the employer and confuses their right to serve their country freely without fear of victimisation. Its net effect is to drive healthcare workers from the public healthcare service to the private sector and to the diaspora, thereby worsening the current situation because right now, access to public healthcare in this country is in a deplorable state. So, we strongly reject this Bill and it must not be passed.
We also recommend strongly that the relevant Minister consults further without coming up with another Bill. He has to consult all the relevant stakeholders maybe at an all stakeholders’ conference so that whatever the mischief this Bill intended to achieve is clearly identified and separated from the mass of confusion being presented in this current Bill. Let the Minister do further consultations and come up with a highly revised form of the Healthcare Amendment Bill. Let us reject this Bill in its present format. I so move Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 8th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. DR. NYASHANU seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Eighteen Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 7th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Good afternoon Hon. Senators. Where are the others because your eyes want me to ask you? What is happening?
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Some of our colleagues are on outreach.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: You want me to believe that everyone is on outreach? – [HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Some]- Some, not all.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I know some are on outreach but others are on Zoom.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think I said you cannot start to be on virtual before the House is full. So the virtual part is out. We announced this last time.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWEARING IN OF A NEW MEMBER
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: On the 1st of June, 2022, Parliament was notified by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), that Nasper Manyau has been appointed a Member of the Senate for the people with disabilities to fill the vacancy which occurred following the death of Hon. Sen. Rejoice Timire.
The appointment is with effect from 14th May, 2022. Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the Third Schedule. Section 128 (2), states that the oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament. I therefore call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the oath of a Member of Parliament to Hon. Sen. Nasper Manyau.
NEW MEMBER SWORN
HON. SEN. NASPER MANYAU subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by law and took her seat. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI: Thank you Madam President. I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 5 be stood over until Order of the Day, No. 6 has been disposed of.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Effects of Drought on the National Herd in the Dry Regions of the Country.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Madam President for this opportunity to air my voice on the motion brought about by Hon. Sen. A. Dube with regards to drought. From where I come from, we call it nkwankwa. This means a situation where cattle will not survive and water will not be available despite the number of rains received because land would have run out of water. Growing up as a boy, there used to be a place called umlaga, meaning better grazing land. Around the month of August, September, October, cattle are driven to this grazing land where there is better grass and water.
Right now, we realise that one of the factors creating these challenges is erosion and deforestation, not taking good care of our environment. What excites me is that our President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa has intervened in making sure that people get water and is trying to increase the country’s herd by distributing cattle. Without cattle, our economy will not grow. We will be required to survive from importing meat from other countries yet we used to export.
Therefore, we applaud our President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for realising that effort to restore our national herd, it is critical. It is not easy but what is being done will assist in developing our country. We need to know that when talking about the national herd, we are not only focusing on having enough meat for braais in parties and weddings. Most of us, even though people are now using tractors for tillage, people continue to use cattle for land preparation. When these cattle are not in good condition and unable to till, there will not be any production in our fields. We also need to know that cattle milk is relish that we used to eat from our childhood.
I remember my grandmother MaNyathi - in Kalanga culture, I do not know if most of you know it. There is what we used to call kunubula nkaka. This is milk that used to be eaten by boys and girls for them to be strong. We used to get this from cattle. I do not know if grannies of today who enjoy chips still know this type of milk. What I am asking for is that our cultural leaders, chiefs and headmen, each time there are functions, they need to see to it that people keep their culture by preparing such relish as amasi not for our kids to think that milk is obtained from shops. They need to know that milk comes from cattle.
Let me conclude by saying our national herd is destroyed by drought - nkwankwa. In other instances, there are causative factors and because of drought, we end up relying on wild animals for meat, hence human and wildlife conflict.
With these few words our lovely President of the Senate, Hon. Chinomona, I continue to say thank you for giving me this opportunity to say a few words on this important motion. May God bless you and bless Hon. Sen. A. Dube. Thank you.
HON. SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 8th June, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 8th June, 2022
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PLENARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Plenary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December, 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI: I move that the debate do now adjourn
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 8th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. DR. SEKEMAYI, seconded by HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA, the Senate adjourned at Three O’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 19th May, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day Nos. 1 to 17 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day No. 18 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES ON BENCHMARKING VISIT TO RWANDA
HON. MASANGO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the report of the Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on the Benchmarking visit to Rwanda held from 10th to 15th October, 2021.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: I second.
HON. MASANGO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I now present my report:
INTRODUCTION
Five members of the Portfolio Committee on ICT Postal and Courier Services from the Parliament of Zimbabwe, accompanied by two members of staff, conducted a benchmarking visit to the Parliament of Rwanda from the 10th to the 15th of October, 2021. Of the seven members of the delegation, five were women. The visit was necessitated by the fact that Information Communication Technologies have become crucial in the existing social order of the day and especially during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Hence, the delegation sought to share experiences in the work of the ICT Committees with the intention of adopting best practices and ultimately enhancing Parliamentary oversight the over use of public resources.
COMPOSITION OF THE DELEGATION
The delegation to Rwanda comprised the following Members of Parliament and staff: Hon. Susan Madziva, Hon. Joyce Jaja, Hon. Jonah Nyikadzino Sewera, Hon. Precious Chinhamo- Masango, Hon. Ability Musavaya Gandawa (Leader of the Delegation), Ms. Bertha Bhobho (Secretary to the Delegation), Mrs. Betty Munowenyu (Researcher)
OBJECTIVES OF THE BENCHMARK VISIT
The main objective of the visit was to enhance Members of the Committee’s understanding of ICT laws in Rwanda with a view to adopting and recommending best practice in the crafting of our own laws and to expose Members of the Committee to diverse ways of enhancing the ICT sector in line with keeping up with the ever changing technologies. The other crucial objective was to accord the Members of the Committee an opportunity to discuss the legal impediments and enablers towards improving ICTs in the country during the COVID-19 era and the role that Parliament can play in enhancing the same.
In this regard, the Committee was able to have a courtesy meeting with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Committee also had an engagement with its counterparts from the Committee on Education, Culture and Youth in Rwanda. The Committee also had the privilege to meet with the Minister of ICT and Innovation, and parastatals such as the Rwanda Information Society (RISA); the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Rwanda Post Office.
COMMITTEE FINDINGS
Information Communication Technology Policies and Strategic Plans in Rwanda
The delegation paid a courtesy call on the Clerk of Parliament and the Committee on Education, Culture and Youth in Rwanda. During these visits, the Committee learnt that the Government of Rwanda had initiated Policies and Strategic Plans which include the Rwanda Child Online Protection Policy in June 2019, an integrated ICT-led socio-economic development policy and plan for Rwanda 2001-2005, National Broadband Policy for Rwanda, National Cyber Security Policy in March 2015; Data Revolution Policy in April 2017; National Digital Talent Policy, June 2016 and National Urbanisation Policy, 2015.
The Committee learnt that there are strategic plans in place by Rwanda Government in order to promote the usage of ICTs and these include;
- The National E-Waste Management Policy, August 2018,
- The Local digital content promotion strategy & implementation plan (2018-2022);
- The ICT hub strategy 2024,
- The ICT sector strategic plan (2018-2024),
- The National cyber security strategic plan, Kigali, March 2015,
- The National ICT strategy and plan, 2015,
- An integrated ICT-led socio-economic development plan for Rwanda, 2006-2010, and
- The Smart City Rwanda Master plan and Smart Rwanda Master plan, 2020.
The delegation also learnt that the Republic of Rwanda had introduced different E- Services to promote the usage of ICT in the country and these include, the IREMBO e-government portal, the Kigali Land Construction one stop shop, the Kigali SMART bus project, the Kigali Pollution mapping, the Water and Electricity online paying systems, the NDI HANO (I am Here) SMS platform for the education sector, the Digital revenue collection, the SMART electricity meters, the Kigali Innovation city, the Rwanda Development Board, the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), the Rwanda infrastructure geoportal, the E-health services and the One laptop per child programme.
Institutions related to ICT
The delegation was also told that in order to fully implement policies, strategies and laws related to ICT, the Government of Rwanda has established the following institutions: The Ministry of ICT
(MINICT); Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA), Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), National Identification Agency (NIDA), National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA),Rwanda Development Board (RDB),National Council for Science and Technology (NCST),Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) and the Rwanda Post Office.
The use of ICT in improving the work of Parliament of Rwanda.
The delegation also learnt that in a bid to be e-compliant, the Parliament of Rwanda established the Digital Conference Network Multimedia in the Senate Chamber and the Digital Conference Network (DCN) for the Chamber of Deputies. The delegation was informed that the Digital Conference Network has a voting system Server room with Power backup facility and that all users have personal computers, wired and wireless LAN, with 60 Mbps connectivity and make use of the 4G modem. The delegates were also informed that citizens react to Parliament activates through the parliamentary website, and on radio through (Radio Rwanda Inteko), and on Social media through the parliament’s Facebook, twitter, and Instagram accounts.
It also emerged that since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, the Parliament of Rwanda as well as all Institutions of Government of Rwanda adopted the remote working methods also known as “Work from Home”, in order to prevent the spread of COVID -19. It is in that line that every day the ICT department helps all Members of Parliament and staff to work from home and attend different meetings.
Challenges being Faced by the Parliament of Rwanda
The delegation learnt that the Parliament of Rwanda has been facing challenges relating to the User support and that there is need for more ICT training of Members of Parliament and Staff. It also emerged that the Network coverage is also not sufficient. Another challenge which was mentioned was on the issue of Cybersecurity threats hence the need for experts and training in security and strong firewalls.
Engagement with the Minister of Information Communication, Technology and Innovation.
The delegation had the privilege to engage with the Minister of ICT and Innovation and they were informed that the Government of Rwanda had a 7-year programme National Strategy (NST1) expected to run from 2017-2024 as ICT is a cross cutting enabler for Economic Development. It was also stated that in responding to the COVID -19 Pandemic, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation introduced the following;
- The Cruzr robots responsible for testing COVID-19,
- Predictive data modelling,
- Use of drones for a serial surveillance,
- COVID -19 self-screening,
- COVID -19 response website,
- Government teleworking support,
- The e- commerce and delivery platforms and
- The citizens travel permission system.
The Hon Minister Paula Ingabire pointed out that the Republic of Rwanda has recorded 62% internet penetration and 84%phone penetration. She further mentioned that there was an introduction of digital financial inclusion in line with Government broader vision to increase payment transactions through electronic means. Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Rwanda had established the National Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital forensic Centre, Cyber Departments in all security organs and the National Cyber Security Authority.
It also emerged that the Ministry of ICT and Innovation has also carried out smart initiatives such as Smart Farming in Agriculture and Smart Health through the Digital Community Based Primary Health IT systems. In addition, the Rwandan Government had partnered with a private company called Zipline which is responsible for delivery of medicine to hospitals using drones.
Rwanda Post Office
The delegation had the chance to tour the Rwanda Post Office and learnt that it had been administered under the colonial rule before 1992. It was further explained that with the country attaining its independence, the administration and supervision of the organization was given to the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and that the day to day management is entrusted to the Director General.
Moreover, the delegates learnt that about 90% of the Post Office revenues are generated by express mail services, postal parcels, sales of stamps and terminal busses. Furthermore, it was stated that the institution does not get any funding for its activities and that their strength is in trading in major cities, being a trusted government institution with long experience and skills. The delegation was informed that the institution is now embarking on developing ICT based products through collaboration with Rwanda IT players. However, the institution is facing challenges due to increased new technologies, competition, the COVID -19 global pandemic, and the Government paperless policy in the public services.
The Rwanda Information Society Authority
The Committee also visited the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) which has the mandate to implement ICT policies in the sector by leading ICT Projects. The delegation learnt that RISA’S core activities are infrastructure, connectivity, digitalization, cyber security, innovation and merging technologies. It was explained to the Committee that RISA’s mission was to digitalize the Rwandan society through the increased usage of ICT as a crosscutting enabler for the development of other sectors. In that regard, RISA has been put in place to be at the forefront of all ICT projects’ implementation and streamline research, infrastructures and innovation within the ICT sector. Furthermore, it champions the implementation of the Smart Rwanda Master Plan initiatives.
The Rwanda Development Board
The delegation also visited the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) which is a Government institution created in 2008 after the government of Rwanda dissolved eight entities to form one single entity for investments. The Board is in charge of investment promotion and it is private sector driven. Of note, Zimbabwe Trade Conference signed 5 memoranda of understanding with the Rwanda Development Board and one of them was on Information Technology. The RDB has different E services as follows,
- Business registration done online, free of charge in less than 6hours.
- Mortgage registration
- Tourism licensing portal
- Tourism Booking Platform
- Investments registration
- Online booking system
- Selected digital ambassadors
KEY OBSERVATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE
The Republic of Rwanda Health System is efficient and ensures the delivery of medicine on time. This is enabled by the use of smart E-Health Services in the Country with the use of drones. This is done through the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. In Zimbabwe we have Telemedicine, which is the use of telephones to inquire about health services.
- In Rwanda there is only one platform on Government processes where citizens can engage the government with regards to any issues that need to be attended to as opposed to different line Ministries portals
- All Rwanda Government institutions have adopted a paperless policy and all business has gone digital
- Information Communication Technology activities in Rwanda are linked to innovation
- Rwanda Post Office does not get any funding from the Government even if it operates under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. It generates its own revenues.
- Rwanda Government has established a National Cyber Security Crime Centre responsible for monitoring cybercrime Cyber Security Centres have also been established in all the Government departments.
- The Rwanda Government has created an investor friendly environment through the Rwanda Development Board thus making it easy register one’s business.
- The Rwanda Post office has collaborated with private ICT players in an effort to go digital.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- That the Government of Zimbabwe partners with Private Companies in order to establish a drone company for E- Health Services. This can be done by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in conjunction with the Ministry of ICT Postal and Courier Services by 31st December, 2022.
- That the Ministry of ICT Postal and Courier Service establishes a one Government Portal where citizens participate in Government activities by 31 December, 2022.
- That the Ministry of ICT Postal and Courier Services formulates and follows up on a paperless policy in all Government institutions by 31 December, 2022.
- That the Ministry of ICT makes innovation key in its activities as this brings out the innovative part of using technology as an ongoing process.
- That ZIMPOST should not rely on Government Subsidies but should look for means to generate revenue on its own. Furthermore, it should collaborate with ICT players to improve its service provision through digital means by 31 December, 2022
- That the Ministry of ICT should establish a National Cyber Security Centre that is independent from POTRAZ. Furthermore, similar centres should be established in all Government departments in line with new law; the Data Protection Act by 31 December, 2022.
- That the Ministry of Industry and Commerce introduces registration of businesses online through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency by 31 December, 2022.
CONCLUSION
Rwanda is well advanced in terms of Information Communication Technology and the innovative part makes everything possible. There is need for the Government of Zimbabwe to adopt the best practices by Rwanda Government as the Country is moving towards the attainment of the vision of becoming an upper middle income economy by 2030. One of the thrusts of the National Development Strategy 1 is to digitalize the economy. Digitalising the economy is important as ICTs have become crucial for economic development in any sector of the economy. Thank you Mr. Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear].
*HON. T. ZHOU: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. Hon Tarusenga lent Hon. Biti his tie, so he does not have a tie anymore.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Zhou, we should not be so frivolous, the important things is that he is in properly accepted attire – [AN HON. MEMBER: Without a tie] –Ooh he does not have a tie, Hon. Tarusenga, go and get your tie. Hon. Zhou, I apologise, I had not understood. Thank you.
(v)*HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to add my voice on the motion moved by Hon. Masango. When you look at Rwanda, you see that all its cities have access to internet including the rural areas. What Rwanda has done is to develop access to internet to the extent that all growth points are well connected. The desire was to have everyone connected and promote exchange of information. Whilst we were in Rwanda, we learnt a paperless economy which we think is a good initiative for all businesses. For example, people who got their education in Rwanda and are looking for employment simply write to the Government indicating where they come from. All their information is accessible electronically.
Everything has been digitalised, all those looking for employment find it easy. We also learnt of the use of drones for transportation of medicines. These medicines are stored at a warehouse. Because medicines are stored in one place, it has reduced the costs of having storage place everywhere. Drones help with ease of transportation of medicines to places of need. For example, if there is an accident on the highway, a drone can actually transport the needed medicines at an accident scene in no time, thus saving peoples’ lives. We are very thankful of the lessons we learnt in Rwanda.
I am in full support of the recommendations that have been submitted in this House by the Committee. It is my desire that our Government will adopt the recommendations so that we also develop technologically as a country. Thank you very much for the opportunity Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I just want to add a few words to this report on the benchmarking visit to Rwanda by the ICT Portfolio Committee that has been presented by Hon. Masango, seconded by Hon. Gandawa. I add my voice not because I was there but because there is something that can be derived from information, communication technology that is in sync with modern day trends that can transform economies; avoid, eliminate - completely eradicate and annihilate the scourge of illicit outflow and revenue leakages and also enhance the issue of aptitude in terms of development of the economy.
The issue of ICT is key, so this benchmarking visit that was undertaken by the Committee on ICT is very welcome. From the recommendations of the Committee, it does look and point to the fact that there is need to include ICT both in our education system which is the foundation of any nation’s development and also in our financial systems. ICT in schools is very good as this is the foundation and the root of any development of any nation. If you want to know that the leaves and fruits are derived from the roots, all you need to do in a tree is to remove the roots and you will find that the fruits and the leaves start wilting so that we avert the flaccidity and we also remove the issue of non-turgidity. We need to make sure that the root of any tree and any issue is upheld. We need to employ and make sure that our ICT systems are embedded in the foundation of our countries and nations, most importantly in Zimbabwe and in Africa which has a very young population in terms of age.
We owe it to posterity so that we are in sync with the times. I am alive to the issue that has been spoken to and about by Hon. Gandawa with regards to the transport management systems, that in order to avert and avoid mortality due to RTA, there is need to expeditiously deploy health care service systems after an RTA using drones, which is state of the art machinery – that is computerisation and the use of information, communication technology. By the way, the use of ICTs increases a lot of collaboration, coordination and networking. It removes corruption, collusion also removes nepotism.
The issue that I want to touch on is the issue of the electronic cover note and also computerisation of the tollgates. There was a windfall that was exhibited and that was gotten out of the computerisation of those systems that came from analogue to digital. A windfall of revenue generation was exhibited and gotten because of ICT. Our Constitution and indeed our Acts of Parliament speak to and about e-governance. We can now use the report as a pedestal and a platform to enhance our issues to do with e-governance. It completely annihilates and eradicates the issues of illicit outflows, revenue leakages and a lot of corruption and corrupt tendencies.
I now want to come home and domesticate this report that has been brought about on a benchmarking visit. His Excellency, the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa has put in information, communication systems in a lot of our Post Offices so that the people in those constituencies can access computer knowledge without any challenges. I call for those places and information centres to be transformed, not only for internet and information gathering but also to be learning centres for the people in those constituencies and administration areas so that we can use one stone to kill two birds. We now have access to information, communication and technology and also we can get what is called international, computer driving licence (ICDL). We can now make sure that even before our children leave school, they have got ICDL which is internationally acclaimed computer driving licence, so that it can hedge against lack of employment and then they can use that platform and a plethora of these gadgets dotted around the country to enhance their education capability. The issues of requiring Mathematics, English and Science at A level to access tertiary education will be a thing of the past if somebody can have their International Computer Driving Licence before they leave school.
This was my thrust for debating this report in that we have just received 80 computers in Chegutu and with more than 10 schools that we have, we can definitely get our children who are numbering more than 10 954 who can actually benefit from these information centres. Having said that, I have tasked the Acting Town Clerk, Mr. Chikuruwo of Chegutu West Constituency to write to the Minister of ICT who is looking at establishing an information communication centre in Chegutu so that we can develop our library which is archaic, moribund, rudimentary, antiquated and medieval - to say the least. It is still backward, an analogue using only the literature via hard copies so that we transform that library into a computerised learning centre.
Having said that, I think these are the words today that I have been commissioned to come and present, especially on this report of the Rwandan benchmarking visit by the people of Chegutu West Constituency: that is Patricia Nyamadzawo, Sara Chikukwa, Marjory Ruzha, Lameck Nyamarango and Mr. Zivhu of Ward 24 Maridadi District. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank the mover of the motion and also the seconder.
(v)*HON. RAIDZA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. This is a very good report that we are getting from Rwanda and I would like to thank the recommendations they mentioned in this report. These are very good recommendations. They are informing us that Rwanda is advanced in technology but in Zimbabwe, we are seeing a lot of things that have happened since the inception of the Second Republic with regard to development of access to the internet.
When we look at the issue of business registration people in Rwanda are now able to do it in the comfort of their homes and it is very convenient. This is a very great lesson for us as a country because if you want our things to move timeously, this is something that we can encourage within our business industry to make it easy for people who want to register their companies and initiate business because the delay we experience in this country when it comes to company registration actually draws us back. It is against the desires of His Excellency, the President to have a middle class economy by 2030. Delays in the processing of papers when it comes to registration is a big hindrance.
In Rwanda, even in the rural areas, they are technologically advanced even the growth points. Looking at the period that we are living as human beings, technology is very important for our livelihoods. Today we see that only those in urban areas have access to the internet. We would like to encourage on that which the Government has already embarked on, together with the Ministry of ICT, may they increase capacitating people in rural areas even in Mberengwa East where we represent those people. People should be able to access internet despite their location so that they can get the assistance that they would be looking for.
It was a great initiative that took place, now our people can access passport registration and application online. It is now easy for people who want to acquire passports to do it online. There are a lot of positive things happening in this country. Looking at Vision 2030, it would be a good initiative that we advance in developing our country technologically. Digitisation will make our lives very easy as a country. As we speak, His Excellency the President, is actually busy with technological development in our country. It was our wish that we increase the speed when it comes to the development of technology so that people can be assisted. It is actually an avenue for us to fight corruption. It actually gets rid of corruption since it makes it easy for people to get rid of the physical being, apply and have access to services that they need instead of being asked to bribe someone so that they have access to services. Corruption has pulled us back as a country, it is very disruptive. We should fight corruption using technology and also develop our country using technology. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me. I thank you.
(v)*HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for this opportunity that you have given me. I would also like to thank the Committee on ICT for the report that they tabled in this House. It is that act they embarked on, that of visiting Rwanda that will assist us greatly in developing our own country. I would also want to thank those who moved the motion being supported by Hon. Gandawa.
