PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 2nd November, 2021
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
COLLECTION OF 2020 STANDING RULES AND ORDERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to remind Hon. Members to collect hard copies of the Ninth Edition of the 2020 Standing Orders from Journals Office in Room 101, First Floor Parliament Building. Hon Members should note that soft copies of the same have been circulated through their emails.
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY PEOPLE IN MIDLANDS PROVINCE AND MS. T. CHURU OF YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR SAFER CITIES
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on 28 October 2021, Parliament received a petition from Community People in Midlands Province, imploring Parliament to liaise with the relevant Ministry and enable the Women Affairs Coordinators to be provided with motor cycles in order for them to effectively execute their duties.
The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
I also wish to inform the House that on 28 October 2021, Parliament received a petition from Ms. T. Churu of Youth Alliance for Safer Cities, beseeching Parliament to enact legislation to lobby for the representation of the youth in Zimbabwe.
The petition was deemed inadmissible as it did not comply with the statutory requirements in terms of Appendix E, Section 3 (a) (iii) of the Standing Orders.
HON. MARKHAM: I rise on a matter of national interest on the issue of Special Drawing Rights for the money granted to us by IMF. I request the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to be asked to bring to us a statement as to how he intends to use the money and what his priorities are. I do understand that it is covered in the Budget. However, I believe for the benefit of the nation and in particular the House, we need to understand what his priorities are with this money. I thank you.
THE HON.SPEAKER. Were you at the Pre-Budget Seminar Hon. Markham?
HON. MARKHAM: Yes I was Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Right through!
HON. MARKHAM: Yes, I missed the first morning because I was travelling and we came in at lunch time.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Minister of Finance and Economic Development indicated that he would definitely indicate how the money will be used. Secondly, in my keynote address I also indicated to the Hon. Minister that he must come to Parliament and indicate how best the funds will be disbursed. In his summary of responses, he also indicated that he will favour the National Assembly and Senate on how the funds will be disbursed according to sectors. So that was stated already and we are expecting that to happen, either during the Budget presentation or prior. Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir. A very good afternoon to you Mr. Speaker and I hope you had a restful weekend after a successful Pre-budget Seminar.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me first of all thank you and your panel for leading from the front in terms of the Pre-budget Seminar. You certainly set the tone in your keynote address, that is the reason why we are on fire because we had to just go by what you said. It was successful, rejuvenating and very educative. I am hoping that something does come out of it and we have to see through what was agreed. I think the Minister of Finance and Economic Development was there throughout and I am sure him being the key player in ensuring that the economy is turned around, he will try to do things as we had asked. So really a big thank you Madam President of the Senate as well, and your staff.
Secondly Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to indulge Parliament to issue or come up with the remuneration for Members of Parliament in comparison to the SADC region. I think we are being misunderstood because we have not been able to put something through the bench- marking which Members of Parliament have done to the electorate, to the citizens of this country, that in other countries within SADC, this is how Members of Parliament are remunerated. They will probably understand where we are coming from and realise that Parliament is critical in their aspirations, and will remain the hope for their aspirations. So it would be quite important if we could educate our citizens in terms of that.
Lastly Mr. Speaker Sir, I would really like to thank the...
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are allowed one.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am done now Mr. Speaker Sir. It is good to see the Acting President in the House, but I do not know where the other Ministers are. I think God has been listening to my prayers that I was hoping one day the President comes, but today the Acting President is here to see for himself that there is no Minister who is here and today is Government business.
His Excellency, in the SONA address, was very clear about the Bills being moved. We do not move the Bills. It is the Ministers who push for the Bills. So when we are behind with the Bills, it is the Ministers who are not here to execute their mandate. How busy are they when the Acting President is here? I am glad God answered my prayers, the Acting President has seen we are ready to do our part. Thank you very much and God bless this country.
THE HON. SPEAKER: We are happy that the Acting President is here with us. In addition to what you said Hon. Mliswa, the Acting President was here not on time but in time and he witnessed the procession of the Presiding Officer. Your Excellency, you have seen for yourself, even the Leader of Government Business came after you which is very disappointing because he should be here right from the start to consult as to certain procedures with the Chief Whip and the officials of Parliament, including myself. So you have set the bar very high, Your Excellency, and I hope the Hon. Ministers who are not here - there is no Cabinet today, so there is no excuse really for them not to be around.
There is a notice of presentation of a Bill by the Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care who is also our Acting President.
FIRST READING
HEALTH SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 8, 2021]
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. RTD. GEN. DR. CHIWENGA) presented the Health Services Amendment Bill [H. B. 8, 2021].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr Speaker Sir, allow me to just make one comment. Mr. Speaker, ministers are required to come and …
THE HON. SPEAKER: They are what?
HON. ZIYAMBI: They are required by the Constitution to come and respond to questions on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Senate. However, it is not a strict requirement that every other day, they must be in the House. Otherwise, the business of Government will not be able to proceed smoothly. I am sure even those who were in Government that particular time will know that if you strictly say that from Tuesday to Thursday, all the ministers must be in the House, there will not be Government business that will proceed but on Wednesdays, in here in the National Assembly and Thursdays in the Senate, the Constitution is very clear about that.
So pardon the ministers Mr. Speaker Sir, for not being here today. It is not because they are in contempt of Parliament but it will make the situation unattainable. I thank you. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Wednesdays they do not come. I do not know why you are responding.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! May I refresh your memory Hon. Leader of Government Business. Section 107, “Accountability of Vice Presidents, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, (1) subject to this Constitution, every Vice President, Minister and Deputy Minister is accountable, collectively and individually, to the President for the performance of his or her functions.
(2) Every Vice President, Minister, Deputy Minister must attend Parliament and parliamentary committees in order to answer questions concerning matters for which he or she is collectively or individually responsible.”
The Hon. Ministers on Tuesdays, as soon as Cabinet is over, they have always come here in spite of the fact that it is Cabinet day. So I totally disagree with you and where the Ministers are on Government Business, they will proceed accordingly and I do not think that all of them are on Government Business. They have come on Tuesdays, soon after Cabinet. So I do not think that we should argue on that one and obviously on Wednesdays and Thursdays, they are expected to come and answer questions accordingly. May you proceed with your statement?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. So I think you must proceed also to request a list of Ministers who are absent from Monday to Thursday because my understanding of what you read is not what you are saying …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Minister, you do not argue with the Chair. Thank you, proceed with your statement. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. ZIYAMBI: Mr. Speaker, he is not the Chair and I put it to you that I am allowed to disagree with you in a manner that is … - [HON. T. MLISWA: No, you are out of order!] – I am allowed to disagree with you because the section that you read…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, can you proceed with the business of the House?
HON. ZIYAMBI: But Mr. Speaker, what you say to me, you must say to everyone … - [HON. T. MLISWA: You are the Leader of Government Business!] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa! – [HON. T. MLISWA: I am sorry.] – Can you allow the Hon. Minister to proceed with the business of the House?
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 5, 2020]; POLICE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 2, 2021], COPPER CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2021], PUBLIC FINANCE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 4, 2021] AND THE GUARDIAN OF MINORS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 7, 2021] ON THE ORDER PAPER
HON. ZIYAMBI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I seek leave of the House to move that the following Bills which were superseded by the end of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stages that they had reached: - (i) Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill; (ii) Police Amendment Bill, (iii) Copper Control Amendment Bill, (iv) Public Finance Amendment Bill and (v) Guardian of Minors Amendment Bill. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of Order Mr. Speaker Sir! These are five Bills which are from the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament and we are at the Fourth. What was the reason for them not to have been seen through? Is that not evidence that the Ministers were not here to do it and they were sleeping on duty? Maybe the Leader of Government Business, since he is really determined to defend them, can tell us why the Bills did not see the end of the Third Parliament? They lapsed to show that there was nobody pushing them. So where was he to tell them to push them according to his mandate? It is important for him to tell us because we cannot continue having a situation where we are pushing Bills; we have more important things to do.
The President, in his State of the Nation Address was very clear. So an explanation from the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is sought in that regard. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, can you follow your Hansard and you will find the reasons there in terms of the processes.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RESTORATION OF THE ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 5, 2020]; POLICE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 2, 2021], COPPER CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3, 2021], PUBLIC FINANCE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 4, 2021] AND THE GUARDIAN OF MINORS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 7, 2021] ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move that the following Bills which were superseded by the end of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stages that they had reached: - (i) Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill [H. B. 5, 2020]; (ii) Police Amendment Bill [H. B. 2, 2021], (iii) Copper Control Amendment Bill [H. B. 3, 2021], (iv) Public Finance Amendment Bill [H. B. 4, 2021] and (v) Guardian of Minors Amendment Bill [H. B. 7, 2021]. I so submit Mr. Speaker Sir.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to debate on this very important motion on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. This is the Fourth State of the Nation Address since the dawn of the Second Republic.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hon. Mutambisi and Hon. T. Moyo who moved and seconded the motion respectively. My analysis of His Excellency the President’s address shows me that he was exhorting the nation to be futuristic and look forward to a brighter future.
Mr. Speaker Sir, why do I say so? The answer lies in what His Excellency the President said and I quote ‘The increased number of young people undertaking thriving farming business throughout the country is applauded. This new crop of young farmers assures us that the land we fought for will remain in safe hands for posterity”.
Mr. Speaker Sir, for the youth of today to inherit a prosperous Zimbabwe tomorrow, we need to guard jealously the freedom and peace we enjoy today. In order for us to and I quote “continue to realise unprecedented milestones and successes against all forms of adversity”, we must, as a nation, condemn unreservedly tribalism, regionalism and racism. Let us be reminded of the wise words of the Late President of the People’s Republic of Mozambique Samora Moses Machel who in his speech delivered in Harare in 1980 said, “to ensure national unity, there must be no Shonas in Zimbabwe, there must be no Ndebeles in Zimbabwe, there must be Zimbabweans. Some people are proud of their tribalism. But we call a tribalist a reactionary agent of the enemy.”
Mr. Speaker Sir, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America once gracefully said “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” The world today has billions of people - Zimbabwe has over 15 million people. Every one of those people has his or her own uniqueness. Each and everyone has opposing views on fundamental aspects of life. Normally dissimilarities create divisions and sometimes conflict. However, what we tend to forget, which is what His Excellency the President is trying to remind us of, is that we will have one goal for the betterment of our country and its people. This is what brings forth unity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency the President’s State of the Nation Address is calling on us as a nation to create an environment in the country where the youth thrive and develop through provision of quality service and opportunities that help them to further contribute their unique aspirations, energy and ideas.
Without unity, there is no growth, without unity, there is no integrity, without unity, there is no freedom and without unity, there is no patriotism. His Excellency’s State of the Nation Address is thought provoking. He outlined what he expects us to achieve as Parliament. In other words, he was addressing all Members of Parliament and the nation as a whole.
Mr. Speaker Sir, no team has ever won a game without team spirit without a united front. We all want our national football team the Warriors to excel. We all want our national women’s football team the Mighty Warriors to excel. We all want our national U19 football team, the Young Warriors to excel. We all want our national cricket team the Chevrons to excel. We all want our national women’s cricket team the Lady Chevrons to excel. We all want our national rugby team the Sables to excel. We all want our national women’s rugby team the Stables to excel.
We must, as the people of Zimbabwe in our independent capacities, practice what it takes for our country Zimbabwe to win.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa commended us as a nation for the unity and fortitude we displayed in the fight against COVID-19. Let the same spirit prevail in our fight against corruption and the implementation of all Government programmes. Let us work together as we build Zimbabwe brick by brick. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have been given a list here by the Hon. Chief Whip - the next person to contribute is Hon. F. Musikavanhu.
Hon. Musikavanhu not having t responded.
HON. DR. MURIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. May I take this opportunity to add my words on the motion moved by Hon. Mutambisi on the President’s State of the Nation Address.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I add my voice by acknowledging the President’s address with respect to what our country has achieved so far. The President’s call for the trajectory that our country is on with respect to economic growth and at 70.8%, is a reflection of what the Government has done in terms of progressing towards Vision 2030.
In his address, we acknowledge what he said in terms of what is happening in industry and commerce. Recently, we have witnessed expansion and recovery of some factories that had closed and in addition, we have some that are opening now, including the Amarula Plant that was opened in Mwenezi recently. Going around town, we see a lot of activities that are going on which is actually buttressing what the President said about industrial activity and recovery of those factories that had closed up.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President talked about the production of cotton that is going on. However, our farmers need support. In my constituency where I come from, there is an outcry of people who have grown cotton but have gone for some time without being paid. We have heard that this time the Government has prepared some payments, we urge Government to continue paying farmers so that we can continue to witness the growth in the production of cotton as said by the President in His State of the Nation Address.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Government has embarked on road rehabilitation and I am very glad to say in my constituency, we had roads that had gone for a long time without maintenance, to a point where we could say there was non-existence of the roads, but thanks to the Government, works are now ongoing in terms of repairing those roads and opening up those that had closed. This is enough evidence that Government is making a lot of effort in ensuring that we are being led to attain the Vision 2030 that was announced by the New Dispensation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there is also the issue of the devolution funds. In terms of devolution funds, Government is implementing the constitutional provision which requires decentralization of decisions in terms of development for the people. In my province and particularly in my constituency, we have gained a lot in terms of development. We have seen clinics being constructed and others that have been dilapidated being repaired.
We have also seen some roads being constructed by money allocated to rural councils and that is enough evidence that the devolution agenda is making an impact.
There is the issue of the Disaster Risk Management Bill which has been highlighted in the State of the Nation Address. The country has experienced a lot of disasters with respect to Cyclone which have impacted many of our communities. I am glad that the State of the Nation Address touched on that one because where I come from in Chipinge, cyclones have destroyed infrastructure. I thank you.
HON. S. K. MGUNI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir for allowing me to add my views on the motion which was moved by Hon. Mutambisi and seconded by Hon. Moyo, on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.
It is my singular honour to deliver my speech which shall be premised on this SONA as delivered to this august House on the 7th October, 2021 by His Excellency the President of the land of Zimbabwe and the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. Let me humbly take this opportunity to thank you for giving me this privilege to deliver my noble speech.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also congratulate our President for delivering his landmark address opening the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. Progress is possible and inevitable. A better Zimbabwe by 2030 is well within our reach if we work together. Indeed, it has been an unprecedented year. Thousands of our dear people around the country perished from COVID-19. Millions more felt the shocks of a global economic crisis and still the pandemic rages with ever more contagious and severe variants spreading around the globe. In so many ways, the pandemic has tested our optimism, motivation and intellect.
Under the most difficult circumstances imaginable, we have witnessed breathtaking innovation, accelerated progress in addressing fundamental issues of health and climate change. Our President has championed for a lasting solution in sustainable development goals in the country with great speed and self determination. For sure, brick by brick we shall build Zimbabwe.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I salute our President for always chanting the words of peace, unity and harmony, and growing the economy by 7.8% during the current year can never be over-emphasised. Declaration on farming as a business philosophy has seen the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme coming into a major success and increased the strategic grain reserve to 1.3 million tonnes.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President said the Government’s target of building a USD 12 billion mining industry was within sights amid sustained production growth and may be exceeded by the year 2030 deadline. The mining industry target dovetails into the Government’s vision as espoused by President Mnangagwa, of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle income society by 2030. Our visionary leader has seen traffic logjams, especially during peak hours and he has prescribed major roads construction on many roads in the country.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on the legislative agenda, under the leadership of His Excellency the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, it is pleasing to note that only 42 statutes remain to be enacted under the alignment process.
With these few remarks Hon Speaker Sir, allow me to rest my case. I thank you.
*(V)HON. MARIKISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to a motion raised by Hon Mutambisi and seconded by Hon Moyo. I want to thank our Head of State and Government Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for the SONA that he gave in Parliament which was aimed at developing our country for us to achieve Vision 2030.
On agriculture, he mentioned about Pfumvudza and this programme has brought food security in our communities and has assisted eight million people in our country. I want to thank the Government for the good leadership that our President has. The challenges of water were raised in the State of the Nation Address and more boreholes will be drilled to ensure that there is clean safe water in our communities. I also want to applaud the building of dams, especially where I come from; there is a dam which is going to be opened next year. I want to thank the President because he is not a leader who favours one group over the other.
I also want to thank him on what he mentioned about the health sector, that a number of hospitals will be built. He is a person who loves his people. I applaud him for handling the COVID pandemic in a way that saved a lot of lives. I also want to thank him for the road rehabilitation in different areas. The roads have not been rehabilitated in so many years but I want to thank the President who is a listening President because he has assured us that road rehabilitation takes place as well as making sure that bridges are built. The President is a man who loves his people and he is assisting us including the cotton farmers. They did not get their money but I know that the President will look into their issue.
More boreholes need to be built so that each village can have access to a borehole and clean water. I thank you Madam Speaker and let me leave this time for others to debate.
(V)HON. RAIDZA: I wish to add my voice to a motion that was moved by Hon. Mutambisi, seconded by Hon T. Moyo on the State of the Nation Address that was delivered by His Excellency, our President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. I just want to comment on the wise words that he encouraged as the citizens of Zimbabwe, that Zimbabwe can only be built by us Zimbabweans. He encouraged us to have commitment collectively and individually so that we can rebuild our country. He always says in Shona that ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. Those were some of the wise words that he encouraged us to take very seriously as Members of Parliament.
He encouraged us to shun polarisation which does not help anyone in this country. If we remain polarised, it means we cannot move forward. He encouraged us to have that unity of purpose as we all have one Zimbabwe. We do not have two Zimbabwes but we only have one Zimbabwe as Zimbabweans.
I also want to commend our President on the great work that he is doing on the economic front. We have seen him and the Government getting thumbs up even from some international organisations. We have seen that our economy was projected by some doomsayers that we are on the negative trajectory but some international organisations gave us a positive rating such as 7.8% as the growth of our economy, which is very encouraging. IMF managed to give Zimbabwe some special drawing rights so that we can get an additional liquidity as a country to the tune of around $961 million which is a sign of confidence in the administration of His Excellency. We are forever grateful to the support that our Government is getting under the able leadership of His Excellency our President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.
When we look into agriculture, we are seeing that it has been proved that agriculture is the mainstay of our economy. We are seeing that many of us now want to get involved in agriculture. Why, because of the support and the attitude that His Excellency has shown unto us that it pays to be in the agricultural sector. We are seeing our women and our young people that we are all having something to do with agriculture. For instance, we have an example of the high yielding maize in the 2020/2021 farming season. Almost everyone was doing something that was giving him or her money in maize planting. Above getting some income, we are realising that also our grain reserve has increased as it was mentioned by His Excellency.
So we are seeing a number of things happening in the agriculture sector. It was because of the wise decisions that His Excellency has taken even to support agriculture through the private sector led ways, we are seeing a number of things happening in that sector. It is because of his wisdom to see that for our economy to grow, we need to involve our private sector. We are seeing the coming in of CBZ. We are seeing a number of private players. With this agricultural strategy that our President is implementing, we are seeing real results on the ground. Even in my constituency, I have seen something that has never happened before in the past 20 years where our old people are also getting an opportunity to deliver maize to the GMB. These were some of the things that they have never seen since time in memorial. These are some of the results that are being seen on the ground and they are also getting money.
You know these rural farmers that we represent, getting even one or two tonnes to GMB and they get their $60 000 is motivating and the money was being paid on time and inputs coming on time. This is very good encouragement and initiative from His Excellency. So we want to encourage him to continue doing the same in the foreseeable future so that our farmers will continue to love tilling the land and to work on the land because they know that it pays to work very hard on the land. This is the only way that we can develop our economy. As our President always talks about production, without working on our productive sectors or without producing, we are doomed as a country. So his words of encouraging us on production are yielding results on the ground and even within our constituency like my constituency in Mberengwa East.
I also want to comment on the issue of COVID-19. We know that COVID-19 slowed down a number of economic activities in our country, but in his wisdom as well, His Excellency our President Cde Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa has brought in a number of measures, amongst them lockdowns which some of the people were feeling were hard about, but it was all good for us as the citizens of this country. We have seen what has been happening in other countries. It was so devastating but the grace of God was upon us as Zimbabwe under the able leadership of His Excellency that we managed to pull through the lockdowns and he also brought in vaccines that we all embraced as a nation. Of course, we had a few people who thought that maybe the vaccine was not good, but he continues to press on to say for us to open our economy or sectors in our economy, we need to get people vaccinated. So for us, it was a big achievement from His Excellency and we want to continue encouraging him to come up with more strategies to make sure that we reach the herd immunity as a country so that we will not have problems in the future.
We are forever grateful that our economy, schools and industries have opened and even some people who were not coming to work because of COVID-19 are now starting to come through. I always encourage people in my constituency that we all need to get vaccinated. We are continuing to push hard in our constituencies in supporting this noble idea from our President that people must get vaccinated. We are supporting all the Government structures in our constituencies to make sure that all our people are vaccinated. As of now, we have moved in even to the extent of making sure that each village head has his people vaccinated through coordination through our Government structures that we have in the constituencies.
I will quickly come to the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. We are so exited we have seen it. It started with our major roads. We are seeing great work being done there through the wisdom of our President on the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, but in our constituencies, as well as in Mberengwa East Constituency, I am seeing some roads that are ERRP. So we are saying Zimbabwe will never be the same again when it comes to access to our roads. All things are working together for the good of our country. In Mberengwa East, we say the road is our economy. When the road is good, we know that many areas of our economy will get opened.
The other issue that I wanted to thank His Excellency that he touched on in his SONA is about the war veterans. After the passage of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act, we have seen a lot of work that has been put by our President to take care of our war veterans, the people who have liberated our country, who have fought for this country to be where we are. We are forever grateful. Even as of last night, we have seen our Minister of Defence and War Veterans launching the board for the company of the war veterans. These are all positive works that His Excellency is doing. We want to encourage him to continue in the same trajectory to make sure that our war veterans are supported. We are forever grateful for this kind of initiatives because if we look at all these projects that he is saying are supposed to be done for the war veterans, he is looking at sustainability of these projects so that the war veterans will create incomes for themselves through these investment vehicles.
The other issue that was also equally important was on the performance based contracts for the Permanent Secretaries. This is an indication that it will not be work as usual for our Government officials. They are expected to be delivering and this is one of the measuring tools on the performance of each individual and our President promised that this will move into the local authorities and parastatals. So we will be very grateful to see our CEOs in parastatals and in our local authorities signing performance based contracts because the current performance, especially on our parastatals, we expect them to be contributing to our economy, but that is not happening at the moment. Not many of them are contributing. Some are not because I think it is all about governance issues. So these performance based contracts will address such areas so that our parastatals will start as well to contribute to our economy. They must not always look to get support from the fiscas. We can see that they have got potential to create or to contribute to our economy.
On the local authorities, we have seen that there is so much money for devolution that has been pumped in. So without these performance based contracts, the idea and the expectation of the citizens and the vision that our President is having might not be realised because of the performance of some of these bosses in these entities. My encouragement is that they need to move with speed to make sure that everybody is accountable for his or her actions, everyone is delivering on the expected mandate.
The last one is on the engagement and reengagement efforts by His Excellency. We are seeing these efforts being rewarded. We are seeing many of the countries who did not want to work with Zimbabwe coming on board. We are seeing a number of investments coming in. These are all initiatives by His Excellency. Even as of yesterday, we have seen the social media and other media outlets awash with what was happening in Glasgow. We want to congratulate His Excellency that some of his efforts are being rewarded, they are bearing fruits to our nation and as we all know that Zimbabwe is not an island, we need to work with other nations and we support His Excellency on these initiatives. We have seen he has been meeting some other Heads of States especially from Europe who were welcoming our President. So we are excited.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity you have given me. I support what our President has said even on the legislative agenda for us as Parliament as we have an expectation from the citizenry that we need to finish the realignment of our laws and I think all these works are achievable. Thank you very much Madam Speaker and may God bless you. Thank you.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. KHUPE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 3rd November, 2021.
On the motion of HON. MUNETSI seconded by HON. DR. KHUPE, the House adjourned at Twenty Nine Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 2nd November, 2021
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE
COLLECTION OF 2020 STANDING RULES AND ORDERS
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): I wish to remind Hon. Senators to collect hard copies of the Ninth Edition of the 2020 Standing Orders from Journals office in Room 101, first floor, Parliament building. Hon. Senators should note that soft copies of the same have been circulated through their emails. I thank you.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate on the Presidential Speech in this august House. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi for moving the motion and his seconder, Hon. Sen. Mabika.
I would like to thank the President of the country for his speech in this august House, a speech which was aimed at developing the economy of Zimbabwe as the citizens of this country. Firstly, I would like to speak on agriculture which is the backbone of this country. In the President’s speech concerning agriculture, this country did a lot of good things such that this year, there will be plenty of food for everyone as alluded to by the President. We would like to applaud him for that. The people in rural areas embraced the Pfumvudza Programme and already, they have inputs in preparation for the rain season. This development should be applauded.
There is also the issue of the Women’s Bank, which is a very important development in the life of women. We all know that if women are empowered, the development of the country even at household level will be a marvel. There are a lot of widows taking care of orphans around the country, but if these widows are empowered, they will not grieve over the upkeep of the orphans. So, we would like to be thankful over the introduction of the Women’s Bank. We propose that there be ease of accessing loans from the bank so that our country can develop.
The President also spoke about the introduction of Bills. We should unite as Zimbabwean citizens such that when the Bills are introduced in the House, we work hard and make sure that they are passed on time. The President also indicated that these Bills should be aligned to the Constitution, so there is need for us to work towards that goal; it is very important. The Presidential Speech relates well to the fulfillment of the country’s manifesto. He indicated that the economy can only be developed by its citizens and we as the Members of Parliament are the custodians of this country. We should therefore unite and ensure the development of our economy by working with passion and zeal for the development of our country. We should all listen to the Presidential Speech and act accordingly in order to build our economy. I support the Presidential Speech and I believe we should continue to listen to the Speech which is very essential as it speaks to and about the development of our country Zimbabwe. May God help us to develop our nation. I thank you.
^^HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate for giving me the opportunity to add my voice on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President of the country Cde. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.
I would also like to thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi who moved this motion in this august House and the seconder. I will not say much because this motion has already been debated by a number of Hon. Members, but what bothers me Hon. President of the Senate is that even if we debate on motions brought forward, it does not help because our Ministers are not making follow ups on issues that are debated in this august House. There are certain issues that require responses for Hon. Members who would have debated but Ministers are not in to answer to the concerns. My plea is that the Ministers need to be encouraged to be available each time we debate so that they take part on issues brought forward.
Allow me to say a few words on agriculture with specific attention to Region 5. Farmers in Region 5 do cultivate small grains but their priority is on animal husbandry. We had Cold Storage Commission and Libread in West Nicholson which used to export beef but right now this is history. If you want to please a farmer in Region 5 or in Matabeleland region as a whole, tell them about animal husbandry because this is where they get their pride from. I therefore encourage Government to see that by coming up with programmes like Pfumvudza, farmers in Region 5 need to get a similar programme that is targeting livestock farming so that farmers can get more cattle as a country because incessant drought left these farmers with less cattle. Mr. President, still in Region 5, we continue to encourage farmers to grow small grains because they are no longer able to major in livestock farming as they used to. Small grains will give them better yields.
I would like to thank our President of the Second Republic for the great job that he is carrying out through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development in the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu Road because once the rehabilitation exercise is over, instead of taking 10 to 11 hours from Beitbridge to Harare, we will be taking maybe between 5 to 6 hours because there is a great job being done on this particular road.
Still on the issue of infrastructure development, with special focus on hospitals and schools, my plea to the Government is that there be more schools, especially in resettlement areas because we still have pupils who travel 20 km to the nearest school and another 20 km from school – coming to a total 40 km. They will certainly not perform well at school because they will be tired. They only eat one meal in the evening and they have no peace at all. We therefore plead to the Government to make sure that more schools are built, especially in resettlement areas.
Still on the issue of schools, with special focus on secondary schools, it is my plea that all secondary schools have laboratories so that pupils can learn science subjects so that they have a wide array of choice when they get to the working environment. In Beitbridge, there are about seven secondary schools if I am not mistaken but there is only one school with a laboratory and this is certainly not good at all.
I would like to be grateful of what the address had on women because we have been given an opportunity to grow especially regarding the 30% given to councils. Women can go to elections and once elections are done, 30% is allocated to women because we are aiming at reaching the 50% in 2030 as indicated in the SDGs.
I applaud the quota system issue which has been increased to the following full term. I hope that even though we have not reached the 50-50, we will be fast nearing that figure. The President also encouraged women to work hard and elevate themselves academically so that when opportunities that require women in decision making positions are available, they are not found wanting. I found this to be a great issue in the upliftment of women because he continues to stand by his message of not leaving anyone behind in his journey. He wishes to carry everyone aboard. He does not want to leave anyone behind. With these few words, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity.
*HON. SEN. MBOWA: Thank you Mr President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice in support of the motion on the Presidential Speech. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Sen Kambizi and the seconder Hon. Sen Mabika. I would want to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President, for his wise words and visionary leadership that exudes his mantra of a listening President. The President showed that he places a lot of importance on the peace, security and unity of the Zimbabwean people, which currently exists in this country. He further stated that this peace and tranquillity helps us to remain united so that we can be able to achieve our Vision 2030 of being an upper middle income country. He went on to say that brick upon brick, we will build this country to attain our envisaged vision and nothing will stop us. I was happy when the President disclosed that our economy has improved and that only this year we had a 7, 8% economic growth. This gives us the hope as the Zimbabwean people that we are headed in the right direction. The President vowed that he would steer the Zimbabwean ship through difficult times until it attains a good life for every citizen and that this is going to be supported by the youths’ involvement in this country. He also said that he is going to empower the youths and that no one should be left behind. Not even any place should be left behind, meaning that each and every one of us will play an effective and meaningful role in the attainment of this vision.
For us to attain this vision, we need to be hands on and emulate our President who leads by example. Our country is severely reeling from the imposition of the illegal sanctions. Despite this prevailing unsuitable conditions, our President has ably grown our economy. In the agricultural sector, the President introduced the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme which was championed by women and has achieved self- sustenance for a lot of households. We witnessed a bumper harvest. Looking at the statistics; they show that a million women participated in this programme. As women, we should be proud of this achievement as it has led to food security which will also translate to peace and tranquillity. We also observed and applaud the President for budgeting for two boreholes per constituency and dam construction. This visionary leadership will ensure that irrigation schemes will be able to sustain the livelihood of communities in and around water bodies. We will also be able to grow horticultural produce and cash crops. With the President at the helm, we are in good hands and Zimbabwe is going to go far. DDF is going to provide 3000 tractors for use by middle income farmers. The President is walking the talk in ensuring that we eliminate hunger in this country, in line with the SDG on food security.
In order to attain Vision 2030, we see chicken rearing projects, cattle breeding and other animal husbandry projects that are going to be implemented at each household level. This will have the net effect of developing communal farmers, which will cascade through the supply chain. Tick grease and January disease vaccines are now being made available in all villages in order to protect our livestock. In the mining sector, we observe that the youths are now also heavily involved and large mines have now been resuscitated, hence creating employment for our local people. The same also has been witnessed in the industry sector. We are also now involved in value chain addition of our products. Last week but one, the President was in Mwenezi commissioning a new company that is going to be involved in the production of Amarula derived drinks. This translates into the beneficiation of the local community through its natural resources. The same should also be said about the Masawu fruit which is abundant in Mutoko.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order, Hon Sen Mbowa, our Hansard Reporters informed me that they are having interpretation challenges, their machines are down. This means your debate may not be properly recorded for Hansard. You may continue debating but ensure that you go to the Hansard after adjournment of the House and see that your debate is there in its entirety, or you may choose to debate on another day.
HON. SEN. MBOWA: Thank you Mr. President, I will continue with the debate. In the education sector, education 5.0 has led to the production of oxygen by a certain university and it is now exporting this product which is bringing in the much needed forex in this country. There are a lot of activities that are being undertaken by our tertiary institutions which give credence to the saying that a country is developed by its own people. We have moved away from glorifying white collar jobs into blue collar jobs in order to become self-sustaining. As a result, we are now very knowledgeable and skilled in the provision of such goods and services. We thank the President for affording us this opportunity to be self-sustaining. The President also stated that he has established a foreign currency auction floor in order to regulate foreign currency trading and bring sanity into that sector. As a result, we have seen a phenomenal growth in the capitalisation of our industries. SMEDCO, Women’s Bank and Empower Bank for the youths have also been allocated funds in a bid to achieve Vision 2030. Women and the youths are faced with the challenge of the banks demanding collateral security which is not readily available to the majority of women and youths. It is my considered view that the issue of collateral and interest rates should be revisited so that they become affordable. The working environment for small scale businesses should be conducive to work in. Issues like provision of water and ablution facilities should be improved for this sector. At times we work in very dusty environments, which is detrimental to our health. We urge that there be an improvement in that regard. The measures that the President has put in place have ensured that fuel and electricity are now readily available.
The President also spoke about the addition of two generators at Hwange Power Station. Over and above that, we are going to have solar power augmenting electricity generation. This further bolsters the fact that indeed our President is a visionary leader.
He also touched on the issue of buses and we urge them to be sensitive to the disabled population of Zimbabwe across the different age groups and sexes. I will give an example of countries that are not sensitive to the disabled. It was recently reported that a particular disabled Minister failed to attend COP26 which the President is currently attending due to their insensitivity to this wheel chair bound Minister. The President also pledged to expand our airports as well as spruce up old ones in line with our Vision 2030. The President has also improved our road infrastructure and I also solidly stand behind the President in calling for the removal of these illegal sanctions.
In conclusion, I heard that a Committee has been set up to deal with drug related problems. Where I live, I am informed that there was a party for the youths who unashamedly were dancing in the nude. This is deplorable behaviour which should be condemned as in the majority of cases, it is the mother who feels the pain of raising a wayward child. We support the President in coming up with these drug abuse reduction measures and that all culprits should be arrested. Hopefully, this will lead to the restoration of the dignity between the youths and the elderly in all social spheres. I thank you Hon. President Sir.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 3rd November, 2021.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE MARRIAGES BILL [H. B. 7 A, 2019] 9 AND THE PENSIONS AND PROVIDENT FUNDS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 17A, 2019] ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President Sir, I seek leave of the House to move that the following Bills, which were superseded by the end of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stages that they had reached;
- Marriages Bill [H. B. 7A, 2019];
- Pensions and Provident Funds Amendment Bill [H. B. 17A, 2019].
I so submit Mr. President Sir.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RESTORATION OF THE MARRIAGES BILL [H. B. 7A, 2019] AND THE PENSIONS AND PROVIDENT FUNDS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 17A, 2019] ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President Sir, I move that the following Bills, which were superseded by the end of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stages that they had reached;
- Marriages Bill [H. B. 7A, 2019];
- Pensions and Provident Funds Amendment Bill [H. B. 17A. 2019].
I so submit Mr. President Sir.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the Senate adjourned at Twenty-Seven Minutes Past Three o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 21st October, 2021
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
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to remind the House that the departure time for the charter flight to Victoria Falls is 1400 hours on Friday, 22nd October, 2021. Hon. Members will be picked up from Parliament and respective hotels at 1200 noon. The return charter flight will leave Victoria Falls on Tuesday, 26th October at 0700 hours in the morning and not 0900 hours as was announced on Tuesday.
In order to comply with COVID-19 regulations and to ensure the safety and health of participants, Hon. Members are required to have a COVID-19 test undertaken within 48 hours of the commencement of the conference. COVID-19 testing facilities are available in the Parliament courtyard. Hon. Members travelling by road who fail to get tested in Harare will be tested at the Elephant Hills Hotel upon arrival. Hon. Members travelling by air should be tested in Harare as the COVID-19 test results will be required on boarding the flight. Hon. Members are therefore, required to bring their national identification cards and COVID-19 test results for boarding formalities.
Details of the logistical arrangements for the Pre-Budget Seminar have been circulated through the Hon. Members’ emails. Please open your emails to get the programme.
I want to reiterate that consistent with the announcement made on Tuesday and the information circular, I wish to remind Hon. Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces that they will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will fly to Victoria Falls for the pre-budget seminar.
Hon. Members who would opt to drive will be given their fuel at the administration rate.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SHAMU: Mr. Speaker Sir, I seek your indulgence. I am not as yet ready to participate. I did inform the Deputy Chief Whip. I am still preparing my presentation.
Hon. Mliswa having asked to use Hon. Mpariwa’s gadget.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The other day you were asking someone where his gadget was...
HON. T. MLISWA: I had not prepared it and I knew you were watching me. I could see it was coming.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if you read yesterday’s Hansard, I did bring this issue up that the debate must end at a certain time. There should be a timeframe. This exposes that the Chief Whips are not doing their work. The last time we had it, it went on for too long. I had even proposed that when we are back in Parliament, it must be debated on a Tuesday and end on a Thursday. As you can see, they are not ready. The Ministers must also answer and we must continue with the other business of the day. It is quite sad that the Chief Whips have not been able to do their job because Hon. Shamu is usually an organised person. It only shows that they had not even spoken to him. A name just came up to mind.
May we, as Parliament and Chief Whips, align ourselves on this debate with the people who are going to debate so that we do not waste time. Therefore Mr. Speaker, can there be a timeframe? We are wasting time. Today, a lot of people could have debated this and more progress could have been made. I seek your indulgence in terms of the timeframe, how long should it go on for?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Mliswa. In terms of Standing Orders, the debate should be concluded within 21 sitting days.
Hon. Mudarikwa having called for a point of order.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am speaking, you must listen.
(v)HON. MUDARIKWA: Sorry Mr. Speaker Sir. I am now listening attentively.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, you must listen attentively, otherwise you should not have raised a point of order if you were listening. It is correct that the Chief Whips must line up the Ministers so that they can respond beginning next week after the Pre-Budget Seminar. Are we together Whips? Line them up so that we finish the expiry of 21 days and not the 51 days that happened during the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament. It was in violation of our Standing Orders. If it were not, because we were dealing with the Presidential Speech, we were going to struck off that motion accordingly. You can now have your point of order.
(v)HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My name is Simbaneuta Mudarikwa. I am ready to debate on SONA Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, I call upon you to debate accordingly Hon. Mudarikwa.
(v)HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Allow me to convey to you fraternal greetings from the heroic people of Uzumba Constituency. I want to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Commander-in-Chief of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for the SONA Address. The Address comes at a time when the Second Republic has delivered good results in every sector of the economy.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the road infrastructure speaks for itself. We are now moving towards international standards. I was at the R. G. Mugabe Airport when I was coming from South Africa and it is almost complete. That is the pride of our revolution. That is the pride of ‘restore legacy’.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on dams and irrigation schemes, we have Machekeranwa Dam in our Mashonaland East Province and it has water now. Even if we experience drought, people can irrigate thousands of hectares. This has been achieved within a short space of time, within three years. We want to thank His Excellency for the job well done.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on education, most of our primary and secondary schools now have full complement of qualified teachers. The only challenge is of accommodation, but we have achieved something. Imagine we have qualified teachers ready to teach from Zambezi to Limpopo. It is a big achievement by the Second Republic. Salaries for civil servants are being eroded by inflation but this should be addressed as the economy improves.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank His Excellency, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa on the health area. COVID-19 was defeated by health professionals under the able-leadership of Vice President Cde. Chiwenga, the Minister of Health. I want again to thank His Excellency for availing vaccines in their large numbers. It is now our duty Hon. Members, to encourage our people to get vaccinated because vaccines are here in Zimbabwe. Quoting from His Excellency’s word, he said, ‘everybody endai munodyungwa, dyungwai’. We hope we will continue encouraging our people to be vaccinated.
Mr. Speaker, on agriculture, for the first time, we have food surplus. This has been achieved at every household level through Pfumvudza/Intwasa. Within one year, a programme is introduced and is accepted by everybody at every corner and there is production. That is achievement number one by His Excellency Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa and for the nation of Zimbabwe. If you are able to produce your own, then you are not a professional beggar. You are a dignified person. When you are self-sufficient in food requirement, you must be proud and we are proud of the able leadership of Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this month we are moving towards the anti-sanctions and I want to dwell more and explain to the people of Zimbabwe for them to understand the issue of illegal sanctions. I was assisted on my research by my two daughters who hold Masters Degree in Human Rights Law and the other one holds Masters Degree in Labour Law. They have assisted me to explain what the legality of the sanctions is. These sanctions were issued outside the United Nations Charter as proclaimed in 1945. It was one or two countries against Zimbabwe and that is illegal. It is outside United Nations Charter of 1945. This is also outside the Universal Declaration of Human Rights unanimously adopted by the General Assembly on the 10th of December in 1948 which we celebrate as Human Rights Day. We have a situation where sanctions were issued in violation of the United Nations statutes. It is our duty as Zimbabweans to continue explaining to the people to understand that this is illegal. This is a crime against humanity. Sanctions must go. There are other several covenants which came into effect through the General Assembly. There is International Convention on Civil Rights which was done in 1966 – [Technical breakdown] – that must be within the framework of an international agreement. There is an International Convention on Civil Rights which was put in force in 1976. International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination which was adopted in 1965 and put into force in 1969. I am explaining all this so that people understand that sanctions are totally illegal and they are harming our people. They are meant to destroy the economy of Zimbabwe so that there is an uprising. Politics create discontent and there will be total disorder.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in 2006, there was International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. All these issues again are part of the national and international human rights for the people of Zimbabwe. We are in a situation that we are because we are being punished for having taken the land. Land in Zimbabwe was taken illegally and it was the duty of the people of Zimbabwe to reclaim their land. The problems you see in Israel is all based on land. We have achieved that and we must salute our President Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for the stance to say the land issue is not reversible. We move to an issue which is very critical. Those countries now imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe outside the United Nations (UN), what it basically means is they are now disrespecting international, regional instruments which give us authority to dwell where we are. How do we then relate to this? It is important that the people of Zimbabwe stand up, support His Excellency to make sure that we also work hard and be able to defeat the sanctions. The countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe have violated the UN Charter and this must be carried out and be engaged when they go to any international fora and express that a crime was committed against the innocent people of Zimbabwe, that is a violation of human rights.
I also want to thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing me to contribute as a farmer, lawyer, I know you are a professional lawyer but I am getting these facts which are quite interesting. The other thing which was mentioned by His Excellency, is the number of Bills to come through the august House. This element is very critical. I appeal that most of these Bills must be forwarded to different Committees in time so that Committees hire experts that will assist them to go through some of these Bills so that we make laws for the better governance of men.
Coming back to Uzumba Constituency, I want to thank His Excellency in that Uzumba Constituency is the only constituency in Zimbabwe where we have 27 primary schools and 28 secondary schools. It is a policy that every primary school must have a secondary school. We also have a vocational training centre at Nhakiwa. The vocational training centre is training our youth skills in motor mechanics, building, garment manufacturing and other related subjects for the betterment of society. It is important that we must have skilled youths, even when you go to cut down trees, you always sharpen your axe. Vocational training centres are basically there to improve on the skills of our youths so that they can be ready to move into Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is an exciting development which is there for our people. We are moving from our ordinary way of living. Our way of life is also going to change. You know there will be electricity all over because they will be using skills in power technology, where we connect to solar. Household incomes would have gone up. All these achievements are there and these achievements are basically trending from when our Revolutionary Party was created. It was created to better the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.
Allow me Mr. Speaker Sir, in conclusion to encourage Hon. Members to contribute on this motion and also listen attentively, when I am debating because I have experience of being a legislator, part of the Executive and deployed back to the legislature, and continue to contribute. I thank you Mr. Speaker and I salute His Excellency for a job well done.
(v)* HON. ZEMURA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to commend the State of the Nation Address which was presented by His Excellency President E. D Mnangagwa. I would like to appreciate and clarify issues because most people pretend that they do not see. We want to demonstrate to many countries that Zimbabwe is a successful country during COVID-19. We want to thank the Minister of Health and our President who procured medication so that there are vaccinations in Zimbabwe. Truly in other countries, many people passed away but in Zimbabwe, because of the hard work that was done by His Excellency E. D. Mnangagwa, we see that people are recovering. We have discovered that some who went to hospitals recovered. So we want to thank His Excellency who spoke about health issues in Zimbabwe.
The President also spoke about the agricultural sector. He pointed out that even urban areas are participating in agricultural activities. Young people were not involved in agriculture in the past, but nowadays we see young people participating in Command Agriculture. Some are harvesting high yields. Even old people are involved in the Pfumvudza Programme. This has ensured food security. We appreciate that because this demonstrates that the President is leading with wisdom. He is leading through God’s guidance because this shows that he gets revelation about what should be done in the country.
We used to face challenges in rural areas when our husbands were going to urban centres seeking gainful employment but nowadays, every household is receiving fertiliser and other inputs, like beans, maize and other grains. So we appreciate the President’s initiative because the GMB depots in all districts are receiving grain. We have seen trucks moving around. This shows that farmers had enough food to eat and they also had surplus to sell.
I am grateful because during the last rain season, we received normal rainfall and our dams were full. If you move around the farms, you see centre pivots, which shows that our country is developing. Long back, we only saw these centre pivots in commercial farms which were owned by the whites. Nowadays, some A1 and A2 farms have centre pivots. We want to thank the President for his vision. A country cannot develop when its citizens beg for food hand-outs. We do not want to beg for food aid from the department of Social Welfare but we want to be empowered. We want to be given inputs and livestock so that we work hard and grow our economy. After farming, the Government should see bumper harvests. We have places like Lupane, which is dry but they planted wheat. There is no shortage of bread there.
We want to thank President E.D. Mnangagwa for irrigation programmes in Matabeleland North and South where farming activities are happening. We also want our people to have food security. We see trucks delivering bread daily. This is a good job which was initiated by our President.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Zemura, you are not connected now.
(v)*HON. ZEMURA: We want to appreciate the irrigation programme and this should be emulated in other areas around the country where we find dams. There should be irrigation programmes throughout the country in rural areas so that farmers are not found to be seated but they should be busy farming. Even small projects like market gardening where people plant vegetables in irrigation programmes, this should be replicated in all districts around the country so that we can harvest throughout the year. Looking at the agricultural sector, we appreciate the Government’s initiative which was introduced by the President where people were given livestock and because of that, we end up seeing our sons in law paying bride price of cows. Cows are important because they emancipate people and they improve people’s livelihoods through income generation.
From agriculture, I would like to look at road rehabilitation. This is quite commendable. I want to thank His Excellency for the road refurbishment programme, where even some new roads are being constructed, for example linking places like Mozambique, Botswana and other countries with Zimbabwe. Because of the Second Republic, we appreciate such initiatives which will be taken even to the rural areas. Good road infrastructure is good for development. We also appreciate the procurement of new buses which were procured by the President. I pray that Zimbabwe should succeed and the President should see the plight of Zimbabweans. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
*HON. DZUMA: Let me start by thanking you Hon. Speaker Ma’am for giving me this opportunity to commend the State of the Nation Address which was presented by President E.D. Mnangagwa. We thank God for giving us a leader with a vision and who cares for his people in Zimbabwe. World-over, people are seeing the good leadership through His Excellency, E.D. Mnangagwa. In the past, before the Second Republic, inputs took a long time to be distributed to people but now we see that different GMB depots have inputs. What is delaying is the local agricultural extension officers because GMB does not just distribute inputs but they need the database from agricultural extension officers.
I would like to thank President E. D. Mnangagwa for the good job that he is doing in Zimbabwe, which includes dam projects which have a benefit to our livestock and even for the appreciation of our traditional leaders. We find His Excellency humbling himself before our chiefs. That is why we see that there is good rainfall in Zimbabwe because of his humility. He understands that traditional leaders are important and he did that through the removal of the term ‘kraal head’ and replacing it with village head.
There were no growth points in rural areas. Such things were taboo, especially in our area we knew Enkeldoorn, which is called Chivhu now, then you would come to Harare. Now, you discover that we have growth points like Murambinda which deserves town status and very soon we will be having a Mayor.
There is a dam project at Marovanyati. Electricity can be generated through the dam project of Marovanyati. The Ministry of Energy can generate electricity from that dam. We want you to know that the President, in the ten provinces around the country in Zimbabwe, especially where I come from in Manicaland, he has been to all constituencies, even Buhera West where I am based, he has been there three times. In other constituencies, he is always there. When we drive to Victoria Falls...
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. This Parliament is a Parliament of records and Hon. Dzuma is saying the President went to all the constituencies in Manicaland, especially in Buhera, that he is always there. This is a Parliament of record and I do not think that he is really true that he went to all the constituencies in Manicaland. He must find a way of saying the President is working hard and he is trying to visit all the constituencies but for him to say the constituencies in Manicaland in particular, he is always there - no.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MAVETERA): It can be a literal meaning, which means it is not really physical at times that someone goes to a place. You can go there directly or indirectly. So, I am sure he is correct when he says so.
HON. T. MLISWA: All the constituencies in Manicaland and those were his words, meaning the 22 constituencies!
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Yes, it can be directly or indirectly.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am saying so because it will create problems for people who read because others will ask why the President did not go to Masvingo, Mashonaland West, et cetera. That is why I am trying to say that this is a Parliament of records and people will read this. I think the President is said to be getting to other provinces. I am trying to protect the President because if you say all the provinces in Manicaland, I do not know.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I still maintain that it can be directly or indirectly. He could have gone to every constituency here in Zimbabwe directly or indirectly. So, it just depends on how you are going to take it. Thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: When a leader goes to provinces, we find representatives going to different constituencies. If representatives go when the leader comes, it means that he has visited those areas even when it is only their representatives. We are very happy with the appointments that we see. It seems as if everyone is correctly placed because they are doing a good job and when we look at how they are performing, it seems as if no one wants to be left behind.
Looking at transport, housing, education and different portfolios, if they are moving around the country, then they are working very hard. They are doing that on behalf of the President. This means that they have a vision and they know what they are doing. I believe they were properly trained and the good thing is that they are not afraid to discharge their duties. This is the President’s vision – you hear that the President is a servant leader. He demonstrates that he is a humble servant of the people and because of the good deeds of the President, a Member of Parliament should discharge his duties with fortitude. If he does not do that, he might not come back to this august House whilst the President comes back.
When you drive from Harare, Chivhu, Masvingo and Beitbridge, you cannot use gears which can lead to the knocking of a car, but you use the travelling gear because of the development that is there. Even through National Development Strategy 1 which is a blue print. I desired to take fish from our area because of the harvest that we see in our local dam but because I do not have a fishery licence, I could not do that. This is a good thing that is happening through His Excellency the President. Even when looking at COVID-19, Zimbabwe is viewed the world-over as performing well in vaccinations compared to other bordering countries.
We do not have a problem in Zimbabwe regarding COVID-19 and this is evident, looking at the progress that we see in eradicating COVID-19. Of course, there are some who succumbed, which is unfortunate. The low figures of infections are all because of the President’s approach and Zimbabwe has good livelihoods and healthcare. Even Vision 2030 is on the right course and we desire that through such good work, God should give His Excellency long life because such a leader who has a vision like His Excellency has, it is a challenge that there might not be anyone else who can do such a good job.
So, we see his good work and we respect what he does. This means that we have a good future. He is doing a good job. I will not continue speaking and as a former soldier, we are very precise. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to commend the State of the Nation Address which was presented by His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa.
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me start by thanking Hon. Mutambisi who moved the motion on the State of the Nation Address which was presented by His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa. Let me also thank the Chair for affording me this opportunity because it is rare that after such presentations, you get an opportunity to contribute to such a debate.
I would like to start by thanking and appreciating the good work being done. In this regard I am looking at frontline workers who work day and night in hospitals, houses and even in this august House through vaccinations and by way of discharging different health care facilities. Madam Speaker, at one point if someone was diagnosed of COVID-19, this was viewed as a death sentence, but our frontline workers worked very hard. When you see people appreciating, it means that we are together.
Madam Speaker, COVID-19 is a crucial issue. It is important that people should continuously be reminded to go and get tested. At times you find people panicking and some go to get tested when it is too late, when they feel that there is no other option. It is important that this is done because if you know your status, you can then self-isolate or quarantine so that you protect your loved ones.
Let me also look at the issue regarding livelihoods for those who have retired. I am talking about the issue of NSSA which is administering pensions for those who are no longer working. We have been saying that pensioners are suffering because they are not having adequate pensions. In our Public Service and Labour Committee, we have been receiving letters of people who were expecting to get better income from their pensions because some were not properly covered. So, we anticipate that this money should be a revolving fund which must benefit all the people who are expected to benefit from it. It should be money with value. This should be done in a transparent manner. I believe that this is a good thing, this gives hope to pensioners who were contributing.
Let me also turn to women empowerment, for instance the Women’s Bank. We know that the bank had its expectations. Some people have even been arguing that the bank should be closed, but we believe that the bank must look at disabled women. If there is a disabled woman in a household or in society, he or she should be viewed just like any other person so that he or she benefits like anyone else. It is important for women to know that there is a bank which is there to emancipate women. It is important also that the Women’s Bank should be there for women and women should have trust and confidence in that bank. The bank should produce positive results.
The President also mentioned that there are young people who abuse drugs like musombodia, mbanje and other illicit drugs. When you go outside this building - for example along Forth Street, you will find young people abusing drugs. At times you might think that these are soft drinks like Coca cola and Fanta, yet these are illicit drugs which have detrimental effects upon their lives. It is important that young people are gainfully employed so that they can generate revenue for their families and their livelihoods. These are young people who are energetic and can be economically active. It is important to have a programme which rehabilitates young people and creates employment for young people.
I would also like to say that the President spoke about the veterans of the liberation struggling. Some of us came back but some died before Independence. It is important that people understand that women and men participated in the liberation war. We need to continue talking about such things. May those who passed away rest in peace. The other issue is that there is a proposal for the liberation struggle board to be put in place. My desire is that we know that we have laws but this board should have gender balance. There must be both men and women. Even when people went to war, both men and women were involved. My desire is that our war veterans should be found sitting on that board and it should be gender balanced.
Let me also talk about devolution. I would like to thank His. Excellency who spoke about that issue and suggested that there should be a provincial council. I was very happy on hearing the President talking about devolution because this is constitutional. The Constitution is now being aligned to what is anticipated in different provinces. Because of that, I appreciate the State of the Nation Address.
I would like to thank His Excellency who spoke about the Labour Amendment Bill. This is my favourite subject Madam. This Bill should be amended, particularly on dispute settlement. We have noticed that when there are disagreements, at times people engage in demonstrations and job action, but the law says that people should be able to engage each other and discuss industrial issues at the workplace. I am happy that when this Bill comes to this august House, we should participate on the amendments so that we mend relationships between employers and employees.
The President also spoke about the Yellow Conventions. I am happy because he said that many of these conventions are going to be discussed, for instance the one regarding the disabled. I am happy because this is a crucial issue which will be touched on. When we sign, this should be implemented. Because of that, we will be looking at the law so that it is applied, playing our watchdog role. I am happy that when we work on the Labour Amendment Bill, then we should be seen to be at par with other countries. I am happy that the Government of Zimbabwe has signed a lot of ratifications and these should be domesticated like what the President said so that this would be implemented.
My last point is that the Bill that was mentioned by His Excellency is a Bill which affects the welfare and the livelihood of the disabled. The question is; is this what we are doing for the disabled? I am happy that the President said that the Act was promulgated in 1992 but we need to amend it so that it is in tandem with what is happening at the moment, because when you stand outside this building, you see the disabled coming into this building on wheel chairs but at times we push the wheelchair to only the front entrance which is conducive. We need to align whatever is happening to the current situation.
Even on the allocation of land, the question is; are we giving land to the disabled so that they have improved livelihoods? The President spoke about such; do we have systems in place which support the disabled? Do we also consider the disabled even on the Pfumvudza project? Do we look at their ability to participate in that project? I believe that every Government programme should encompass all people, whether they are disabled or not. Even when I qualify in a project, I have to stand aside and look at the situation considering others.
I am pained because our society desires and it should review the way that we view the disabled. I cannot continue debating on this but I believe that I have touched on the most important things. His Excellency has demonstrated his commitment to the disabled and through the State of the Nation Address, he has shown the way. I thank you.
(v)HON. SAIZI: I would like to contribute on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe. I would also like to add my voice to what has already been said. It was a very difficult period where we lost a lot of cattle but people managed to get down on their feet because of this programme. The country got food assistance. We thank His Excellency because he noticed that we now have a problem amongst our domestic animals and he moved in to assist. This programme that brought about vaccines really assisted us. We anticipate to see progress on the project that was initiated by the President, together with those from the Veterinary Department. It is our wish that both of us see to it that the cattle are safeguarded.
We also want to thank His Excellency as people from Muzarabani for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. The bad roads in our areas were rehabilitated. Some roads are now tarred but not yet completed. We anticipate seeing them completed. All programmes that were started by the Government are now finished at the end of it all. Previously, we had problems with completion of some of these projects, but now we are seeing quite a big difference. We are seeing progress. We want to be thankful to the President because he really helped the nation.
Coming to the issue of the economy in this country, the foreign currency auction system that he brought about made our economy to be stable. The President is working hard but we have people who are involved in dubious activities, pulling all the progress down. We kindly ask law enforcement agencies and all those in authority, to come together and we work hard so that we bring to book all those who are involved in these unscrupulous business activities. These people should be imprisoned and they deserve to stay in prison because they are disrupting a good initiative.
Coming to the COVID issue, I think he has also done well in this regard. What is only needed is for us Parliamentarians and the rest of the citizens to make sure that we are vaccinated. If we have done that, we have done well. It shows that the way it is being done by His Excellency and those in the health sector is very great. May the Lord lead and protect us so that they continue to do good works.
(v)+HON. O. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Firstly, I would like to thank the President for his presentation during SONA which was presented by Hon. Mutambisi, seconded by Hon. Torerai Moyo. The President presented very well, that we should unite so that there is peace and the country prospers. The President emphasised very well that where there is no peace and unity, the country will not succeed. Madam Speaker, the President said very well that where there is peace, there are so many good things that will happen in the country. Even the good Lord will be watching over us.
When we are talking about the prosperity of the country, the President will be touching on agriculture as he introduced Pfumvudza/Intwasa in that regard. If we look at our outputs in the farms, you will realise that there was a lot of produce which was delivered to GMB. I would like to congratulate the President on that. Right now, people are receiving Presidential inputs and the President is strictly emphasising that we should not deny people these inputs. If we look at my constituency Vungu in Gweru, this programme of Pfumvudza/Intwasa is doing very well.
I would also like to touch on the roads. There is a programme which was introduced by the President called the ERP. When we look at Gweru/Vungu, the roads were rehabilitated very well. We now have tarred roads. There is a are resealing programme for the road which comes from Mozambique up to Zambia and passing through Gweru. I would like to thank the President for that. The bridges have been constructed and I thank the President for that.
I would like to touch on education. The President said our children should go to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to thank the President for the job well done. The challenge that we are facing is that there are students in rural schools and satellite schools in resettlement areas who are going to write examinations in November. This becomes a challenge in the outcome of the results. The pass rate percentage will be zero because they do not have the exposure to technology like urban school children.
I will then touch on the health sector. I would like to thank the President on what he did for the country to be united. The President really did a good job during this era of COVID-19. There were some measures of COVID-19 regulations which were set and this indeed prevented so many people from losing their lives. The vaccination programme in my constituency, Vungu, has found so many people getting their jabs. I would like to thank the soldiers who assisted during the mobile vaccination period and I would like to thank the President for deploying the security forces in Vungu Constituency. They are just a few who were not vaccinated.
I will now touch on the finance sector. The President, through the Ministry of Finance, said that there should be forex auction floors. This showed the prosperity of our country. It is unfortunate that there are so many fraudsters who are opening their markets. I would like to support the President that these people should be arrested. When I look at my constituency Vungu, you will find that some people are charging something that cost a dollar at the cost of $220 bond or ecocash. These people should be arrested. Looking at the police force, they do not have transport for them to conduct their duties. At Vungu Constituency, we do not even have a police station. We do not have even cells to keep prisoners. The police officers are really assisting us during this time, especially when there is violence. Some people are committing suicide and we do not know why they are killing themselves. I would want to assist members of the public that when they face any challenges, they should visit the police stations. There are some departments which deal with different matters and even village heads can also assist and we should not take the law into our own hands. The President is emphasising that the irrigation schemes should operate and we would like the irrigation schemes at Vungu to work during the Pfumvudza/Intwasa. I would like to thank the President for that programme.
There are some people who always visit our country who call themselves rapporteurs and at the same time there are some people in Zimbabwe who want to show visitors a wrong picture of the country, as if the country is in a dire situation. I am speaking of people like the Chamisas. It is very important that they should join POLAD other than to cause disharmony in the country. I would like to thank the President for what he has done and I wish him long life. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 2nd November, 2021.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI, seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Fourteen Minutes to Four O’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 2nd November, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 21st October, 2021
The Senate met at Half-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to remind the House that the 2021 Pre-Budget Seminar will be held from 22nd to 26th October, 2021, at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls. Hon. Senators who have not yet confirmed their attendance with the Public Relations Department must do so. Officers from the department will be stationed at the Members Dining Room today, 21st October, 2021.
Hon. Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will travel by charter flight. Please note that the departure time from the Robert Mugabe International Airport is 1400 hours on 22nd October, 2021 and the expected arrival time in Victoria Falls is 1500hrs. Members will be picked from Parliament and respective hotels at 1200hrs. The return charter flight will leave Victoria Falls on 26th October at 0700hrs and arrives in Harare at 0800hrs.
In order to comply with COVID-19 regulations and to ensure the safety and health of participants, Hon. Members are required to have a COVID-19 test undertaken within 48 hrs of the conference. COVID-19 testing facilities shall be provided in Parliament Courtyard today, 21st and tomorrow, 22nd October, 2021. Members travelling by road who fail to be tested in Harare shall be tested at the Elephant Hills Hotel upon arrival. Members traveling by air should be tested in Harare as the COVID-19 test results will be required on boarding the flight. Members are therefore, required to bring their National Identification cards and COVID-19 test results.
I just want to welcome the two ministers who are here, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Welcome Hon. Ministers, so maybe we just deal with what is there – [Laughter.] – Welcome, I am happy because you come from Mashonaland East, very disciplined members of the Cabinet.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity. I do not know to whom I should direct my question?
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think you can see that the Leader of the House is not here.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Madam President, my question pertains to our children on the issue of drug abuse. What are we doing in order that the drugs do not find their way into our country so that we preserve our children’s future?
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, maybe you can help us?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): I want to thank you for your pertinent question concerning drug abuse by our youths. As Ministry of Health and Child Care…
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, Order, it seems you are not connected Hon. Minister.
*HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Madam President and thank you Hon. Chief Chinake …
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: He is just sitting in the chiefs seating area, he is not a chief but Hon. Sen. Chinake.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: I am sorry Hon. Sen. Chinake. Let me say that as a nation we are not used to it but now it is with us. Our national policy says that the drugs that are not licenced are not allowed in the country. So they are illegally brought into the country. Government, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, are busy trying to curb and also find out who is importing these drugs with the help of the police who are investigating.
Many children even those in schools are using drugs. As Government, we are saying we cannot just watch but we are investigating this matter. As Government, we planned that we should come up with places where we rehabilitate these children per district and per province. A suggestion has come up that even those beerhalls should be turned into rehabilitation centres and homes as well so that these children can get help. They must be re-integrated back into the society because we are losing a whole generation.
We are fighting drug abuse. It is not easy to just give up because the body will be used to the drugs. If we immediately withdraw them from the drugs without counseling and giving proper medication, they will be affected health-wise. Government together with other institutions should look at ways on how to rehabilitate these children. We should come up with awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse. Some are engaging in this because they do not know the outcome.