I am happy to hear that a country, just like Zimbabwe, has developed this much. Rwanda is a country that has developed very well in terms of technology. Even their rural areas have developed very well. We look forward to seeing the same when people adopt this report and recommendations put to this House.
The issue of digitization and access to network, we look forward to seeing it in this country especially in rural areas. My constituency Warren Park, this is something that is known that there is the issue of network connectivity challenges – it is a well known problem. Our desire is to see our children engaging in e-learning. It is my desire that our Government allows for people to learn and reach the stage that Rwanda is at.
Madam Speaker, it is now expensive for Zimbabweans to access the internet because of the prohibitive costs, especially for school children who look up to access internet as a means to do their studies. The cost of data is now beyond the reach of many. May our Government assist its citizens because the cost of data is now very expensive. May we be assisted so that our school children have access and are able to conduct their studies through e-learning with ease?
The issue of e-governance, applying for a passport with one using their mobile phones is a very good initiative but it is not possible with the cost of data that is beyond the reach of many. If e-governance is a success, with the cost of data being very low, it becomes easy for citizens to access e-governance services. Looking at modern day technology, we now have online shopping, and others are able to buy their seed online including food. These initiatives are not here in Zimbabwe because the cost of data in Zimbabwe does not reach all corners of the country. Access to internet is very difficult, not everyone has access in all corners of this country. Even if you go past the tollgates that leave Harare, you will notice that there is a marked difference when it comes to internet access. You will also notice that what they learn in Rwanda cannot be applied to Zimbabwe because of the constraints you experience when it comes to internet access.
It is our desire that the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services implements that which we learnt in Rwanda. May he share the ideas in Cabinet so that we can have technological development in this country? Things like e-health is something that we expect to see in this country. Following the recommendations from the Committee, we expect the House to implement the recommendations that we presented to the House. The main purpose of learning is that which you have learnt, we come back and implement.
Looking at the issue of Information Centres, this is a very good programme. This programme is not yet in every constituency in the country. I will give an example of Warren Park; an Information Centre is in Belvedere where the Post Office used to be located. When you look at this - [Technical challenges.] –
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are left with five minutes Hon. Member.
(v)*HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. We need technological development in this country so that people from different corners have access to internet. People in different constituencies should be able to have access to internet. People should not embark on long journeys to access internet, they do not need to board buses and travel long distances in a bid to access internet. In most cases, people end up walking very long distances of up to eight kilometers just to access internet. If we adopt this report and recommendations, we will see Zimbabwe rising again. I thank you very much for the time you afforded me, and also for the report that was tabled by the Portfolio Committee on ICT. They represented the country very well in Rwanda – we now have something to talk about. I thank you.
(v)* HON. DUTIRO: (V)* HON. DUTIRO: Thank you Hon. Speaker for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to this topical issue on ICT. The biggest problem we have in Zimbabwe is the issue of network coverage. Our network providers in this country are showing that they are selfish, they are not bothered if people have access to the network or not, even if you look at this House where we are, we have a problem with network. If you are in the urban areas, it is a problem as well as the rural areas, the situation is the same. POTRAZ should do what is necessary and make sure everyone has access to internet. POTRAZ should be tough on network providers and make sure everyone has access to the network. They should not enjoy the monopoly that they are enjoying now. If you try to call NetOne using an Econet line, you face challenges. Secondly, people should have free internet access on all Government buildings. With these few words that I have contributed, I thank you.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice in respect to the study visit by our Portfolio Committee. I support this report in that the country of Rwanda is a country that had genocide as early as 1984. The time that Rwanda had the genocide, a number of their countrymen perished in that struggle. One would have expected that it would take some decades for the country to move from that barbaric system that prevailed in 1994. Alas, Madam Speaker, Rwanda has demonstrated in the entire continent and indeed the whole world that best practices do not reside in the west or in the east.
An African Government committed to the advancement of its people can achieve a number of things and this report bears testimony to it. In 1994 when Rwanda was busy having their genocide, we in Zimbabwe by then had our network cell phones, Econet, NetOne were brilliant even our landlines, the then PTC was so good. What has happened is that over the years, whilst Rwanda has been moving forward; we have actually been moving backwards or at best, we have remained stagnant, hence we now have to copy best practices from a country like Rwanda. What has resulted in this phenomenon growth in ICT in Rwanda? The answer Madam Speaker is actually to do with Government policy which is consistent and I think President Mugabe led by example in terms of reassurance that whenever Government policy was pronounced, it became consistent and that anybody who crossed the path would actually be punished accordingly.
Secondly, the other issue which has become very important in Rwanda is the fight against corruption. One of the problems that we face in this country, whether all the issues about our network, the pricing of our data and everything that you look at in Zimbabwe, you realise that behind all this, lies the big animal which is called corruption. Sometimes you do not understand why Zimbabwe for instance would end up having higher tariffs than any other country in Southern Africa. You then realise that most of the problem lies from corruption and secondly failure by the Government especially the Ministry of ICT, POTRAZ to actually do the duties they are supposed to do or that they are mandated by the Act of Parliament to do. When those things happen Madam Speaker, it becomes problematic.
The other issue that I want to raise which really cuts my heart, you will be shocked that the blue print of the development of Rwanda not only in ICT but in other areas, those blue prints more often than not, are copied from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe had done wonders in terms of coming up with position papers and in terms of development, it does not matter whether it is ICT, road or whichever infrastructure, everything we need in Zimbabwe is there. One of the things that we come to be told by the Rwandese is that if they want to do a project, all they simply do is to look and see the studies that had been done in Zimbabwe and then they implement. We suffer from a disease called non-implementation. We do fantastic paper work but we cannot implement and this is where we are lagging behind. This is where, as a country, we are failing to perform. I am just hoping that this report when adopted by this House, there is going to be a follow up with relevant ministries so that this report will not just become another pile of papers that we have been accumulating since 1980 which have never been implemented.
We do not want to have a situation where the next Parliament will have to send again another delegation to Rwanda to come up with the same findings that this Committee has found. We want a situation where once a report comes out, even when the Hon. Minister comes to make a presentation or to report to the House to answer to this report, we need to ensure that for continuation purposes, even Parliament should also come up with a track to simply say when our Committees visit these countries and they come up with these recommendations, these recommendations should be handed over even to the new Parliament when the new Members of Parliament come after the next election so that they know these things have been done so that there is progress.
More importantly, the people that are mandated to execute this, which is Ministry of ICT and POTRAZ, there is need for Parliament to continuously check that development is not stored but that we can continue to move from where we are.
Madam Speaker, I just want to end by saying this country called Zimbabwe has everything that we need. We have the manpower, the expertise - we have everything. All we lack is political will and our failure to just do the implementation. If you were to visit a conference or even a workshop to be hosted even by the Ministry of ICT, you will feel happy to be a Zimbabwean when you listen to the ideas that they have.
However, come two months, three years down the line, if you then try to check, you will realise that there is nothing on the ground and yet in Rwanda when they say we are moving to the east, we are covering 100km, they make sure that they try to cover that 100km.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Committee and thank you for this opportunity. I hope the resources that we have invested the Committee to do this task will not be in vain. I thank you.
HON. MASANGO: I move…
HON. MADZIMURE: On a point of order! You said any further debate and we stood up to debate but you have given Hon. Masango the floor to wind up since she is the mover of the motion.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: She is not winding up the motion but only adjourning the debate, you will debate next time.
HON. MASANGO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. T. MOYO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 7th June, 2022.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 19 to 25 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 26 is disposed of.
HON. MADHUKU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ON THE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICY (IEP) AND BETTER SCHOOLS PROGRAMME – ZIMBABWE (BSPZ)
HON. T. MOYO: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on the Inclusive Education Policy (IEP) and Better Schools Programme–Zimbabwe (BSPZ).
HON. MADHUKU: I second.
HON. T. MOYO: Madam Speaker Maam. I am going to present the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education on Inclusive Education Policy, IEP and Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ) petitions.
The Committee received two petitions from Deaf Zimbabwe Trust and from Mr. Shonhiwa on Inclusive Education Policy and Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe respectively. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust raised concerns that the Inclusive Education Policy has existed in draft since 2019 despite the current education sector which is not inclusive by excluding equal benefit of learners with disabilities.
Thus, Deaf Zimbabwe Trust beseeches Parliament to exercise its legislative representative and oversight function and protect the rights of people with disabilities in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and international legal instrument of which Zimbabwe is a party to and to ensure that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education finalise and adopt the IEP.
On the other hand, Mr. Shonhiwa was aggrieved by the notion that schools were being deprived of infrastructural development, furniture and learning materials by the Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe, demands for affiliation fees, hence beseeched Parliament to exercise its functions and protect the constitutionally guaranteed right to education and the rights of parents from abuses of public funds.
The Committee deliberated on the two petitions and resolved to conduct an inquiry on the two matters. Objectives of the inquiry were: - to gather public views on the two petitions and to offer policy recommendations for improvements.
I will move on to the methodologies. Oral evidence sessions with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on 4 November 2021, we also conducted public hearings at Nyika Growth Point in Masvingo, Mberengwa, Mapisa and Gokwe Centre from 20 to 26 February 2022.
Committee Findings – The BSPZ is one of the mainstream strategies that is meant to improve the standards of education, services provided at each school through mainly peer training, the sharing of best practices as well as PA supervision and monitoring of schools.
Another key aspect of this strategy is the conducting of action research and holding of competitions, exhibitions and fares to encourage schools to have a healthy competition and learners to learn from each other through such opportunities and experimental learning.
The levies paid towards the BSPZ are thus meant to ensure that sustainability of this shared strategy of sharing best practices among peer learners. Generally, funds that are collected for the BSPZ are ploughed to schools especially when they conduct their capacity building and research activities or set common mock examination task to gauge the strength of each school and help those lagging behind to increase their catch up efforts.
Within the Ministry, provinces and districts were challenged to come up with BSPZ centres in order to use them as research centres as well as offices and conference space for their periodic meetings. The province used different fund raising strategies and some have since come up with these centres but others were still unable to do so.
There is a management team made up of Ministry personnel and stakeholders within the community inclusive of business people, local leadership and this Committee is the one that ordinarily comes up with fundraising models inclusive of targeted levies in consultation with heads of schools.
Other findings include the mission of the Zimbabwean education system to facilitate the equitable provision of quality transformative 21st century practical, applied, inclusive and relevant infant junior, secondary and non-formal education.
The Zimbabwe Constitution of 2013 reaffirms this commitment as it enshrines the right to education for all. Section 75.1 states that every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to basic education, State funded education and further education with the State through reasonable, legislative and other measures must make it progressively available and accessible.
Inclusion – by inclusion we are advocating that schools should seek out welcome nature, respect and educate all children regardless of their physical, gender, intellectual, social, economic emotional, linguistic or other characteristics. An inclusive school espouses the best interests of the learners, promoting social cohesion, a sense of belonging, active participation in learning, a complete school experience and positive interactions with peers and others in school community.
The Ministry deliberately created the department of Physiological Services, learner welfare and special needs to deal with issues of inclusivity in line with the Inclusive Education Policy. The department deals with all forms of disabilities that our learners have and actively advocates for the provision of any infrastructure which learners with disability would require. The Ministry was at the finalisation stage of the Inclusive Education Policy Draft document. This process had been delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns or closures which makes it impossible to hold the stakeholder validation meetings.
Madam Speaker, this process was completed on 30 September, 2021 and the Ministry was factoring in the inputs from its stakeholders. Among the stakeholders in the validation stage were representatives of Education Coalition of Zimbabwe, whose members include Deaf Zimbabwe Trust who have petitioned Parliament. The harmonisation of Inclusive Education Policy with the Disability Policy has been done and confirmed by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The Ministry’s endorsement of the policy was targeted for end of November, 2021 which will be tabled to Cabinet.
Madam Speaker, there is a document on Inclusive Education Policy that was crafted and drafted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education but it just exists as a draft, it has not been adopted neither has it been implemented. So Deaf Zimbabwe Trust thus demanded to petition Parliament so that the implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy will be expeditiously done. Public hearings on Better Schools Programmes, this is what we found from Nyika, Gokwe, Mapisa, Mberengwa, you name all those place that we visited.
In response to the petition, participants exhibited polarised views with some in support and others against. Those in support, particularly officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education acknowledged that although there was no legal framework supporting the collection of revenue for BSPZ, there were written procedures on how the money should be collected and utilised. I will explain for the benefit of the august House. There is no legal instrument that authorises the collection of funds under the auspices of BSPZ. Also, the Auditor-General Department does not have a say, is not legally empowered to audit the books of accounts, which means they handle millions of dollars but no external audit from the Auditor-General’s Office.
Representatives from the Ministry explained that the BSPZ were meant to improve management in schools by targeting the capacity development of schools, school heads and teachers of philosophical understanding that capacitating a teacher is the right means to build a better school. Participants in Masvingo informed the Committee that in their province, BSPZ demanded affiliation fee of USD2 and USD5 per child in respect of primary and secondary schools respectively. In contrast, those in Midlands, Matabeleland South, North and Gokwe were charged 50 cents per child in primary and a dollar in secondary schools. Ministry officials were demanding the affiliation fees based on schools’ enrollment without giving consideration to whether the fees have been paid or not.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education informed the Committee that BSPZ funds were instrumental in manning districts as little to non-financial support reach districts from the Head Office. BSPZ funds are mainly being used for capacity building, inspection of schools and provision of secretarial and administrative support such as printing and photocopying.
Furthermore, the funds are being used for capital expenditure such as procurement of vehicles and construction of offices and halls as was the case of BSPZ Nyika and Mberengwa respectively.
In Nyika, participants argued that the BSPZ should be banned, with the collection of revenue stopped as a matter of urgency because it was illegal. Participants noted that a significant amount of money that should be used to purchase furniture and learning materials at a local school was being diverted, thereby disadvantaging children.
Madam Speaker, the public unanimously agreed that the Inclusive Education Policy is a noble policy, however raised concerns that the policy remains a draft document. Participants at Nyika, including school heads confirmed that they were consulted in the formulation of the policy. The Committee was also informed that the draft including the Education Policy was finalised before the inception of pandemics such as COVID-19, hence might need to be updated or reviewed to include matters such as online learning, among others.
On budgetary and material support, it came out strongly that the Inclusive Education Policy should be accompanied by a clear budgetary support to ensure that the policy is fully supported and implemented. Inclusive Education Policy is a pipe dream. The policy was referred to as a “dream”, Utopian model, farfetched from the challenges being faced on the ground.
Participants in Nkayi and Gokwe argued that there were some schools in areas such as Binga, Nkayi, Gokwe that were substandard, without any meaningful infrastructure to talk about. Some learners were walking 5 – 15 km to school, hence question how the disabled learners would manage to cover such distances to access education.
Role of Communities:
The Committee was informed there was need to be clear on the role of communities in the IEP. Throughout the public hearings, participants cried out that the parents in most cases were not willing to bring children with disabilities to schools. This was attributed to lack of information, unwillingness by parents and lack of assistive devices, among others. Hence, contributors argued that there was need to carry out awareness programme on the IEP to various communities as soon as the policy is adopted.
Role of Teachers
The teacher remains an important actor in facilitating education services, hence the IEP expected to be clear on their roles and responsibilities. Participants in Mberengwa noted that in anticipation of the launch of IEP, there is need to start training or capacitation of teachers on how to implement the policy. In addition, Government should consider offering allowances and providing learning materials. The policy remains unadopted despite the assurance by the Deputy Minister of Education that policy would be adopted by the end of November, 2021.
Schools have inadequate resources including financial, material and human to implement IEP. There is a general lack of consensus or appreciation of what constitutes inclusive education policy as reflected during the public hearings. The existing enormous challenges in the education sector such as lack of infrastructure, teachers, and financial support among others, may limit the success of the IEP. The BSPZ programme is a noble idea. However, due to lack of a legal framework there is no uniformity in the collection and use of the funds.
The programme has too many loopholes due to lack of a legal framework, particularly on transparency and accountability in the use of funds. The funds are no longer used for the benefit of learners, but for allowances by Ministry officials. BSPZ is increasing the burden on parents who are already struggling to pay tuition levies and fees. In the 2023 budget, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should consider provisions for the construction of model schools in each district, which should also serve as a good example on how an inclusive school should appear. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology should encompass special training for teachers on how to handle learners with disability by December 2022.
The MoPSE should conduct an exercise to compile the statistics on learners with disabilities (either going to school or not) to ensure proper planning in future by December 2022. The MoPSE should ensure that every school has a trained teacher to handle learners with disabilities by December, 2022. The Ministry should conduct awareness programmes on the IEP to ensure that communities, schools and teachers are informed and capacitated by December, 2022. The MoPSE should craft a legal framework on the collection and use of BSPZ funds by December 2022. The MoPSE should enact a Statutory Instrument to ensure uniformity in the collection and utilisation of the affiliation fees throughout the country by June, 2022. The Auditor-General should audit the BSPZ funds so that a clear picture on how the funds are being used can be explained and create room for improvements.
In conclusion, the IEP remains a noble idea and delays in the adoption and implementation has exacerbated the existing inequalities in schools and worsens the situation of learners with disabilities. IEP should be accompanied by a budgetary support to ensure its success. Lack of a legal framework to regulate the BSPZ has created abnormalities in the collection and use of the funds. Therefore, the Ministry should craft polices that regulate the collection and utilisation of BSPZ funds. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you very much Madam Speaker for giving me this time to second a very important motion by Hon. Moyo on Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe as well as the inclusive education policy. BSPZ is a very noble idea which was studied by the Royal Netherlands Government to improve the quality of education in Zimbabwe and it was handed over so that the Government would sustain this programme and keep on improving the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.
As we noticed when we moved around, this programme has now become a cash cow for the Ministry doing very little to improve the quality of learning and teaching in our schools. Different provinces and schools are doing their own things and therefore lacking uniformity as highlighted in the report that some provinces or districts are paying USD2 per child in primary schools and USD5 in secondary schools, which is a lot of money and looking at the population or enrollment of learners in Zimbabwe as given by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in 2020, which gave the total number of learners in the country to 6 553 690. This a very large number which shows that districts or provinces are collecting millions of USD per term because the subscriptions are paid per term.
With this money, different districts and provinces have built very beautiful structures – what they call resource centres and we have also noticed that some districts have bought lodges which they are running in their districts and collecting a lot of money because they are renting out or hiring those lodges. They have also bought very expensive 4 by 4 trucks, buses and so on. So there is a challenge in the absence of a legal instrument as alluded to by the Chairperson of the Committee. It remains a mystery whose property this belongs to. We are not sure with the acquisition of all these properties whether it is the property of the Ministry or parents, it is not very clear. So I am just trying to buttress the very important point that the legal instrument is needed. This money is also used to pay for as alluded to, travel and subsistence, education officers, fuels and so on. The parents are saying this money is depriving learners - the money which could have been used to purchase infrastructure and other learning and teaching materials, hence the outcry of this situation here. In the absence of the legal framework, these subscriptions are open to abuse and a lot of other nefarious uses. This is in total breach of Section 298 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe on Principles of Public Financial Management which calls for transparency, accountability, prudence and economical spending of money.
Worse still, when the Ministry makes the annual budget, this money is never talked about in the retention funds which they have. Considering that they are collecting millions of USD every year, we would have thought that the Ministry would actually account to say that they are collecting this money and spending it in this manner. We are calling for a legal instrument to ensure that there is transparency in the whole process.
Let me move on to the Inclusive Education Policy. The key principles of inclusion in education relate to the principle of togetherness and also equality and equal participation in education and acceptance of all learners as being the same. This is a total rejection of special education in schools where we are aware that there are special schools in our education system. The issue of inclusive education rejects the concept of special schools so that all learners come to the same schools, same classrooms and have similar experiences because there is no country or institutions which are specifically reserved for those with disabilities. We live together and we have the same political, economic and social experiences. For that reason, the learners need to have similar experiences in the same classrooms in the same schools.
This calls for a change of the status quo. We have been having an education system which was particularised and with those special schools, we are calling for a paradigm shift and a change of status quo in the education system.
As has been alluded to, Section 22 of our Constitution states that all institutions must assist persons with disabilities to achieve their full or maximum potential. Section 22 (4) talks of the provision of appropriate buildings and amenities for such learners. It is very important to note that statistics from the United Nations say that 15% of the global population is people with disabilities. The percentage is even higher in developing countries. In Zimbabwe, because of lack of adequate information, we actually have a very large number of such learners who need assistance.
Like everyone else, people with disabilities have dreams and desires to fulfill but are vulnerable to violence, abuse, neglect, stigmatisation, marginalisation, discrimination, exclusion from access and even mainstreaming – exclusion and discrimination from their health requirements, legal support and even other social activities. The issues of equality and equity are critical, especially in view of the fact that we have had this COVID pandemic which has impacted negatively on such learners.
The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa says that no one should be left behind and no one must be left behind in all developmental projects, in everything good which the Government does. By reason of this outcry, it is very important that all learners with disabilities be taken on board as a matter of urgency lest they be left behind. Leaving them behind is very costly for the nation because we have to go an extra mile in making provisions of people who had been disadvantaged in many ways.
In June 2021, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa launched the National Disability Policy in Harare. He said all Government departments and institutions should mainstream disability in all their programmes. He urged citizens to stop treating people with disabilities as charitable cases but as equals capable of productively contributing to the development of Zimbabwe. We are appealing to the Ministry of Education to ensure that they take this as a very urgent issue so that we take them on board and participate in the development of the country.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should ensure that every school has appropriate infrastructure and trained teachers to mann the learning and teaching aspect and availing of resources to cater for this very special and important group of learners. As has been alluded to, a disability inclusive budget is very critical. Government has to ensure that there is disability inclusive so that it caters for all these demands.
Madam Speaker Maam, allow me to conclude my contribution by quoting what the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa said on this launch last year on the Disability Act. He said, “the reality is that no one plans to be born with a disability or desire to acquire a disability, hence everyone has an equal chance of becoming a person with some kind of disability at any time”. Guided by the values of ubuntu or unhu and the legislative obligations, both State and non-State actors have a collective obligation to do all which is possible for the fulfillment of the aspirations of this sector”. Having said this, it is our sincere hope that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will expedite finalising this Act of Inclusive Education Policy for the benefit, not only of those with disabilities, but for the benefit of every citizen of this country. I thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.
(v)*HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate to this report that has been tabled by Hon. T. Moyo, seconded by Hon. Madhuku.