We will try by all means to explain so that children will understand and know how dangerous drugs are. We are losing a lot of our young people to these drugs.
*HON. SEN. FEMAI: Thank you Hon. President, my supplementary question is on these illegal drugs. Now the drugs coming from out of the country are few, but we have a problem of drugs that are being manufactured here in our country. Long back, we did not have liquor which was sold in quarter bottles and is now being made by African Distillers; it is being delivered to supermarkets and the cost is US$0.50. Those are some of the drugs that are bought by our children. It is cheaper to them if they get US$1, they buy two and share. Is there anything that can be done by the Ministry of Health that these small bottles should not be manufactured? They must manufacture something with a higher price so that it can be beyond the reach of the youths.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Madam President and Hon. Member for explaining how we can curb this as a nation. We will explain to the police and all the stakeholders if this is being brewed in this country. These children are not only taking beer but they are being introduced to drugs like crystal meth. When you hear them say ‘sticking’, it means when they take those drugs and they will just sit for three days without feeling hungry or doing anything. We are also hearing that they are now going after diapers, even used ones. We heard diapers contain substances which if taken orally will make someone drunk.
We have heard this from doctors when some patients come to the clinic or hospitals. They wash and boil the diapers and drink the residue. We heard that they are also using fertiliser. We are going to sit down and find solutions to this. Many children even those at secondary school are taking drugs. We used to hear that this was prevalent in low density residential areas but now this has spread to high density suburbs. We agree with what you have said and we will do everything within our means so that youths will stop using drugs. They will end up stealing household gadgets from their parents because they want to use that money to purchase drugs. They can do anything when they are drunk.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health but before I ask, I would like to thank you very much for the wonderful job you are doing in fighting COVID-19. My question is; in order for our country to be considered safe from COVID-19, we are supposed to have 10 million people vaccinated. Do you think we will achieve this number in the shortest possible time?
The other question is; are people being vaccinated now or they are now relaxed? Are you doing something to continue encouraging people to get vaccinated?
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Madam President. Indeed, we realized that there was a time where we used to vaccinate about 100 000 per day but we have seen that these days we are vaccinating around 30 000 or below. Yesterday, the Minister of Health and Vice President, Hon. Dr. Rtd Gen. G.D.N Chiwenga, including Ministers of State and Provincial Health Directors, mapped a way forward in order for us to work with Senators so that when you go to your constituencies, you may help us in creating awareness. I would like to reiterate that in other countries there is now a fourth wave of the COVID 19 pandemic and it is discovered that it is more deadly than the previous waves because it kills very fast, hence we need to go back to the drawing board and include all major stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, Senators, traditional leaders and religious leaders.
Tomorrow we will be meeting with the DAs as well as the doctors to start again the campaign. If we delay, we may not be able to reach the herd immunity; so this effort is meant to just reinforce what we began. Indeed, it is a fact like you pointed out that there is reluctance now. Initially we thought after the first 3 months it will be over but the waves continue. If we go back to history, in around 1840 and 1922, we realised that such pandemics survive in society for about 5 years before it can be eradicated. So let us not fool ourselves and think that it is over, it is still there, so we need to continue creating awareness so that if the 4th wave comes, it will find us prepared. It will not end on the 4th wave; it may go up to 5th or 6th wave because that pandemic indeed may go up to 2023 or 2024.
So the important thing is that the President said let us rely on research science. We are following research science because vaccination is the way to go. All other things are not scientifically proven. What was discovered scientifically is vaccination; so that is what we want to encourage everyone to do. We need to encourage each other to stop being complacent because we are not yet done with that issue. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: I would like to find out from the Hon. Minister - there are some people who were vaccinated with the first dose, they then got another dose different from the one they first got. So, how can they be helped? Again, there are some other people who only got vaccinated the first jab but the vaccination programme did not proceed for them to be able to get the second jab. I thank you.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Madam President. I think the Hon. Senator is referring to Covaccine which came from India. Indeed, it ran out before other people got their second jabs. Our rule is we follow science on how it is, hence all those who got their first jab will go back to the clinics or hospitals to find out whether they were adequately vaccinated and if the specialist discovers that you need another dose, then it will be administered. Therefore, we are encouraging that people should go to hospitals to ascertain their real status.
We also do not say if you got a jab at a certain place like Gutu or Mutoko, one can still get the other vaccine elsewhere if you go for the second jab at a different station. All the health care people would need are your details so that they request for the second jabs. So we will be able to get assistance from the clinic because we do not want to leave anyone out or to only administer one jab. We want to make sure that they follow all the procedures. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: My question is directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Most of the heads of traditional leaders and spirit mediums are still outside the country. According to our culture, it is not supposed to be that way. Everyone belongs to a certain ancestry, so they are supposed to be where they belong. I do not know how you can arrange so that they are all united in terms of the remains. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): I would like to thank the Hon. Senator Chief for that question which is related to the remains of our traditional leaders. Most of them were leaders of the heroes of the 1st and 2nd Chimurenga who refused and opposed colonial rule.
Indeed, there were some people who found it fit that at that time, those heroes who opposed colonial rule, who were defeated because at that time, the colonialist used sophisticated weapons. Most of them were beheaded and they were taken as trophies at that time; for those who liked hunting of wild animals like lions and elephants. So their sculls were regarded as trophies in order to show that they indeed conquered those people who were stubborn.
So, after independence in 1980, steps were taken in order for us to recover all those lost things, including the remains of our traditional leaders. The Zimbabwe Bird is a very important symbol of our country. There was an agreement between these countries but there are still outstanding issues because they are still saying those sculls were not put all together under Government authority but some took them to private museums or to private storages. So those countries do not have power to recover them because it is considered as private properties and they respect that rule, hence that is the problem, but negotiations are still underway. For example, in DRC, there is an event that happened recently. They also had lost the remains of the leader of their party where only a tooth remained. So the tooth was returned to DRC. Therefore we are also fighting in order to get the remains of our traditional leaders as well as other properties that were looted during the liberation war. You will agree that indeed, it is a process and it may not be taken overnight. So, President Mnangagwa is the Chief Diplomat in this regard because every time he meets those leaders, he negotiates and talks about those issues so that we recover the remains of our traditional leaders. I thank you Madam President.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to ask my question. Before I do so, I would like to congratulate you Madam President for being elected the Vice President of the African Parliamentary Union. We are proud because that is also our seat here as Senate and we also appreciate that a woman was given that Chair. We wish you all the best in that office.
My question is directed to the Minister of Health. What is Government’s future policy for children aged between 9 and 15 in terms of being vaccinated against COVID-19 so that we do not remain behind as a country? Thank you Madam President.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Madam President and thank you Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi. Children are the future of our country. As a country, we rely on scientific research. Most of the times, when new things are being done, we do not want to involve children. That is why you realise that on children aged 17 and below, we had not vaccinated them. Now we have a programme because according to research, some of the children who got vaccinated at that age; it may work and it may be effective. Right now, we are working with pediatricians so that they work on the protocols of vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17. We may as well go down to those aged three.
We know that vaccinations were mainly meant for young children but as we know that this was a new pandemic, we did not want to rush. However, as we speak, our experts as well as the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) are working on the protocols so that we also determine who is fit enough to receive the jab, signs and symptoms that can be used by medical experts and parents. We also want to ascertain how long the anti-bodies remain in the system so that if children react negatively, we will be prepared for that. What we are saying is; we are working on the protocols to start that programme but the most important thing is that we follow scientific research, we do not want to do it haphazardly. We want it to be effective so that when we start, it works properly and that our children may be vaccinated and are well protected from the pandemic. I thank you.
HON. SEN. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Before I ask my question Madam President, I think we should show our gratitude. We want to thank our Government because there are people who expected some to die in the country but it did not happen that way. I want the Minister of Health to take a message on our behalf, to the Vice-President who is the Minister of Health and Child Care, congratulating him on the way he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that there are others who do not want to be vaccinated but it is our desire and wish that all the families get vaccinated.
My question is directed to you the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. There is a young adult who came crying because she had lost her vaccination card because it got stolen together with her phone and identification documents. We know that identification documents can be replaced but when it comes to the vaccination card, is there a plan in place for those who would have lost it to have it replaced? How do they get it replaced or do they go back to be re-vaccinated? There are a lot of places where you cannot access without producing the COVID-19 vaccination card. We want to know from you if there is a plan to replace stolen vaccination cards? Someone may get hold of those cards and use them. Are there plans to curb that?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Madam President. It is very true that these cards can be stolen just like any other cards. Firstly, when people are being vaccinated, we write down the information in terms of gender, age, residential address and so on. So, for the girl who lost her vaccination card, if she goes to the place where she got vaccinated, it is now computerised, even the batch number is there, she can be given a new card. It is now all computerised and the batch number is there. We have captured everything.
When this programme started, we were issuing out cards which did not have any watermarks. There are a lot of things that we can use the watermark to find out if that person has been vaccinated. Even those who have old cards can go back and be given bar-coded cards which can be used even when they are flying. So, those who lost their cards or have old cards can go back and get replacement cards because for sure in the future, those cards will be required in most places.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Firstly, I would want to remind you that we moved a motion here concerning Mbuya Nehanda and your name was there. I want to thank you because you are uplifting us as women. From there, I want to go to the Ministry of Health. I remember when the Vice President was appointed as the Minister of Health, people complained that he did not have any medical background but look at what is happening now. I think we should thank him.
Coming to my question directed to the Deputy Minister of Health, the recruitment of nurse training is done online but there is a problem in the rural areas because most people do not have smart phones and they have no electricity. How are you helping those people who want to train as nurses but cannot apply online?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): I want to clarify on how we recruit nurses because there are people who are facing challenges as they have no computers. Our Minister of Health who is the Vice President acknowledged that they had noticed that when it was not done online people were corrupt. When we started the online system we were trying to curb corruption but we have seen that those in urban areas are at an advantage but those in the rural areas like Nharira and Madamombe are disadvantaged.
We have come up with a plan that in the future, we will strategise so that everyone gets a chance. We are now decentralising so that each and every candidate gets a chance to get into nursing. What will happen is that if we want to take 300 candidates, we will look at our ten provinces and each province should give us about 30 candidates. From that province, if the province has ten districts, it means that every district should give us three candidates. We want to give each and everyone a chance, which means they will write their examinations from their districts. We will take all the candidates from the districts and train them to be nurses. It is a new thing so that all candidates will get a chance to be trained as nurses. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: My supplementary to the Minister is; what happens to the students who are being trained if they do not pass one of the subjects? As Government, what plan do you have so that these children can supplement without any hassles because we want nurses?
*HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Your question if I heard clearly is that a person who is under nurse training and in their final or mid-exams does not pass one of the subjects they are told to stop. As a country, we follow science and teaching nurses or students in college, we know that they can fail one subject and do well in other subjects. As a Government, we have a policy that a child who does not do well is not withdrawn there and then but are given a chance to repeat. I will find out how many times they are allowed to repeat. They are given a chance to re-write. That is our policy.
Why we do that is because we would have seen that the child, probably he or she is not really capturing what others are saying perhaps because he/she is a slow learner in that area, which means they need more time. So as lecturers, we know that if a child fails three times, it means that there is something wrong, probably he/she cannot comprehend the concepts. So we say that if a person who cannot comprehend theory, we cannot push them to do practicals. We make them repeat and make sure that we have done our best. Mostly they do well after repeating but if there is someone whom you know who has challenges, I will be happy to know what really transpired because we face different challenges. I will be very happy to help because our parents will be looking forward to that child and many times we try to make sure the student passes and if it occurs, we find ways to deal with it. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Madam President, let us continue in the Ninth Parliament to applaud you for the elevation. My question to the Minister of Health is; from all our respective areas where we stay, people are allowed, including in this House, to speak in their own languages. I was in Siakobvu recently and there are some people who can hardly speak Shona for us to communicate properly, so we had to look for a translator. In those areas, I would like to say those areas are remaining behind. If people from those areas wish to become nurses, if they go to hospitals, those old women in their areas should be able to explain to them in their own languages like Tonga. What plan do you have as a Ministry, of training those people speaking in their own languages so that they go back and be able to treat and talk to people in their own languages?
*HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Thank you Hon. Senator for that question. I said it that there may be children in some rural areas like Siakobvu and they may not get access to be recruited as nurses. I explained that the recruitment policy must be decentralised. For example, looking at Midlands Province, if we say we want 400 candidates, we expect the province to give us 40 representatives from districts so that they are recruited and trained at various institutions around the country. After completion of their training, if we realise that there is a need in a certain area or language spoken, they are deployed to that place. What is important is that we want to give them an opportunity to be trained as nurses. As we move on, we encourage them to work in areas close to their spouses so that we try to improve the working conditions for that person.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: I would like to congratulate you Madam President for being at the helm of Senate. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are two things that are destroying the economy of this country. The first one is corruption and the second one is sanctions. The citizens of this country have suffered enough because of these two things. This country has set up a Commission that is trying hard to fight corruption, it may be difficult but there is great effort that has been put across. What I have not realised is an effort which is tangible with regards to dealing with sanctions. What is Government doing in order to ensure that sanctions are removed by the EU and its allies? The people who were on the sanctions list were the former President including his family and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. Yes, there may be efforts on the media platforms to remove the sanctions but to me that is not enough. Is there anything else that is happening behind closed doors so that those issues outlined in ZIDERA are addressed? From my own point of view, most of the issues outlined under ZIDERA can be addressed.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. MUSABAYANA): I would like to thank Hon. Senator Komichi for the question that he asked. First of all, I want to draw his attention to the fact that one of the aspirations that the citizens of this country waged a war of liberation for was the land question. That is one of the things that was discussed at the Lancaster House Conference. One of the key issues discussed there was about returning the land to the rightful citizens. There was an agreement that Britain and America would assist the rightful citizens get their land back and they promised that they would assist in the payment of compensation of those who had taken the land.
From 1980 to 2000, there was not much that was done under the willing-buyer willing-seller concept. Nothing much happened because Britain and America did not fulfill their pledge. That is when we realised that some opposition parties and organisations who were opposed to this ensured that they opposed the taking back of the land. That is what led to the imposition of sanctions and Britain was at the forefront. The EU was involved because Britain was still in the EU. We negotiated with the EU and some of the conditions were relaxed up to where we are right now. Some of the conditions were suspended but not totally removed. The conditions may have been relaxed but they may be taken back, depending on the situation. The process of purchasing arms of war has not shifted. We are still discussing with the EU.
The fact that we have sanctions is not good at all. It deters potential investors because it is a bad omen to the country. As we speak, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spent three weeks in Europe discussing the issue of sanctions, normalising and restoring relations – that is what they were discussing. As we speak and before I came here, he was also updating me on the fact that there is good news coming from Europe, especially from the European Union. They want to restore good relations, including Britain. This is why His Excellency the President will be allowed in the United Kingdom to meet with other leaders for the Global Summit on the Environment. Those are some of the efforts that are being done.
As far as the United States of America is concerned, at the beginning, the United States of America got themselves unnecessarily involved in this issue; it was more or less like acting in solidarity with their kith and kin. Although we may not lay too much blame on them, the problem is Zimbabwean citizens who went to the United States of America to beg for the imposition of those sanctions so that the leadership that was in the country at that time which was based on liberation struggle ideologies is removed. So they recommended that it would be better that we get sanctions in order to pursue a regime change agenda. This was the reason why the United States of America put ZIDERA as a law which is now renewed annually. In February, that law affects relations between Zimbabwe and the United States of America. Because of that, we are negotiating with the United States of America and that is the reason why you realise that from a distance, they are coming up.
For example, the investment in Batoka which is four point something billion dollar, they also came on board through the John Deere facility. We heard that the former United States of America Ambassador will go and encourage American investors to invest in Zimbabwe but here is the problem. Those sanctions that were begged for by parties that want to get into power are now continuing to demonstrate and act in such a way that will ensure that the sanctions are not removed. They continue acting, for example whenever they hear that there is a global or important summit, they start acting, for example portraying the country in bad light through faking abductions or violence.
Like what we did in an endeavour to normalise relations with the European Union where we formed dialogue; we are now working on formalising and making a platform by having dialogue between Zimbabwe and the United States of America. What is disturbing us is that right now, they are changing goal posts but that is simply due to the fact that some of our citizens are continuously disrupting our efforts by sending bad signals. Most of the people that we meet are surprised when they come here, they always ask that what we hear and what we see are totally different things. So my word of advice is, it is not only the President or Government that should do that – all of us as citizens have the duty to ensure that these sanctions are removed, that is what we have done as SADC and the African Union.
On 25th October, we will all call for the removal of the sanctions against Zimbabwe. The initiative was started by the late President of Tanzania, Dr. Magufuli - may his soul rest in peace. So next week on 25th October, we will also be commemorating that day and calling for the removal of sanctions. In addition, we have a United Nations rapporteur who is examining the impact of sanctions on Zimbabwe because the other problem with the lies that are being peddled is that they are saying those sanctions are targeted on certain individuals and are not affecting everyone but we saw one representative from America who spoke last year that if those sanctions are affecting everyone, SADC is calling for the removal of those sanctions. The African Union is also calling for the removal of those sanctions and at the moment, as you can see, the United Nations is also coming on board to ensure that they call for the removal of the sanctions. So we are working tirelessly to ensure that those sanctions are removed. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 67. MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: 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: Tuesday, 26th October, 2021.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the Senate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MATHUTHU seconded by HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI, the Senate adjourned at Nineteen Minutes to Four o’clock. p.m. until Tuesday, 2nd November, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 20th October, 2021
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
COLLECTION OF STANDING ORDERS
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I wish to inform Hon. Members to collect hard copies of the Ninth Edition of the 2020 Standing Orders from Journals Office in Room 101, First Floor, Parliament Building.
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the departure time for the charter flight to Victoria Falls is 1400 hours on Friday 22nd October, 2021. Hon. Members will be picked up from Parliament and respective hotels at 1200 hours. The return charter flight will leave Victoria Falls on Tuesday 26th October at 0700 hours.
In order to comply with COVID-19 regulations and to ensure the safety and health of participants, Hon Members are required to have a COVID-19 test undertaken within 48 hours of the commencement of the conference. COVID-19 testing facilities shall be provided in the Parliament courtyard from 20 to 22 October 2021. Hon. Members travelling by road who fail to get tested in Harare will be tested at the Elephant Hills Hotel upon arrival. Hon members travelling by air should be tested in Harare as the COVID-19 test results will be required on boarding the flight. Hon Members are therefore, required to bring their national identification cards and COVID-19 test results for boarding formalities.
Details of the logistical arrangements for the Pre-Budget Conference have been circulated through the Hon. Members’ emails.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have received apologies from Hon. Ministers in respect of the National Assembly sitting on 20th October, 2021.
-Hon. Gen. (Rtd.) Dr. C. G. G. N Chiwenga – Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care,
- Hon. W. Chitando – The Minister of Mines and Mining Development,
- Hon. M. N. Ndlovu – The Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry,
- Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri – The Minister of Defence and War Veterans,
-Hon. J. Moyo – The Minister of Local Government and Public Works,
-Hon. K. Kazembe – The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage,
-Hon. Prof. Mavima - The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. MUNETSI: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. I would want to find out how far the Ministry has gone in constructing disabled friendly infrastructure in schools? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. NDLOVU): I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question. One of the assignments that I got from His Excellency the President upon my appointment was to facilitate infrastructural development in schools. I am sure you are aware that we have a budget that the Ministry of Finance has promised to cover us in terms of the 3 000 plus infrastructure for schools that we want.
The second programme is for us to rehabilitate infrastructure in the schools. Madam Speaker, you will realise that in some of the provinces, the schools are quite old and in other resettlement areas, there are totally no schools.
HON. T. MOYO: My question is directed to the Hon Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development. To what extent does the Centre for Education, Innovation Research and Development Act going to stimulate economic growth and development through industrialisation of Zimbabwe?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): We know that industrialisation of a country happens using two pathways which end up being one and I will explain. Industry is a result of innovation and innovation is taught. Innovation also comes from research and development. A country’s industries are a result of innovation that happens from within the country, which I call endogenous innovation or industry that comes through investment but originally they also come from innovation. So industry comes from innovation, research and development anchored by education.
From this point, this august House passed a Bill which is now an Act and is with the President called the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Act with the aim of making sure that it undertakes and sponsors research and innovation that is aimed at producing industries or goods and services. This is an Act of its own kind which is actually showing that Zimbabwe is serious towards reaching its goal of vision 2030 and beyond, of becoming an upper middle income economy by deliberately producing industry in several areas of human endeavour.
Hon. Speaker, you will know already that so far through research, development and innovation, we at the moment have already shown the example that Zimbabwe can produce its own oxygen. Now with the centre for education, innovation, research and development which is deliberate, you can just imagine what will happen because we have enough people in this country who have got good knowledge and enthusiasm, who were only left with good legislative or legal environment which makes them function. We believe that this centre for education, innovation, research and development Act is Zimbabwe’s clear statement towards endogenous innovation for industrialisation.
The good thing about industrialisation is that once you have an innovation and industrialised environment, it attracts more investment even from outside. We believe that this Act is a catalyst for the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe. I wish to thank Parliament as well as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for making this an Act and the results will be there to be seen very soon.
(v)HON. CHIDAKWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. In his absence, I will direct it to the Leader of Government business.
My question is on a follow up of the pre-budget seminar held on the 6th of October 2021 and specifically on the session on fiscal and monetary policy. May the Minister update the House on the progress in implementing the High Court ruling of 1st December 2020 compelling Hon. Minister Mthuli Ncube to publish more loans and guarantees entered into by Government from 01 January 2019 to 31st December 2020? The Ministry of Finance is also expected to gazette all details of the AFREXIM bank loans by January 2021. However, I am aware that the Ministry then gazetted on the 12th of February 2021, 168 of 2021 - 500 million; 169 of 2021 – 600 million; 170 of 2021 - 300 million. When is this going to be brought to Parliament for debate?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): The Hon. Member is talking about a High Court ruling that compelled the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to publish or apprise on the loans and borrowings by Government. Madam Speaker, I want to say that Government is law abiding and they will do everything that was ordered by the Judiciary to the court to be done. The only thing that I cannot say at this moment is when this is going to be done in terms of updating Parliament, but I can be very confident that it is soon. Thank you.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance but in his absence, I direct it to the Leader of the Government Business. Can the Hon. Minister shed more light as well as clarify the operational modalities as well as the intended beneficiaries of the policy that gives room to the withdrawal of US$50 at Bureau de changes by citizens? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam Speaker. The question by the Hon. Member is - who are the intended beneficiaries and the operational modalities of the withdrawal of US$50 by the public? The intended beneficiaries are the citizens of this country. I think from a policy perspective, it was meant for people to be able to access the foreign currency or the money for their intended businesses and to the public as the beneficiaries. I would not know how best to answer this question except to say US$50 that is meant for the public is meant for the public’s benefit. I want to thank you.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank the Hon. Minister for the answer to my question. I would like to add and say to the Minister, that it appears like this policy is causing a lot of problems. I do not know whether you are aware that this requirement that the citizens get their money from the Bureau de changes is only targeting maybe only those people who live close to these areas because the people living in the rural areas have no such facilities. What is in the rural areas are banks. We would have opted for a situation whereby citizens are allowed to get the money from their banks and not from the bureau de changes which are non-existent in rural areas.
Hon. Minister, I also want to bring to your attention that it is there on record that some of the civil servants, including teachers and nurses are forced to abscond work and join very long queues in order to access this money. This is jeopardising the whole education system and all the service delivery systems because they also need the US$50 but in order to access it, they have to go where it is accessible and join very long queues. Also, we are getting information that the beneficiaries of this scheme, some of them are owners of the bureau de’changes, or some unscrupulous citizens who hire and give money to other citizens maybe 20, 30 to join the queues, get the money and give it back to the owners. This money is purported to be in the black market doing the circles. Hon. Minister, it is my plea that this policy is reviewed. If it is supposed to benefit all the citizens, then there has to be modalities which reach out to such citizens like the banks. No one should be left behind. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon. Mliswa?
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, this is a very pertinent question. With your indulgence, can there be a ministerial statement on the issue because it is a serious issue and I think it needs the Minister of Finance himself to prepare one. I think this is beyond the Acting Leader of Government Business, as much as he is a decorated academic. I do not know him to be a decorated economist. I think it is only fair, with your indulgence, that there be a ministerial statement as good as by tomorrow so that we can probe more on it. I have got a lot more questions. Thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. I hear you and I agree with you. May I ask the Hon. Acting Leader of Government Business to pass on the message to the Hon. Minister of Finance?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I will do that.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. In his absence, I direct it to the Leader of Government Business. What is the justification for Government stopping or suspending food distribution to vulnerable families, especially people living with disabilities, the aged and the orphans when they fully know that these people cannot engage in Pfumvudza/Intwasa? They have no other meaningful sources of income. Their welfare grants are very little if anything. These people living in rural areas now have to beg for food when the Government has adequate reserves. I thank you Madam Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Mayihlome for the very important question. Madam Speaker, I want to say that support for vulnerable people has not been suspended. Right now, I think last week 80 thousand tonnes of grain had been mobilised for the benefit of vulnerable people. It is not Government’s policy to make people who are vulnerable hungry. Therefore, what Government at some point has just been asking for, is the retargeting exercise so that we see whether people benefitting are actually the people who are supposed to benefit. Madam Speaker, it is very important in the interest of transparency and accountability that whatever Government is giving as aid to the vulnerable population is reaching the vulnerable population rather than people who might not be vulnerable. The retargeting exercise is not commensurate to suspension of the programme. I hope Madam Speaker; I have been able to answer the Government position on this issue. I thank you.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. I wanted to find out whether the programme of AMTO is still available? I hear many people complaining out there that nothing is coming up yet they are supposed to be the beneficiaries. I had a workshop with the disabled, they were also complaining of the same. Is it still there and if it is there, how can they access that facility? I thank you
*THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY, EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for such a pertinent question. Hon. Tekeshe talked about AMTO, I might not understand what that means. May I ask the Hon. Member to clarify? I thank you.
*HON. TEKESHE: This means Assisted Medical Order, which is a fund that is given to the disabled, the vulnerable and those who cannot afford medical attention. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order. Madam Speaker, with due respect, the Cabinet Ministers are not here. The Minister asked what it means, which shows that he does not understand that. He is being asked a question, we want that question to be answered properly yet he does not even know what it is. He is under pressure. The Ministers who are responsible for these portfolios are not here. The President just gave the State of the Nation Address and they are not here to respond. This is really sad because we are just putting him under unnecessary pressure. He is a man with so much credibility, integrity and dignity and he cannot keep on lying. All we are doing is forcing him to misinform this House. Where are the Cabinet Ministers? It is Question Time today; they all do not sit in the Politburo. That is why those State of the Nation Addresses become a waste of time. Some of us do not attend them anymore because they do not respond to issues.
This is sad, to be honest with you. He keeps standing up and finding ways – AMTO, he does not know what it is, which I understand and it is fair for him because that is not his Ministry. As an academic, he cannot know everything but now you want him to answer again. Hameno, tinenge tava kungonyepera Mwari muno umu, kuti ndabvunza kuti chinorevei. Hameno kuti Mwari angapindira sei kuma Ministers omunyika muno umu. Zvava kutoda Mwari izvi. It is better to defer certain questions.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, send an apology. So it means may be he is committed somewhere.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, can you advice us on which Ministers are present in the House for the benefit of us who are on Zoom.?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will announce the list of Ministers who are present in the House. Just give me some few minutes. Hon. Tekeshe, sorry, we are deferring your question. You will ask next time.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Hon. Minister Ma’am, congratulations for your new appointment. My question relates to Government policy on sanitary wear for the kids in primary and secondary schools, aware that puberty stage is setting in far at a lower age than before. You would find that a kid before grade five is already menstruating. What is Government policy in so far as it relates to provision of sanitary wear for the children in primary and secondary schools to avert, to avoid and to completely annihilate the scourge of early marriages, child abuse and girl child abuse? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you Hon. Nduna for asking such a pertinent question. I think we were together here in Parliament, Hon. Member, when the new Ambassador spoke at length on the need for us to have sanitary wear in schools. I am very grateful to this Parliament that we agreed that there should be a provision of sanitary wear in schools. I am glad to report that we are implementing that Government policy for us to have sanitary wear provided in schools. Challenges, yes we have some challenges but the policy is that we will provide and we are currently working on the provision of sanitary wear in schools. I am not sure about the child abuse. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. At the tail end of her answer, she said she was not sure where child abuse arises from. May I just elucidate that before I go to the supplementary question? It comes in where the girl child in particular is coerced, where she is getting a stipend from a ‘blesser’ or from someone who wants to take advantage of her. This is where child abuse comes into place. More often than not, it is older men taking advantage of the girl child either in primary or secondary school.
Now, my supplementary question is, if it pleases you Hon. Minister Ma’am to favour this House with the information as it relates to the timelines, cognizant of the fact that we are about to get to the budgetary allocation or rather budgetary debate for 2022 national year budget. Would it please you Hon. Minister Ma’am, to tell us so that it is not ad infinitum that we are perpetually talking about this issue. If you can may be say it is next month that you are now going to give free unfettered access to the sanitary wear to our girl child. Mind you, what men can do women can do better and everyone is born of a woman. I am also a HeforShe champion.
HON. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for the supplementary question. We are happy to inform you that we are aware that the girl child might be abused by the supplier of sanitary wear if the parents are not able to provide, if the child herself has no sanitary wear but knows that she can get it from a boyfriend and yet she is under age. That is why we came up with this policy in this Parliament. Our Government subsequently approved that policy. So we are really grateful for the explanation that you gave us.
In terms of being a woman, yes I understand the sanitary wear requirements compared to her male counterpart. Since we are going towards the end of the year, we are actually going to mop up the resources that we have to make sure that we provide the girl child with the sanitary pads. We are also advocating for support from you Parliamentarians so that in the coming Budget, we are given enough funds for this very important programme. The girl child is the future of tomorrow because they will bring life to this earth. I thank you.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Mine is a supplementary request to the Minister. I want to thank her for this important move by the Ministry and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as well. Perhaps really to provoke another thought Madam Speaker, you will find that this is a taboo thing to be talked about when children are still young. What initiatives are there by the Ministry so that everyone gets to understand in the communities that the Ministry is giving sanitary wear for free?
My further request is that a Ministerial Statement would do so that the public out there is in the know in terms of what is available – that it is no longer a problem for a parent to have a child menstruate at school as sanitary wear is actually given for free. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. E. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you Hon. Member for the question. I think you are actually advocating for me to bring a Ministerial Statement, which I think is in order. That will assist this Parliament to understand how far we have gone in assisting the girl child. Similarly, we will bring other papers but this one is critical at this stage to try and support the girl child. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker, the last time we were here, about $20 million was allocated to that in the last Budget. How much was bought? There were also problems in terms of logistics, if you remember Madam Speaker Ma’am. They could not get them to the points because there was no transport, so we as Members of Parliament are very keen to transport them. To date, we still have not been notified. Can you also update us in terms of the logistics, whether you are now on top of the situation and if not, can you let Members of Parliament know so that we can assist. Last time the problem was logistics and I have not been informed by the District Education Office to come and pick up any. If you can update us on that and see where Members of Parliament can come in and assist; probably there is a proper programme that once a month we go and pick up at this centre and we take to the schools and so forth. Thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. I am sure the Hon. Minister has taken note of that. Hon. Markham, you asked the names of Ministers who are present in the House. We have the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works and the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care. Those are the Ministers who are in the House at the moment. Thank you.
(v)HON. CHITURA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is the Ministry’s position in facilitating efficient monitoring of food distribution in districts? There are districts that do not have vehicles and some have one vehicle that they use to monitor the whole district.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Thank you very much for the question that you have asked Hon. Member. I have just realised when I was appointed into the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, that our officers on the ground have no vehicles. I promise that we are working on the provision of vehicles to our officers. Thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. The examination dates have been set and I once raised the issue that there are no teachers in the rural areas. There is this new initiative of CALA where you find two teachers in a school from ECD to Grade 7 and secondary with 30% being taken from CALA as a contribution towards the students total score. May the Hon. Minister explain the correct position? We do not want to rely on hearsay and we do not want to come back to this august House to ask the Hon. Minister why our children are not performing well. I thank you
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. NDLOVU): Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Nyabani’s concern is with our Ministry. He wrote to us and so we are working to make sure that teachers are deployed there. In terms of CALA, we have been training teachers to make sure that they understand. We completed that training, and we trained quite a number of teachers throughout the country. We have trained the few teachers that we have in the constituencies. We are sorry that there are very few teachers but we are working on a programme with the Public Service Commission to decentralise the recruitment of teachers so that we have teachers in schools. Thank you.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you very much Madam Speaker and also the response which has been given by the Hon. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Allow me to highlight a few issues. I think it is on record that the educators today as well as the learners, are lamenting over the introduction of this continuous assessment learning activity programme (CALA). Why are they crying – it is because of the untimely introduction of this good assessment model but the timing is the problem. We are not actually condemning the whole system as an assessment model. It is very good and worldwide, that is what is being done but we are saying the timing, the learners have been hard hit by the COVID pandemic whereby they lost a lot of learning time and they are supposed to sit for the examinations.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Madhuku, please may you ask your question.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker. They have introduced this programme in the final exam year of Form 4 and Form 6. Even the training programmes have not been fully done to the teachers. So Madam Speaker, we are saying this is a good programme but the issues of reliability and validity of the test items is going to be missing. We are just pointing this out as legislators to say; they have to make a relook into the programme and assure the nation of the validity and reliability of the results. I thank you.
HON. E. NDLOVU: Madam Speaker Ma’am, let me assure this House that, as Government, we took time to think through this examination period because of the short time that we had by increasing the number of days in the semester that we have. It is equal to the size of the semester at a university. That is the first step that we took that this semester will be longer than usual.
The second point is that we came up with a compressed programme that took into account that the children are going to go through that syllabus which will be shorter than normal. We compressed the syllabus. We produced that compressed syllabus and facilitated its distribution to the provinces and districts so that at least the teachers work within a specific syllabus that is reasonable to cover the gaps which were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also introduced other methods of learning, which is the radio programmes other than the material that we produced ourselves and distributed to the schools. We assure you that we will continuously examine that programme to see if there are any problems so that we solve that. I thank you.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD). MAYIHLOME: Madam Speaker, my supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is; what measures has the Ministry taken to ensure that CALA in the rural schools is effective? What we have seen on the ground is that teachers are making rolling business doing the CALA assessment on behalf of school pupils charging R100 in rural areas and USD10 in urban areas because parents and pupils do not have access to the internet and those who have access have no clue on how to go to the internet to do the CALA system. The assessment was supposed to have been done over a long period, at shortest, maybe one year and not one semester. One semester is not just on. Practically, what is happening on the ground is that teachers are making a killing because they bring all the students, 40 of them, they charge R100 per student and they do the assignments themselves. What kind of students are we producing as a nation, what are we trying to achieve – and we give 30% for that? Are we really serious that we are giving 30% for work that a child has not done? If you give those children an assessment when they go to Form 1 next year, you will see how many of them will pass, because they know nothing about CALA. That is my contribution Hon. Speaker Ma’am.
HON. E. NDLOVU: Madam Speaker Ma’am, I think the information that the Hon. Member has given us, we are going to investigate the claims on the corruption that is taking place. We want to make sure that we understand the problem. In terms of the ICT issues, we are working with the Ministry of ICT and the Ministry of Energy to make sure that the schools are connected. It will take us time but we are really pushing as Government to have schools connected so that children get computers and the ICT Ministry is facilitating that. On the issue of corruption, we are going to investigate that. I thank you - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, I applaud the Minister for trying. The issues which the Hon. Members are talking about are a reality on the ground. With the COVID pandemic, you cannot adjust upwards, you have to adjust downwards. So how can you be a nation that adjusts downwards and compressing, you compress with resources. It is not the fast track land reform, no, it is different. This is education, it is the foundation of any child. For us to sit here and think that we are doing well, there is compression. Now she is talking about energy, there is no electricity, there is no water, all these that she has just mentioned, she can talk to ICT but ICT works with electricity. Already we have energy shortages in the country. So the question, from a practical point of view is, you as the great mother that I know, would you really say your child is getting the best education under such conditions? We must be careful of killing a generation; two years, they have not gone to school! Suddenly one who was Grade 1, he is now Grade 3, the pandemic was there, how do they develop in terms of growth? I am sure Hon. Prof. Murwira will tell you that education has got motor skills which kids must develop when they are young. They have missed that. So in reality, I wanted her to speak as a mother and as Minister that would you say that your child is getting the best education with this compression that you are talking about with the shortage of electricity? I know that you are true to a point and God is also watching while you answer.
HON. E. NDLOVU: I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I know he is speaking from his heart like me, I always speak from my heart. Having seen that we had a challenge as a country because of COVID -199, we approached our development partners who came up with some solutions. Yes, the compressed programme is not fully covering all the aspects, we appreciate but we are praying to God that in the coming year, children can cover some parts of the syllabus that we might have dropped in the process. The collaboration in terms of borehole sinking, electricity and in terms of radio programmes, UNICEF and Microsoft also came to our rescue.
We have tried our level best, I know it is not the best but we have tried our level best as a country. We do not want to have a generation of children who have spent the rest of two years without going to school. That is why we came up with this compressed programme. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. I would like to know what programmes they have as a way of assisting children who are orphaned and in need of supplementary feeding? Back in the days, children used to get assistance through the Department of Social Welfare. They used to be given porridge which aided their growth but these days children are dying. They could even assist with grants to assist them financially as a Ministry. My plea is that the Department of Social Welfare assists these people. The Ministry should revisit this issue. The Ministry of Finance should direct funds to towards these Ministries.
*THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you very much Madam Speaker. A country is judged according to how it treats its people. As the Social Welfare Department, they have a programme to make sure that everyone who is in need gets assisted. During the COVID-19 era those from the Department of Social Welfare went as far as urban areas. If all these people being mentioned report to this department, they will get assisted. Government policy is that we assist everyone who is in need. It is important that they go to the Social Welfare offices so that they get the assistance that they require. I thank you.
*HON. T. ZHOU: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Local Government and National Housing. I would like to know the Government’s plan regarding rural service centres, particularly whether those who are building houses are receiving any title deeds?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. CHOMBO): You referred to rural service centres expressing concern regarding those who are building in such areas, whether they were given title deeds or not. The Hon. Member also wanted to know the Government’s position regarding title deeds. As Government, we do not select areas but if you are building and whatever you are building is within the law, whether one is in rural areas having been allocated a stand by different councils, the correct procedure is that you go to the council and procure your stand, then there is need for servicing and all the rates should be cleared. There should be an agreement between the individual and council regarding the standard plan after inspections have been carried out. If all the stipulated requirements have been met, then you are entitled to receive the title deeds.
*HON. T. ZHOU: Madam Speaker Ma’am, the policy that the Hon. Minister is referring to pertains to growth points and other areas – I would like to know what policies are applied to business centres in rural areas where you find people who would have developed their stands legally but do not have title deeds.
*HON. CHOMBO: I heard what you said but I believe there is need for clarity, whether you are referring to business centres that have already been constructed. It then follows that if they acquire these businesses legally or they built them following council by-laws then they are entitled to title deeds. Unless if I am not getting the question very well but if there is a specific area that you have identified which is different from what I am saying, then I will be glad if you approach my office or if you cite an example so that we look at that particular area.
*HON. T. ZHOU: I will submit the names of the businesses.
*HON. NDUNA: My supplementary question is as follows; is your office empowered to engage private developers who have been selling land to people in areas that are being referred to by Hon. Zhou in growth points and other outlying areas. There are a lot of places which were sub-divided yet they do not have title deeds. This was done by private developers in areas that are owned by local authorities. Do you have the power to compel developers to give title deeds to beneficiaries who bought land from such developers so that they comply with by-laws? This should be done so that stand owners do not die before getting their title deeds.
*HON. CHOMBO: If I got your question Hon. Nduna, you are asking me about those individuals who subdivided rural land illegally and parcelled out the land to people. Are you then saying that today as Government, do we have the legal right to force developers to generate title deeds? May you please clarify Hon. Nduna?
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker Maam, land was given to private developers by the Ministry of Local Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands and the places that I am talking about where title is surveyed. These private developers had farms that had title deeds which they sub-divided. These farms, subdivided as they are, the current owners have not been given title deeds. They subdivided their farms legally and sold according to an agreement between the buyer and the seller. Does the Ministry have the power to compel those former owners to produce or to give the current owners the title deeds before they pass on because this is what has happened; some people have passed on without having benefited from title deeds which has a resultant effect of reversal. The former owners can actually continue to hold on to title deeds and not give title deeds to the children of the buyer after they have passed on.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you for clarifying the question. Let me take you back a little bit. What happens when a farmer feels like he wants to develop into residential stands, he hands over that farm back to the Ministry of Lands, through a letter expressing no interest or not refusing the farm owner to use that land as residential. The Ministry of Lands then hands over that farm to Local Government and now, it is no longer the farm for that farmer. It is now Lands who have handed over that farm to Local Government. Now, Local Government, in conjunction with local authority, has a master plan for every local authority. If we see that the area falls within our master plan, we approve that development. The farmer brings the plans to Local Government and we approve the plan. Once we approve, we agree on what we are going to do to get to the development that has been approved. We give conditions and he or she signs a memorandum of agreement stipulating what stages are to be taken, like servicing and so forth. After the servicing, he/she is supposed to pay intrinsic value for that land he/she is going to sell to the prospective land owners. Up until that is done, that is when he/she can now sell the stands to prospective buyers. What has been happening is that 99% of the time, the land developer has not paid the intrinsic value of that land to local Government for us to be able to approve for those tenants to get title deeds. Normally, once all the steps have been followed, we do not refuse. We even support that they get title deeds. As I said before, I will appreciate if you can favour me with the developers who are failing to produce the title deeds. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Can the Ministry of Local Government talk to local authorities so that people get title deeds because they are issuing out lease agreements. There are no title deeds at local authorities in Rushinga and so forth. Is it possible for the Ministry to meet local authorities and how long will it take so that we get title deeds in areas like Rushinga?
* HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for the suggestion on what we should do. Currently, as Local Government, we have realised that if we issue title deeds to land owners who would have followed all the necessary steps, it encourages other developers to follow suite so that they also get title deeds. On this programme, we are working together with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Ministry of National Housing. We are taking it as an example at Caledonia, Nyatsime and other areas so that the land owners there are able to pay for the service and get their title deeds. All the other local authorities will be doing the same. I thank you.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is on the informal settlements that are occurring within the Ministry pertaining to the title deeds that had been issued by the developer or by the Ministry anywhere in my constituency and across all places. People are still paying the developer or the cooperative but no one is getting the value of it. The Ministry or State is supposed to get the intrinsic value of the land and it is not happening. What is the Ministry doing about it? I am fully aware that the Justice Uchena Report quotes the value of the money that we have lost as Government on intrinsic value of land to developers as $3 billion. Can the Minister either release the report or explain why they do not want to release the Justice Uchena Report to us?
(HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you Hon. Markham for the question. The Justice Uchena Report was not initiated by Local Government. It was initiated from the Office of the President. Therefore, Local Government cannot take ownership of the report. We do not see where we are compelled to table that report when it did not emanate from us. It is the Office of the President and the President who set up that Commission. It is not the baby of the Local Government. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, I direct my question to the Deputy Minister of Local Government. There is the Rural District Act which protects people in the rural areas. Why have we not seen your Ministry doing anything to protect ancestral land which is being taken over through mining operations, especially the Chinese taking over. You seem to have been quiet about it. Not only that, your Ministry must also be working with line Ministries, Mines and Environment to ensure that does not happen. You have been quiet on that and it seems you are conflicted as Ministers. Are you involved in the beneficiation of the mining activities because you cannot have a situation where ancestral land is exchanged for any resource? It happened in Shamva and it is also still happening in Murewa, Motoko, Chironga and all over. What are you doing to protect people from ancestral land which you know is our pride, heritage and culture?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you Hon. Mliswa for the question. I agree with you that as Local Government, we have to protect the ancestral land but whatever projects or developments that are done in rural areas, there have been wide and deep consultations with the traditional leadership and with the local communities. We have done that in most of the areas and where it has been seen that there has not been consultation and there have been disputes, we have gone back and resolved the issues. Two months ago, we were in Muzarabani. We met the traditional leaders. We also went to Chiredzi and met traditional leaders. We are trying as a Ministry to consult as much as we can. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, the worst that could happen is for one to ask you title deeds on ancestral land which is protected by Government. The only title there is that Act which Government must support. No wonder why there were many questions on title deeds for rural areas because people are panicking. You know very well that they are protected and there is no one in the rural areas who has title deeds but you allow foreigners to come and question us where the title deeds are. What Government policy is there that allows foreigners to question us on ancestral land for title deeds. They are not there, what do you expect the chief to say. Legally they are going to court; they are losing and Government is not stopping it or facilitating. So to me, you need to be very clear in terms of the Rural District Act which you preside over, which protects them and you are absolutely doing nothing about it. The other option now is can you give all of them title deeds because when they go to court, they have no title deeds. What other ways can they protect themselves? That is the question, now that they are having their land taken away, how can they protect themselves? You cannot run around the whole country, nhasi kuNorton, nhasi kuUzumba, kuMberengwa, kwaGutu, mungapedze nyika yese muchingo dzimura moto iwoyo. So what measures do you have and why are you not suspending it until a certain time?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Thank you Hon. Mliswa for that follow- up question. I hear you and I am still saying, whatever we do on the ground – you know if let us say you are talking of mines – for mines, I think there is a recent incident. There are other Ministries that are involved and they all have their Acts that they abide by. So you cannot just single out the Communal Lands Act, to say this is supposed to govern whatever the transaction that takes place in the rural areas. There are many line Ministries and many Acts that govern whatever happens in the rural areas. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, a point of clarity. The Deputy Minister, you rushed as a Ministry to Chilonga to issue a Statutory Instrument to want to take people’s land in legal ways. Why are you not coming up with a Statutory Instrument (SI) to protect people because the SI covers even the Ministry of Mines? You are quick to have an SI to protect investors but you are not quick to produce an SI protecting ancestral land and the people. Why can you not as a Ministry go and issue an SI in that regard?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you very much Hon. Mliswa. You singled out Chilonga. The first SI that was send out, it was reversed and then the one that was issued – if you see the way we designed it; it is not going to affect as many people as people had purported. Also those that were going to be affected were going to be relocated and the community is going to benefit from the development in that area. So as Government, we had to look at who is going to benefit, is the community going to benefit from the development that is going to happen in that area? For sure that was the reason why we issued that SI. I thank you.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma’am and thank you Hon. Deputy Minister for the effort to answer that very difficult question. I know as a Ministry, probably your hands are tied because there are other Ministries that compete for this scarce resource in the rural areas. What we are saying is about EPOs that are found mostly in the Southern region part of the country which are now encroaching into ancestral land as what Hon. Mliswa said. They are encroaching virtually everywhere and remember Hon. Deputy Minister, EPOs probably have only 10 votes but we have people who have over 20 000 votes that are being affected. What are we going to do about it; where communal land, their fields, their homes are being overrun by EPOs, which may be constitute about 10 votes?
The Ministry of Mines that is sitting just next to you is allowing communal lands to be overrun and the Ministry of Local Government is doing nothing about it. We are ready to fight back on your behalf as Members of Parliament, against the EPOs and the Ministry of Local Government is quiet. Thank you very much Hon. Mliswa for raising that very important question. I thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Thank you very much Hon. Mayihlome. I understand and we are talking of the communal areas. Of course as Local Government, I cannot shy away from answering that. As you know, the Communal Land Act is also under the Ministry of Lands and here we are talking of EPOs and they are under the Ministry of Mines. So, I would not be at liberty to venture into other Ministries’ areas. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Just a point of clarity. Madam Speaker, the Hon. Deputy Minister must read the Rural District Councils’ Act, which falls under them. Rural District Councils’ Act - just like the Urban Councils Act, which falls under them, this is what I asked, the Rural District Council’s Act, tinombo verengavo, ndosaka ndakupai. The Rural District Councils’ Act which you superintend, which you preside over, ndiyo inokupai simba. Ndosaka kuchibhadharwa levy, levy iyoyo inobhadharwa kurural council.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: So what is the question?
HON. T. MLISWA: She is misinformed; she must answer to the Rural District Councils’ Act kunobhadharwa mitero. Vanhu havabhadhari mitero ku Lands. Isusu Agriculture, tinobhadhara kuLands. VaTogarepi, sabhuku vano collecta mari, vondobhadhara kukanzuru. Rural District Council ndiyo yatiri kutaura not Communal Act, gugulai muone kuti iri pasi penyu.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My supplementary question is very short. Rural District Councils’ Act: 1996 speaks to and about these issues. In Section 66 in particular and other sections in general, it still talks about the British Company. Would it please the Minister to align that part of the Act to the Constitution in so far as it relates to consequential alignment that speaks to Zimbabwe as opposed to the British Company? It is of 1996, so when I was reading it, I was quite astounded, I was quite ashamed that there is still an Act that speaks to that.
Further to that, Section 152 (2) of the Urban Councils’ Act; would it please the Minister to align that one to the Constitution, Section72 (7c) of the Constitution. Also, align Section 205 (1) of the Urban Councils’ Act to Section 72 (7c) as it relates predominantly around the issue of getting the people of Zimbabwe to assert their right to land, verbatim this is what Section 72 (7c) of the Constitution says. I put this across to you as a supplementary question because Hon. Speaker, Hon. Adv. J. F. N. Mudenda said it was possible for the Minister to go into talks with the Parliamentary Legal Committee in order that we do not bring a Bill or we do not unnecessarily impede on alignment of Acts to the Constitution so that we can expeditiously align your Acts to the Constitution, much to the happiness of the innocent, unsuspecting formally marginalised black majority.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: I have a point of order Madam Speaker before the Hon. Minister responds.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Why can you not allow the Hon. Minister to respond first, then you come later? You will ask your supplementary question Hon. Markham.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: It is not a supplementary question, it is a point of order.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Go ahead.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: It is very simple. Hon. Nduna, when he started his supplementary question, he said he was going to be brief. He was not brief Madam Speaker. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Markham. Next time I will remind Hon. Nduna to be brief.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am, and thank you Hon. Nduna for the follow up question. If you listened to the SONA that was presented last week by the President, he listed the laws that were in the process of being aligned with the 2013 Constitution. Among them is the Rural District Councils Act, the Urban Councils Act, the Provincial Councils Act, the Traditional Councils Act and the Regional Town Country Planning Act. These, we are seized with and very soon you will see that they will come through Parliament. So we are fully aware of the laws that need to be aligned and we are alive to it. Thank you.
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, I have a supplementary question on the issue of land. My issue is going back to Hon. Mliswa’s question which is very simple for the Ministry. The issue is, it took 20 years to build Tokwe-Murkosi. Why are negotiations with the people on their ancestral land rushed in 20 minutes? Why were people not educated about the influence and the probability of movements when Tokwe-Murkosi was started? There must have been some plan that showed what would happen 20 years ago.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Maybe I missed something. Are you saying that we rushed through the consultation process?
(v)HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is, Tokwe-Murkosi took 20 years to build. Hon. Mliswa’s question about the movement of people on their ancestral land reverts to the fact on why we are trying to rush talking to people in the last 18 months when we should have been doing that as the dam was being built. Thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Thank you very much Hon. Markham. When the initial plans and construction of Tokwe-Murkosi Dam started, there were consultations. This time when it was all in the media, it was the tail end of the consultations that were being done. So it is not really that we started the consultations within 18 months. It started way back. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question goes to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. The people of Zimbabwe had been advised by the Ministry that we have a target of a $12 billion business that is going to be generated by the mining sector. My question is: where are we? What milestones have we achieved to date? Are we on target? Who is contributing to that $12 billion? Is it the small scale miners or the large scale miners? I think if the Minister can give me that run down, I will be able to go and tell my constituents.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): Thank you so much Madam Speaker Ma’am. The $12 billion milestone is being achieved day by day. When His Excellency launched the vision in 2019, gold is supposed to contribute $4 billion, platinum and other PGMs are supposed to contribute $3 billion, diamonds will be contributing $1 billion to the sector, coal and hydro carbons will be contributing another $1 billion, chrome and steel another $1 billion, lithium half a billion, other minerals, including copper and granite $1.5 billion. So far, there has been a boom in the sector due to various projects that are ongoing in all these key minerals that I have mentioned. We have seen a lot of projects coming up in the coal sector, the platinum group of metals and the chrome sector, the biggest project being done by Tsingshan in Manhidze.
We have also seen big projects coming up in the gold sector. Some of the projects which include the project being done by Caledonia at Blanket Mine. We also have big projects being done by Pickstone –Peerless at Eureka. We also have projects under Kuvimba, which include Shamva Mine.
We have managed to touch on key imperatives for boosting the $12 billion milestone. Some of the imperatives that we initiated were pronounced in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme which involves reopening of closed mines. We have seen opening of mines that have since closed. We have seen new mines being opened in the country and one of them being opened at Darwendale under Great Dyke Investments. Another key imperative is the expansion or ramping up of production on existing mines.
Two months ago, I have been going around the mines and I have noted that there is an extensive expansion of current production at mainly mines around the country. Another key imperative that we worked on was value addition and beneficiation of our minerals, which is again another game changer imperative in the NDS 1. So currently for gold, we have managed to increase or to ramp up gold production which now stands at about 20 tonnes valued at about USD1.104 billion.
The other minerals that have been sold through MMCZ, excluding gold, we have managed to bring in USD3.57 billion. If we add these two, you can see that currently we are at about USD4.7 or USD4.8 billion. We look forward to seeing this figure going up by the end of the year to around USD5.5 billion, which means we are already approaching about 50% of the now sold minerals. So, we are moving in the right direction towards His Excellency’s vision to come up with a USD12 billion mining revenue or USD12 billion mining industry by the year 2023. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and we have passed the single step, we are now gathering momentum. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: I want to thank the Hon. Minister because he gave me some detail that I am excited about, that we are approaching the half mark and I think by 2023, the USD12 billion mark is achievable. I would like the Minister to elaborate more on the contribution of the small scale miners and what Government is doing at the moment to capacitate the small scale miners. We hear in the newspapers that they are contributing so much but sometimes they find themselves at risk of mining accidents and so forth. What are we doing as a Ministry to ensure that these people are capacitated?
HON. KAMBAMURA: Thank you Hon. Togarepi for the supplementary question. Currently, we are mobilising resources so that we will be able to find or buy mining equipment for our small scale miners. As a Ministry, we have come up with an initiative which we have termed orderly mining, whereby we will be giving equipment to our small scale miners in clusters. This programme is going to be operated the same way Command Agriculture was operated with the small scale miners paying the loans over a period of time. We are also working a way to formalise the artisanal small scale miners operations whereby we will come up with a database. We are going to make sure that all artisanal small scale miners are registered. So, very soon, we will be rolling out this programme. The Ministry will also be going out on an awareness campaign on safety because we have experienced a lot of accidents in the past and with the coming of the rain season, we will be going around together with the Civil Protection Unit to warn our miners against mining where the ground is not stable and also to educate them on safer mining standards. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, I am impressed with the presentation by the Deputy Minister but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. These have been great words and I am glad you have such a sharp memory. Can your favour this House with a ministerial statement documenting all you have said because we are not seeing any change on the ground. We would want to know where the money has gone to as well, so that we see that there is money because we do not see any change whatsoever. Madam Speaker, if you could allow the Minister to come with a comprehensive ministerial statement.
I know the platinum price has gone up despite the COVID but there are other minerals which have gone down too. So, that will be good for the House to know because it is such good news that we are on course and we are doing well. Why not sharing it with everybody and then we know exactly where the money is going to and so forth, but on the part of mining, they are doing well. The next question is; where is the money going to because we are not seeing any change at all? The rate is going up and mining should be held with that foreign currency for the rate to come down.
In terms of Afrochine, I read that they have been given a US1 billion to bring to Zimbabwe. When is the US1 billion coming because they announced that they went outside and US1 billion dollars has been announced? I am sure the Hon. Minister will agree on that – has it come in? There has been talk about money coming in but there is no money. There is also the aspect of putting capital money into producing at a certain time. We must not mix putting money to produce and immediate results. So a ministerial statement therefore is sought so that we can at least probe more and also take away the good news he is mentioning to us. Thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. I am sure the Minister has taken note of that and I am sure that he will bring a detailed ministerial statement to the House.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, can he just respond so that it goes on record?
HON. KAMBAMURA: Thank you Hon. Mliswa for the supplementary question and thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. We have taken note of what Hon. Mliswa said but Afrochine announcing that they have secured funding for their project. They did not say they have brought US1 billion into the country but they just indicated that they had secured funding. The other issue when it comes to how revenue is used, it is not the mandate of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. I am not quite sure whether Hon. Mliswa wants a ministerial statement on revenue accountability or on projects pointing to the $12 billion milestone, which we can avail without any challenges.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Madam Speaker, let us not talk about Afrochine, let us remove it, let us not talk about the Consolidated Revenue Fund but if you are saying you have made money, you must tell us where the money has gone to. That is part of the job, because you are doing well, it means there is money. We also want to know where the money has gone to in the Ministerial Statement. If it cannot answer to that one, it is okay, we still have oversight role over other Ministries but the breakdown that you gave is quite critical for us.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
HON. NDUNA: I move for the extension of Questions Without Notice. Hon. Speaker, if you can allow us to take advantage of the Ministers that are here and also the impetus that has been occasioned by the question by the esteemed Chief Whip of the mainstream party.
HON. T. ZHOU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order, he is the Government, Chief Whip. He is a party Chief Whip, but here he is the Government Chief Whip.
HON. T. ZHOU: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Thank you very much Madam Speaker, I think Hon. Togarepi raised a critical subject of the economy so I therefore request for a Ministerial Statement from the Hon. Minister so that we debate the subject. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Zhou. I am sure the Hon. Deputy Minister has taken note of that.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is that, I appreciate the answer by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Mines but the devil is in the detail. I will go on to say why and I will ask that the Hon. Minister favours us in his Ministerial Statement when this devil in the detail is going to be aligned to the ethos and values of the Constitution. The first one is the Act that he presides over, the Mines and Minerals Act. When is it coming to be repealed in the House? If he can favour us with that information in that Ministerial Statement so that we can expeditiously dispose of the issues that Hon. Togarepi has spoken to and about; in particular, Section 343 of the Act that does not recognise the provincial mining directors. It only recognises the district mining directors but we see that we have the provincial mining directors in position that are not supported by the Act.
Section 3 of the Gold Act that criminalises gold possession without a licence Madam Speaker, is retrogressive. When is that Act coming into Parliament for us to repeal and make sure we chastise it? Madam Speaker, Section 368 of his Act, it outlaws prospecting without a licence, ad infinitum. We have a lot of our Hon. Members including yours truly in the courts because we have Acts of Parliament that are not aligned to the Constitution. This current Act has a propensity and could reverse the agrarian Reform Programme and Act of 2000.
So, my question is, the devil is in the detail; when can we have the Minister bringing in the Mines and Minerals Act so that we can continue to be forward looking and stop being moribund, rudimentary, antiquated and medieval in our way of doing mining and mining development issues and ethos and values - [Laughter.] - Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. KAMBAMURA: I want to thank Hon. Nduna for his contribution. We have taken note of the request for a Ministerial Statement to tell the House on the progress made towards the achievement of the $12 billion milestones and also to update the House on the progress made towards the amendment of the Mines and Minerals Bill. We will definitely bring the Ministerial Statement but I am not sure about the date because the Hon. Minister is not in the House at the moment. Thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. TEKESHE: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works. When should we expect ZUPCO transport to reach the rural areas?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Madam Speaker and I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I hope the Hon. Member can acknowledge that inasmuch as we have few buses, we are still receiving buses into the country to boost our fleet. Some of the buses will not survive the rural areas terrain. So we are working on a programme of fixing buses that can withstand the terrain in the rural areas. It is also of paramount importance that if there is a particular route that is in need of a bus, you may notify the ZUPCO company. They will look into that and see to it which mode of transport is suitable. We promise you that we will supply buses in the rural areas. As for now, we only have a few.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker, we have the same buses such as the ZUPCO but they are run by Inter Africa and they ply the rural area routes. These should continue plying the rural routes, there is nothing wrong with that.
*HON. CHOMBO: Thank you for your contribution Hon. Chief Whip. I will convey it to my Ministry and to ZUPCO so that they will do exactly that.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your points of order are too much Hon. Mliswa.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am sure that the Government Chief Whip will agree with me that we should have a timeframe when these debates must end because it is either you give it two or ten weeks or whatever. The last time, we continued. May you implore your members to debate because there is no point? Today maybe three or four will debate yet there is a lot of time. May I propose that by next week the debate must come to an end? We cannot keep on extending debates because the Ministers must respond quickly too. The timeframe is critical because certain things are overtaken by events.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Next week Hon. Members will not be here.
HON. T. MLISWA: Oh sorry. When we are back, can it be debated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and it is done? I am sure the Chief Whip will find people who...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, you think it is possible for 280 Members of Parliament to debate on the Presidential Speech in two days?
HON. T. MLISWA: It is the capacity, it could be 210 but brains of ten people – [Laughter.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, may you withdraw that statement?
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, you could be 210 and maybe only ten can be allowed to debate.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Why?
HON. T. MLISWA: Because they have the capacity.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Who does not have capacity in this House?
HON. T. MLISWA: Capacity differs. It is like a car. Others are four wheel drives and others are not.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think you are out of order Hon. Mliswa.
HON. T. MLISWA: But the point is, we cannot continue because the last time we went on for a long time.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We are wasting time because some people want to debate. Please allow other Members to debate.
HON. T. MLISWA: Yes, if we can just come to a close.
HON. NDIWENI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Maam for giving me this opportunity to debate on the State of the Nation Address by the President, His Excellency Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa.
The President’s speech touched on two topics that are pertinent and I would want to delve on these. These topics are corruption and sanctions. The timing is very pertinent again. This is the time when Zimbabwe is hosting the United Nations rapporteur, Ms. Alena Douhan who is coming to Zimbabwe to do a fact finding mission on the effects of sanctions. The timing for us to dissect the effects of sanctions is more than appropriate right now.
Initially, I would like to put a disclaimer that I do not condone corruption and that corruption is a despicable scourge, much as said by the tone of His Excellency. Corruption is a cancer just like the disease itself. Cancer is not easily treatable. If it is not treated early, it spreads throughout the body, a process called medically metastasis. The cancer usually spreads and eventually kills the host organism, which is the human body. If corruption is not nipped in the bud, it spreads throughout all sectors of society leading to the death of a nation economically.
Allow me to dissect the unholy though unavoidable relationship between sanctions and corruption. It is not by coincidence that the supposedly most corrupt nations, according to Transparency International, are the following countries: In Africa, we have Somalia as the most corrupt. Somalia happens to be at the bottom even if we look at worldwide the global index. Somalia happens to be the most corrupt nation worldwide. In this group Madam Speaker, there is South Sudan, Sudan and Libya. Let me take you to how they come up with this index. There is something they call Corruption Perception Index and it is rated out of a hundred. So the most corrupt the nation is means they score less out of a hundred. If you have one out of a hundred you are very corrupt but if you have 99%, that means you are less corrupt. You are transparent. The nations that I talked about that are listed in Africa are all below 20. Those that are most corrupt mostly are below 20. Also in this group, worldwide I want Parliament to take note, you find in that group of countries, there are countries like Venezuela, Russia, Yemen and last but not least Iran. Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe finds itself slightly better because we are above 20. We are on the scale of 24 at the moment. So in Africa, the most corrupt countries are below 20 and Zimbabwe is not amongst those 20. We then unfortunately find ourselves in an enviable position globally. We are on number 157 where Somalia that I mentioned is at 179. You can tell where we are positioned globally. The common denominator to the nations that I have listed Madam Speaker, is that all these countries are under sanctions. Whether we are looking at Europe, South America, Africa, all these countries that are perceived to be corrupt are under sanctions of one way or another. The corruption perception index was established in 1995 by an organisation that calls itself Transparency International. In 1995, unfortunately or fortunately, Zimbabwe was not put to the scale. We were not measured.