Madam Speaker, for the first time, I want to state that I personally feel that the Committee on Primary and Secondary Education did not do a proper job in terms of these two important petitions. First and foremost, Madam Speaker, whilst I can understand that the Committee, when it received the two petitions, decided to conduct Public Hearings. I think it was wrong of the Committee to then come up with one report including the way they put the Better Schools Programme in Zimbabwe (BSPZ), and the Inclusive Education Policy in one report. What they should have done was to come up with a BSPZ report and a separate report on the Inclusive Education Policy. The manner that they have done it is similar to scratching on the surface.
First and foremost, I will start with the BSPZ – I can forgive Hon. Moyo because of his exposure in higher education but Hon. Madhuku will know because he hails from the Primary and Secondary Education system. He also comes from the province of Masvingo, and Masvingo Province has done well in terms of BSPZ compared to other provinces in this country.
Madam Speaker, I speak about BSPZ with passion because I got the know-how having been a BSPZ Treasurer of one district at some point. The truth of the matter is that the findings by the Committee Madam Speaker, are wrong. The Committee said that the funds that are being paid to BSPZ are public funds. They are not public funds because public funds are defined by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) – if you check the funds that go to BSPZ do not suit within the corners of the PFMA. Where does the money from the BSPZ come from? The money from BSPZ is collected from monies that are paid by parents for their children through the school development levies. This is where a percentage is taken to go to the District Office, and a further percentage goes to the Provincial Office. I understand another percentage also goes to the National Office. What has happened is that BSPZ is being funded by parents who are being forced to do so, and rightly, the Committee stated that there is no legal framework to collect that money.
What has happened over the years Madam Speaker, and which is very problematic, if you go to Masvingo and I happened to visit Masvingo, at another time Chiredzi, Gutu, Mwenezi, Masvingo urban, and other districts in Masvingo, you will find that they have huge, good buildings and district offices in all those areas. They were built by BSPZ funds – in fact, those buildings were built by money received from parents and not by Government funds or taxes but those were paid for by parents. The Committee is right to say that nobody knows who owns those buildings.
The current set up is that the Government believes that they actually own those buildings because what the Government cited, clandestinely it decided not to fund education. If you go to the district offices, the District Schools Inspectors, their various inspectors and all officers who work under the district offices get salaries from the Government – just like teachers at Dzivarasekwa High School earn their salaries from Government. When it comes to all expenditures, just like at Dzivarasekwa High School, all expenditures at the school come from monies that are paid by parents. The good thing at Dzivarasekwa High School is that there is a School Development Committee that is elected by the parents to superintend over those funds.
What then happens with BSPZ Madam Speaker is that a percentage, which unfortunately [Technical challenge.] – decide on its own depending on that particular district or even the Provincial Education Director in that particular province decides what they want to do and the mission for that particular province. Look at it this way Madam Speaker, the monies that are going to BSPZ at district and provincial levels, if Government wanted accountability, they should have come up with a Statutory Instrument just like they did with the Statutory Instrument that governs School Development Committees (SDCs). In fact, the honest truth is that the Statutory Instrument that governs the SDCs in schools is also outdated, and if I was to quote Hon. Nduna, I would say it is moribund and archaic.
The Government should have come up with a Statutory Instrument that legalises the collection of a percentage of school levies from the levies that are being collected by schools from parents. The Statutory Instrument should then have stated how people or the committee that runs BSPZ ought to do. That committee, in my view, should be at the district, provincial and national levels. The rules are simple, that there is no legislation without representation but what the Government has done, especially the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, whilst they appear before the House complaining about the budget, the Committee was spot-on to say that they have an angle that they are poaching, and using.
The danger Madam Speaker, is not only about them poaching these funds. The danger is what was the purpose of the BSPZ when it started? It was meant to ensure that there is an improvement in terms of the education and making sure that all our various heads in a particular district and the various teaching departments – there is interaction and a mechanism to ensure that education standards are kept high. However, what has happened over the years, that noble goal has been set aside, that money now goes to fund the education offices, the district and provincial offices and to a certain extent, the national offices. That is wrong, I know, given my experience in terms of having worked some years clerking the BSPZ funds.
I think what is important is that we need a Statutory Instrument but the challenge that we have with this report is that – this is the reason why I said from the start, the Committee was supposed to – [Technical challenge] – report on BSPZ and a report on the Inclusive Education Policy. When they did the public hearings, I did not hear much about Harare or Bulawayo and also the various SDC Committees because the general thinking from the main school development committees and school development associations across the country, they feel that the DSIs and the PEDs have become too powerful on monies that they do not own or have not been appropriated by Parliament to them. This money belongs to parents and those buildings that have been built by BSPZ in any district, truly speaking such district offices belong to the parents. However, I know the Government now believes that it is their assets. My only worry with this report is that this report contains two important issues, that of inclusive education policy, which should have been separate and on a separate report and BSPZ, separate report. The idea being that those people who want to scrutinise this report and do a follow up later on should be in a position to narrow it.
Lastly my argument against – [Technical challenge] –public funds; I think Hon. Moyo will do that if he read the definition of public funds under the Public Finance Management Act, even the Bill that we have under the House at the moment. It excludes that money – the money that is paid to schools through SDC levies is not defined as public funds. This is the reason why the School Development Accounts are audited by private auditors rather than Government Auditors or the Auditor-General. It is not going to be possible for the Auditor-General to audit BSPZ funds but the call by the Committee to say that there is need for a legal framework is correct but it is the methodology and manner of that legal instrument which is crucial. I want to tell you that without the parents, the education system in this country could have collapsed long ago. The parents have been faithful in terms of running the schools when the Government encountered problems.
Through BSPZ, the parents have been forced to fund district offices and provincial offices. In reality, the money that the Ministry of Education is getting is a lot of money but they are doing it in a clandestine manner. To that end, in spite of my reservations about the methodology that the Committee used, I hope and believe that the Committee will make sure that they push the Ministry of Education to make sure that they move with speed. The last time the Education Amendment Act was brought to this House, when Hon. Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga was still the Chairperson, there was a commitment by the then Minister of Education to simply say that the reason why they were not amending or coming up with a new Statutory Instrument was because they were waiting for the amendment to pass through. However, that amendment has passed but to date, there is nothing that the Ministry of Education has done. I urge Hon. Moyo and the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education to push this Ministry because they are sitting on a gold mine and the chances of DSIs and other officers within the various districts including the provincial education directors getting rich from these funds are high, just as we know that there are certain heads and SDC members who are becoming rich – [Technical challenge] – come up with a legal framework to guide this money because there is a pool of money. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to also contribute to the debate on the Report of the Committee on Primary and Secondary Education. I would like to comment on the BSPZ issue. I am one of the members of that Committee and when we went around for the tour, we saw a lot as alluded to by the Hon. Chairperson and the seconder.
From the time BSPZ was introduced in 1987 to date, with the intention of bringing about better schools, I do not think there is any improvement on schools due to that. If you look at most schools, the standards have gone down, the parents are the ones carrying the heavy load on the schools. After paying for BSPZ, they pay school levies and school fees to the Ministry. In the rural areas, they work hard in the physical construction of the schools. As far as I am concerned, that is a heavy burden to the parents who sent their children to school.
The appropriate thing should be that, such funds should help schools to assist teachers and to procure better furniture and other facilities that may be needed. That money is used in district or provincial offices like where we visited in Masvingo, in one instance, there was a lodge that was built. I do not know how that is relevant to the school. So, I do not think the school will have run out of better projects for it to use funds to construct lodges. It is because the BSPZ fund is not properly and legally constituted so that it can be audited properly. This is because where your money is, that is where your heart is because when parents take their children to school and pay fees, they expect their children to get better learning conditions but when that is not done, it means the Ministry should ensure that BSPZ should have a Statutory Instrument to improve schools. If that does not happen, I suggest that, it stops until we have that Statutory Instrument because money is difficult to get these days. In Masvingo, primary school children pay two dollars and secondary school children pay five dollars. If you have three children at primary school and three at secondary school then schools fees, levies that are to be paid at the school; you will find that this is causing a lot of school drop-outs, especially the girl child. Sometimes the boys may go for gold panning and other activities during holidays and they assist their parents in paying fees. Girls cannot do that, they are now allowed to go and work elsewhere, especially when they are still at school.
That fund is being abused and schools are not getting the necessary benefits. In Mberengwa, we were told that that fund is being abused because there is no provision for the tracing of those funds. I would like to say when the Ministry is using that money, under what circumstances are they using it because it is not budgeted for and it is not in the fiscus but it is a lot of money that could have contributed to the development of the schools? It is a very good programme but it was abused and it goes back to the parents who are oppressed because of that. So if there is no Statutory Instrument to regulate, I suggest that it is stopped.
On people living with disabilities, no one chooses to live with a disability. Sometimes the child may have been involved in an accident; . still, they have a right to education - it is their right in the Constitution. The problem is, schools do not have infrastructure and trained teachers to cater for these children. There are no facilities for them, be it for someone who may not be able to stand up, they may not have facilities. The same for the visual impaired as well those with hearing impediments. It becomes very difficult for them to go to school, especially those in rural areas who sometimes cross rivers on their way to school and it becomes very difficult for them to go to school. Some of these children are very bright and have talents that will never be discovered and when discovered it will assist in future.
The teachers at those schools are not trained to teach disabled children, they are supposed to be trained. At each and every school we are supposed to have teachers responsible for teaching disabled children. They must not be isolated. At the moment, it may be difficult for any teacher to teach the visually impaired or those with hearing impediments. At every school, if we could get four or three teachers to assist those living with disabilities and if they are not there, it means that child will simply attend lessons without any benefits.
Let me look at the BSPZ Fund; such funds should be used for construction of facilities at any school to cater for the disabled person. That fund could be used for refurbishment or putting new structures on ablution facilities that may be friendly to children living with disabilities.
The last thing that I would like to touch on is children who are able-bodied; they should be taught to accept and learn with disabled children. They should not discriminate; some disabled children will end up being afraid of going to school because they are laughed at or mocked at. That child might refuse to go to school because of what will be happening there. They must accept them and accommodate them so that they feel comfortable and when the day passes they will go and tell their parents that the school and been a good place for them. When they are mocked it will affect their performance at school. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker Maam. I would also want to add my voice to this report which has been presented by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Moyo and seconded by Hon. Madhuku. When BSPZ was established in 1986 through donor funding, the objective was to create a centre or centres in our districts for the improvement of teaching and learning through in-service training. So the concept was to ensure that the teachers would come to the centre where they could be in-serviced. If they did not know certain principles or they had problems with certain topics at secondary school, teachers would come to a centre then resource persons would be found and given some hints as to how they could go about it.
It was most unfortunate that when the donor withdrew, it became apparent that schools, and districts started to think their own ways without actually sticking to the dictates of what was meant to be Better Schools Programme. You will also find that schools and districts started to have disparities in the ways they were handling funds related to Better Schools programmes. When we passed through Nyika in Bikita, we saw that they had established very beautiful and first class offices. You could actually be impressed all the way from the entrance - seeing wonderful work that has been done. If we had the opportunity to go to Masvingo, you would see upstairs in Masvingo District, implying that those districts although they were not using the funds in terms of some statutory instrument, they were doing something as opposed to what we saw in other districts. When we went to Mberengwa, we were only shown a hole which they had put up and which they still felt they were going to remove from the site because it was not on its required stand.
In other places again, you would find they were battling with the stands they had been given but nothing was there on the ground. I would like to say when Chiredzi raised this motion, it is because their BSPZ structure is just standing where it was five or six years ago and nothing is happening. So, perhaps they also felt there was no need for providing more funding because they were not seeing any progress.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, although we saw structures in districts, some provinces are now demanding that we have provincial structures. So, the thing is continuing to move and it is getting this funding from the parents when in fact there is no benefit that is going to the children on the ground. The BSPZ activities have created disharmony in a number of cases between the parents, the communities and the Ministry. In some cases, the Ministry would simply come to a school and demand the money for the whole term right on the opening day. When kids would have paid school fees they would come and collect money and say how many children are here and demand money for 500 kids when the others have not yet paid.
Therefore, in some cases, you would end up with a school that would have been robbed of the revenue that it would have collected which is quite unfair.
Some of the schools were visited by their respective district offices but in most cases, we were told that the district offices or office staff were invisible in the communities to supervise schools and yet here we usually receive information from the Ministry that they do not visit schools because they have no funds yet there is BSPZ which we feel if the cars are utilised properly, then we are going to see schools improving even in terms of pass rate because they would be supervised by the district offices.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, it is also sad to note that if Better Schools Programme funds were supposed to be meant for the children to benefit, you realise where lodges were constructed, I do not see the relationship between the learning of a child and a lodge. That only meant people were now going too far away from the dictates of Better Schools Programme. In some cases again, we discovered in Mberengwa for example, that they were talking of charging a dollar per child from the beginning of the Better Schools Programme. They did not change anything; it remained a $1 per child from 1996. So, you would begin to ask whether this is a relevant fund or not because we know economic issues change from time to time but why still sticking to a $1 per child throughout? You would think they are not bettering the schools but instead they are just sitting there to show people there is Better Schools taking place.
Madam Speaker, the Better Schools Programme used the concept of clusters and they would take a number of schools to come together and learn. However, if you see how the clusters were going; normally you have one secondary for four or five primary schools. So, you would see a secondary school clustering with five primary schools and you would wonder what the secondary school would benefit from there. The situation would continue like that and you would see that when the clusters are held, only primary schools would benefit because they would be more in number and hence they would be exchanging their information in a more productive way.
I concur with the idea that we need to see a system that is water-tight in terms of controlling Better Schools Programme funds. The situation as it stands now is such that those who are in the upper offices say at head office, when they want to come down to a province or a district, they simply say prepare us money there because it is part of their money. So, the funding is now going all the way up to head office but the child will be suffering and this is what would force, for example districts to go down to schools and say we want the money because they would want to make sure they are going to provide accommodation, food and so on for the officials that would be coming.
I want to go to the issue of Inclusive Education Policy; as we stand today, we do not even know what is in the Inclusive Education Policy because it is not there. We only know that we have got issues that must be addressed but if we do not know the contents of the Education Policy, it becomes a very difficult issue for us to debate here in Parliament and also for us to proffer what we want to be done. So, it is of great need that the Education Policy be brought before us because definitely you might find it has got other loopholes or other problems that might be amended in order for us to see our persons with disabilities benefiting.
We have got a lot that has to be done for them; it has been alluded to that when they have to go to school, there are certain things that must be brought forward before them. From my understanding at the moment, if you get into schools, you are going to see what they call resource unit and special classes and they take that one as a very great move towards accommodating persons with disabilities. However, we definitely would ask questions to say, how many are getting there where there is a resource unit and special class? This means we still have distances that have to be navigated by these persons with disabilities. We have got the devices that are not there in place and we have to make sure such things are provided.
I want to congratulate this Parliament for coming up with a Disability Caucus. I feel this caucus is going to talk more into issues of disability and pressurise the powers that be to ensure what was needed in the schools and hence in the Inclusive Education Policy is going to be something that can work to assist our persons with disabilities.
HON. T MOYO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 7th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. T. MOYO, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Seven Minutes to Five, o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 7th June, 2022.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 19th May, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
PRESENCE OF MINISTERS IN THE HOUSE
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to welcome Hon. Ministers and our Leader of the House, Hon. Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services as well as the Minister of Finance. If we can welcome our Ministers, please they are here.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have received a list of apologies from the Executive; Hon. Rtd. Gen. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs; Hon. Prof. P. Mavima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. Dr. A. Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement; Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement; Hon. J. G. Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works; Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development; Hon. E. Moyo, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. D. Karoro, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement; Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. Mangwiro, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care and Hon. S. Nzenza, Minister of Industry and Commerce. We will have to work with those who are here. Fortunately, the Leader of the House is here.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Madam President. I am quite pleased to see the Minister of Finance here after a long time. We have been clamouring to have him in here and my question is directed to him. Madam President, all the streets of Harare are flooded with money changers selling all types of currencies from USD, Zimbabwe dollar, RTGS, Pula or the Rand. The black market rate is skyrocketing at USD1 to between ZWL$450 and ZWL$500. May the Hon. Minister favour this House by giving us a full explanation as to what Government policy is with regards to people who sell money on the streets? What measures are being put in place by the Government through his Ministry to arrest the skyrocketing rate of exchange that is running at a black market speed, rendering all Zimbabweans earnings useless?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Madam President. I thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi for the question regarding the exchange rate, money changers and the parallel market. The players in the parallel market are numerous. It is not just the ordinary citizens at the street corners. It is also the corporates. It is also banks. I think we know what money changers do – they change money. So their business is clear but illegal at the same time. Some of the corporates are going into the banking sector to borrow cheaply because of low interest rates and use those resources to acquire inventory, to store the inventory or to put it on shelves at higher exchange rate. Every time they do that, then the whole cycle starts all over again. We have a situation where even corporates were pushing up the parallel rate. This is announced by some faceless people that there is a new parallel rate. I do not know where that is coming from.
Some of the banks were doing exactly that on their own account using their own resources, taking positions in the market. There are numerous players and all trying to get easy money, which then makes the exchange rate unstable and creates a power rate whose level is very different from our official auction rate or the willing buyer willing seller rate. So, what actions have we taken and continue to take? Let me be clear – we are using both the ZW dollar and US dollar. It is not one or the other and there is a very good reason why we are doing that. The good reason is that we have sanctions on us, challenges with credit lines and so without credit lines, you have to be creative. So we introduced the auction, a surrogate credit line access mechanism where we are accessing the US dollars that are already here through the 20% surrender tunnel as well as the export retention scheme that is in place for exporters as well as whatever Government needs to pay through Treasury sells onto the auction to pay civil servants another Zim dollar liability. So we need both currencies and I had to be clear about that from the onset.
I also hear arguments about US dollarisation or ZIM dollarisation. Please, I urge the public to desist from that argument. It is not a useful argument because we need both currencies. If you go the root of ZIM dollars alone, for now it is too early to do that. It would mean that we will not allow you to hold US dollars like in any other countries where you cannot use US dollars to shop. We will also not allow the banks to keep foreign currency. We cannot let them have one and half billion US dollars in the bank. We cannot allow that because a mono currency regime does not permit that. Furthermore, companies would have to restate their balance sheets in a manner that happened in 2008/2009 which is very dangerous. So, please understand that we need both currencies and the current system but we need stability.
So what are we doing to deal with stability? It starts with the key fundamentals of a stable currency that we do not want huge budget deficits. As I speak, in the last four years, we have not been running large budget deficits. In some years like in 2020, we even ran a surplus. In 2021 however, we had a very small deficit, one and half percent deficit which is within the three percent target that SADC has mandated all countries to run their countries properly. That is where we start – fiscal discipline.
Then we have monetary policy discipline as well. As His Excellency announced the previous week, the target for MO which we all worked together with him should be zero percent growth in reserve money growth for the rest of the year. It is very important that we keep tight monetary and fiscal policy and that they are coordinated. It is also important that we continue to support our exports which we are doing through various incentives. Our remittances are coming in, so our current account is positively strong. Those fundamentals are the first order of business. Then I now turn to the behavioural. These start with the behaviour of our financial institutions in terms of disintermediation of liquidity or monetary policy enactments where banks with some corporates or individuals are found rather than channeling liquidity into the real sector which is called the monetary transmission mechanism liquidity which finds its way onto the parallel market or stock market. So, we now have a speculative bubble which we had to clip through the suspension of lending that we put in banks. It was a big hammer but it was needed. However, the hammer was lifted yesterday to make sure that those who were in the wrong are careful. So the investigations continue but lending has resumed. The impact is, this has halted the parallel market somewhat. We have seen that and we are pleased with that. This is also a behavioural issue on the stock market where we tightened regulations. What was happening in the stock market is very similar to what was happening with ecocash, where you have got a stock broker with a trust account, which sits with a bank. Below the trust account, we have a series of accounts belonging to many individuals but you cannot see those accounts. So, whenever our shares are being bought or sold, money just moves below the trust account but you do not see the movement in the official account. So, things were happening here but also the money was being moved from one individual to another, which is called third party account and this created a loophole for trading on the parallel market. At the same time, creating an asset bubble in the stock market which was very unhealthy and so we had to prick that bubble and we sufficiently did so as of now. We did well in terms of dealing with behaviour.
Of course while we have a dual currency, we feel we still need to strengthen the demand for our domestic currency. So, the MTT tax was increased for US dollar transactions to signal that we prefer our own currency. We have done a lot for what it is worth and I will be very happy to circulate to Members through your office the measures we have taken, one by one, to try and stabilise our currency.
We are also quickly aware of the transport woes. I am digressing, you did not ask me about transport but His Excellency also opened the market for other players to come in and this is all designed to create competition and make transportation easy and the cost of transportation affordable. We have done a lot to stabilise our currency. Let me explain the action that we took at the beginning of the week regarding opening up borders to basic goods. Two things were happening; to start with, we have a global situation where we have imported inflation. Inflation has been rising globally since the last quarter of 2021 due to the perceived success of the global vaccination programme and the opening up of global value chains. Inflation has been going up so has been oil price. That is where it started and by the time we got to the conflict now happening in the eastern part of Europe, that only accelerated what had already started. So, now we have inflation being pushed through our economy through the fuel channel and other goods and raw materials that we are importing, which is the global value chain. It is also coming through the fertilizer, cooking oil and wheat market channel. That is something we should be wary of that globally, we might be heading into a very tight food security challenge for the rest of the year and this is worldwide, and not just for Zimbabwe. Secondly, locally we have seen a spike in prices for no reason really other than profiteering. So we had to act and try to make sure that basic commodities for the global and local reasons are available to citizens at affordable prices. So, we opened up the border for basic needs and I think that is a good thing that Government has done to really look after citizens and to ensure affordability and availability of these goods.
Industry is still getting a lot of incentives through the various tax rebate schemes that I always bring before this House every time you approve the budget. So they are getting those benefits as well as rebates for retooling. They should have been retooled by now. We cannot keep retooling forever. We should have retooled and the cost of production should have improved and productivity should have also improved. So, industry has been protected and it is now time to protect and support the citizens. That is what we have been doing in terms of the mix of policies as they say policies have winners and losers. In our own assessment, this bouquet of policies seem to indicate that there are winners than losers and that is what we want in any policy mix. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I wanted to ask the Hon. Minister to zero down to the level where I am, where I represent the ordinary citizen. All this vocabulary the ordinary person cannot understand. What I am merely asking the Hon. Minister with the ordinary citizen in mind is to explain in a manner that the ordinary mbuya back in the rural community and ordinary citizens can understand because the rate keeps going up. Our own ZWD - the brand new notes have flooded the streets and I presume they are coming from our banks which fall under the command of the Ministry of Finance. Where is that money coming from? Is it not controlled? Since last year we have been talking about the exchange rate on the black market and it is not stopping despite the loan arrangement that we have done, it is moving much fast. Now, all Zimbabweans have been reduced to paupers because of that. What is the Ministry doing to at least assist the ordinary citizens? Hon. Minister, you can award salary increments, for example an ordinary teacher earns RTG$32 000, divide that by $400 on the black market because when a teacher goes to the bank he cannot access the USD. He has to go to the streets and ends up holding US$80. The people then think that the Government is not doing much. That is your Ministry Hon. Minister.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Hon. Kambizi has highlighted three areas and I tried to decipher what he was talking about. On the civil servants, what he said is not correct, I have to disagree with him. He said that the teacher has no access to USD, which is not correct. The teacher has access to US$175 hard currency. That is exactly what we have done in terms of civil servants’ salary. We have the US$75 which we link to COVID and US$100 which was added at the beginning of the year to make it US$175, so it is not correct to say that the teacher has no access to USD.
On what we are doing about the person around the corner, mbavha, matsotsi – we are arresting and fining them. We have the Financial Intelligence Unit that has got teeth and has been going after these criminals, be they companies, individuals but a thief is a thief even when you have got the best policemen in the world we will always have thieves. It is a continuous project trying to catch criminals when they think they have an opportunity. We have been chasing these people and that is why they run around whenever they see us.
From our own assessment, I think that the person on the street corner has become less important; the real culprits are now the big players, which players were then dealt with by temporarily suspending lending. That is what is going on; corporates are pushing the rates up through the goods that are sold in the shops. When we deal with prices, we are assisting the common person. When we open up borders and say tengai zvamunoda, surely we are helping the citizen. It cannot be said that Government is not doing anything; no it cannot be the case. We can disagree on degrees of effectiveness or policies but clearly we are taking action. Kana President vakasimuka kuti nhasi I am opening up the transport system and ZUPCO no longer has a monopoly, surely we are helping the citizens. It cannot be that we are helping anyone else other than the citizens.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: My question to the Minister is: are we not in the same situation as we were in 2007/8 in which our ZWD was so pathetic that it failed to sustain our livelihood? As we stand, the public and civil servants are earning nothing. You disputed that US$80 and added US$175, it then came to US$255, still it is not a reasonable salary for any person to live on. Are you in control of the Government or you have lost it to the cabals?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I want to thank Hon. Komichi for the question. Are we now in the 2007/8 era? First of all, we did not have a balanced fiscal position and we did not have tight monetary policies. We did not have the sort of fundamentals that you see now. Secondly, we also did not have the official dual currency that we have put in place which has allowed citizens, corporates and other agencies to utilise these currencies as they desire. We are not.
Coming to salaries, there is also a fallacy Madam President that the salary back in October 2008 for civil servants - we keep hearing a figure of US$540 per person but that is not correct because back then the effective salary was in fact half of that. It was about US$275 and I can prove it. The demands for a salary of US$540 are completely misleading and the kind of package that we have put in place is for civil servants and we will continue to do that.
Are we not doing a lot already as Government? I think we are and I said we are doing a lot for the teachers. We have a commitment to build institutional accommodation and we are doing that. Importation of vehicles duty free, supporting teachers in terms of school fees up to three children in a Government school of course. Nurses - we have similar slew of non-monetary benefits as well. Surely, we have really applied our minds and done a lot to support our hardworking civil servants and they are hardworking because I work with them. I just wanted to debunk the thinking that we have not reached the kind of October 2008 levels of salary because even that figure is actually fallacious.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Hon. Minister, you have been highlighting in all our budget sessions that there are about ten people who are crooked in terms of this economy. You have also said today that the corporates are in charge of the runaway inflation or currency. We have not seen any of these people being arrested and there is strong mistrust between your Ministry and the public in that they believe that all the corruption is on the exchange rate within the Reserve Bank. I do not know how you can undo that to the public to say why do you not arrest those people because we cannot continue to be told that there are crooks or thieves.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: We now know these crooked individuals. Some of them have already been arrested and some have been fined. I think that the honey-pot of doing the illegal activities is so rich that some of them keep coming back in one form or another. Those are the facts. So we have to keep on arresting them and re-arresting them, fining them and re-fining them. That is what we have been doing. It is not that we are not doing anything. We are certainly doing something and dealing with them. We are still going through this transition of both currencies and we need to live with some of these ugly facts but we are dealing with the culprits and we are fining them.
On the trust between the public and the Ministry – there is very good trust between the public and the Ministry such that when I go around the country, I engage very well with citizens. I have no problems engaging with any citizens. Citizens appreciate a lot of things that the Government is doing and I have a long list of things; whether it is the quality of the roads, the quality of the dams and what we have done through the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme to empower our citizens. All that is tax payers’ money coming through Treasury or the Government. Certainly, I do not get a sense that there is mistrust. There is a lot of trust. What the public does not trust imbavha idzi – that is the truth. Really, Government is committed to make sure that we bring to book anyone who is malcontent as far as this challenge is concerned.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I would like to let you know that we have the following Hon. Ministers in the House: Hon. Kazembe Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs; Hon. Madiro, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Hon. Dr. E. Ndlovu, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; welcome Ministers.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. In his absence, I will direct it to the Leader of the House.
Malaria is now back in the low veld and Zambezi area which are hot regions. There is the prevalence of the anopheles mosquito that causes malaria. There are not kits to test for malaria. What is Government doing to ensure that the kits are available and easily accessible to our villages so that village health workers can distribute them to the people? May the Government also do another exercise of spraying households so that mosquitoes die?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): This is a serious concern because we know that malaria can kill a lot of people. May Hon. Sen. Chief Chundu put this question in writing and be directed to the relevant Ministry of Health and Child Care so that they can come with the details.
I know Government policy is that malaria should be eradicated, people should be treated, homesteads should be sprayed and kits should be readily available to the people. It is Government’s policy that all people be alive because it can only exercise its function with a living population.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. When we had the pre-budget seminar, economic experts informed us that if we have our own local currency, we should have something that should support it so that it will not be valueless. Since we have a lot of minerals in this country, is anything being done to ensure that some of the minerals, instead of being sold outside the country, are being kept in order to support the local currency value so that it becomes strong.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Apparently, we have some structures where we are able to access credit lines from abroad and certain banks using our gold. The gold is supporting access to those credit lines that we can borrow and support projects. We also have some credit lines that are supported by platinum. So those are the two minerals that we have used to support our credit lines.
In terms of gold reserves that stand behind the Zimbabwe dollar, at the moment we do not use gold or platinum reserves. We use these minerals to support the access to the loans in the first place. However, overtime, we will build gold reserves because we are noticing that to build these gold or platinum reserves which are in fact ‘hard currency or USD assets’ you have to buy them with USD in the first place. So if the gold needs to come into the hands of Government, because it is in private hands kumakorokoza kwese kwese – it comes through Fidelity and Government has to buy that gold using USDs but the gold itself is ‘USD’. Now you are exchanging USD for USD and you are not building reserves, you are actually using one form of reserves and gaining another. However, we have a programme where, overtime we will start to accumulate some gold so as to supplement our USD reserve. This is a unique situation out of the fact that we are using the USD as a transacting currency. If we only had the ZWD and then the hard currency was reserved currency, then for some of the USDs, we could exchange that for gold and immediately we would have gold reserves. So the difference is in the choice of the currency, that is what is causing us to be in this situation but we are using our minerals for another purpose, which is to acquire resources from abroad from certain banks. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MALULEKE: Thank you Madam President for affording me the opportunity to ask a question to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. The question is about the problem of human-wildlife conflict that we are experiencing in our constituency. Last week a woman had a fractured arm and I observed that there is human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife is now a nuisance in the Hippo Valley sugarcane fields and some are in the Save Valley. What measures have you put in place to help people so that they do not suffer from this wildlife menace where some are killing people?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): Thank you Madam President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Maluleke, if I heard her correctly, the question is on human-wildlife conflict that there are animals which are causing problems going out of the National Parks and encroaching onto human settlements and killing some people. It is a case that is under consideration by the Government. If you were listening, the Cabinet Minister Hon. Mangaliso Ndlovu, the Minister in charge of that Ministry, spoke about a conference that will lead to sustainable conservation of wildlife because we have an overpopulation of elephants and that we are failing to sell ivory because of CITES regulations. We now have a huge stockpile of elephant tusks, which can assist us in terms of managing the elephant herd and conservation so that people who are victims of human-wildlife conflict can be compensated. It is an issue that is receiving top priority and it is being properly researched on to ensure that the people who live in areas which are prone to human-wildlife conflict can be assisted, hence the call for these workshops and meetings. Our community leaders like chiefs and other traditional leaders should be present. Once there is human-animal conflict, please inform the Parks and Wildlife Department as quickly as possible so that the problem is attended to. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to ask my question. I think it is now a song, the Head of State is always saying corruption, corruption. Corruption is the evil in this country. I would like to pose my question to the Minister of Home Affairs. Recently, the Ministry which he is presiding over, scooped the price as the most corrupt Government department. Madam President, I would like the Hon. Minister to appraise the House, what strategies he has used to achieve that feat and what measures has he put in place to ensure that he does not continue to occupy that post?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam President Ma’am. Let me start by thanking the Hon. Senator. I hope I got the question correctly but what I seem to have heard is the allegation that the Ministry scooped a prize for corruption or is it the Police. I am yet to receive that price Madam Speaker Ma’am.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I thought it is under your Ministry.
HON. KAZEMBE: Yes Madam President, the Police is under the Ministry but what I am not aware of is the price that we scooped. Maybe it is on its way. Nonetheless, I got the gist of the question which I will respond to. Yes, corruption is indeed a scourge, it is totally unacceptable and I do admit that we do have some rogue cops amongst the police. Not every cop is corrupt but definitely yes, that issue is there and is a challenge. Corruption is totally unacceptable everywhere, whether it happens at the police or in any other Ministry or the private sector, corruption is there and we are saying it is not acceptable and is illegal, we must deal with it.
There are two ways of dealing with corruption, I have said it before and I will say it again. The first one is that there is no way one person can be corrupt by themselves, it takes two or more people to be corrupt. This then points at us as citizens; we are also aiding corruption, police cannot be corrupt themselves, but they are corrupt because they are being paid by us. If we all take a collective responsibility and say to ourselves we do not want corruption, it will end today because nobody will be prepared to be corrupt or offer a bribe to a police officer. Everyone will become a police officer, policing another police officer if we all say no to corruption, starting today Madam President.
What normally happens, for instance if it is a traffic offence or there is a roadblock, police officers at times are offered – it is us the citizens who offer first to say ‘aah, wangu hapana zvatingaite here pano.’ (my dear, can we not do something here.) We do that and obviously it gives us some challenges that we are encountering, they will accept. Sometimes it is the police officer who starts but it is because we are accepting to give them the bribes. I am saying the starting point, all of us as Zimbabweans, let us say no to corruption and let us take it upon ourselves to expose corruption. Where corruption has been exposed, we have dealt with it, we have arrested police officers, there is no one who is above the law but it takes you and me to deal with it collectively. That is one way of dealing with it.
Secondly, I am sure if the Hon. Senator was listening to Hon. Minister Mutsvangwa when she gave the Cabinet briefing, she talked about the direction that we have taken of introducing technology. To me or in accordance with my school of thought, that is the way to deal with corruption. Let us remove the human element. While there is the structure that was approved by Cabinet -where we are going to be installing traffic management systems, those in my view will remove the human interface. You cannot bribe technology, neither can it go for tea. We are deploying that system which will ensure that those who speed and those who cross red robots and all those who misbehave – the system is so complex and sophisticated such that it can pick a lot of offences. As it will be linked to ZINARA and Civil Registry, it will be an integrated solution. If you commit an offence today, because it includes facial recognition cameras, it is able to pick up your registration number and your face. Your face will be linked to the database at the national centre which is linked to Civil Registration. So we can tell who you are, even your family and or your girlfriends. We can tell from the database.
From there Madam President, we will link you to ZINARA so that if you pick up the registration number we can tell who the owner of the vehicle is. So it will all be integrated. Even the police officer is there, the technology will have captured everything and automatically you will be fined. In short Madam President, I believe technology is the way to go.
*HON. SEN. TSOMONDO: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of National Housing. In his absence, I redirect it to the Leader of House. What is Government policy regarding demolition of property after the client fails to service the agreement they would have entered into with the land developer?
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: That is a specific question and you need to put it in writing so that the Ministry makes investigations and bring a comprehensive response to the House.
*HON SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs but in the absence of the relevant Minister, it may be redirected to the Leader of the House. There is a four year old boy, Kudakwashe Mahachi who was abused by his father and stepmother in South Africa. The four year old Kudakwashe Mahachi was smuggled into Zimbabwe through illegal entry and dropped at his grandmother’s place. This is extreme child abuse, which is a crime which deserves death penalty.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: This is a specific question which should be put in writing and referred to the relevant Minister. This is a matter which has aroused much public debate and we would want to get to the bottom of this case. Also inform us of the measures that will have been taken.
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): Thank you so much Madam President. I also thank Hon. Sen. Komichi for raising such a disturbing issue involving a four year old. Madam President, you have aptly answered the question. It is a question that needs to be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs if the case has been reported to the ZRP. It also calls for the involvement of the various Government departments that deal with the welfare of minors. The Social Welfare Department may assist in the payments of this child’s medical bills since it is Government police to assist disadvantaged citizens.
*HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Transport. My question is related to the operations of the tollgates. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate him for the construction of the state of the art Beitbridge-Harare Road. Traffic volume has now increased, now we have a problem at the tollgates that leads into Harare where motorists are forming large queues. This has led to the opening of the gate that is opened for exempted vehicles and their positioning an officer who will be collecting toll fees and putting them into a sack. Those tollgates attendants can spend more than 30 minutes with one car, so people leave the queue and pass through the side road meant for people with exemptions. I am one of the people who also paid money through this modus operandi and I witnessed the money being thrown into a sack. So my question is, are there any plans to stop this pilferage at the tollgates from continuing? Is there no way you can use modern technology to ensure that all monies get into Government coffers?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORTAND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MADIRO): Thank you Hon. Sen. Shumba for your question. It is true that Government is trying to construct state of the art roads. However, on the issue of tollgates, we are still way behind to achieve state of the art tollgates which utilise modern technology. Government has plans to have spacious tollgates which should cater for more cars in less time than is being taken currently. Government and the private sector have PPP plans for eight tollgates including the one referred to by Senator Shumba which is on the Harare/Beitbridge Road, Shamva tollgate and Norton tollgate, among others. We have reconstructed the Harare-Beitbridge Road but the bridges have not been widened as yet. So we still have to widen the tollgates and bridges to reduce accidents on our roads and ensure fast service at the tollgates.
Questions without notice were interrupted by THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 67.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: I move that the time for questions without notice be extended by 15 minutes.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: The Minister said it well that the culprits are being arrested and arraigned before the courts. I want to find out if follow ups are being made to ensure that the culprits are being incarcerated, because if no such follow ups are made, there will not be anything to deter would be offenders.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Sen. Tongogara, the Hon. Minister did not say that they have arrested people with sacks full of money. Instead, it was Hon. Sen. Shumba who said that she witnessed an employee of ZINARA who had a sack full of money collecting toll fees from motorists, including the Hon. Senator.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: My question goes to the Minister of Finance. I want to find out from the Minister what the challenges are if we were to let the US dollar be determined by market forces because at the moment, we have the auction rate; willing buyer-willing seller rate and the parallel rate. This also brings challenges when people are buying because we have different prices for swiping, using ecocash and also if using cash. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank Hon. Sen. Muzenda for that very important question. The exchange rate is being determined by market forces. When we established the auction, we were easily selling US$50 million but now we have come down to average US$25 million. In fact, two days ago, we only sold US$7 million because the demand was quite low. That exchange rate was arising from a Dutch Auction System, which means that you could go there and demand whatever exchange rate you wanted. So that is ultimate freedom and choice. However, we realised that perhaps even that expression of freedom and choice of your exchange rate, the price discovery process was still not good enough. So we decided to go ahead and introduce the willing buyer, willing seller hoping for better price discovery. We did notice that the exchange rate from the willing buyer- willing seller window is higher than the auction window. As of Tuesday this week, we noticed that even the auction rate rose and we are noticing that they are approaching and converging. So, we do believe in a market determinant exchange rate and we have taken certain actions to get to that market exchange rate.
There is no difficulty in having a market exchange rate because already if someone believes that the parallel rate is the market exchange rate, that is already what is determining prices in the shops and that is the challenge. It is no longer an issue in that sense but we are also noticing something that the parallel rate is not what we call a spot rate but actually it is reflecting the future called forward pricing. Someone is thinking that if I am going to replace this gadget in a month’s time prices would have moved and therefore I need to charge in such a way that I reflect the exchange rate in that one month’s time. So, it is reflecting the future.
When you think that the parallel rate is the market rate now, actually it is a market rate for the future, which means we also need to fine-tune some of our policies to deal with the notion of a forward rate rather than a spot rate. One of the reasons why the gap between the official rate, whether it is willing buyer willing seller auction rate and the parallel rate continues to be there, is because there is always a gap between a spot rate and a forward rate. It is always there in all the markets in the world.
Sometimes we have to accept that maybe the gap will never be closed but we want it to be narrow. Perhaps we should not think that by somehow changing the system so dramatically, those two systems will merge. They might not and those are some of the things that we are noticing which will need further fine-tuning of the auction system and our forex determination system. I thank you.
(v)+HON. SEN. CHIEF NGEZI: I heard the response by the Hon. Minister of Finance regarding the issue of parallel and official rate but the truth is that our people live with the parallel rate not the bank rate or Dutch system. Their livelihood depends on the parallel rate and my question is; why is it that those retailers who sell goods using the parallel market rate which is illegal are not sentenced or fined and are allowed to determine their own prices because what they are doing is the same thing with the street guy selling money because the effect is the same?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: The Hon. Senator basically asked why retailers who are using parallel rates to set their prices are not punished or disallowed as compared to money changers on the streets. Those in the shops are disallowed from using exchange rates other than the auction rate and as of this week, it is other than the willing buyer willing seller rate. In fact, we have set a variation margin of 10% either side of the willing buyer willing seller interbank rate. There are guidelines as to how pricing ought to be done.
As I said, the honey pot from deviation is deep, very juicy and sweet, so they keep breaking the law. You go after them, fine them and they break the law again. So, there is that aspect but there is a level playing field. We are not treating shoppers or retailers differently from money changers. The law applies to all. There is pari passu treatment in terms of the eyes of the law.
+HON. SEN. GUMPO: My supplementary question to the Minister of Finance is how the Zambians achieved to stabilise their currency when they found themselves in this sort of situation some years back. I remember Zambians used to sell money on the streets but now they no longer use the USD but use their own local currency for transacting.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I thank the Hon. Senator Gumpo for his question. Zambia was never in our situation, which is a situation where you have debt arrear, sanctions, whichever way you look at it. This is a very unique situation where you have no access to credit lines. We have a situation right now where we have paid off IMF but the IMF is not allowed by law to give Zimbabwe anything but we do not owe them. Why? Because we owe the sister institution, the World Bank something. So, Zambia was never in that situation of being shut off in terms of access to credit lines.
Therefore, it was enough for Zambians to just focus on fundamentals, get their budget deficit right, re-engineer their monetary policy in the same way we have done and do all the macro-economic actions that are taken when you have a challenge with your currency. That was enough and they are where they are now but even they are not yet there by the way as I speak, this is public knowledge so I can talk about it – they have a huge external debt which is currently under resolution. There are many other countries that have gone through similar situations as Hon. Sen. Gumpo has explained – we have Uganda in the mid 80s; Tanzania in the mid 80s too and a lot of other countries. All these countries had one thing in common that they were able to go back because they were in a normal situation. They just happened to be mismanaging something but in our case, there are certain factors that we are not able to deal with. If sanctions are put on you, you do not remove them yourself. Someone has to remove them. We are in a different situation and that is why we cannot easily do it like Zambia or Uganda abandon the hard currency and move to our own currency when we are unsure of the source of the hard currency. One day we will get there but it has to be a process, otherwise as I said, you will create a situation where now everyone has to be forced to liquidate USD and only hold on to the Zimbabwean dollar. I think that will be too soon for us to act in that way but the point is well made Madam President.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 67.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE), the Senate adjourned at Five Minutes to Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 7th June, 2022.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 18th May, 2022
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of a delegation from the Committee on Transport, Works and Supply from the Parliament of Zambia. The delegation comprises of the Chairperson, Hon. Mabika Mabika, the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Ms. Tasila Lungu, eight Hon. Members and a member of staff. Hon. Members from our sister Parliament in Zambia, you are most welcome - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – [HON. T. MLISWA: Mulimbwanji.] – Zikomo kwambili mabwela.
CHALLENGES WITH INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
THE HON SPEKAER: Please be advised that Parliament main internet link service provider, TelOne has technical connectivity challenges which may affect connectivity during today’s sitting. Internet will be connected to the backup link to facilitate today’s sitting, any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have received the following apologies from the Executive; Hon. Rtd. Gen. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Hon. M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Prof. P. Mavima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. A. Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Hon. J. G. Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. E. Moyo, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. D. Karoro, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. M. Chombo, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works; Hon. P. Kambamura, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development – [HON. A. NDEBELE: This is disappointing to say the least.] – A number of Ministers are in Indonesia and the two Ministers from Mines and Mining Development are in Gwanda at the mine site of the tragedy. Others are on national duty.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir and good afternoon to you. My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. May I know Government policy regarding sign language interpretation in our courts? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. The policy is, wherever as far as possible, sign language must be provided where one of the parties is disabled and has hearing impairments. I thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: May the Hon. Minister give us a timeframe as to when we can expect interpreters of sign language in the courts even in rural and urban areas.
HON. ZIYAMBI: If you have one of the parties unable to follow proceedings, court processes may not occur. So, whenever there is a party that requires sign language, the process cannot proceed without availing one. I thank you.