We do not have the figures on how Zimbabwe faired in 1995 but we came on the index in 1997. In 1997, out of a best possible score of a hundred, Zimbabwe found itself slightly above 30. Take note of these figures Madam Speaker, they speak to what we want to present. We should also be very pertinent when we present to the UN rapporteur what sanctions have done, what they are fuelling, other things that people do not talk about. Sanctions fuel other ills in our nation.
Madam Speaker, after 1997, I took a couple of years for comparison. In year 2000, our Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was at 30. We had come down. This is where the turmoil began when we started on our land reform. This is where all these countries started to talk about rule of law and all the ills that have been perceived to have been happening in our country, and sanctions came in. In 2001 Madam Speaker, is when the illegal sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe. In 2005, we had dropped to 26, we are going down but this is now when sanctions were imposed. In 2010, we dropped again to 24. In 2015, we had come down again to 21 and that was the lowest that Zimbabwe has ever gone. We have never gone below 20. Last year in 2020, we had gone up to 24. Madam Speaker, looking at the period between 2015 and 2020, which is when the Second Republic came in and opened up and started the policy of re-engagement, there was easing of these sanctions by some other nations during that period. His Excellency took it upon himself, as a policy, to reach out to some of these nations and some of them accepted Zimbabwe and slowly released the tightened sanctions.
I am bothering you with these figures because my core-theme is those that imposed sanctions on us the poor countries; our poverty is being exacerbated by these sanctions. We plead on these countries to let off these sanctions because as I put it to you Madam Speaker, when a country is under sanctions, that means you cannot do business over the counter. That means you have to do business under the counter because they do not only sanction your nation, they sanction other entities that want to do business with you. What then happens? It is almost like a foregone conclusion. A country cannot let itself run dry. For example, if you are sanctioned that you cannot buy fuels, an Executive cannot let a country run dry. The Government will then definitely undertake under-the-table type of transactions which will lead to middlemen who will charge their commission. You have to bust the sanctions in order for your country to survive. You cannot go to your populace and say we cannot get oil because we have sanctions. You have to find ways and means for your country to survive. So there comes in the middlemen and unscrupulous companies. You will realise that the companies and individuals are corrupt, but what do you do if you are sanctioned? Madam Speaker, that index is being pushed down because we are sanctioned. Instead of doing business over the counter transparently like everyone else, we have to do our business under the counter. We are being forced to do business under the counter, which then leads to corruption going up. The Western countries that imposed sanctions on us are causing the increase in corruption that we are experiencing Madam Speaker Ma’am.
When a country is on sanctions, it means it is prevented from doing business transparently and like I said, you are forced to do business otherwise. Most of the business is done through middlemen, like I said, and this results in products being expensive. Even the products that we have, in a sanctioned country, you are increasing poverty because now instead of getting a product in a straightforward route, we have to go through a rigmarole in order to get a product. There are so many mark-ups on the way.
If a product was to come directly from England to Zimbabwe, it will have to go to a middleman in Saudi Arabia and pass through Kenya. All those people will be putting their mark-ups because we are trying to bust our sanctions. So the products that we get in our country end up being expensive. What does that do, it increases corruption, what does it do inadvertently, it also leads to poverty.
In conclusion, this debate comes at an appropriate time when the UN rapporteur is within us. We should try by all means to explain to her some of the effects of sanctions, what they have caused in our country. They have caused poverty and more so the corruption that they keep on hitting on us to say, these countries are corrupt. As I have said to you, all the most corrupt countries are under sanctions. Is that by coincidence? No, it is not by coincidence, it is not by omission either but it is by commission from these countries that have extended illegal sanctions on us and many other poor countries. I thank you.
HON. BUSHU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Madam Speaker, I stand to add my voice to the debate relating to His Excellency the President’s State of the Nation Address. My first observation is that we missed the President here in the august House, probably for the first time and this is the direct result of the responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought a lot of turmoil to our nation. A lot of diversion of resources that could have gone to development, defence for the health of our people. The COVID -19 virus is an indictment to mankind.
What I would like to say is that the President actually outlined a lot of our successes, which we all know. Successes related to roads, successes related to the defence of our nation from the pandemic, the successes related to the handling of disasters that struck our nation like Cyclone Idai et cetera. Also the successes related to the hunger that had struck our country because of the incessant droughts over a three-year period and the fact that our own people grew enough food to save the nation. It is true because at every point whenever we met our people, they would be asking about food. Now when we meet them, they would not ask about food. They will ask about other things outside food, like roads, dams, ICT connectivity, which is a good thing.
When you look at what the President said in the past SONAs, you could actually see that Government has been following through their reporting to Parliament and Government has been showing us the roadmap as to where they are going. I would like to thank the President for giving attention to detail and also for the unwavering movement or the unwavering straight road towards achieving the goals that have already been set by the Second Republic.
When you look at health, when you look at the word network, ICT network, you can actually see the successes that are there. Now as regards the legislative agenda, we have got 41 Bills that are going to come through Parliament in the Fifth Session and this says a lot about what we are supposed to do. It says a lot about the need for commitment on the part of Members of Parliament. I say to myself, this much work and also the preparation for 2023 election is going to be a lot of hard work for Members of Parliament. It is going to be a lot of hard work for Parliament because Members of Parliament need to push through this legislative agenda but also need to take care of the interests of their constituents.
There are two areas that I want to end with, that cannot be avoided. The first one is corruption. I know Hon. Ndiweni went to town regarding this one but Madam Speaker, a lot resides in what the people are earning. What is it that is causing people to ask for more? What is it that is causing people to ask for something before they can do anything? When I look at the civil service, civil service salaries just have to be adjusted to the poverty datum line and upwards. You cannot have a seniour officer in Government begging for school fees. You cannot have a seniour officer in Government begging for bus fare. It is not right. We know Government is the largest employer and certainly this is something that we must look at when we are debating during the budget period. We know that the President is committed to ensuring that life of all our people is enhanced and becomes better but this is an area that I think requires a lot of attention.
The other one is inflation, this is a big task. The value of our money is being depreciated through inflation. The value of our money is being depreciated through the exchange rate mechanism, both in black-market and in the pricing itself. I cry because a lot of it is caused not by Government but by ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe. We are saying, why can we not be patriotic enough, defend and support the Government position also in ensuring that the value of our Zimbabwe dollar that we are committed to remains stable? As it stands right now, the value of the dollar continues to decline. I am not sure this is caused by people who are outside the country. If we look at it, it is people who are within. Let us all work towards stabilizing our Zimbabwe dollar. Let us work towards reducing the inflationary spiral that we are in. I cry if I think of the times of 2007/8 when we lost control of what was happening.
The forex auction platform was very good. It helped control the situation. What is it that we really need? As Parliamentarians and national citizens, we must ask ourselves what part we are going to play in ensuring that this scourge – I think this is the only scourge, together with corruption that we are left with. Everything else, I think is on course but this requires our effort as the President indicated.
I would like to thank the President for being honest and forthright and for being the father figure who is encouraging us to continue pressing ahead and to be confident of our future and the fact that Zimbabwe still remains our only home and place to be proud of. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 21st October, 2021.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at One Minute to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 20th October, 2021
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
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to remind the House that the 2021 Pre-Budget Seminar will be held from 22nd to 26th October, 2021, at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls. Hon. Senators who have not yet confirmed their attendance with the Public Relations Department must do so. Officers from the department will be stationed at the Members Dining Room on 20th and 21st October, 2021. Hon. Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will travel by charter flight. Please, note that the departure time from the Robert Mugabe International Airport is 1400 hours on 22nd October, 2021 and the expected arrival time in Victoria Falls is 1500hrs. Members will be picked from Parliament and respective hotels at 1200hrs. The return charter flight will leave Victoria Falls on 26th October at 0700hrs and arrive in Harare at 0800hrs.
In order to comply with COVID-19 regulations and to ensure the safety and health of participants, Hon. Members are required to have a COVID-19 test undertaken within 48 hrs of the conference. COVID-19 testing facilities shall be provided in Parliament Courtyard from 20th to 22nd October, 2021. Hon. Members travelling by road who fail to be tested in Harare shall be tested at the Elephant Hills Hotel upon arrival. Hon. Members traveling by air should be tested in Harare as the COVID-19 test results will be required before boarding the flight. Hon. Members are therefore, required to bring their National Identification cards and COVID-19 test results.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to make a few contributions. I would like to first thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi for tabling this motion thanking His Excellency the President who addressed both Houses and was seconded by Hon. Mabika. I thank them for the important motion.
Mr. President, His Excellency the President thanked the people of Zimbabwe for the unity of purpose at a time when the nation was being ravished by the COVID-19 pandemic and the way people managed the situation by agreeing to be vaccinated in order to curb the pandemic. Even though we were in the middle of a problem, it was not exacerbated because people were cooperative.
The President also spoke about very important things such as mining. He is looking forward that it will grow by 11% and help the nation to attract foreign currency because this will help our economy to grow. He also said that communities where mining is taking place should be helped because these miners do their mining and go away and they leave without putting any development but leave holes on the ground. People must be assisted so that they get something from the mining activities in their area. He again advised that there must be Committees that look at how the miners are contributing in the communities, be it schools or some other things.
He also gave an example of South Africa, that there is a place called Impala Platinum which helped their communities. The farming areas are lacking in development because miners just mine and go away. He said that mining brings in a lot of money and this will help the country to develop. He thanked the security sector for doing a very important job because our country is peaceful; most countries envy us for that. He also talked about agriculture and thanked the youths who are engaging in agriculture. This shows that the country has a bright future.
Youths are engaged in cotton and tobacco farming; there is development in that area. For a country to survive, it must be into agriculture. We fought for the liberation of our country so that we regain our land. We are now farming, we are independent and agriculture creates employment. In the New Dispensation, there are quite a lot of things that have happened, particularly in Matabeleland, there is the Zambezi Water Project which has been there for years.
I observed that there is a project being done at Gwayi-Shangani Dam. His Excellency commissioned the work and in two months’ time, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam will be finished. In 2021, we installed pipes from the Gwayi-Shangani Dam for agricultural purposes. We have realised that irrigation as we are talking is all over. Lupane is a place which is very remote but because of the New Dispensation, there is irrigation which is taking care of 90% members of the community.
There are a lot of children in the community who are benefiting from the irrigation scheme. As we speak, His Excellency the President has been at that place again. I will not forget to mention that when we went to launch that irrigation, His Excellency is a person who likes and listens to the people. We wanted to know what the people’s problems are. He did not fly, but went by road to Lupane to see for himself the situation on roads. He drove from Bulawayo to Lupane, which is 400 kilometres by road. The people of Zimbabwe are thankful because our President is a humble man. We are thankful that we have a hospital at Lupane…
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order Hon. Senator, your time is about to expire.
*HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President. The President is fulfilling his promises. He also talked about sanctions that they should be removed. We have a President who implements what he says. He leads from the front and we are grateful for his coming here. We see that things are happening and we are witnessing that.
+HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice on the Presidential Speech which was tabled by our President, His Excellency Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa. I also want to thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi for moving the motion and his seconder Hon. Mabika. Mr. President, His Excellency has always said that he is a listening President. When he was delivering his speech to the nation, he started by recognising the people - that is why he talked about the COVID-19 pandemic which befell the whole country and has also affected us as a nation. There are steps that he has taken as a leader in order for us to curb the spread of the virus in our nation.
The people of Zimbabwe took heed for what the President was saying, that it was a national disaster and that the nation must be on lockdown, , mask up whilst staying at home. The nation listened and it shows how good our President is and he thanked the nation for adhering to COVID restrictions. Due to adherence to COVID-19 restrictions, the statistics of the virus are now going down. If you find a leader thanking his people, it means he is a good leader and has his people at heart.
The President further talked about farming, we know that when we took the land, nothing was taking place but because of his vision, we started seeing change in the farm mechanisation by going out to look for tractors. People were used to using cattle for farming but now we are being taught that farming is a business and we were encouraged by our President to use tractors. The youths were also incorporated into farming because if the youths become farmers, it means there is a future.
His Excellency also said that farmers are now getting their money in time. Long back, there was a backlog of 2 years and they could not go back but now farmers are getting paid in good time so that they can go back to till the land in time for the next season.
Mr. President, our President also touched on transport. In Zimbabwe, we have got transport challenges but now we have ZUPCO buses which will lessen the volumes of traffic in our roads since most people will leave their cars at home because of this reliable transport system. Those who run commuter omnibuses were told that they should operate under ZUPCO. It does not end there but Air Zimbabwe bought a new aircraft so that our airline would also be revamped so that we raise our flag as a nation. There was an MOU with Qatar Airways which means that we would have joined other nations and they would know that there is Zimbabwe because there would be an influx of tourists coming into our country.
The President also talked about the abuse of drugs by our children. As a leader with the desires of the people at heart, he saw how the challenge has befallen our nation. Our children are being affected by these drugs. His Excellency set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee which would look at the challenges of drug abuse in our nation. Those who were incorporated in this Committee are working very hard. However, I want to encourage those in the Committee to find where the drugs are coming from and who is bringing them in. We only find our children with these imported drugs which are coming through our borders. We should join hands with those who mann our borders in order to nip this problem in the bud.
Mr. President, His Excellency also touched on manufacturing. He said those into manufacturing in Zimbabwe must not import but manufacture things here. Our shops should have an influx of locally produced goods. That will make our local manufacturers to work hard and convince people to be proud of our locally made products. As they buy the goods, this leads to the development of our economy.
For example, tomato puree should be made locally. The President encourages that goods should be manufactured locally, that is why he went to Mutoko and opened a canning factory there. Now, we have a factory in Mutoko where our tomatoes are being processed so that we also export locally manufactured and processed goods.
The President also talked about gender equality, that there should be equality between men and women depending on what one is capable of doing in their lives. That is why he opened the Women and Youth Empowerment Banks so that those who have skills and talents can access funds from those banks and be recognised for their talent. This will encourage our people to showcase their talents and be honoured because we have noticed that during Heroes celebrations this year, the President honoured a number of people, and not only the heroes of the liberation struggle but everyone who did something recognisable. This means that the nation belongs to all of us and not only for those who were involved in the liberation struggle.
Lastly, I want to thank the President on the war veterans issues. There was the crafting of the Liberation Struggle Act, the Liberation Struggle Board, Heroes Dependence Board and the Heroes Commission Fund so that all those who contributed to the attainment of our independence are recognised and honoured wherever they go.
Mr. President, I want to thank His Excellency the President because of his message which touches on the lives of all Zimbabweans. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. FEMAI: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice on the Presidential Speech. Firstly, I want to thank him; I might be repeating but that is what touches my heart. The health of the nation – not knowing what is happening in hospitals, but from what I know, on the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people survived because of the guidance from our President. I am so thankful for that because he remembered that people should not perish because of this pandemic whilst there is a Government in place. He made decisions and the number of infected cases came down. Yes, some perished but many survived and we are so thankful. We are not yet out of the woods as COVID-19 is still with us but he is busy averting its effects such that even if it comes, we have a leadership which is solid.
We were so lucky because we were blessed with rains and the President came up with the programme of Pfumvudza. People were provided with agricultural inputs and our silos are full. It does not mean that all the people have adequate grain but those who actively participated in the concept of the Pfumvudza Programme were able to harvest well.
On the road network – the Road Rehabilitation Programme is progressing very well, with a very good pace which is visible. If we travel along Harare/Plumtree Road, Harare/Beitbridge Road and all the other major highways, it shows that they are being rehabilitated and maintained. Our grievance is that this programme should be extended to small roads. Because of the small cars which we drive, we are getting into a lot of expenses. The way the roads are being rehabilitated, the President is making sure that our cars will not be damaged but I think it should also be extended to the residential areas, especially the high density suburbs because if you go to low density suburbs, you find that the roads have been rehabilitated. This should be extended to the high density areas as well - I know he can do it because he has already started.
Still on roads, I think pirate taxes should really be investigated because they do not follow traffic safety rules. They are the ones damaging the roads that will have been rehabilitated by the President. The pirate taxis should be investigated so as to find out why we have a lot of illegal taxis on the roads. Who owns them? We also want to think that because our roads are now good, the trucks that come from South Africa in transit to Congo are now passing through. We hope that we will get a lot of foreign currency from those trucks. Those who were shunning our roads because of potholes are now using our roads. This is why I say our President had an insight and vision.
The President also talked about the economy of our country, that our economy is in the hands of SMES. Those people should be grouped so that they can pay taxes because if you are an illegal miner and mining 25 kg of gold every month and you are not paying taxes, how do you expect the Government to operate? I think those people should be grouped according to their sections so that they pay taxes from what they would have mined because the land belongs to the State, so they should pay taxes. This will help our economy to grow and we will not keep on crying about foreign currency because gold on its own is foreign currency. There is no one who sells gold in Zimbabwe dollars but in USD which is foreign currency. They sell and pocket the money.
When the President speaks, people should listen. The President wants us to have many cattle. He has seen that we no longer have cattle in our country and that is why people are now demanding cars as lobola payment. Cows should be brought back so that people can use them as lobola payment.
Lastly Mr. President, I want to talk about sanctions. Yes, there are some who say sanctions are good while others are saying they are affecting us. It is true sanctions affect us, they are not good for us because if you find yourself with a catapult, you see a bird in its nest and you attach it, it means you have killed the chicks as well because if you kill the mother you have killed the children as well. We are President Mnangagwa’s children and if he is under sanctions and we are his children, where do we get food from because the person who gives us food is the one who has been slapped with sanctions? So, it means we should build our economy on our own. If we have illegal gold panners paying taxes and if we engage on Pfumvudza, it will help us to build on our economy. I want to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity.
^HON. SEN. MALULEKE: I would like to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the address made by His Excellency the President. Firstly, I would want to start with the Beitbridge-Harare Road, we have been witnessing a lot of accidents and a lot of people perishing. The road has been repaired, there were a lot of issues that needed the attention of Government and we thank the President - through his efforts, he managed to outsource funds to enable the roads project to be a success.
He went on to mention the issue of the airports, the Robert Mugabe International Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport. I was pleased about the Buffalo Range Airport; this is from my province. The late Vice President Hon. Sen. Muzenda started the construction of the airport before passing on. He said that he wanted tourists to visit his hometown but unfortunately the Lord called him before he completed the project. Fortunately, His Excellency the President, Dr. Mnangagwa took over the project and I applaud him for this good work.
He went on to say that farmers need to be assisted by giving them 300 tractors and 200 combine harvesters. A lot of wheat was planted around the country and this previous week we received rains but those farmers who benefited the combine harvesters managed to finish harvesting their wheat before the rains started. Now the wheat is in the process of being transported to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). We applaud the President because this shows that he is a visionary.
My province is a cattle ranching province. The President assisted in issues of livestock through the provision of tick grease and dip tanks. He encouraged the Agritex and veterinary officers to work tirelessly. He also promised to distribute seed to farmers, unfortunately maize seed was limited since the region promotes the cultivation of sorghum and cotton.
He emphasised that the province has limited schools infrastructure and this promotes youths to venture into drugs. I have a relative who was given school fees but he fled to Harare and spent a week without eating because he was high on drugs. Truly, I want to inform you that drugs kill, the young man passed on and this is not good. If people who deal in drugs are arrested, they should languish in prison because they are a danger to society. The young generation is perishing at an alarming rate compared to the elderly. This is threatening the future of the State since the young generation is the future leaders. I beseech this House to take note of this problem of drugs.
Again, there are 14 Bills that need to be aligned to the Constitution and this is a mammoth task. I request that all the Ministers attend Parliament so that we can interact with them so that the Bills can be successfully aligned to the Constitution. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi, the mover of the motion and Hon. Mabika, the seconder. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: 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: Thursday, 21st October, 2021.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MATHUTHU, seconded by HON. SEN. A. DUBE, the Senate adjourned at Twenty-Seven Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 19th October, 2021
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
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that the Pre-Budget Seminar on the 2022 National Budget will be held from 22nd to 26th October, 2021 at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls. Hon. Members who have not yet confirmed their attendance with the Public Relations Department must do so immediately. The information circular on the logistical arrangements for the Seminar will be shared by email to all Hon. Members.
Hon. Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo provinces will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will fly. A charter flight has been arranged for those that are flying and it departs from Harare on 22nd October, 2021 at 0900 hours and arrives in Victoria Falls at 1000 hours. The return charter flight leaves Victoria Falls on 26th October at 0900 hours and arrives in Harare at 1000 hours.
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ZIMBABWE REVENUE AND ALLIED WORKERS TRADE UNION, MR. LOVEMORE NGWARATI AND WOMEN’S REFORM NETWORK
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also have to inform the House that on Monday, 27th September, 2021, Parliament received a petition from the General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union, Mr. Lovemore Ngwarati, beseeching Parliament to amend the provisions of the Revenue Authority Act, Chapter 23:11, to restore the provisions allowing for the retention of funds and a funding model for ZIMRA. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development.
Furthermore, I wish to advise the House that on 29th September, 2021, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from the Women’s Reform Network. The petition was deemed inadmissible as the prayer did not specify what the petitioners wanted Parliament to do. The petitioners have since been notified accordingly.
*HON. NYABANI: I rise on a point of privilege. Mr Speaker Sir, I would like talk about the issue of schoolchildren. The examination dates are out. We came to this august House and lodged our request. This is not an opportune time because students are not being taught. My request is that we need a Ministerial Statement regarding lessons that are not being given to students. I went to the Permanent Secretary’s office and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to highlight this but it was in vain. Teachers are not teaching. This House plays an oversight role and because of that, the Portfolio Committee on Education should carry out investigations so that we are certain of the current position.
There is the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) initiative which is quite cumbersome and for the teachers mostly found in rural area schools, this is quite a challenge.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: I think you should ask this question tomorrow and we hear what the Minister will say before we proceed.
*HON. NYABANI: The Chief Whips should assist me on that one.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: I think they have heard it.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move the motion in my name that a respectful address be presented to the President of Zimbabwe as follows:
May it please you, Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, we 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. T. MOYO: I second.
HON. MUTAMBISI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise before this august House to move and debate a motion on the State of the Nation Address and the opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe delivered by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. The address by His Excellency, extensively, referred to a number of pertinent issues obtaining in key sectors of the economy. In this presentation, I refer to only four areas which are important to the country’s stability and economic development.
No doubt, every nation requires peace and unity to aspire towards development. No nation in the world, irrespective of the amount of natural resources at its disposal, can progress as fast as possible if the people in that nation do not come together in peace and unity to promote its development. In his opening paragraph, His Excellency congratulated the people of Zimbabwe for their unity, fortitude and hard-working culture. Pursuant to these values, the nation has realised unprecedented milestones and successes against all forms adversity.
Increased production, productivity and innovation are indeed inspiring as we move towards the realisation of Vision 2030. The President specifically mentioned peace, unity, harmony, stability and growing national cohesion as critical in realising national goals, partly as stated in the five year National Development Strategy (NDS1) of 2021-2025. I would like to take this opportunity to call upon members of this august House to take heed of His Excellency’s clarion call for unity and togetherness. Individually and collectively, even as organisations, we have a duty to adhere to all Government development policies and respect State institutions.
Empowerment of women for national development has been recognised world-wide. Zimbabwe is not an exception in this regard. Empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps in all sectors and in the world of work are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG) and upper middle class economy status.
His Excellency expressed Government commitment to the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Reference was made to, among other things, facilities under the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, Treasury and SMEDCO to capacitate women and create jobs across all sectors of the economy. NDS1 paragraph 750, identifies gender mainstreaming as a necessary requirement in enhancing women empowerment and inclusion in particular, access to financing opportunities.
As members of the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) and gender committees representing womenfolk in the informal and SMEs sector, we are emboldened by this pronouncement of commitment by His Excellency. You are aware that few women in Zimbabwe own assets that can be used as collateral to secure loans. The Zimbabwe Women’s Bank and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and SMEs Development should do more to remove collateral barriers that women experience when attempting to access loans, particularly women in rural areas.
Indeed, advice and financial skills training help women not only get the funding and access to markets but also in running projects. Without deliberate and affirmative action to promote women to access funds, their empowerment and financial inclusion will remain a pipe dream and the mantra of leaving no one behind will remain unreachable.
Disasters impact households, communities and societies in particular women in such a manner that their lives and livelihoods are disrupted beyond their capacity to cope or withstand using their own resources. Women globally make up over 70 per cent of workers in health sector, including those working in care institutions. This also applies to Zimbabwe. Women are on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, they are facing a multi-layered burden of longer shifts at work, exposure to infections and additional unpaid care and domestic work at home. A number of our health workers, majority of whom are women have tested positive to COVID-19, forcing some hospital departments to shut down partially. Aware of the sacrifice and dedication, His Excellency commended all frontline workers for their selfless service towards COVID-19 infection, prevention, control and management. Notwithstanding resource constraints, the President expressed Government commitment to avail more vaccines in order to save lives and livelihoods. In the same vein, a call was made to citizens to heighten determination with regards to vaccinations in order to meet the desired national herd immunity target.
It is part of our constitutional duty to support the President in this regard. As parliamentarians, part of our COVID-19 response include advocating for solidarity and equity in vaccine allocation, developing and amending legislation or policy to strengthen public health system, finance provision and recovery. Yes, safe and effective vaccines offer hope and are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19. However, as legislators and in support of the President and Government COVID-19 response, we have to be alive to the fact that vaccines will not end the pandemic, at least not in the short term. In line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice, we have as legislators, a duty to encourage maintenance of public health and social measures, including testing and contact tracing, followed by isolation and quarantine as appropriate for the foreseeable future.
The impacts of COVID-19 are variedly interrelated. While lockdowns are necessary to contain the spread of the virus, they are also creating an economic crisis due to reduced business activity and temporary or permanent unemployment, which in turn is creating widespread hardship. Cognisant that COVID-19 related vulnerabilities require innovative interventions, part of the mandate as parliaments is upscaling budget and coverage of social protection and cash transfers to food insecure populations and SMEs operators.
Mr. Speaker Sir, road transport is one of the most important means of transport, indispensable to the development of commerce and industry. All the movement of goods begin and ultimately ends by making use of roads. Roads act as critical feeder to the other modes of transport such as railways and airways in our economy. His Excellency, in his address, reported that Government has prioritised capital spending, with 34% of total expenditure to date having been earmarked for infrastructure development. The ongoing Phase 2 of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme is indeed transformational across all provinces, districts, cities and towns. I would like to applaud the New Dispensation for this extraordinary achievement in a short space of time. Local resources are being put to good use while local contractors are empowered and the commuting and trading public is experiencing the added convenience. This august House will realise that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa’s Government took over the rehabilitation of all roads nationwide as the Second Republic navigates towards the envisaged Vision 2030, guided by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which has a bias towards infrastructure development.
Mr. Speaker Sir, sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are unjustified and obsolete. They must go. Deprived of access to lines of credit, the country has been funding its projects alone, doing a remarkable job in infrastructural development, industrialisation and increasing capacity in the key mining, agriculture and tourism sectors. However, despite the continued existence of illegal economic sanctions which must be unconditionally removed, the country’s re-engagement efforts are paying dividends as the Second Republic which is committed to rebuilding the country’s image and engage the broader family of nations. The success of our diplomatic engagement in this direction is clearly demonstrated by the solidarity of fellow SADC and other African nations of major powers such as China, India, and the Russian Federation of the group of Non-Aligned countries, the ACP Group of Nations and many others who continue to intensify their call for those sanctions to be lifted. In addition, there has been constructive dialogue with Western nations including the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom, something that prior to the New Dispensation was virtually non-existent. His Excellency throughout his address, made reference to the devastating impact of sanctions on the economy, in particular the reconstruction and recovery programmes including response to COVID-19 pandemic. He took the opportunity to reiterate calls for their urgent and unconditional removal. In support of His Excellency the President, I call on the august House to join me calling for their removal now. Sanctions not only impact negatively on socio-economic progress in Zimbabwe, but also on the attainment of the SADC Vision 2050 at the sub-regional level, and the African Union Agenda 2063 at regional level and ultimately, the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at global level. I applaud the regional voice, the SADC full support in calling for the unconditional removal of the unjustified sanctions and the re-engagement dialogue with global partners. SADC countries have declared October 25 as solidarity day against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and resolved to conduct various activities in their respective countries on that day, to resoundingly call for the immediate removal of the sanctions. Despite our diversity of opinions and political affiliation, I would like to urge this august House to call for the removal of these unjustified sanctions.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is my humble appeal to this august House to support this motion. I thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for recognising me. I wish to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Mutambisi on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo. Mnangagwa. Dr. Mnangagwa addressed the nation on 7th October, 2021. It was such a thought-provoking, insightful, comprehensive and highly informative speech that was made by His Excellency the President.
The major effects are as follows - the President paid tribute to Zimbabweans for their resilience in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Western sanctions among other adversaries. His famous and most important quotation is - “I sincerely congratulate the people of our great nation for their unity and fortitude as well as a hardworking culture which they continue to demonstrate. This has seen us realise unprecedented milestones and successes against all forms of adversity”.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President spoke highly on the need to vaccinate the Zimbabwean populace. It is very important for people to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It is a pandemic; it needs to be harnessed. I want to thank His Excellency and his Government for providing vaccinations to people in Zimbabwe, the urbanites and the rural people. So far, the Government has purchased more than 10 million doses. If the Government continues to purchase more and more, we are going to achieve herd immunity. It is important to mitigate against the effects of COVID-19 and this has been supported by different arms of Government.
I will talk about the contributions that have happened in my constituency Gokwe-Chireya, where Yours Truly has ended up transporting nurses to the rural areas, those that are located far away from hospitals. Whilst I am constructing some clinics so that the people will have easy access to local clinics, I made several trips transporting nurses so that clinics will move to where people live, rather than the people transporting themselves or moving or finding bus fare to go to clinics or hospitals that are far away. I will give an example of an area called Murunguziva. Murunguziva is an area that is located about 30 km from Nembudziya Hospital and in-between, there are no clinics. So, we are constructing a clinic at Murunguziva, courtesy of the CDF that we received. We are also constructing another clinic at Masosonhi, which is found in Ward 9. So we are putting all these efforts to complement the efforts that are being made by His Excellency the President. To expect someone to board a bus from a distance of 50 km, he/she would require about $3 to $5 to go to the hospital to be vaccinated and another $3 to go back home. Very few will be able to do that. So to alleviate the plight of those people, the Hon. Member of the constituency, Hon. T. Moyo, Yours Truly, decided to conduct several trips; more than 10 trips so that the clinic will visit those people.
The President also spoke about economic growth trajectory. The Zimbabwean economy has been projected to grow by 7.8% because of the favourable climatic conditions that were witnessed in the 2021 season. We received normal to above normal rainfall and that has prompted high productivity in the agricultural sector. Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is expected to buy not less than 1.5 million metric tonnes of grain. That is very important, particularly for self sustenance, self sufficiency in terms of food production and productivity. The increased economic development is also a result of those programmes like Pfumvudza, whereby peasant farmers were provided with inputs, fertilisers, chemicals, herbicides, to ensure that agricultural production is boosted and that has witnessed a lot of food being brought on the table.
My appeal, while I commend what the Government is doing, I want to appeal to the Government, especially the Ministry of Finance to change the financing models in terms of purchasing of produce. The Government provided resources to procure grain within 72 hours up to a week but that has fueled inflation. So my clarion call, in the 2021/22 season, I am appealing to the Government to provide US$ for grain farmers and cotton farmers, that is a solution so that the rate will not increase. In the past, from 2019 up to 2020, the rates were pegged at 1 is to 120 according to the black market rate for more than 20 months. Now when farmers receive RTGs in their accounts and ecocash, that is when they will go to the black market to buy US$ and in the process, this has led to inflation. So that is a clarion call Mr. Speaker Sir. Also to expeditiously pay cotton farmers who are still owed. We appreciate that some of the farmers have been paid but we still have others who have not been paid. That is also very important.
I will turn to the issue of a stable financial sector. This is important for intro-substitution industrialisation. Small to Medium Enterprises as well as the large industries in Zimbabwe are accessing resources on the auction floor. That is important to procure raw materials that are needed for a fast growing industry. To be honest with you Mr. Speaker Sir, the shelves in our supermarkets have locally produced commodities. That is very important as a measure to substitute imports because if we continue to finance those industries, we are able to export our products to the region; to our neighbouring countries and that will boost our economy.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of climate change was another very important issue that was touched by His Excellency the President. Climate change is a reality and it manifests itself through various ways. It manifests through droughts, floods, cyclones and a case in point is Cyclone Idai. Now, the Government has tried to mitigate against the effects of climate change by embracing those tactics such as Pfumvudza, where people can produce on a very small piece of land; in cases of drought, people are able to irrigate on that land using canes to irrigate their crops and are able to feed their households. So that is important for a strategic way of raising grain in case of these disasters of climate change but we are lucky it has been projected that in the 2021/22 season, we are going to have a normal to above normal rainy season. Our farmers have started to receive inputs so that their livelihoods would also change.
The President also spoke about livestock diseases. The deadliest disease Mr. Speaker Sir, is called January disease. If you have been to Mhondoro – Ngezi and Chikomba, thousands of cattle have died because of January disease. The Government has decided to produce the vaccines that are going to be used to treat this disease. The Government also has partnered with the private Sector, for instance, Ngezi Platinum Mine has bought livestock as a way of restocking in light of this disease. Agriculture is a business and the Government is emphasising on farm mechanisation and agricultural modernisation.
In Gokwe North, COTTCO has provided more than 10 tractors that are tilling the land over and above what is being provided by DDF, to till land for the vulnerable people, the elderly, the disabled people and also the peasant farmers. Those are efforts in order to boost economic production. Lastly Mr. Speaker Sir, I will talk about the welfare of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle. The Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act was passed and in order to operationalise the Act, the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board was established which is going to consider the welfare of these veterans of the liberation struggle. It is important to thank the President for providing resources to veterans of the liberation struggle so that they can be given loans to start their businesses. They made a lot of sacrifices during the liberation struggle. So we should thank these people by providing them with resources. This should not be delayed; it has to be done expeditiously so as to improve the welfare of our liberation struggle veterans.
In conclusion Hon. Speaker Sir, I wish to thank His Excellency the President for giving direction to us Members of Parliament on what we are going to debate and also all the measures that are going to be embarked by the Government as a way of stimulating the economy in order to improve livelihoods of our people in line with the Agenda 2063, which seeks to improve the welfare of the ordinary citizens in Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
THE HON. SPEAKER: Before I call for further debate, I have got an announcement, which concerns the Seconder of the Motion. The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders, the CSRO has appointed Hon. Torerayi Moyo to replace Ambassador Misihairabwi-Mushonga as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Congratulations Hon. Moyo.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker Sir, your last announcement certainly made my day. I have always wondered, especially on the other side, they have got so much human capital, teachers, headmasters who have excelled in their education. I have wondered why they were not making use of them, but finally my prayer has been answered. I am glad that one of them is now part of them. It always helps to have one who has been in the industry to also change. I also wish him all the best. Of course, you have got a real gap to fill. Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga was outstanding in her work, I must say so. Let me also say this: I wish her all the best, but what an outstanding Chairperson and Legislator, a few of many and I wish that women in this country can look up to her as a model, especially the girl child. I have no doubt that she will do well in whatever she does.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament is crucial in the aspect of review. I have always said that as a football coach or coach of any team, there is half time. Half time is the time when the coach assesses the performance of the players and the strategy of the team, have they been sticking to it or not. As such, substitutions are made to try and show that there is strategy. If the strategy is not working, it must be changed. Half time is critical in any strategy that you need because to review the economy, agriculture and even to review a marriage is important. Are we on the right path or not?
The pandemic itself has caused havoc and it would be folly for any structure in this world to think that they are on course in terms of what they want to do as a result of the COVID pandemic. A review is needed and while it is needed, we need to be absolutely honest with ourselves to say that with the COVID pandemic which has wreaked havoc, the 2030 Middle Income Economy Agenda, is it on course. I would say no, it is not on course and it can never be on course. How do we then get it to be on course, factoring that it would be delayed? From a lot of what was said, I did not see at any point or hear that we were slowed down and while we are on course, we need to add more time to achieve what we want. It has been a global pandemic, as you know.
Even as we speak today, Proplastics, which manufactures irrigation piping for the farmers, while people have paid, they do not have them. The raw materials from the outside world are not available. Obviously, as a farmer, I wanted to buy two centre pivots to increase my production. I cannot now, because of them not being able to supply because of the global shortage of raw materials. Definitely, we cannot be on track. Not only that, we need to look at issues which relate to us. Sanctions are external but before sanctions, let us deal with corruption. We cannot be putting water in a pot that leaks and say let us cook. By the time you come back, the Hon. Members, especially the ladies who are here agree with me “kuti poto inobvinza haigone kubika sadza.” So to me, corruption is the biggest leak. Sanctions will be removed and money will come in but if there is a leak, that money will not go anywhere. The good thing about the aspect of corruption is it is internal, we can deal with it. We do not have to look for anybody. We can deal with it here.
The President was not clear on our achievement in terms of corruption. His first target and he was very clear in the Third Session, about zero tolerance to corruption but corruption has reached unprecedented levels where the nation has no confidence anymore. It is like ‘catch and release’. Catch and release talks about many systems. The arresting authorities - are they diligent in their conduct? The Prosecutor General’s Office - is it diligent in its conduct and of course, the Judiciary dismisses the cases saying that there is no case.
We need to really be very clear about the institutions which we are mandated to investigate and prosecute. Are they on point and are they what we expect? No, because the results speak for themselves. There has not been any conviction with corruption being there. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission must be given credit. It is trying to do as much as it can, but it does not prosecute. We need to look at ways of giving it powers to prosecute because the Prosecutor General’s Office certainly is overwhelmed with cases as a result of the justice delivery system that has serious implications on a nation because justice is the last resort.
The courts are the last resort if anything happens. So on corruption it is all over. You talk about the black cartels and by the way, cartels are more. The Indian cartels are more. There are private jets which land at the airport and smuggle gold – let us not talk about the gold we read. There are really big deals that we do not read about. Private jets come in and go. There are leakages at the borders in terms of all that – where are the people at the borders who are supposed to be stopping all this from happening? How much have we lost on resources in terms of gold and minerals of this country?
If we put those figures together, what will that do to this nation – what will that do to building hospitals and clinics? All that money put together would turn this country around because the ordinary person, the only thing that they want is good health care for their children, water and sanitation and money to be able to buy what they want.
Going to the economy, there are two currencies at hand. You cannot have two bulls in a kraal. There is the USD bull which has constantly destroyed our currency. RTGs have been destroyed by the USD, the Bond, Ecocash and Notro has also been destroyed. You cannot have two bulls in your kraal. When that happens as a farmer, to have two bulls fighting amongst each other, it is indicative that there will be no production.
Anybody who has cattle here can tell you that one must go. The Brahman bull that I like so much must be killed or sold. We need to make a decision and it is a painful decision because I bought that bull for a world price at the auction sales. It is a good breed but they are always fighting in their injuries. In so doing, what value is it to production? It has no value. It must go down and it must be shot.
If we look at the bull that is there and in this regard, I am talking about the USD. Let us monitor it. We are not talking about a long term relationship with the USD, but we are talking about short-term and see how it goes. Through your Parliament, we have been able to hear from good professors in economics; Professor Mugano was very clear. He showed us graphs which one day I will do this presentation showing everybody what they have to do because you do not have to reinvent the wheel of the economy.
When the economy was bad in 2008 going upwards, the only time it was stable was when we had the GNU. This is on record that the GNU was stable. In 2008, ZANU PF did not do well and it went for a GNU and this is for politicians to listen to. In 2013, ZANU PF got two thirds majority because the economy was stable. The economy is critical for politicians to remain in power. The only way you can do that is to face reality and say the currency that we have is not taking us anywhere. If we all were to search ourselves here and ask you to take out the money that you have in your pockets – 99% have got USD. Maybe 1% is, Mr. Speaker, who is a stickler to think of good governance? So we will totally leave him out. He has got his RTGs and his card to swipe but the rest have got that. Your own Members of Parliament have got to use USD to go and pay for fuel to get around.
We need to be very clear on this. There is no more debate on it and action is needed. On that again, we now have a situation which Hon. Moyo spoke about diligently, that as farmers we are the poorest. Government is happy that they have food security but I can tell you that the current crops of farmers are the poorest. I stopped doing tobacco because we were losing money. We go to growing maize which is so important and in growing maize we are paid less than what they used to import. This is the most painful aspect of our leaders.
They are prepared to reward a Zambian, Tanzanian or any other farmer more than their own farmers and that is painful. They pay more to import than to pay the farmer here and they are using USD not RTGs. Why are you not using that money to pay our farmers? Soya bean production is about 10 000 tonnes in the whole country. They spend more money in importing, which is the same but they are happy to spend more money importing. There can only be one that can coerce a man to be able to do something like that. It is corruption. The motive is corruption and nothing else because it is about building the country. Surely, you will be saving money for the country and you will be empowering the farmers. If you look at the Rhodesia era which was supposed to be having aeroplanes on our farms, was supposed to be having whatever we want on our farms, but we have not seen anything happening. There has not been any infrastructural development in the farms that we have and a farmer will always invest in the infrastructure because it helps him to produce more.
There has not been growth and in terms of tobacco, they announce that we did well getting USD2 billion yet the Government gets USD10 million. So why are we bragging about production when what is left in this country is USD10 million? The mansions have come, the gold and tobacco – they make the farmers poorer and they have got to pay debt and all that. Even the commercial white tobacco farmers have now gone embarked on command agriculture. Let me talk about command agriculture – who is it for? Why is command agriculture being given to those who already have? How will the other farmer grow? Now, we have got the white farmers in this country despite them not having land. What I am saying is that there must be a condition. They have banks which give them money and they will look after themselves, their kith and kin - I have no issues with that, but who is looking after us?
If you see the land which is being leased in this country – I have got friends of mine who were saying it was a mistake owning land. We do not need to own land but what we need is land to make money but those who are owning land today have no money yet the black farmer finds it difficult to go and get money or a contract for command agriculture. Our dear Zimbabweans who are white do not have to do anything. They wear their shorts and they do not have to wear a suit but they are given what they want. So, how does an economy grow when you are not empowering your own people? What happens – we are told we are not producing. Zimbabweans work hard and the whites made money through enslaving us blacks yet they were not working.
So how can you say we are lazy? It is because we are under-resourced. Inputs are not given on time and you talk about us being resourced – Ministers come here and talk about Agribank; does it have the money there for agriculture to show that they are not true, it is only functioning now. When you go there, there is still no money, too many things on paper. Academic economics does not work, we have got to be practical. AFC is supposed to be the bank which is supposed to show that all farmers get everything but what do we do, we end up going to private banks, interest is high, inflation is eating up just like Hon. Moyo said. So, how do you pay back? That time the maize was 32 000 a tonne, on exchange rate you could get US$ 240 which is a good price. Now, because of the delay in payments Mr. Speaker Sir, you have it on record that we have asked the Minister here that - when is the money coming out? Hon. Masuku will tell you that in three days, people will be paid. This Parliament is a Parliament of honesty and truths. Three days pass, people are not paid, they wait for two to two months. They were supposed to get US$240 but they are now getting US$100. How do you recover? Then you are going to say, we are going to repossess your farm because it is under-utilised. God hear me on this one. People work, let them be given the resources, God, that is all they want. Give them time; agriculture is about long term lending. It is not short term lending. You cannot achieve it in short term. Five to ten years, yes. During the Land Reform, some of the white farmers thanked the Land Reform because they could not pay back. They had so much debt, they said thank you very much, now we can leave and go. They were prepared to surrender their farms because they could not then pay their debt and so forth. But do we then grow an economy when our own farmers are not being paid well. It is something that really hurts me because I do farming and I know that it is the best way to make money, it is an honest way to make money.
In terms of corruption and inflation, it is systematic Mr. Speaker Sir. You do not have to go to the village and tell people about inflation, they feel it through the money that they have. When your money has no value, you suffer, you do not need any message from anybody, it speaks for itself. Corruption too, when you are taking things away from people and it does not get down, they suffer at the end of the day.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to also talk about the Ministry of Finance. I do not know if you are aware of this Hon. Members, just from research, the Ministry of Finance is sitting on nearly 500 million dollars.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you have three Minutes to go.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, on empowerment of the women, you cannot leave the empowerment of the youths and the disabled. It has to be together, it is inseparable, mai havangafambe vasina mwana, kana mwana chirema vanotofamba naye futi. So, I did not see that being addressed in terms of us dealing with the disabled people in terms of how they can be empowered. If us the able people cannot get what we want by fighting, what about that one who is disabled? What are we doing about it? I think for a very long time we have been behind in terms of that.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of re-engagement, the Government must be serious about the reforms. The Americans who they really love to re-engage with have put the template on the table, human rights violations and you must uphold, you must be able to stop corruption, you must ensure that there are reforms which are there. It is simple, inclusivity is important. I like the President speech of us being united, peaceful and all that. To that end, I want to attribute this to the 17th November People’s March, where we were inclusive but in the Government, I do not see any inclusivity. When it is time for us to march together, to get others in power, we were inclusive. When they are in power, they forget that they march with others. May you not betray us in wanting the Zimbabwe we want.
If you talk about unity, inclusivity must be there, even the late President R. G. Mugabe who was a hardliner, had to accommodate an inclusive Government. In accommodating an inclusive Cabinet, he was seen as a leader wanting to move forward. At times work with your enemy to get better results. The Americans have got a simple system; keep your enemy close to you, we cannot be enemies forever. We need to find ourselves and be genuine as Zimbabweans and move forward. We cannot plant a culture of violence, hate and polarisation to generations coming through. They will tarnish us one day and it is my prayer that we find ourselves as Zimbabweans sincerely and honestly for the good of the country.
Lastly Mr. Speaker, transparency and accountability. In the Fourth Session, I appeal to you, may you allow us to do our job and hold these Ministers accountable. This SONA was a mere document by the President, fine, but the Third Session was critical in Ministers responding. How do you move forward when Ministers have not responded? The Chief Whip is here, you are mandated to go and speak to the Ministers to come and respond; that is your job, they did not come. The Leader of Government Business was also mandated, they did not come. It makes a mockery of the appointing authority and this Parliament. We need to have Ministers who are disciplined; Government Chief Whip, please or else we are wasting time here and everything.
The President is seen to be on his own and he cannot work on his own; he has to work with the team that gives him the right information. We are debating now, we need a response immediately. May you sit with them immediately and tell them that after we finish debating, may the responses come through, have a line-up for them. They spend too much time doing deals, inflating prices and in Cabinet they are doing Bills which do not come here.
Finally, may this Parliament exercise its role of oversight? I am disappointed with Committees which are sitting and not doing anything. Any money allocated to any Ministry which is under you, you must ask where the money is going. We have a problem with the Beitbridge Border Post, truckers are paying 200 dollars and you call it a triple P. How is that a triple P that costs 45 million dollars? The Government has got to pay earnest people, where was the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to do that?
It is my prayer Mr. Speaker, remove those who are not working, we are being shouted out there. I sent you something Mr. Speaker Sir, people are saying Parliament, we are tired of you, what are you doing there? The Budget and Finance Committee which went around, Hon. Mpariwa is here, she can tell you, we are now finding it difficult to go and face people without answers, telling them lies. We need to also protect our lives. As for me, I have got 19 children, I would rather be home and not risk my life Mr. Speaker Sir. It is my prayer that we need to do our work. Committees need to be reshuffled immediately. They have done absolutely nothing. Oversight on Government by the Committees has got to be done. They have not done anything; it makes us look stupid. My prayer once again is, allow us to do our job. We are not blaming anybody; our role is of oversight and we must do it constitutionally. A nation which does not follow its Constitution is not a nation at all.
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for listening to my passionate appeal on the Executive to be held accountable, they are letting down the President, the people and themselves. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Being a member of the ZANU PF Politburo, I hope you can also bring it there because that is the ruling party. Speak to members of the Politburo that these Ministers must come through the Politburo and must be monitored by the Politburo because the party remains supreme. Are they accounting to the party - no, that is for another day Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you very much – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: I hope you will come back and join the Politburo sometime.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the President for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament.
Reading what the President presented showed me clearly that our President is aware of the issues and is working together with his team to achieve results for the people of Zimbabwe. He has his hands on the wheel and I am sure if all Zimbabweans -those in Government, private sector, Parliament or any other sector of our economy would work together with the President, we would achieve the results the people of Zimbabwe want.
It is very critical that as a people, we realise that because of the challenges that we are facing, not only as Zimbabwe but globally, the COVID pandemic has destroyed economies, incomes and lives. If you look downstream, you will see that it affected production and employment - hence the President noted that we had these challenges. We had a growth trajectory that appeared very unstoppable but when COVID came, it hit us hard and we had these difficulties but the President thanked the people of Zimbabwe for their resilience and commitment to work hard for the development of their country. I also want to say to my fellow people of Zimbabwe, thank you; you are such a strong people who are geared to see beautiful Zimbabwe develop again.
The President noted the importance of peace, harmony and tranquillity. We cannot develop without a peaceful environment. We need a peaceful environment and we need to be freely doing our work for us to produce and be able to think outside the box and develop whatever skills that we have to ensure that Zimbabwe grows or develops. Without peace and our people engaging in employment peacefully, doing agriculture without any disturbances, development will then be challenged. I would like to say to the people of Zimbabwe and fellow Members of Parliament, it is critical that we preach peace and encourage our people to live in harmony wherever they are so that we see our country developing.
Last year, 2021 agricultural season we saw high productivity. Many crops did very well and we envisaged a situation of more production in 2021/22, given that there is a prediction that we are going to have high rainfall as we received last year. It is very critical that these inputs come and I would like to thank the President for raising that issue. I hope that all stakeholders will come to the party. The banks that give us the loans, the input suppliers, seed suppliers – all of them must provide these inputs, not only for their profits but also for the love of their country in order to ensure that Zimbabwe develops and produces enough to feed its people as well as enough to export and earn an income for our country.
There is an issue that was also raised by the President relating to the financial service sector. I am very concerned that for the past almost twelve months, our star was rising. We could tell that the economy was beginning to perform and there was stability on the financial service sector but all of a sudden, inflation started raising its ugly head. Surely, there should be something to deal with this and I do not know why that something is not found. If the economy does not perform and inflation goes up and we have people who are vulnerable to those environments; this is going to impact heavily on our pensioners. This is also going to hit hard on all people who earn fixed incomes. We have a disadvantage if inflation goes up.
We also have generally the low income people, the farmers who produce crops and they are told that the price is so much and is fixed; if inflation goes up, it means you have grown anticipating a good production and sell that will give you a profit for your effort, then prices go up before you receive your income. It means you will not be able to enjoy the fruits of your sweat. What is our financial system doing to protect the generality of our people? Are we saying we are failing to deal with forex barons? There should be a way.
If we go to the banks today, we have people with billions of dollars in their accounts that is chasing the little foreign currency that we have on the market. Is this money clean? If it is not clean money, why are we not dealing with that? If there is too much money chasing few goods, the little economics that I know tells me that the financial system should be able to deal with that. It has an intrinsic and inherent mechanism to deal with such situations. This money must be traced and all clean money must be brought back and forfeited to Government. All those who are dealing in black market activities must be dealt with. We expect the economy to be protected. It must be protected by those in those offices who have learnt and are expects in running financial issues. Those fat accounts must be dealt with as a matter of urgency in order to protect the people of Zimbabwe.
The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) has been given power as the regulator of insurance and pensions industry to ensure that it puts limits and capital requirements and so forth. If the financial system does not protect the fall in value of the dollar, we will go back to the loss of value that was created by inflation. Whatever we are trying to do for our pensioners will be lost overnight. It is critical that we deal with these situations.
The issue of sanctions is very critical and it is one hurdle. Sanctions must go and they must go now. If they do not go, no economy throughout the world finances all its expenditures, including the richest economy that we hear. United States of America is one of the heaviest borrowers on the international market. It owes a lot of people but it then finances social activities in its country, its economies, balance of payments from those borrowings. If Zimbabwe is not allowed to then participate in these systems, it means we will have challenges in financing our development. Sanctions must go. Every Zimbabwean must realise that people can still like you without those sanctions.
There is no reason to be preachers who preach to the people of Zimbabwe, but at the end of the day poisoning those people. Sanctions are poison. They have disadvantaged this country for a long time and I think it is critical that all Zimbabweans, whatever our political persuasions, let them go. Corruption must go. It is critical that we go for it. We go for those people. I am happy that our Government has put together frameworks and institutions dealing with corruption. I hope every Zimbabwean realises how bad corruption is. If it is bad and if somebody takes advantage of you, think about what you are doing for the whole country. So, corruption must go. The best way to deal with corruption is the participation of all Zimbabweans in fighting corruption. It is not only the Government but every Zimbabwean. If we do not aide corruption, there will not be corruption. Because you want to speed to Bulawayo and a police officer stops you along the way, because you think you want to get to Bulawayo in two hours or in one hour, you do not want to deal with the mistake that you have done and you pay. So you have created corruption. Corruption is there in the society, in the private sector and in the public sector. Every sector must deal with corruption and must come to be part to fight corruption.
It is critical that as a country, we join hands and work together to defeat those impediments. Our Government has done a lot of work. Infrastructure development that we see happening in Zimbabwe is being finance and funded by our own resources. I think that is the best thing. While it would have speeded up that, we may end up having all our roads done with no debt. Today we may not enjoy because we are sacrificing money to capital development but our future generations would be the happiest people because they will not have debt burdens. Remember, we are still paying debts left by Smith. Some claim that Smith did well during his time but he was doing it for only 250 thousand white people who were in Zimbabwe. I do not know where black people got advantage during the Smith regime, because during my time we would only have bread and fat-cooks at Christmas. Everyone today has got something. We want to develop but sanctions stand in our way – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – I would like to say - I am debating, I listened to you debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Togarepi. What is your point of order Hon. Mliswa?
HON. T. MLISWA: The Chief Whip talks about something to eat over Christmas holidays, where is he getting those statistics? That is all I want to know because that is a blanket statement. Everyone has something to eat over the Christmas holiday. I think he needs to repeat on that and come up with other sentiments that will say maybe most of the people. It has to be a qualifying statement with empirical evidence and analysis from top researchers.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa but it is not a point of order – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – We can allow the Chief Whip to explain what he wanted to say.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I do not think the Hon. Member heard me, so I would not belabour myself to explain something that I did not say – [HON. T. MLISWA: So what did you say?] – Do not worry, just go to the Hansard. If you have something in your mind Hon. Mliswa, you got your chance to debate – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – The record will come from the Hansard. If I misrepresented, you will take me to task – [HON. T. MLISWA: You do not have to be emotive about English correction, it is a question of semantics.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, take your seat. Hon. Chief Whip may you proceed – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – Order Hon. Mliswa, please.
HON. TOGAREPI: In conclusion Madam Speaker, we need everybody to come to the party. There should not be bystanders. We should not find people who say we want to see them performing because everyone has a duty to perform. Let us do our oversight as Parliament. Let Ministers and bankers perform. Those in the Small and Medium Enterprises should also perform but every Zimbabwean, looking at the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, we are all called to duty, to perform for our country and everything is showing one thing. We are moving forward as a country. Challenges and shocks will always come and go but Zimbabwe is moving forward. I am very convinced that our day is coming soon to see Zimbabwe being a prosperous country once more. I thank you.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also want to add my voice to the SONA that was presented by our President. I want to thank Hon. Mutambisi for coming up...
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. There are bond notes which were left here, they are not mine. I do not know what they are doing there and I cannot touch them. Maybe you can find the owner.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. The officers will take care of that. Thank you.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to start off by thanking our President for the efforts that he made together with relevant ministries towards fighting the scourge of COVID-19. The successes are very visible in terms of the vaccinations that we had as a country. I want to say we had a very successful programme, which actually came up due to the fact that we are committed as a community, we worked together to make sure that this was going to be a success.
I also want to highlight that the President talked about successes in agriculture. Indeed, season 2020/21 was blessed with very good rains and it was of course paramount that we were supposed to get good yields. I also feel we could have got better yields, if 2019/20 yields were paid for in good time. In my constituency, there were a lot of outcries about those late payments for cotton for the 2019/2020 season. This could have given us more morale among farmers and we could realise more yields. So, I call upon the Government to ensure that each time we have got our agricultural outputs, they need to be paid for in good time for the purpose of motivating our farmers.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, our country lost a lot of cattle due to diseases and as a result, we are having challenges in our communities where we have to make them use tractors but DDF, which is our main supplier of tractors needs to be capacitated. This will enable our farmers to do their ploughing and planting in good time. I also want to say the Pfumvudza issue has already gone deeper in our communities because I realised in my constituency that people started land preparations much earlier than they used to do and we are expecting a lot of people to participate in Pfumvudza this season. I want to applaud the President for providing seed, fertilisers timely because those distributions are already going on. This will motivate our farmers to make sure they produce better yields.
Madam Speaker, there is of course increased demand of electricity as reiterated by the President in our communities. In most areas, you still find schools and clinics without connectivity and they do not have electricity. In my constituency in particular, I have got three wards that do not have any form of electricity and that is quite a problem to the communities, business people, clinics, schools, et cetera, which will want to use this facility. Bikita South is a hot zone, I would propose that we get solar for such areas so that if we get solar power, the communities are also going to move with the times.
Madam Speaker, the issue of roads is something that is very visible. If we look at Beitbridge, Chirundu, Bulawayo and Mutare, the roads are just first class. A lot has been done along those roads. I also want to say we have got some State roads in our communities that need to be looked at so that our people can transport their goods, cattle which they rear and all other goods like that. In that manner, we are going to see the economic improving because people will be having better roads. In my constituency, I have a State road called Nandi-Matsvange. This road has been, on a number of occasions from the 1980s, put on the cards and written in books. If you go to the Ministry of Transport, it is even stated that it is tarred when it is not, yet that road is so important in our communities because it links the conservancies. It links our main growth point, Nyika in Bikita to Mkwasine. People would use this road as a shorter route and there are a lot of infrastructure along that same road. So, while we are improving so much along the main roads that we see, we also need the feeder roads to be improved for the benefit of our people and economy.
I also want to say the opening of schools, though we are still with the COVID-19 pandemic, was a good and important measure because a lot of our children were now going astray. There was nothing to occupy them, vandalism was actually rampant and abuse of drugs was also envisaged. So it was a very good move that the schools be opened. However, we are calling upon our listening President that the welfare of teachers in these schools continues to be a thorn in their flesh. We hope that the President is going to consider that as well so that learning and the quality of learning that we are going to have from those schools is going to improve.
Also, resources that are needed in schools need to be provided because if teachers have no resources, even if you pay them and there are no resources, there will be no learning taking places. Ultimately, the children are going to suffer and also their parents will pay fees for nothing if the resources are not there. We definitely know that our parents are paying the bulk of our education in this country but they also need to be assisted because they also have other challenges. The COVID-19 challenge we were talking about did not spare them as well.
I want to conclude by saying, the President and our country at large, has made a very good move towards considering the plight of veterans of the liberation struggle. I think right across the country, there are a lot of hopes now that things are going to happen. I know with our listening President, we are going to get assessed because we are now in the right path. I urge our listening President to ensure that this programme is fast-tracked and considered more as we go for our budgets. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma’am for giving me this time to add my voice on this debate. I want to thank His Excellency the President, for his resounding SONA. I want to thank Hon. Mutambisi and Hon. Moyo for bringing about this debate and seconding it. It is my pleasure this afternoon. I want also to add my voice to what the President said to this nation. The President spoke about peace, peace in the country and everywhere. If you look at how Zimbabweans live, we are peace loving people. Some countries, if you watch on TV, there is a lot of helter-skelter, there are a lot of shootings, killings and so on. In Zimbabwe, we have resilient people, who even in hard times, like the times we have been living in, the era of sanctions, Zimbabweans have been very resilient. Sanctions must go without fail.
If sanctions are brought, one might think they are going to affect a certain group of people but they affect even you if you call for them. It is better for us to come up with one voice and sing the song that sanctions must go. As Zimbabweans, let us be united and come up with one voice. We will not stop to talk about sanctions until they are removed. It is going to be our song forever until the sanctions are removed. We do not need them. They are not for us but were created for us, so they must go.
I want to thank the President for thanking frontline workers. In his Speech, he thanked the frontline workers, who during the COVID era continued to work. If you look at people in the health fraternity, some teachers, MPs, Senators, soldiers and all those who were in the frontline workmanship, they tried thick and thin to make things move despite the pandemic. I want to thank the President for recognising that there were such people.
The President spoke also about road infrastructure. I am happy that it also touched part of my constituency, Makoni North where we have a few roads being done even now. To mention just a few, we have Nyamusosa Road being done, Muswe Road in Makoni North and in Ward 9, we have Chinhenga Road being done. This has all come from His Excellency the President of this country. I want to applaud him for that. Road infrastructure is being done throughout the country. If you watch in several groups, you will discover some machinery in several parts of the country trying to upgrade roads so that we can move easily.
In the health sector, at one time I thought, when the Hon. Vice President was made Minister of Health and Child Care, I did not sleep well. I thought he was not capable enough but I discovered that the health sector has significantly improved if we want to say the truth. He has been able to addressmost of the problems that were being faced in the health sector. In my constituency, some people might say there is no medication in the hospitals but not to the extent it was before. Medication is there and the COVID vaccines have come in every constituency through the same Minister and it is still coming. He has done pretty well. It is through the help of the Minister and His Excellency. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Child Care to look at how PSMAS works. After they gobble a lot of money from the civil service, they also ask for core payments when you go to seek medication, which I think is not fair. The Minister would want to take note of that.
I would want to acknowledge the job that was done by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in assisting with the vaccination of COVID-19. In some areas, ZNA is constructing hospitals and schools. I have also engaged them in my constituency where they would be soon coming to do a few hospitals, which is quite good.
In the mining sector, the President spoke about revamping the mining sector and also look at the artisanal miners and give them some certificates so that they can mine without being hindered. You would discover that what the President is trying to do is to make things move forward and not backwards.
In farming, we have several programmes. We have Command Agriculture, Pfumvudza and Lead farmers in some areas. I want to thank the President greatly. This Pfumvudza Programme has made many people in the rural areas to access some inputs so that they can make a living out of farming. I want to applaud the Government that this time around, they have already started issuing out fertilisers and seed before the onset of the rains, which is quite good.
The President spoke about women and youth empowerment but I want to pose a question here. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development on youth empowerment, when one looks at the interest on loans for youth empowerment, which is 44%, it is a bit high. If you look at the re-engagement exercise which the President has done, you will discover that quite a lot has improved - engagements outside and inside. That is the reason why we have engagements like POLAD. We never had a time in the past when a President would ask members from any opposition parties to come to the table and discuss. It has come from the new dispensation and we must applaud that. I want to thank the President for all he has said and all the moves that he is taking so that this country moves forward. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: First and foremost, I would like to thank you Madam Speaker, for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to this motion that was moved by Hon. Mutambisi. I am grateful for His Excellency the President’s State of the Nation Address. The President mentioned that the wealth of this country has grown by 17% and that is as a result of the bumper harvest in the agriculture, specifically looking at crops such as tobacco, cotton and maize as well as the uptake in the rise in prices of minerals such as gold and others world-over.
It shows that our country is now being developed because of those sectors. I am quite grateful about that. I also want to express my gratitude to His Excellency for his visionary leadership where he introduced Command Agriculture and the Pfumvudza programme. Agriculture is the backbone of this country. I would like to mention that a lot of these inputs that are used by the farmers – some people have to buy on their own but these inputs are sold in USD and there is a disparity in the price that they are offered by the GMB in the local currency and that means that at the end of the day the farmers will end up with nothing.
My view is that the Government is now doing a lot of work in that it is issuing out inputs to people and also buying and doing other things. It will be possible with crops such as cotton – there should be opening up of the sector so that farmers can be able to compete and as a result, the farmer will gain a better producer price and they will be able to get better profits. If farmers continue to be digruntled with the prices that they are being paid, the producer prices, the farmers are not going to continue farming with the zeal that they have because they are not reaping any rewards in that sector.
I would also want to continue and talk on the issue of sanctions. His Excellency mentioned about the sanctions so that they be removed because the sanctions were called for after the Land Resettlement Programme. The land had been taken out from the white farmers and these sanctions are hurting the country. I would want to urge the majority of the Zimbabwean populace that even if we are being oppressed through outside influence, we should as Zimbabweans not impose sanctions on our own. These sanctions that I am making reference to are corrupt activities. The President has on numerous occasions spoken against the corrupt tendencies that the Zimbabwean populace has engaged in.
I would want to talk about infrastructure. The President has mentioned that road infrastructure, rail and other construction of school buildings are being done so that we also become a modern country because without infrastructure, we will not be going anywhere. In terms of infrastructure development, we want to thank the Government for coming up with the construction of the road in Masvingo, the schools and clinics; these are things that are self evident.
I urge the various ministries that are responsible for construction of buildings to also look and observe that we do not have base stations that are used for internet or networks. If we were to look at the networks, we should also have base stations. There should be networks. We need an improvement on networks so that infrastructure for communication can be improved. The children in the communal lands should have access to Wi-Fi and the like, just like the children in the urban centres. Border areas or those remote areas should be a priority in redressing this anomaly.
The President also said that he was going to look into the issue of the law as it pertains to the workers. I was expecting in that regard that Government teachers also be scrutinised. If you reward your child just like when they go to buy something for you and you give them sweets, they should be rewarded. These civil servants should also be rewarded appropriately because from time to time, the local currency is losing its value. They also have expectations and need to do certain things in their life. Let us pay these workers so that they are encouraged.
I would also want to look at the issue of the police officers, that they should be given accommodation that is away from the community. The police officer cannot arrest me if I am their landlord. If the magistrate is also my lodger, how is he/she expected to try my case when he/she is living in my house? Police officers and magistrates should be given adequate accommodation so that they do not rely on rented accommodation.
In terms of media reforms, I am directing my mind to the issue of journalists. They should also be catered for so that they report factually and that should also come out of the manner in which they are living or their remuneration. They should not be paid to write stories that are not in the interest of the country. They say so because if they are paid, they will be in a position to report factually the truth as it is because they will be properly remunerated and as a result, they are not tempted to engage in corrupt tendencies as they disseminate information to the majority of the people.
We would also want to look at the issue of money. People are crying over the issue of money. If it were possible, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should closely scrutinise why there are these leakages on the pot that is on the fire. People are growing a lot of crops and a lot of minerals are being mined so as to ensure that our economy develops yet there is a rise on inflation on the other hand. They should also address the issue of inflation. They also need to look at the relationship between the American dollar and the local currency. Why are people suffering and being burdened because of that? People become disheartened instead of being happy to work for the country.
I would want to end by saying that our President saw it fit that the development of this country can only be achieved through the people’s wishes. As a listening President and the shepherd of the flock, he should ensure that his sheep are being properly looked after. We must have our country at heart as Zimbabweans. If we cannot do that, we will be only pleasing a magician, and a deceased village will only please the magician. Any person worth their salt should be able to look after their own village. I thank you.
(v)HON. E. MASUKU: Madam Speaker, I would like to add my voice to the debate raised by Hon. Mutambisi on behalf of my constituency in Umguza and like-minded progressive forces of our beautiful nation of Zimbabwe. I wish to commence by acknowledging and reiterating our appreciation for the political leadership of His Excellency, Hon. E.D. Mnangagwa. In only a short time of slightly less than three years, there is visible evidence of progress, infrastructural development and macro-economic stability in our country.
While there is still and will always be room for improvement, one cannot ignore the tangible successes of the Second Republic under his leadership. We can all see that roads are being built, some being rehabilitated, dams are being constructed, various irrigation projects that have been completed and some are at various stages of completion. There is an inexhaustive list of developmental initiatives across the country and it takes enormous effort to try and downplay such successes. We in ZANU PF stand in awe of such astute and effective leadership. All these milestones, as His Excellency the President noted in his SONA, have been achieved in the face of aggressive adversity from our detractors and enemies of our great nation of Zimbabwe.
While this platform is not for electioneering, we are saying unity is key. The whole world has been affected by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Our beautiful nation has not been spared. We mourn together with and convey our sincerest condolences to all our compatriots and fellow Zimbabweans who lost their loved ones to this deadly virus. It is a dark cloud that has covered our nation. We appreciate the Government’s pace-setting efforts on the continent, to tackle this unforgiving scourge of the pandemic under the leadership of His Excellency, President E.D. Mnangagwa. We also appreciate the resilience of our people for standing firm to fight this pandemic. Sisonke sibambene siyanqoba. To this effect, we condemn unapologetically all those who sow and encourage division amongst us and sithi kibo, asibambaneni, sibe muntu munye sakhe ilizwe lethu. This country is not ours alone but it belongs to our children and future generations. So, let us all answer positively to the clarion call and support vision 2030 as we build our nation for posterity. This has been the President’s rallying call and all of us progressive, peace-loving and patriotic Zimbabweans have to answer positively to this call. If we do not do this, no one will do it for us.
In his SONA, His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa admonished us all to be united and re-commit ourselves to serving our country. This, as he pronounced, will be to improve the quality of our life as Zimbabweans and spur lasting development for our country. Madam Speaker, it is not possible to imagine how anyone amongst us cannot support such a call. As I stated at the beginning of my submission, we are all behind His Excellency the President and support his consistent calls for unity and progressiveness including vision 2030. As I said earlier and I will reiterate, Zimbabwe is for us all.
Madam Speaker, in his SONA, the President mentioned that this year, projections are that the economy will grow by an estimated 7.8%. This comes at the backdrop of a good agricultural yield, firm mineral and commodity prices, stable inflation and exchange rate as well as our renowned containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is positive news which should spur us on as Zimbabweans.
It is an open secret that climate change has dramatically altered our established ways of life. To this effect, as the President admonished us in his SONA, we all need to be resilient and adapt to these changes. Our people, particularly farmers and those in the rural communities, need to be educated on these changes as they affect our way of life.
It is undebatable that a new lease of life has been injected into the agricultural sector. We have seen a frenzy of activity within the sector and we appreciate the support and input from Government to this effect. Grain, tobacco, cotton as well as various crops and types of farming have all seen a boom. While, as the president noted, there are some losses being experienced in animal farming due to livestock diseases, we appreciate all farmers and are grateful for all the support that the sector has received from the Government.
Not too long back, we all remember how our nation was plagued by frequent power cuts. We appreciate the Government’s efforts to arrest this problem. As the President mentioned in his SONA, the Government has increased its efforts to completely eradicate this problem and we look forward to the completion and commissioning of Units 7 and 8 at Hwange Power Station.
As I conclude my submission Madam Speaker, I want to thank His Excellency the President for his efforts. I thank you!
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Good afternoon to you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Good afternoon Hon. Banda.
(V)HON. S. BANDA: Thank you for recognising me so that I also partake of this very important motion which has been moved because of the speech that was delivered by His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, this time around, Parliament is going to face about 41 Bills which is a record in itself. So we really have a lot of things to discuss. There will be no playtime this time around Madam Speaker Ma’am. Madam Speaker, for your own information, I am the Shadow Minister for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. Since there is a proposal to the amendment of the State Universities Statutes Bill which seeks to amend the Act governing the 13 State universities so that they are aligned to the Constitution and enhance the performance of the Heritage Based Education 5.0 Policy, we really appreciate that. We also appreciate the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill which has to be finalised as soon as possible in this particular session. The Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill will be the centre of our focus as it dovetails into what we want to achieve as a country.
Madam Speaker, we have come up with an alternative policy on higher education. Our policy does not seek to fight the present policy but however, it tends to make it better. What we have noticed Madam Speaker Ma’am is that the Heritage Based Education 5.0 that is there seeks to improve STEM aligned subjects only ignoring other critical disciplines like Art and Commercial subjects.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Banda, we cannot hear you.
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Can you hear me now Madam Speaker?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, we can. Please proceed.
(v)HON. S. BANDA: Thank you. I was saying that our alternative policy on higher education which is entitled, Technology and Pragmatic Grounded Higher Education to a First World Academia by 2035 seeks to support Education 5.0 by adding what may have been left out by Education 5.0 because it is mainly STEM associated. So this alternative policy will see Zimbabwe in the Fourth Session bringing back the emphasis on commercial subjects and creative art. In so doing Madam Speaker, people in the informal sector have developed prototypes of machines and equipment that can be used in urban and rural areas. Such prototypes include a new pedal type of borehole rams, bio digesters and heaters that can be used to produce new forms of energy. So we call upon the responsible Minister not to ignore those who are in the informal sector who have not attended Higher and Tertiary Education institutions to partake in the development of prototypes in innovation hubs…- [Technical Glitch.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Banda! Hon. Banda! I think we have lost him due to network challenges.
HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 20th October, 2021.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI, seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Twenty-Four Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 19th October, 2021
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
PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the House that the 2021 Pre-Budget Seminar will be held from 22nd to 26th October, 2021, at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls. Hon. Senators who have not yet confirmed their attendance with the Public Relations Department must do so. Officers from the department will be stationed at the Members Dining Room on 19th and 21st October, 2021.
Hon. Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will travel by air. A charter flight has been arranged and the departure time from the Robert Mugabe International Airport is at 0900 hours on 22nd October, 2021 and the expected arrival time in Victoria Falls is 1000hrs. The return charter flight will leave Victoria Falls on 26th October at 0900hrs and arrives in Harare at 1000hrs.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Mr. President, I move the motion
standing in my name that a respectful address be presented to the President of Zimbabwe as follows:
May it please you, Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, we 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. SEN. MABIKA: I second.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you once more Mr. President. I am extremely thrilled and exhilarated this afternoon at this sole chance to lead debate on the Presidential Speech enunciated to mark the opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. To me, it really is a very rare privilege; so it is only proper for me to thank you Mr. President for affording me this rare life chance.
Allow me Mr. President, to begin by thanking His Excellency for the eloquent and pragmatic speech that ushered us into a new session, the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament with much enthusiasm. Despite the COVID-19 setback, it is crystal clear from the President’s speech, that as a nation, we are on the correct trajectory towards not only overcoming the scourge of the pandemic but realising our vision of becoming a prosperous upper middle income nation by 2030.
Mr. President, His Excellency, besides noting that our nation remains under the cloud of COVID-19 pandemic for the second year running, acknowledged and sincerely congratulated the people of our great nation, that we call Zimbabwe for their unity and fortitude as well as the hardworking culture which they continue to demonstrate. He further mentioned that, that has seen us realising unprecedented milestones and successes against all forms of adversity. At this juncture Mr. President, I would like to sincerely thank His Excellency for being a listening and hands-on President, for giving praise where it is due and for commending the hard work exhibited by the people of Zimbabwe, with special mention to all sectors of the economy that were rallying together, playing their respective part towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
Mr. President, His Excellency spoke of peace, unity, harmony, stability and growing national cohesion as factors that will see us as a nation realising the goals and aspirations we have set. Indeed Mr. President, we need to, as a nation, take heed and treasure the peace, unity, harmony and stability that we currently enjoy. I want to applaud the President for reminding the nation that the aforesaid factors are of paramount importance, hence the need to ride over them to achieve our goals. It is also very essential to take note of the President’s advice that individually and collectively; we should commit to save our country wholeheartedly so that we can improve the quality of life for all, ‘leaving no one behind’.
Mr. President, His Excellency made mention of the upward growth trajectory of our economy by 7.8% which he attributed to good 2020/21 agricultural season, firm mineral commodity prices, stable inflation and exchange rate and the containment of COVID-19 pandemic. This is despite the backdrop of continuing illegal, draconic economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. Mr. President, allow me to be loud, in fact very loud and very clear and in very bold letters to say, we strongly support and rally behind His Excellency the President’s call for urgent and unconditional removal of the illegal economic sanctions imposed on our country Zimbabwe.
In agriculture Mr. President, I want to express my gratitude to His Excellency for stressing timely implementation of Government programmes befitting the agriculture sector, the focus being to increase rural per capita incomes while also providing household food security and nutrition.
He also commended the new crop of young farmers currently doing business in the farms that he said he has assured the nation that the land we fought for will remain in safe hands for -posterity. His Excellency the President, also mentioned that Government is consistently availing adequate resources to expedite payments to our farmers for crop deliveries. The President is ever stressing that the aforementioned strategy is envisaged to guarantee enhanced productivity and capability of farm operations along the farming as a business philosophy.
This is highly commendable as it shows that our President is a listening President. Previously, there were embarrassing delays in the payment of deliveries made. A very bad example was the issue of cotton and COTTCO. I remember vividly in this Senate, a fellow Hon. Member talked about it but now due to the President’s intervention, things have drastically improved and it is now a thing of the past.
Mr. President, His Excellency the President mentioned that tobacco sales exceeded 210,9 kgs with export earnings surpassing US$818.6 million. Cotton also increased by 100% to 2000 tonnes. This is a sign of hard work by the Zimbabweans. Should we continue on this trajectory, then even the illegal economic sanctions will be rendered useless. The President went on to bemoan and was gravely concerned with losses incurred by farmers due to the menace of livestock disease.
I want to thank His Excellency and the Government, through the Department of Veterinary Services, for distributing tick grease and the January disease to all provinces, districts, wards and villages; this has a little bit alleviated the problem of livestock diseases.
Mr. President, I want to commend His Excellency the President, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for the various bilateral schemes that will inject additional 3 000 tractors and over 200 combine harvesters meant to augment the current number of mechanical farming implements available nationally. Zimbabwe is an agriculture country, hence investing in it as has been done by the Government is the best way to go. I will go on to applaud His Excellency for the current economic rebound and increased productivity that has seen increased demand for electricity and fuel.
The President and his Government has redoubled efforts to complete and commission Units 7 and 8 at Hwange Power Station. Furthermore, the announcement by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, that this country has been receiving numerous requests for hosting of regional and international expos in Victoria Falls and Kariba is not only a clear endorsement of our national vaccination programme, but a welcome development deserving a high praise to His Excellency.
Mr. President, I will not be exhaustive of the Presidential Speech, so I will leave time to fellow Hon. Senators. I, however, once again want to commend the President and the Government for prioritizing capital spending with 34% of total expenditure earmarked for infrastructural development.
I will go on to thank him and the Government for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, which is transformational across all provinces, districts, cities and towns. What is interestingly encouraging and satisfying Mr. President, is that local resources are being put to good use. Local contractors are being empowered and the community and public are experiencing an added convenience.
When it comes to transport Mr. President, His Excellency and the Government did wonders. Resources were availed for the procurement of modern buses to service urban, intercity and rural routes. The entry of Qatar airline to further link our country with the Middle East markets is also a welcome development. The recent procurement of Embraer ERJ 145 to add to the entity and serviceable fleet of plans is also laudable; here I am referring to Air Zimbabwe as an entity. Rehabilitation and expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airports is also on course, including other various strips like Kariba, Buffalo Range and Grand Reef. On this note Mr. President, I want each and every one of us here in the Senate, to support the President for a huge success of this entire endeavour.
His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, spoke at length on the Legislative Agenda for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament. This is a topic that talks about our mandate as parliamentarians or legislators and I hope every one of us took heed. Mr. President, it is true, we the legislators have unfinished business that we are carrying over into the Fourth Session. The President made mention of the Bills that could not be dispensed during the Third Session. He also talked about the existing statutes which required alignment with the Constitution. He stressed that all the outstanding jobs should be completed during the Fourth Session.
May I now Mr. President, acknowledge the President’s command and go on to advise my fellow Hon. Senators to tighten their belts, work hard to ensure all the outstanding work is done and is up to date. His Excellency further highlighted that Parliament will be requested to consider legislation relating to implementation of the devolution agenda, that is presentation of the Provincial Councils Amendment Bill.
In fact, there are about 14 Bills that need to be worked on during the Fourth Session that were supposed to have been actioned during the Third Session. The mere fact that His Excellency the President is alive to all these outstanding Bills and statutes is a clear indication that His Excellency is a constitutionalist. I could not avoid a broad smile when His Excellency talked about his being aware of the great expectations to migrate to the new Parliament building in the new city of Mt Hampden. We are crowded, that is a fact and yet we are rearing to go, very eager to go to the new Parliament building located in the new city and become the pioneers of both the new building and the city.
When His Excellency said progress is pleasing at the new building, to me and many other Hon. Members in this Senate, it meant the building is almost complete. Allow me Mr. President, to once again thank His Excellency and the Second Republic for coming up with the initiative of a new building in a new city.
I want to end my debate by quoting two great men, one from Zimbabwe and the other from Ghana. Allow me to quote His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa when he said, “To our parliamentarians, I wish to reiterate the need to expedite the legislative work that lies ahead for the remainder of this year and going into 2022. Let there be a common desire to prioritise the enactment of laws which reflect and give impetus to the developmental aspirations of our people.”
I will then go on to quote the second great man, the former President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah - may his soul rest in eternal peace. When he was just rounding up his address to UNDP in 1957, he said, “There is nothing that small men can say when great men talk”. His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe is inevitably a great man and the man talking to you right now is obviously a very small man and has nothing further to say. I thank you Mr. President and I thank all Hon. Senators – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
HON. SEN. MABIKA: Thank you Mr. President, I would first of all want to thank Hon. Sen. Kambizi for the motion and in seconding such a motion, I would like to start by thanking His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, for a highly resounding road map of where our country was, where we are and the crystal clear statement of where we are going. In addition, his words on the required national solidarity leave no doubts as to the attitude our nation needs to build up for the guaranteed success of Zimbabwe.
Indeed, through his astuteness in leadership, we have so far weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic without the level of carnage that was unfortunately experienced in other countries. Despite the highly disruptive mandatory requirements of lockdowns and the burden of sanctions, we have seen the country balance its way through all these adversities. The participation of all right minded Zimbabweans towards achievement of 2030 goals is required by serving our nation wholeheartedly. Inclusivity of all members of our country cannot be over-emphasised. The national economic growth rate of over 7, 8% is a highly commendable achievement for our country indeed. Development of the ever critical agricultural and mining sector is a commendable achievement delivered through focus and resilience of policy and efforts.
Macro-economic stability forms the foundation of an economy and His Excellency harnessed all the necessary efforts to achieve it despite sanctions, COVID-19 lockdowns and other mischievous behaviour in the market. Indeed, sanctions must go!
A 7, 8% growth rate under sanctions is a sure sign of good leadership. The increased number of young people involved in successful farming is a positive sign for the future of the heritage of our nation. A nation assured of food security from our own local resources coupled withthe philosophy of taking farming as a business is the first best step towards conditioning our people into professional sustainable farmers. We shall become the breadbasket of Africa again at this pace as proven by the production results of last season with 100% increase in cotton production and over half a billion in tobacco sales. Indeed, value addition of these products will ignite re-industrialisation of Zimbabwe from the agricultural sector.
Mechanisation and modernisation of farming will go a long way in enhancing productivity of already a buoyant agricultural sector. We commend the plan to bring in more farm implements for our farmers as well as the intended enhancement of DDF services in tillage programmes. We fully commend the implementation of massive dam projects throughout the country. Zimbabwe is the most highly dammed nation in Africa. This will also assist in mitigating climate change effects on our agriculture - a true continental leadership style.
Re-industrialisation via import substitution is indeed a noble idea as the industry is guaranteed of a market and a platform to start growing till export capability into the region is achieved. It is a safe investment for our investors at large, driving the theme for buy proudly Zimbabwean brands to enhance the industrialisation drive and build our local brands for world markets over time.
The increase in energy demand is an excellent sign of growth and we commend all the efforts being made to cater for the forecast demand in time to sustain the growth. Besides Hwange expansion and solar projects, we are excited by the prospect of the Muzarabani oil and gas projects where your efforts have been of paramount importance. These projects will see us being self-sustaining in terms of fuel supply and save us billions of dollars in fuel imports per year.
Added to that, the by-products are known to be ammonia which we trust will fully support our agrarian drive by way of low cost fertilizer produced locally. To make and repair our roads, plastics for pet-containers, electricity generation through the use of gas powered stations -for sure, we are on the road to achieving vision 2030 and to achieve the forecast of 7,8% economic growth.
It gives our nation pride to have our vaccination programme being endorsed by being given the right to host regional and international meetings in Victoria Falls, our wonder of the world being honoured in the process.
With the requirement to ignite business activity, the allocation of 34% of total expenditure has seen our growth shooting up significantly which tendsto disarm petty critics of Zimbabwe as our GDP will surely rise to levels of softening external forces working against our country. At the same time, we are trying to keep all the money circulating in the country while providing our local experts the opportunity to build profiles for future use in competing in other countries. Indeed, the benefit is for today and for tomorrow. Cleaning up the road and air service facilities is a good preparation for an influx of investors and excellent image-setting move.
The emergency road rehabilitation programme is a reality on the ground by the Government. In line with our Vision 2030, alignment of the Human Resource towards a more practical resource is commendable and is the only way to kick-start innovation and the subsequent production that comes with it. The regularisation programme for informal and irregular settlement certainly requires a lot of attention as it has got a high impact of individual family units.
Bringing money into the households is a fundamental requirement for increasing the prosperity of our nation. It goes without saying that capitalising the people’s business has been the key impediment to many due to sanctions blocking entry of capital into our country. They have not had the full opportunity to earn from their sweat. Using local capital resource via NSSA is the most prudent idea that ever happened to our entrepreneurs. The idea of giving women a dedicated channel for capital via Zimbabwe Women Micro Finance Bank, Treasury and SMEDCO is a welcome development indeed.
Drug abuse has consumed some of the sharpest young minds and taken lives of some of our young people too. We trust that a successful solution will be achieved towards this end.
Completion of the re-alignment of laws has seen significant progress with only 42 laws to go. The target to complete this by end of the Session is realistic and will set the milestone for future development of new laws whose space was being taken by the alignment process.
As for Parliamentary Pensions Act of addressing deficiencies identified in the present Act, - this will go a long way in motivating Parliamentarians into working harder with very little room for rent-seeking behaviour. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that, indeed we shall reap success and prosperity in the Zimbabwe we want and deserve if only we remain in peace, love, unity and harmony. United we stand, divided we fall. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to support Hon. Sen. Kambizi who moved this motion. Let me thank Hon. Kambizi for bringing the motion of the Presidential Speech to this House, seconded by Hon. Sen. Mabika. I would like to thank His Excellency the President for his very important words. I will say a few words.
The President started off by thanking the citizens of this country for showing unity of purpose during the beginning of COVID-19. The pandemic was very strong but the President encouraged people to remain united. The President is very happy about the unity shown by the citizens. Due to the unity displayed by the citizens, we now realise that COVID-19 is going down although we lost quite a number of our relatives. We want to thank the majority of the citizens who worked in unity for us to understand this pandemic.
I would like to thank the President of this country as well for condemning the sanctions. Sanctions have hampered development and brought disunity in this country because some love them whilst others do not. However, let me say that His Excellency is clear that he wants those sanctions to go because it is us as Zimbabweans who went to beg for them. Those who imposed them did not come here but we went to them to have them imposed on ourselves. If we see what is transpiring in the country, the sanctions are affecting everyone. We cannot develop as a country because we cannot access assistance from other countries including our friends because of sanctions. Whilst some people call them targeted, they are real and they have affected this country. They have destroyed and affected progress in our country. For those who went to beg for sanctions with the view that they will get assistance, they should revise their view and go back so that the sanctions are removed and there is progress.
I would like to thank the President of this country for also bringing in the Women’s Bank. The lives of women, especially during the colonial times, we were not even allowed to open up bank accounts, obtain identity documents, drive cars or go for maternity leave. If one went for maternity leave, they would find that by the time they wanted to come back, there will already be a replacement for them. I would like to thank President Mnangagwa for bringing the Women’s Bank which is bringing in a lot of progress to women in terms of business. A lot of women are now developing and we also hope that many women will be able to access those funds so that we eradicate poverty. We know that when women access funds, their development will translate to the development of the country.
Mr. President, let me say that His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, through his address in Parliament, was very much troubled by the behaviour of the young people, especially on drug abuse. That is a foreign culture, it is not Zimbabwean but our youths are busy imitating cultures from other countries and they believe that by abusing drug substances, it is good for them. You will realise that most of our youth these days are doing that but we believe that there is a solution to end drug abuse. His Excellency said that the security sector will work tirelessly to stop the spread of drug abuse. As parents, let us also complement Government efforts so that we stop drug abuse by our children.
In order for these efforts to be successful, let us ensure that our children do not abuse drugs in our families at family level; it is not a good thing at all. Let us think deeply about drug abuse and let us try to think where it is coming from and why? I personally think that it is because the youth constitute the majority of the population. Because we are endowed with a lot of resources, the youth are abusing drugs to intoxicate the young ones so that they destroy their thinking and that they lose track of the wonderful resources that we have. That way, they will not be able to stand and defend the country. Our youths should be able to defend this country. They should know that problems cannot be resolved by drugs.
Let me also point out to what His Excellency, the President of the Republic said; he thanked the security forces for preserving peace in this country. Sometimes we may not appreciate that but the President emphasised that the security forces are upholding the Constitution of this country to ensure that this country has peace. There is no war in this country. If a country is at peace, the military then turns to development issues. That is why we see them now building bridges, schools, clinics and libraries. That only happens when there is peace in the country and there is no war in this country. I would like to thank the President of this country because it is very important for us to have peace in the country. When there is no peace in the country, you do not witness development because many people will be running up and down fighting.
Finally, let me congratulate Madam President of the Senate for landing the Vice President’s role at the African Parliamentary Union (APU), representing the Southern African Regional Group. I would like to appreciate that very much because that never used to happen during the colonial times. I would like to applaud the New Dispensation for ensuring that women occupy such high offices. Indeed, that is the wish for women that Madam President got that high and esteemed office. I would like to thank you very much Mr. President.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 20th October, 2021.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA seconded by HON. SEN. MOHADI, the Senate adjourned at Eleven Minutes past Three o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 24th October, 2019.
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
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANTI-SANCTIONS MARCH
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform the
Senate that all Members of Parliament are cordially invited to participate in the anti-sanction march on Friday, 25th October, 2019. The march will commence from the Robert Mugabe Square and proceed to the National Sports Stadium at 0800 hours. The bus leaves Parliament Building at 0700 hours. Hon. Members are urged to be punctual.
CHANGES TO THEMATIC COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I also have to inform the Senate of changes to the membership of Thematic Committees where
Hon. Sen. Mupfumira has been nominated to serve on the following Committees:
- Human Rights
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I only have apologies from two Ministers, Hon. Kazembe, Minister of ICT, Postal and
Courier Services and Hon. J. M. Mhlanga, Deputy Minister for Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing but there are no Ministers here. I hope they will be coming soon. Therefore, we have to move to the Business of the Day and revert to Question Time when the Ministers are in.
MOTION
REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON
ZIMBABWE
HON. SEN. MBOHWA: I move the motion standing in my
name that this House:-
COGNISANT that the 39th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of States and Government held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, strongly condemned the prolonged adverse illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West and equivocally called for their unconditional removal;
MINDFUL that SADC has always been calling for the immediate
lifting of sanctions to facilitate the socio-economic recovery of the country leading to the resolution to declare 25th October, 2019 as the date on which SADC Member States collectively voice their disapproval of the illegal sanctions through various activities and platforms;
DEEPLY CONCERNED with the duplicity by the West and its
allies who are masking the protracted illegal regime change agenda under the guise of targeted sanctions;
GRAVELY DISTURBED that the so-called sanctions have brought untold suffering to ordinary Zimbabweans through deindustrialisation resulting in high levels of unemployment, among many other economic challenges;
WORRIED that the crippling sanctions have affected all spheres of our economic and social services through the ever-increasing skills flight which has decimated all meaningful development in the last two decades;
NOTING with disdain the arrogant unilateralism and disrespect for the rule of law of countries that illegally imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe;
NOW, THEREFORE:-
- calls upon United States of America, the European Union and
its allies to urgently and unconditionally remove the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe at their instigation as these have resulted in horrendous suffering of the ordinary Zimbabwean citizens;
- resolves that dialogue be given chance and that the perpetrators be encouraged by the collective voice of the SADC Region to urge their governments to lift all forms of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe;
- applauds the SADC Region for rising with one voice in support of the unconditional and immediate removal of the illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
HON. SEN. MBOHWA: Thank you Madam President for
offering me this opportunity to debate on the motion on sanctions. Madam President, according to the Cambridge dictionary, sanctions is an official order such as stopping of trade, that is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law.
I would therefore want to define again economic sanctions as restrictive measures of an economy and sometimes forceful in nature and meant to punish the country in contravention of these international laws or norms. By referring to the international laws, the obvious fact is that the violation must be easily identifiable to the international actors such as United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and African Union (UN) unilaterally should be clear enough for this violation. I would also want to highlight that that was not the fact as in the issue of
Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe’s allegations were just allegation and not proven but were suspected.
Madam President, according to the Zimbabwe point of view, the UN debated the issue of sanctions and did not agree on the case alleged against Zimbabwe. There was no conceivable offence leveled against Zimbabwe but a strong powerful State, the United States of America, single handedly resolved the case against Zimbabwe by putting punitive sanctions, which they call targeted sanctions and EU followed suit.
Madam President, if I may ask, what crime had Zimbabwe committed? You will wonder. The bone of contention was the land issue and will still remain the land issue. This led to the bilateral dispute between Zimbabwe and Britain. According to the Lancaster Agreement, Britain has agreed to foot the bill on a willing buyer, willing seller arrangement but 10 years later, Tony Blair shifted goal posts and this led to Zimbabwe grabbing its land; it took back its land. I think if I still remember, this started from Mashonaland East when Chief Svosve led a group in Marondera and they demanded what was
initially theirs.
If you would want to note Madam President, British or White people were 2% of the population but they occupied 70% of the land but imagine who was the culprit there? According to EU and America, it was Zimbabwe but factually it was not; what hypocrisy. That is why we call these ‘illegal sanctions’. If you want to think further, these illegal sanctions were also targeted to frighten other states like Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique so that they would not follow the same route Zimbabwe had taken. They wanted to intimidate them so that they would not get back their land as well.
Madam President, the natural justice procedure of determining the wrong party was not followed. They felt UN sanctions were smuggled into operation by the United State of America and EU. These sanctions are targeted at certain individuals in Zimbabwe. These sanctions are an economic war which through various amendments later affected industries, parastatals, private business transactions, which affected innocent Zimbabweans. For example if I have a shop as Mbohwa, people come and surround my shop saying no one should buy from this shop. If someone tries to buy from my shop during the night, that person will be targeted as well. Eventually my business will collapse. They we saying targeted sanctions but these are not targeted because through amendments they targeted industries, parastatals, private business transactions diamond and gold producers and rejected the sales. So we had nowhere to sell. If you try to sell to someone, that individual was going to be targeted so we were left isolated, hence crippling our economy. Women and children are the most affected. The only companies where women would work closed down leaving them jobless. Men migrated to foreign lands in search for work, tearing the family apart leaving women burdened with the duty to raise the children in a country where there are no drugs. It is like you live in Hwange National Park and all the water sources dry up, you can survive for a few days or you have to leave everything to God – [HON.
SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
Madam President, no single country can survive without getting loan from IMF, World Bank et cetera but the European Union and
America are saying Zimbabwe should operate on a cash basis, yet Mr. President there is no single government that can survive on a daily cash budget without loan facilities to cushion financial projection not even USA and EU. How can we survive as a nation? They claim we have internal sanctions. I wonder if their PhDs mean philosophy in historical distortion. It is a strange logic to expect a government to address its problems with tied hands financially.
Madam President, investors are not coming because they are scared of being targeted as well – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – These sanctions are genocidal in nature to the ordinary Zimbabwean. Mr. President, from 1990 to present how many people have died due to economic related problems like hunger, stress related illnesses, HIV, due to increased prostitution, drug shortages, strikes by doctors and lack of proper nutrition, to name a few.
These countries are calling for change of Government instead of lifting up sanctions. This shows that the land dispute is still going on. USA and its allies still deny responsibility for human pain. They claim that it is the Government and if asked what should be done, they talk of regime change. They thought regime change would reverse land gains. No, they are dreaming, the land came through by the shedding of blood of our heroes, it will never be reversed.
America defends its interests, citizens and its nation. It has punitive laws for citizens who bring despondency in their country but has the guts to divide Zimbabweans. It is high time we become aware of this and come up with similar laws to protect our citizens from untold sufferings.
Madam President, we do not want economic war, we need dialogue. New dispensation approach is not finding a taker. The President is advocating for reengagement, dialogue and legal reforms but USA and EU are not prepared to give him an ear. They always shoot down at the President’s efforts.
Madam President, I would like to thank the SADC Heads of State for continuously calling for the removal of these illegal sanctions and also declaring 25th October as the date which SADC member states collectively voice their disapproval of the illegal sanctions. Let us all through this august House, support this cause because sanctions have no boundaries. They affect every Zimbabwean regardless of race, belief or party. Let us all call for the removal of these illegal sanctions sooner than yesterday. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: On a point of order Madam
President, I am wondering whether Ministers are coming.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: This is what I am
working on. You saw me calling the Chief Whip and the Deputy Clerk and we were talking about that. I think they are not going anywhere very far. As we are going on with this debate, someone can be allowed to move around in Parliament.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Madam President. I
strongly feel that as a House we have to address this issue. I only saw two Ministers and it is 30 minutes into the Question Time. The debate can still go on but these have fixed time. We did not agree on the time Question Time will commence. Yes, you might be consulting but I do not think the House is aware of what is going to happen and whether the debate is going to continue. Are Ministers coming and after how long?
It is a fixed time for Question Time. I am really thinking that you
should be able to address us, that it is 30 minutes after starting of Parliament. I saw two Ministers in the House and they should be more than that. Is there a problem or it is just a contempt of the Senate?
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I agree with what you
are saying. We agreed from the beginning that since Ministers are not yet here, we can continue with other business of the Senate.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President. I
want to thank Hon. Sen. Mbohwa for bringing in this important motion on sanctions which were put to trouble the country of Zimbabwe. The history of Zimbabwe and other countries is that every country does elections to elect leaders whom they want and Zimbabwe does not interfere. We do not take our policies to other countries. The policies we do are for Zimbabwe and good for our people. America and their friends do not want that. They want to give us their policies.
Madam President, sanctions are similar to death penalty. They are killing people. Sanctions are causing poverty. We do not have medicines in hospitals, our education is poor, and road infrastructure is poor. All this is caused by sanctions. America says that it is because we are failing to administer but it is because of sanctions. May they leave us alone and we do our own things. We cannot go to America and get involved in their politics. As it has been said by Hon. Mbohwa, the issue is about land. They just wanted us to raise the flag, come to collect our minerals and take our riches to America. That is why they brought these sanctions. They want to abuse smaller countries by taking our riches.
It is not only Zimbabwe which is in poverty. All other countries in the SADC are in trouble due to sanctions because we associate with these countries. SADC members are being affected by sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. They helped us during the liberation struggle.
Their children died because of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. America looks at the leader of Zimbabwe. They want a puppet whom they can control; whom if they say stop in the middle of the road, he does without asking why.
President Mnangagwa’s policies are very good and these are the ones that are being attacked. They say if they do not trouble President Mnangagwa and his Government, they will not be able to remove him.
We have old people who are supposed to be supported by this country. The sick and the disabled need assistance. We have orphans who also need assistance but because of sanctions all these people are suffering.
I want to thank SADC as it has always been its agenda that Zimbabwean sanctions are removed because these sanctions are not only affecting Zimbabwe but they are affecting other countries in the SADC. We want to thank this good friendship. We will not be separated because we are one people. Let me say these sanctions, as SADC sees it, they want them to be removed.
I support this motion that they did very well to set the date of 25th
October that the whole of SADC demonstrates that sanctions against Zimbabwe are removed. It shows that we are united. A country cannot develop if it is under sanctions. We cannot say they are targeted. They have to define them but they are not. I was reading today’s newspaper.
Britain was refusing that in Zimbabwe there are sanctions. They are saying they are targeted. Which targeted sanctions are they talking about? Myself and Hon. Tsitsi Muzenda were members of the Politburo and we are under sanctions. I am not allowed to go to Britain and I do not even want to go to Britain. What do I want from there? I stay here in Zimbabwe. How did Britain and America know that there is Alice Chimbudzi - that is my question? Let me say these are not targeted.
Our economy is failing to grow because of sanctions. We had companies like NRZ, Dairibord and ZUPCO which were performing well but all these companies were destroyed by jealous and cruelty so that Zimbabweans end up going to America or Britain as economic refugees. We support that SADC had a good reason that these sanctions have to be removed and the people of Zimbabwe should support SADC for the call on the removal of sanctions. We want to be united with
SADC in the removal of sanctions.
Let me say this Madam President, on political issues, all countries in the world hold elections. Now Mozambique is having elections and has three candidates. Botswana and Namibia are having elections and in Zimbabwe they are also coming. In Zimbabwe we had 130 candidates and all of them contested? No one was disallowed. Some people dropped from the race on their own but other parties participated. Zimbabweans choose the leader whom they want and other countries do not choose leaders for us. We choose on our own as Zimbabwe.
As Zimbabwe, we should not backtrack on the issue of land. We can be attacked until our death but we will keep our land. We will hold Zimbabwe in our hands because it is our heritage for our children. If we do not have land, what are we? How can we be said we are Zimbabweans when we do not have land? All the other things can follow but the biggest thing is that we have land. They have farms in their countries and they do not want us to have them so that we keep on begging from them. We will not do that. We will keep our farms together with SADC.
I want to thank SADC on this vision and we want to thank them as Zimbabwe and this House that SADC, you did well to have that vision that you want these sanctions to be removed. We can have some
Zimbabweans saying we do not have sanctions but people are suffering. Even us as parliamentarians, we are not getting our salaries because of sanctions. We are not even competing with Botswana on salaries because Botswana has no sanctions that we have. We are supposed to be getting good salaries but because of sanctions, the country does not have money.
I want to thank SADC for this vision. We are standing with SADC and we would want to thank you for standing with us even if it is difficult, with sanctions coming from Britain and USA, we will not give up the fight. I want to thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to support this motion on sanctions. Let us keep our heritage and keep our Zimbabwe no matter that there are sanctions, there are friends who stand with us and there are many of them. Let us stand with those friends also as a country. Hon. Members, let us go and march so that sanctions are removed.
*HON. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion brought by Senator Mbowha, seconded by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi. I want to say this country is ours. God himself saw it fit that we be called Zimbabweans and gave us this country. I want to thank SADC countries which are bordering us; maybe it is caused by the fact that we are one people. Some say we all came from the north and so we are one people. There is no one explaining convincingly why these sanctions were put. They are bringing hardship.
These sanctions were not targeted but they were given to every citizen; the rich, middle class and the poorest. What we have seen over the years is that these sanctions have affected even married couples. Wife and husband cannot be happy thinking about poverty caused by these sanctions.
Let us go to the issue of banks. We have banks affected because of this ZIDERA law that says there is no bank in this country which is able to help me to buy things in America. We have one commercial bank in this country which was fined $2,48 million just because they did transactions for people buying things outside. When they sat down crafting ZIDERA there are many things in ZIDERA. We have one commercial bank which also paid a fine of $3,8 billion because they did transactions with companies in this country. We have many banks that are under sanctions. What has this to do with banks?
I saw Reuben Barwe on television saying that his account was cancelled. When he asked why, it was said because he is from Zimbabwe. If we look in the recent past, we had a company which closed because we are not getting foreign currency. There is no one who does not know that if a country has to move forward, it has to access money from the World Bank. We are supposed to be getting money from other countries. Banks in other countries do not want to do business with us because they are afraid that if they do so, the giant called America will be against them
We are no longer able to go and buy machines. We know very well that for us to be able to print our money, we should have machines which are bought from outside. That is not possible because of sanctions. Our industry has been destroyed. In Bulawayo, all companies are closed.
What surprises me is that these sanctions, some of us are the ones who asked for them. This is affecting even our education. We had Swedish Fund which assisted people and they were warned not to bring that money. They were supposed to give US$13, 9 million for assisting children who are poor.
What troubles me as people of this country is we used to be united, but there are some of us who went to ask for these sanctions. However, sanctions do not select that we are going to Hon. Senator
Hungwe’s house. These sanctions are affecting every house-hold in this country. So, I am saying as a people of this country, let us go and unite so that sanctions are removed.
As a nation, we pride ourselves that we have diamonds and other minerals but we cannot sell those diamonds abroad because of sanctions. So, I would like to thank our God and our ancestors. We were now supposed to be cannibalizing each other but because of our ancestors and our Maker who have protected us up to this time, we are not dying of hunger. Our President said that no one will die of hunger even if there is no rain.
I want to appeal to my countrymen who went to ask for sanctions; we saw on television yesterday, some of us saying keep on pressing that Zimbabwe will continue to suffer. However, I am sorry because I am suffering and you are also suffering.
The white men came in this country and took away the fertile land where they removed us and then we took up arms to liberate our country and took our land, it is our right. The Bible says, “the children of Israel where given Canaan when He delivered them from Egypt”. So, we have our Canaan, which is Zimbabwe. Let us unite and fight together so that the sanctions are removed. They have to go, it is enough.
Madam President, even those who want to have the sanctions kept will make sure that ZIDERA is removed. Let us look to the East but some of us went to beg for those sanctions but your relatives are also suffering. So, I want to thank SADC and I also want to thank Senator Mbowa for bringing up this motion. Tomorrow we are going to march, putting on our tennis shoes, to cry that these sanctions are removed. Just let them remove these sanctions even only for a month and see what will happen to Zimbabwe. We have leaders who are wise and who know what they are doing who fought for this country. As Senators, let us go to the march tomorrow to cry for one thing that sanctions be removed so that our children will have a good life and education. Zimbabwe has educated children who know what they are doing. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Madam President for
according me this opportunity to add my voice. Firstly, allow me to repeat what I once said. As the Senate, we are an arm of the Government; so as such, when we debate, we should know that we are doing it on behalf of our country. Let me thank Hon. Sen. Mbowa for this motion on sanctions.
Sanctions have destabilised our county, they have come about because of the land that we took from the whites, and they forget that land is the one that caused our children to go for war so that we get back our land. It was a difficult struggle for us to get this land. Our children went there from all the parts of the country. They were not concerned where they come from but they had one thing in common, which is the land. That is why today we now have our country and because of that sanctions were imposed upon us.
The populace of Zimbabwe is being troubled. As the people of Zimbabwe in this House, we want to give credit to the SADC for coming up with support for the removal of sanctions because they know that the people of Zimbabwe want their elections and they have their leader but the people who gave us sanctions were not happy about that because going back to the history, the partition of Africa, they fought for this country, they wanted our minerals, that is what they want. They want to frighten us but we will not go back because this is our country. We want to support that the sanctions that they have put in place should be removed. They just gave us sanctions for no reason. So, from this House, we are crying that they should remove the sanctions unconditionally. If they have any conditions, we should go to court because we do not owe any one anything. They are just oppressing our country. In this country, people are struggling because of sanctions, for example, if you are in business, you cannot do business on your own; you go to the bank for loans. The same applies with a country, and there is a World Bank which was put in place by all the countries. We have IMF, they can give countries loans but we are embargoed Madam President and it is very painful as it is for no apparent reason. In our country, there are some people who see and some people do not see. The thing that will take our country forward is dialogue. From way back up to the Lancaster Constitution, the hiccup there was also the issue of land. The ZANLA and ZIPRA forces were fighting from various ends and the Rhodesian Front was also fighting but our war was won through dialogue.
So all the things that are troubling us as a nation can only be ended through dialogue. There are some people who are afraid of dialogue because they do not have points. They are just told to refuse and are puppets. We should use our brains fully, like tomorrow - the day which was agreed on the Thirty-Ninth Summit – all the other countries agreed and who are you? Does your party have people at heart because people are suffering from finding even education and industry has gone down because of the people who want sanctions.
Even here in this House, we just did not come but we are representing various parties – ZANU PF and MDC but this is our thing. We came up with our Constitution united as all the parties. Even today, I am inviting all of us as citizens of Zimbabwe, if you are not sellouts, we should come out tomorrow in our numbers and cry for our country.
If there is anything that you want, our President has stretched out his hand that those who want to participate in the dialogue, should come and apply your minds on the table.
Dialogue is the only thing that will end everything. Why are you afraid? Those who do not have anything to contribute will not come because they do not have anything to say. So our country as Zimbabwe, we will keep on supporting it because our children died. Madam President, I am proud to say that where you are sitting there, you got that place through the war, by participating in the struggle. Now that we have the country, we should support it and Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. No matter what they do, we stand firm because this is our country and it is not going anywhere. So we want to applaud SADC for their vision. Tomorrow, 25th October 2019, you will see crowds in this nation marching in support of the anti-sanctions. Those who do not want to participate, they can just watch while people who have their nation at heart will march and see that this nation has people who love their country.
I am pained Madam President and I feel sorry for some of us who have not seen the revelation. We will support our President and we know that he has a lot of friends and this country will go forward. We want to support that sanctions be removed immediately and unconditionally. Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity of making my contribution on this motion which is very important and it is showing that the people of Zimbabwe are in deep problems caused by these sanctions. When I look back, these countries which imposed sanctions on us, the British and the Americans are used to ill treating us just because during that time, in those early years, they used to enslave our ancestors. Our ancestors would be captured from their countries and villages and tied in shackles and they crossed the oceans to all those overseas countries and they developed those countries. We talk about underground trains and railway systems in those overseas countries, these were dug by our ancestors who were taken there as slaves and this is the system which they are used to and they believe that as Africans, we are their slaves.
Let me now turn to the Americans. This is a country which is very selfish and which is a bully, they look at themselves as the people who are the kings and ruling all over the world. They have their own initiatives as they do not care about other people. As a result, when these Americans feel Zimbabwe should cower because they have seen these bullies, but they have no chance. Zimbabwe is endowed with a lot of minerals. What is now happening is that they look for some people who are weaklings or sell outs and they enslave the sell outs and hold them in capturing our local natural wealth for the benefit of the Americans.
That is why we have these problems because the current leadership in the country is so strong that the Americans and the British have failed to penetrate and they are frustrated. That is why they cannot give the reason why these sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe. They are using a term saying that these are targeted sanctions, yet these sanctions are affecting even the old folk at home. They cannot afford buying the things they want because of the sanctions. Therefore, the ordinary person in the rural areas, in the locations, in the ghetto from this country are cut from the international lines of credit.
We know in the current situation you cannot use cash to purchase everything you want. Some of the countries have that benefit of going to the International Monetary Fund agencies but Zimbabwe has been ostracised. Zimbabwe has been discriminated against; therefore, they should remain under sanctions. They envy endowment of our natural wealth. Therefore, we have to suffer. They are trying hard to state- capture Zimbabwe because whenever they look at Africa, they think about what they did to our sisters whom they took and enslaved. Some of them still have generations in America.
We are in Zimbabwe, we are in Africa and we are talking about SADC. When we talk about SADC, we are talking about the union of friendly countries which work together and we were helped in our war of liberation by these SADC countries. During the war of liberation, we had a lot of support from the SADC countries, especially in supplying us with weapons, assisting us in areas where we could be trained and in areas where we needed treatment after fighting a war.
As a result, these countries are now suffering because of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. The Americans still feel they need to have a sell out who they can place in Zimbabwe to obey their will and their likes. We are glad SADC countries have noticed that. Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. They realised that if they leave Zimbabwe to fight the war of sanctions alone, they will also be affected. That is why they are saying, attack on one SADC member country, you have attacked all the countries of the SADC. Not only that, as the countries of Africa, we believe in that there should be an establishment of the United States of Africa.
Therefore, we are saying, since SADC is supporting us in this war against the removal of the illegal sanctions, SADC has promised to work with us in the fighting of the illegal sanctions. What it means is; as the people of Zimbabwe who are feeling the pinch of this, we are suffering. Therefore, on the day of fighting these sanctions, let us all go out. Let us go and demonstrate and fight these sanctions together and show our unity of purpose in the call for the removal of these illegal sanctions. I am calling upon us as the leaders that we should unite. We should work together with the people. We know you have set the date of 25th October and that is tomorrow, Friday.
I am calling upon all patriotic Zimbabweans that you should go and move out and demonstrate so that the Americans and the British will see that Zimbabwe is saying, ‘remove all these illegal sanctions.’ What we know is that this is the first step we are taking in uniting these countries of Africa. We are starting as SADC but what I know is that in the end, we are going to have the United States of Africa. I am grateful to you Mr. President for giving me the time to make my contribution. I also thank Hon. Sen. Mbowa and Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi for introducing this motion. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the chance to make my contribution on the motion on the removal of illegal sanctions. Thank you Hon. Sen. Mbowa. Thank you Hon. Sen.
Chimbudzi. The sanctions are a problem to the people of Zimbabwe. When we look at the sanctions in Zimbabwe, we know they were introduced through an Act introduced by America which is the
ZIDERA Act. This has created problems for all the people of
Zimbabwe. What surprises me is that when the ZIDERA was crafted, is because we had some of the people of Zimbabwe who went to America and asked for these sanctions. These people who are not patriotic really went to the Americans and begged for the introduction and imposition of these sanctions.
What pains me is that the people who went and begged for sanctions are people who were elected by the people. They are respectable people and some of them are even in this august House. What also pains me is that when we are elected as Members of
Parliament, we take oath, ‘I, .... Solemnly affirm that I will be faithful to Zimbabwe, that I will uphold the Constitution and all other laws of
Zimbabwe, and that I will perform my duties as a Senator or Member of the National Assembly faithfully and to the best of my ability. So help me God’. What surprises me is despite taking the oath of allegiance of patriotism to the State of Zimbabwe, the same people later turn around and go to a foreign country and beg for sanctions to be imposed on your country. Why do we foul mouth your country?
We think that as Members of Parliament let us craft a law that will lead to the prosecution and mandatory incarceration of such unpatriotic Zimbabweans. The problems which we are facing as Zimbabweans – I come from Bulawayo in the province of Matabeleland. The people of Matabeleland, especially in Bulawayo used to earn a living by working through the factories in Bulawayo and Bulawayo was the industrial giant of the country of Zimbabwe. These factories have now shut down and the people of Bulawayo are now living like paupers. I remember some time back, the people of Zimbabwe would be proud of riding their bicycles going to the factories to the industrial site, some would be ferried by the company omnibuses whilst some of them would be ferried by lorries to their places of employment.
What is now happening is that these industrial sites have now been turned into religious sites and I wonder whether the dear good Lord above is going to listen to the prayers which are being done on those sites which were once economic areas. The closures of the factories in Bulawayo have also forced the people of Zimbabwe to emigrate. I can comfortably say we have more than two to three million people of Zimbabwe who are economic refugees in other countries yet in the past people were able to work in their own country and be able to look after their families. Now, this has changed. We cannot produce or manufacture goods.
Madam President, what I noticed is that these sanctions keep on being increased as a result oppressing the people of Zimbabwe. There is diamond place in Marange. The people who put sanctions are now saying the Marange diamonds are produced under slavery which is a lie. We once visited that place as a Committee on Mines and we did not get any element of truth on the enslavement of people there. Even the report which we produced also showed that there was no slavery taking place there. The Americans have said they will not buy or allow the diamonds to be sold abroad because there is forced labour but this is false. We know that our diamonds are clean, they are not black or slave diamonds.
Madam President, some other institutions like banks have had sanctions imposed on them. This shows that it is a lie, it is a misnomer when they call them targeted sanctions because they are not targeting individuals, they are only targeting the people of Zimbabwe. I wish if our compatriots would understand the position just like what SADC countries are doing. They have promised to work with the people of Zimbabwe in calling for the removal of these illegal sanctions because the people of Zimbabwe are suffering.
Madam President, to tell you the truth they may be called targeted but the people who are targeted are not suffering. When you look at the education sector, stationery is a problem. If you go to the health sector, we have no medication or even health personnel and when you look at the financial side we are not getting money from the International Monetary Fund. We are saying sanctions have to be removed so that the economy of Zimbabwe may grow and we live a decent life.
Madam President, I am pleading with our fellow patriots that they should not go out and talk bad about this country because what we know is that the problems in Zimbabwe will never be solved by foreigners but will only be solved by the people of Zimbabwe. The greatest gift the people of Zimbabwe have is that we have a listening President. He is the person who can be approached by anybody who has constructive ideas especially in the development of the country.
Madam President, when we look at tourism we realised that because of these sanctions, these countries have said the hunters who come for trophy hunting are now dissuaded, prohibited from coming to hunt trophies and yet we know that the province of Matabeleland used to get some money from trophy hunting done by hunters from foreign countries but now they are no longer coming. We used to get monies from offshore accounts but now we are no longer accessing those funds.
When talking about these sanctions, the elderly people are suffering because their daily meals are affected as a result of these illegal sanctions.
*HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I rise to make my contribution on this important motion. I will be covering the gaps which were left by the previous contributors because if I repeat, it will be monotonous. We are supported by these countries because they felt that it is their duty to support Zimbabwe on the call for removal of sanctions. So we are saying, let us work together as the people of Zimbabwe so that these illegal sanctions are removed. We should not fight amongst ourselves as Zimbabweans. We are all Zimbabweans regardless of the fact that we are from different political parties.
Madam President, these sanctions are not discriminating whether you are opposition or not. I remember when we were young we used to play a game holding hands and identify amongst the people who would be holding hands where a problem would have penetrated through which is a weak link on the chain. So we are saying, please let us avoid as people of Zimbabwe to call for more sanctions. Let us not call for sanctions. We have created a strong chain and there should be no weak link. I am calling upon the people of Zimbabwe to go for the March on
Friday, 25th October, 2019 so that we call for the removal of sanctions.
We have countries which are supporting us but they have no sanctions imposed on them. They are sympathising with the people of Zimbabwe. So, as people of Zimbabwe, let us unite in calling for the removal of the illegal sanctions.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the chance to make my contribution on this motion on the removal of sanctions which was introduced by Hon. Sen. Mbohwa and seconded by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi. When we talk of sanctions, this is tantamount to witchcraft and tyranny because this is creating problems amongst the people of the country. I am saying the sanctions which have been imposed on us are equivalent to the diabolic acts. The Americans are diabolic because they hate countries that are living in peace and those that are progressing. All the Americans want is to create hatred amongst the people who are living happily. They are also gluttons. They want all the wealth in other countries to belong to them. They want to grab it.
What is happening is, we are fighting for the wealth of Zimbabwe which came through the bloodshed of the people of Zimbabwe. All the Americans want is for the people of Zimbabwe to be proud of being independent without substance on the independence. The Americans are saying these sanctions are targeted, which are targeting individuals but the truth is that in the shops prices of goods are high. In the clinics we have no medication.
I am one of those people who is included on that list. I am Alice
Dube. How did they know about me and that I am a liberation fighter.
We have people amongst us who hate their country. They travel to
America to go and call for these sanctions but the Lord loves
Zimbabwe. If it was not for the Lord, people would be dying of starvation but because he is protecting us, we have food and we are well. If these people want to impose these sanctions, they should go and beg to the people in Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi because they cannot win in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe came through the bloodshed of the people who fought for the liberation of this country.
We have had SADC countries supporting us because they know they suffered with the people of Zimbabwe. I am saying this because some of the people who died in the war of liberation, their spirit is rising and calling for a decent burial in their home areas. They are even talking and people are hearing, especially the bones of heroes who were laid in those mass graves. They are saying, please we want to be taken for decent burial in our home areas in Zimbabwe. Therefore, as people of Zimbabwe, may it get into our heads that these people of America do not love us and we know the love of money is a sin. If we are patriotic, we will live and die in Zimbabwe.
These Americans will always look for any small chance to foul mouth Zimbabwe. They will talk about violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. Let us take a simple example of domestic violence. A single incident, they will take it up and say in Zimbabwe there is no peace, there is violence, there are no human rights and yet it is an individual case. We have known that in nature, couples squabble and fight but when it comes to Zimbabwe, it is taken as a human rights issue. We need to be together as the people of Zimbabwe.
In a political circle, we need to have the ruling party. We also need to have the opposition and that opposition should also be patriotic. When we see the opposition being unpatriotic, it means there is a third hand. I went to Cuba. Cuba suffered sanctions for 59 years but despite that they are proud of who they are. They do not want to use the United States dollar. They are proud of their currency. The Cubans are a tight unit. You may not believe that they have sanctions because they are together. What really pleased me was that whether somebody belongs to the opposition or the ruling party, they are all together. They work for their country. Despite the sanctions, they have a way of fighting these sanctions and create their own goods yet we have people who go to those western countries and call for sanctions. If you do it in Cuba, you will be incarcerated but in Zimbabwe we do not do that.
The people in our rural areas are looking up to us to see whether we are going to take the necessary steps in removal of sanctions. I know we may talk about corruption and so on but we know for a fact that the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe is caused by these illegal sanctions. We know there are some people who were there before us, who started politics earlier before us and they know the behaviour of the whites. They know how these whites penetrated us. They know the whites enslaved our ancestors and it also pains them that there are these people who they elected into power to be in Parliament but these same people go clandestinely to the enermies of the State and call for the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe. This is a sin.
Some of us will go to hell and burn in that everlasting flame because of the evil they are doing to the people of Zimbabwe. These sanctions are a pain and a torture. As patriotic people of Zimbabwe, we are saying sanctions must go. These illegal sanctions should be removed. They are diabolic, satanic and destructive. I want to show people who are talking about these sanctions where there are people who died during the war. We want to know whether these people will have the courage of going to the places where we have mass graves.
We are not cry babies. We fought for the liberation of this country. Zimbabwe came through bloodshed and the people of Zimbabwe suffered for this country in one way or the other. We had relatives who partook in the war. We had our forefathers who were politicians and were incarcerated, some of them were beaten by sjamboks and others were bitten by dogs. We are saying, let us work together. That is why I am calling upon the patriotic people of Zimbabwe to work together now that we are realising that other SADC countries are calling for the removal of sanctions. Therefore, if other countries are supporting us, why can we not do it as patriotic Zimbabweans? Support this call and march together as people of
Zimbabwe calling for the removal of the sanctions.
This is my belief that even the Lord above will be with us supporting us in our call for the removal of sanctions. We have had families being broken down because they go as economic refugees. These people go to South Africa and what is sad about this is that when they come back, some of them come as dead bodies because life abroad is bad. Now, we are noticing that our neighbours in SADC have said they will support us and work with us in calling for the removal of sanctions.
Therefore, if other countries are supporting us, why do we not as patriotic Zimbabweans support this call and march with those people? As people of Zimbabwe calling for the removal of sanctions, I am saying this is my belief that even the Lord and Angels above will be with us supporting us in our call for the removal of sanctions. We have had families being broken down because they go as economic refugees especially to countries like South Africa whose nationals do not like us. When they go to those countries, what is sad about this is that they come back as dead bodies because life abroad is bad. Now, we are noticing that our neighbours in the SADC have said they will support and work with us in calling for the removal of sanctions.
As Zimbabweans, I am saying let us work together. The sanctions are diabolic, torturous and a menace. Sanctions must go. Remove all these sanctions. We need medication in hospitals, jobs for our children who are graduates and are roaming the streets because there are no jobs. The economy is down. We want the investors to come. Therefore, I am grateful to the people of Zimbabwe who are prepared to go and call for the removal of sanctions.
As Members of Parliament, we are commuting and yet we are supposed to be allocated cars but we cannot get these because of foreign currency. When I am addressing people in my constituency, I travel an ox-drawn or donkey driven cart and at times I have to disembark some distance away from the people because I do not want them to see that I have problems in getting my transportation. We have problems when travelling.
We have noticed that people are also aware that Parliament or being a Member of Parliament is no longer a good job which used to be envied by other people. We are saying devil, you have no chance, and we will tread upon you. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Firstly, I would like to thank our President, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa for visiting these SADC countries asking for assistance from member States to help the country make sure that they fight these sanctions imposed on our country. These sanctions came through because of the land reform exercise that was carried out by Zimbabwe. Most of the people right now are angry considering where they came from as a country, the liberation war. Some of these people who are from America always think that they are the best. Therefore, they need to make sure that they enslave other people. This is very disturbing especially to a country like Zimbabwe.
However, with all this that has happened, tomorrow SADC has said let us come together with the people of Zimbabwe and make sure that we help them get these sanctions removed as soon as possible. Our President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa went through quite a number of countries, particularly within SADC seeking help from member States to make sure that they rally behind our country to have those sanctions removed. Therefore, as the people of Zimbabwe, let us unite to make sure that we speak with one voice to make sure that these illegal sanctions are removed from this country.
To those people who are going around trying to misinform people regarding the impact of sanctions in our country I say they are lost. They just want to enjoy seeing other people suffer and making sure that we continue to be sellouts. However, we are saying this should stop. Mr. President, we continue to encourage our President to make sure that we will fully support him because we are talking of a man who liberated our country and is also going to liberate this country from these sanctions. We are going to make sure that we achieve this tomorrow morning. To those who will be there and those who will not be there, all we want to say is that we will be there to make sure that we fight these sanctions. To the spirits of those who were left behind in the different places after the liberation struggle of the country they are going to be fighting with us to make sure that we succeed in this fight against the sanctions imposed on our country.
When talking about these sanctions, some of us are deeply hurt because we know the suffering that we went through. Some people are saying whatever they are saying because they do not know what difficulties we went through and they continue to go to the western world to ask for these sanctions. Mr. President, this country is not going to go back to those who continue to impose these sanctions, especially the Americans. Therefore, we are saying tomorrow morning, we are going to succeed in making sure that we get these sanctions removed.
We are going to succeed in this tomorrow morning.
Comrades, I would like to say we are going to show our President that when we leave this Parliament, we are going to thank SADC for the help that they provided. Why, because as a country we have quite a number of minerals that these western countries are fighting us for.
Bulawayo used to be known as an economic hub, no wonder why it was named “koNtuthu Ziyathunqa” but because of these sanctions, all this is gone. We used to have quite a number of products that came from factories in Bulawayo which were exported to other countries.
However, all this is a thing of the past. Therefore, as Members of this House, we need to work together to make sure that our country progresses. This country is not going to go back to being ruled by those people who continue to want to impose sanctions on our country. Thank you.
++HON. SEN. MALULEKE: I want to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to stand and debate on this important motion. Sanctions are affecting everything in Zimbabwe including wild animals. It is also affecting us in that we are not getting medicines in hospitals. Even some veld fires are caused by sanctions because people will be burning forests looking for rats. It is not even raining because of these sanctions. Where I come from, we have wild animals where we get game meat which used to be sent to the Queen in Britain. This is a delicacy which she is no longer enjoying as we took all our land as a sovereign country. Hence they put these sanctions. We are encouraging everyone to join the march tomorrow as they are affecting every facet of life.