*HON. NKANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Industry and Commerce, in his absence to the Leader of Government Business. What is Government’s policy with regards to companies that manufacture Bitumen tar in this country? I am asking in the context of the vey huge projects that we face of road rehabilitations because most of the tar is imported. What is Government’s policy with regards to assisting companies to manufacture that raw material?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. MODI): May I have this question in writing so that I can come back to you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. Minister of Transport, the matter is deferred to you with my permission. Can you respond since you are the main consumer?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me thank the Leader of Government Business for indulging you and your concurrence.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is true that we also need the whole of Government approach as a nation when it comes to issues of bituminous products. It is true that Hon. Nkani has said that importing is very costly to the nation and we are now seized together with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through ZIMCAM, where ZIMCAM is being capacitated so that we continue to produce our own bitumen products. This is the way we are partaking as we speak. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: On a point of order! It appears there is a gulf of knowledge between Deputy Ministers and Ministers when it comes to answering questions. May Ministers share information with their Deputy Ministers so that when they come to this House they are well informed?
THE HON. SPEAKER: I think what needs to be acknowledged is that if an Hon. Minister accepts that he is not in a position to answer, the Hon. Minster cannot proceed to give you a wrong answer. The Hon. Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development works very closely with the Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce and that is why he is more seized with the matter because he is the biggest consumer of the bitumen products but your point is taken that there is need for sharing between the Cabinet Ministers who attend Cabinet and are seized quite often with policy issues in their ministries. So we encourage that sharing.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, it will be improper not to greet my fellow Zambians, how are you?
# I am happy to see you, I also stayed in Zambia for some time. I once stayed at UTH and I also stayed in Kamata. I am happy to see you.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Hon. Minister is, in view of the question, how bitumen is needed and how much Government is wasting on it - before we even think of manufacturing, is it worth it in terms of the quantities and the price? Do we have the raw materials?
THE HON. SPEAKER: That question is more operational than policy. It will require a written question so that proper research is done to quantify what is available and what is being imported so that Hon. Mliswa can get a satisfactory response.
+HON. M. NKOMO: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What measures have you put in place at schools where there are two teachers who teach from ECD up to Grade 7?
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (DR. E. NDLOVU): We are working with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare through the Public Service Commission to recruit teachers. This particular session we were given 4 000 teachers and we have since identified and deployed 4 900 teachers. We are working on the balance so that we have four thousand according to the budget that was given to the Public Service Commission by the Ministry of Finance but we need more teachers. I thank you.
+HON. NKOMO: How soon is that going to happen since we are getting zero percent pass rate?
+HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Sorry for having answered the Hon. Member in English. We have managed to recruit teachers, so far we have managed to get 3 900 out of 4 000 that we are expecting as per the budget by the Ministry of Finance. Some of these teachers have been listed in the newspapers and if it is not out this week, I expect Public Service Commission to release the list next week. After the release of the list, these teachers will go straight to their schools so that we address the matter of zero percent pass rate. There are no teachers to teach children so that we get out of the zero percent issue. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, if probably the Hon. Minister can correct her earlier statement. She had said 4 900 are the ones who have been recruited and 4 000 are what we have been given and now she has said 3 900 pushing to 4 000. So for the purpose of Hansard, I think it is important that she sets the record straight.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, what is the correct record?
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: The correct figure is, we were given 4 000 posts and we have so far identified teachers to the tune of 3 900, my apology.
HON. MURAI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We heard the recruitment process from the Minister which is quite commendable that we need more and more teachers. My question is to do with remuneration. Do you have plans to increase their remuneration because right now I am sure they are getting something like 30 000 which is almost equivalent to less than USD 100 per month.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That question does not follow from the original question. The original question related to the inadequate numbers of teachers and not their remuneration.
+HON. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to greet our visitors. My supplementary question is that the Minister has said they have been allowed to recruit 4 000 teachers and we are grateful for that but I am requesting that she comes with a ministerial statement for this House to tell us the deficit per district and how many are being required? We want that explanation on issues of teachers and children. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Minister, the question is about the distribution of teachers according to districts. The request is that you come up with a ministerial statement to indicate the deployment of those teachers, district by district. That is the request.
HON. Dr. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I will bring that ministerial statement according to her request. I am able to bring the ministerial statement tomorrow. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The request is granted and it will be presented in a fortnight.
HON. T. MLISWA: My point of recommendation Mr. Speaker Sir, is that she must also address the issue of the total number of teachers required so that the education sector is efficient as well as the distribution in the wards because she said 4 000 are the only ones who were granted this time but what is the total number of teachers required to fully have a viable education sector?
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Chair had already indicated that the Hon. Minister will bring a comprehensive statement. Thank you.
HON. A. NDEBELE: On a point of recommendation Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Recommendation! You stand up and so I stand you down because you did not stand up. You cannot address the Chair while you are seated. Thank you.
HON. JAMES SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development and it is related to the ongoing Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. What practical policy measures is Government adopting to solve the congestion and traffic jams that have been lighting the cities of Harare and Bulawayo putting a strain to the already ailing economy? While at that, could he kindly explain the policy on spaghetti roads as a possible solution?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me also thank Hon. Sithole for that very important question. The question is in two parts. The other one is under the purview of the Ministry of Transport and the other one touches Local Government but I will try to address both questions. To allay the fears of the Hon. Member, the economy is not ailing and I want to thank the programme of Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme that was enunciated by His Excellency, the President to superintend over the issues of rehabilitating our roads.
As you are aware, we have got four road authorities. The one which falls under the purview of the Ministry’s Department of Roads and to relate to the question that has been posed by the Hon. Member, local authorities are cities. It is true that we are rehabilitating our roads and this is something that the House can agree. You have seen that we had narrow roads, not anticipating the volumes of transport that we are witnessing. As we are traversing within the cities, we have seen that the local authorities were also supposed to maintain the roads and also to have an urban transport system that will cater for the numbers in terms of the increase in traffic and the increase in numbers of commuters.
So, I am happy to say to the august House that together with the Ministry of Local Government, the issue of congestion that has been alluded to by the Hon. Member is at the centre of us together with the Ministry of Local Government, to address so that we then ease congestion in our cities. I am happy to say besides the usual and traditional way of ferrying our passengers, we are also contemplating on a metro train that will cater and offload the burden from the commuters to the railway line. This is something that we are working on as the Second Republic so that we alleviate the transport challenges being witnessed by our people. Thank you.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister of Transport is that in view of the fact that he has said that our economy is not ailing, why does the Government not proceed to do what modern economies are doing like the spaghetti roads which were mentioned earlier and have a system in place where there is no congestion. When we look at inter-connectivity between our cities, we can have freeways. He is talking of widening of roads but in developed economies, they have freeways and they are heavy in Kenya and Nairobi. The question is, if the economy is thriving as the Minister is portraying, the Government is failing to come up with the modern trains where you actually have freeways instead of merely widening the roads and in addition, have fly overs and so on instead of malfunctioning traffic lights which are contributing to the congestion in our cities?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also thank my learned colleague Hon. Gonese for that important follow-up question. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is in the public domain that as a nation we are crippled by sanctions. When it comes to infrastructure development, you do not develop from local resources. You find that infrastructure development in a number of jurisdictions is catered for by concessional loans, and we are not getting such loans. We are actually rehabilitating our roads using our own generated resources, which then cater for the issues of timing projects where now we are currently seized with the Mbudzi Interchange. I am sure the Hon. Member could have alluded to it that we have started.
Look at even Harare-Beitbridge and a number of our trunk roads where we have domestic resource mobilisation exercise to cater for such roads. So, there is no way we can do anything and I would not want to hazard to answer the question when it comes to urban transport systems which falls under the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. What I can assure the Hon. Member is that, together with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, there is no way we cannot address the issues of transport. We are now seized with rehabilitating the roads that were not rehabilitated for over a long time where we now need to start rehabilitating those roads before moving on to another stage of having the freeways as alluded to by the Hon. Member. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you, good afternoon Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question goes back to - in fact all the questions asked on policy today, if we as Members of Parliament had the programme for the Emergency Road Repair Fund, we would know what is going on. I brought a supplementary two weeks ago, and it was just for my area, I have not received anything.
Mr. Speaker, it becomes pointless asking questions if ministers answer but do not supply. I have been asking for the Road Repair Programme just for my area for months now and to date, I have not received anything. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Ask a specific question.
HON. MARKHAM: Mr. Speaker, I did start by saying that if all the Members of Parliament had the Emergency Road Repair Programme so that we knew which roads they were repairing then most of these questions would not be asked. May we have the programme?
THE HON. SPEAKER: In other words, it must spread all over.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir and let me also thank Hon. Rusty Markham. Hon. Speaker Sir, I am sure you made a ruling and I have seen your communiqué from your respectable office to say let us furnish what has been requested by Hon. Members.
I do concur that we are bringing a compendium, and what I can share with the august House is Mr. Speaker Sir, I get calls from Hon. Members asking me to take their roads on board. I have been agreeing to the pleas to add on more roads. So, the detailed report will then need to cover all those roads that were scheduled under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. Unless Hon. Members are saying we must not entertain requests of adding new roads but if they do concur, on daily basis Mr. Speaker Sir, I am receiving requests to add on roads.
Therefore, we will come up with a consolidated compendium to show the roads that we have taken over, the cost and contractor. On today’s Order Paper Mr. Speaker Sir, I have one such case where an Hon. Member asked for a particular road involving the contractor, directors and the costs that were indicated on that particular section. So precisely, I will furnish the House with that information. I am at liberty Mr. Speaker Sir to then consolidate and agree with Hon. Members that whatever has been taken on board that was on schedule, and was not covered under ERP2, will be brought to this august House. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business. The SDRs that we received, we were informed that they would not be disbursed, if you recall, without the Minister of Finance and Economic Development coming to Parliament. I would like to find out from the Hon. Minister if the SDR has been disbursed.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon. Mliswa for the question. Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Mliswa is very correct that any disbursements must be authorised by Parliament. So the answer is, wait until the Minister comes for authorisation – unless you have a specific case that you know of which I may not be aware of. You can put it in writing and direct the question to him as to why there is expenditure outside what is required by law to happen. Ordinarily, when a draw-down is being done, Parliament must approve. I thank you. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Supplementary Mr. Speaker!] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, are you sure you really need a supplementary? – [HON. T. MLISWA: Yes, Mr. Speaker Sir!] – The answer is very clear, no disbursements have been done – unless you are aware of some disbursement from the SDR then you can proceed with the question.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I would not want to equally speculate but I am equally surprised that with the economic situation that we are in, we are sitting on money without being disbursed. So my question would be, can the Hon. Minister update us and confirm that really there have not been disbursements. I want to ask why they have not been disbursed when we have an economic crises and the foreign currency is there.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the extra question which I believe that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, in his wisdom of how he disburses funds, will be able to come and update the House as to which foreign currency he has disbursed and whether he used that particular money and why he has done that.
It is entirely not a policy question but an operational one to say that I am going to disburse this particular amount to this department as per the laws of our country. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Minister, I think the import of the question is that if you can have some dialogue with the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development to indicate when he is coming to inform the House on the disbursement issue. In view of the fact that there is need for foreign currency in the country, so if you may kindly transmit that message to your colleague the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development. Thank you.
HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir for according me the opportunity to ask the Minister of Local Government and Public Works and in his absence, the Leader of the House. Is it now Government policy that people can organise themselves to invade land and divide …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Order! The three Hon. Members by the door there – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order! The three Hon. Members right there, from the one by the door, please can you be attentive. Hon. Member please proceed.
HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for according me the opportunity to ask the Minister of Local Government and in his absence, the Leader of the House. Is it now Government policy that people can organise themselves to invade land and divide it amongst themselves for either residential or commercial purposes?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member and respond by saying Government has not changed. We do not have a policy of promoting land invasion, I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, indeed a lot of illegal settlers are there both agriculture and commercial but Government seems not to be doing anything about it. Is it because most of them are ZANU PF aligned and are aligned barons? Is it because they are untouchable because they are ZANU PF aligned because most of the land is in the hands of ZANU PF members, particularly farming areas where land is being disbursed by being distributed by village heads, chairpersons of districts and all that. When you report to the police, the police does not do anything about it, is it because they are ZANU PF members?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I had not noticed that the Acting Minister of Local Government is here but however, I will respond to the question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Who is the Acting Minister of Local Government and Public Works?
HON. ZIYAMBI: It is the Minister of National Housing.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is he also the Acting Minister?
HON. ZIYAMBI: He is also the Acting Minister.
THE HON. SPEAKER: He should take the floor.
HON. ZIYAMBI: With your leave Hon. Speaker, Hon. Minister, can you please answer.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me thank Hon. T. Mliswa for his supplementary question. If the Hon. Member could furnish us with a list of the people that he has referred to so that we can act accordingly, I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections, ndo sarcasm ka iyi.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, I am not sure of your definition of sarcasm, the issue is very clear. Hon. T. Mliswa, if you have got instances of that nature, please give the list to the Hon. Minister and indicate also the police station where the matter has been reported.
HON. T. MLISWA: I have got a letter Mr. Speaker Sir, which I can bring to this House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. T. Mliswa, why not take on the Minister of National Housing and let us see what he does. Next week when he comes back, let us hear his response.
HON. T. MLISWA: There is no response on the ZANU PF or the untouchable – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: It does not matter whether they are ZANU PF or they have come from Honolulu, they should be dealt with according to the law.
HON. T. MLISWA: He was supposed to respond exactly like that - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am trying to magnify your request Hon. T. Mliswa, the law is very clear; ZANU PF members cannot be above the law. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. NDEBELE: On a related matter Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: If it is a related matter, please ask a supplementary question.
HON. NDEBELE: There is no basis for a supplementary, I requested...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, I listened very carefully you said on a related matter. So, if it is a related matter, you ask a supplementary question.
HON. NDEBELE: I am directing the question to you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You do not ask the Chair please, that is unprocedural.
HON. NDEBELE: That is my point. I am rising on a point of privilege.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You do not ask the Chair a question arising from the Hon. Minister...
HON. NDEBELE: Arikuiramba – [HON. MEMBERS: Chiita kuti supplementary kwachoka] – Supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, Hon. Member, take your seat.
HON. NDEBELE: Hon. Speaker, on a number of times today, you have denied me an opportunity to speak, I am a sworn Member of this House, I have every right to speak.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you take your seat.
HON. NDEBELE: I do not want; I want to ask a question. Five times you did not give me an opportunity to speak. I am also a Member of this House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Out of the House!
HON. NDEBELE: Ruling yeiko, six times he has been denying me an opportunity. I was voted by the people.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Out of the House!
HON. NDEBELE: Aiwa, keep your House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Out of the House, you must follow procedure – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] go away!
HON. MAHLANGU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. When will the Bill to amend the Disabled Persons Act be submitted to Parliament considering that it has been pending since the beginning of the 9th Parliament? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the Bill but we have shortage of personnel within the Attorney-General’s Office within the drafting section but it is being worked on and we hope that it is going to be expedited soon and once it passes all the Cabinet processes, it should come to Parliament.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is whether they can give us a timeframe, an indication as to when they will be expecting this Bill to be tabled because as indicated in the original question, it has been outstanding for the last four years from the inception of this 9th Parliament and it is an important issue. The rights of people with disabilities are covered in the Constitution and in the international instruments which we are party to, if you can give us timeframe.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member and proffer a correct answer because it will be recorded wrongly that if we say it has been outstanding for the last four years, we have lost a lot of time because of COVID-19. There was a time when Parliament was not sitting until we had to come up with a system and it also applied to the Government departments. I indicated that we are seized with that and we have staff constrains. So, I am unable at the moment to say that the Bill will be coming to the House next week or early June but the answer that I can give is that we are definitely working on it with a view of ensuring that this side of the year, the Bill must be before Parliament.
(v)HON. MOKONE: Thank you Hon. Speaker and good afternoon to you. The Hon. Minister has alluded to the fact that the Attorney-General’s office is short staffed. All the Parliamentary Bills are pending because the AG’s office is short staffed. I would like to know from the Minister when he is going to beef up the AG’s office so that everything is done with speed.
HON. ZIYAMBI: That process had already started. Cabinet approved that staff levels within the Attorney-General’s Office be beefed up but it is a process of recruiting them, having them trained, ensuring that they are now able to do whatever they are required to do. That is why I said giving a time frame to say next week would not be honest but the desire is that this side of the year, we must be able to complete the majority of Bills more specifically those that are within the speech that the President gave when he opened this session.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is about different strokes for different folks. The Patriotic Bill was passed within a year; the PVO Bill will be passed in the shortest time possible. Why is it that the disabled, who are marginalised, it is taking long for it to happen? Are we not being insensitive and are we not being seen to be more punitive than progressive in terms of the disabled agenda.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Mr. Speaker, I do not know where he is getting all this. There is no Patriotic Bill before Parliament. On the PVO Bill, he should have asked when it was initiated, the time frame until it got to Parliament.
So, we must not compare bananas and apples, we have processes that are done to come up with a Bill and these are separate processes. I think with all due respect, we are undertaking a process of bringing the Bill. Those that are before Parliament, that process was done and completed. What we need is to focus on ensuring that the Bill is brought before Parliament.
HON. MARKHAM: Hon. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister that for years now, we have been told there is a bottleneck in the Attorney-General’s office. My question dates back to the Devolution Bill. We have had a very long delay on IPEC but as Hon. Mliswa said, some Bills just shoot through. It appears there are selections as to what you want to do. Devolution Bill came and it is gone. My question is when are you going to sort out the AG’s office?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for his supplementary questions. However, just to correct him a little bit; the Devolution or the Provincial Councils Bill, we tabled it in the format that was compliant with the Constitution. We then proceeded to amend the Constitution and that entailed withdrawing that particular Bill so that we could factor in the new provision of the Constitution. So, I do not see comparisons there. What I said is the desire is there to ensure that we enact all Bills that are before Parliament. It might take long to complete one or two Bills but once Bills come to Parliament, our desire is to ensure that we complete them with or without amendments.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as the Leader of Government Business. I would like to find out from the Hon. Minister when the Government, before coming up with far reaching measures, embarks or engages in a process of engagement with players and stakeholders and also assess the impact and consequences of such measures. I ask this in the context of the raft of measures which were introduced on the 8th of May which, among other things, prevented the lending by banks and within a week, the Government has had a volt face and reversed its decision. However, we have had very serious consequences on the economy, we have had shortages, companies which had been unable to continue producing and I want the Hon. Minister to indicate to us what was the motivation behind Government’s thinking in coming up with that ill-fated measure?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. An elected Government has the mandate of people to make decisions even if it means you make decisions on your feet as seen fit and then you can always review them. Within the wisdom of Government and the information that Government had, it was necessary to come up with those measures. It does not matter the measures were for a day or two but for that particular moment, that decision was necessary and whatever was needed to be corrected was achieved within the timeframe of a week and then the relevant authorities lifted the suspension. So, I believe that if you are the executive or if you have been entrusted to make decisions, you do not rush back and consult on a daily basis. The law gives that executive power on those that are in power to do that. I thank you.
HON. GONESE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is, if he could perhaps enlighten us on the tangible benefits that emanated from that decision bearing in mind the fact that in terms of the exchange rate it looks like it has gone haywire, we have not seen any benefits. As a matter of fact, we have actually seen another policy reversal whereby the duty of selected goods has been lifted as a result of companies failing to supply the market with the goods. I want to find out from the Hon. Minister whether these policy inconsistencies and reversals are not further eroding confidence in our economy.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The original question spoke of the Executive being required to consult whenever they make a decision and my response was, we do not have to. The second question now pertains to a specific decision that was done and the perceived results from the Hon. Member. My response is, sometimes certain actions are motivated by security issues that emanate from what will be obtaining on the ground. As for the specific responses in terms of monitoring interventions, I would request the Hon. Member to request like what happened last week, the Minister of Finance to come to the House so that he can articulate on how they are doing these policy interventions and monitoring policy interventions. I thank you.
HON. ZWIZWAI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir and good afternoon. My question is on the issue of consultation. We have institutional memory in the person of yourself Mr. Speaker Sir, during the inauguration of the President of the Second Republic, he said “I am a listening President”. He said the voice of the people is the voice of God, I just want to know from the Minister, who did the President listen to, to come up with those draconian measures which he reversed overnight? Who did he listen to if he did not listen to the voice of the people and the voice of God and if he is not a listening President? I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not fully convinced that he listened to the President when he said that speech and understood the import of what he was saying and if he can fully relate that statement to the architecture of governing on a day to day basis. If you are a listening President, it does not mean you do to not make decisions. There are times when you are required as a Government to make decisions that you believe are in the best interest of the people. So, the Hon. Member is completely lost to infer that because he said I am a listening President, each time he makes a statement he cannot use the authority that is vested in him by virtue of having been elected the President of a country but he has to go back and consult; he becomes a lame President. Any President in the world, they issue executive orders, they issues statements that ensure that the country remains stable. I thank you.
*HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister saying that the law that has been put in place which was changed within eight days, was there a problem in our economy that there were enemies who were destroying our economy at that time? Also what transpired, the eroding of faith of the people that they had in our economy, how are they going to rectify that because we see a flip flopping of policies?
* HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to thank Hon. Madzimure for his question. In response I want to say that I had explained earlier on that what happened during that time, it was the motive of rectifying what we wanted to be rectified. If he wants to hear more details about policies that were being put in place, you should summon the Minister of Finance to come and give a statement on how these things work. Thank you.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Minister, you have answered well.
*HON. MADZIMURE: On a point of order Madam Speaker, the Minister said the Minister of Finance should come and tell us what had gone wrong, so can we get the Ministerial Statement from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Madzimure, I think the Leader of Government Business has heard that and is going to take it on next week but one. Thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Supplementary question Madam Speaker...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Markham, I do not think there is need for a supplementary question since the Minister is going to bring a Ministerial Statement, that is when you ask for any clarification from the Minister.
HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, my question is very simple, I would like to know if a Statutory Instrument is going to be issued on these points. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is okay, go ahead and ask your question.
HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, my question is very simple, I would like to know if a Statutory Instrument is going to be issued of these drastic measures or are these measures going to be brought to this House? Thank you.