+HON. SEN. GUMPO: Thank you Mr. President. I will make my contribution on these sanctions and we talk about the problems we are facing. I am telling the whole nation about the problems which are happening in Kariba. Kariba is dwindling; it is dying because of these sanctions. I am very grateful to the Hon. Members who made contributions on this motion. In Kariba we have 50 000 people who are facing starvation because of low tourist activities in Kariba. Kariba is also a hub of industry, tourism, and fishing and there are hotels. I heard another Member who debated before me saying sanctions have destroyed tourism and I am saying Kariba is one of the areas which has been destroyed in terms of tourism. In Kariba, we lost about 10 hotels and small as Kariba is when these hotels shut down, it created problems.
Looking at the fishing industry in Kariba; the percentage of people working in that industry is now very low and it is now on the verge of collapse. That is why I introduced this motion in the Senate. This motion was also seen by people in other countries. They informed me that for the past 13 years, they had tried to invest in Zimbabwe but faced difficulties. They requested me to reconnect them for the purposes of reinvesting. These people were Americans who had left the country in 2005 because they had failed to invest in the country especially in Kariba because of Government red tape.
My first port of call was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by ZANU PF officials who then led me to His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe, E.D Mnangagwa. I informed the President about the problems faced by Kariba in terms of economy. He is a really listening President and accepted my suggestions. The President advised me to go to the Zimbabwe Investment Authority with the idea of resuscitating the Kariba Economy. He also acknowledged that sanctions were destructive.
In the past before these sanctions were imposed, Kariba used to earn a lot of foreign currency through the Kariba Dam. I am therefore pleading with all patriotic Zimbabweans to go out in full force on the 25th of October, 2019 and march for the removal of sanctions.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President. I am also grateful to Hon. Mbohwa seconded by Hon. Chimbudzi calling on the removal of sanctions because we are in difficulties because of these illegal sanctions. Before I go further, I think we need to critically analyse this. We are people who have said we want our sovereignty and Zimbabwe will never be a colony again, hence we should not give other countries to decide what they want on us.
Therefore, in this august House where we are supposed to work for the development of the country, we should not worry about things which are happening in South Africa or America but let us try and perform our best. I was so glad when at the introduction of the new dispensation and the coming in of His Excellency, E.D Mnangagwa as the President. These sanctions which were being discussed since the era of the late former President of Zimbabwe, R.G. Mugabe; we no longer need these sanctions. This was said by the President of Zimbabwe and we are saying, we hoped that as Members of Parliament, we should also be talking about the removal of sanctions. Let us not change our colours like the python or the chameleon moving around going with the wind. I am saying; let us not tell a lie. I am a doctor by profession and no matter what methods you may use of treating patients, if you do not have the right gadgets and methodologies, the patient will die.
We know what is causing all these problems in the counter, therefore I am saying, let us fight the real causes of this and not fight the symptoms only. We know that this is not the first time that sanctions should be removed. In 1980, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere said,
‘now that you are taking over this country as an independent country, please, preserve for this jewel of Africa.’ Let us not talk about selective amnesia.
We know that these sanctions were imposed long back and even before independence when this country was still Rhodesia, we had sanctions imposed on the country. We also have countries which are working with us on these sanctions such as Russia and China and these countries did not impose sanctions on us. I am saying let us not waste our resources trying to fight these sanctions but we know that we should put our resources together and go to countries like China and Russia and work with them for the development of our country and the removal of sanctions. I know that some of you are surprised about what we are saying. I am also suffering because of these sanctions as I am also feeling them. We know why these sanctions were imposed on us, the main reason why they were imposed on us being that there were human rights violations and the Government is saying, we are talking to our people and this has nothing to do with you.
We are saying, if you want to turn around this economy, we need about $20 billion, yet in the past, we lost $14 billion and on the introduction of the new regime, we have lost $3 billion but is it because of the sanctions. It really pains me because I am not talking about assumptions but about the reality because some hospitals have been closed down because there is no money to run these clinics. I am saying if only those billions which were misplaced had been properly used, we would be having medicines in our hospitals and Mr. President, these sanctions are real and they may not be removed because we have no power to do that. What we want to do is let us look for ways of having these sanctions to be removed because all we are doing in calling for the marches and demonstrations is just useless – these sanctions are not going to be removed.
Mr. President, I have heard people debating here saying the sanctions which were imposed on the country are affecting everybody as these are not discriminatory and not targeted but we are saying, let us work together. Mr. President, I am saying as a concerned Zimbabwean citizen, the question that I am asking is, why were the sanctions imposed on my country? The answer I get is that we have people who have disappeared because these are abuses of human rights. We have people who were shot after elections in 2018 and in January, there was also chaos and people suffered. – [HON. SENATORS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Give the
Hon. Senator the chance to speak.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President for
protecting me because the debate that we are holding is very essential and we notice that some of us are more patriotic than the other people who are making noise. I have been working for 20 years with the Government and if I was not patriotic, I would have moved out of being a civil servant and established my own business and be earning a better living. We are patriotic and we have to fight for the removal of sanctions.
We have been told why these sanctions were imposed on the country and we are saying let us correct those anomalies/problems pointed out by the countries which have imposed the sanctions on us. These sanctions could have been removed during the time of the late
President of the Country Cde. Robert Mugabe. He was an eloquent speaker and very intelligent. We are saying if we have problems even as brothers, let us work together and solve the problem of these sanctions which are biting our country. We are the same people, we work together and tomorrow I am promising that I will be matching with other people because these sanctions should be removed. Again, when the sanctions have been removed, we will then get the energy to go and fight America to remove the sanctions because we cannot call for the removal of sanctions if we do not start by correcting the anomalies within ourselves.
When we are talking about this issue, let us not fight each other, let us not play the blame game and let us not tell lies but let us tell the truth, because these sanctions are for real and they were imposed because of the problems which were faced by the country. I am saying let us correct all those anomalies which led to the imposition of sanctions.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order,
order. Let us have order in the Senate.
*HON. SEN. ZIVIRA: Thank you Mr. President. We are always talking about these sanctions and what surprises me is that, when we are going towards elections, we campaign and write the manifestos and we promise people that we are going to solve all their problems. What will have happened to the sanctions - what really needs to be done is that we should have started by removing these sanctions so that we work for the progress of these people?
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Sen.
Zivira, the rules of these House are that when you are debating, you address the Chair. Do not say munonyora but you should address the Chair. That is the etiquette in the Senate.
*HON. SEN. ZIVIRA: Thank you Mr. President. We have some people who make false promises, who write false manifestos. These promises given to the electorate will be promising that they are going to do a, b, c for them. Going to education, we have parents who are paying school fees so that their children are educated. During this period, we have these learners ejected from school because their fees would not have been paid and we now have a Government which is saying tomorrow there should be no school. Children should go and demonstrate for the removal of sanctions. We are saying, as an organised country, holidays are not an ad hoc but these public holidays are planned well in advance. We know that in Zimbabwe we have some self employed people who are going to lose out because there will not be any business tomorrow because they are supposed to go to a march for the removal of sanctions.
I know there is a child of Dzamara who disappeared. He is forced to go and demonstrate yet his father just disappeared. You are going to call for the removal of sanctions which were caused by the abduction of his father. I am saying as leaders, we need to sit down and put our heads together and get a solution to these problems. We know the reason why these sanctions are imposed on a country. Countries that impose sanctions do not impose on a country which has good governance. There should be problems which would have happened on a country for it to earn these sanctions. These targeted sanctions are targeted at people so that they do not open businesses outside. You noticed during the GNU we were working perfectly well despite the presence of the GNU. What is the difference between the life we were living in the GNU and the time we are living now? What is happening is if we have a law now, within a period of three to four months the regulations are changed. I will take an example of the use of the United States Dollar. It was one on one. The next time, it was one as to three and the next time, it was then used to the RTGS.
When the big bosses were using the United States Dollars, we were told that everything was okay but now the rate has changed. We have selected industries which are allowed to trade in foreign currency yet some industries are denied that privilege. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. WUNGANAYI: Thank you Mr. President. Let me quote from the scriptures. When Samuel was old, he gave the powers to reign to his children. His children failed to rule according to the will of God. These people then went to Samuel and said, your children are ill treating us. They are bad leaders. Samuel then went before the Lord since he had direct contact with the Lord. He asked the Lord what he would do with the people who were crying because of the bad leadership of his children. The Lord said to Samuel, please be at peace. These people are not blaming you but they are blaming me. I will give them the King they want’. I will now bring you back and tell you that God’s ways is not people’s ways. People’s ways and God’s ways are different. God’s thoughts and people’s thoughts are different. The Lord says, I can make people suffer to the people whom I want and I can also bless the people I love. I am saying all this so that you can also gain wisdom.
When we talk about the sanctions, we are talking about the people who were living during the time of Samuel because you asked for the sanctions and they were given to you. In this country, I am one of the victims, I was tortured. As I am now, I am disabled because of the torture I went through. In 2002, when the sanctions were imposed on the country, there were T-shirts which were presented. We have people which were marching in the streets who had a lot of T-shirts and some people were migrating into urban areas calling for the removal of sanctions.
I am saying, these sanctions are still there because despite all the calling for the removal of sanctions, there was no change because the people who were being blamed for capturing and torturing people are still violating human rights. People are still suffering from the torture of these violations of human rights. I am saying let us face the truth.
As it is, we are only hiding from the truth yet you know the truth. These people will see you walk, calling for the removal of the sanctions and they will ask you whether you are the people who had imposed these sanctions.
What you need to know is what had happened, what led to the introduction of these sanctions? During the past, these sanctions were introduced for Smith. I know that this country is a friend to many countries and we can say who is suffering through these sanctions? Even during the time of Smith, he managed to go through the industrialisation of this country despite the sanctions which were imposed on him. Smith was not allowed to board a plane in his own country. He would travel by road to Beitbridge and held meetings with the people who wanted to help him overcome the sanctions. We have people in countries such as Russia, China and Britain. We need to go and talk to these people.
Mr. President, we have come to a situation whereby we are not going to talk about our history like that we fought the war of liberation. This was done by our parents. The war of liberation was not fought by individuals but by all the people of Zimbabwe. Therefore, let us not boast by saying, we have fought for this country because we have heard some Hon. Sen. who was saying, even going to our bedrooms, these are sanctions, shooting somebody and the if the policemen also misbehave, we say it is sanctions. We need to tell the truth about what is happening. Let us not do the blame game. Let us face the truth and tell each other about what is happening. I am saying, as the people of Zimbabwe, let us sit together and hold meetings to solve the problems faced by the country. When we tell each other the truth on a round table, these sanctions are going to be removed. Mr. President, we need unity. Unity is strength. When we are not talking in unison, these sanctions are not going to be removed. I am afraid that these sanctions may bite deeper when we do not have the reigns as it is showing now.
This country is full of thieves and some of them are in the Government.
In a country under sanctions, some people including Ministers have more empires in this country. The question is -where does the Minister get the money from to construct hotels and other properties, thus State capturing Victoria Falls and making it State Empire.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we are imposing these on ourselves. The corruption in this country is more destructive than the sanctions because we have people who are travelling around this country or out of the country carrying 10 million dollars and yet you say we are under sanctions, is it true? When this person is accumulating these ill-gotten wealth, he or she will be punishing fellow countrymen. That is not being patriotic. Therefore, let us not be misled by talking about these sanctions because we need to know what sanctions are. We need to know the reasons why sanctions were imposed.
Mr. President, I am very sorry because all of us buy from the same shops and we have same needs, so please let us work together. Mr. President, I want to believe that even Chiefs in their rural areas are no longer living in peace because people are now committing crimes, for example stock theft. These people are suffering and they cannot take care of their families. In the past, we used to offer services in return for money but things are now tough.
Mr. President, we have people who are being gathered and told about issues which do not help them. Let us be patriotic, let us work together.
*HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: Thank you for giving me this
opportunity to make my contribution on the removal of sanctions. When this motion was introduced, I said let me give myself time to listen carefully to what is going on. I realised that some of these countries do not have these sanctions. We were saying on targeted sanctions list, we had two people, the late President Cde. Mugabe and his wife and the only country left is America. America has a long list of people who are on the sanctions list. We ask ourselves what were the offences committed by these people for them to be included on the sanctions list? We noticed that these people are corrupt, selfish and they do not sympathise with the people of Zimbabwe. They kill people as they want.
Mr. President, we Zimbabweans are the only people who can build our country. Why are we still suffering? As far as I am concerned, these robbery or theft cases which are happening – there are people who were arrested for corruption, did they refund the monies which they took from the State? We start for example with people like Mr. Cuthbert Dube who used to work for PSMAS. It was stated that he was getting a salary of almost US$500 000 and that means with that kind of money you are able to go to countries far away like London for lunch and come back. What happened to Dube? Was he forced to refund the monies which were taken from the PSMAS coffers?
We have people like Mr. W. Chivayo who was awarded a tender to construct a solar project in Gwanda. After some years, when Parliament Committee went to examine the progress, it was discovered that he had only built a small wooden cabin and has not returned that money yet he owns a helicopter. He is always moving around, he is living a lavish life and he is very showy about that lavish life.
Mr. President, let me talk about the late Smith. He had a four bedroomed house where he lived with his family and also had a guest house but in Zimbabwe, we have houses which have 50 bedrooms yet that Minister has two children and a wife. Visitors are not allowed to visit that place. We also have a place called Borrowdale Brook which is for the elite or the filthy rich. If you visit Borrowdale Brook, you will be surprised at the sign of wealth which you see in that area. If you look around you will see that the place breeds a lot of money.
Let me tell you that when these people started building these houses, these sanctions were already in existence. As the people of
Zimbabwe, we need to make a clear research. In the past, when we were following our culture, we had the aunties who were go betweens when there were domestic problems. These aunties would solve these marriages. One would pay a goat or chicken as a form of asking for forgiveness.
Mr. President, at the moment we are talking about removal of sanctions by America. What is surprising is that we have people in Government who travel all over the world including America. All they bring are special clothing such as suits with well known labels. What we need to do is to have a solution. We are saying these people who violated human rights, who take people’s homes, who killed people should face the music. We need to talk of removal of sanctions and also the misuse of funds – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
Unfortunately, misuse of funds is also cascading down to the lower echelons of society. There were economists who were urging the Government to go and arrest people who are abusing Command Agriculture inputs. The problems we are facing in this country are not caused by sanctions but mismanagement of resources. We have noticed that political leaders are not willing to have their followers arrested because they know they may lose votes. We also noticed that these people do not tell the truth because they are afraid of losing the votes.
Mr. President, I know we are campaigning 22 hours per day and yet we are not doing things which are going to benefit the people of Zimbabwe. As I am talking now, there is a list of a certain party saying there is a problem in the country. The youth produced a list of people who were involved in corruption and people who have stolen millions and billions of dollars. They started naming and shaming these people but what you notice is that instead of Government working together with these youths they threatened them with arrests.
You are calling for the removal of sanctions so that these people continue stealing and open accounts in New York and Geneva. Mr. President, if sanctions are removed, they will continue stealing. We also noticed that some of the people have houses in Dubai, Singapore, Thailand and yet people in Zimbabwe are living in poverty. I have nothing to show for myself. I am just a Lilian and I am sympathising with the people of Zimbabwe who are going to be bused from those
areas to come and demonstrate for the removal of sanctions.
What happens is that, you people who will have collected these people, after the demonstrations these people go back to their poverty but you leaders go back to live lavish lives, others in hotels or in your mansions. My father was a freedom fighter. That other lady was a war collaborator and the other members of our party are war veterans. We respect people who fought for the country. We work together and sympathies with the war collaborators.
As a legislature, I talked to so many war veterans who said they did not benefit anything. The problems we are facing as Zimbabweans can only be solved by us as the people of Zimbabwe. Let us not tell lies because we want to retain our seats as Senators, all because you want to drive a car and therefore you tell people lies. When you are driving that posh car, what do the people of Zimbabwe have because at the moment they are living in extreme poverty? What do we have to do with the
Americans because our country is endowed with many natural resources such as minerals; the diamonds and gold? Instead of utilising our own natural resources, we have called the Chinese to come into this country and take our diamonds which they export.
For instance, let us look at Zvishavane where we have asbestos and chrome which is being mined by the Chinese who take it back to their country. Zimbabwe has 62 types of minerals and we are not benefitting from them. I am saying, who made that deal which makes the Chinese benefit? Why do we not talk with the Chinese to say since you are mining our minerals we need to have some community projects in the form of schools and clinics? Who negotiated this bad deal?
When we were looking at the budget we looked at mining, the diamonds and we noticed that these were put under miscellaneous section. We are saying mining which is so precious and important in our country is considered as miscellaneous and you start to wonder where the money we get from mining is. We thank the news reporters who talked about the people who were exporting these diamonds and these
Americans told this person that they were not going to buy those diamonds because the diamonds are mined through the torture and slavery of people in those areas.
We are all black Zimbabweans, why are we making each other suffer? Why do we not put our heads together and look for ways of solving our problems. In this country, we are now so selfish that we do not think of other people. As I talk right now, we have people who literally have bags of diamonds and bags of foreign currency in their homes. The people who have this contraband are the same people who can access money from the RBZ. They are the people who are supporting illegal money changers in the streets and when they go out they import expensive cars such as the Lamborghinis. Do we need such type of cars? What is it that we want? We need progress in this country.
The only problem we have in this country is governance. We have wrongly set our priorities. We need checks and balances, monitoring and evaluation of our progress or problems, and corruption.
In countries like Rwanda, corruption is a sin. If you indulge in corrupt activities, you really suffer yet we have a leader who is working so hard despite the fact that he is oppressing his people, he is working well and doing wonders for his country. I am not sure; he could be one of those people who have targeted sanctions.
Mr. President, I have my relatives and friends across the political divide. I am a patriotic Zimbabwean, I deserve to be in this House and to tell the truth. When I am given a position of authority, I will be selfish and get all these things to myself. I get pained when I hear of an individual talking of adults and saying these are my children or my people. All I am trying to put across is, we are our own enemies.
When I came into this House, there was blame game and fingerpointing but I am saying as Zimbabweans, we need to show where we are. Let us not declare war on other Zimbabweans. As a Zimbabwean, I am not supposed to live in fear because this is my country. I should only suffer from fear when I visit other countries such as South Africa or America. How many people can afford to go to those countries? What I know is that you people only want these sanctions removed because you want to travel abroad. I am saying as Zimbabweans, let us be patriotic and work for the development of our country. Zimbabweans, we are one and the same. Let us not rule by imposing fear on the people. That time is gone and has come to an end.
Mr. President, I would have said a lot of things but what I believe is that in order for Zimbabwe to progress, I saw the motive of these people. I know if the sanctions are removed from these people there is nothing they would do to lead to the development of this country. The only way of progressing is to get together as Zimbabweans and unite. Let us know that all this wealth we are accumulating and proud of will remain behind when we die. Dust to dust, ash to ash as the Bible says. Let us not have this primitive accumulation. Please, do not bit more than you can chew. Let us share because all we want is good governance.
+HON. SEN. PHUTI: Thank you President of the Senate, yes I have understood what all the other previous Members mentioned about all the other things that have been discussed. I am not one of those people who went to fight for the liberation struggle of the country. However, listen to my ideas. From what the previous Members mentioned, especially those who were speaking about these sanctions, some were mentioning sanctions and some were mentioning issues to do with corruption.
Therefore, I took these two words and I had to ask myself that in the previous few weeks, there were people who were fighting especially in the area of Matabeleland. These people are dying, is it because of sanctions because these are the allegations that are coming out.
There are other people especially these illegal gold miners that are fighting each other; can we say this is because of sanctions? I have also asked myself about these minerals that we are getting from these miners that can we say these minerals are being leaked out all because of sanctions?
Then we also had issues with doctors who are on strike and I have asked myself whether the strike is because of sanctions? For me, if these sanctions are removed and say there is not even one individual who leaves the country to go and be treated outside the country, then I will really accept that indeed there are sanctions. However, my question is for those people who are living the country going out for treatment, where are they getting this money from?
I have also asked myself about these people who are supposed to be getting their pension from NSSA who are not getting that money or they are getting peanuts from that. Is this because of sanctions as well? Indeed, we agree that there are sanctions. But, are these sanctions also having an effect on these ZUPCO buses and ZUPCO omnibuses we are
getting?
When I came to Parliament my salary shocked me. I could afford to do anything that I wanted with my salary. Then I said let me just keep it and use it next month but after a week, I was left with something like US$100 after I converted it. I asked myself if this was because of sanctions. If sanctions come through the window into our houses, we do not need these sanctions. If we get green money which is bond notes under sanctions, then it is really painful.
Tax payers’ money is being used to buy nice shoes for people that can be bought from oversees. Can you say this is all because of sanctions? We saw other Ministers who were claiming that certain monies were taken from them during the New Dispensation. When I came into Parliament and saw other people declaring that they had quite a number of wealth through money and the example of this individual is Chombo; I am asking myself if all this is because of sanctions. We were told as Members of Parliament that this money is going to be taken back but my questions is, where did this money go to because we were not even informed what really happened to that money.
I have mentioned that I used to get enough when I started as a Member of Parliament. Someone else came in with 2% levyand I guess those are sanctions. Currently, we just recently had a supplementary budget and still, it is not enough. My question is, where did this money go to? Has it been taken by these sanctions? Today, we printed our bond notes and today’s rate is saying US$1 is equivalent to Z$25 bond. People are running one after the other in the streets looking for money and some people are getting monies that you cannot get in the bank – new notes that when you get into a bank right now, you cannot get those notes in the form of RTGs or Bond notes.
There are some people who are getting US$ notes which are new and you wonder where they are getting those notes from. I am also asking myself – are these sanctions? I then come back to say as an individual, I thank the technology. One Member mentioned that in other instances, we are afraid to tell each other the truth, but this is a place where we really need to tell each other the truth. I have mentioned that people do not need to look at my birth certificate to really figure out when exactly I was born, but you just need to listen to my views and figure out how critical they are.
In this House, there are certain people that continue to protect their wealth but as I have mentioned that thanks a lot to the technology. When I was looking at one headline, it was mentioning that SADC is together with Zimbabwe to fight these sanctions. However, certain Members are saying that they are not going to take part in this fight against these sanctions that have been imposed on our country.
Mr. President Sir, my plea is that, yes we are complaining about these sanctions and one Member indicated that these sanctions came in during the Rhodesian era, however, they also came in thereafter. And, now I am figuring out that bread which used to be $1 is now going for more than $15 and I am asking myself if this is as a result of the sanctions. However Mr. President, with these few words, I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHABUKA: Thank you Mr. President. I would
like to request you Mr. President to hand today’s Hansard to the President to hear all the grievances from the citizens of this country as they suggest the best way forward for this country. Mr. President Sir, the President of this country must read today’s Hansard so that he will understand what we debate in this House.
Mr. President, you come from Manicaland where I come from and I respect you because you are the President of the Senate. If you look at the situation in Manicaland, and the diamonds that are found there and all the other wealth that was found in Manicaland going to China, we should do something as a country and as leaders so that we know and realise benefits from the wealth and resources that we have. In Manicaland, we do not have access to clean water in Dangamvura; people sleep on queues at boreholes whilst we have diamonds in Manicaland. There is gold mining that takes place just next door. Our children are sleeping in the bush and having sex there – let us chat the way forward without looking at who is causing the sanctions, whether it is MDC. All these things have been said Mr. President but, I would like to draw your attention so that we should realise what is really happening.
If you look at Nyanyadzi where there is mining taking place, there is no tarred road but the thieves are busy exploiting our minerals but, the leadership or the Government is here in Zimbabwe looking without proffering a solution. If you look at what is happening in Mancaland Mr. President as the leader, there are also the leaders in the political parties, what is happening in Mutare is a very sad situation. There are no traffic lights working and where I stay as a Senator, I have to walk to get home because I have to leave the car a distant away yet we have diamonds, gold and many other valuable resources. I confronted the Town Clerk and asked that if I was a ZANU PF Senator, would you not have graded the road for me but I was told that there are no graders available.
I said Mr. President I respect you because we stay together in Manicaland. The problem in this country is not sanctions but, we need to unite and do all our things together. If the problem is about political parties, why do we not call Chamisa and we discuss so that we proffer a solution. We will not go to Heaven as leaders because we stay in hotels whilst people out there are suffering. The country should be led with love so that we work together. Let us not preach anything about sanctions whilst we are the thieves. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MBOHWA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate which has been debated very seriously do now adjourn,
HON. SEN. SHOKO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 12th November, 2019.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. MOHADI, the Senate adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 12th November, 2019.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 7th October, 2021
(OFFICIAL REPORT)
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT
Parliament met in the Chamber of the National Assembly in terms of Section 140 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
THE HON. SPEAKER: Section 140 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that “The President may, at any time, address either House of Parliament or a joint sitting of both Houses” and Section 140 (4) also states that: “at least once a year, the President must address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the State of the Nation and the Speaker and the President of Senate must take the necessary arrangements for Parliament to receive such address”.
Accordingly, I have to inform the House that at 12 o’clock noon today, His Excellency the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, will deliver the State of the Nation Address which marks the Official Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament. Business is now suspended but be around not outside. Thank you.
Business of the House was suspended at Twenty-Three Minutes to Twelve o’clock p.m.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in attendance.
[National Anthem]
HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE, was pleased to address Parliament through the virtual platform as follows:
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President;
It is my honour and privilege to deliver my State of the Nation Address at this occasion which also marks the Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. I am making this address at a time when our nation remains under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic for the second year running. I, however, sincerely congratulate the people of our great nation for their unity and fortitude as well as the hard working culture which they continue to demonstrate. This has seen us realise unprecedented milestones and successes, against all forms of adversity.
Increased production, productivity, innovation and positive ingenuity are inspiring many, especially our young people to work harder to reach their full potential for the ultimate prosperity of our nation.
I equally commend the people of our great motherland, across all sectors of the economy for rallying together and playing their respective part towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
The peace, unity, harmony, stability and growing national cohesion will surely see us realising the goals and aspirations we have set out for ourselves. As we reflect on the State of our Nation, let us therefore, individually and collectively re-commit to serve our mother country wholeheartedly, towards an improved quality of life for all and lasting development which leaves no one and no place behind.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
My administration is buoyed by the upward growth trajectory of our economy. This year’s projections indicate an over 7.8% economic growth.
The higher predictions are premised on the good 2020/21 agriculture season; firm international mineral commodity prices, stable inflation and exchange rate as well as the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The financial sector is stable with the foreign currency auction performing well and accessed by both large and small to medium size businesses. Going forward my Government will ensure that the platform is adequately resourced and that the relevant authorities enhance efficiencies within the system.
These successes are being recorded against a backdrop of the continuing illegal economic sanctions. The sanctions have a deleterious impact on our economy. We therefore reiterate our calls for their urgent and unconditional removal.
In agriculture, timely implementation of Government programmes is immensely benefitting the sector. The focus of the multi-pronged programmes now seeks to increase rural per capita incomes while also improving household food security and nutrition. The increased number of young people undertaking thriving farming businesses throughout the country is applauded. This new crop of young farmers assures us that the land which we fought for, will remain in safe hands, for posterity.
Recognising the far reaching impacts of climate change and the need to build resilience while ensuring adaption remain essential. Further, the Second Republic has increased the Strategic Grain Reserve to 1.5 million tonnes.
In addition, my Government is consistently availing adequate resources to expedite payments to our farmers for crop deliveries. This Strategy is envisaged to guarantee enhanced productivity and profitability of farm operations along the “farming as a business” philosophy. I once again exhort all farmers to ensure the timely preparation for the 2021/2022 agriculture season.
This year, our cumulative tobacco sales exceeded 210.9 million kilograms, with export earnings surpassing US$589.6 million. Cotton production also increased by 100% to 92 000 tonnes. Investments to facilitate the value addition of these strategic crops are being sought.
With regards to livestock, we are gravely concerned with losses incurred by farmers due to the menace of livestock diseases. The distribution of tick-grease and locally produced January Disease vaccine doses has begun.
Farm mechanisation and agriculture modernisation continue to be high on the priority list of the Second Republic. The District Development Fund and other agencies are assisting with the tillage programme for various categories of farmers.
To augment the current number of mechanical farming implements available nationally, various bilateral schemes will inject an additional 3 000 tractor units and over 200 combine harvesters.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
The mining sector is, this year, expected to grow by 11% as a result of robust programmes which encompass increased exploration and expansion projects; resuscitation of closed mines and opening of new ventures as well as mineral beneficiation and value addition.
Our manufacturing sector is benefitting from the Import Substitution Strategy and Local Content Policy launched by my Government, coupled with the favourable ease of doing business environment. Growth of the sector and a steady increase in industrial capacity utilisation is being registered.
Our people are encouraged to deliberately buy “Proudly Zimbabwean” brands, which now dominate our shop shelves. Meanwhile, I urge our industrialists to broaden their research and development towards increasing the range and variety of ‘Made in Zimbabwe” products.
The current economic rebound and increased productivity has seen increasing demand for electricity and fuel. In light of this, my Government has redoubled its efforts to complete and commission Unit 7 and 8 at Hwange Power Station. Other renewable energy augmentation projects, inclusive of solar power generation countrywide, are equally on course.
As a clear endorsement of our National Vaccination Programme, we have begun receiving requests for the hosting of regional and international meetings in Victoria Falls. Special attention to other tourism areas such as Kariba and the Eastern Highlands remains critical with regards to the roll-out of the Vaccination Programme.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Government has prioritised capital spending, with 34% of total expenditure to date, having been earmarked for infrastructure development. The ongoing Phase 2 of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme is indeed transformational across all provinces, districts, cities and towns. Local resources are being put to good use, while local contractors are empowered and the commuting and trading public is experiencing the added convenience.
In response to the transport needs of an ever growing and highly productive population, my Government has availed resources for the procurement of modern buses to service urban, inter-city and rural routes. The establishment of electronic systems for the integration and computerisation of the Vehicle Inspection Department, Central Vehicle Registry, ZINARA and related stakeholders will have far reaching impacts on our national transport management system.
The entry of Qatar Airways to further link our country with Middle East markets is a welcome development. Air Zimbabwe continues on its quest to enhance efficiency and viability of the national carrier. The recent procurement of the Embraer ERJ 145 will thus increase the entity’s serviceable fleet of planes.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation and expansion works at the R.G. Mugabe International Airport, J. M. Nkomo International Airport and other air strips such as Kariba, Buffalo Range and Grand Reef airports are on schedule.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
I want to commend our frontline workers for their selfless sacrifice towards COVID-19 infection prevention, control and management. My Government will continue to avail more vaccines in order to save lives and livelihoods.
I, however, call upon all of us to heighten our determination with regards to continued vaccinations in order to meet our desired national herd immunity target.
In the education sector, the resumption of the school calendar for all categories of learners is being carefully managed and monitored. I am confident that the measures we are enforcing, along with the invaluable support from our educators, parents and guardians, will see the schooling period run its full course.
Remarkable progress is being registered towards the creation of a competence based education system both in primary and higher education. The intention is to vault innovation for a knowledge driven economy and the production of goods and services which benefit our people and the economy as a whole.
In line with the National Human Settlements Policy, the implementation of the National Housing Delivery Programme is gathering momentum across the country. The regularisation programme for informal and irregular settlements remains high on the agenda.
My Government, through the National Social Security Authority, has developed a raft of measures aimed at improving the lives and strengthening social safety nets for targeted beneficiaries. This has seen NSSA setting up a revolving fund for income generating projects.
Government remains alive to the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Facilities under the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, Treasury and SMEDCO continue to capacitate women and create jobs across all sectors of the economy.
Government also notes with grave concern that some sections of our youth are under siege from the scourge of drug and substance abuse. This situation threatens the very core of our future as a country and cannot go unchecked. As such, the recently set up Inter-Ministerial Committee has been tasked with finding lasting solutions to reverse and end this disconcerting trend. Our security services are equally seized with the matter.
The ongoing efforts to bring justice closer to communities are being accelerated. The commissioning last month, of the Chinhoyi One-Stop Court Complex, and the construction of the Gwanda Court Complex must thus be viewed as a show of commitment by the Second Republic to extend similar facilities to all provinces, countrywide.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces remains steadfast and delivering on their Constitutional mandate to defend our national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest.
In addition to this primary responsibility, the Defence Forces are scaling up activities on the civil-military relations front. This has seen them joining hands with the country’s health sector in the fight against COVID-19 as well as helping in the mitigation of new threats, such as climate change induced national disasters.
The recognition and welfare of the brave men and women who sacrificed for the freedom and democracy we enjoy today is constitutionally guaranteed. 2021 thus witnessed the enactment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act. The operationalisation of this Act has paved way for the establishment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board; the Heroes Dependants Assistance Board and the appointment of the War Victims Compensation Fund Commissioner. Measures are now in place to restructure assistance programmes to support economic projects run by our Veterans of the Liberation Struggle.
To entrench the work ethic of the Second Republic and the culture of accountability, all our Permanent Secretaries signed Performance Contracts in December, 2020. At the end of 2021, the inaugural evaluation of the contracts will be conducted. In January 2022, all heads of State Owned Enterprises, parastatals as well as local authorities will be required to sign similar contracts in order to guarantee that our citizens enjoy value for money.
In furtherance of our re-engagement drive, our country continues on its quest to be “a friend to all”, within the comity of nations. Zimbabwe continues to seek new frontiers for investment and trade. We are thus participating at the “Dubai Expo 2021” which is running until March, 2022.
In addition to such initiatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade along with other ministries, departments and agencies also host trade and investment promotion events, in line with my administration’s economic diplomacy thrust.
I want to heartily commend all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora for their patriotism and contribution towards the national development agenda and building our mother country.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Allow me now to shift focus to the legislative Agenda for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament. I am aware that some Bills could not be dispensed with and were carried over from the Third Session. Of the existing statutes which required to be aligned to the Constitution, it is pleasing that only 42 statutes remain to be enacted under the alignment process. These must be completed during this session.
Thirteen Bills are still with the respective line Ministries, of these, the Principles of two Bills have been approved by Cabinet, while eleven are still with Ministries. The Second Republic will continue to maintain its responsive and proactive stance to emerging needs of our society by ensuring that the law is a tool for development.
The ratification of agreements is equally important. Hence, my Government submitted the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination State Party Report to the UN Treaty Body and is on schedule to submit the 3rd Cycle Universal Periodic Report to the UN Human Rights Council.
The Second Republic is also committed to ratifying all outstanding Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements. Furthermore, Parliament is also expected to ratify the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation.
In the health sector, this Session is expected to expedite consideration of the Medical Services Amendment Bill; the Medical Aid Societies Bill; and the Health Professions Amendment Bill. These should result in a consolidated legislative strategy to achieve Universal Health Coverage, enhanced access and affordable health services.
Parliament will equally consider the Amendment of the State Universities Statutes Bill which seeks to amend the Acts governing the thirteen State Universities, to align with the Constitution and enhance conformity with the Heritage Based Education 5.0 policy. The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill will see further liberalisation of the broadcasting sector.
In the financial services sector, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Bill is set to empower IPEC to prescribe a minimum level of assets and liabilities. It will also provide for the establishment of the Protection Fund for Policy holders and Pensions and Provident Fund members.
On the other hand, the Securities and Exchange Act should be amended to widen the definition of Securities to include Virtual Asset Service Providers. This will enable the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate and supervise Virtual Assets Service Providers on a risk-based approach. This will be complemented by amendments to the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act. The envisioned Act seeks to provide for the identification and assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks that may arise in relation to virtual assets.
It will further ensure that appropriate sanctions are applicable to errant Virtual Assets Service Providers, their directors and senior managers. The Deposit Protection Corporation Act is also being amended to align the legislation to international best practice.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Allow me to highlight that Parliament will soon be requested to consider legislation relating to the implementation of the Devolution Agenda. Of special note, is the presentation of the Provincial Council’s Amendment Bill.
The requisite legislation used by the lower tiers of the State to ensure efficient implementation of the devolution agenda will also be amended. These include the Urban Councils Amendment Bill; Rural District Councils Amendment Bill; Regional Town and Country Planning Amendment; and the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill.
Parliament is also expected to consider the Municipal Courts and Police Bill as well as the Liquor Licencing Bill intended to ensure the efficient discharge of the various mandates of local authorities.
The Second Republic is committed to ensuring that communities and all relevant arms of the State are adequately organised and capacitated to implement best practices on disaster risk management. Hence, legislation on Disaster Risk Management will strengthen our nation’s responsiveness and preparedness to tackle disasters.
Through the Labour Amendment Bill, the dispute settlement machinery will be rationalised to remove cumbersome confirmation procedures. It also seeks to align the Labour Act with ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions, including freedom of association, the right to maternity leave and equal remuneration for work of equal value.
With regards to the welfare of our Parliamentarians, the proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Pensions Act should address deficiencies identified in the present Act.
Government has initiated a process to amend the Co-operative Societies Act in view of the changes in the socio-economic environment and the need to restructure operations, efficiencies and growth of co-operatives.
To enhance good governance, transparency and accountability among Private Voluntary Organisations, the Act governing these entities is going to be amended. The Bill seeks to align the Act with best practices, including on adherence to the Financial Action Task Force Standards. Proposed amendments will further ensure that PVOs operate within the thematic parameters, under which they are registered.
The Persons with Disabilities Bill is set to amend the 1992 Disabled Persons Act, informed by other contemporary legislation on disability rights.
With regards to children, the Child Justice Bill seeks to establish a child justice system for children in conflict with the law in accordance with the Constitution and international obligations. Additionally, the Guardianship of Minors Amendment Bill will amend the Guardianship of Minors Act by revising matters incidental to the definition of guardianship and custody.
Through the Administration of Justice Amendment Bill, Government intends to align the Administration of Justice Act to the Constitution. The Judicial Laws Amendment Bill will amend the High Court Act, Labour Court Act and the Magistrates Court Act to ensure the proper functioning of the lower courts and efficient justice delivery.
The Fourth Session will consider the Prisons Amendment Bill, targeted at establishing a progressive system based on principles of rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
The Independent Security Service Complaints Commission Bill which seeks to provide for an independent complaints mechanism by members of the public should equally be considered during this Session.
The Defence Amendment Bill; Anti-Personnel Landmines Prohibition Amendment Bill and Biological and Toxin Weapon Warfare Bill will also be tabled before the Fourth Session, in accordance with the need to fulfil our country’s international obligations.
I am also aware of the expectation to migrate to the New Parliament Building in the new city in Mt. Hampden. The progress on the construction works to date is indeed pleasing. To our Parliamentarians, I wish to reiterate the need to expedite the legislative work that lies ahead. For the remainder of this year, and going into 2022, let there be a common desire to prioritise the enactment of laws which reflect and give impetus to the developmental aspirations of our people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
In concluding my address, I wish to express my profound gratitude to all the people of our great country for collectively creating and sustaining an atmosphere of peace, love and unity. I urge us not to tire in doing well, working hard and building our mother country. In due season, we shall surely reap successes and prosperity in the Zimbabwe we all want and deserve.
With these remarks, it is now my singular honour and privilege to declare the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe duly open for business.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, having caused a copy of the Presidential Speech to be delivered to Mr. Speaker, was pleased to retire.
[National Anthem]
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE and some Hon. Senators withdrew from the Chamber.
THE HON. SPEAKER resumed the Chair at Twenty-Four minutes to One o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
TABLING OF PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH
THE HON. SPEAKER: I lay upon the table a copy of the Speech which His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Hon. DR. E. D. Mnangagwa has been pleased to deliver to Parliament.
RESSUMPTION OF COMMITTEE BUSINESS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also have to inform the House that in order to expedite the work of Parliament, all Committees of the Third Session will continue to operate as previously constituted until such time that new Committees are appointed by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. Accordingly, Committees may resume sittings on Monday, 11th October, 2021.
MOTION
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I move that a Committee of Supply be appointed in terms of Standing Order Number 115.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE HON. SPEAKER adjourned the House at Eighteen Minutes to One o’clock p.m. without putting any question in terms of Standing Order No. 32 (2) (b) until Tuesday, 19th October, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday 7th October, 2021
(OFFICIAL REPORT)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Section 140 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that:
“The President may at any time, address either House of Parliament or a joint sitting of both Houses” and Section 140 (4) also states that:
“At least once a year, the President must address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the State of the Nation, and the Speaker and the President of the Senate must take the necessary arrangements for the Parliament to receive such address”.
His Excellency, the President, will today at Twelve o’clock noon, deliver the State of the Nation Address and officially open the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament from the State House.
It is my intention now to proceed, attended by officers of the Senate, to the Chamber of the National Assembly.
In keeping with the World Health Organisation guidelines on the prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus, which emphasises on social distancing as one of the key prevention measures, it is not possible to accommodate all Senators to attend the address by His Excellency, the President.
Consequently, only selected Hon. Senators and Ministers will proceed into the National Assembly. The rest of the senators will follow the proceedings on the Virtual platform from wherever they are.
Business is now suspended.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE accompanied by some Hon. Senators left the Chair at Sixteen Minutes to Twelve o’clock noon.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, was pleased to address Parliament through virtual platform as follows:
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President;
It is my honour and privilege to deliver my State of the Nation Address at this occasion which also marks the Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. I am making this address at a time when our nation remains under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic for the second year running. I, however, sincerely congratulate the people of our great nation for their unity and fortitude as well as the hard working culture which they continue to demonstrate. This has seen us realise unprecedented milestones and successes, against all forms of adversity.
Increased production, productivity, innovation and positive ingenuity are inspiring many, especially our young people to work harder to reach their full potential for the ultimate prosperity of our nation.
I equally commend the people of our great motherland, across all sectors of the economy for rallying together and playing their respective part towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
The peace, unity, harmony, stability and growing national cohesion will surely see us realising the goals and aspirations we have set out for ourselves. As we reflect on the State of our Nation, let us therefore, individually and collectively re-commit to serve our mother country wholeheartedly, towards an improved quality of life for all and lasting development which leaves no one and no place behind.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
My administration is buoyed by the upward growth trajectory of our economy. This year’s projections indicate an over 7.8% economic growth.
The higher predictions are premised on the good 2020/21 agriculture season; firm international mineral commodity prices, stable inflation and exchange rate as well as the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The financial sector is stable with the foreign currency auction performing well and accessed by both large and small to medium size businesses. Going forward my Government will ensure that the platform is adequately resourced and that the relevant authorities enhance efficiencies within the system.
These successes are being recorded against a backdrop of the continuing illegal economic sanctions. The sanctions have a deleterious impact on our economy. We therefore reiterate our calls for their urgent and unconditional removal.
In agriculture, timely implementation of Government programmes is immensely benefitting the sector. The focus of the multi-pronged programmes now seeks to increase rural per capita incomes while also improving household food security and nutrition. The increased number of young people undertaking thriving farming businesses throughout the country is applauded. This new crop of young farmers assures us that the land which we fought for, will remain in safe hands, for posterity.
Recognising the far reaching impacts of climate change and the need to build resilience while ensuring adaption remain essential. Further, the Second Republic has increased the Strategic Grain Reserve to 1.5 million tonnes.
In addition, my Government is consistently availing adequate resources to expedite payments to our farmers for crop deliveries. This Strategy is envisaged to guarantee enhanced productivity and profitability of farm operations along the “farming as a business” philosophy. I once again exhort all farmers to ensure the timely preparation for the 2021/2022 agriculture season.
This year, our cumulative tobacco sales exceeded 210.9 million kilograms, with export earnings surpassing US$589.6 million. Cotton production also increased by 100% to 92 000 tonnes. Investments to facilitate the value addition of these strategic crops are being sought.
With regards to livestock, we are gravely concerned with losses incurred by farmers due to the menace of livestock diseases. The distribution of tick-grease and locally produced January Disease vaccine doses has begun.
Farm mechanisation and agriculture modernisation continue to be high on the priority list of the Second Republic. The District Development Fund and other agencies are assisting with the tillage programme for various categories of farmers.
To augment the current number of mechanical farming implements available nationally, various bilateral schemes will inject an additional 3 000 tractor units and over 200 combine harvesters.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
The mining sector is, this year, expected to grow by 11% as a result of robust programmes which encompass increased exploration and expansion projects; resuscitation of closed mines and opening of new ventures as well as mineral beneficiation and value addition.
Our manufacturing sector is benefitting from the Import Substitution Strategy and Local Content Policy launched by my Government, coupled with the favourable ease of doing business environment. Growth of the sector and a steady increase in industrial capacity utilisation is being registered.
Our people are encouraged to deliberately buy “Proudly Zimbabwean” brands, which now dominate our shop shelves. Meanwhile, I urge our industrialists to broaden their research and development towards increasing the range and variety of ‘Made in Zimbabwe” products.
The current economic rebound and increased productivity has seen increasing demand for electricity and fuel. In light of this, my Government has redoubled its efforts to complete and commission Unit 7 and 8 at Hwange Power Station. Other renewable energy augmentation projects, inclusive of solar power generation countrywide, are equally on course.
As a clear endorsement of our National Vaccination Programme, we have begun receiving requests for the hosting of regional and international meetings in Victoria Falls. Special attention to other tourism areas such as Kariba and the Eastern Highlands remains critical with regards to the roll-out of the Vaccination Programme.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Government has prioritised capital spending, with 34% of total expenditure to date, having been earmarked for infrastructure development. The ongoing Phase 2 of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme is indeed transformational across all provinces, districts, cities and towns. Local resources are being put to good use, while local contractors are empowered and the commuting and trading public is experiencing the added convenience.
In response to the transport needs of an ever growing and highly productive population, my Government has availed resources for the procurement of modern buses to service urban, inter-city and rural routes. The establishment of electronic systems for the integration and computerisation of the Vehicle Inspection Department, Central Vehicle Registry, ZINARA and related stakeholders will have far reaching impacts on our national transport management system.
The entry of Qatar Airways to further link our country with Middle East markets is a welcome development. Air Zimbabwe continues on its quest to enhance efficiency and viability of the national carrier. The recent procurement of the Embraer ERJ 145 will thus increase the entity’s serviceable fleet of planes.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation and expansion works at the R.G. Mugabe International Airport, J. M. Nkomo International Airport and other air strips such as Kariba, Buffalo Range and Grand Reef airports are on schedule.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
I want to commend our frontline workers for their selfless sacrifice towards COVID-19 infection prevention, control and management. My Government will continue to avail more vaccines in order to save lives and livelihoods.
I, however, call upon all of us to heighten our determination with regards to continued vaccinations in order to meet our desired national herd immunity target.
In the education sector, the resumption of the school calendar for all categories of learners is being carefully managed and monitored. I am confident that the measures we are enforcing, along with the invaluable support from our educators, parents and guardians, will see the schooling period run its full course.
Remarkable progress is being registered towards the creation of a competence based education system both in primary and higher education. The intention is to vault innovation for a knowledge driven economy and the production of goods and services which benefit our people and the economy as a whole.
In line with the National Human Settlements Policy, the implementation of the National Housing Delivery Programme is gathering momentum across the country. The regularisation programme for informal and irregular settlements remains high on the agenda.
My Government, through the National Social Security Authority, has developed a raft of measures aimed at improving the lives and strengthening social safety nets for targeted beneficiaries. This has seen NSSA setting up a revolving fund for income generating projects.
Government remains alive to the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Facilities under the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, Treasury and SMEDCO continue to capacitate women and create jobs across all sectors of the economy.
Government also notes with grave concern that some sections of our youth are under siege from the scourge of drug and substance abuse. This situation threatens the very core of our future as a country and cannot go unchecked. As such, the recently set up Inter-Ministerial Committee has been tasked with finding lasting solutions to reverse and end this disconcerting trend. Our security services are equally seized with the matter.
The ongoing efforts to bring justice closer to communities are being accelerated. The commissioning last month, of the Chinhoyi One-Stop Court Complex, and the construction of the Gwanda Court Complex must thus be viewed as a show of commitment by the Second Republic to extend similar facilities to all provinces, countrywide.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces remains steadfast and delivering on their Constitutional mandate to defend our national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest.
In addition to this primary responsibility, the Defence Forces are scaling up activities on the civil-military relations front. This has seen them joining hands with the country’s health sector in the fight against COVID-19 as well as helping in the mitigation of new threats, such as climate change induced national disasters.
The recognition and welfare of the brave men and women who sacrificed for the freedom and democracy we enjoy today is constitutionally guaranteed. 2021 thus witnessed the enactment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act. The operationalisation of this Act has paved way for the establishment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board; the Heroes Dependants Assistance Board and the appointment of the War Victims Compensation Fund Commissioner. Measures are now in place to restructure assistance programmes to support economic projects run by our Veterans of the Liberation Struggle.
To entrench the work ethic of the Second Republic and the culture of accountability, all our Permanent Secretaries signed Performance Contracts in December, 2020. At the end of 2021, the inaugural evaluation of the contracts will be conducted. In January 2022, all heads of State Owned Enterprises, parastatals as well as local authorities will be required to sign similar contracts in order to guarantee that our citizens enjoy value for money.
In furtherance of our re-engagement drive, our country continues on its quest to be “a friend to all”, within the comity of nations. Zimbabwe continues to seek new frontiers for investment and trade. We are thus participating at the “Dubai Expo 2021” which is running until March, 2022.
In addition to such initiatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade along with other ministries, departments and agencies also host trade and investment promotion events, in line with my administration’s economic diplomacy thrust.
I want to heartily commend all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora for their patriotism and contribution towards the national development agenda and building our mother country.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Allow me now to shift focus to the legislative Agenda for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament. I am aware that some Bills could not be dispensed with and were carried over from the Third Session. Of the existing statutes which required to be aligned to the Constitution, it is pleasing that only 42 statutes remain to be enacted under the alignment process. These must be completed during this session.
Thirteen Bills are still with the respective line Ministries, of these, the Principles of two Bills have been approved by Cabinet, while eleven are still with Ministries. The Second Republic will continue to maintain its responsive and proactive stance to emerging needs of our society by ensuring that the law is a tool for development.
The ratification of agreements is equally important. Hence, my Government submitted the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination State Party Report to the UN Treaty Body and is on schedule to submit the 3rd Cycle Universal Periodic Report to the UN Human Rights Council.
The Second Republic is also committed to ratifying all outstanding Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements. Furthermore, Parliament is also expected to ratify the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation.
In the health sector, this Session is expected to expedite consideration of the Medical Services Amendment Bill; the Medical Aid Societies Bill; and the Health Professions Amendment Bill. These should result in a consolidated legislative strategy to achieve Universal Health Coverage, enhanced access and affordable health services.
Parliament will equally consider the Amendment of the State Universities Statutes Bill which seeks to amend the Acts governing the thirteen State Universities, to align with the Constitution and enhance conformity with the Heritage Based Education 5.0 policy. The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill will see further liberalisation of the broadcasting sector.
In the financial services sector, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Bill is set to empower IPEC to prescribe a minimum level of assets and liabilities. It will also provide for the establishment of the Protection Fund for Policy holders and Pensions and Provident Fund members.
On the other hand, the Securities and Exchange Act should be amended to widen the definition of Securities to include Virtual Asset Service Providers. This will enable the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate and supervise Virtual Assets Service Providers on a risk-based approach. This will be complemented by amendments to the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act. The envisioned Act seeks to provide for the identification and assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks that may arise in relation to virtual assets.
It will further ensure that appropriate sanctions are applicable to errant Virtual Assets Service Providers, their directors and senior managers. The Deposit Protection Corporation Act is also being amended to align the legislation to international best practice.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
Allow me to highlight that Parliament will soon be requested to consider legislation relating to the implementation of the Devolution Agenda. Of special note, is the presentation of the Provincial Council’s Amendment Bill.
The requisite legislation used by the lower tiers of the State to ensure efficient implementation of the devolution agenda will also be amended. These include the Urban Councils Amendment Bill; Rural District Councils Amendment Bill; Regional Town and Country Planning Amendment; and the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill.
Parliament is also expected to consider the Municipal Courts and Police Bill as well as the Liquor Licencing Bill intended to ensure the efficient discharge of the various mandates of local authorities.
The Second Republic is committed to ensuring that communities and all relevant arms of the State are adequately organised and capacitated to implement best practices on disaster risk management. Hence, legislation on Disaster Risk Management will strengthen our nation’s responsiveness and preparedness to tackle disasters.
Through the Labour Amendment Bill, the dispute settlement machinery will be rationalised to remove cumbersome confirmation procedures. It also seeks to align the Labour Act with ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions, including freedom of association, the right to maternity leave and equal remuneration for work of equal value.
With regards to the welfare of our Parliamentarians, the proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Pensions Act should address deficiencies identified in the present Act.
Government has initiated a process to amend the Co-operative Societies Act in view of the changes in the socio-economic environment and the need to restructure operations, efficiencies and growth of co-operatives.
To enhance good governance, transparency and accountability among Private Voluntary Organisations, the Act governing these entities is going to be amended. The Bill seeks to align the Act with best practices, including on adherence to the Financial Action Task Force Standards. Proposed amendments will further ensure that PVOs operate within the thematic parameters, under which they are registered.
The Persons with Disabilities Bill is set to amend the 1992 Disabled Persons Act, informed by other contemporary legislation on disability rights.
With regards to children, the Child Justice Bill seeks to establish a child justice system for children in conflict with the law in accordance with the Constitution and international obligations. Additionally, the Guardianship of Minors Amendment Bill will amend the Guardianship of Minors Act by revising matters incidental to the definition of guardianship and custody.
Through the Administration of Justice Amendment Bill, Government intends to align the Administration of Justice Act to the Constitution. The Judicial Laws Amendment Bill will amend the High Court Act, Labour Court Act and the Magistrates Court Act to ensure the proper functioning of the lower courts and efficient justice delivery.
The Fourth Session will consider the Prisons Amendment Bill, targeted at establishing a progressive system based on principles of rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
The Independent Security Service Complaints Commission Bill which seeks to provide for an independent complaints mechanism by members of the public should equally be considered during this Session.
The Defence Amendment Bill; Anti-Personnel Landmines Prohibition Amendment Bill and Biological and Toxin Weapon Warfare Bill will also be tabled before the Fourth Session, in accordance with the need to fulfil our country’s international obligations.
I am also aware of the expectation to migrate to the New Parliament Building in the new city in Mt. Hampden. The progress on the construction works to date is indeed pleasing. To our Parliamentarians, I wish to reiterate the need to expedite the legislative work that lies ahead. For the remainder of this year, and going into 2022, let there be a common desire to prioritise the enactment of laws which reflect and give impetus to the developmental aspirations of our people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President,
In concluding my address, I wish to express my profound gratitude to all the people of our great country for collectively creating and sustaining an atmosphere of peace, love and unity. I urge us not to tire in doing well, working hard and building our mother country. In due season, we shall surely reap successes and prosperity in the Zimbabwe we all want and deserve.
With these remarks, it is now my singular honour and privilege to declare the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe duly open for business.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
TABLING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform Hon. Senators that the Senate has this day attended a virtual meeting of the joint sitting of Parliament in the National Assembly where His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe was pleased to address both Houses of Parliament. I have, for purposes of greater accuracy, obtained a copy of the Presidential Speech.
I lay upon the table a copy of the Speech which the President of Zimbabwe has been pleased to deliver this day for the information of Senators. The Speech will be printed in the Votes and Proceedings and in the Hansard. The Speech will also be available on the Parliament website.
RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEES
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I also have to inform the Senate that in order to expedite the work of Parliament, all Committees of the Third Session will continue to operate as previously constituted until such time that new Committees are appointed by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. Accordingly, Committees will resume sitting on Monday, 11th October, 2020.
In terms of Standing Order Number 13 (2b) THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE adjourned the Senate at Eighteen Minutes to One o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 19th October, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 16th September, 2021
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 PARLIAMENT
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that
Parliament will adjourn to Thursday, 7th October, 2021 for the Official Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament and the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. Details of the logistics relating to the SONA will be communicated at a later date. HON. NDIWENI: On a point of national interest. Yesterday was the International Day of Democracy, the 15th September 2021. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to read a statement that was issued by SADC Parliamentary Forum which was supposed to be read in all the 15 SADC Parliaments yesterday. So, suffice to say, I am reading it today, with your indulgence Mr. Speaker Sir.
It was supposed to have been read yesterday - it reads - “Today, we celebrate democracy which is the bedrock supporting the existence of parliaments. Parliamentarism and democracy walk hand-in-hand on the promising path towards worldwide peace, unity and stability. Human rights and fundamental freedoms thrive in a democracy and would perish in the absence of it. Moreover, it is trite that democratic principles are the founding pillars of the rule of law, constitutionalism and equality.
In this vein, the Forum seizes this opportunity to salute and pay tribute to SADC Member Parliaments which have bravely stood the challenging test of time and have recorded a rich history of promoting democratic principles within the context of parliamentary sovereignty. While the past and current year have been trying times for democracy in the SADC region, parliaments have endured adversity and have furthermore ensured the requisite continuity which was quintessential to legislate as well as to continue holding the Executive to account. The felicitous work conducted by SADC parliaments within their respective democratic framework has cushioned the devastating effects of COVID-19 and has enabled the region to embark on a progressive path of economic recovery.
In line with its Strategic Plan (2019-2023), the SADC
Parliamentary Forum reiterates its commitment to advance democracy through interparliamentary cooperation and to implement the SADC Model Law on Elections which is a hallmark of representative democracy and a gateway towards good governance. Thanks to continued democracy, a new dawn of hope and prosperity towers over
Africa and the world.
Long Live Democracy and Long Live Parliaments!
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of
national interest arises from the shortages of drugs in our Government run clinics and hospitals, but firstly I would like to compliment the
Government for the way they are handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort they are putting to stop the spread of COVID-19 is very commendable, but what is worrying me is that Government has forgotten about the other killer diseases, namely diabetes and BP.
The aged is the main constituency that suffers from these diseases. When they go to our Government hospitals where they are given cheap drugs or free drugs, they cannot access them mainly because there is nothing. In Government hospitals, for example the hospital in Rusape, you can only find pain killers and just a few very cheap drugs.
Mr. Speaker when someone starts taking insulin for diabetes and drugs for BP, if he stops taking them, it is a goodbye to mother earth. Even now the rate at which people are dying in our constituencies through these two killer diseases has risen. So, I am appealing to your high office, Mr. Speaker Sir, if you can approach the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and persuade him to use the surplus he has declared to this House to buy these drugs because health means everything. We are here because we are healthy.
People go to school because they are healthy. We have got Vision 2030 where health for all is at the centre of everything. How can we attain healthy lives for all when people cannot access these drugs… THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you summerise your statement
please.
HON. TEKESHE: People cannot access these drugs which are cheaper because they cannot afford to buy them in pharmacies and private hospitals. So, I am appealing to you, Hon. Speaker. For us to achieve our Vision 2030 for healthy lives for all, can we have medication in our Government hospitals which is cheap and where some are supposed to be given for free. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to
6, be stood over until Order of the Day Number 7 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
(v)HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Members who debated the motion on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. I would also want to thank the Ministers who responded to the various debates where main issues were raised by Members and where the Members displayed the highest level of consciousness of the issues that were raised during SONA by His Excellency. I would like to thank every Member who researched and then debated during this crucial debate. After having said that Mr. Speaker, I therefore move for the adoption of the motion.
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.
MOTION
REPORT ON THE DECLARATION OF THE 5TH WORLD
CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENT HELD IN
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
HON. MAVETERA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note the Declaration of the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Vienna, Austria on 7 and 8
September, 2021 under the overarching theme “Parliamentary Leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and Sustainable Development for the People and the Planet”.
HON. T. MOYO: I second.
HON. MAVETERA:
INTRODUCTION
Jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliament of Austria in cooperation with the United Nations, the in person 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament was hosted in Vienna, Austria on 7 and 8 September 2021 under the overarching theme, “Parliamentary Leadership for More Effective
Multilateralism that Delivers Peace and Sustainable Development for the People and the Planet.”
The Conference was preceded by the 13th Summit of Women
Speakers of Parliament held on 6 September under the theme,
“Women at the Centre: From Confronting the Pandemic to
Preserving the Achievements in a Gender Responsive Recovery”.
The Conference brought together close to 100 Speakers from
115 National Parliaments and a dozen Heads of Regional and other Parliamentary Organisations. Zimbabwe was privileged to be represented at the Conference by Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament, and Hon. Mabel
Memory Chinomona, President of the Senate.
The meetings were held in particularly extraordinary circumstances as the world battles the COVID 19 pandemic, among other global challenges. In spite of the restrictions, the Organisers of the Conference remained resolute in their endeavour for a successful in person Conference - the first International Parliamentary Meeting in eighteen (18) months. Accordingly, the Zimbabwe delegation wishes to express its deep gratitude to the IPU, the Parliament of
Austria and the United Nations for the excellent arrangements which guaranteed the hosting of the Conference in a safe and conducive environment for dialogue.
OUTCOMES OF THE 13TH SUMMIT OF WOMEN
SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENT
The Summit paid tribute to women from all walks of life who were instrumental in confronting the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Summit’s deliberations informed the final Conference Declaration on the importance of placing gender equality and the empowerment of women at the heart of the pandemic response and recovery.
HIGH LEVEL DECLARATION
The Speakers of Parliament adopted a High-Level Declaration on “Parliamentary Leadership for More Effective Multilateralism that Delivers Peace and Sustainable Development for the People and Planet.”
The Declaration underscored the importance of international solidarity and cooperation between Parliaments in post-COVID recovery efforts. Those efforts must uphold the rule of law, democratic principles and universal human rights. The recovery must be inclusive, sustainable, green and incorporate innovative solutions to addressing the climate challenges. I shall proceed to read the full text of the High Level Declaration.
HIGH-LEVEL DECLARATION on parliamentary
leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and the planet
In August 2020, we, the Speakers of Parliament, convened for the virtual segment of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The world was five months into a global pandemic, with over 20 million recorded cases of COVID-19 infection and at least 750,000 deaths attributed to the virus. The virtual segment resulted in a commitment to strengthen international cooperation, solidarity and multilateral action, not only to lead the world out of crisis, but also to transform it for the better and to improve resilience. By the start of September 2021, the pandemic had resulted in close to 220 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection and over 4.5 million deaths, coupled with extensive disruptions to essential health systems in several regions, underscoring the urgent need for a well-coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to the health emergency, ensuring surge capacity at all levels in all countries.
Our declaration in August 2020 underscored the critical importance of multilateralism and international solidarity in addressing the daunting socio-economic challenges of our time. As some countries finally start to emerge from the pandemic, this declaration rings truer than ever before. The very fact that we have been able to meet in person in Vienna is testimony to the significant progress that has been made through our collective efforts, in particular in terms of developing and delivering life-saving vaccines for all to ensure that no one is left behind. This Conference has granted many of us the first opportunity in over 18 months to meet inperson to share our experiences and lessons learned from the pandemic and to look forward with renewed hope to a positive recovery, founded on our shared endeavour to build back – and build forward – better.
The recovery must take account of the particular impact that the pandemic has had on women and girls, young and elderly people, persons with disabilities, marginalised and vulnerable populations, refugees, and communities affected by conflict. The recovery efforts must uphold the rule of law, democratic principles and universal human rights. The recovery must be inclusive, sustainable and green and must incorporate innovative solutions to the climate crisis. We must work together as one human family in facing epidemics and other crises, overcoming differences of all kinds and seeking to foster a culture of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of the other. A renewed commitment by all parliamentarians worldwide to meaningful and effective multilateralism is critical to such a recovery.
We recognise that women have made a significant contribution on the front line of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women and girls, with lockdowns leaving them more vulnerable to domestic violence and increasing the burden of caring for children and the elderly. Women have also been more likely to lose employment or income as a result of the socio-economic downturn. Women and girls in conflict situations remain particularly vulnerable. All these situations have stressed the importance of putting gender equality and the empowerment of women at the heart of the COVID-19 response and recovery. We must build forward in a more gender-inclusive way and create a new global social compact for gender equality enabling the full and effective participation of women in all spheres of society. From this perspective, women must be part of the strategy and leadership of the COVID-19 recovery process, and the first step to achieving this is to ensure their equal and meaningful representation in parliaments, governments, private companies and other decisionmaking bodies.
We also acknowledge that social distancing and lockdown measures during the pandemic have had a devastating impact on youth, limiting their access to education and reducing their employment prospects, which has resulted in isolation and a surge in mental health issues. At the same time, young adults have undertaken vital front-line roles as healthcare, public utility and retail workers, as well as supporting their communities during the pandemic. We recognise these critical roles and pledge to harness the positive energy and innovativeness of young adults by making every effort to increase youth representation in our parliaments, including by joining the IPU Campaign ‘I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament’, which is promoting several transformative actions. We also commit to promote initiatives aimed at educating and training young people in modern information technologies, thus preparing them for the jobs of the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a multifaceted crisis that has undermined progress in the achievement of the sustainable development goals, made States more fragile and eroded international cooperation, resulting in worldwide increases in poverty, hunger, inequality and violence. Parliaments must rise to the challenge by, first and foremost, protecting the norms and principles of peace, development, democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. We must also tap into the many benefits of inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation in order to build bridges for better understanding, so as to lay the foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world where all people can live in freedom and dignity.
The global economic recovery must, therefore, be inclusive, with commitments to fight poverty and lessen inequality, reduce unemployment, and improve access to education and essential services. This should nurture renewed efforts to address the root causes of conflicts and build more peaceful, just and inclusive societies. As the United Nations has recognised, Parliaments have a key role to play in identifying bold and transformative actions to make the attainment of the SDGs a reality. With less than a decade to go, we commit ourselves once again to accelerating our efforts to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in our work as parliamentarians.
A sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will depend to a large extent on international cooperation and solidarity. Accordingly, we reiterate our support for the World Health Organisation, in particular in terms of its work on research, rapid response and better pandemic preparedness through enhanced cooperation among nations. We call for strengthened international cooperation on vaccine research and development, production and distribution, and improving accessibility and affordability. In this regard, vaccines must be distributed rapidly, fairly and equitably, as well as universally. No one will be safe from COVID-19 until everyone is safe. Innovative measures, such as voluntary licensing and exchange of know-how and technology must be taken to enhance equitable access to affordable vaccines and to scale up global vaccine production and distribution in the long term. We commend the collaboration among countries, along with health organizations and manufacturers, including through the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) programme. However, much remains to be done to ensure unimpeded and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.
We urge collaboration on continued research and innovation into the treatment and elimination of COVID-19 and coronaviruses more generally, including the debilitating long-term impacts of post-
COVID-19 syndrome (also known as “long COVID”). Moreover, we call for close cooperation to prepare the world for future pandemics. In this regard, it is important to work towards the establishment of a global health charter, to be agreed upon by world leaders, which guarantees health security for the world’s population, without exception, and to confront epidemics and disasters of a global nature with common universal principles and values, and in a manner that guarantees respect for human health rights.
The recovery of the global economy following the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain and unequal. Many countries will face huge budgetary deficits in the coming years and parliaments must be ready to address such challenges. We believe that a fair, open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, remains a pivotal foundation for the global economy. We call for increased coordination on macro-economic policy, continued efforts to strengthen sustainable global trade and oppose protectionism and unilateralism, and robust measures to revitalise the global economy – including in terms of developing a fairer global tax system. A key component of the economic recovery will be the advancement of the digital economy. We, therefore, call for more efforts to address the digital gap and ensure fair access to technology, internet connectivity and knowledge. Parliaments should help facilitate the development of core digital infrastructure and enhance digital skills among their populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic must not overshadow the urgency of climate action. In order to genuinely build a better future and longterm resilience, we must achieve a green, inclusive and innovationbased growth and sustainable recovery. We remain convinced of the compelling need to tackle climate change and reiterate the critical importance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the actions and targets set out in the Paris
Agreement. We welcome increased support for the Paris Agreement, in particular the return of the United States earlier this year as a party state to the Agreement. We express our strong support for an ambitious and collaborative outcome from the 26th UN Climate
Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021, and stand ready to make a robust parliamentary contribution to this process.
We also express our deep concern about the negative impacts of the climate crisis on human health and security, such as increased food insecurity, water stress and resource scarcity arising from increasingly frequent and ever more severe weather events, all of which in turn fuel conflicts and tensions and force more people around the world to leave their homes. We stress the need for preventive strategies to mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised people. We recognize the importance of preserving biodiversity and express our support for COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity, due to be held in Kunming, China in October 2021, under the theme of Ecological Civilisation – Building a Shared Future for all Life on
Earth.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in increasing threats to our democratic principles and institutions. In addressing the pandemic, the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government have had to take challenging decisions, notably curtailing freedom of movement, which has sometimes led to disillusionment and citizens losing trust in the political processes and in their representatives. Left unchecked, this dissonance, which is often fed by misinformation and extremist ideology, can create serious security threats to our institutions and to the physical safety of our legislators and staff. Governments should take people-centred measures, in full respect of human rights, in order to restore public trust that was eroded during the pandemic. Parliaments should serve as the centre of democratic accountability and transparency, including for COVID-19 responses, by systematically integrating public engagement into their work. This will enhance their legitimacy and the quality of parliamentary processes.
Parliaments have remained open for business despite restrictions on their ability to meet in person. This has led to unprecedented innovation, bringing information and communications technologies (ICT) from the back office into the very heart of parliamentary chambers, allowing remote working, remote sittings and even remote voting in many countries. We encourage parliaments to continue to innovate and expand the use of digital technologies in order to be appropriately prepared for future emergencies, enhance access to parliaments, and ultimately increase their accountability, transparency and openness to the public.
While information and communications technologies have allowed the world to remain as interconnected as possible, and have contributed to enhancing prosperity, development and security at all levels, our increased use of technology carries considerable risks, exposing us to cyber-attacks and cybercrime. The internet, and in particular social media, is fertile ground for misinformation, manipulation and the dissemination of false news and disinformation, discrimination, harassment, hate speech and violence. Increased mass surveillance, undue dependence on and unregulated use of algorithms and artificial intelligence, and digital privacy are also pressing concerns.
All stakeholders need to observe principles, rules and norms for responsible behaviour in the ICT environment. We call on the global community to come together and establish a multilateral framework for regulating the use of digital technologies and imposing greater accountability on big tech corporations. More generally, we must work for a global consensual approach to the management of these challenges, including data security and privacy, the consequences of the use of artificial intelligence, and the ethical aspect of scientific and technological innovation, in strict compliance with our human rights obligations.
We strongly believe that a global community with a shared future for humankind has interwoven mutual interests and aspirations. Common challenges can only be overcome through global responses, coordination and collaboration between all our nations. We, therefore, reaffirm the key role of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. We also firmly support the IPU’s efforts to engage and mobilise parliaments and parliamentarians around major international global processes and global commitments, thereby further strengthening the parliamentary dimension of global governance. We must continue to review, revitalise and renew multilateralism, so as to ensure that the voices of parliamentarians are heard at the United Nations and other international fora.
We commend the Austrian Parliament and the IPU, our global organization of national parliaments, for bringing us together for this parliamentary summit at such a historic time. We pledge to take this Declaration back to our countries and our parliaments, and to work diligently in following up on its key recommendations. We look forward to coming together again under the auspices of the IPU and in cooperation with the United Nations so as to share our experiences and report back on progress achieved.
Reservations expressed: To paragraph 4 (gender equality) and paragraph 12 (climate change): by Turkey To the concepts of
“people-centred measures” (paragraph 13) and “global community with a shared future for humankind” (paragraph 17): by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. I thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker for recognising me. I am here to second the motion that has been moved by Hon. Mavetera on the Declaration of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament that was held in Vienna, Austria. It is important to note that the Parliament of Zimbabwe was heavily represented by our Hon.
Speaker, Adv Mudenda. It was also represented by Hon. Chinomona,
President of the Senate and a number of Hon. Members.
The major aspects which were discussed which are crucial especially for this House include the issue of international multilateralism. By multilateralism, we are looking at global relations amongst countries whereby the United Nations or the World Trade Organisation interacts with those countries that are affiliated to their organisations. This important summit or conference was held at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the entire globe. Recommendations which were made are very important, particularly to this august House.
In multilateralism, there are efforts which are done to eradicate poverty, especially among developing countries whereby countries are supposed to interact in a manner that does not disadvantage the Third World countries, whereby the Third World countries will not be developed with their resources taken in their raw state in line with the core periphery theory by Andre Gunder Frank who has observed that the developed world has a tendency of under-developing the Third World by siphoning or taking away the raw materials.
It was also observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted heavily on those groups that I will regard as the marginalised, the vulnerable groups. Here we talk of women, children, girls, refugees and people who are disabled. These are people who were affected and are still being affected by the virus up to this day. Their situation has been worsened or aggravated by the lockdowns, which witnessed even the informal traders having to spend most of the time in their homes and that has worsened their situation. The disabled people have not been spared because of this disaster or pandemic.
Some of the important issues which were raised Mr. Speaker concerned climate change which is so topical these days. Climate change manifests are as a result of, as witnessed, a number of disasters happening. This could be in the form of things like Cyclones depletion of the ozone layer and the effects of climate change have been seen all over the globe. Serious food shortages caused by droughts, quite a number of serious droughts being experienced, not just in Africa but in Asia and the entire globe just because of the effects of climate change.
So, member States or countries that send their representatives are being encouraged to find a way to protect our climate by embarking on the so called green jobs. By green jobs, we are talking of an attempt to reduce emissions into the sky and promoting those jobs which will not pollute the atmosphere and the environment. This is very important particularly in a sustainable economic development. The issue of vaccines also took centre stage whereby there is need for international cooperation and solidarity in terms of research.
All countries should make some efforts to ensure that scientific research is embarked on by our universities, industrialists and scientists to ensure that new vaccines are discovered every day in terms of vaccines. I need to mention that the developed world has reneged on its promise to provide vaccines to the developing world. I think there is need to remind the developed world but it is also an advantage to us because if we are dependent on them, it means according to the dependency theory, we will continue to rely on them and we will not be innovative. It is high time that the developing world should capacitate scholars in laboratories. We have seen this happening in Zimbabwe where we are talking in terms of Education 5.0 and also a Bill on Center for Education, Innovation where we are encouraging students from primary to high school to embark on innovative measures and research which will culminate in the discovery of drugs which are needed particularly for the cure of this virus COVID-19.
The issue of digitalisation also came under spotlight whereby core-digital infrastructure is needed. People need to embrace ICT skills in order to curb crime and ICT skills as a way of mitigating the effects of COVID-19. We have seen some attempts being done by the Zimbabwe Government to provide infrastructure that promotes electronic learning or e-learning to avoid physical learning particularly at a time when lockdowns are being experienced. Finally, parliaments should focus and respect issues to do with accountability, transparency and openness.
So this conference was and is still very important to us because it will encourage the global community to fight pandemics, disasters and calamities caused by disease and change in climate. If we embrace all the suggestions which we have done at this conference; this world will be a better place to stay.
HON. TONGOFA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me the
floor to air my views. I just want to say a few things regarding the motion that has been presented by Hon. Mavetera. What has attracted my attention is the need to look at the impact of the pandemic to our young people’s lives. Hon. Speaker, the pandemic has heavily affected young people’s efforts particularly those young people that are involved in sporting activities. Those young people that are thriving on arts activities and music, they could not get their earnings from their usual activities because of the impact that was emanating from this pandemic. Hon. Speaker, it is very important to note that at the conference, they also picked those issues and highlighted the need to support our young people in that regard. Our young people’s education is heavily affected during this pandemic. Looking at our Constitution locally, Section 20 (a), talks of the need for our young people to access education and training and this was heavily affected by the pandemic. It was also noted that there is need to increase the young people’s representation in Parliament and we are also supporting that idea.
Hon. Speaker, it was also observed that young people need to be trained in modern information technologies that will be preparing them for their future jobs and jobs that will help them to have sustainable lives and of note Hon. Speaker is that young people’s informal or even their formal businesses which are normally at infant stage or starter stage were heavily affected by this pandemic. I do not want to say much but I just wanted to highlight the aspect of looking at our young people’s contribution and the effects that has been done by the pandemic.
HON. S. BANDA: Thank you so much Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to also contribute to this worthwhile motion which was moved by our good sister Hon. Mavetera and seconded by my brother Dr. T. Moyo. Hon. Speaker Sir, firstly, I want to thank you so much because you practice what you preach. You taught us about gender activism and gender balance. I am glad that the trip to Vienna was led by you Hon. Speaker together with our President of the Senate who is of the other gender. Mr. Speaker Sir, that really shows how balanced this nation is towards gender issues.
While you were not here Mr. Speaker Sir, even the Speaker’s Panel itself kept involving men and good women, showing that you really empowered and imparted your skills. So, though we missed you in person, Parliament was being run in a very professional manner by the Speaker’s Panel.
In theoretical terms, multilateralism is a key concept on which the architecture of contemporary international systemdwells. Multilateralism refers to an alliance of a number of countries who have got similar goals and it plays an important role in molding how we develop. So for me, it is the hallmark of the theory of international relations. Today, the contemporary world is all about globalisation. Had it not been for globalisation and the multilateralism, COVID-19 might have been in other countries and not everywhere else but now we have got forums through multilateralism to go in and make the decisions together, discuss and analyze issues.
So, I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for the Vienna
Speakers’ Agenda that we had where you continue to build relationships. It could be also nice that through the multilateralism that Zimbabwe also gets to benefit directly and multilateral institutions like World Bank, IMF stop looking at us with a black eye.
They should come back to Zimbabwe and start funding Zimbabwe. We welcome the SDR that has come in but we really want more so that there is more that happens to what we are seeing today. We see the infrastructure that is going on which is very positive. We also need to drive and do more so that even the social impact, the country can benefit directly.
The issue of climate change that was discussed really touches us when we realise that when we were growing up, Zimbabwe had only 5 regions, now it has got 6 regions and it is only 3 of them where rain continues to follow the usual pattern, but the other we have added one more region to those which are getting more arid.
Therefore, this issue of multilateralism should come in to help us so that the world that we live in is developed through the innovations, through the digitalisation and other things that are being developed. Sowe also add our academic institutions to work with the people on ground, the informal sector that we really change and find ways of fighting poverty amidst disaster. In this way then, the issue of multilateralism - when we take that which we have learnt locally and practice outside, then indeed the Speakers around the world objectives will really matter. I thank you.
In conclusion, I want to thank you so much for what you have given us, indeed we need to continue working with these forums and they also need to come and support us as a nation. On a lighter note Mr. Speaker Sir, when you were not here, Hon. Chinotimba has been too quiet, I hope he is going to debate because I miss him. I thank you.
HON. MAVETERA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I would really want to thank the Hon. Members who have debated on this declaration. More importantly, the issue of the IPU campaign - I, say yes, to youth in Parliament. I am very elated and very happy to have that campaign also being adopted in this House. Therefore, I move for the adoption of the high level declaration on Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people in the planet. I so move for the adoption.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mavetera, you need to ensure
that the whole declaration is circulated on line through the Members’ emails so that they have it on record. Some Committees may want to take certain portions of that declaration and debate further in their Committee meetings and workshops.
HON. MAVETERA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir.
I will do that. For all Members who would like to have a view of this, it is going to be circulated in Hansard.
Motion put and adopted.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 9 to
28 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 29 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
POLICIES AND FRAMEWORKS THAT DRIVE THE
YOUTH AGENDA SECTOR TOWARDS THE NATIONAL
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA
Twenty Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote youth inclusion and influence on public policy in order to enhance their participation in the broader economic sphere.
Question again proposed.
HON. MAVETERA: I would like to thank the Hon. Members who debated on this motion which was seeking for the establishment of a Youth Caucus which is quite an achievement in this august House. Since 1980 we have never had that, so indeed, we are happy that we have got an all inclusive President who has also included youths who is Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa and also yours truly Hon.
Speaker Sir. You also made the establishment of this Youth Caucus.
Therefore I move for the adoption of this motion.
Motion that this House:
DESIROUS to uphold the Constitution and to protect it at all times;
COGNISANT that Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take reasonable measures including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that youths, that is to say people between the ages of fifteen to thirty- five years-
- have access to appropriate education and training;
- have opportunities to associate and to be represented and participate in political, social economic and other spheres of life;
- are afforded opportunities for employment and other avenues to economic empowerment;
- have opportunities for recreational activities and access to recreational facilities; and
- are protected from harmful cultural practices, exploitation and all forms of abuse.
ALSO, COGNISANT that the founding values and principles which bind the State and all institutions and agencies at every level include, among other things, recognition of the rights of Youths,
ACKNOWLEDGING that any measures and programmes for
the Youths must be inclusive, nonpartisan and national in character;
DESIROUS to promote Youth inclusion and influence in public policy with the main objective of increasing and improving youth participation in the broader economic sphere in order to harness the
Youth demographic dividend
NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVES, that
- A Caucus of influencers and Youth experts, led by sitting Hon Members of the National Assembly, be assembled to focus on policies and frameworks that drive the Youth
Agenda Sector towards the National Economic and Social
Transformation Agenda;
- Hon Members of Parliament in their various
Constituencies prioritise Youths in resource allocation and programming;
Hon Members pursue innovative initiatives and strategies that bring together the Youth sector and the various stake holders for the purposes of promoting participation and mainstreaming in public and private sector programming in the country,put and adopted.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: I move that we revert to Order of the
Day Number 9 on today’s Order Paper.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON YOUTH,
SPORT, ARTS AND RECREATION ON THE PETITION FROM
GWANDA COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TRUST
REGARDING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING
HON. TONGOFA: I move the motion standing in my name
that: That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio
Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation on the Petition from Gwanda Community Youth Development Trust regarding youth participation in decision making.
HON. MASUKU: I second.
HON. TONGOFA: Thank you Madam.
Introduction
Pursuant to Section 149 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Gwanda Community Development Trust (GCDYT) petitioned Parliament of Zimbabwe on the need for exercising its oversight function and promotes institutionalisation of youth participation in all decision making sectors or platforms. Accordingly, the petition was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and
Recreation for consideration. Thus, the Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation considered the petition and resolved to inquire into the issues raised in the petition. This report is a summary of key findings, observations and recommendations on the enquiry into the subject matter.
Methodology
The Committee undertook the following activities in gathering evidence;
It received oral evidence from Gwanda Community Youth Development Trust on 25th of February 2021 to get insight into specific issues that needed to be addressed.
It also gathered evidence from Dr K. Coventry, the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation on 29 April 2021 on measures being implemented by the Ministry to ensure youth participation and representation at all levels of governance.
It analysed written submissions from Ministry of Youth,
Sport, Arts and Recreation and Gwanda Community Youth
Development Trust
Petitioner’s Prayer
In the petition, the Gwanda Community Youth Development Trust was beseeching Parliament to exercise its constitutional role and address the following issues of public concern;
- Protect the constitutionally granted right for the youths to be fairly represented at all levels of governance from the district to national level platforms, ii. Ensure that youth empowerment comes with a legislative framework.
iii. Promote youth ability to battle it alone during an electoral process- ensure ZEC set aside constituencies where youths are able to contest each other. This will see a significant increase of youth representation in Parliament and local authorities.
Committee’s Findings
Oral evidence from Gwanda Community Youth
Development Trust (GCYDT)
Unpacking the petition to the Committee, the GCYDT explained that the petition sought to improve youth representation in executive decision -making platforms in all sectors.
The GYCDT argued that;
Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe mandates the state and all institutions and agencies of Government at every level to take reasonable measures including affirmative action programs to ensure that youths
- Access to appropriate education and training,
- Have opportunities to associate and be represented and participate in political, social, economic and other spheres of life among others 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”
The Government has not yet fully committed in implementing this constitutional requirement, a situation which is still making it difficult for young people to make contributions in the development of policies that respond to the specific needs of their generation.
The petitioners appreciated His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe Hon. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for proposing that 10 youths shall be proportionally selected from all the country`s provinces to represent youth in Parliament through the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 2 Bill on 17 January 2020. However, the petitioners argued that the proposal might give power to political parties to determine the youth proportional representation list hence deprive young people the opportunity to be appointed on merit. The petitioners also indicated to the Committee that if the 10% youth quota is adhered to, youth representation will remain at its lowest mark, yet Zimbabwe is one of the African countries with youth comprising the majority of the population.
In order for all the youth concerns to be addressed, the petitioners went on to beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional role and protect the constitutionally guaranteed right for the youths to be fairly represented at all levels from the district to national levels.
The petitioners further claimed that youth empowerment needed to be complemented by a legislative framework which promotes youth ability to battle it alone during an electoral process; hence the need to ensure ZEC set aside constituencies where youths are able to contest each other. They felt that this will see a significant increase of youth representation in Parliament and local government levels.
Oral evidence from Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and
Recreation
National Youth Bill
In her submission on 29 April 2021, Dr K. Coventry informed the Committee that, the Ministry was working towards the development of a National Youth Bill which seeks to address a number of youth’s concerns including issues raised by the petitioners.
She further indicated to the Committee that, the Ministry was operating within the framework of the National Youth Policy and the challenge with a policy was that it is not legally binding and is also limited in scope. However, the proposed National Youth Bill will contain set of standards, principles, and procedures that must be followed in the implementation of various pieces of youth policies. The proposed law together with its instruments would ensure that legally binding principles are followed, implemented and adhered to. It would also uphold the values, principles and standards set out in section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Dr. Coventry also informed the Committee that, currently the
Bill was still at its drafting within the Attorney’s General’s office and was near completion. To that end, the Ministry was organising a workshop for the week beginning 24 May 2021 to finalise the draft Bill. Once completed, the Ministry will facilitate countywide stakeholder consultations to enable the youth including the petitioners to make their contributions towards the bill. A roadmap had been developed by the Ministry and it spells out all the stages that had to be followed up to the Bill being assented to by the President.
Dr. K. Coventry, the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation informed the Committee that, her Ministry had taken a number of measures to facilitate and promote fair representation of youths at all levels; including at local government level, national level and electoral processes, which includes the following:
Creation of Enabling Legal and Policy Framework:
The Minister indicated to the Committee that, following the approval by Cabinet of the Revised National Youth Policy, the Ministry had already started working towards its dissemination to the youth and stakeholders including translation into all the major languages as well as braille. More so, the Ministry was currently spearheading the development of a new National Youth Bill which will provide for among others, facilitate and promote fair representation of youths at all levels including participation at local government level, national level and electoral processes.
Appointment of the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) Board
Dr. Coventry informed the Committee that, in accordance with
Section 3B (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act
(Chapter 25:19 as amended in 1997), an 8-member board for the ZYC had been appointed. The Ministry will facilitate the election of the other 7 members of the board by registered national youth associations in terms of Section 3B (1)(ii) and (2) of the Act. 2.3.
Decentralisation of the Zimbabwe Youth Council:
The Minister further told the Committee that, as indicated in the
Ministry’s 2021-25 Strategic Plan which is aligned to the NDS1
2021-25, the Ministry was working towards the decentralisation of the ZYC to all the country`s 10 provinces. Decentralisation will ensure effective coordination, supervision, promotion and fostering of youth activities at provincial and district levels. Reference was also made to Section 7 of the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act (Chapter 25:19 as amended in 1997) which allows the Minister to establish provincial and district structures for effective execution of its given mandate.
Youth Leadership Development Initiatives:
Dr. Coventry informed the Committee that, her Ministry, in collaboration with other line Ministries was supporting a number of youth-led activities as part of its youth leadership development programme and also to facilitate their participation. Some of the activities include;
- Junior Parliament;
- Junior Councils;
- Youth dialogue Forums (such as Youth Indabas, Youth Business
Forum, Youth Chats with Policy Makers); Youth Leadership capacity Building Trainings; and
- Youth focal desks (persons) in line Ministries.
Observations by the Committee
The following observations were made by the Committee:
The Committee noted with concern that youth participation is an issue that cuts across and unites youths from all walks of life and the claims made by the petitioners were constitutional in terms of sSction
20 of the Constitution that need to be respected and observed.
The Committee observed that young people face stiff competition from already financially established adults, thus limiting their chances of success.
The Committee discovered that youth voices, involvement and participation in the election of Zimbabwe Youth Council Board was very low since only selected individual representatives of national youth associations affiliated to ZYC were eligible to vote during the election process.
The Committee observed that the Executive had created structures that accommodate youth participation and representation. For instance, the Cabinet has approved that 10 youths shall be proportionally selected to represent youths in Parliament. However, if the 10% is adhered to youth representation will still remain low yet youths comprise majority of the population in the country.
Recommendations
The Committee recommends the following:
The Committee recommends that, the Ministry of Youth, Sport,
Arts and Recreation should expedite and put in place the National Youth Act by 30 September 2021. The Act should ensure that it addresses all the concerns of the youths.
The Committee recommends that by 31st of December 2022,
Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation should ensure that the Zimbabwe Youth Council decentralise its structures to promote effective coordination, supervision and fostering of youth activities at all levels.
The Committee further recommends that, going forward, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation should ensure that all election processes for Zimbabwe Youth Council are regulated by
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure transparency and fairness.
The Committee further recommends that Ministry of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs should submit a bill to Parliament by 31st December 2021 amending the Constitution to increase the youth quota from 10% to 25%.
The committee also recommends that the Ministry of Justice should amend the electoral Act to provide for the modalities for the realisation of the amendment to the constitutional provision for 60 women to include young women and young women with disabilities by 31st December 2022.
Conclusion
The Committee supports the Petitioner`s requests in terms of section 20 of the constitution and like any other citizen of the country, the youths deserve a fair representation to that end. Thus, youth representation and participation are crucial for developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations. The Committee, however, appreciated efforts being made by the Executive through Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in responding to youth’s aspirations through the development of National Youth Act which seeks to address among others, issues raised by the petitioners. I thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity.
(v)HON. E. MASUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to second the report which has been presented by the Chairperson Hon. Tongofa on behalf of the Youth Committee. The petitioner sought to unpack and they are agitating, lobbying for increased youth participation and representation in Executive decision making platforms in all sectors of the society.
Madam Speaker, this is very important because in Africa, the population is described as a youthful one and the scenario in
Zimbabwe also testifies to that. More than 60% of the country’s population comprises of people who are under the age of 25. It is of paramount importance that young people are more active with more loud voices and play a part which is more visible in decision making platforms of all sectors at all levels.
Madam Speaker, as you have seen in the report Section 20 of our Constitution and all institutions of Government states that at every level, we should take action that will ensure that young people will have access to education, training and have opportunities to associate and be represented in Parliament and participate in political, social, economic and other skills of life among others. Madam Speaker, it is important that the State and the Executive moves with speed in ensuring that all sections of the institutions which promote or lobby for the satisfaction or empowerment of young people are aligned. We all know how much our youth do not have access to resources. They do not have collateral for example to get loans from the banks. They are always at a disadvantage when it comes to access of resources.
While we are still there Madam Speaker, I would want to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for introducing the Youth Empowerment through the Venture Capital. This will go a long way in empowering the young people. Once they are empowered, they would be able to participate in decision making especially, in politics and all levels beginning in local authorities, council, provincial levels and in the National Assembly.
Madam Speaker, we however advocate that even young people from rural areas will also be empowered. At one point, it is my hope that we will help young people’s presences who are coming as far as
Binga, Tsholotsho, Nkayi, in Matabeleland North where I come from.
Madam Speaker, it is also important to pay tribute to the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa and his Government for proposing that 10 youths be represented proportionally, selected from each province in the country. While this number is a bit low, I would like to salute his Government because already, this has been incorporated into the
National Constitution through Amendment Bill No. 20 of 17th January 2020. This shows the commitment from the highest office on the importance of having young people in Parliament.
Madam Speaker, it is my hope that when this is implemented, young females are also included. I would like to urge Parliament to move with more speed in rectifying most and old pieces of legislation to be made international, continental, Africa Union Chapters which have something to do with promoting the participation of young people in the economy which eventually allow them to take in decision making. Since we all know that we are operating in extremely difficult times, the world is facing one of the biggest challenges, COVID-19 pandemic which basically has slowed down most of the programmes and plans that we had on our calendar. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity again to thank Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa and the Government for a reasonable amount of the resources that have been given to youths to support vocational training centres across the country. These efforts must be appreciated by all Zimbabweans and Members of this august House. The Committee also observed that young people said this petition from already financially well established adults is limiting their chances of success. The quota for young people in the National Assembly however, at least gives hope to our young people that they can be represented. I also urge young people to not only wait for the 10 seats but also compete for the 210 seats.
As I conclude, please allow me to thank the petitioner because it is my strong conviction that we are able to move forward as a country and succeed. We have included the masses and according to the Chief Whip, young people are the majority. I would like to urge our young women to pull up their socks and play a more active role in their areas. It does not matter where they are coming from. Our young people need to be more visible in as far as moving our country to Vision 2030 is concerned. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. TONGOFA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 7th October, 2021.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
ROAD CARNAGE
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):
Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me also thank Hon. Members in this very important august House for giving me a very important task to bring a ministerial statement on road carnage to this august House.
Pursuant to a request by Hon. Nduna on the 18th August 2021, that I deliver a Ministerial Statement to this august House relating to the road carnages in the country as well as issues of integration of Transport Management System to minimise road crashes and fatalities, I hereby wish to deliver such a statement Hon. Madam Speaker.
Allow me, from the outset, to commiserate with bereaved families of the diseased and those who got injured as a result of road carnages along our roads. I wish to particularly single out the fatal accident which occurred on the 5th July 2021 at the 61km peg along Masvingo/Zvishavane Road where 22 lives were lost. I personally attended the scene, it was sad and horrendous. I share their pain and would therefore encourage the nation to join us in preventing similar carnages in future. With the indulgence of this august House and your indulgence Hon. Madam Speaker, allow me to call upon you to observe a minute of silence in honour of all the victims who lost their lives this year as a result of road carnage.
Hon. Members observed a minute of silence.
Madam Speaker, the available road crash statistics for this year alone are startling. During the first quarter of 2021 alone, that is January to March, the country experienced 7984 road crashes in which 282 people lost their lives and 1373 got injured. These statistics were experienced, despite the fact that for the greater part of the first quarter the country was under lockdown with limited road user movements thus anticipated reduced exposure to the risk of road crashes. Programming against road carnage and promotion of road safety are a multi-stakeholder function which requires a systems approach which is being advocated by the World Bank. I will therefore follow the systems approach in attending to the issues raised by Hon. Nduna. The fight against road carnage under my Ministry is addressed under the auspices of five pillars namely: Road Safety Management, Safety Roads in Mobility, Safe Vehicles, Safe Road Use and Post Crash Response.
Road Safety Management is predicated upon International and National Legal and Policy Instruments which prescribe standards on road safety. It also refers to institutional structures, processes and procedures of road safety governance. Under this pillar, my Ministry is concerned with strengthening and capacitating road safety management institutions. This is the pillar under which the Integrated Transport Management System falls. In 2018, Government entered into a triple P arrangement and rolled out the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management System, which is a computer based system aimed at eliminating corrupt activities while boosting operational efficiency at VID, ZINARA, CVR, Traffic Police, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and ZIMRA. It is envisaged that the entire criminal justice system will be linked in future to enable the implementation of the penalty point system which is on the cards under my Ministry.
Madam Speaker, under ZIMTSS we have managed to computerise the vehicle licence system through ZINARA and that process is now complete. We have also begun a pilot scheme on VID driver licensing system with aspiring drivers now undergoing a compuiterised learner license where they instantly get their results. The pilot schemes are at eight selected centres and let me also advise the House that we almost have 23 depots in five provinces and we hope to roll-out the scheme throughout the country soon. The system has the effect of reducing human interface in the process of driver licensing with a view to reduce corruption and improve competencies to reduce incidences of road carnage.
On a related matter, in order to improve road crash, data collection and recording in the country the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe facilitated the implementation of a geospatial road crash data collection and recorded system from the World Bank called data for road incident visualisation, evaluation and reporting known as the acronym DRIVER. I am sure the Hon. Members are very familiar with the word geospatial having been launched at one of our higher learning institutions, the University of Zimbabwe.
The ZRP and the Ministry of Health and Child Care will benefit from the use of the system and once fully implemented, Zimbabwe will become the third country in Africa after Morocco and Malawi to have the system. This is a welcome development because road safety interventions are effective only if they are informed by accurate and reliable road crash data.
Madam Speaker, pillar number 2 deals with safer roads and mobility. This pillar is concerned with the inherent safety and protective quality of road networks for the benefit of all road users especially the most vulnerable, for example pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. As you would all recall, on 9th February, 2021 the
Government declared the state of our roads a national disaster thereby giving impetus to the operationalisation of the second phase of the emergency road rehabilitation programme, ERRP2.
Under ERRP2, the Government is targeting to rehabilitate 10 000 km of road countrywide. I have spoken on a number of fora pertaining to the ERRP2. It is without doubt that ERRP2 leads to wider, smooth surfaced and safer roads which safeguards against road carnage. In that vein, my Ministry remains seized with the provision and maintenance of sustainable road infrastructure and other associated services working closely with the Hon. Members playing their oversight role. The Second Republic treats the issue of rehabilitation of our roads seriously.
Last time I pleaded with Hon. Members to drive along HarareMasvingo road for them to witness for themselves the commitment we have in improving road safety through road construction. Today I register another such call for Hon. Members to drive along Seke road and once again, witness what His Excellency the President Dr.
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s Government is delivering for the people. We have learnt from him. We are a listening Ministry. We have responded positively to the public outcry over potholes on our roads and need to have an interchange at Mbudzi roundabout which is very topical and is something that we are moving with speed to address.
The third pillar focuses on safer vehicles. This pillar speaks to global core and universal encouragement for the deployment of improved vehicles safety technologies to cater for both passive and active safety through a combination of harmonisation of relevant global standards, consumer information schemes and incentives to accelerate the uptake of new technologies. My Ministry through the VID continues to enforce vehicle fitness especially for public vehicles. As a Ministry, we are however alive to the road safety risk posed by unregistered pirate taxis, Mushikashika or go fast, which clandestinely continue to ply our roads in most of our urban centres. In order to address this, I believe there is need for collective action from law enforcement, local authorities and the Local Government Ministry and this calls for a holistic approach and the highest level of compliance from our citizenry.
Further on the same note of safer vehicles, I applaud
Government for the use of fiscal means to restrict the importation of aged and unsafe second hand vehicles through the enactment of Statutory Instrument 89 of 2021 which banned the importation of second hand cars over ten years in Zimbabwe. This contributes to mitigation of road carnage on our roads and the undesirable impact thereof.
Pillar number four deals with safer road use. The pillar speaks to the development of comprehensive programmes to improve road user behavior, sustained or increased enforcement of laws and standards combined with public awareness and education to increase seatbelt and for instance, helmet wearing and reduce drinking and driving, speed and other risk factors are some of the target areas. My Ministry, through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe carries out road safety campaigns in schools, churches, communities, workplaces, bus termini and roadsides.
In fact, road safety has been included in the school curriculum. In spite of the lockdowns, the TSCZ has continued to work with ZRP and the corporate world in carrying out road safety campaigns. Traffic safety training centres to teach road safety to school children has also been constructed in both urban and rural areas. Currently, one such centre is nearing completion in Seke communal area and the place is known as Chitsvedemo School. Hon. Members might be wondering what will be in that training centre. That is where we are trying to bring a real scenario of an urban set up where there is a robot, pedestrian crossing and bicycles so that those who are less privileged could have that kind of a scenario at their doorstep.
My Ministry believes that the rural community should not be left out in development. The TSCZ also has driver improvement programmes for drivers, for example the defensive driving certificate course. The course is currently compulsory for public service drivers but stakeholders are currently lobbying us to make it compulsory even to private vehicle drivers. I will also humbly request this august House to move with speed in trying to enforce and come up with a legislative tool to address this anomaly.
Also, the need to raise awareness Hon. Madam Speaker, we have got a problem when we are driving along our highways. It is clearly stated that slow moving traffic should keep to their left but you find someone insisting to be in the inner lane and this kind of culture, I humbly appeal to the people of Zimbabwe because a number of accidents are brought about by such kind of behavior whereby people start being impatient and start overtaking from both sides. This is my call to say those that are not moving according to the prescribed road limit on that particular road should keep to their left. Surprisingly, if you cross Limpopo into South Africa, the same driver would know that if you are not moving fast you keep to the extreme left. So, it is a matter of the mindset and I ask the people of Zimbabwe to take note that this is one of the major causes of accidents in our roads.
Pillar number five focuses on post crash response, this pillar speaks to increase in responsiveness to post crash emergencies, and improve the ability of health and other systems to provide appropriate emergency treatment and long attained rehabilitation of crash victims. Through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, my Ministry and private corporate partners, is working on establishing an inter agency national call center for the coordination of post crash activities. Research has shown that a significant percentage of road crush deaths occur within the first one hour, the so called golden hour after a road crush, thus I have instructed officials in my Ministry to work towards establishment of a sustainable road accident fund. I will endeavour Hon. Madam Speaker, to include the legislative framework for the same to be part of His Excellency the President Cde. Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s legislative agenda as he comes before the august House.
The establishment of the fund is long overdue and therefore, my Ministry will work flat out on the same. Most recently, I was in Kigali, Rwanda for a bilateral working visit. My delegation and I were exposed to a number of good practices in infrastructure development which enhance road safety.
Road infrastructure development should be viewed as a package including secure and robust street lighting, well-functioning drainage systems, appropriate widening of roads to accommodate cycle tracks and pedestrian pavements. Further, good, durable and clean roads are also appealing and an attraction to the tourists, thus the need to plant and maintain flower beds and green plants along the highways and such tasks are reserved for women and youths. I am glad with the listening President that we have, the same scenario and the same practice can also be adopted in our beautiful country Zimbabwe.
We must also deploy technical and financial capabilities towards fencing off our highways to security them from stray animals. It is also surprising Madam Speaker, that exercise was done and the fence was stolen and who is going now to guard one another because surely the fence to be stolen along the highway in day light; this is an act of sabotage that I think happened. It was a good gesture Madam
Speaker.
We should also scale out our enforcement mechanisms against vandalism of infrastructure, law enforcement is key to sustain the longevity of installations along the highways and other infrastructure.
We are also part of a global peer review ecosystem with other member States of the various conventions on road safety. In terms of improving road safety management, I am glad to report to the august House that the Zimbabwe Road Safety Performance Review Report sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(UNECA) and United Nations Economic for Europe (UNECE) from 2019 has been completed and shall be launched soon. The review report is a game changer as it identified gaps in our current road safety management system. The lunch of the report, will thus usher in a period of structural and institutional transformations as envisaged in the NDS 1 in order to achieve 25% reduction in road crashed and fatalities by 2025.
The transformation of the TSCZ into a lead road safety authority with full powers to administer the National Road Safety Policy, Strategy and action plan thereof, as well as to coordinate the activities of all road safety stakeholders in the country is eminent. In fulfillment of His Excellency, the President’s promise to the United
Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean
Todt in May this year, we will accede to some of the United Nations
Conventions on Road Safety as well as the African Road Safety Charter. These initiatives will unlock funds for our national road safety programme from the Global Road Safety Fund which is administered under the officer of the Special Envoy for Road Safety.
Hon. Speaker, I am also ware of efforts by my fellow parliamentarians from the Transport and Infrastructural Development Portfolio Committee during the Eighth Parliament, to encourage my
Ministry through the Traffic Safety Council to establish crash victim’s stablisation centres at tollgates around the country. While stablisation centres are a noble emergency medical service strategy, it is however unfortunate that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’s mandate in its current form does not include building and supporting stablisation centres. In that vein and recognising their importance, Government, through my Ministry, will work flat out to work out in sponsoring legislative police recommendation to achieve extension of mandate for that purpose.
Hon. Speaker, as I move towards my conclusion, road crashes are acceptable because we all know that they are preventable and avoidable. I therefore, appeal to all road users to behave responsibly on our roads. On that note, I appeal to families, individuals, institutions, private and public companies and you Hon. Madam Speaker and Hon. Members of this esteemed august House to join me in fighting road carnage in our motherland. Let us all play our part for road safety as it is everyone’s responsibility.
Let me also take this opportunity to then advise the august House that we had a problem of number plates which was quite problematic. A number of motorists were just plying routes with unregistered vehicles and some took advantage of that gap. I am there to announce that we received adequate stocks of number plates this past month. According to the information that we have, we have about 35 000 unregistered vehicles and we have received 37 000 pairs of numbers. It means that that gap is going to be bridged. However, at the end of October, we are going to receive 151 500 and the consumption of number plates should just give you information Hon.
Members.
We produce almost 3000 a day and that is the capacity of the production of number plates if you then multiply by 30 days, we can produce 90 000 number plates but he consumption of our number plates is between 6 000 to 7 000. This is what we import after the advent of the Statutory Instrument that banned those cars above 10 years. Before that, it was 7 000 to 8 000, so now we are currently importing about 6 000 vehicles. So, it means we will then have surplus above that. It means by end of October, if we then receive our batch for 151 000 for those who can do their mathematics, it means we will have almost close to 18 months’ adequate supply of number plates. What that entails is that as a Ministry, we are saying by the first of December, it will be mandatory for every motorist to have number plates and there is no excuse. This will also manage the issues of hit and run, those that will take advantage of unregistered vehicles.
I then now need to advise the people of Zimbabwe that come December, the law enforcement agencies, together with some of our departments, will be flat out on our road and we will not allow motorists to take advantage. Whether it is a Government vehicle, it must have number plates, and it must be licenced. Licencing, whether it is not plying, there must be a disk on the wind screen. So I just thought may be as we go back to our constituencies, we make sure that we also preach the good news that come December, all the vehicles will be having their number plates.
As we speak, they are desks that have been set up at CVR, ZINARA, to expedite the process of issuance of number plates. So, you must take advantage of that provision and make sure that you comply with the law. On that note Hon. Speaker, I want to thank you very much and thank Hon. Nduna for such a request so that I table this Ministerial Statement before the august House and also thank the Hon. Members for the continued support that I usually get to make my life easier at the Ministry of Transport. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Minister of
giving us such a comprehensive Ministerial Statement. I now call upon Hon. Members to ask questions of clarification.
HON. N. MGUNI: Thank you Madam President, I thank the Minister for the wonderful Ministerial Statement. My question or may be suggestion, I want to ask the Minister - some of our accidents happen when there is no electricity, can it not be a policy that all robots are powered with solar. The Minister of Energy and Power Development yesterday promised that there is going to be more production of electricity but these things are always on and off.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker Maam. I seek
clarification from the Hon. Minister on two issues. Firstly, whilst I appreciate the good work that they are doing in road rehabilitation, especially on the highways and in towns, I do not see anything happening in our rural areas. In Gokwe North for example, we have several roads and there is nothing happening. We want to applaud the Ministry for doing a lot of work in towns and on the highways, especially Beitbridge Road, however, what about us in Gokwe? I want to challenge the Minister to drive along KadomaPatchway-Sanyati Road and get to Binga. The road is terrible; our cars can no longer spend the 5-year term because of these bad roads. Secondly, I liked the Road Safety Management point that he mentioned as a way of reducing carnage but I think your Ministry
Hon. Minister is being sabotaged by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Un-road worthy vehicles are using our roads, they just produce
USD$5 to 10 and they are allowed to pass through. I thank you.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you very
much Madam Speaker. My first point is related to the haulage trucks on our roads, particularly on the Bulawayo Highway. You find that chrome carrying vehicles from Shurugwi to Selu which traffic can be on rail is on trucks. The Hon. Minister also controls the railways and I wonder why that traffic cannot move off the road so that our roads can last longer.
In other countries, trucks are restricted from moving at night but here they move anytime. Why are we just being laissez faire in controlling the movement of haulage trucks, particularly traffic that should ordinarily be on rail?
Secondly, the issue of road infrastructural development surfacing materials; what measures do we have to replace the old fashioned tamarc? In other countries like Austria, Czechoslovakia, they use even granite slabs to gravel urban roads. In our country, we are sticking to the old fashioned method which is very expensive. I am told in Czech Republic, that technology was initiated by students from university and that is what they are using to surface their roads. I am saying this because in some parts of the country, tarmac was last laid before I was born. I am 68 years old, if it is going to take 68 years for a region to get a new tarred road, surely this country will not develop because the only tarred road we know is the Victoria
Falls-Beitbridge Road.
Vehicles that we are importing, are there any plans between yourselves and the Ministry of energy and Ministry of Industry and Commerce to have our vehicles converted to renewable energy. We are still importing vehicles which in some countries would be phased out in 10 years time and we are still bringing them in this country.
What are the plans, we will end up with vehicles that will continue using fuel when other countries have moved to renewable energy like electricity? Are there any plans between your Ministry and other Ministries?
Urban congestion vehicles; I think this is a menace on the high ways, Bulawayo to Harare, these towns, Chegutu, Kadoma and Kwekwe, what is the Ministry doing to ease congestion on the main highways. I thank you.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would also
like to add my voice in thanking the Hon. Minister for a detailed Ministerial Statement. Minister Mhona is one of the Ministers who normally act swiftly when requested to bring in Ministerial
Statements, so I would like to thank him for that.
It is so sad to be losing people through road carnage and I have discovered that in most cases when repairs are done on the roads, there is poor workmanship. I would like to single out the road towards Sable as you are driving into Kwekwe, that road has been repaired severally but the road is bumpy. As motorists are driving, some of them will be driving fast and as they drive along those roads, they end up losing control and accidents happen. I would like to appeal to you Hon. Minister so that you make sure that there is thorough supervision as these people repair roads. It would appear as if these people do not know what they are doing because you cannot be repairing a road over and over again.
I would also like to urge the Hon. Minister that there be signage on the roads. Where there are caves, people must know you are approaching a curve and you must slow down. If it means putting the humps so that people slow down, I think it is better that way.
HON. T. MLISWA: I want to thank Hon. Mhona for such a
detailed, diligent Ministerial Statement and as Hon. Khupe said, he is one of the few Ministers who respect colleague Members of Parliament and I think it must be applauded.
My point of clarity is on the mining companies that are destroying roads. For example, if you go to Norton, there is a Quarry on your left before Selous, there is a road which cuts across to the Zvimba Road which is called the Jinx Town Road. It is a 10 tonne road but 30 tonne trucks carrying Chinese chrome are using it. They do not repair it, they are damaging it. The issue of enforcement is what I am asking. What does your Ministry do to such companies which are not abiding by the law by not sticking to a 10 tonne truck and bringing in a 30 tonne truck?
Secondly, for us to have a proper road network why are we not doing like what Rhodesia did? Whoever wanted to mine, the first thing was to put infrastructure in place, put the roads. The roads that we enjoy such as Shamva and all over were born by Rhodesia. So, why are we not getting companies that are interested in our minerals to put infrastructure first – roads, schools, hospitals and all that. All the infrastructure you see today of roads in all these places is as a result of the Rhodesia policy that they had and so forth because the investment must go into infrastructure.
The other issue is, why as a Ministry and I know you being there you will come up with this, you cannot have a situation where there is an oversupply of vehicles against roads which are not expanded. It does not make sense, Madam Speaker. Hon. Mhona hears me when I am saying this. You cannot be bringing in 10 000 cars when your roads are not expanding and that is why there is congestion. So, no matter what you say, you need to stop cars coming in until you
expand the roads at the end of the day. This has killed the issue of infrastructure in terms of the roads and so forth. I would like to find out from you what measures are you going to take to ensure that there is road expansion which is tallying with the cars coming in. There is an overflow of cars and the roads have not expanded since I do not know.
Finally, what is also important, the point of clarity I want to ask the Minister is: in terms of the rural roads there is equipment which belonged to the RDC which was brought through - why are we not seeing a development in those roads? Most of the Members of Parliament here, like the Hon. Member said, their cars are finished because the roads are terrible. Whilst there is good work happening on the highway in Masvingo and so forth, not many people can afford to come into town, by the way, and see the Masvingo road. It is us with good cars who can see, but the majority of the people in the rural areas are not seeing that effort. So, it is important for you to answer to that that how can we now convince the people. You have given us a task as politicians. There is no politician here who will gather people in their constituency and say the roads are being tarred when they are not being tarred. When are the roads in the rural area going to be tarred so that we can go around our constituencies? It would be good for people in the rural areas to travel moving from gravel roads to tarred roads and not the other way round where they go from tarred roads to gravel roads. That does not give a good image of us as Members of Parliament. So, I do not know how you can augment that so that it reconcile with the good road network which is happening in towns and the rural areas. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also want to thank the Minister for a very good Ministerial Statement and I want to ask if the Minister is aware of the corruption happening at the tollgates which are not computerised. There is a lot of corruption happening there. Why are you not having these tollgates computerised and when are we likely to have them computerised, for example the Chivhu road, Seke road and the road when you are going to Chiredzi? I thank you.
HON. NDIWENI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Mhona for his Ministerial Statement. I seek clarity pertaining to one road, Madam Speaker. I have got the opportunity, so I thought I would mention it to the Hon. Minister.
Whilst we appreciate the good work that his Ministry is doing on most major highways we have the Chinhoyi to Karoyi highway. Hon. Minister it is becoming a strip road. There are plenty of accidents that are happening there and two trucks can hardly pass each other on that road. It is a death trap, Hon. Minister. I thought I would mention it to you coupled with the tollgate between Chinhoyi and Karoi. We need two lanes on both sides because you go there, people stop there and they have to wait for close to an hour. You feel sorry for the people. It is easier for us Members of Parliament because we have got side roads, we can pass, but at times I really feel sorry for the general public on that tollgate. I thank you Madam
Speaker.
HON. MATARANYIKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want
to thank the Minister for a well detailed statement. In his statement the Minister mentioned that they banned vehicles that are 10 years or older on the basis that they had become a menace on the roads.
My issue is, we have got a lot of our people who cannot afford to buy new vehicles and all they can afford is to get a vehicle that may be 10 to 15 years old at a price of maybe US$3 000 to US$5000. So, these small vehicles make these young families very happy and it is those small things that drive them every day. If you look at the happiness index of Zimbabwe I think it is ranked around 148 out of the 180 countries or so. So, I am not sure whether this policy was well thought of, Hon. Minister because even if you were going to…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mataranyika, please
may you go straight to your question.
HON. MATARANYIKA: I want to find out from the Minister what plans they have come up with to replace those vehicles that are older than 10 years and how affordable, if there is any plan, would they be to our poor people? Thank you very much Madam Speaker.
(v)HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to ask the Hon. Minister Mhona, but before asking him I want to thank him for a job well done. You deserve a special Christmas gift from the people of Zimbabwe for the hard work you are doing.
Madam Speaker, Mutare, Harare and Chirundu are full of diesel tankers. Why can we not construct an additional pipeline to increase our pumping capacity and decongest the roads?
Secondly, Forbes Border post now has more traffic than Beitbridge Border post. If he does not have an immediate answer can you come with a Ministerial Statement on his plans to develop Forbes
Border post. I want to thank you Madam Speaker for recognising me.
(v)HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me
start by thanking the Hon. Minister for a marked improvement along the Harare-Mutare Road at the tollgate. I have managed to time the cycle time as we pass at the tollgate, they have improved a lot to around two minutes. It is unfortunate that I heard Hon. Ndiweni speaking about the Chinhoyi problem but particularly along the Mutare highway, I think I have noticed a marked improvement. It helps in reducing road accidents because frustrated drivers at the tollgates end up bumping into each other and forced to drive carelessly for they would have lost a lot of time. I want to urge him to do the same throughout the country so that they reduce the cycle time at the tollgate.
I would also want to say that I agree with the Hon. Minister’s observation that we have got a lot of slow moving vehicles occupying the fast lane. I have not yet seen anywhere where our road signs indicate to encourage the drivers to occupy the slow moving lane so that they identify those two lanes as fast lane and slow lane. Can he, through his Ministry, put up the sign post so that the drivers know that if you are moving slowly, you occupy the slow lane and if you are moving fast, you use the fast lane.
I also wanted to say Madam Speaker, a lot of our people die during the golden hour he spoke about because a lot of Zimbabweans do not know what to do when they get to an accident. Many people try to help but they also exacerbate the problem by causing further fractures. My question to him is whether his Ministry is coming up with any plan to make sure that every Zimbabwean has the opportunity to go through a first aid training for example when Parliament is opening, can he arrange so that all parliamentarians are trained at basic first aid so that we are able to be useful when there is an accident? A lot of people need to help but they do not know what to do.
My last question to the Minister is, I notice a lot of roads do not have clear verge. At the edge of the road is where vegetation starts. I will use the example of Hauna Road and Jombe Road where there is no allowance just after the road side such that when vehicles break down, they are forced to park in the middle of the road. What is his Ministry doing to make sure that every road in Zimbabwe has at least an allowance along the verges whether it is two metres or three metres? What is his Ministry doing to make sure that has been enforced? We have got a lot of accidents being caused because of the lack of allowance outside the verge.
(v)HON. MOKONE: Thank you very much Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to raise my concerns over the Ministerial Statement that was presented before the House. Let me start by thanking the Minister for the wonderful job that he is doing.
However, I have a few concerns. Hon. Minister, the tollgate in Colleen Bawn has not been refurbished. I think it has been like that for more than five years now. So there is no structure at all. The second issue pertains to the road that links Gwanda to Beitbridge.
There has been some improvement but some parts of the road are in a terrible state. The last issue is of the people who are hired to repair the roads. They do not do it in a splendid manner especially when we are looking at the road that connects Bulawayo to Esigodini, to be precise, it is at Kensington. The road is poorly done. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank the Hon. Minister for the Statement. There are two issues that I wish to raise. Firstly, two major policies were pronounced by Government – the issue of left hand vehicles and now the age of the vehicles. Do they have statistics to show that there is relationship between the side of the steering and accident and the age of the vehicles and accidents? Secondly, Madam Speaker, we are happy there is a lot of rehabilitation of our roads in the rural areas but do they have a mechanism to check the quality of work. Some roads are being rehabilitated very well but some are terrible and the contractors are just getting away with it. Thank you.
HON. SAMUKANGE: Thank you Madam Speaker for finally
recognising me. I am going to ask the Hon. Minister very specific questions relating to my Constituency Mudzi South in particular.
About a month ago, the Minister, the Resident Minister, myself and other stakeholders in Mashonaland East attended a function which was supposed to be a ceremony but at the same time a briefing at Rwenya Bridge. We were assured that the bridge will be constructed beginning that day. In fact, I was even told as we drive back to Harare, we should be meeting trucks ferrying equipment to repair the bridge. Madam Speaker, this bridge was destroyed in 2011. It connects Manicaland North or Nyanga North and Mudzi South. It is crucial. Since that time, there has been no connection. People have to come all the way to Harare to get to Nyanga and vice versa.
The second question that I would want to hear from the Minister is when do we expect the road which connects Nyanga and Mutoko to be tarred? It is a very important road. As a result of failure to have these tarred, our people have to travel long distances because buses do not want to go through the roads as the roads are very poor. Finally, you talked of green belt and that a dam will be built along Rwenya River, which will service most of Mudzi South. So, I wanted to know when that is going to materialise.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Let
me thank my colleagues for very important questions and areas, the clarity that they have sought. I will do the LIFO Last In First Out and I will start with my Hon. learned friend Hon. Samkange, since he said we come from the same province - I will favour him with the first response. His last point of clarity though, does not fall under my purview. I will gladly take that message to my colleague on the dam that is supposed to be built along Rwenya River, which will also be a welcome development to the province and the entire nation. He went further to seek clarity on the issue of Rwenya Bridge. It is true, we were there and pictures circulated in the press where I was bare footed crossing the river. That happened a few weeks ago. Surely that bridge was swept away during Cyclone Eline and this is close to a decade now and nothing has happened. It is not only the economic benefits derived from that bridge in terms of connectivity but it borders on the issues of security concerns whereby this also is our bridge that does offer security services along that corridor and therefore calls for urgent attention to repair it. Contrary to the assertions by my Hon. learned colleague that the bridge was going to be constructed on the same day that I visited, I think maybe he was trying to emphasise the issue of urgency that it has to be done when it comes to that bridge. We also have issues of procurement.
The same day, I went with contractors on site. Normally, if we flight a tender, we give them time to respond but in order to fast track, we are giving about 10 days to all contractors, then they come on site, do their bill of quantities then tender their forms. This is basically what happened. On that particular day, we had about four contractors who came to assess but apparently those four contractors in terms of capacity, what they saw, they could not be in a position to take up the offer.
Let me now gladly advise Hon. Samkange that as we speak, this coming Tuesday, we are closing again after we had retendered. We now got four or five serious companies with capacity. Normally, in construction, they are categorised so we have the relevant category we have tendered and I assure the Hon. Member that we are still on course in terms of rehabilitating that Rwenya Bridge. So, you can go and advise that after Tuesday, we will then get the winner and works will then start. Not starting on Tuesday so that I am not misquoted. After the closure of the tenders, we get the contractor who is handed over the site and start mobilising equipment so that he will be on site. Hon. Eng. Gabbuza, usually when he asks, it will be on issues of quality, monitoring and evaluation and that is expected of him. Being an engineer, you are precise and the concerns are well taken on board. Once again, I appeal to the august House that this task will not be to the Ministry alone. We have got numbers for Provincial Road Engineers and if you see any shoddy work being done, do not wait for the question and answer session on Wednesday. You can call me or the engineer to take the engineer to account because this is the money coming from the citizenry and we must be accountable as citizenry as well. So, on issues of capacity to monitor, we have got resident engineers wherever we are constructing a road that are supposed to give feedback to the parent ministry in terms of the work being done. We expect that if there is no element of connivance, we must not have situations of shoddy deals being paid.
We have what we call Interim Payment Certificates, IPCs, which should be signed and used for payments. So, we will not allow connivance whether it is an engineer who is superintending over that project to allow that stage if it is not done properly. We must make sure that we work together in terms of making sure that we monitor the work that we are doing.
You also raised a very important point viz-a-viz the left hand and then the old cars as well as the relationship towards the accidents that we are witnessing. Usually the fact that we drive on our left hand means it takes time for one to overtake as you have to move the whole body of the vehicle so that you have access and visibility which then makes it dangerous because the moment you want to encroach, it means you will have encroached the bigger part of the body of the vehicle. If it is a right hand vehicle, if you encroach and you see there is oncoming vehicle, you have to go back to your lane. This, however, is something that requires empirical evidence like what you were saying in terms of the relationship. Truly speaking though, in terms of old cars, in other jurisdictions, there is no way they can allow even those that are still below 10 years because in their parent countries, these are vehicles that are deregistered and normally you find the sticker on the windscreen or side glasses that the vehicle is deregistered but to us it will appear as a new vehicle.
So, the policy was in the right trajectory and this will also address the question that has been raised by my other learned colleague Hon. Mataranyika that I will then address together with this question of old cars that are being imported. The S.I came from the Ministry of Finance. Yes, we do issue permits but that was not under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, the ban. Let me also clarify for the people of Zimbabwe that just like any other issue that when you hear of Ministry of Transport, you will be asked all sorts of questions pertaining to transport. The citizenry is entitled to do that but at times some of the questions will be under different ministries. In this particular one, the ban through the S.I. in terms of ZIMRA that they will not allow cars that are over 10 years basically would fall under the Ministry of Finance. But then I will move on to Hon. Mokone, tollgates and she mentioned Colleen Bawn that it has not been rehabilitated. I am glad to announce that there is a very serious arrangement in place which is at its advanced stage in terms of implementation where we have found a financial institution willing to partake in the construction of tollgates. Why a financial institutions? It quickens the process as they will advance the funds and then collect on the tollgates when they are built. We are looking at close to 22 tollgates and Colleen Bawn is one of the tollgates. Some of the tollgates in the neighbourhood we are going to relocate so that we will not interfere in the residential areas where some of the tollgates are.
So, in terms of rehabilitating, we have a model tollgate which will then resonate and be more like the ones you see along HarareMutare-Plumtree road. In terms of mitigating even corrupt tendencies, that will then address some of the issues that Hon. Members have raised. People hired to repair roads that will also resonate with what Hon. Eng. Gabbuza raised in terms of quality and poor workmanship which is something that we must take seriously so that we do not pay people that are not producing the desired product we want as a nation.
Hon. Saruwaka, Madam Speaker, let me hasten to thank him. Why? Because every time he comes to Parliament he gives me time right from the first tollgate that now I am at Rusape and have taken seven minutes. So, each week I measure. He has been saying at times
I take more than 10 or 7 minutes or a minute. So, that kind of
feedback is quite good so that if you see the improvement along that way because the moment he says I have taken more minutes, I then raise with the relevant management of that tollgate to say yes, this is something that is happening. So, he has been giving me statistics and minutes that he takes when he is coming from the constituency to Parliament.
I humbly urge other colleagues to give feedback whether it is a tollgate or road that is not being done so that you do not wait for Wednesday to ask me a question. If you give me a road I will then instruct the engineer of that particular province to look into that particular so that the moment you come to Parliament you will be having an answer.
He also talked of verge clearance and this is important. Verge clearance like I indicated in Rwanda is something that is done by women and we are saying verge clearance is being done by corporates in terms of women and youth. If we then have that kind of practice to then group our women to make sure that is done because these are light jobs instead of contracting companies, we then have communities partaking into that exercise. That will be very important and also poses a danger if we do not clear the verge. I want to thank Hon. Saruwaka on that.
Hon. Mudarikwa you talked about Mutare-Harare-Chirundu and the volumes of trucks plying that road. Surely, under normal circumstances, the loads are supposed to be off the road to the rail and that is why you have seen our roads being damaged because the loads that are going through our roads are not intended to go through roads. Basically, it is cheaper also to use the rail in terms of carrying that tonnage and that road Mutare-Harare-Chirundu is very busy. For those who were following on the Cabinet briefing, there is a Memorandum of Understanding that is going to be signed between the Ministry of Transport here and Turkey so that we have an understanding of trying to see how we can work especially on the areas to do with rail infrastructure.
I can say there are a number of initiatives that we are taking so that we can move with speed in trying to rehabilitate our rail infrastructure. For the benefit of the august House, we are talking about 2 700 km of our rail in this beautiful country. You find that we now need to move with speed to avoid some of the cautions that we experienced especially along the railway line.
The expansion of Forbes Border post let me also take this opportunity to thank the Second Republic in terms of border expansion. For those who have not been to Beitbridge, there is a programme that is going on as we speak, the expansion of Beitbridge Border post whereby the first phase is going to be opened on the 6th October, which is a few weeks from now. You will see the freight and commercial section open to traffic. You will see that the expansion of border is not only the border facilities but the accommodation element has been brought into play as well and water reticulation.
So, this is a complete package that has been offered. I want to thank the advent of the Second Dispensation that some of these projects were not being done during the First Republic and something that we are seeing now being taken with speed. It calls upon again the essence of us looking at all our border posts and Forbes Border post is quite busy. We also have Chirundu which we will also be focusing and targeting so that we then comply and also have a good infrastructure in terms of the one-border-post that is being witnessed at Chirundu Border post. I want to thank Hon. Mudarikwa for that important question.
Hon. Adv. Mataranyika I responded to the issue of the ten year ban that this falls under the purview of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. However, the concerns are very topical in terms of us especially the first time buyers who then want to buy vehicles in terms of capacity to say if they are now below 10 years they might now afford. I think it will be a good initiative even as a nation to start having our own plant so that we start rehabilitating and our members will then get cheaper vehicles but brand new vehicles. It is something that can be achievable of where you can have a premium and monthly commitments whether you are a civil servant buying something that is new and durable.