HON. MAKHAM: My question is very simple. I would like to know if these measures that were announced where the statutory instruments will be issued and secondly, will they be brought to the House because as soon as they were issued, half of them were withdrawn? We would like to know if Statutory Instruments can be issued and what is left? I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Policy pronouncements to banks – my understanding is they are covered by the current laws that are there. There was nothing that was done that was outside the framework. The Reserve Bank controls the lending rates and all that and it is covered within the legislation. So whatever was done, my understanding is that it was correct and did not require any change in legislation. Further to that, I indicated that the intricate details of what they are requesting for that are technical – the Minister will be able to come and articulate because I would not know off head every legislation and subsidiary legislation at policy level, that is what I responded to. I then further indicated that - can we allow this case to rest and the Minister can come and offer further explanations on what he is doing to ensure that he stabilises the currency and the economy. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My Hon. dear mother Hon. Chibagu has been standing up wanting to speak. She once appeared in the media for not wanting to talk and I now know why. If you can give her a chance because she actually stood up and I do not think anybody observed her. It is only proper that she is given a chance.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chibagu, your question is on the Order Paper and you shall stand up when the time for your question comes. Thank you.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. I have got this knowledge that we have been having teachers in our system who got employed when they did not have professional qualifications. Later on, they had to go for teacher capacity development and these teachers have not been regarded because they were at temporary level and they continue to exist like temporary teachers even eight years after they have attained professional qualifications. Can the Hon. Minister shed light on that? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I will have to go and investigate because that is the issue of the Ministry of Labour, they are the ones who hire them.
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Madam Speaker. Is the Minister confirming a fact that she is not seized with that matter that has a direct relationship with her teachers because she is the one who recommends to the Minister of Labour that here are the people who have been upgraded and are now at a certain level. Has she recommended to the Minister of Labour? Thank you.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I am sorry I have no information on that particular issue but I will have to investigate and come back to this House. Thank you.
HON. MUDARIKWA: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. I want to find out on the national policy on cannabis and its production and why is it excluding communal lands? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I want to thank Hon. Mudarikwa for the question. Any production is now under the purview of the Minister of Agriculture and it has been opened up. The one that is still regulated is medicinal cannabis by the nature of the plant being a drug but I think the other one - anyone who wants to grow industrial can approach the Minister of Agriculture for the relevant papers. I thank you.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary arises on the production of cannabis. Why is it that it is excluding communal lands especially in areas like Binga where they have got good heat units that produce high quality cannabis? Thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. No one is excluded but there are certain requirements that are required to obtain a licence to cultivate medicinal cannabis. That is my answer to that.
HON. ZWIZWAI: My supplementary is to amplify the question that was asked by Hon. Mudarikwa. If the Hon. Minister says that the policy is not exclusionary, and yet the licence fee for one to farm medicinal cannabis idzo mbanje idzodzi is USD50 000.00, where do we expect a villager, even at bank rate to get such an amount of money? Is that not exclusionary? Is it not the business of the elite, the fat cats, and the ruling elite?
Honestly, the heat levels in Chikwalakwala are very conducive like he talks about Binga. Where do you expect people in Chikwalakwala and Binga to get USD50 000.00 for the licence?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Madam Speaker, by its very nature, the cultivation of medicinal cannabis is very expensive in that setting up the infrastructure to ensure that the security component that is required to ensure that it is not abused is not cheap. So the licencing requirements correlate with what is required to ensure that the requisite infrastructure and the inspection that is required by the relevant ministry is undertaken.
The thinking was, we do not want Government to use its own resources for monitoring, inspecting and ensuring that there is arbitrage of the crop when the final product is produced. So, by its nature, it requires that the licencing fee be exorbitant. However, if we have villagers like what Hon. Mudarikwa indicated in Binga, who are desirous to grow it, they can form consortiums and approach Government for assistance so that they can be organised and be able to cultivate that crop. I thank you.
+HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. It has been a number of years now since we passed the Law of Economic Zones and when we also passed legislation on ZIDA. What makes it fail to have development in the dead areas? We realise that people are travelling to either Botswana or South Africa to spend foreign currency. What prohibits them from spending their money in Zimbabwe when we already have Special Economic Zones that we passed as Parliament?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. I was picking here and there but what I picked here is why we are not having Special Economic Zones …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Leader of Government Business, please may you be connected.
HON. ZIYAMBI: I am not connected?
HON. GONESE: On a point of order Madam Speaker Ma’am. In line with the constitutional provisions regarding coverage of Parliament as a result of which, a policy position was taken that coverage on Wednesdays for Question Time would be live. I note that the cameras are being dismantled, and yet we have not yet completed Question Time, if the Hon. Madam Speaker could clarify what the position is? My understanding is that the position that was taken by this august House is that live coverage of Parliament is for the entire Question Time.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Gonese, I have taken note of your concerns. I will do some consultations and come back with the answer. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. If I got the question correctly, the concern was why are there no Special Economic Zones in areas like Beitbridge and related areas?
Madam Speaker, the law is there to ensure that Special Economic Zones are there. So, as to the specific reason why a particular area does not have a Special Economic Zone, I think, is a very specific question that can be directed to the relevant minister so that he will be able to answer why Victoria Falls is a Special Economic Zone but Beitbridge is not. I thank you.
(v)HON. WATSON: Thank you Madam Speaker. In 2018, the Minister of Health and Child Care made a policy to utilise part of the Health Bill to make dialysis kidney screening free to patients. Could the Hon. Minister please explain if the policy is still in place or not? Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Watson, please may you repeat your question?
(v)HON. WATSON: In 2018, the Ministry of Health and Child Care made a policy to utilise part of the Health Bill to make the dialysis in Government health institutions free to patients. Could the Hon. Minister say if this policy is still in place or not as patients are dying because there is no free dialysis? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madame Speaker Ma’am. There is no policy shift that is still the policy. What happened is that there was an operational decision that happened when we were stuck by COVID-19 to ensure that we deal with the pandemic but now that things are normalising, we are going back to the normal procedures of funding of our health system. At that particular time, what we were faced with was a pandemic that needed us to respond specifically to that and ensure that we save the majority of our citizenry. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Foreign and International Trade. Madam Speaker, I am happy that the Minister is here and I would want to ask this question. I refer to the situation that is happening in Ukraine and Zimbabwe has taken certain decisions at United Nations, the first one being abstention and the second one is voting against a resolution. What could have informed Zimbabwe’s decision as far as the invasion of Ukraine is concerned?
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. SEN. AMB. DR. SHAVA): Thank you very much Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question that he has raised regarding what informs Zimbabwe in its position on the war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Madam Speaker, when this war broke out, it was quite clear from Zimbabwe’s perspective that our desire is that peace must exist between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and that any activities that were ensuing at that time must be in the promotion of peace.
When the vote was called at the United Nations, Zimbabwe did not want to take any sides between the two and we encouraged the two to talk, so we abstained. In the second aspect when the other parties where agitating that the Russian Federation should be removed from the body of the United Nations, we did not think that was the right thing to do, so we voted against that and we encourage that all bodies should remain answerable to the United Nations. Even if it was Ukraine that was being ousted out of that body we would have still voted against that procedure. What we prefer is a situation where there is peace and continued dialogue and discussions. This is what basically informs our foreign policy. I thank you.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: My supplementary is that as small as we are, Zimbabwe, we find countries like China who have a trillion dollar economy saying they will not get involved in such things. We are seen to be taking interest where people are dying, where infrastructure is being bombed. We are not a powerful nation, what is the policy of the Government regarding this? Looking at the Look East policy, that direction that we were given by China, they refused to go and vote but as a small powerless nation we are willing to vote yet our economy is in its doldrums. Can the Hon. Minister highlight to us regarding this issue?
*HON. SEN. AMB. DR. SHAVA: Thank you Madam Speaker, China is China and Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe. We do things that are of interest to our country and that help us. People of China do what is best for their country – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Zwizwai.
*HON. SEN. AMB. DR. SHAVA: What I have said is that we encourage peace in this whole process and we will continue to do that. If we decide to take sides we shall do that but for now, we are encouraging dialogue to bring peace. I thank you.
HON. GONESE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I have taken cognisance of the Hon. Minister’s initial response that Zimbabwe’s position was informed by the principle that there should be dialogue and peace. Now, in the context of the fact that the dialogue and the talks that have taken place seem to be going nowhere and at this point in time we have seen the impact of the war particularly on civilians where we are seeing that there are a lot of civilian casualities including children, is there a possibility that Zimbabwe will reassess its position in the context that Russia has caused untold devastation on Ukraine and looking at those consequences, is Zimbabwe not re-evaluating its position from a principled perspective in terms of what is happening on the ground?
HON. SEN. AMB. DR. SHAVA: Madam Speaker, we shall continue to shout louder and louder that there should be dialogue and create peace. We have no other way of persuading them except to indicate that they should talk together and create peace between themselves. There is no other way that Zimbabwe can intervene which will alleviate what Hon. Gonese is suggesting with respect to the plight of the nationals of those two countries. I am sure the situation is the same on either side but it is up to them to look at their cases and encourage dialogue and reduce the plight that is affecting the children and the women in those countries.
HON. MURAMBIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My question goes to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. What measures do you have to assist special boarding schools that cater for children living with disabilities since 80% or more of those children are BEAM sponsored. Funds from BEAM are disbursed so late and those schools are left with a huge burden on boarding provisions.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): The question is not a social welfare question but it pertains to infrastructure for the disabled learners in schools. The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education can answer to that bit. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. NDLOVU): Madam Speaker, on issues of infrastructure in schools, we are seized with the matter to make sure that the disabled are facilitated. Recently, I witnessed a launch of equipment at the University of Zimbabwe where one of my departments is. We were given some assistance to alleviate such difficulties that our disabled children are facing. We were given equipment that facilitates them in terms of Braille and we are printing more Braille material.
We also have funding from Government to assist children with disabilities and we are working with our development partners to try and help children with disabilities.
On infrastructure side, when we are building new schools, the 3 000 schools that we were asked to build, out of the 35 that we are targeting this year, we will make sure that disabled children are accommodated.
The pertinent issue again is that the schools that cater for disabled children are very few, so we are working on strategies to make sure that we have more boarding schools for those children that have got disabilities. I thank you.
*HON. MURAMBIWA: My question was not responded to as I expected. I said do we have special boarding schools that concentrate and assist those with disabilities. Most of these children’s fees are paid by BEAM and BEAM delays its payment. So, how do these schools survive and the ancillary staff that assist in these boarding schools in terms of their salaries? Does that not affect their operations?
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: The issue of BEAM is under the scope of Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. However, my Ministry and the Ministry of Labour are trying to have the headmasters and the committees apply for BEAM on time so that at least that money could be disbursed early. In some years, they have disbursed the money late and I am not sure whether the delay was from the Ministry of Finance; we have to investigate and find out. Otherwise, those children are provided for, I know the difficulties that the schools are going through in terms of revenue, and we are encouraging the Ministry of Labour to pay the BEAM timeously. I thank you.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me begin by thanking the Hon. Minister for an attempt to respond to the question that has been asked by Hon. Murambiwa. Because the issues of children with disabilities is a pertinent issue in the communities and in the country and as you may know, NDS 1 has a Mantra “leaving no one behind”; my request is that - can we have a ministerial statement which states regionally where the children with disabilities have been assisted in terms of BEAM and also entrance into the various schools that can accommodate children with disabilities? I think for us to get an appreciation and also to give feedback as we do to our constituents, it would be of paramount importance that the relevant Minister comes up with a Ministerial Statement which states schools which have benefited in the programme including those on BEAM.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for proposing that we bring a Ministerial Statement. I am going to work together with Hon. Prof. Mavima to bring the Ministerial Statement on that particular issue covering the regional experiences and exposures as well as what our Government is doing at the moment.
HON. MBONDIAH: Thank you Madam Speaker. What mechanisms have they put in place to ensure that children living with disabilities can access the CALA syllabus? Some of these children cannot access gadgets so that they do their research. When the Hon. Minister brings the Ministerial Statement, can the Hon. Minister also state what mechanisms are in place for these children to be able to research and use the CALA.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Madam Speaker, I think I appreciate the input that is coming from the Hon. Member. We will incorporate that information.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by the HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, we are deferring questions 1 and 2 to next week.
(v)HON. HAMAUSWA: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think it is not fair to defer that question again when we have lost precious lives. The question has been on the Order Paper since March.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Hamauswa, I hear you, unfortunately the Minister of Mines is not in the House but the Leader of Government Business will convey the message. Thank you
(v)HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker, your administration keeps saying I need to log-out and log-in again because my iPhone is saying Dexter’s iPhone, it is going to take me an hour to change the name of the gadget but I ask that I be registered as present because my gadget is saying Dexter’s iPhone. I have registered my name as Dexter Nduna, I ask that I do not be registered as absent Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Nduna, I am sure they have taken note of that.
SUPREME COURT RULING ON EMA AND CITY OF HARARE
- HON. MARKHAM asked the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry to confirm to the House whether the Supreme court judgement Case number SC263/21 (Cosmo vs Patel Meadows Pvt. (Ltd.) which ruled that both EMA and City of Harare were not following due processes in their allocations of EIA and Development permits that the Minister has and to explain;
a) What additional measures have been put in place to empower EMA to protect the wetlands and to consult widely instead of just protecting the developer?
b) Whether EMA will not support the delisting of the area as a RAMSAR sight to which we are signatories.
c) Whether, the Ministry supports the judgment, and insists that future EIA requested by developers be published.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. M. NDLOVU): I want to thank the Hon. Member for a very critical question that he asked. For clarity Madam Speaker, the proper citation of the case in question is SC 163/21 not SC263/21 and the Hon. Member can indicate if I am not specifically responding to the case he referred to.
Whilst I do confirm and acknowledge that the judgement was given in favour of Cosmo Trust, who were the Respondents, it would be incorrect to declare that the judgement is speaking to all issuances or “allocations” of Environmental Impact Assessment certificates. It must be noted that this is the first such case in which the issuance of an EIA certificate has been successfully challenged on procedural grounds. At no point in the said judgement did the court declare that he EIA process was flawed but rather in this one isolated case, anomalies existed in the carrying out of stakeholder consultations which warranted the cancellation of the certificate on procedural grounds.
Madam Speaker, it must also be noted that since the Environmental Management Agency (EMA)’s inception, a total of 14 755 project proponents have applied for EIA certification. Out of all these projects, over 14 500 projects have been issued with EIA certificates and just under 200 projects have rejected for various reasons mainly due to environmental concerns which render the project unsuitable in the proposed project area. It is therefore interpretation of the judgement to say that it points to there being procedural irregularities in the public consultation processes when this is only one isolated case out of 14 500 issued EIA certificates.
I would like to assure the House that adequate measures to protect wetlands in Zimbabwe are in place and are being constantly upgraded. Government, in the year 2021, provided resources for the development of a robust wetlands management framework. Your attention is drawn to the recently completed wetland mapping process spearheaded by my Ministry but working with Zimbabwe National Geo-Spatial Agency, leading to the gazetting of the National Wetlands Map. Subsequently, Government formulated and published the National Wetlands Policy and the National Wetland Management Guidelines as key guiding documents for policy makers, practitioners and the general public.
These efforts are geared towards empowering the citizens of Zimbabwe especially through EMA, to properly manage and protect this finite resource. Further, Section 96 of the Environmental Management Act makes it mandatory for all authorities even down to district level to prepare and submit Environmental Management Plans to EMA. This provides a platform for communities to be part of the planning process and ensure their input is considered in the management to the wetland resources.
Madam Speaker, with regards to wider consultation of stakeholders, environmental legislation is adequate in dealing with this issue as it recognises firstly, in Section 136 of the Act, the right of affected persons to be heard. This further complemented by Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 on Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection which calls on prospective project developers to carry out comprehensive public consultation in their projects. Moreover, the Director General of EMA is empowered to exercise his/her discretion in terms of Section 100 of the Act to direct a prospective developer to carry out further consultations where there is need for such.
In addition, my Ministry has embarked on an exercise to activate the provisions of Section 113 of the Act in identifying and listing wetland eco-systems which shall be declared as ecologically sensitive. These areas will be under the protection of the Ministry and no development projects shall be allowed in such areas unless they are in line with the above quoted guidelines that have been put in place. The aim is to ensure that we protect these ecologically sensitive areas by only approving projects which complement their natural features and maintain their natural functions.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, regarding the Hon. Member’s question of the possible delisting of the area, there are currently no efforts to delist Monavale Vlei as a Ramsar site by designating it as a Wetland of International Importance. As a nation, we committed ourselves to promoting its conservation as required by the Ramsar Convention. However, my Ministry will apply the law fairly and respect the constitutional rights of citizens with vested interest in the area concerned without compromising the wetland nature of the area. Each case will be considered on its own merits.
It is the duty of the courts to interpret the law and as the implementing Ministry we are bound by the Supreme Court’s decision. I must also highlight to the House that EIA documents are by nature public documents and as such, any citizen of Zimbabwe has a right to access and view these documents at the respective EMA offices. The Constitution recognises the right of access to information. Going forward, we will continue to ensure that our wetlands are safe-guarded and that the rules of natural justice are rigorously applied during the EIA process. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. Could the Minister confirm that the detailed map of wetlands and new guidelines are readily available through EMA to the public? We are having problems accessing the detailed map. I thank you.
HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for the question. Indeed, the detailed map is available and it is available on-line. I will also advise the Hon. Member if ever he is having challenges to contact myself or EMA directly. Just to add also that we have gone on to gazette the ecologically sensitive wetlands. I think the process will be concluded this week. We sent all the coordinates and I signed them last week. So, they will also be publicly available. Thank you.
SCHOOLS THAT BENEFIT FROM GOVERNMENT SCHOOL COMPUTERISATION PROGRAMME IN HURUNGWE NORTH
- HON. GANDAWA asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to explain to the House schools to benefit from Government school computerisation programme in Hurungwe North.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to answer as follows to the question that was asked by the Hon. Member. I would like to thank Hon. Gandawa for raising that question. Indeed, the computerisation programme is an important thrust of the Ministry in line with the requirements of the competence based curriculum. We are taking a whole of Government approach on this aspect with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services working on a programme to provide ICT gadgets and connectivity to schools. There are at least 653 primary schools without connectivity in Mashonaland West Province and 298 secondary schools without connectivity.
We however have a programme that has so far connected 188 primary schools and 109 secondary schools in Mashonaland West Province. At the moment I have the provincial analysis rather than the constituency analysis, but what I can assure the House is that working with the development partners, we have a programme called GIGA. This programme has been implemented in other countries and its aim is to make sure that all schools are connected.
This year we have a programme that we showcased at the International Trade Fair where we had a workshop supported by UNICEF, Old Mutual, Econet and other stakeholders. The GIGA programme is aimed to connect all schools in the country by the year 2030 including all schools in Hurungwe North and the connection will also take into account the access to electricity where we are intending to introduce solar systems in schools where electricity is not available from ZESA. Thank you.
HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question was a bit specific or was very specific because it came from the people that I represent, the people of Hurungwe North. The question was to inform the House on how many schools or which schools are going to benefit on the Government computerisation programme. I am aware that the Government has done so much in terms of other areas but the people of Hurungwe North would want to know which schools specifically are going to benefit from this programme.
Secondly, I might not have heard from the Minister which schools in particular are going to benefit from the Government computerisation programme going forward. If I had wanted a policy answer, I would have taken time to make a question or bring a question during Question Time but this specific question is meant for Hurungwe North Constituency. I would be glad to hear statistics and figures which are particular to Hurungwe North to say it is your primary school, Chinika Primary School or it is Kazangarare Primary School. Probably if I can also benefit from that and know the timelines as we do the computerisation programme for all the constituencies.
I have heard about the GIGA programme spanning up to 2030 but the people of Hurungwe North whom I represent would want to know which schools in particular. This is why I asked this question. I wish if the Minister could respond. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Madam Speaker, I appreciate what the Hon. Member is asking for. I think in my presentation, I actually stated that at the moment I have figures for Mashonaland West. I will have to send my staff on the ground to check on the exact schools in that particular constituency that have been provided with computers. At the moment, I have holistic figures for each province in our database. I will have to come back to the House to inform the Hon Member. I thank you.
On the GIGA programme - [(v)HON. GANDAWA: Madame Speaker, may I be given the opportunity to respond to the Hon. Minister?] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister is still speaking Hon. Gandawa. Please may you give her a chance to respond? - [(v)HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madame Speaker Ma’am.] – Hon. Minister, you were still responding. – [HON. E. NDLOVU: Ndapedza.] –
(v)HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madame Speaker Ma’am. I appreciate the response that is coming from my Hon. Minister. I am not too sure what timeline the Hon. Minister may need so that I go and give feedback to the people of Hurungwe North to say these are the schools that are going to benefit. I pray, through you Hon. Madame Speaker Ma’am, if I may be able to be given the timelines so that I go and give feedback to the people that I represent? Thank you.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Hon. Gandawa. I think I will give you in a fortnight’s time because I will be out of the country next week. So the following week when we resume Parliament – I will give you the quantities of computers, and in which schools. I thank you.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madame Speaker, I think I am answered now. I will wait for the two weeks before giving feedback to my people. Thank you very much. – [(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker!] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Mushoriwa. Vehicle Registration Number AFM 7470 is blocking other vehicles. Please may the owner of this vehicle attend to it.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Hon. Madam Speaker, with respect to Hon. Gandawa’s written question, to me, it was not properly answered. Does this mean that the question is deferred also so that the Hon. Minister does not forget?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please, may you come again Hon. Mushoriwa?
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: I said because the Hon. Minister has failed to answer properly the written question posed by Hon. Gandawa, can the question remain on the Order Paper so that the Hon. Minister does not forget?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mushoriwa. Since the Hon. Minister has given a timeline to bring the response, the Parliament secretariat will conduct follow-ups with the Hon. Minister.
CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN WARREN PARK CONSTITUENCY
- HON. HAMAUSWA asked the Minister of Primary and
Secondary Education to inform the House when the Government will construct public schools in Ward 15 covering Warren Park 1 and 2, Warren Park D, Westlea, Cold Comfort, Dawnview, Belvedere West and Parkview in Warren Park Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the information on the need for public schools in Warren Park 1 and 2, and all these areas that he mentioned.
The Ministry is seized with the matter of construction of schools with more than three thousand (3000) new schools earmarked by 2025. In this calendar year, we have a budget to construct 35 new schools – from the 35 new sites, 25 are satellite schools already operating without proper infrastructure. Construction has already started, being funded by Government, parents, and partners. However, for this year, the areas referred to by the Hon. Member are not in this year’s budget. Treasury has released an initial ZWL270 million which should enable work to start as soon as possible.
It is unfortunate that we got this information late but we will make sure that we put a provision for next year to cover these very essential and important areas that have been provided to us by the Hon. Member. I thank you.
(v)HON. HAMAUSWA: I would want to thank the Hon. Minister for her response. My supplementary is that whilst we are waiting for the Ministry to consider the request in the 2023 budget, I am making a humble request that the Hon. Minister may consider to adequately equip Warren Park High School since it is the only public secondary school covering Warren Park 1 and 2, Warren Park D, Westlea and Cold Comfort including also Belvedere West – there is no other secondary school apart from Warren Park High School.
My humble request is for the Ministry to consider adequately equipping, including the laboratories, because when it is time for examinations, school children wait even until midnight to do their practical examinations yet the school covers all those areas without any other support. I thank you.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I humbly thank the Hon. Member for the request for laboratories but the equipment, probably we could provide because currently we are manufacturing some of the laboratory equipment. So we will consider that particular school. I thank you.
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Thank you very much Madame Speaker Ma’am. I just want to find out from the Hon. Minister whether it is therefore possible if 35 schools are going to be built this year? Is the target going to be met to construct over 2500 schools? I thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Madam Speaker Ma’am, I think I said that we are going to build 35 schools this year. We are mostly going to build schools that are in existence but have very few blocks and we are increasing the number of blocks. The 3000 schools will be built depending on the availability of funding in the coming budgets. So I appeal to the House to make sure that in the next budget, we propose that we build more schools in order to cover the gap that is in existence at the moment. I appeal to Parliament to support us during the budget period so that at least we can build those schools. The capacity to build is there because we have three Government institutions plus two ministries that could help us to put up that infrastructure very easily. I thank you Madam Speaker.
STANDARDISATION OF GRADE 7 CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES (CALA) QUESTIONS
- HON. WATSON asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary education to explain to the House why the Grade 7 Continuous Assessment and Learning Activities (CALA) questions are not standardised across schools.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to thank Hon. Watson for raising such an important question. Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) is designed in such a way that they are relevant to the local environment, so they differ. The environment differs from one school to another. Through CALA, learners are expected to solve problems and deal with issues within their local environment using resources available within the locality.
A standardised CALA will disadvantage the majority of learners, especially if the issues being dealt with are not in their local environment. This is the reason why the CALA is designed, supervised and marked by the class teacher who understands the conditions the learners experience on a daily basis. That is the answer Hon. Watson.
(v)HON. WATSON: Thank you Madam Speaker. I ask my question in the context that Grade 7 examinations themselves are set standard across Zimbabwe. Then I do not understand how the CALA relate to those Grade 7 examinations. This is because it struck me looking at the Grade 7 questions from a primary school in Bulawayo, that even for a child in an urban environment frankly, they were very advanced questions; questions that, yes, if the child has access to the internet and research methods, it is possible that they could answer but even then, it will be difficult. So, I need the Hon. Minister to tell us how CALA tie to the Grade 7 examinations? I thank you.
HON. DR. E. NDLOVU: Thank you very much Hon. Watson. Hon. Watson explained that she saw the CALA questions that were for Grade 7. The questions were difficult, but those questions are designed based on the content of CALA, it is based on what the children do in the environment in which they are learning. So, they might have looked difficult according to her, but I do not think it was difficult to the children because they are the ones practicing including their teacher. I would like to check and she can also check. If she can give me the name of the school so that I can look at the marks for that particular school and see if the children had difficulties, the marks were very low indicating that the questions were complicated and then we can start from there.
I would also like to assure Hon. Watson that we are actually reviewing the syllabus at the moment. We would like to have input from them, including the Hon. Member on how we can improve on this particular curriculum that we are using now to make sure that it suits the environment, the level of learning and so on. This is the answer that I can give for now but I will go back and examine if she gives me the particular school so that we see how the children performed against the questions that were there. I thank you Madam Speaker.
+HON. MAHLANGU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I totally differ with you Hon. Minister by saying CALA cannot be difficult for children. According to my observation…
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please can you use one language Hon. Member.
+HON. MAHLANGU: In most cases, CALA is not done by children, it is done by us parents at home because it will be home work. I am looking mostly at children who live with their grandparents, yes, they may know the names of trees and so on, but most of the things are researched and printed. After printing, you do charts and staple together. For me, that might be easy but looking at a grandmother, each and every school does not look at who the child stays with, yet most of those children stay with their grandmothers. It becomes difficult to help their grandchildren. They cannot go to shops where printing and photocopying is done. When making a review of this, why do you not have these things done at school?
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, ask your question.
+HON. MAHLANGU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I totally differ with the Minister that CALA cannot be difficult for children. CALA is not done by children, it is being done by parents at home as it will be homework. I will be looking mostly at children who stay with their grandparents. Hence they may know the names of the trees but most of the things are researched and printed. After printing you do charts and staple them. With me, that can be easy but looking at a grandmother and the environment, the schools do not look at who stays with the child. Most of the children are staying with grandmothers and it becomes difficult for them to help their grandchildren. They cannot go to shops where there are photocopying and printing activities. When reviewing this, why do you not have these things done at school?
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker. The Hon. Member is explaining very well to me that on the ground the children are given homework, which homework is assisted by parents. Some of the children have got grandparents who are not very literate when it comes to computers because we use computers and we also print. It is difficult for parents at home, especially the elderly who are with children at home to assist the children. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for that. I think that can be addressed through the provision of gadgets in schools.
One of the gadgets that I mentioned earlier on in another question was donated to one of the schools and we intend to request for more funding to put those gadgets in schools. They are better than the single computer because they facilitate monitoring by the teacher. When the teacher is sitting somewhere outside there, he would be watching the children through various screens. She can control the children. We are working very hard as Government with our partners to computerise schools so that that CALA is done in schools.
We will review in terms of homework given to children. I am noting down that so that the teachers assist the children in schools because we trained the teachers. We have a specific department Madam Speaker that is training our teachers on the utilisation of computers to make sure that we capacitate. We build their capacity and facilitate them to assist our children to implement this CALA. It is an ongoing process. We will also review the activities that are done to make sure that we make life easier for the children.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ZRP MUREREKA
- HON. MASANGO CHINHAMO asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House:-
(a) when Murereka ZRP Station is going to have proper infrastructure to operate from instead of a house they are currently using as an office; and
(b) when Murereka ZRP station is going to be provided with a service vehicle.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for such a pertinent question. ZRP Murereka started operating as a police post for Chinhoyi Rural Police Station at two houses offered by Makonde Rural District Council on 19 March 2011. One of the houses is used as a Charge Office while the other is being used as a residential accommodation. The police post was upgraded to a police station in 2021 and was offered stand number 392 measuring 2000m2 on 5th March 2019 by Makonde Rural District Council for construction of a police station. There has not been funding for the construction of a police station at the new site, hence it is still operating at the police site. Bids for construction of Murereka Police Station will be resubmitted in the 2023 financial year. We have been submitting them year in, year out and we hope to receive support from the House.
The station was last issued with a Landrover Defender vehicle in 2012. The vehicle was boarded and auctioned in 2021 because it had developed major components defects. The station is on the top priority list of stations to be issued with a vehicle upon completion of an ongoing vehicle procurement process. I thank you Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. M. M. MPOFU: Madam Speaker, what is the policy on these station vehicles. For example in my constituency Silobela, we were issued a vehicle and it was taken. Since last year, the station now do not have a vehicle and we are having a lot of murder cases – [technical glitch] – What is the Government policy on – [technical glitch] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mpofu, you are not audible.
(v)HON. M.M. MPOFU: Madam Speaker, I wanted to find out from the Minister what the policy is on the station vehicles. The vehicle was issued two years by the DISPOL in Kwekwe at the expense of the station. The station has got a lot of crimes – [technical glitch] – because the vehicle is being used by one person. What is the policy on that?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mpofu, that is specific question. You have to put it in writing so that the Minister will do some investigations and bring the response to the House.
HON. GABBUZA: In line with what the Minister has responded to, my question is; is it deliberate that at a police station there will be no vehicle but the Officer-in-Charge or the Propol or Dispol has several vehicles?
HON. KAZEMBE: Thank you Hon. Member for such a pertinent question. It is not supposed to be happening like that. If there are particular cases where something like that is taking place, we would want the details. As Government, we do not allow a particular senior to have several vehicles when the police station does not have anything to use. That is not Government policy. I will still ask the Commissioner of Police to look into such issues. If the Hon. Member has a specific case, I would be more than happy to have the details so that I can investigate that case.
PLANS AVAILABLE TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO CARRY MACHETES
HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage what plans are available to make it illegal to carry machetes?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam Speaker. I did not bring a written response as I just saw the question now but I can answer it. Currently, there are no such plans. However, the police are allowed by the law to issue orders as and when there is need to ban such weapons as they deem fit depending on the situation. We have had cases where the police have done that before.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: I want to thank the Hon. Minister for his response. The challenge that arises from that modus operandi is that these machete gangs are throughout the country, so if it is left to the police to come up with an order, it becomes difficult in terms of operation. I would propose that the Ministry makes it a criminal offence to carry machetes. I spoke to certain police officers who actually mentioned the difficulties they are facing in arresting these machete gangs because of operation of the law at the moment. Can the Minister please come up with the best way forward to eliminate these machete gangs who are all over the country? We cannot wait for an Officer in Charge to issue a ban in their areas of jurisdiction because this is rampant in all areas of the country.
HON. KAZEMBE: I would like to sincerely thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question and the recommendation that we should look at this with a view to completely ban the machetes given the challenges the police are facing in ensuring that people do not move around with machetes; point taken Madam Speaker. We will have a look at it and see because we need to be cognisant of the fact that yes, it may be used by some people for other reasons which are unwanted such as harming other people but machetes by their nature, are supposed to be used for various things. Some can be used for useful and productive things. So we will look at that but nonetheless, we have taken note of the concern raised by the Hon. Member and we will look at the possibility of implementing what he has recommended.
PROVISION OF RESOURCES TO RIMUKA POLICE STATION
12. HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House when Government is going to provide vehicles, office furniture and ICT gadgets to Rimuka and Kadoma Central Police Stations
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Hon Member for the question. We appreciate the Hon. Member’s concern and it does not just concern the tools of the station that he has referred to. We do have a challenge that we are addressing as Zimbabwe Republic Police. We have come up with a budget and we have a plan to ensure that all the issues raised, vehicles included, are attended to. However, as you would appreciate, ZRP does not have a retention anymore like what used to happen way back. So every resource that comes the ZRP way goes straight to Treasury.
HON. ZWIZWAI: On a point of order Madam Speaker, when we ask questions without notice, a Minister can answer from the top of his/her head but if they are written questions, we need written responses and not for the Minister to answer using his common sense without submitting a written response. That is unprocedural. The reason why we have written questions is meant for the Ministers to do a thorough study and research around the written question. You always rule us out of order and ask us to put our questions in writing.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: But the Minister is reading from his paper.
HON. ZWIZWAI: He is not even reading. The last question he responded to, he said he had just seen the question and he could respond. The last question he answered, he did not submit a written response but that is the procedure that a written response should be submitted.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Zwizwai, please take your seat. I have been advised that the Minister can respond if he knows the answer. There is nothing written that says the Minister must not respond even if he does not have a written answer. There is nothing that says the Minister must not respond if he does not have a written answer.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): I was in the middle of responding to the question by Hon. Chinyanganya. We do have plans to address all those issues. The issues raised do not only pertain to the particular station that the Hon. Member has raised. It is countrywide and the Minister is aware of it and we have already started addressing some of the issues – [HON. ZWIZWAI: It is a specific question why are you generalising?] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Why are you disturbing the Minister Hon. Zwizwai. I will send you out – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Inaudible interjections.] – Please may you leave the House –[HON. ZWIZWAI: Why?] – You are disrupting the smooth running of the House – [HON. ZWIZWAI: I am sorry.] – No, no, may you leave the House – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Okay, I will leave it for you.].
HON. KAZEMBE: As I was explaining that we are aware of the challenges as Government and we are addressing them. As you would appreciate, every time the police receive any resource or income, it goes straight to Treasury and we all bid to try and get some resources to try and meet some of these expectations. We have forwarded our request to the Ministry of Finance and as you would appreciate, we have competing demands but we are seized with the matter and we hope and trust that the Minister of Finance will provide us with the resources to ensure this particular station and other stations are attended to with regards to the requirements that have been raised by the Hon. Member.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68
HON. TEKESSHE: Madam Speaker, I move that we extend Question Time by a further 20 minutes.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. MARKHAM: I just want clarity from the Minister pertaining to resources, in particular to vehicles. Are the vehicles allocated to police stations, allocated to individuals or the stations for operations? Secondly, what happens when that vehicle now moves off to another station permanently? Is the Ministry aware because we could say that one area has been given a vehicle but that vehicle has been moved off to another area and this is quite rampant particularly in this province?
HON. KAZEMBE: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the follow up questions. I think I answered the first question when it was raised as a follow up question by another Hon. Member. It is not expected and that is not what is allowed in terms of policy but what then probably happens is that one particular person may end up keeping the vehicle for one reason or another but that is not procedural as far as the vehicle is concerned. If a vehicle is issued to the station, it is supposed to be used by the station.
On the second question, as I have alluded to, we do have a shortage of vehicles. In fact, we do have a lot of stations that do not even have a vehicle. This is an issue that Government is seized with and there is a programme already in place which was authorised by Cabinet and His Excellency the President where Treasury is buying vehicles in batches. If I remember very well a couple of months back, His Excellency commissioned vehicles to the police about 83 vehicles and this is an on-going process. As I mentioned earlier on, the issue of resources, we have a situation where we have 5 or 6 police stations sharing one vehicle. Depending on the challenges or work that is supposed to be done at a particular station, they may end up asking for a vehicle from another station. It is not an ideal situation but that is what is confronting the ZRP at the moment. However, Government is addressing it by way of buying vehicles as we have witnessed in the past few months. It is an ongoing process and we hope that we will be able to get the vehicles that we require in due course. I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: As they procure these vehicles and as Ministry, how do they ensure that they get appropriate vehicles for policing job because we see a lot of substandard and unsuitable vehicles for policing duties.
HON. KAZEMBE: I am not so sure what the Hon. Member means when he refers to unsuitable vehicles. Unless if he has particular unsuitable vehicles then maybe I can respond better but as I have mentioned, it is a question of resources. As the Ministry or police, we know very well what kind of vehicles we require for whatever job. In the police, there are various tasks or duties to be performed and it is not every job that requires a 4 x 4 or pick up for example. Certain duties require small vehicles. Also, remember we have investigating officers who may not even require fancy vehicles that they can even drive mushika shika or any of those vehicles.
So, depending on the type of work that is supposed to be done, we know what vehicle to allocate. However, even if we know what vehicles we require, I have mentioned the issue of resources so we have to do with what we can afford at the moment as we go forward as long as we can get the job done. In any case, I would like to thank the ZRP. Given all those challenges, I think the House will agree with me that they are doing a commendable job. I thank you.
LEGALITY OF USING SPIKES ON MOTORISTS BY ZRP OFFICERS
- HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to explain to the House the legality of using spikes on motorists by officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: He is asking about spikes, is it not overtaken by events?
Clerks at the Table having given advice to the Hon. Deputy Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry, I am being advised that question No. 13 can be answered so that the response will be officially recorded.
LEGALITY OF USING SPIKES ON MOTORISTS BY ZRP OFFICERS
13 HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to explain to the House the legality of using spikes on motorists by officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam Speaker and I would also want to thank the Hon. Member for such a pertinent question but this issue has actually been dealt with, it has been attended to. The police have officially banned the use of spikes. I thank you.
DOMESTICATION OF THE KAMPALA CONVENTION AND THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE
22 HON. WATSON asked the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House when will Zimbabwe domesticate the following international agreements ratified by Parliament;
- The Kampala Convention; and
- The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam President. Let me start by thank Hon. Watson for posing a very significant question which speaks to some of the challenges our justice system is facing on trying to comply with international standards that Zimbabwe has ratified. The matter that the Hon. Member raised is the issue domestication of International Conventions. To be more specific, the Hon. Member asked when Zimbabwe will domesticate the provisions of the Kampala Convention and the African Charter on Democracy in Elections and Governance.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, section 327 of the Constitution provides for the procedures for ratification of international treaties. It further explains the term international treaties to include all conventions protocols, charters and other agreements between States and International Organisations.
Madam Speaker, domestication of treaties takes place after a treaty has been ratified by both Houses of Parliament. After ratification process, the treaty goes for publication in the Government Gazette, Public Agreements Advisory Committee (PAAC) must publish a notice indicating whether the treaty is self executing, that is it is enforceable in Zimbabwe without the need for legislation or whether it needs to be domesticated. That is being incorporated into the law of Zimbabwe by legislation.
If the latter, the Ministry responsible for negotiating the treaty will have to send the treaty to the Attorney General’s office for the necessary legislation to be prepared. Unfortunately, the law does not provide for the time-limit, a treaty has to be domesticated.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, allow me to answer the Hon. Member’s question with regard to domestication of Kampala Convention. The facts are that the African Union Convention for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa commonly referred to as the Kampala Convention was found on the 23rd October, 2009. The Convention was ratified on the 22nd July, 2013 and then deposited on the 7th November 2013.
Immediately after the completion of ratification, the Ministry started to work on the domestication of this convention. The process of domestication started with conducting consultation. Drafting of relevant legislation were in progress until they were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 subsides, the work will resume soon in earnest and we expect the Bill to be tabled before Parliament in the next Parliamentary Session.
On the domestication of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the convention was ratified in 2019. Deposition of instrument of ratification with the chairperson of African Union Commission was done recently.
Kindly, we are waiting for the confirmation from African Union Commission on the effective date of Zimbabwe’s ascension. Once we are confirmed, we begin the process of domestication. The first step will be to examine and identify the provisions of the convention which are not currently covered by the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Once we have identified these provisions, we will decide on the way to domesticate this convention that either by way of General Laws Amendment or by having a separate legislation. I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
SCHEDULE OF ROADS REHABILITATED IN KWEKWE CITY COUNCIL UNDER ERRP 2
- HON. CHIKWINYA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House:
(a) A schedule of roads that were rehabilitated in Kwekwe City Council under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme-2
(b) Amount allocated per each road.
(c) Details of the company that undertook the rehabilitation work including name of company and names of directors.
(d) Proof of tender process.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam Speaker. Allow me to respond to the question raised by Hon. Chikwinya. I wish to respond to the question as follows:
Tremendous progress continues to be registered in rehabilitating the national road network through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2). As asked by Honourable, 10 roads have been rehabilitated so far in Kwekwe City Council. Seven roads were taken over by the Ministry of Transport and three roads have been rehabilitated by Kwekwe City Council. Table 1 below is a schedule of roads rehabilitated under ERRPS so far and is at various stages of completion.
Table 1 – Schedule of Roads under Kwekwe City Council
Road Name |
Nature of works |
Scope (km) |
Contrast value (USD) |
Contractor |
Procurement method |
Name of directors |
Mbizo Road |
Selective reconstruction and reseal |
9 |
3,194,510.55 |
CMED |
Direct |
D. Mhaka |
Amaveni Road and Colin Fraser Way |
Selective reconstruction and reseal |
15.1 |
|
|
||
Mvuma Road |
Selective reconstruction and reseal |
14 |
1,682,462.96 |
Birthday Construction |
Competitive |
Wedzerai Motose B. Muroyi |
Cobar Street |
Reconstruction |
1.5 |
292,990.62 |
Release Power |
Restricted |
Christian Matope |
Bessemer Street |
Reconstruction |
2.1 |
309,020.62 |
Release Power |
Restricted |
Christian Matope |
Fifth Street |
Reconstruction |
0.4 |
146,725.45 |
Linash Construction |
Restricted |
Elinah Shoko Charntelle Murombwi |
Railway Avenue |
Reconstruction |
4.1 |
1,561,216.69 |
ZADA Construction |
Open tender (competitive) |
Leons BJ Gino Jacob
|
Kaguvi Drive |
Reconstruction |
1.1 |
|
|
||
Vendors Market Road |
Reconstruction |
1.8 |
|
|
(b) The amount allocated for each road:
Madam Speaker, the amount allocated per each road is shown in Table above, column 4.
USD3,194,510.55 CMED
USD 1,682,462.96 Birthday Construction
USD 292,990.62 Release Power
USD 309,020.62 Release Power
USD 146,725.45 Linash Construction
USD 1,561,216.69 ZADA Construction
(c) Madam Speaker, the details of the company that undertook the rehabilitation work including name of company and names of directors; I refer to Table 1, columns 5 and 7 where the name of the company and names of directors are stated respectively. CMED is a State owned enterprise and the other companies are private players duly registered in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe.
(d) Madam Speaker, the proof of tender process: Let me hasten to say the awarding of contracts has been above board with due processes being followed, including reviews by the Special Procurement Oversight Committee (SPOC) under the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ). Further, SPOC through SPOC resolutions, reviews and provides the accounting officer with a procurement directive. I will use 5th street done by Linash Construction as an example.
The contractor priced their bids as presented below in their ascending order:
|
CONTRACTOR |
AMOUNT |
CORRECTED AMOUNT |
RANKINGS |
1. |
Apatron Mining |
$102,003.14 |
Nil |
1 |
2. |
Release Power |
$92,386.39 |
$115,286.39 |
2 |
3. |
Linash |
$146,725.45 |
Nil |
3 |
4. |
Transit Homes |
$157,669.52 |
Nil |
4 |
5. |
Pevimag |
$170,048.10 |
Nil |
5 |
6. |
Road Trackers |
$177,475.00 |
Nil |
6 |
7. |
Bitumen Resources |
$315,375.00 |
Nil |
7 |
After evaluation, Linash Construction was awarded the tender. This is an example of how a plethora of tenders have been reviewed and awarded. I thank you Madam Speaker.
FOR PRINTING OF PASSPORTS BY GARSU PASAULIS
- HON. MUSHORIWA asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House:-
(a) whether or not the Government entered into a contract with Garsu Pasaulis a subsidiary of Belgium Company Semlex for the production and printing of passports; and
(b) to give a breakdown of the financial terms of the contract specifying the cost of the passport to end user and how much is the Government going to get from each passport and how much for Garsu Pasaulis.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Yes, the Government entered into a contract with Garsu Pasaulis IAB with its registered office in Lithuania for the production of passports. This was necessitated by the fact that locally we were failing to cope with the demand of passports because of sanctions mainly. Money that we would send directly as a country to purchase consumables for the production of passports was always returned back because of sanctions imposed against the country, hence we ended up with serious backlogs. Government then decided to engage a private entity into a partnership and this has gone a long way in assisting the citizenry in this regard.