Hon. Ndiweni, the road from Chinhoyi to Karoi. We are going to start rehabilitating. I will start from the fact that the road that links this region why people say Zimbabwe is favoured, the ChirunduHarare-Beitbridge Road, also known as the Beitbridge HarareChirundu Road, which is one road. We are talking about close to
580km and over 360km to the border. So, this is a complete road that we are talking about. Now, we are seized with Harare - Beitbridge where we have got five contractors and we are introducing a sixth contractor which was a Cabinet decision. The sixth contractor is going to start from Chirundu. So, it is Chirundu rehabilitation and we are saying rehabilitation meaning we are reclaiming the road, not necessarily pothole filling and patching but complete rehabilitation of the road.
Let me assure you that even issues of tollgates, as a matter of policy after every 100 km we must have a tollgate. If you look at that road, after Inkomo, there is another one at Lion’s Den. So, after improving the road, we are now going to have proper tollgates and whoever is going to partake into that exercise can also participate under the Built-Operate-Transfer mechanism. I assure you that Chinhoyi-Karoi road and you have highlighted that is a high accident zone, and I do concur with you and the need to move with speed in trying to rehabilitate. As we speak, the tender is going to be flighted and a sixth contractor from the locals will then partake in that very important exercise.
Hon. Tekeshe, I want to thank you very much and you have been coming before the august House about your bridge and I thought you were going to apprise the august House that your bridge is now complete. I want to thank you very much. You raised the issue of corrupt tendencies along tollgates. This is quite a worrisome incident and it is happening. There are sophisticated people manning our tollgates. Whenever an advert is flighted, you find people with degrees wanting to work for ZINARA as cashiers and you start wondering why they are so interested. This has become part of a cult system whereby whoever joins the institution within a few weeks will be part of the syndicate. It is not only the cashiers but also those who are right from the supervisors so we are busy as we speak trying to make mechanisms and having our monitoring teams and head office teams making sure that our tollgates have got serious people. The only solution to that is a fully computerised system on issues of human element. At times they create congestion so that they start using detours, avoiding the booms and this creates congestion, then you start collecting money from undesignated areas. In most cases, motorists will be in a hurry, they do not wait for their receipts. So these are some of the issues that we are talking about to say yes if we then have a model flagship tollgate, we will then mitigate our issues. This is happening and people are stealing money through tollgates and we must make sure that we ringfence monies coming through
tollgates.
Hon. T. Mliswa, thank you very much, you raised an important issue about mining companies that are destroying our roads. This was something that was also tabled in Cabinet and a solution was that we now need to have weighbridge construction. The example that he gave that if it is a ten tonne road; surely you do not expect to see a 30 tonne using that road. We are going to be having massive programme in terms of weighbridges. You will see us constructing weighbridges so that we have penalties for those who actually carry excess loads that will be an issue for companies that are investing in mining to start rehabilitating and start construction of roads. So, I think this will be a humble plea, yes it is not their mandate but if you then appeal to them through their corporate social responsibility to also partake into the exercise of rehabilitating our roads, I think that will be a noble gesture.
The issues of equipment being bought through Rural District Council; there is a 20% that is going towards devolution and that has been earmarked for purchasing of equipment for road rehabilitation. Madam Speaker, some Rural District Council are doing excellently well in terms of administering the issues of equipment, procurement but you find in other jurisdictions they are now buying equipment and you start wondering why they are not doing that. In the event that they buy equipment, they are supposed to maintain their roads because the Ministry of Transport is not taking all roads. We are seeing that some of the roads fall under the purview of Rural District Councils and some are DDF roads. We are saying there is no way we can administer each and every road in this country. Road authorities have got their roads that they are supposed to make sure they maintain.
Some roads in our rural constituencies fall under the Rural District Council. I will continuously urge the Rural District Council to procure equipment and wherever we come in, yes we have taken some of the roads but we have not taken all the roads. I will humbly ask the Rural District Councils through Hon. Members so that as they sit during council meetings, then they have to make sure that equipment is procured to address that issue.
I will go on to Hon. Dr. Khupe, poor workmanship and you have been very vivid on this one Hon. Madam Doctor. I agree with you, I can give a good example of people using Seke Road. It was bumpy because each year we could just patch and that is not the desired state of a road. You need to reclaim the road so that you start it from afresh and if you then drive now along Seke Road, it is now perfect. So, the idea of patching in Shona we will say kungotambisa nguva, surely in terms of stability it will not be stable. So, we have raised the issue of roads that are bumpy and that we also need to reclaim. As we gravitate towards the budget cycle, it is again my humble plea Hon. Madam Speaker, to lobby for funds so that we adequately rehabilitate our roads not just pothole filling.
Some of these roads are old, we need to reclaim and start afresh. I thank you Hon. Dr. Khupe for raising that. The need of signage is very important and the steps that we have taken as a Ministry; there are recommended SADC signage that we also need to have. For instance, the illiterate, those that cannot read; by merely looking at the signage, will be in a position to know what it means. So these are some of the issues. You talked about what we call the rumble strips, surely in a highway, you cannot put a hump but you can put those. Where you feel it is necessary even as Hon. Members, advise us so that we control even the speed and reduce the carnages that we are seeing. This is a holistic approach that we can take but thank you very much for raising that.
Hon. Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Mayihlome, thank you very much for the questions that you have raised in terms of highway trucks along our roads and that actually buttress the point that has been raised in terms of the tonnage that is not acceptable. You raised another important point of trucks plying our roads after 6pm and it is known, normally they carry dangerous substances that are actually prohibited after 6pm.
You have seen the practice that even the abnormal vehicles, those carrying dangerous subsistence are still continuing to use our roads after 6pm. At times because of fatigue, they then start encroaching into other lanes and you find that they are involved in head on collision even with light. So, I agree with you that in terms of enforcement, you also need to work together and also we have law enforcement agencies. We work together with our VID team and the police so that we make sure we enforce that after 6pm, such kind of trucks are not allowed to be on our roads. Surfacing materials, you actually gave best practices in other jurisdictions where you said technology and I am happy that we now have universities through innovation hubbies. People are trying to come up with innovative products and this is something that we are also doing together with ZIMCHEM. Instead of going through products that we are using, we then use contemporary products to then rehabilitate our roads. This is an ongoing exercise and I would welcome such very important suggestions so that you will also speak to our engineers that they will be also in a position to pursue that very important initiative.
You talked about importing old vehicles vis-a-vis the renewable energy. You are very right, if you go to our CMED, we now have about 6 electric vehicles and if you then drive such kind of a vehicle and use these traditional vehicles, you actually see the difference and in terms of consumption, it is quite good that we now have lithium in abundance in this country. So they use the lithium batteries, so this is something that we also need to gracefully market so that our people will start migrating from the traditional vehicles so that we have more of the electrical vehicles and this will be a welcome development.
You talked about congestion along our highways. There are a number of bottlenecks along our highways. I can give you an example of Bulawayo Road which I think is the one that you use Hon. Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Mayihlome. If you look at roundabouts that we have that are actually prohibiting the flow of vehicles, these are some of the areas that we are actually revisiting; if you are along a highway, there is no reason for congestion. So these are some of the issue that we are seized with as a Ministry that we want to take corrective measures to address those anomalies.
Hon. Torerai Moyo, thank you very much for raising very important points on the state of our roads in rural constituency. Like I indicated that in terms of rural constituencies, the mechanism and the setup of our roads in rural constituencies fall under the purview of DDF and Rural District Councils. You normally find Ministry of Transport having the major roads linking constituencies but that is not an excuse. The roads all belong to the Ministry so I will say this is something that we will also want to work closely with our road authorities so that we make sure that even some of our roads in constituencies be rehabilitated and that they are re-graveled with speed. So, I actually take this issue with the urgency it deserves. The law enforcement bribes, the issue of mindset in this country is something that we need to preach day in day out. You find the mushikashika, even if you as the ordinary people, there is a perception that the police own the Mushikashika because you will be seeing the police standing while the Mushikashika will be ferrying people. You then start to wonder to say in terms of enforcement, why is this happening. So, this is something that is happening and in terms of bribes. They are being given bribes and maybe that is the reason why the mushikashika are left to ply on our roads. If you look at the Wish vehicle, count one up to ten, nine of them are used in the Mushikashika business. They actually pass through roadblocks and one wonders how and why, so this is something that, as the august House, we should come up with punitive pieces of legislation to ban such malpractices that we are seeing on our roads.
The example that I gave you about the Zvishavane accident that I visited, it was a Wish vehicle again which had a head-on collision with another vehicle and it was carrying about 11 people in that vehicle and also having passed through police check-point. Therefore, in terms of enforcement, we should take such issues seriously as a nation with regards to compliance. Why are we not complying? The laws are there but we are not complying and at times the law enforcement agency are not enforcing at all. This does not apply only to the police, the VID; they are supposed to be enforcing but at times you find an overloaded vehicle passing through a VID check-point. Therefore, these issues need to be addressed with urgency as a nation.
Hon. Mguni, I want to thank you very much. You talked about provision of solar robots. That is a noble idea and with the shortages that we are experiencing as a nation and the abundance in terms of the natural light that we have, this is supposed to be the right trajectory.
Yes, it might fall under the Local Government in terms of implementation but I am saying this is a noble cause that the moment we have solar robots, it will be excellent. It is something that we can then take on board and make sure that we also save the energy that is scarce as we speak.
I would also like to urge my fellow colleague, the Minister of Local Government who is also here present to say let us take this initiative seriously so that we make sure we convert the traditional lights that are still using our very precious electricity to solar. Not only that, even the roads that we are constructing, it is something that is desirable to have lights throughout the roads so that we do not have dark spots.
Madam Speaker, I feel humbled to be before this House especially coming from my fellow colleagues and the zeal that they are demonstrating seeing the nation, some of the issues being addressed. So, I want to thank you very much and I want to say I am at your disposal, feel free, do not wait for Question and Answer Session on Wednesday. If you have got time, I operate 24/7, let us chat, wherever you see we can add value, I am also willing to take your advice and make sure that our country moves forward.
HON. S. BANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker Maam. I have
two points of clarity and the first one is to thank the Minister because his Ministry is a listening ministry. We ask them to change the road that they have put to say the residents of Mt. Pleasant prioritise this road and the ministry understood…
[Technical Glitch]
…that town there are roads that are being constructed, if I say construction, they are actually just taking gravel which is not gravel and just putting it on roads, this will not compact it. They are going to cause climate change because they are going to cause siltation in rivers which are downstream. I would want to ask the Minister to send a team there to investigate and see if engineering works are being done properly in terms of rehabilitating those roads. I thank you
(v)*HON. KARUMAZONDO: Thank you Madam Speaker
Ma’am. My point of clarification to the Hon. Minister is on the fact that other contractors have failed to complete road construction within the stipulated period. I would like to know what the Ministry has done with such contractors.
HON. S. KHUMALO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to express some appreciation on the work that is being done by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development countrywide in terms of repairing, expansion e tcetera.
I realised there is a road between Bulawayo and Tsholotsho, that road was under construction in the last parliamentary year. When the teams packed their bags and left at the start of the rain season, I thought they were going to come during this time of the season to continue the road works. However, I now realise that we are in October and the rains are on the horizon and there is no work taking place on that road, if the Minister can highlight to us what plans they have for that road?
HON. SAIZI: I just want to find out from the Minister with regards to Harare-Bindura Road. It is now one of the worst roads in the country where a lot of accidents are happening. What plans are there for this road since it is one of the busiest roads in Mashonaland Central.
My other point is that it seems there is a problem with small projects that are being done by the Ministry, I will take an example of my road that links Muzarabani Road to St Alberts, and it is a very important road which connects the hospital only available there but it is only about 3km which are left and we had been trying to get to complete this road but up to now, nothing has been done. Is there any plan to ensure that these small projects also get attention as the major roads are being done?
(v)HON. G. DUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I just want to find out from the Minister, there is a road which links Chisuma to Batoka Gorge which is Batoka Bridge where we are supposed to do the other power station. What are the plans for that road because it is not clear whether it is the Government which is supposed to take care of it or it is the Zambezi River Authority? The signs that were put some years back that the road would be under construction any time, but up to now, it is four years down the line and we do not know what is happening there.
(v)+HON. M. NKOMO: (Inaudible virtual recording due to
poor network.)
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nkomo, I am sorry
you are not audible. You can put your question in writing.
HON. NDEBELE: I just have a short contribution Hon.
Minister. I wish to say if ever there was bad blood between your Ministry and local authorities, especially Bulawayo, before your tenure began, I pray that you mend relations and as Hon. Gabuzza rightfully puts it, I might as well go further to apologise on behalf of the local authorities. Why am I raising this Hon. Minister? It is because it is clear to all of us in this House that local authorities are struggling to mend roads. In Bulawayo, especially one road that passes right by my house was stripped of tar more than 10 years ago and todate our council is struggling to re-tar that one.
So if it may please you, Hon. Minister, beyond what you have been doing please reconsider doing even more. I believe when you disburse funds to local authorities you wait for them to finish working on a particular road, they reconcile with your office and only then are you able to release more funds. If that modus operandi could be revisited so that before the onset of the rainy season our councils are able to attack the numerous roads that require mending. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):
Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. Once again for those who do accounts I will do the FIFO method which is the First-In First-Out.
So I will start with number 1.
Hon. Banda, the first part I did not quite hear him properly but he then went on further to talk about Mvuma, that yes, it is a vibrant area that has got a lot of activities that we all know. In terms of the issue of roads in that area, once again it is something that we then call upon a holistic approach so that together with local authorities, in terms of Rural District Councils where he can see and try to add value. Surely that then resonates well with what Hon. Ndebele talked about, the issues of disbursements to then say if we then disburse to a particular project and wait for acquittals.
These are some of the issues that we have been seeing and I assure the august House that in the next few weeks you will see the disbursement list from ZINARA again to say this is how much we gave to a Rural District Council, local authority, to the Ministry which is under Department of Roads so that each and every road authority is accountable. We do not want a scenario where people would say the
City of Harare is not being given funds. This is something that we are doing so that the citizenry will know that this is the amount that went towards a particular project because this money is supposed to go towards road rehabilitation. We want to make it clear that each road authority will account. We are going to flight the amounts that we are going to disburse to local authorities, rural district councils, DDF and Department of Roads.
Hon. Karimazondo raised a very important question that there are people whom we have given tenders, they have not done a good job and are behind in terms of completing the roads. We have quite a number of contracts that we have canceled for such individuals. We give them tenders, they come and they have favourable rates, but when it comes to bringing in equipment to do the road construction, they are found wanting. We have such companies, Madam Speaker. We do not know whether they want to sabotage the Government programmes or they are looking for a sense of livelihood, but what I want to inform this House is if we see someone is not able to carry out the job, we normally take it upon ourselves to reassign that tender to those who have the capacity.
Hon. Gen. Rtd. Khumalo raised an important point on the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road. Let me say this, Madam Speaker, I once said to this august House that I have got the Ndebele blood in me because my mother comes from Plumtree. A number of roads were marginalised in terms of perception and in terms of reality from Matabeleland where we are talking about - I can give you a good example. We have got contractors who when we flight a tender, you then find that within the neighbourhood there is no one who has got capacity and at times you find contractors coming from Harare going to, whether it is Matabeleland North or Matabeleland South and in terms of mobilisation costs they then become prohibitive.
So, you find in terms of uptake of some of the jobs that are coming from that side they are not moving with speed as anticipated, but also the issues that we are facing, a challenge that we addressed whereby people from this side were being taken, whether it is Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North or Bulawayo and working, disregarding the ideals and the ethos that whenever we are rehabilitating a road, make use of the local communities. So, these were some of the challenges that we were facing with contractors to take their workforce from one province to another province which is not acceptable.
I want to assure the august House that now we have taken it upon ourselves as a Ministry and I want to thank the Second Republic again on this particular issue and in particular His Excellency where we said all stalled projects in Matabeleland, whether Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo and including other provinces, we are taking on board.
We have got Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Bulawayo- Victoria Falls, Bulawayo-Beitbridge Roads. These are the roads that we are now seized with in terms of procurement so that whatever was done, we need to reserve and to preserve the value. Some of the roads were just planned and now we need to surface them but there is grass coming up on some of those roads. We must move with speed so that we rehabilitate all those stalled projects. I want to assure Hon. Dr. Khupe and Hon. Anele, my learned colleague there, to carry the message to say we are going to attend to the roads that we were supposed to be doing and that we abandoned. It is not like we abandoned them but it was that era. With the Second Republic, we are taking on board those stalled projects. This is the instruction from His Excellency to move with speed and try to rehabilitate such roads.
I want to thank Hon. Rtd. Gen. Khumalo for raising that important point to say let us administer all stalled projects. Hon. Brig. Gen. Mayihlome, yes, we have got a number of such projects especially in your area. These are some of the roads that we also need to move with speed and address.
Hon. Saizi talked about Harare-Bindura Road. Yes, I got a request to say that we start moving with speed. Madam Speaker, I think this will be of paramount importance and very key to you since this is your province as well. We are going to be rehabilitating this road. We tried to pothole-patch some of the areas but we now need proper reconstruction of the roads in some of the areas. The procurement programme is underway as we speak. He also talked about Muzarabani and St. Albert’s. There is also another road of which I wish Hon. Seremwe was here, St. Albert’s Dotito. These are some of the roads that were done and then abandoned. They will fall in the same category like the roads that I talked about from
Matabeleland that these are the roads that we want to complete and some of them are less than 5km. We now need to make sure that we start rehabilitating all these stalled projects and to assure the august House that we will work even during the rain seasons. I am glad Engineer Gabbuza is here, we also have technology to do roads whilst it is raining. It will be an excuse to say now that the rains are here, we are not going to be on the roads. There are some activities that you cannot do during rainy time but whenever the rain stops, there are some jobs that you can do. I want to assure the august House that yes come rains; we are not going to have excuses to be out of the roads. We will be addressing the rehabilitation and reconstruction of our roads.
Hon. Godfrey Dube, I need to check on these specific roads. Although, I now know a number of roads, this one that he has talked about the Chisuma-Batoka Gorge Road, I need to check with my engineer. I assure him that I will, personally give him feedback on the status quo of that particular road before mid-night today. For the benefit of the citizenry and for the other Hon. Members, this is something that we can also share when I get a platform. We know the importance of the Batoka Gorge and what is happening there. The question was who is in charge? Is it the Zambezi River Authority or it is the Government that is going to superintend? We know that there are going to be works at Batoka Gorge, so I need to ascertain who exactly is going to be partaking into that exercise.
Hon. Nkomo was not audible but I thought maybe she was talking about the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. As we speak there was a feasibility study that has been going on. We will help to get the results of that feasibility study. The purpose of the bankable feasibility study is to ascertain the viability...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Minister. I can read the question which I asked Hon. Nkomo to put in writing.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The road to Victoria Falls has got big trees nearby which causes more accidents. What are your plans to clear the trees?
HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me thank Hon. Nkomo for that question. When we talk of verge clearing, we also include the issues of cutting down trees and grass along our highways. This is an exercise that we also need to move with speed if there are areas that are noticeable in terms of the dangers that they pose. I will be glad if we appraise the Ministry of such areas that we know so that we engage our engineers to go and see and make sure that they address that challenge. Besides that, that road is going to be rehabilitated completely. The road is narrow and it had a number of potholes. Yes, we did patching but it then becomes bumpy like what Hon. Dr. Khupe was saying. So it requires a total rehabilitation and this is the one that I was talking about – the bankable feasibility study to ascertain the viability of the road especially if you want to put tollgates. If you are going to get numbers in terms of traffic passing through the tollgates. With the advent of COVID, we know the tourism has gone down in terms of the activities but we hope that we will get the required numbers along this road so that we justify the total rehabilitation of the road. I am sure as the bankable feasibility study is done, you would see that the rehabilitation will start even if it is not favourable. The reason why one would need a bankable feasibility is to make sure whether he will be in a position to recoup the cost because this will be a triple P or Built Operate Transfer model where an investor will be trying to recoup his or her own investment.
I want to thank Hon. Nkomo for that.
Hon. Adv. Ndebele, you did not give me the name of the road. If you can give me the name in particular I will be very grateful and send my engineer to see what was done and what it is we can preserve. Even if it is under the Bulawayo local authority, we can actually request ZINARA to specifically fund and make sure that when they prioritise their projects, they will start with such projects so that we preserve the value.
The issue of local authorities struggling is true. Local authorities are struggling and I want to highlight a good example. Hon. Mliswa is not here, we gave Norton Town Council funds for rehabilitation and they took about two months with the money seated in their coffers but not doing work. So you start wondering why at times we would have a local authority, funds having been disbursed but they are not performing but there are other local authorities who are actually not performing because of various reasons.
During the old era, local authorities would receive money from
ZINARA and then start prioritising other commitments and you still wonder why. This is something that is happening and we are saying, especially to the Committee on Finance, when you start tracking, we are going to give you the list of all the funds that have been distributed so that you follow the money to make sure that the local authorities are using the money for the intended purposes. Above all there is no bad-blood with local authorities. I believe that whatever is not functioning properly, we can sit and talk and pass my gratitude to the City of Bulawayo to say let us work together if there is anything. So far I have not seen anything but I am there to work with any local authority. Thank you Madam Speaker.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 10 to 26 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 27 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, NATIONAL HOUSING AND
SOCIAL AMENITIES ON THE INQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF
WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ZIMBABWE
Twenty-seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works, National Housing and Social Amenities on the Inquiry into the State of Waste Management in Zimbabwe
Question again proposed.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO):
Introduction
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works acknowledges the report as presented by the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works, National Housing and Social
Amenities on an Inquiry into the State of Waste Management in Zimbabwe, which was presented to Parliament in 2021. I would like to commend the work done by the Committee in reiterating the need for Local Authorities to maintain clean and healthy cities.
Objectives
The objectives of the fact finding visits of the Committee were as follows: to
- assess the overall state of waste management in Zimbabwe - understand the challenges faced in waste management by local authorities with a view to recommending for improved waste management. The issue of waste management is an essential service that must be provided in every local authority in the country. I therefore concur with the Committee in setting out this fact finding mission with these objectives.
Methodology
The Committee mainly received oral evidence which for us is first hand information from parties who are dealing directly with local authorities and whose evidence we abide by.
Findings
The evidence from the Permanent Secretary presented to the Committee represents the position of the Ministry and that received from the local authorities again that is their position and we accept it as presented to the Committee.
Challenges Faced by Local Authorities and Committee Observations
The report highlights challenges faced by the local authorities and I will proceed to respond to these as given.
- Fuel is being sold both in the local currency and foreign currency. There are service stations that are meant to be selling fuel in the local currency as they are receiving foreign currency form the RBZ through the auction system. Local authorities should therefore be able to access fuel in both local currency and foreign currency. There are, however, some fuel companies who have been flouting procedures and these companies have been identified and are supposed to be fined for such actions. Local authorities should be able to approach central government in order to get assistance when facing such challenges
- In terms of high maintenance of obsolete equipment, that is clearly an administrative issue whereby local authorities need to consistently service equipment as a way of
maintaining their equipment. Local authorities have been receiving devolution funds and such funds must be used to buy new and reliable equipment. There is rather no need to waste money in maintain obsolete equipment. The Ministry remains available in overseeing operations of the local authorities and continues to advise where necessary. - The Ministry takes note of issues raised in reference to EMA, which are to do with landfills and high fines being charged. The Ministry will work together with the
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the local authorities in coming up with solutions to the issues raised herein.
Committee Recommendations
The recommendations given by the Committee are well received and will be implemented as presented with the following responses given as follows:
- Local authorities by virtue of their creation are autonomous institutions and a tier of government. They are devolved units of central government and are conferred powers and responsibilities in terms of Section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Section 276 of the Constitution stipulates the functions of local authorities which include the power to make by-laws, levy rates, taxes and raise sufficient revenue for them to carry out their mandates. The Urban Councils
Act (Chapter 29:15) and Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13) further buttress Constitutional provisions relating to the functions and powers of local authorities as they make their own budgets, collect revenue and expend in line with the budgets. This therefore entails that local authorities already have the desired autonomy to budget and procure machinery and equipment without any hindrance from central government. Over and above, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works through the Ministry of Finance offers Duty Free Certificates to Local Authorities who procure service delivery equipment which include, among other things refuse compactors, dozers, skip bins and skip trucks.
Government must explore the possibility of generating energy from waste by December 2022.
- The Government has engaged various investors with the view to invest in waste to energy generation. Potential investors have presented their concepts to local authorities and plans are underway to have a waste to energy plant at Pomona dumpsite for the City of Harare. This follows approval by Cabinet of a possible construction of a 22MW waste to energy plant under the BOOT model for the envisaged joint venture partnership. To date, prefeasibility studies have been completed, MOU signed between Harare City and the prospective investor and awarding of tender for prefeasibility study is at adjudication stage. Key milestones registered include conclusion of bankable feasibility study to qualify prefeasibility study and verify viability of project and due diligence visit report and feedback. Given that this will be the first plant of its nature in the country, all local authorities shall be tasked to explore potential investors in a bid to invest in waste to energy as part of comprehensive ways of managing solid waste.
Local Authorities must provide at least three bins for each household to encourage separation of waste at source by December
2021
- Whilst waste separation at source is a welcome idea which local authorities must engage in, there has not been meaningful movement with regard to the provision of at least three bins for waste management master plans, waste recycling policy and inadequate refuse fleet to ferry different types of separated waste. However, the drive towards waste to energy by the government entails huge investment in significant waste separation at source, procurement of adequate refuse collection equipment and recycling. At this juncture, local authorities have not moved much in procurement of adequate refuse bins at household level and the incapacity is worsened by intermittent revenue inflows vis-a-vis enormous service delivery mandates. In this regard, the recommendation has been noted and the local authorities are working towards effectively managing solid waste with the view to prioritise waste separation at source and the procurement of refuse bins and receptacles should be included in their annual budgets. Another recommendation by the Committee is that there is need for local authorities to be supported financially through loans and Public Sector
Investment Programmes or to engage into Public Private Partnerships to enable them to develop engineered landfills and to buy adequate equipment for waste management by
June, 2022.
Local authorities can apply for Public Sector Investment Programmes for the purpose of constructing landfills in their respective constituencies. Some local authorities like Gwanda Municipality, Kadoma City and Norton Town Council have engaged development partners and constructed landfills. Councils can therefore engage in Public Private Partnerships and submit their proposals to Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency for approval of the intended partnerships they wish to engage in. The Government has also provided a leeway for local authorities to procure service delivery vehicles and equipment from Belarus and this shall be done through loans with favourable terms and conditions and local authorities should take advantage of this provision.
The other recommendation was the Ministry of Local
Government and Public Works should ensure that all local authorities implement by-laws to enforce compliance by the communities, informal traders and transport operators in terms of operating from undesignated areas and illegal dumping of waste by December, 2021. Local authorities are duty-bound to enforce their by-laws and ensure compliance. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works facilitates examination and subsequent gazetting of the bylaws through the office of the Attorney General and Print Flow respectively. It is the prerogative of local authorities to ensure that all by-laws that are essential for smooth execution of their operations are in place and gazetted. Local authorities have by-laws which covers vending, hawkers, transport and clamping and related fines. Deployment of adequate municipal police is of paramount importance to ensure enforcement of the by-laws by citizens. Councils should engage Zimbabwe Republic Police if there is need whilst
Environmental Management Agency is also mandated to enforce compliance by issuing penalties. Local authorities with capacity gaps in terms of municipal police have the duty to make the request and I authorise the recruitment.
Government banned private transporters in a bid to deter the nuisance caused by illegal operators, hence, any transport operator in urban setups should be under the ZUPCO banner which makes regulation easier.
In conclusion Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works shall continue to execute recommendations of the Portfolio Committee and monitor local authorities to work towards effective and efficient management of solid waste for sustainable development in councils. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I just wanted to commend our two Ministers, Hon. Deputy Minister Chombo and The Minister of Transport Hon. Mhona for sitting with us in this
House till so late so that we dispense of the people’s business. I know the public pocket paid them already for this but it is commendable that they consider hanging around so that we could dispense of such important public business. I really want to thank them. It is a commendable work ethic which is so rare in this country. Thank you
Hon. Speaker.
HON. T. MOYO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. H. MGUNI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 7th October, 2021.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. T. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I move that we revert to
Order of the Day Number 21 on today’s Order Paper.
HON. H. MGUNI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF THE LATE HON. LISA
SINGO
HON. H. MGUNI: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House;
EXPRESSES its profound sorrow on the untimely passing on after a short illness on Tuesday, 4th February, 2021 of the late
Member of Parliament for Beitbridge Constituency Hon Lisa Singo,;
PLACES on record its appreciation for the services which the late Hon. Member rendered to Beitbridge and the nation at large;
RESOLVES that its profound sympathise be conveyed to the
Singo family, relatives and entire Beitbridge Constituency.
HON. T. MOYO: I second.
HON. H. MGUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Lisa Singo was
born in 1974 in Beitbridge. She was the daughter of the late Thivonali Mbedzi and the late Phillip Singo. She attended her primary school education at Beitbridge Mission Primary School and continued her secondary education at Vhembe High School.
She was inspired by her mother the late Thivhonali Mbedzi who was a ZAPU Chairperson of Matabeleland. She joined ZANU PF shortly after completing her ‘O’ level studies and was registered under the Lufuno cell group. She was later elected to the Batanai settlement where she grew politically and elected to the district level where she served as land and relocation secretary for five years. Lisa was brave company for young and old, men and women. She abhorred injustice and arrogance. She was a humble person who did not look down on anyone regardless of social status. She used unconventional and powerful ways to teach her children life lessons. She was a hard worker who dared to follow her dreams of being involved in politics.
She was a committee member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and community leaders. She would be remembered for the genuine love she showered on her fellow humans while on earth. She was kind, loving and caring. Her ability to embrace people from difference statuses was a mark of love. At the time of her death, she was Member of Parliament under the Proportional Representation (PR) and served as Secretary of Labour and Production on the Beitbridge District Coordinating Committee (DCC).
She is survived by two daughters and one grandchild and a son whom she raised as her own after he lost his mother at the age of four.
I thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would
like to thank Hon. Mguni for the motion on the untimely death of Hon. Singo. It was a very big loss to this House. I knew Hon. Singo as a Member of the Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. She was very sociable. She mixed with everyone and had a good rapport with all Members of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation. Hon. Singo demonstrated political maturity and executed her duties efficiently, diligently and we are missing her contribution in the Portfolio on Higher and Tertiary Education. We want to express our sincere and deep loss to the Singo family. I wish to say, may her soul rest in peace. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am rising to
share a thought of comfort and condolences to the grieving family of the late Hon. Lisa Singo and the entire Beitbridge Constituency. I particularly wish to express my condolences to Hon. Mguni. I know she lost a bosom buddie and a very close workmate. I wish to say I am very sorry for your loss. Madam Speaker, I will not sing Hon.
Lisa Singo’s praises. A lot has been said by the Acting Government
Chief Whip. May I wish her soul to rest in eternal peace? I thank you.
(v) +HON. MOKONE: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving
me the opportunity to add my voice on the condolences on the passing on of Hon. Singo. I express my condolences to the Singo family and the entire Matabeleland South people. Hon. Singo was a person of the people. She was one of the women who were working with the community. I know she was very close to Hon. Mguni and I would like also to console Hon. Mguni by saying, we will meet in heaven that is what we believe. With those few words, I would like to comfort the Singo family. I thank you.
(v)*HON. MAGO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to add a few words to the debate on the untimely passing on of Hon.
Singo. We were together with Hon. Singo in the same Committee.
She never discriminated someone basing on where they come from. She was an Hon. Member who used to work very well with other people. I remember we went for a public hearing. She offered us transport using her own car. We waited for her for three hours until she came and the one who actually delayed to go out was the Committee Clerk. She said why did you delay, I waited for you for three hours. We used to work very well with the Hon. Member. May her soul rest in eternal peace?
HON. H. MGUNI: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I
would like to thank all those who contributed to this motion. Thank you so much. May Lisa Singo’s soul rest in peace. I would like to
move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House;
EXPRESSES its profound sorrow on the untimely passing on after a short illness on Tuesday, 4th February, 2021 of the late
Member of Parliament for Beitbridge Constituency Hon Lisa Singo;
PLACES on record its appreciation for the services which the late Hon. Member rendered to Beitbridge and the nation at large;
RESOLVES that its profound sympathies be conveyed to the
Singo family, relatives and entire Beitbridge Constituency, adopted.
On the motion of HON. T. MOYO seconded by HON. H. MGUNI, the House adjourned at Twenty-Eight Minutes past Six o’clock p.m. until Thursday, 7th October, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 16th September, 2021
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
ADJOURNMENT OF PARLIAMENT
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the
Senate that Parliament will adjourn to Thursday, 7th October, 2021for the official opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament and the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa. Details of the logistics relating to the SONA will be communicated at a later date.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. In March, the Minister of Finance came to this House asking for money to pay for electricity repairs at
Hwange. May he appraise this House on how far the repairs have gone? *THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): I am not very sure of how
much the Hon. Minister of Finance asked for but I know that we have several projects going on at Hwange which include Hwange Expansion programme of unit 7 and 8. We still have challenges with electricity at Hwange. Hwange units 1 to 6 need to be serviced for better generation of electricity. Electricity at Hwange is still a problem because at most, it uses four units instead of six units. We have one unit which got burnt and has not yet been repaired but the other work has three or four at most. For example, today we are working with three units. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. In his absence, I will direct it to the acting Leader of the House. The Ministry of Education has published examination dates and the calendar of the remaining academic year for 2021. I would like to know how the Ministry has compensated for the lost teaching and learning time for both the 2020 academic year where learners have attended lessons for less than three months and also that in 2021, the annual school calendar falls short of the expected number of school days. When we were last here, we made inquiries on these issues and we were promised that there will be a comprehensive response. I would like to know if that is available and we may know what it is. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam
President. I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for a very topical question of our pupils in schools as well as examinations that they have to undertake. As you would know, we are in the COVID-19 pandemic period, which is an extraordinary disease, that also distracts society and therefore it needs extraordinary measures to respond to it. It affects everything including schools.
So, it is about how we coin our response to this menace, especially when it comes to our examinations and so forth. One of the most important things is for society not to be defeated by a virus but we continue fighting. Which means we have to put in place measures, what are the measures that have taken place? We know we cannot stretch a year but we know we can make most out of a day. We say things which were supposed to be done in one week, may be you can do them in three days. If things were supposed to be done in one month, may be you can do them in one week, if the situation is demanding that. So, students or pupils were given gadgets stuffed with materials, especially in the remote areas so that they can catch up. Also, we have to know that when students are at home, they also read, which means the face-to-face time which has been affected by the COVID, the only way we can compensate for it is to accelerate the way we teach as well as means of teaching that includes radio lessons. That also includes the giving of gadgets with materials so that students can work over time but examinations still have to go on.
So what did we do on the examinations, we said, yes they will start at the end of the year but they will overlap into the next year. This is the best we can do, given the scourge of the pandemic. We know this time is not normal, so we cannot be normal because if we are normal then it means we might want to stretch the year in a way that we might stretch it but it is not possible. What we will do is accelerate the way we do our things but at the same time make sure that we limit the loss of time by our pupils. I thank you.
HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam President. I would
like to thank the Minister for his response. However, the information on the ground is that rural schools have not received any assistance and that is where we are saying what response do we have to the pandemic that is of essence, which has not reached the rural schools. We also want to find out the specifics there.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Madam President. I wish
to thank the Hon. Senator for a supplementary question on the attention on rural schools. Our focus is on all the schools of Zimbabwe and our response should be to all the schools of Zimbabwe. Our strive is to make sure that we are 100 percent in terms of effort. We are not always successful but we have to keep on doing the correct thing. So, the correct thing is the approach that we are talking about. The effectiveness is what we have to work on every time and make sure that at the end of the day, our objectives of having our children in school and them attaining the level that they should attain are in progress.
If there are specific cases that need specific interventions, we would be very happy to know about those ones, so that specific interventions can be made for those schools. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Madam President.
My supplementary question is on the compensation of days as asked by the Hon. Senator. As of today, both in the primary and universities, there is staggering of attendance. Even here in town you find out that students go to school on Monday, Tuesday they do not go, then they go on Wednesday. I do not know how they can compensate for that time in this pandemic, taking cognisant of the fact that children under 18, worldwide, are not being vaccinated. Some are doing from 15, 16 but those below are not being vaccinated but we are having that staggering. I do not know what efforts are there to help in covering for the lost time during the closure of schools.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Madam President. I
would like to also thank the Hon. Senator for the extra question on the compensation of time. As we said before, these are extraordinary times that need extraordinary measures. So, what we are talking about all of it is not normal because if we are normal, we will lose it. So the issue which is here is we have to stretch a day into multiple days. What it means is that if we were having lessons for two hours, we can have them for four hours. So the time is not the issue that is measured because anywhere – our experience is that even when you are at university or when you are at school, the whole day can be done in such a way that it can cover for two days. The actual day in terms of hours from sunset to sunrise or sunrise to sunset, we have to play around with the hours where we are busy to make sure that we utilise the little time that we have to the best we can.
The issue of vaccination is that now we know from 14 to 17 years, we can also vaccinate but the issue of limiting the number of hours is such that we minimise the chances of mixing of our pupils so that we minimise the chance of the spread of the disease. This is just a strategy to make sure that we remain alive and we make sure that we contain the disease to the best way we can. So, the compensation of time is through the amount of effort per unit time that we have to put and this is the only humane way we can do and we are trying our best to make sure that learning does take place. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Members, we
have the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development in the House and the Minister of Energy is also in the House.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam President
for giving me this opportunity. I do not know who to direct my question to because it regards PRAZ, the procurement department. I know that the Second Republic is doing a lot of good things in developing Zimbabwe such, as road infrastructure and other tangible developmental projects. My question is, does Government have a deliberate policy which is going to cover all sectors so that Zimbabwean products are done by Zimbabweans, for example a dam project? Are dams going to be constructed by Zimbabweans just like what is happening on the road infrastructure? For the factories that are being built in Zimbabwe, is there Government policy which prescribes that they should be constructed by locals? This is because the young students who are being produced will be working to develop their nation. I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam
President. Thank you Hon. Sen. Chief Makumbe for accepting that Zimbabweans are working very hard and they are doing a good job as a team so that there is development in Zimbabwe. Everything that we see happening on our road network, for instance every time you hear His
Excellency, President E.D. Mnangagwa speaking, he repeats the fact that Zimbabwe has its owners and the owners are the ones who have the responsibility of building their nation. This means that the construction of Zimbabwe is being done by Zimbabweans. Those who come to assist might assist but being guided and led by Zimbabweans. So,
Government policy is there that whatever we do with our own hands, we can do that.
When you see the dam projects, road rehabilitation projects and Government housing schemes, you will discover that if Zimbabweans are given the opportunity or self-confidence to do their own projects, they do that. Government policy is there and it spells out clearly that we should do our own things as Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe is built by its owners. I thank you.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to pose my question. My question goes to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Madam President, we applaud the Government for removing some of the restrictions which have hamstrung business and all industries have been asked to open. My question to the Minister is, we have seen other industries, almost all sectors of the economy opening. What is
Government policy on the issue of commuter omnibus operators because they are the only ones who have not been given leeway to come back and if they want, they have to go through ZUPCO? Can we say it is now Government policy to try to ban the commuter omnibus operators using the COVID-19 restrictions? We understand commuter omnibus operators were a major employer which we applaud. I thank you
Madam President.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. President of Senate. Let me also thank Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera for that very important question. Madam President, issues to do with transportation, I am happy that the Hon. Senator has raised that very important question. Let me also hasten Madam President to say this to the masses of Zimbabwe. Urban transportation falls under the purview of Local Government and the generality of transportation falls under the Ministry of Transport. What it means is that even though the urban transportation falls under the Local Government, the issuance of permits is done by the Ministry of Transport. So when it comes to superintending over the operations of urban transportation, it falls under Local Government. Your question has touched the aspects of urban transportation which normally covers the issues of ‘kombis.’ With your indulgence Madam President, you may allow the Hon. Minister to respond to that part.
I will also address the issues of transportation to say registration and issuance of permits; we understand the menace that was being caused by some of the ‘kombis’ that you talked about. I can cite a good example. Any operator who goes beyond 150km is not allowed to do intercity but you then find these kombis going beyond 150km, outside the scope of what is actually authorised. You then find that the discipline in that sector was quite problematic. I will not go deeper into the issue of ‘kombis.’ The Hon. Minister is here. With your indulgence Madam President, he can elaborate on the issue of urban transportation.
I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): Thank you Madam President. Thank you
Hon. Senator for asking that question. Yes, the general legislation of all public transport is with the Ministry of Transport - so the division of intercity, including inter-rural, that is governed by the Minister of Transport. Urban transportation is required in the urban areas and in the urban areas; we have two pieces of legislation, either the Urban Councils Act or the Rural District Councils Act. In there, we are supposed to organise omnibuses to run our cities. During the de-regulation that has taken place, it had not been amended that omnibuses ought to be running urban areas and when we saw that the increase in the number of vehicles in the urban areas was causing congestion, Government then made a decision to say let us organise urban transportation so that we introduce omnibuses and this was done in 2019. When we opened up to say let us have ZUPCO, as the omnibus which was there, in order to make sure that nobody goes without a job, we asked that all those who had buses which were plying in the urban areas and those who have omnibuses which were plying in the urban areas, they now operate under the omnibus system and nobody is barred from registering with ZUPCO so that they can run their businesses as usual.
Of course, they are now strictures where we require stricter public inspection. I know the Vehicle Inspection Department is for the Ministry of Transport but because we want to run a more safer transport system, we say in addition to what they are doing in VID, CMED which is still under the Ministry of Transport should further examine to make sure that since they have engineers more than VID, those vehicles are now inspected. So, whether it is a bus or it is a kombi, they must go through these two stage examinations. What we found out in Bulawayo is more organised. They had three transportations for cooperatives that almost self-regulated and made sure that others who would cause chaos are not allowed, but this a self regulatory system that they were operating, almost a monopoly of those three.
We went and discussed with them and we said the three associations can now join ZUPCO. So, those organisations have agreed. They complained about money that it was less than their vehicle operating cost and we were able to calculate together with them and the figure that they asked, we gave them. Bulawayo seems a little bit more organised than Harare. Harare had a more chaotic situation – between us and the Ministry of Transport, we recognised that out of 12 000 kombis operating in Harare, 8 000 of them did not have papers which are correct.
That is why when we insisted, go through VID and CMED in order to join ZUPCO, a lot of them still operate outside the system but the door remains open that they go and regularise themselves and they will do business with the Omnibus here in Harare. We have gone further and said if we are going to reach upper middle income and vision 2030, we cannot reach that with unorganised urban transportation system like all other cities throughout the world that have developed. They have very well developed urban transportation system.
We had liberalised but that liberalisation has limits as the increase in the ownership of vehicles, private and before I even go to mushikashika, the congestion that you are looking at here cannot be regularised until we have proper working omnibus system. COVID-19 came and it further exacerbated the situation with chaos, with the number of people who can go into an omnibus system that is competitive and it is peaking people from every corner of the town, we just thought we needed to tighten the regulation further. That tightening was done through a Statutory Instrument under COVID-19 but we continue to appeal to our people that urban transportation needs to be regularised but anybody who has a kombi or a bus, can join so that they earn their money from their asset which they have bought using their own resources. I thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: In the House we now
have the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, for those who want to ask them.
*HON. MOEKETSI: Thank you Madam President. My question
is directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. At what stage are you now regarding the promise that you made to the Hon. Members of this august House after raising the concern that we do not have accommodation and you promised that you are going to allocated us stands? Some people are passing on because of COVID-19. We might not continue being in the House but it is important that we secure accommodation for the sake of our children. I thank you.
THE MINSITER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC
WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): Madam President, I would like to thank the Hon. Member for that pertinent question. I came to this Chamber together with the Speaker of Parliament. We spoke at length that for sure it is important that we fulfill what we promised in this august House even at Government level that Hon. Members of Parliament are given stands so that they construct their own houses. We agreed on where to allocate such stands here in Harare.
So I went and discovered that this area is more of a bush so, for them to construct there, we have Government laws which say that we cannot just allocate people stands in bushes without any development like sewer, roads or any servicing. We agreed that as Parliament, together with the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance should allocate money for infrastructure development. The Minister of Housing is here and we can work together to service roads so that when we allocate land to Hon. Senators and MPs, the area will be serviced. Those who were allocated stands in serviced areas have already started constructing their houses during the previous Parliament. So, in this current Parliament, we also agreed that let us look at different areas in Bulawayo, Mutare and other cities. So, our local authorities no longer have land. We need to look for land and we agreed to carry out an exercise to ascertain whether there is land.
We had another exercise with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Lands to determine whether there is land in different towns in Zimbabwe so that we fulfill these promises. The land is available but the challenge is infrastructure development, the servicing of such land, so that when you are allocated a stand, you can get title deeds as required by the law. That can be done if there is service in those stands. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Madam President for
allowing me to pose a question. Minister, in the last Parliament, some of the parliamentarians are already gone. People paid full amounts of the land and they paid in USD. They have got some papers which show that they have fully paid and they could go and construct their houses. It is surprising that the Ministry of Local Government is now saying that they have just made a push because the stands are already sized especially those who have left already, they would want to proceed and have somewhere to stay. Those who are here might still talk to you but it is difficult. What are you doing to assist so that they do not continue to be affected by inflation when they start building their houses since they have already paid for the land? That money could be used for all the surveys and the rest of what they are asking for.
*HON. J. MOYO: Thank you Madam President. I would also like to thank the Hon. Senator for his supplementary question. You will discover that people paid for the stands that they were given but these are just numbers that are found in plans, there are site plans and there are no changes. The site plans are there but they do not have numbers to explain that this Senator or MP was allocated this. Right now we are at the stage where we want to ascertain the actual position.
Madam President, there is no stand where one can build right now because the stands are not serviced. So, that is why we came back to the august House and requested that we have money from the Ministry of Finance so that we service. Those who were allocated already will not be prejudiced, it will not change anything because already we have records, we have that data but the challenge is that at the moment - the Minister of National Housing is going to support what I am saying. We agreed that we cannot proceed with the building of houses without servicing the stands. I thank you.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President, my
question is directed to the Leader of the House. Statutory Instrument 127 (2021) seeks to instil discipline on the foreign exchange market by imposing fines on individuals and businesses who fail to adhere. Has the Ministry made any arrests on the perpetrators if so, how many people…
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Is that a policy
question, we ask policy questions here.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I thought Statutory Instrument 127
was a policy.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Can you ask your
question without putting the issue of figures.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I was asking, how many people
have been arrested…
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: The question is too
specific, can you put that question in writing so that the Minister will be able to go and look for those statistics.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Madam President for giving
me this opportunity to ask my question. My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. Is the Minister aware of the number of people who are paying for stands in different districts of the country yet these people have not been shown their stands? Most of them have died before getting the stands.
*THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): We have people who paid
stands in different areas. Some were paying to councils and some paid directly to Government for State lands and some were paying for the pay for your house scheme. Those who paid at local authorities, we need to know such people so that we work with the Ministry and see how it goes. Those who paid to Government should avail that information so that we assist such people. For those who paid for the pay for your house scheme, there is a challenge; such question should be directed to the Minister of National Housing because he is the one who has records. Some may say I finished paying. We need to have that information so that we assist but I will direct the question to the Minister of National Housing.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: May we ask the Hon.
Minister National Housing to answer the other part of the question. *THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL
AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): I would also like to thank the Hon. Member for asking such a pertinent question. We have the national fund, right now we are doing an audit so that we know who paid and who did not so that when we build houses those who paid should benefit from the programme. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. The programme that is being done by the Ministry of Transport and the councils in road rehabilitation is a good programme. There is an area that is lagging behind, for example looking at Harare, can you not work with council to clean up Harare. I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): His question is very important, in our Constitution; there are some things that cannot be done by the central Government together with local Government. The issue that you mentioned regarding road infrastructure, there are some roads that are being rehabilitated by the central Government yet there are other roads that are being rehabilitated by the city Council. For example, Samora Machel is for the Government. There are other roads for the municipal authorities in urban areas. At times there is need for a state of emergency. When we declare a state of emergency especially for the pandemic, we can identify clinics because of the health state of emergency, we can say that over 1500 kilometres in local authorities can be run under the Ministry of Health so that we eradicate the pandemic that we might be facing. For instance, if there is a cholera outbreak, we can identify but we also look at the Constitution of the land which stipulates that we must not encroach on other sectors’ responsibility.
I believe that we need to make sure that responsible authorities perform – for example local authorities....
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Is the Minister not
supposed to make sure that local Government is doing what they are supposed to do?
HON. J. MOYO: Yes, the Minister does that but it is important that local Government is administered by councils. Councils are led by Government but as parties, we would have seconded people to those departments, we need to assist. I request that we work together for we know that in councils, there are people who would have been selected to represent their parties. As a Minister, I want my colleagues, the councillors to continue working hard; otherwise the people will suffer because the responsible people are not tidying up cities. They are not giving good service delivery.
*HON. SEN. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Hon. President of the Senate, allow me to appreciate and commend the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development for the project of upgrading Chitungwiza road. As Government, you are doing a good job. Thank you very much.
My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power
Development. We are facing winter cropping season...
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Please address the
Chair Hon. Senator.
*HON. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Madam President, we are facing the winter cropping season. You are aware that this is a period where we are found planting winter wheat. Our children eat bread a lot these days.
During this season, it is important that farmers have water. We spend two or three days without electricity and at times the whole week. There might be a small fault but ZESA personnel take long to fix the fault. I request that...
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Senator that is
not a question.
*HON. SIPANI-HUNGWE: There is no electricity. What is Government planning to do regarding this important crop because we do not have access to electricity?
*THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): Government is looking forward to
the successful ripening of wheat. We deliberated on this issue before and made sure that there is enough electricity. There is a sizeable allocation of electricity which is expected to be given to farmers. If there is not enough power, such areas where people are engaged in winter crop should not be affected by load shedding. I believe that at this stage, even as has been explained by the Deputy Minister of Energy that we are facing power challenges at Hwange Power Station- I believe that at the moment, we have a good crop of wheat which is promising that we
might have a good harvest. This is in line with the Government initiative that winter wheat farmers should have access to electricity. It might be a situation where we have our employees who delay in fixing power outages but we need to look at this issue and understand what exactly is happening.
Today we had a meeting with Concession farmers who were facing a challenge and we managed to go there. We started a nation-wide tour of going around the country identifying different challenges that are faced by farmers. If it is because of poor service delivery, then we need to get to the bottom of the issue so that as Government, we eradicate such complacency so that we meet the Second Republic standards. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: In 1980, ZESA had machines
that could troubleshoot and identify faults instead of waiting for reports from people. We would see them coming even without lodging any report. So, my question is why is ZESA still in a position to monitor their network to identify such faults because sometimes people spend two weeks with faults and yet ZESA is not aware. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): It is very true that in the past, there were mechanisms that were in place that could be used to identify faults around the country but looking at that time, electricity was accessible to a few people. Now we have a widespread distribution of electricity. We are saying at the moment we have 56% of the total population of Zimbabwe in terms of access to electricity. What was supposed to be done was that such mechanisms were supposed to be upgraded, going in line with the distribution of the network. At the moment Government is taking steps to use modern technology to troubleshoot and identify what will be happening including gadgets vandalism in our networks. These are plans that are there, that we anticipate to be used here in Zimbabwe instead of physical monitoring of the faults.
Questions without notice were interrupted by THE HON.
PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order number 62.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I move that time for questions
without notice be extended by 15 minutes.
HON. SEN. SIPANI-HUNGWE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
*HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: I have another supplementary
question. Thank you Madam President. Hon. Minister, I was thinking that the issue regarding energy is an important issue. We need to understand how much power we have. We do not need to talk of wheat only but even in shops they are…
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, order! If you
have a question to the Hon. Minister, please ask the question. This is not a supplementary question. You cannot talk about shops and combine with wheat. It is a new question, not a supplementary question. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. FEMAI: Thank you Madam President for giving me
this opportunity. I would like to shorten my question. I will direct my question to the Leader of Government Business in the House. With your permission Madam President, I might need to digress. Let me thank the First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa for the good job that she is doing. My question is that what is Government policy regarding a woman who is doing good service delivery? What do you do about her performance? Is it not necessary to appreciate the good works? Thanking Mbuya Nehanda by erecting a statue is a good thing but what is Government policy regarding good things that are being done by women who are alive? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam
President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Femai for identifying that there are patriotic Zimbabweans who are doing a good job. He spoke about the First Lady as one such woman. Madam President, during the Heroes’ Day celebrations, there were appreciations of Zimbabweans who are outstanding, being led by the President, E. D. Mnangagwa and his Executive, who saw it fit to commend and give medals to outstanding Zimbabweans. We have that in mind, like the First Lady whom you have identified, was also given a medal for being an outstanding citizen of Zimbabwe and for doing good deeds.
As Government and our Constitution has a principle which stipulates that people are the same. There is a certain lady overseas, in
America, who said “we lose talent because it wears a skirt,” meaning that we need to appreciate such people so that the nation becomes prosperous. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me the opportunity to ask my question. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care but in his absence, I will direct it to the Leader of the Senate. With a few days after the opening of schools, there are around five provinces where we are being told that there are students and teachers who tested positive for COVID-19. What is Government doing to control the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools? What steps are being taken to prevent children and teachers in schools from infection? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam
President. It is very true that in other schools, there are some students and teachers who tested positive for COVID-19. Government is working hard to make sure that when such an occurrence happens, measures are taken. We believe that in the long run it is important that all those should have been vaccinated for COVID-19. I would like to give assurance that Government is working hard to make sure that this pandemic does not continue spreading and affecting people. There are a lot of vaccines that are coming into this country. People at one time did not believe that this nation would be at this stage where people have access to such vaccines but it is happening. So we appreciate the good work that is being done by our frontline workers. The President at one time appreciated the good work of the frontline workers, which means that they are working to make sure that Zimbabweans are safe. This is the same thing that is happening in schools so that we eradicate COVID 19. I do not believe that it will overcome us but we know that we are united and we know what we are doing so COVID-19 will be eradicated.
I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Madam President. I
would like to thank the Hon. Minister for his response. We were preparing for the opening of schools. From what we are reading, there are a number of provinces where students and teachers have tested positive. My question is, what are we doing to rectify that and to prepare for the prevention of the pandemic in areas that have been affected? What is Government doing to make sure that we have protected all the students and teachers in schools? What is the strategy so that we prevent this before the disease spreads instead of responding or reacting to the pandemic by quarantining children, especially those in boarding schools who are far away from their families. We know that we have enough vaccines. What is the Government doing to prevent the prevalence of COVID-19? I thank you.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Madam President. Thank
you Hon. Sen. Mupfumira. Your question is quite pertinent. The
Government through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Health and Child Care are working together to make sure that PPEs are available. We know that Government allocated a huge chunk of money to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education so that they procure PPEs in the prevention of COVID-19. Also, there are indications that those who are 14 to 17 years can be vaccinated. These are some of the options that Government is looking at which can be employed in making sure the vaccine is not transmitted to many areas. At times, we might miss certain areas but we are working hard and the request is that every Zimbabwean should share their ideas with Government so that if there is an issue that needs to be looked at,
Government should look at it. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 62.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I move that Order of the Day
Number 1 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until the rest of the
Orders of the Day are disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DECLARATION OF THE 5TH WORLD CONFERENCE OF
SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENT
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Declaration of the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Vienna, Austria on 7th and 8th
September, 2021 under the overarching theme “Parliamentary Leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and
Sustainable Development for the People and the Planet”.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
HON. RTD. GEN. SEN. NYAMBUYA:
INTRODUCTION
Jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliament of Austria in cooperation with the United Nations, the in person 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament was hosted in Vienna, Austria on 7 and 8 September 2021 under the overarching theme, “Parliamentary Leadership for More Effective Multilateralism that Delivers Peace and Sustainable Development for the People and the
Planet.”
The Conference was preceded by the 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament held on 6 September under the theme, “Women at the Centre: From Confronting the Pandemic to Preserving the
Achievements in a Gender Responsive Recovery”.
The Conference brought together close to 100 Speakers from 115
National Parliaments and a dozen Heads of Regional and other Parliamentary Organisations. Zimbabwe was privileged to be represented at the Conference by Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament, and Hon. Mabel
Memory Chinomona, President of the Senate.
The meetings were held in particularly extraordinary circumstances as the world battles the COVID 19 pandemic, among other global challenges. In spite of the restrictions, the Organisers of the Conference remained resolute in their endeavour for a successful in person Conference - the first International Parliamentary Meeting in eighteen (18) months. Accordingly, the Zimbabwe delegation wishes to express its deep gratitude to the IPU, the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations for the excellent arrangements which guaranteed the hosting of the Conference in a safe and conducive environment for dialogue.
OUTCOMES OF THE 13TH SUMMIT OF WOMEN
SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENT
The Summit paid tribute to women from all walks of life who were instrumental in confronting the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Summit’s deliberations informed the final Conference Declaration on the importance of placing gender equality and the empowerment of women at the heart of the pandemic response and recovery.
HIGH LEVEL DECLARATION
The Speakers of Parliament adopted a High-Level Declaration on “Parliamentary Leadership for More Effective Multilateralism that
Delivers Peace and Sustainable Development for the People and Planet.”
The Declaration underscored the importance of international solidarity and cooperation between Parliaments in post-COVID recovery efforts. Those efforts must uphold the rule of law, democratic principles and universal human rights. The recovery must be inclusive, sustainable, green and incorporate innovative solutions to addressing the climate challenges. I shall proceed to read the full text of the High Level
Declaration.
HIGH-LEVEL DECLARATION on parliamentary leadership
for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and the planet
In August 2020, we, the Speakers of Parliament, convened for the virtual segment of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The world was five months into a global pandemic, with over 20 million recorded cases of COVID-19 infection and at least 750,000 deaths attributed to the virus. The virtual segment resulted in a commitment to strengthen international cooperation, solidarity and multilateral action, not only to lead the world out of crisis, but also to transform it for the better and to improve resilience. By the start of September 2021, the pandemic had resulted in close to 220 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection and over 4.5 million deaths, coupled with extensive disruptions to essential health systems in several regions, underscoring the urgent need for a well-coordinated, multisectoral approach to the health emergency, ensuring surge capacity at all levels in all countries.
Our declaration in August 2020 underscored the critical importance of multilateralism and international solidarity in addressing the daunting socio-economic challenges of our time. As some countries finally start to emerge from the pandemic, this declaration rings truer than ever before. The very fact that we have been able to meet in person in Vienna is testimony to the significant progress that has been made through our collective efforts, in particular in terms of developing and delivering life-saving vaccines for all to ensure that no one is left behind. This Conference has granted many of us the first opportunity in over 18 months to meet in-person to share our experiences and lessons learned from the pandemic and to look forward with renewed hope to a positive recovery, founded on our shared endeavour to build back – and build forward – better.
The recovery must take account of the particular impact that the pandemic has had on women and girls, young and elderly people, persons with disabilities, marginalised and vulnerable populations, refugees, and communities affected by conflict. The recovery efforts must uphold the rule of law, democratic principles and universal human rights. The recovery must be inclusive, sustainable and green and must incorporate innovative solutions to the climate crisis. We must work together as one human family in facing epidemics and other crises, overcoming differences of all kinds and seeking to foster a culture of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of the other. A renewed commitment by all parliamentarians worldwide to meaningful and effective multilateralism is critical to such a recovery.
We recognise that women have made a significant contribution on the front line of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women and girls, with lockdowns leaving them more vulnerable to domestic violence and increasing the burden of caring for children and the elderly. Women have also been more likely to lose employment or income as a result of the socio-economic downturn. Women and girls in conflict situations remain particularly vulnerable. All these situations have stressed the importance of putting gender equality and the empowerment of women at the heart of the COVID-19 response and recovery. We must build forward in a more gender-inclusive way and create a new global social compact for gender equality enabling the full and effective participation of women in all spheres of society. From this perspective, women must be part of the strategy and leadership of the COVID-19 recovery process, and the first step to achieving this is to ensure their equal and meaningful representation in parliaments, governments, private companies and other decision-making bodies.
We also acknowledge that social distancing and lockdown measures during the pandemic have had a devastating impact on youth, limiting their access to education and reducing their employment prospects, which has resulted in isolation and a surge in mental health issues. At the same time, young adults have undertaken vital front-line roles as healthcare, public utility and retail workers, as well as supporting their communities during the pandemic. We recognise these critical roles and pledge to harness the positive energy and innovativeness of young adults by making every effort to increase youth representation in our parliaments, including by joining the IPU
Campaign ‘I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament’, which is promoting several transformative actions. We also commit to promote initiatives aimed at educating and training young people in modern information technologies, thus preparing them for the jobs of the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a multifaceted crisis that has undermined progress in the achievement of the sustainable development goals, made States more fragile and eroded international cooperation, resulting in worldwide increases in poverty, hunger, inequality and violence. Parliaments must rise to the challenge by, first and foremost, protecting the norms and principles of peace, development, democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. We must also tap into the many benefits of inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation in order to build bridges for better understanding, so as to lay the foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world where all people can live in freedom and dignity.
The global economic recovery must, therefore, be inclusive, with commitments to fight poverty and lessen inequality, reduce unemployment, and improve access to education and essential services. This should nurture renewed efforts to address the root causes of conflicts and build more peaceful, just and inclusive societies. As the United Nations has recognised, Parliaments have a key role to play in identifying bold and transformative actions to make the attainment of the SDGs a reality. With less than a decade to go, we commit ourselves once again to accelerating our efforts to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in our work as parliamentarians.
A sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will depend to a large extent on international cooperation and solidarity.
Accordingly, we reiterate our support for the World Health Organisation, in particular in terms of its work on research, rapid response and better pandemic preparedness through enhanced cooperation among nations. We call for strengthened international cooperation on vaccine research and development, production and distribution, and improving accessibility and affordability. In this regard, vaccines must be distributed rapidly, fairly and equitably, as well as universally. No one will be safe from COVID-19 until everyone is safe. Innovative measures, such as voluntary licensing and exchange of knowhow and technology must be taken to enhance equitable access to affordable vaccines and to scale up global vaccine production and distribution in the long term. We commend the collaboration among countries, along with health organizations and manufacturers, including through the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) programme. However, much remains to be done to ensure unimpeded and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.
We urge collaboration on continued research and innovation into the treatment and elimination of COVID-19 and coronaviruses more generally, including the debilitating long-term impacts of post-COVID-
19 syndrome (also known as “long COVID”). Moreover, we call for close cooperation to prepare the world for future pandemics. In this regard, it is important to work towards the establishment of a global health charter, to be agreed upon by world leaders, which guarantee health security for the world’s population, without exception, and to confront epidemics and disasters of a global nature with common universal principles and values, and in a manner that guarantees respect for human health rights.
The recovery of the global economy following the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain and unequal. Many countries will face huge budgetary deficits in the coming years and parliaments must be ready to address such challenges. We believe that a fair, open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, remains a pivotal foundation for the global economy. We call for increased coordination on macro-economic policy, continued efforts to strengthen sustainable global trade and oppose protectionism and unilateralism, and robust measures to revitalise the global economy – including in terms of developing a fairer global tax system. A key component of the economic recovery will be the advancement of the digital economy. We, therefore, call for more efforts to address the digital gap and ensure fair access to technology, internet connectivity and knowledge. Parliaments should help facilitate the development of core digital infrastructure and enhance digital skills among their populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic must not overshadow the urgency of climate action. In order to genuinely build a better future and long-term resilience, we must achieve a green, inclusive and innovation-based growth and sustainable recovery. We remain convinced of the compelling need to tackle climate change and reiterate the critical importance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the actions and targets set out in the Paris
Agreement. We welcome increased support for the Paris Agreement, in particular, the return of the United States earlier this year as a party state to the Agreement. We express our strong support for an ambitious and collaborative outcome from the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021, and stand ready to make a robust parliamentary contribution to this process.