Madam Speaker, the collected revenue is deposited into a Government account managed by the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ). The cost of an ordinary and emergency passport is USD100.00 and USD200.00 respectively. However, for an electronically readable passport, an additional USD20.00 is paid to cater for the acquisition of a Quick Response code and other application costs.
Honourable Member, on the issue of financial breakdown in terms of what the Government and the company would get is confidential in terms of the signed contract between the parties hence I cannot disclose in detail to protect both parties. I thank you.
UPGRADING OF SEKE TEACHERS COLLEGE INTO A UNIVERSITY
20 HON. G. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology to inform the House if the Government has plans to upgrade Seke Teachers’ College into a university.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you for the question. Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members, it is important to know that Seke Teachers College is already a university college of the University of Zimbabwe and therefore, there are no such plans of upgrading Seke Teachers college into a university. Precisely, Seke Teachers College is already part of a university. I thank you.
CONSTRUCTION OF GWANDA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
21 HON. MOKONE asked the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology to explain to the House plans available towards the construction of Gwanda State University campus.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you for the question Hon. Mokone. Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members, I will start by explaining that Gwanda State University has two campuses, one in Gwanda Town and another one at Epoch Mine. Construction of Gwanda State University has already started at the Epoch Mine campus. To this end, under the 100 day cycle projects at Epoch Mine, three out of six students’ blocks are complete with the overall completion at 60%. Overally, 21 out of 26 blocks that accommodate 378 students have been completed while 10 out of 72 houses are complete and accommodate 40 staff members. The lecture block is at 15% completion whilst the engineering laboratory is at 40% completion, and renovations of the Jahunda Town offices are at 30% completion.
In addition, under the Agro-Innovation Programme, 229 bullying heifers and 240 breeding goats were purchased and are now at the Gwanda State University Epoch Mine campus farm. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased to announce that Government of Zimbabwe granted Gwanda State University ZWL200 000 000 for rehabilitation of infrastructure and ZWL160 000 000 for construction of the lecture block in the year 2022. Mr. Speaker Sir, construction of Gwanda State University has already started. I thank you.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
RESPONSE TO QUESTION ON PROTAIS MPIRANYA’S
STAY IN ZIMBABWE
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): Thank you Madam Speaker. On Tuesday, 17th May, 2022, Hon. Tendai Biti requested a response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on an issue of how Zimbabwe allegedly harboured the world’s most wanted Rwandan fugitive, Protais Mpiranya, how he was allegedly killed, why he was using a false identity and why he was buried in Zimbabwe.
Madam Speaker, allow me to present the answer as follows; let me start by highlighting that Zimbabwe has a history of openly receiving people from other countries including refugees who come into the country fleeing wars or civil strikes. Currently, we have around 15 000 refugees, the bulk of them comes from the Great Lakes region, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and from the horn of Africa.
In terms of obligations assumed by Zimbabwe when it became a State party to the Refugee Convention of 1951, which now falls part of Domestic Laws through the Refugees Act, any persons who present themselves at our borders claiming asylum are entitled to receive protection regardless of whether they carry passports or not.
It is the duty of Immigration officers to carry out an international assessment and to refer such individuals to Tongogara Refugee Camp where they have to register. Thereafter, the asylum seekers are assessed by the Refugee Status Determination Committee chaired by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is a member of the Committee. The interviewing and approval or rejection process is done in close collaboration with UNHCR.
It is important to note that international law prohibits Zimbabwe from returning asylum seekers to countries of origin. The principal fulfillment specially forbids countries from returning asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution or they have war founded fear of harm to their lives.
Hon. Members, you may wish to note that as is now evident, the late Protais Mpiranya entered Zimbabwe after having presented a valid DRC passport and complied with Immigration regulations and procedures. Zimbabwe has no knowledge that Ndume Sambao was in fact Protais Mpiranya and only learnt of the alias that he was using after the International Criminal Tribunal Residual Mechanism requested Zimbabwe to check this name in our records.
The facts are clear Hon. Members that Protais Mpiranya came to Zimbabwe as a Congolese national, fell sick, died and was buried in Harare’s Granville Cemetery. The allegation that his death was homicide has no basis as the records of death indicate that he died from natural causes. He was buried in Zimbabwe as the law does not discriminate in terms of burial rights between citizens and non-citizens.
The Hon. Member may wish to note that the tribunal had a USD 5 million bounty on Protais Mpiranya which was widely publicised but no one person came forward with credible evidence to claim this price money. We had no knowledge that this visitor from DRC Congo was a wanted man by the tribunal until we received an official request from the tribunal prosecutor to help search for him.
Therefore, to suggest that Zimbabwe harboured a wanted criminal is a clear distortion of facts. Anybody could have volunteered information on his whereabouts to our law enforcement authorities which could have resulted in him being apprehended.
From day one, Zimbabwe cooperated fully with the investigation team, actually the office of the UN Prosecutor and the Zimbabwean authorities established a joint taskforce to coordinate in investigative activities and strengthen cooperation.
We took the following concrete and positive steps to facilitate the investigations on the whereabouts of Mpiranya:-
- We set out an Inter-departmental Task Force with the mandate to investigate, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
- We worked with representatives of the offices of the UN Prosecutor;
- We provided resources to fund investigations on the activities of the Taskforce;
- We comprehensively investigated leads on fugitive Mpiranya and followed up on the new leads;
- We facilitated a visit to Zimbabwe by the UN Prosecutor and his meetings with the two Vice Presidents of Zimbabwe;
- Shared the stage by stage investigations reports, summaries of interview suspects and documentary evidence from various sources; and
- We produced and submitted Taskforce reports to the office of the UN Prosecutor.
Furthermore, as demonstration of its collaboration with the office of the prosecutor, the Government of Zimbabwe authorised and participated in the exhumation of Mpiranya’s remains.
Other concrete steps taken by the Government included securing the grave, seconding pathologists, issuing certificates to authorise the extraction of DNA sample and facilitating the analysis at the Netherlands Forensic Institute.
Let me conclude by noting that the criminals have been eluding many justice systems all over the world. After Mpiranya was found here, another fugitive was found in the Netherlands last week and in 2020, Felicien Kabuga, one of the most wanted criminals was discovered in France living comfortably under the nose of the justice system of that country. In both cases, nobody has alleged that these counties harboured them. We are surprised that when one criminal is found here, people are quick to allege that they are harboured. The Government does not harbour criminals and is guided by the rule of law as a member of the international community which is conscious of its obligation under international law. I submit.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Deputy Minister for the Ministerial Statement on the Rwandese fugitive allegedly buried in Zimbabwe. May I please have any Hon. Members who would like to raise any points of clarity to the Hon. Minister? I am kindly requesting that we stick to this Ministerial Statement. Whatever we are going to raise which is outside the Ministerial Statement, I am going to put you to order and the Minister will not respond. Let us have points of clarity relating to this issue. Thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Madam Speaker, just to seek for further clarification. If this fugitive was indeed a refugee and recorded at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland, did he live there? Did the Minister find evidence that he indeed was living there? Again, is it true that he ran businesses? Did they find any trace of him having been running businesses outside Tongogara Refugee Camp and where was he living? Lastly, are there chances that there could be even other fugitives in this country given that it looks like our systems are so porous as long as you can change your name even if you are internationally being looked for, you can still hide in our country without any trace. Thank you.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: I would like to thank the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Ministerial Statement. He presented quite a comprehensive Ministerial Statement. He chronicled that Government is a Government which upholds rule of law which implies that Zimbabwe is part of the international community which observes and respected international law.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Gandawa, may you ask your question.
(v)HON. GANDAWA: It is quite an informative statement. We are grateful for such an informative communication. May you continue in the same vein.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I just wanted to know if the systems of verification when registering these refugees have been changed to make them even more difficult than the last time? This fugitive came, also to double check if the system has not been changed. Then it means that there could be many more others who are in similar cases who committed crimes against humanity. I want the Minister to clarify if the system has changed since the last time this person came into Zimbabwe?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND ITNERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I want to thank the Hon. Members who have raised points of clarification. Also I want to thank Hon. Gandawa for affirming that our response was indeed comprehensive.
Hon. Gabbuza raised an issue where he was saying if this person was actually staying as a refugee, from my statement, I did indicate that the late Protais Mupiranya entered Zimbabwe having presented a DRC passport. The passport actually satisfied all the immigration procedures. At no point did I indicate that he came as a refugee and stayed at Tongogara. These are just the records that are now showing that he entered using a DRC passport and all along could have been in the country but from the evidence that we have, we have not said he was staying at the Tongogara Refugee Camp.
Madam Speaker, on the issue of people who stay at Tongogara Refugee Camp, we have said there are procedures for you to stay there and we have a working committee which is chaired by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. We also work with UHNCR and UN to make sure that those who are staying there meet the minimum qualifications to be accommodated as refugees. As for whether or not there could be other refugees in this country or other fugitives from this country, we cannot tell because if we knew, we would have submitted their names to those countries where they are wanted.
Madam Speaker, as you know, when these fugitives come, they will be using different names or some of them might even undergo some plastic surgery or any other form of disguise that will make it very difficult to identify them. So, we do not have a policy to harbour fugitives and if there are any, we will assist. Like what was alluded to in this statement that Zimbabwe fully cooperated with the investigation to assist in the process and we have other that could have been requested and we have always cooperated, collaborated in making sure that those people will face justice. So, we do not have any at the moment. I submit Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. BITI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am the one who asked for the Minister to bring that Statement but I could not make it to the Chamber, I am coming from a funeral. I hope the point I want to raise has not been raised. I think part of the challenge with this issue is that we have a very weak Refugee Act. We have a very weak legal regime that deals with persons that seek refuge in our country. If you compare us with Zambia and I know one or two things about Zambian law because I once sought asylum in Zambia. My suggestion is that the Minister of Foreign Affairs must consider updating Zimbabwean law so that it incorporates the variousinstruments that now deal with the refugees and asylum seekers into Zimbabwe. That law will also deal with the obligation to report all unwelcome asylum seekers in Zimbabwe connected, for instance with genocide or international crimes against humanity. So, can I have the undertaking from the Minister that the Ministry will look at all the international instruments that Zimbabwe acceded to? Some of them are SADC Protocols that are already in existence. If the Minister should look at competitive law, particularly laws that exist in countries that receive huge volumes of refugees – Zambia being one of them, Tanzania and South Africa also being another so that our laws are updated.
Finally, this may have been covered up, so I apologise if it had been covered but has there been formal communication between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Rwanda to clear the air because certainly from where we are sitting, the statements that they have issued, particularly the embassy do not appear to be a complimentary and can they also be guarantees that this kind of thing should not happen again. I thank you very much Madam Speaker.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (HON. DR. MUSABAYANA): I want to thank Hon. Biti for his contribution and I also want to agree that as a nation, it is important that we always keep our laws in sync and in speed with the contemporary trends in the way refugee laws are being framed the world over. Having said that, Hon. Biti is a Member of this august House and we know him as a lawyer. We appreciate the recommendations and I think Parliament can play its part in ensuring that those necessary reforms are taken into consideration as we build our nation together.
In terms of guaranteeing that such things cannot happen again, remember I said this man disguised himself by bringing an I.D. which can be very difficult especially when you do not have digitalised systems at our entry points where people are scanned through the eyes to identify them. We still use the ordinary passport and unless and until we have upgraded to that level, it might be difficult. We cannot also be able to guarantee because there could also be some human trafficking that goes on and we have been part of that corridor because we have a challenge with the Mozambican area where there are land mines that were planted there during the Rhodesian regime. Some of those areas are difficult to access and at times criminals can take advantage of that.
So, the best way moving forward is to ensure that as Parliament we pass budgets that ensures that we are fully capacitated in our borders so that we close in on such leakages, but the world over it is very difficult to come up with a system that is full-proof. Otherwise it will not be efficient or effective. We aspire that one day we will get there but world over fugitives are found and they always find their ways.
In terms of upgrading our extraction laws and so forth, we have started that process where we have some bilateral with certain countries. Rwanda is one example where we have signed such a treaty where possible and there is evidence and proof beyond reasonable doubt that a fugitive is here, he can be extradited but using the international laws and procedure. That can be done and we are streamlining those laws. On the issue of communication, that was raised in terms of our sister country Rwanda. As you know Zimbabwe and Rwanda, we enjoy a very cordial bilateral relationship.
If there was a statement that was issued, unfortunately I am not privy to it. It could just be the tone but in terms of the cooperation, we have been working closely like as I went through this document, we created or formed Joint Committees with Rwandese and they know as Rwanda that we are working together. So, there is no way they can end up saying we were harbouring or we were hiding this fugitive. We were working together and we cooperated from day one as we went through the paces. I think Hon. Biti when he goes through my statement will realise that we had done everything beyond reasonable doubt to show that we were working together with Rwanda which is our sister country and we continue to work well with Rwanda. So, if there was a statement that was issued which was not appropriately worded, we may not respond to that. As Zimbabwe, it is not our policy to try and bad mouth other countries but we continue to open our arms to the rest of the world so that we work with them well. I submit Madam Speaker Ma’am.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 21 be stood over until Order of the Day, No. 22 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, HOME AFFAIRS AND SECURITY SERVICES ON THE STATE OF SERVICE DELIVERY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT ZRP ESTABLISHMENT
Twenty-Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the State of Service Delivery and Infrastructure at Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Establishments.
Question again proposed.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I just want to say to this august House that this Committee is humbled by the contributions made by Hon. Members in support of the report that we tabled in this House on the state of affairs in the camps of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. I am sure now going forward, it is clearly understood that the police are doing the best they can do under meager resources. I commend the spirit that the Hon. Members showed at very short notice in debating this motion and I hope in future when we discuss the requirements of the budget of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Hon. Members will come to our support. On that note Madam Speaker Ma’am, I move that the report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the State of Service Delivery and Infrastructure at Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Establishments be adopted by this House. So I submit.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I move that we revert to Order of the Day, Number 2.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, HOME AFFAIRS AND SECURITY SERVICES ON THE PETITION FROM ZIMBABWE NATIONAL LIBERATION WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION HARARE PROVINCE
HON. BRG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the Petition from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-Harare Province, calling for the Amendment of the State Services (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Number 17 Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020 (S. C. 3, 2022).
HON. TOGAREPI: I second.
HON. BRG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. This is going to be a very short report on the Portfolio Committee of Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on the Petition from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-Harare Province, calling for the Amendment of the State Services (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Number 17 Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020.
INTRODUCTION
Madam Speaker Ma’am, pursuant to Section 149 of the Constitution, the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services received a petition from Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) - Harare Province appealing to Parliament to amend the State Service (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulation (Number 17) Statutory Instrument (S.I) 257 of 2020. The petitioners prayer was that the fixed date in the 257 of 2020 be amended from 1st December, 2017 to 17th April, 1995. The fixed date, as per the current Instrument, was said to have had the potential of dividing ex-combatants into two groups, that is, those in active service as from 1st December, 2017 and those who served in the uniformed forces prior to that date. The bone of contention basically rested on three issues as follows: disparities in monthly pension payments between the two aforementioned groups due to differences in the manner in which monthly pension was calculated for the same rank; non-monetary benefits awarded to retired ex-combatants who served in the uniformed forces and; and one-up promotion system on retirement. The report will highlight its findings, observations and recommendations.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ENQUIRY
The objective of the enquiry was to enable the Committee to fully establish and appreciate the petitioners concerns and come up with informed recommendations.
METHODOLOGY
The Committee received oral evidence from the petitioners in order to get first-hand information on specific issues that were raised in the petition.
The Committee undertook the following activities as part of the inquiry:
It gathered oral evidence from Permanent Secretaries of the following ministries;
Defence and War Veterans;
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and;
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS
Submissions from the Petitioners
Representatives of ZNLWVA-Harare Chapter submitted that the
Statutory Instrument in question was divisive in its application for the reason that the fixed date of 1st December, 2017 excluded retired ex-combatants who were in active service in the uniformed service prior to that date. They argued that most ex-combatants retired within the period 17th April, 1995 and 17th April, 2017 while a small number has remained in active service. They were concerned about the disparities on calculation of monthly pension payment between the two groups of ex-combatants, that is, those who were in active service and retired before 1st December, 2017 and those who retired on or after the fixed date of 1st December, 2017. They stated that monthly pension payment for the former group was 48% of current rank salary whilst the pension for the later ranged from 72% to 90% of the same rank.
The petitioners also bemoaned the discriminatory nature of the
Statutory Instrument in respect of non-monetary benefits awarded to ex-combatants in the two groups. They noted with concern that only those ex-combatants who were or are still in active service after the fixed date would benefit from the list of non-monetary benefits awarded according to one’s rank upon retirement. They called for a situation where the Instrument should be implemented retrospectively so that ex-combatants in the uniformed forces who retired prior to the fixed date can also benefit accordingly.
They proposed that the same benefits should also be extended to
cover those who served or were still serving in other ministries such as the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as in the private sector as opposed to covering the security sector alone. They implored Government to enact regulations that would cater for those categories of ex-combatants so that no eligible veteran was left behind in terms of both monetary and non-monetary benefits.
The petitioners informed the Committee that some ex-combatants, especially those who served in the Police Force, did not benefit from the one-up promotion system on retirement. They were aggrieved by that irregularity considering that the Police Service is equally a Security Service sector, hence benefits for retired ex-combatants should be the same across the sector for similar ranks.
The petitioners emphasized that amending the fixed date was a
legislative measure aimed at empowering the ex-combatants as provided in Section 23 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 (2013) which implores the ‘State to take reasonable measures, including legislative measures, for the welfare and economic empowerment of veterans of the liberation struggle.
In coming up with the proposed fixed date, 17th April, 1995, the petitioners argued that an ex-combatant who joined the uniformed or security service on 18th April, 1980 for example, would have completed 15 years of service on the proposed date. In that case, it follows that the fifteen years of active service plus the minimum pensionable five years credited to the ex-combatant would add up to twenty years’ pensionable service. Thus, amending the date to the aforesaid would ensure that all retired ex-combatants benefit from the S.I. 257 of 2020 “special provisions for active ex-combatants in the Uniformed Forces.”
Submissions from Ministries
The Committee engaged stakeholders from the ministries of
Defence and War Veterans Affairs; Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. While the first three ministries were requested to submit their views on the petitioners concerns, the later was invited to respond to the call by the aggrieved members.
They concurred with the observation and plea made by the petitioners and thus, called for the amendment of the date from 1st December, 2017 to 17th April, 1995. They alluded to the fact that the majority of ex-combatants who had served in the Uniformed Forces had retired prior to the fixed date given in the Statutory Instrument. They noted that amending the date would ensure that those ex-combatants who left the Uniformed Forces or Security Services prior to December, 2017 also benefitted from the special provisions enunciated in the Instrument.
COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
The Committee noted that the call for the amendment of the
aforesaid Statutory Instrument was justified since the set date of 1st December, 2017 left out ex-combatants who were in active service since 1980 but may have retired between 1980 and 2017 after reaching pensionable age as well as benefitting from credited years awarded to them for their role in the liberation struggle. It was, therefore, established beyond any reasonable doubt that the fixed date in SI 257 of 2020, indeed covered only but a section of the affected ex-combatants and unfairly excluded others.
While acknowledging the petitioners’ plea to amend the date to 17th April, 1995, the Committee observed that even this date would not cover all the affected members. It was found out that the first group of ex-combatants retired from active service in the uniformed forces as from 17th April, 1993. A typical example is when an ex-combatant who turned fifty-seven years on 17th April, 1993 retired from service after serving thirteen years in the uniformed forces. That person would have seven years credited to him or her so that the credited years plus the thirteen years accrued in active service would add up to twenty years’ pensionable service. Taking the above circumstances into consideration, the Committee noted that it was rather necessary to settle for 17th April, 1993 as the fixed date as it would ensure that no eligible ex-combatant was left behind.
The Committee observed that the current Instrument only covered active ex-combatants in the uniformed forces, that is, the security sector, and excluded active ex-combatants in other government ministries and departments. Having equally participated in the struggle for Independence, all eligible ex-combatants in public and private sectors had to benefit. To that end, the Committee suggested that Government should put in place legislation that would cater for ex-combatants who did not fall under the category of uniformed forces but were and may still be in active service in other government ministries and departments.
Contrary to the petitioners’ claim that the one-up promotion
system was not implemented in the Police Service, the Committee established that it was actually applied starting from the rank of Superintendent and above. The regulations took effect in 2015. However, the Committee noted with concern that the system does not apply to junior ranks and therefore, has the potential of discriminating between ex-combatants of the same organisation and sector. This required redress so that sanity could be restored among ex-combatants in the Police Force whose historical background as veterans of the liberation struggle and their loyalty to the nation remained intact when they joined the uniformed forces in independent Zimbabwe.
The Committee also observed that petitioners needed to take into consideration the fact that monthly pension payments and associated non-monetary retirement benefits such as residential accommodation, transport, staff, medical and funeral assistance were awarded depending on one’s years in service and rank at retirement.
The Committee also observed that the call by the petitioners imploring Government to enact legislation meant to regulate private organisations to award similar retirement benefits to ex-combatants in the private sector was misplaced. It was argued that private institutions operate independently, hence pension payments and associated retirement packages are determined by the contractual agreements made between employer and employee, among others.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends that:
- By 31st August, 2022, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour
and Social Welfare in liaison with the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs should amend the State Service (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Number 17) of S.I. 257 of 2020 to reflect 17th April, 1993 as the fixed date for awarding pension benefits and non-monetary benefits for retired ex-combatants in the public sector taking into consideration the individual’s number of years in service and rank at retirement.
- By 30th September, 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs and
Cultural Heritage should put in place measures to enable the implementation of the one-up promotion system at retirement so that it covers all ranks in the Police Service and should also benefit those who retired prior to 2015.
CONCLUSION
The Committee recognizes the indisputable sacrifice of the country’s veterans of the liberation struggle who, after the attainment of independence on 18th April, 1980, continued being in active service in both the public and private sector. It is the united opinion of the Committee that the fixed date be amended to also cover every ex-combatant who was in active service in the Uniformed Forces but retired before 2017 after reaching pensionable age. I so submit Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 19th May, 2022.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Twenty-Four Minutes past Six o’clock p.m.