We also express our deep concern about the negative impacts of the climate crisis on human health and security, such as increased food insecurity, water stress and resource scarcity arising from increasingly frequent and ever more severe weather events, all of which in turn fuel conflicts and tensions and force more people around the world to leave their homes. We stress the need for preventive strategies to mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised people. We recognize the importance of preserving biodiversity and express our support for COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity, due to be held in Kunming, China in October 2021, under the theme of Ecological Civilisation – Building a Shared Future for all Life on Earth.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in increasing threats to our democratic principles and institutions. In addressing the pandemic, the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government have had to take challenging decisions, notably curtailing freedom of movement, which has sometimes led to disillusionment and citizens losing trust in the political processes and in their representatives. Left unchecked, this dissonance, which is often fed by misinformation and extremist ideology, can create serious security threats to our institutions and to the physical safety of our legislators and staff. Governments should take people-centred measures, in full respect of human rights, in order to restore public trust that was eroded during the pandemic. Parliaments should serve as the centre of democratic accountability and transparency, including for COVID-19 responses, by systematically integrating public engagement into their work. This will enhance their legitimacy and the quality of parliamentary processes.
Parliaments have remained open for business despite restrictions on their ability to meet in person. This has led to unprecedented innovation, bringing information and communications technologies (ICT) from the back office into the very heart of parliamentary chambers, allowing remote working, remote sittings and even remote voting in many countries. We encourage parliaments to continue to innovate and expand the use of digital technologies in order to be appropriately prepared for future emergencies, enhance access to parliaments, and ultimately increase their accountability, transparency and openness to the public.
While information and communications technologies have allowed the world to remain as interconnected as possible, and have contributed to enhancing prosperity, development and security at all levels, our increased use of technology carries considerable risks, exposing us to cyber-attacks and cybercrime. The internet, and in particular social media, is fertile ground for misinformation, manipulation and the dissemination of false news and disinformation, discrimination, harassment, hate speech and violence. Increased mass surveillance, undue dependence on and unregulated use of algorithms and artificial intelligence, and digital privacy are also pressing concerns.
All stakeholders need to observe principles, rules and norms for responsible behaviour in the ICT environment. We call on the global community to come together and establish a multilateral framework for regulating the use of digital technologies and imposing greater accountability on big tech corporations. More generally, we must work for a global consensual approach to the management of these challenges, including data security and privacy, the consequences of the use of artificial intelligence, and the ethical aspect of scientific and technological innovation, in strict compliance with our human rights obligations.
We strongly believe that a global community with a shared future for humankind has interwoven mutual interests and aspirations. Common challenges can only be overcome through global responses, coordination and collaboration between all our nations. We therefore, reaffirm the key role of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. We also firmly support the IPU’s efforts to engage and mobilise parliaments and parliamentarians around major international global processes and global commitments, thereby further strengthening the parliamentary dimension of global governance. We must continue to review, revitalise and renew multilateralism, so as to ensure that the voices of parliamentarians are heard at the United Nations and other international fora.
We commend the Austrian Parliament and the IPU, our global organization of national parliaments, for bringing us together for this parliamentary summit at such a historic time. We pledge to take this Declaration back to our countries and our parliaments, and to work diligently in following up on its key recommendations. We look forward to coming together again under the auspices of the IPU and in cooperation with the United Nations so as to share our experiences and report back on progress achieved.
Reservations expressed: To paragraph 4 (gender equality) and paragraph 12 (climate change): by Turkey To the concepts of
“people-centred measures” (paragraph 13) and “global community with a shared future for humankind” (paragraph 17): by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the report be adopted.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMITTEE ON HIV AND
AIDS ON THE STUDY VISIT TO UGANDA ON HIV AND AIDS
MANAGEMENT AND FINANCING
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS on the study visit to
Uganda on HIV and AIDS management and financing.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 7th October, 2021.
MOTION
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM TO
ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to strengthen the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for
giving this opportunity to wind up my motion. I would like to thank all those who contributed during debate and also the stance that has been taken that eventually there is development in terms of health issues in this country. Let me also thank our Government for seeing it fit that health is important in this country and that a country with good health is on its way to development. Again, Government will also look closely into the challenges of dialysis machines - that is mostly affecting rural dwellers. As we close this Session, we believe the Government will surely look into this issue to ensure that the kidney ailment is alleviated especially, because it also affects those that are in the rural areas. I thank all those who contributed and those who did not get the opportunity to do so. I now move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House:
MINDFUL that the health delivery system is based on primary health care approach as defined in the World Health
Organisation Alma Atta Declaration of 1978 and enshrined in Section 29 of the Constitution that the State must take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic, accessible and adequate health services throughout Zimbabwe;
ALSO MINDFUL that the State must take all preventive measures within the limits of the resources available to it, including education and public awareness programmes, against the spread of diseases; DISTURBED by the inadequacy of medical provisions such as drugs and lack of transport to ferry the sick leading to some deaths which can be avoided if such resources are availed;
FURTHER DISTURBED by the absence of kidney dialysis machines in Provincial Hospitals leading to untold suffering by patients.
NOW, THEREFORE, CALLS upon Government to Partner with
the Private Sector in a concerted bid to:
- Strengthen the health delivery system as a way of achieving universal health coverage countrywide;
- Allocate adequate resources for the procurement of medical supplies and the also for the provision of ambulances and other forms of transport to enhance health service delivery in the country;
- Consider subsidising kidney dialysis as it is extremely expensive for our citizens who fall victim to such ailments and Provide decent accommodation to doctors as a way of motivating and incentivising them as they conduct their day to day health delivery services of saving lives of our dear Zimbabweans, put and adopted.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON THE PROVISION OF
QUALITY EDUCATION, SANITISATION AND HYGIENE
MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on the Provision of Quality Education, Sanitisation and Hygiene Management in Schools.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 7th October, 2021.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING
AND THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON PEACE AND SECURITY ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS MADE IN AREAS
AFFECTED BY FLOODS AND ON CONSTRUCTION OF COVID 19
TREATMENT, QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION FACILITIES
Sixth Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Assessment of progress on construction of Covid-19 Treatment, Quarantine and
Isolation facilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you Mr.
President. I now wish to wind up this debate and in doing so, I would like to thank the various Members who contributed so very intensively to this debate. As you are aware, the issue of COVID-19 is still topical today. The issue of damages that have occurred and cyclone is also pertinent. We are aware that Government has been urged by the Senate to put preparedness for future disasters that may occur. The twin tragedies of pandemic and also the destructions caused by cyclones, both of them cause loss of human lives and of course loss in property and loss in income capacity. In that respect, I would really like to thank the Hon.
Members who contributed towards this debate. I now move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House takes note of the Joint Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on the Assessment of progress made in areas affected by floods and on construction of Covid-19 Treatment, Quarantine and Isolation facilities, put and adopted,
MOTION
HONOUR IN RESPECT OF MBUYA NEHANDA STATUE IN
THE CITY OF HARARE
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the heroics of
Mbuya Nehanda.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to wind up my motion. Before I do that, I would like to thank all Members of this Senate who debated thoroughly on this motion. I am particularly very happy that we all realise the importance of Mbuya Nehanda and the importance of the statue that was erected by our Government as it reminds all citizens and the future generations of the importance and the works of Mbuya Nehanda. Accordingly Mr. President, I move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House;
INSPIRED by the heroics of the legendary Nyakasikana Mbuya Nehanda in the fight against colonialism and oppression during the First
Chimurenga war.
COGNISANT that Mbuya Nehanda, as a woman of valour
selflessly sacrificed herself to challenge the evil forces of colonialism to the point where she was caught and hanged by the ruthless and callous imperialists who had the audacity to publicly lynch a defenseless woman.
NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVES to;
- Applaud the Government for recognizing and honoring Mbuya Nehanda by erecting the magnificent statue of the iconic heroine in the city of Harare for all future generations and tourists to see and admire;
- Call upon all the people of this country to draw motivation and inspiration from the role played by Mbuya Nehamda which culminated in the Second Chimurenga and the ultimate liberation of our citizens;
Implore historians to preserve and author undiluted and unbiased literature on the role of other heroines who emulated Mbuya Nehanda and have continued to keep the glowing fire of the spirit of patriotism which was ignited by our iconic leader, adopted.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE VIRTUAL 65TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ON WOMEN’S FULL AND
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION AND DECISION MAKING IN
PUBLIC LIFE
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. I would
want to wind up debate on this Motion. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Hon. Senators who contributed and we had a robust debate on the CSW65 Report. Zimbabwe is part to and a signatory to multilateral agreements and legal frameworks, among which include CEDAW, SADC Protocol on Gender Development, Maputo
Protocol on Women’s Rights, the UN Convention on the Elimination on all Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Declaration, et cetera.
This year’s 65th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women took place virtually from 15th to 26th March, 2021 under the theme “Women’s Full and Effective Participation in Decision Making in
Public Life as well as the Elimination of Violence for Achieving Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls.” The Session was held virtually due to COVID-19. Our participation under these circumstances are a testimony …
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order.
Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, you are winding up. You should not open a fresh debate.
HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. I would like
to wind up by saying, I implore all the Hon. Senators in this House to take this report and use it as a reference document in all issues that were raised. I hereby move for the adoption of the motion.
Motion that this House takes note of the Report of the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women on women’s full and effective participation and decision making in public life as well as the elimination of violence for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls held virtually from 15th to 26th
March 2021, adopted.
MOTION
ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTIES ON LIVESTOCK THEFTS
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the theft of
livestock.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Friday, 17th September, 2021.
MOTION
DEVELOPMENT OF LIBERATION HISTORY MODULES
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to provide material and financial support to the SADC initiatives for the development of the liberation history modules.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President Sir.
First and foremost, I would want to express my gratitude to all the Hon. Members who contributed to this motion and in so doing, gave this motion their own views. The motion speaks to a lot of things that were done for us to be where we are today and our history does not reflect that. It was a call on the need to have our history updated and recorded so that our children can benefit from such writings.
I would also want to collate it with the history of Mbuya Nehanda as was the case with a motion that was before this august Senate which talks about our present and our future. There are some strides that have been mentioned. They do not have any written history about them.
There is need for documentation of such strides so as to improve our lives. We have a new Parliament that is under construction at Mt. Hampden. If possible, Mr. President Sir, we should have our history put into that Parliament building. We have our heroes because at the museum of African liberation is going to have history of all SADC countries. If our history was also to be housed in our own Parliament it would enhance us as a nation as we archive our own history and preserve it for posterity. Mr. President, I therefore move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House;
MINDFUL that Zimbabwe attained its independence after a protracted liberation war;
ALSO MINDFUL that SADC played a pivotal role in assisting liberation movements in Southern Africa.
COGNISANT that SADC member states with assistance from UNESCO and SARDC are currently reviewing the liberation struggle history curriculum and developing appropriate materials covering various modules such as, Youth in the liberation struggle and the role of front line states;
AWARE that it is essential to document the history of the liberation struggle;
DESIROUS to ensure the teaching of liberation history from a national to a regional perspective;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon Government to provide material and financial support to the SADC initiatives for the development of the liberation history modules, put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST JOINT PETITION REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND CHILD CARE AND THEMATIC
COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE PETITION FROM THE
ADVOCACY CORE TEAM (ACT) ON THE AGE OF CONSENT TO
ACCESSING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES BY
THE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG PERSONS IN ZIMBABWE
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the first joint
Report of the joint Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS and Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care on the Petition from the Advocacy Core Team (ACT) on the age of consent to accessing reproductive health care services by adolescents and young persons in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Mr. President. Apparently
this motion was never debated even a single day. However, it has outlived its existence in this House and accordingly, I move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House takes note of the first joint Report of the joint Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS and Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care on the Petition from the Advocacy Core Team (ACT) on the age of consent to accessing reproductive health care services by adolescents and young persons in Zimbabwe, put and agreed
to.
MOTION
ADHERENCE TO OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the efforts by the Government to stabilise the currency.
Question again proposed.
*HON. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President for affording
me this opportunity to wrap up my motion but the same problem that has just been mentioned also met this particular motion. It was only I the mover of the motion and the seconder that debated, but Hon. Members did not get an opportunity to debate it. Be that as it may, I still remain steadfast and say that Zimbabweans are crying about the pricing regime because the auction system which is in place is not working. The regulations that the Government put those prices should be displayed in terms of USD and ZWD, nothing of that sort is happening. So I believe that this was an important motion which also affects every Zimbabwean citizen in terms of goods that we buy from the shops. I thank you for the opportunity that you have afforded me to bring this motion to this august
House.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you
Hon. Tongogara. I just want to correct you that it was not because of lack of an opportunity but every time and when we are seated in this august House, we ask people to debate and there would be no people that would take up the opportunity to debate. I did not get you when you said people...
*HON. TONGOGARA: I said it was pushed way back. When
motions appear on the Order Paper, Ministers would come and take precedence and were knocking off at 4.30 p.m. because of staff members. So we did not have ample time to diligently deal with such motions, important as they are. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have heard
what you said with due respect but let me just give you advice that if you feel that your motion is very important, you have every right to move that certain Orders of the Day be stood over so that your motion is dealt with. This is what we need to do. Did you get what I said? Maybe you should ask for advice when you are in this House but you can stand over a motion.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: On that note Hon. President, I now
move that the House adopts the motion.
Motion that this House;
RECOGNISING the frantic efforts by Government to stabilise the currency so that goods and services can be affordable to the general populace;
ALSO RECOGNISING the measures put in place by government
to curb overcharging by introducing foreign currency auction system for business people and service providers;
ACKNOWLEDGING the use of a multiple currency system and as
provided at law that prices of commodities be displayed in both foreign and local currency at the official exchange rate;
GRATEFUL that a new Commission to protect consumers from being unscrupulously overcharged was established;
CONCERNED that most of the measures put in place by government to bring normalcy to the economy by stabilizing prices are not being adhered to by manufacturers and service providers;
NOW, THEREFORE, CALLS upon the Executive to deploy teams
to monitor;
- Adherence to official exchange rates; and
- The pricing of goods and services countrywide, put and agreed to.
MOTION
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENDER POLICY AND IPU
GENDER SENSITIVE TOOL KIT
Thirteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the sexual harassment and violence against women.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Mr. President. This was
an important motion in line with the prevailing predicament of sexual harassment. Alas! It was not given ample opportunity for debating except that I moved the motion and my seconder Hon. Sen. Mavetera debated. It was as at the end of the Order Paper as has been mentioned earlier on by Hon. Sen. Tongogara. Hon. Members wanted to debate but they were not given the opportunity. We even gave them the copies but they did not debate. So, I do not know whether I should withdraw the motion or I will stand guided by you.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA (SPEAKING)… I stand guided by
you. It was an important motion that would ensure that women would be protected from sexual harassment in the workplaces, at home and all other such places. Happy I am, but rather angry that we were not given an opportunity to debate it.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you
Hon. Sen. Mupfumira. I still recall the day when you presented the motion, the first was Hon. Sen. Tongogara with the motion on prices and you presented your motion virtually, is that not correct? I said great motions presented by two women, do you recall that? I said they were very well researched and very well presented. In future, you have to inform your Chief Whip. I mentioned as I was presiding that the two women had done very well. In future you should talk to your Chief Whips so that they act on this so that the effort is not wasted. Once again thank you Hon. Sen. Mupfumira for a well researched motion. HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: With your guidance Hon. President,
I move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that this House:
AWARE that section 51 of the Constitution prescribes that every person has a right to have his or her dignity respected and protected;
MINDFUL that Parliament of Zimbabwe drafted and adopted an institutional Gender Policy in 2017 and 2019 respectively;
ALSO MINDFUL that in its conferences of 2019 and March 2021 the Commission on the Status of Women is calling for mechanisms that address sexual harassment to be put in place;
COGNISANT that Parliament of Zimbabwe is a member of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union which recently conducted a session on sexual harassment and violence against women;
CONCERNED that the absence of legislation directly speaking to sexual harassment disadvantages female participation in public life;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon Parliament:
- To implement the institutional Gender Policy;
- To implement the Inter-Parliamentary Union Gender
Sensitive Toolkit;
To enact legislation dealing with sexual harassment matters in all forms, adopted.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA, the Senate adjourned at Seven Minutes to Five o’clock p. m. until 7th October, 2021.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 15th September, 2021
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
ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY
LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to
inform the Senate that I have received an Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on Statutory Instrument 202 of 2021,
High Court Rules 2021.
ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF DAY
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I also have
to inform the Senate that the Annual Charity Golf Day will be held on 1st October, 2021 at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Golf Club and that teeing off will be at 1000 hours. Hon. Members are urged to attend or support the cause, by either participating or sponsoring one of the several packages on offer and contact Mr. Nyamuramba on mobile number 0775 309 209 for further details.
COMMITTEE STAGE
MARRIAGES BILL [H. B. 7A, 2019]
First Order read: Committee Stage: Marriages Bill [H. B. 7 (A)
2019].
House in Committee.
On Clause 16:
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Chair. The last time we had issues that the Senate wanted to be considered in terms of the way customary marriages are registered and the role of our traditional leaders. We have not yet reached an agreement. My suggestion is that I have the Traditional Leaders Act that is coming through and issues that we have not dealt with and managed to find each other, we can include them in the Traditional Leaders Act, then I can amend the Marriages Bill through the Traditional Leaders
Act. The reason why I am proposing that we proceed, is because there are issues in the Marriages Bill that deal with child marriages that we need to deal with. The more we prolong, it means that as legislators we would have neglected our duty to deal with those issues. My appeal to Hon. Senators is that the issues that you raised were well received but we have another Bill that we can use to amend the Marriages Act and effect the concerns that you are raising. I so submit Madam Chair.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam Chair. I
need some clarification on this issue. While we can debate as a House, I think it is prudent that our constituency which had the bulk of problems with this Bill should have been informed and be here so that they can fully participate in this Bill because it has got a lot to do with the traditional leadership portfolio. We are having a workshop on Tuesday next week, specifically to deal with this Bill with Government lawyers and Women Lawyers Organisations. I do not know how we can discuss while we still need to polish up as a caucus of chiefs. I do not know how we can proceed with this one because we are supposed to meet on
Tuesday to iron out on certain pertinent issues to us as chiefs. If we are going to sit and go over it, it will be unfortunate for this constituency. I personally think that we have got a lot to submit as we are the custodians of culture and we stay with people in the communities. I submit Chair.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Chair. In my remarks, it showed a lot of respect for chiefs. If I wanted to follow the procedure, even that very day when I conceded that we wanted to talk, I would have simply said the procedure says we vote and take it back to the National Assembly, but I have indicated that even if you have your meeting on Tuesday, we still have another Bill Hon. Chair which I can use to effect the contributions of chiefs. We are not saying that this is the end of it. I acknowledge, but there are issues that are in the Bill that we feel cannot be delayed any further. That is why I came here to say I acknowledge what the chiefs are saying. I want us to move together but as for now, let us proceed. When you are ready with whatever you want to contribute, we have another Bill that I can use to amend the Marriages Bill. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you very much Chair.
I think speaking in Shona would help me. This is a crucial Bill and it is important that we talk about it like the previous time when we debated this Bill. We are promulgating a law that is going to prosecute people, so it is important that we give it the importance it deserves. I believe that the numbers that are in this House are not adequate and because of technology, some might not be able to participate in this debate. My plea is, let us agree that it be debated when everyone is here. Whatever we do together is important as the common addict says ‘nothing for us without us’. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Madam President. I believe
that the Minister’s time is critical. I do not know whether it is possible that what the chief suggested and what was said by the Minister, could be thrown to the House so that the Senate agrees on a common position. Maybe it is important to give him that opportunity so that whatever is planned is done. If that is done, I believe the Bill will get the support that it deserves from the chiefs. On top of that Minister, the Marriages Bill is an important Bill which is full of confusion, not only on Zimbabweans but even the world-over. So it is important. I know of course we were affected by COVID and we could not deliberate on
some Bills, but I believe that the chiefs’ request is very important. If possible we could make it on Tuesday so that these issues are discussed during the next sitting even on the following day on a Wednesday. My request to Members of Parliament is that it is important to go back and relook at the Bill. I believe that most senators were not aware that the Marriages Bill is going to be debated. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Thank you Hon. Chairperson.
I would like to say that this is a very important Bill, especially to us as mothers or as women. However, I believe that it is not fair Hon. Minister that we continue with deliberations. It would seem as if we were avoiding our chiefs and fellow Senators. My plea is may we defer the Bill to the next sitting when everyone is in the House. Like what the Hon. Senator suggested, some might not be familiar with the Bill, it is important that Hon. Senators familiarise themselves with the Bill. If we do not understand that we have chiefs who must be part of the Senate – I was just looking at their seats and noticed that there is only one chief. So, for things to be fair, we need to consider that. The most important issue is the role of chiefs because they are also important.
I have a granddaughter who gave birth, despite the fact that she is underage. It is my plea that we should defer this debate or alternatively, tomorrow if Hon. Senators are invited tomorrow so that the issue is deliberated on. I thank you.
*HON. FEMAI: Thank you Madam Chair. I do not have anything new but I believe that I heard that this might take long if we continue thinking about the issue. Hon. Minister, I would like to request that it needs patience and my fellow Senators are requesting that this issue be deferred so that our chiefs become part of the deliberations. Hon. Minister, our chiefs are not here. So, when the chiefs come back to the Senate, they might feel that we sidelined them.
As an Hon. Senate which reveres and honours chiefs, maybe we should give them the opportunity to participate in these deliberations regarding the Marriages Bill. Probably next week after they have completed their meeting, then the Bill could be brought to the Senate. Looking at where they normally sit, the chiefs who are custodians of these issues are not here. How are we going to pass this Bill without the chiefs? On behalf of Hon. Senators, I would like to request – because we all desire that our chiefs should be part of these deliberations. Hon. Minister, it is our request, may you please defer the issue so that chiefs will be part of these deliberations? We need unity in this august House for us to come up with a concrete position. I would like to thank you for whatever will be agreed on. I thank you.
(V)HON. SEN. CHIEF NGUNGUMBANE: Thank you Madam
Chair for offering me this opportunity to have an input on the important Marriages Bill. Whilst I would concur with the Minister that there is urgency to expedite the finalisation of the Bill, I am a bit concerned that if we pass the Bill with contentious issues unresolved, it would therefore mean that issues of lobola will no longer be necessary and will no longer be compelled. For those people who are fighting customary law, this will be a victory for them. Whereas we do not know when the
Traditional Leaders’ Bill will be brought before this House, if ever this
Bill will be brought to this House, will the Minister fulfill his promises? It is a question for another day but I am of the opinion that we have found common ground.
The issue of lobola under customary law, if you look at the other jurisdictions like the recognition of the customary law in South Africa, it states that lobola forms part of that marriage and in Botswana, close to us, the same thing, the Customary Law Act provides for the same. So I am persuading the Minister that there is no harm in adding those clauses and agreeing. We would rather do this Bill once and for all and not to go back and revisit because it is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRPERSON: Order, there is a gadget which is making a lot of noise, if you could reduce the volume.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this debate. The Senate is quite a big House and taking note of the fact that most of the Senators are not here, we have chiefs in this House whom we work with on different Bills. We normally deliberate on issues with them and agree and we come to this august House to deliberate on issues. Madam
Chair, that relationship is very important and we want to maintain it and we want unity. As has been alluded to by my fellow Senators, it might seem as if we are sidelining our chiefs.
The Marriages Bill is an issue which should be understood even in rural areas. So Madam Chair, I would like to request our Hon. Minister; it is not the first time that we deliberate on issues with him, he normally understands us. If possible, this debate should be deferred to the next sitting so that as the Senate, we discuss on the Marriages Bill with everyone here. After that, we can pass the Bill together as a Senate. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam President. The issues that are being raised are exactly the same points and the rules state that we cannot labour on the same points over and over again. So, maybe I can respond and find a way forward because no one is saying anything that is different. Perhaps the first point is that Senators cannot say that they were not aware that this Bill must be disposed of. When we adjourned on 21st April and since the adjournment, they were to proceed to propose what they think was okay for us to do. We are now towards the end of the Third Session and Government is unhappy with the slow pace at which we are moving with
this Bill.
Since April to September, nobody came to me with any proposal to say that this is what we are proposing, that is the first point. The second point is, nobody is demeaning anyone. I have been very respectful. If I wanted to follow the rules, I would simply have said, okay you want lobola to be included, let us include it. Or if I did not want, I would say let us vote and then you will say what you want and I will take it back to the National Assembly but I never did that. It is a sign of respect. So anyone who said I did not respect, in this particular matter, I decided not to use rules for some reasons. That is the reason why I even said if we miss anything and we realise that – because no laws which we make today and we say it is for eternity. If we find something that is wrong with that law, we will correct. I believe that we had ample time and also to say that some Senators are not here, the rules state that we work with a quorum. Myself, am also constrained because I am answerable to the whole Executive, unless if we are to say that there was no quorum. Then they would ask, so why were you arguing or debating when there was no quorum. It should be recorded that there is no quorum and Senate failed to sit on a Wednesday.
However, for the sake of progress, I would say let us proceed. We input that lobola must be paid and we will take it to the National Assembly because that is the issue that was contentious or else, because I think we are at the Committee Stage where we are allowed to amend. So this is the section that was contentious where we can amend and put whatever you are saying. I agreed to that where it says, “if the Registrar is certified that such a marriage took place, he/she shall record the identity particulars of the parties concerned, date of marriage and brief details of the considerations must be indicated” Or we can actually use the name lobola and briefly describe the details of the marriage or the lobola paid must be indicated which was or to be paid in respect of the marriage so that it reflects what the customary marriage was like previously. I thank you
(v)HON SEN. CHIEF SIANSALI: Thank you Madam President. We have our own issues that we wanted inputted in the Bill. The way you captured, is the reason why we persuaded the Minister to shelve today and we finalise the Bill next week. If the Minister, with the pressure he is putting with the finalisation of the Bill, it would not flow very well with the aspirations of the traditional leaders and may be the population at large because we represent people, we do not represent our individual selves. It will be issues that are coming from our constituents. We could have lobbied the Minister to may be shelve off this week and we proceed next week.
We were not prepared today with the submissions that we had to propose for amendments, again in the language that we wanted. When we make laws, we make laws for posterity. Bills are not made and revised in a short space of time. In an independent Zimbabwe, we should make laws that are very sound with values and customs of our people. Madam Chair, I still persuade that the Minister shelves and may be proceed next week. I so submit. I thank you
HON. ZIYAMBI: Madam Chair, before any debate, there is no provisions in the rules and when we are debating, I take into considering that the chiefs can debate clause by clause and put the amendments that you want. What I will not do is to shift the blame to me. When we adjourned on 21st April, 2021, we were supposed to bring amendments because I have a position, which was the position of the Executive and Government. So at this stage, it is not good and correct to say that I want to coerce anyone or to portray an image as if I am trying to do something that is not right.
I will tell you something Madam President, we have the issue of child marriage, where perpetrators are getting away with it and we have an issue of lobola where 90% of our people currently are not registered under the Customary Marriages Act but they are still paying lobola yet we want to extend this to next week. I doubt if Parliament will be sitting because there is Trade Fair. Thereafter, we have to prepare for the State of the Nation Address and Official Opening of the Third Session. So what we are saying is, we now have to do this in October. When we come back it will be in the First Session, which also has to start by budget consultations, nobody will be here. What it means is, we are now taking the Bill that we packaged in 2019 to 2022. Are we reflecting on ourselves and saying we have done a good thing? This Bill has been on the Order Paper and each one of us knew that when we go to Parliament, we will be called upon to do this particular Bill. Bills are on the Order Paper and motions are on the Order Paper. So, to say that you have been ambushed, I think it is not correct. It reflects badly on me. I am not ambushing people. I had to take a lot of blame for not doing this Bill, largely because of the engagement that I wanted. I even agreed that with all that you would have wanted but I did not want to create a conflict between Houses when I take it there. I want to take the Bill back to the National Assembly, defend what you would have passed here and persuade the National Assembly to accept that so that we have harmony in the Houses.
I stand guided Hon. Chair. We cannot argue that we did not have a quorum and we cannot argue that we were not aware that this Bill must be debated. We can suspend proceedings and indicate that Hon. Senators were unwilling to debate it until further notice but not that they were caught unawares because this Bill was on the Order Paper. We adjourned debate on 21st April. I submit Hon. Chair.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam Chair. I
want the Hon. Minister to understand that no one is blaming him. We were in Level 4 of national lockdown and it means that as the august Senate, it was really difficult for us to sit. It was not possible to have normal sittings. As a nation, we are going through quite a unique period and life is not like what it was before. Let me inform this House that at one time I was called by the late Hon. Rtd. Air Chief Marshall Shiri concerning the same Bill, may his soul rest in peace. It is important to understand the importance of this Bill and how we are living. We are not blaming anyone but the point is that we need to consider such issues. It is not about Hon. Sen. Chief Makumbe but about the 33 chiefs in Manicaland. It is important that we explain that we were affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. I thank you.
(v)HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Hon. Chair. I
understand where the Minister is coming from but it is important that he should be sensitive to what the Hon. Senators are saying. There is need to find a way of ensuring that we do not pass a Bill because of time. We have to pass the Bill because people are happy, otherwise, it would be costly to repeal or try to change it later. Let us work in the manner which is being suggested by the chiefs and Hon. Senators as a whole. I
do not think there is blame game here. It is just that we must have a Bill that is wanted by the nation. We do it for posterity. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Hon. Chair for giving me
this opportunity. I would like to say a few words to the Hon. Minister. We know what you want to do is a very important thing and this is good for the nation. My request is that we must not do something which is not orderly. It is my request that Hon. Minister if possible, tomorrow Hon. Sen. Chiefs should be in this august Senate. The Hon. Minister is saying it has taken long but if possible, may this august Senate be filled tomorrow so that we debate on this Bill.
Hon. Minister, you are doing a good job but we cannot pass the Bill without the input of the Hon. Sen. Chiefs. The challenges that would be coming out of the Bill will be directed to the chiefs. It may seem as if we are sidelining them and they are not important, so it is important that they be part of the discussions. If you look at the august Senate, you will discover that most chairs are unoccupied because of the pandemic. You said that the Bill has been on the Order Paper since April but you are aware that this is a period when people were affected by COVID-19. Thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Hon. Chair, I am caught in between two
difficult positions. While I hear what Hon. Sen. Chiefs are saying, I am also mindful, like I said, the issue of lobola is actually not a serious issue compared to child marriages. We had a scenario where this has been in the public domain for some time. In the National Assembly, two weeks ago, I was given a torrid time to say why are you not finalising this Bill given what is happening in terms of child marriages. Unless something can be drawn up tonight and those that are around can come up with proposals - I had agreed to say we can put it to them to say that
according to customary marriage, you have to show proof that you have paid lobola because the other marriage we passed it as it is. It is not subject to debate anymore because we agreed that the provision is not necessary.
It is only customary marriages. If you opt to be subjected to a customary marriage, you will have to show proof of having paid lobola. I am agreeing to whatever amendment, unless Hon. Members are saying they still want some time to internalise that beyond the five months that we have given them. If I can get an undertaking that tomorrow, I can proceed and we do away with Question Time; this is because next week Parliament is not sitting. The week after, I am not sure that we will sit because we will start preparing for the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency.
When we come back, the business of budget will commence. So, it will be embarrassing that this Bill will spill over to 2022. If we can have an undertaking that whatever you want, I am agreeing that we can put it there in terms of the Section that deals with customary marriage because I think that is where we have contentious issues. I so submit Hon. Chair, if we can have Hon. Senators coming. I know that we spoke about
COVID and I was also affected by it, but we have been doing some Government business here. We passed Amendment No. 2 this year and so it is very difficult for me to go and justify that we did not do the
Marriages Bill because of COVID when other Bills were passed. I have to accept that while you have concerns as chiefs – I am not running away from them, but I thought that the compromise that I had given would give ample time but if you so wish, maybe tomorrow we can proceed and with the leave of the House, we can suspend Question Time and we deal with the Bill so that we dispose of it and I find time to finalise it before the end of this Session. I submit Hon. Chair.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (HON. MOHADI):
Maybe you did not get what the Minister was saying correctly. He was suggesting that if possible, we can seek leave to sit again tomorrow and I am saying are we agreeing? I am saying is there anyone who has got an objection to the Minister’s decision? Hon. Sen. Chief Makumbe, did you hear what the Hon. Minister said?
HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: No. I was not in.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: So, can I give you the chance again Hon. Minister?
HON. ZIYAMBI: I was saying that we have had ample time and I have heard the spirited efforts by the chiefs to say there was COVID. We have done several Bills since April, 2021 and I am also caught in between that I have deliverables that must be done. What I can do is because this Bill has been there and the fact that it is on the Order Paper, it is no excuse to say that we did not know. Once it is there, anything that is on the Order Paper when we come to the House, we are required to look at it, study and prepare to debate. There is no question about that. It has been there for the past five months.
My proposal is we can adjourn and seek leave to sit again tomorrow and then you can quickly have a look at the clauses that you want, propose the amendments and we adopt them. At the moment, if we do not do that, next we will not be sitting because of the Trade Fair. The following week I doubt whether we will be sitting again because of the
Agricultural Show. After that, we will now be preparing for the State of the Nation Address by the President and the beginning of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament.
Once that starts, we have budget preparations and pre-budget seminars and I do not think we will be sitting. Before we know it, it will spill to 2022. If you are agreeable, we can adjourn until tomorrow. Some of us, if we have urgent issues, we do not sleep. Find a few people and put together what you want. Even tomorrow morning, you can come to my office and I can get a law officer that will assist to put your ideas in the correct legal framework and then we present and do it tomorrow and we suspend Question Time. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam Chair. I
have with me something from our Chief Whip Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira which we got just before the opening of this afternoon’s deliberations. It says “Good afternoon Sen. Chiefs. Please be advised that there will be a meeting to finalise our input on the Marriages Bill with the officials from the Ministry of Justice, Prof. Madhuku and
Women Lawyers. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 21, September,
2021 at Parliament Building at 11.00 a.m.” From this statement, we were taking it that the Ministry is well informed of our endeavour to also partake in solving the matrix with regards to the Bill, but if the Minister says tomorrow, then it will also give us a bit of sometime to look at it but this is what seems to have been agreed on and it involves his officers. We operate here as Caucuses and this is coming from our
Caucus as Chiefs. Thank you.
HON. ZIYUAMBI: Thank you Hon. Chair. These meetings with
these lawyers have been happening for a long time and they have not been resolving some of these issues. It will continue to be a cycle. I think we need to also appear to be serious in dealing with this issue. It is now an embarrassment, to be honest. While I hear you, that is why I had said openly that we can shelf it for now because I do not want to rush you and then we do not do a proper job and you said you do not want to. We are now delaying everything else that is good in this Bill because of an issue that I agreed that let us put the lobola thing in there. I even offered to say okay, bring whoever you want and I will identify officers and say sit there and agree on the amendment and we do it. I think we must work within timelines and not have something on the Order Paper for almost eternity and then we tell ourselves that we are unprepared. Let us come up with a work plan because the Tuesday that they are talking about, it is also technically going to be very difficult. I do not know which Law Officer they spoke to. Certainly, that correspondence never came through me; I am unaware of that meeting. What I know is Trade Fair is starting next week. The majority of our officers will also go to Trade Fair. We have a Chief Justice Conference in Victoria Falls.
Hon. Chairperson, we may adjourn but I want it to be put on record that the delays in the Marriages Bill was not because of me but it is Senators who failed to engage their lawyers or whoever they want so that they come to me and we finalise. If we put that on record, it becomes very clear that the delay is with the Senators and we were ready to move, even to compromise, then we will wait for them to complete at their own pace. I so submit Hon. Chair.
Hon. Senators having asked for additional time to consider the Bill
HON. ZIYAMBI: Hon. Chairperson, if there is no objection and it is on record that, that is how proceedings went, I propose that we
adjourn and seek leave to sit again at a later date. I ask you to report progress and seek leave to sit again at a later date to be advised.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Committee to resume: Thursday, 16th September, 2021.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I have said
tomorrow but I will be advised by the Committee of Chiefs who want to meet. We have noted that they indicated that they needed time and for the record, I have said tomorrow but they will advise.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. President, I
move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 2 and 3 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
JOINT REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL GENDER POLICY IN THE SMALL HOLDER
IRRIGATION REHABILITATION SCHEMES AND
PFUMVUDZA/INTWASA AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Joint
Report of the Thematic Committees on Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and Gender and Development on the implementation of the
National Gender Policy in the Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa Agricultural Programme aimed at eradicating hunger, Sustainable Development Goal 2.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI: I stand up to speak about
Pfumvudza which was started two or three years ago. It was started during the late Hon. Sen. Shiri’s tenure. The purpose of Pfumvudza is that there should be food security in the country. When you watch the television, Pfumvudza is being showcased and the indications are that it is a success but the report that we got highlighted that there are some things that are not going well.
Hon. President, if possible the Committee members should look at the Pfumvudza report so that they study where it is a success and where there are challenges and what should be done for the programme to be a success. If Government introduces a programme, it does that so that the programme becomesa success. When we discover that it is not a success, then we need to identify the loopholes and highlight them to the Hon. Minister so that they can be corrected. There are a lot of people and we should ascertain how many were there in the Pfumvudza Programme, how many were successful and how many did not succeed in the programme and the reasons behind their failure to succeed. After having highlighted these issues, then the Hon. Minister will be aware of what should be corrected so that as we approach the agricultural season, it will be clear how many kilogrammes of seed, fertiliser and other inputs are needed so that when the Minister embarks on the programme for this current season he will know what is required.
I believe that our colleagues who are in that Committee did a good job. They must present a report to the Minister so that all the loopholes are corrected. When Government starts a programme, it is done so that it succeeds but we know that in life, it happens that sometimes what you focussed on, even with flowers, you would find weeds in the flowers. If you identify such weeds, then this should be highlighted to the Ministry so that when the Pfumvudza Project starts this current season, all the inputs should be on time. It might be that late distribution of inputs affects the output of the programme.
Hon. Members of this Committee should continue with the good work that they are doing so that they write a report or a summary of the recommendations which will be presented to the Hon. Minister so that the grey areas that were observed are not repeated and that the Pfumvudza Programme becomes a success. At times people believe that it is just good things but if there are grey areas, then they should be highlighted so that they are presented to the Minister. These greys areas should be sorted out in time so that come this season, everything is now properly organised on time. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. SIPANI-HUNGWE: Thank you Mr. President. I would also like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu who presented a report. I am one of the Committee members who moved around the country. I would also want to thank the Second Republic for coming up with such a good project on Pfumvudza/Intwasa.
When we were moving around, we discovered that this is a good programme. If I were to quote what the Hon. Sen. who just spoke said, it is true that it was a good programme and there was food security. People had a bumper harvest and our silos are full. We are being told that there will be adequate rains which will come a bit earlier. Farmers should be given inputs early but we know that during the past year, people who received inputs had done what was expected, that is preparing their land. After land preparation, they should be given seed which is not supposed to come in bits and pieces but they should be given a full package of fertilizer (D and top dressing) and seed so that there will not be those who only received seed and some who received fertilizer or that fertilizer will come later.
We are requesting that Government looks into the issue and rectify the anomaly so that since we are in September, proper farming will be done with land preparation in October. We have heard that Government is adding inputs for cotton farmers and those who participated in the programme last year should also take up other crops like groundnuts.
Government should look into the issue so that they correct this issue.
Regarding irrigations, we notice that there is lack of management. What we saw to be quite a challenge is that Government took a lot of strides. Government does not make mistakes but it gave tractors and ploughs to farmers. However, the challenge is that farmers are not managing implements properly because you discover that when a tractor breaks down, it is not repaired. In terms of implements, it is important that there is management of implements or management should be trained. I noticed that sometimes farmers end up apportioning blame to each other because the law says that when farmers are given a tractor or any implements, they must take responsibility of such implements. They know that it is important that they use the implements properly and fix them if they are broken down. The other issue that we noticed is that when looking for hard labour, women work harder than men but at times the husband might be the one who was given implements and inputs yet the woman who works hard does not have anything. As an august
House, we need to educate women to stand alone and get involved in the Pfumvudza project. They can stand alone and identify their portions of land where they are going to till. There is management which you would find dominated by men only and there are no women in management of such programmes. We do not know how this will be done but we need to urge women to take up positions so that things go well. The President did a good thing introducing this programme. We have good security and we will continue doing this. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I stood up to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu for presenting to the august House the joint Committee report on the progress on the Pfumvudza programme. We wanted to see what was happening regarding the gender policy on irrigation rehabilitation schemes and Pfumvudza. Let me start by thanking and appreciating that the irrigation programmes that were visited were not new programmes. Some were started in 2002 but at the moment we are in 2021, the challenges are not ending, which means that when this programme was started, those who were given irrigation programmes did not fare well. People want to work but they need to be capacitated with implements but you will discover that what is happening in irrigation programmes is not orderly. That is the starting point. We need to see that the Ministry of Lands looks into the issue and comes up with a position on how to resolve the issues that are faced with those irrigation schemes. You will discover that there is no progress and they need assistance on how things should be done. When you look at the land that was given to people, you will discover that there are some people who have point two ha and they are expected to till that land and support their families. At the end of the day, they are also expected to get some income from that but these are small portions of land. It is important to look at such issues because we have noticed that there is not much revenue that is being generated from such small portions. It is important that they are given bigger portions of land so that when someone tills his or her land, they have income for their family.
Mr. President, I always say that we fail because of lack of knowledge. That is why we fail in what we do. People are just told to go and do a project before being taught. For example, if I want to do a project and if I just venture into it without any training and understanding of what is expected, there is a challenge. Lack of knowledge is a problem. You will discover that some have been doing it for a long time but without any substantial progress. We know that the Ministry has agricultural extension officers and that is where our chiefs are also involved. We know that we leave chiefs in most things that we do. What I am talking about does not benefit people mostly if we say we want to teach and educate women on gender issues. Mr. President, gender disparities are there because of the behaviour of men. So educating women alone without men will not solve the challenge.
My suggestion Mr. President is that all people should be involved. All genders, whether it is male or female, whether it is boys or girls, everyone should be educated so that there is progress and at the end of the day there is consensus on implementing Government projects and programmes knowing what is expected and that Government gave us implements and inputs. It is not for girls, it is not for boys, it is not for men but it is important to understand that the challenge is that if people are given implements and inputs without being educated on what to do with them, some may accept them and take ownership of them. It is important for them to take ownership and understand that this is ours. We might face the same challenge until 2030 when you find that people continue doing irrigation programmes but without any progress.
Mr. President, I would like to applaud the initiative that was taken by the late Hon. Shiri. Mr. President, we saw the Hon. Minister going around the country with his work suit and his overall teaching people about Intwasa/Pfumvudza. I believe that wherever he is, when he is looking at what is happening with the progress and success of Pfumvudza, I believe that he would sleep and rest in peace. It is important that Pfumvudza is polished up because we know that every project has teething problems. So, it is important that such issues are ironed out because when we identify grey areas during this coming season, then they will be eliminated.
The challenge that I see in Pfumvudza is mulching because of the fires that we see which are destroying our forests. It is important that we understand that we have huge work of training our people that veld fires are not good because they destroy our grass. It means that our livestock will not have anywhere to graze, even with that in mind, it is important to urge people to continue with Pfumvudza, noting that they would have food security.
We know that the President is adding on to inputs which are going to be given to farmers so that during the next cropping season, they have enough to feed their families and sell, like we mentioned in the small scale irrigation programme. We need to put our hands together as we implement the recommendations which were put in the report so that this information cascades down to the people and the Ministry would explain the position to the nation so that all the grey areas are corrected to ensure food security and that farmers get some revenues from the sales of their grain.
This means that there will not be any imports of grain. Instead, the money that is being used for imports will be allocated to other important programmes because the nation has a lot of needs. We are also aware that the Government might not have an adequate budget for importing food. So it is important for our nation to conserve our resources and it helps us as a nation. I thank you Mr. President.
+HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: Thank you Hon. President Sir, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the report presented by Hon. Sen. C. Ndlovu which was well detailed on so many districts by the two Committees which went for the fact-finding visits on agricultural inputs in different districts. Hence, I want to thank the Committees on SDGs and Indigenisation which went on a fact-finding visit in different districts. On this issue, I would like to mostly highlight on irrigation schemes regarding the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme which was introduced recently in Zimbabwe.
The challenge that is being faced in our communities is that they are not being educated on farming so that they get sufficient produce for commercial purposes. I will touch so much on Magwe Irrigation
Scheme which is one of the places visited and is near to my homestead.
There have been irrigation schemes in this place but the residents have been crying foul because they are not getting enough outputs for resale. At Magwe, there is plenty of water and many irrigation schemes for farming. The dam has plenty of water and has not been dry in that place but people are failing to produce enough so that they can be able to pay ZESA and ZINWA bills.
I saw it fit to touch mainly on this point because people are not being educated. AGRITEX is not doing its duties in educating the farmers. Thus, if we have an irrigation scheme, we should be able to get sufficient outputs and pay our debts but it is like when these people are doing their farming, they will be waiting for the rain season yet they will be using their irrigation schemes. I am pleading with AGRITEX that they should assist through educating the people on farming. So many people were assisted on Pfumvudza/Intwasa Scheme, especially people in Gwanda but they were crying foul that the rain season was good but they did not harvest enough produce. However, the unfortunate part is, they did not know which compound of fertilizer to use on their farms. It is very important for people to have knowledge on farming, especially in rural areas.
The Government is trying to assist people but people are failing to be independent Mr. President. However, people should know that if the President gives you something, you should work very hard so that you get something from it. In addition, people should also know that the little that they are getting, their neighbour might be getting less than that.
Hence, people should utilise the opportunity that they are given by the President.
I remember the late Hon. Senator who initiated the ARDA Project in Maphisa. ARDA is doing very well and we are in a huge debt with ARDA in Matebeleland region. Mr. President, if we take note of Chelesa Irrigation, it is failing dismally for people to get good harvest from it. However, if we go deep into that, we will notice that people are not getting enough knowledge on farming, hence AGRITEX is not doing its mandate to educate people. So, I urge the President to take note of this parastatal (AGRITEX) so that people get sufficient inputs for farming to bring the economy to its rightful status. With these few words, I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President for giving
me this opportunity to add a few words on the report that was presented by Hon. Sen. C. Ndlovu, who is the Chairperson of the Gender
Development Committee as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. We noted the importance of the programme and the challenges that were faced by these Committees. Let me say that we were overjoyed. You know that when such a programme is taken to the people, some people resist and others accept the programme. This is what happened with Pfumvudza, because Pfumvudza is a new concept. It was new to this country but I would like to appreciate and thank the New Dispensation for coming up with such an initiative. We know that in our country, livestock was affected by diseases. A lot of farmers lost their livestock, so a lot of young people and women accepted and embraced this programme.
We know that in some irrigation schemes, of course in the management committee, there were challenges because some people did not want women to participate in such a programme. There was a challenge that sometimes when inputs were brought to communities they were distributed at night, which was not favourable to women but to men. So we believe that Government programmes, whether it is irrigation or the Pfumvudza Programme, it should be done in an orderly manner. Also, Agricultural Extension Officers should monitor such activities. We noticed that in many areas, it was clear that the relationship between Agritex officers and farmers was not good. It was not good because a lot of people were complaining that Agritex Officers were not assisting them in any way. However, we expect that such anomalies be corrected.
If irrigation programmes and the Pfumvudza Programme are going well, then agriculture will be a successful venture in Zimbabwe.
Looking at Pfumvudza, we were asking women what they got from Pfumvudza, and some said that they harvested a lot of maize. This means that Zimbabwe embraced this Government programme. This is quite commendable. Right now, Pfumvudza has given a good name to Zimbabwe because the programme was embraced properly. A lot of things have been mentioned including that projects like irrigation and Pfumvudza are not really difficult. There are not many challenges but it is important that a full package of inputs be given to farmers. This should be given on time and handed over to farmers. For example, in a certain irrigation scheme, there were weeds in the farm but farmers continued watering their wheat such that eventually weeds grew bigger than their crops. We asked them why they were watering wheat without spraying herbs and they said that they were not given herbicides. They were only given wheat, so they were just watering. This implies that Government should correct that. Our view is that people are interested in working hard. It is so difficult but this should be done with farmers receiving all their inputs on time. Agritex officers - I believe the Ministry of Lands should ensure that their officers are monitored so that they work properly with their communities.
For instance, in a certain centre where irrigation is being done, they were saying that when you invite Extension workers, they will tell you to give them money or incentives, but that is the correct position. An Agricultural Extension worker is supposed to do his job without any kick-backs. So, we do not expect that to happen because at the end of the day the farmer will end up suffering since they would have not received enough expertise from their extension officers. If the Ministry of Agriculture is going to embrace the report of these two Committees, I believe it will correct a lot of challenges that were faced by farmers during the previous year of the Pfumvudza Programme and the Irrigation Programme.
We want that to be corrected since it will cause other countries that are not implementing such a programme to commend the nation. So it will be wise that the Minister looks at this report so that it improves the operations of our farmers. Through reading these reports, the Ministry will understand the grey areas that need to be addressed. We believe that the problems that we highlighted in this report will be corrected.
The different irrigation schemes are going to be a success. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. G. MOYO: Thank you Mr. President. The
Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme helped the whole country. We want to thank those who brought this programme because there is no difference now for those who have cows to plough and those who do not have. Our granaries are full and people have got food. We are now faced with the farming season and the Government should own up on their promises so that people will plant on time. Those with irrigations should not wait for the onset of the rains. All the irrigation should do something. Our
Government, together with the Ministry of Agriculture should equip the Agritex officers by giving them transport so that they would go into the rural areas to assess progress and train farmers.
*HON. SEN. GWESHE: I want to thank Hon. Sen. Ndlovu for the report that he brought. I was part of the Committee. I went to Midlands and Bulawayo. I am not going to repeat what others have said but I will talk on what touched me. Mr. President, I was touched when we visited Silikiwe Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland. That area is very far. When we got there, the people there looked like they were afraid of us. They were afraid of even greeting us until the Committee Chairperson, Hon. Sen. Chief Mtshane Khumalo had to summon them to sit in the front. That scheme is headed by a woman. It looks like they had been gagged not to answer. She is the one who was answering. When we got there, at the beginning, she was the one who was answering all the questions. She would answer to all the questions on how they were loaned a tractor by the Government at the sum of $30 000. All the other farmers were not responding. They were asked on how they were servicing the loan and she said they contributed $5 per person. She said they would hire the tractor to the people.
What really touched us at this place is that the Chairperson and the people there did not know the outstanding amount to pay off the loan.
The Agritex officer who is there, we were not happy about the person. He is working with elderly people who do not know what they are doing. I think she was not aware that there were some people who would make a follow up. They did not even know how much they had in their bank account. We had to intervene that the Agritex officer was not supposed to respond because we had come to see the farmers. We were not impressed by that place Mr. President. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President for
according me this opportunity so that I can add a few words to the motion. Let me start by explaining what was challenging us as citizens of Zimbabwe. We are very intelligent people but we are affected by hunger. We know that we import maize and that is not a good thing.
We want to thank the Second Republic and our President, Dr. E.D.
Mnangagwa for supporting the Presidential Input Scheme.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme has made a mark on the map. This year when people were asked to make holes, they ran around despite the hot season. People dug a lot of holes. Women in our areas are the champions when it comes to farming. The men cannot spend the whole day in the fields because they would go to the drinking halls. Pfumvudza/Intwasa was very helpful. The ploughing that took place was very good and it made us proud. Let me explain by saying we have cooperatives but the knowledge of running cooperatives is very difficult. In the rural areas where we come from, there are a lot of cooperatives but they do not know how to balance the input and output. Our Agritex officers are also people made of flesh. They were allocated land and so they are busy tilling their lands. Now for them to go and help those other people, they cannot help them. There is a challenge there. I think they should have a job description. I am happy because they are now being paid on how they have performed in their areas of jurisdiction. This year you are going to see how people are going to farm. They are going to farm competitively.
Our farmers as well, starting with us Senators, we should help them. Also business people should help them by supplying wheel barrows and shovels as prices for those who come up first in agriculture. The idea of just winning will send good words to the farmers in the rural areas. The Government gives us inputs but we should encourage people to farm well. Coming to the cooperatives, there should be a Constitution which articulates on how to run them. I am not ashamed to say that where I come from, a cooperative there harvested a lot of wheat and the Chairperson was a lady. They took their men to the bank and they had to plead so that they would get their money. They finally got the money but they abused the money.
The following year, they could not go back into the fields because there were no proper channels on how to run the cooperatives. There should be laws in place – a good Constitution to run cooperatives. The tractors that they are given as cooperatives, there are some who are intelligent who hire out the tractors and get the money. The Constitution should articulate all those issues that if a tractor belongs to the cooperative, they should bank the money, report back and they should come up with how they are going to share the profits.
The other thing that is uplifting the lives in the rural areas, the President visits each and every area to access how people are farming. In my area, the President was present and there is also the Minister who also visits each and every area which was not happening in the last dispensation and this motivates people. Coming to field days, they give strengths to our farmers to soldier on. The report that has been articulated by our Chairman, Hon. Sen. Ndlovu was comprehensive on what is happening on the ground.
We have A1 and A2 fields and we have our rural land. There is inbetween, a group known as the small scale farmers. As we grew up, we found these being used by the whites. After that, there was AFC and those organisations would come up with unfriendly books which were written in small letters. The power of the small scale farmers was taken away. When we took up land, we left those who had title deeds. I think the Minister should investigate those farmers. I can name them and their areas because we live with the people.
Those people are not practicing good farming practices. Coming to Pfumvudza/Intwasa, they are like people in the rural areas. Their farms were taken away in 1953 and the fathers have gone. Now, it is the great grand children who are using the land. Those farms are not being used at all. The Minister should investigate those people who have title deeds. They are now just settling on those farms but not engaging in any farming activities.
The other issue Mr. President is that people were not getting Presidential inputs in time and also Pfumvudza inputs were not coming in time. This time the President promised that the inputs would be distributed in time and people are happy. They have welcomed that. We want our country to farm and help us to see that our farming season progresses very well. We want to thank this Committee for bringing out these issues. With these few words, I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President, I would like to wind up the debate. I want to thank the Hon. Senators who contributed to the debate on the Joint Report of the Thematic
Committees on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender
Development on the implementation of National Gender Policy in the
Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa
Agriculture Programme aimed at eradicating hunger, Sustainable Development Goal 2.
Mr. President, I would specifically want to thank Hon. Sen.
Muzenda, Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera, Hon. Sen Mohadi, Hon. Sen.
Chinake, Hon. Sen. Eng. Mudzuri, Hon. Sen. Muronzi, Hon. Sen. Dr.
Sekeramayi, Hon. Sen. Hungwe, Hon. Sen. Tongogara, Hon. Sen.
Mkhwebu, Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi, Hon. Sen. G. Moyo, Hon. Sen. Gweshe and Hon. Sen. Chirongoma. The Hon. Senators debated passionately on this subject and we are blessed to see that we are finding a system as a country and a programme that we all hope is going to improve our agricultural output and get our country working again.
Mr. President, our plea is that the Ministry looks into our recommendations and submissions by the Hon. Senators who are here.
It is our fervent hope that moving forward, the Ministry will address all the issues observed and the recommendations thereof – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] - We have no doubt that we can get our country to be the breadbasket of our region once again. With those few words, I move that the report be adopted.
Motion that this House takes note of the Joint Report of the
Thematic Committees on Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and
Gender Development on the implementation of the National Gender
Policy in the Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa Agriculture Programme aimed at eradicating hunger, Sustainable Development Goal 2, put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON.
SEN. CHIMBUDZI, the Senate adjourned at a Quarter to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 15th September, 2021
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
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS THE HON. SPEAKER: I have the following apologies from
the Hon. Ministers: - Hon. Dr. C. D. J. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. M. Mutsvangwa,
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Hon. O. C. Z
Muchinguri-Kashiri, Defence and War Veterans; Hon. Mathema,
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. Coventry,
Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation; Hon. Kazembe,
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; Hon. W. Chitando,
Minister of Mines and Mining Development and Hon. Dr. S. Nzenza.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. KABOZO: I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to air my views in this august House. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. What is the Government policy measure in place with regards to the old 100 USD notes? I have noted with concern that the business community is now rejecting these old notes hence there is a public outcry, especially from the small scale miners.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member and indicate that this particular concern was previously addressed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development as well as the Governor. A statement was issued to the effect that the old USD notes are part of the currencies that we are using and he issued a statement stating that all traders must accept them, including banks. I am not very sure which particular banks are refusing to take deposits of the old USD notes.
The United States Embassy issued a statement to the effect that they are still a legal tender. So the country of origin issued a statement, our Central Bank issued a statement as well as the Minister of Finance to that effect. I thank you.
HON. KABOZO: I would like to ask whether the Minister is aware that the most affected with this scenario are the small scale miners because sometimes they are issued with these notes when they go to the bank to make some deposits of the precious yellow metal. What is the Government policy position to correct this anomaly? I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That verges on a specific situation and therefore, the Hon. Member representing the small scale miners must ask a written question and in that question, give details of the problem. I thank you.
HON. GONESE: My supplementary question is what measures
has the Government put in place to conscientise the business people and traders who are refusing to accept the old USD notes. I
understand that obviously a statement was issued but what policy implementation measure has been put in place to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe are not inconvenienced.
HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to thank Hon. Gonese for the question which is not very straightforward. The USD note is not manufactured by Zimbabweans. When the country of origin issues a statement that it is acceptable and our Governor has also issued a statement urging all our financial institutions and traders to say that they should accept it, if you get it, go and deposit, it is a currency that we can use. So, beyond that, perhaps if Hon. Gonese has other suggestions on how to ensure that we can urge traders to accept it, then he can forward that to the Ministry of Finance or the Reserve Bank so that they can take those on board.
However, my thinking was that when it happened the first time, the necessary statements indicating the policy position were issued. Beyond that, if there is any other suggestion that he feels will help alleviate the situation, I think they are most welcome by the monetary authorities. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education insofar as it relates to examinations for the children who have started school. What is Government’s position relating to the examinations that are going to be conducted irrespective of the fact that schools have been closed but the examination dates have not been moved in respect of the
proclamation by Government, of the dates of the examination for the children both in primary and secondary school ‘O’ and ‘A’ level?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON E. MOYO): The examination
dates have only been given insofar as when they are going to begin and that is end of November for Grade Sevens. Mid December, we are going to have the ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels which are going to overlap into 2022. Insofar as the point that children have lost time, we are employing catch up strategies to ensure that the children do catch up and one of them is through blended learning where we are using different learning and teaching platforms. Inclusive of that is going to be materials that are going to be given to children and some of them have not been given those materials and e-learning so that they do catch-up.
Insofar as the dates, we are starting with Grade Sevens end of
November and then overlapping into 2022 for the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level examinations. We think our children would have been prepared for examinations by that time. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: It also comes to mind and it is a fact that children are attending school twice a week if not once a week. Would it please the Minister to move the dates for the examinations a little bit further to allow the children to catch up both online and also physical interaction which has been hampered by attendance at school on face to face?
HON. E. MOYO: In fact examination classes are attending school every day. So in terms of alternating days, that is for nonexamination classes. The examination classes are attending from
Monday to Friday.
HON. KWARAMBA: As children are preparing for examinations, there is this thing called CALA. Would the Minister kindly shed more light on this thing called CALA? I thank you.
HON. E. MOYO. CALA refers to Continuous Assessment Learning Activities. Continuous assessment is not a new phenomenon in the education sector. It has always been there, albeit limited only to practical subjects. We are merely extending it to all the other subjects and the idea is not to punish children by examining them and looking for what they do not know but taking into account their performances during the course of the learning period so that we do not sacrifice – I said in this Parliament a few weeks ago that children attend primary school for nine years and then you subject them to one and half hours to determine what they learnt all in nine years of primary education. So we are saying let us take on board their performances from time to time so that they contribute a percentage to the final mark. I thank you.
HON. MOKONE: I would like to know what measures there are to make sure that children who are in disadvantaged areas where there is no network for online learning are not disadvantaged because you spoke about online learning.
HON. E. MOYO: Online learning is only one of the strategies. We also have modules and study packs that have been distributed to those schools which do not have network or signal for radio. We have also distributed some radios where you have a port for flash disk which have been loaded with materials that can be used for children to catch up whilst they are out there. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: In areas like Mbire, Rushinga, Muzarabani and Binga, there is only one teacher teaching Grades 1 to 7. How are these children going to write examinations like the rest of the children doing online lessons?
HON. E. MOYO: That matter has been brought to our offices and we are dealing with it. The situation is not universal in all schools. Yes, there are schools which are in that kind of situation but there are others which are well resourced in terms of human resources.
Hon. Mbongeni Dube having passed between the Chair and the
Hon. Member speaking.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order!
HON. E. MOYO: Yes, there are other schools in remote areas that are disadvantaged in terms of human resources but there are others that are well resourced. What really determines that usually is the attractiveness and the provision of amenities and accommodation in those areas? So, we are specifically attending to that and we hope that our human resources deployment strategy is going to address some of those issues. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Please allow me to check with the Minister how the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) process is going to capture private candidates or external candidates, now that it is going to be implemented so late in time before the examinations? HON. E. MOYO: With regards the private school candidates, they were advised to link up and connect with the schools where they are registered so that they can be given the necessary activities to undertake and take them to those schools for marking, recording and capturing of those marks for transmission to ZIMSEC.
(v)HON. C. MOYO: Supplementary Hon. Speaker. Would it not please you Hon. Speaker Sir, that the Hon. Minister brings a Ministerial Statement articulating how the preparations are being done so that...
THE HON. SPEAKER: I did not get the last part?
(v)HON. C. MOYO: If he can bring a Ministerial Statement so that Hon. Members can debate and I can also get a chance to debate. THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, do you think you can
bring up an update on the preparations of the examinations? HON. E. MOYO: I think we can arrange that and then in the next sitting of Parliament, we can bring that up. I think we need maybe a week because we need to check, consolidate and make sure that what we bring to the House is correct.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Including those schools where there
is one teacher teaching grades 1 to 7, therefore disadvantaging especially those grade 7 who are going to write the examinations. HON. NDEBELE: In that statemen,t could the Hon. Minister currently also include issues on the administration of CALA because I realise even school administrators in the form of headmasters themselves in my constituency are only going through the CALA training process at the very moment. Thank you.
(v)HON. WATSON: My question also goes to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. It is in connection with school associations and development levies. I have done some research and the regulations for those bodies going back to 1998. Is it not his
Ministry’s intention to update the regulations and the necessary regulations? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): I am not sure if
I really picked up the import of the question. If the Member could repeat it so that I can fully understand the import.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The regulations that relate to school associations are outdated. Are you going to update them so that they are current in addressing the issues affecting the education sector in the primary and secondary school division?
HON. E. MOYO: The House may wish to know that we are
currently regulating all our regulations and instruments to be in line with the amended Education Act. So we are working on that so that anything that is updated, our Legal department is working on that and bringing on board the alignments necessary. Thank you.
HON. MUNETSI: My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Is it Government policy that there is a disparity in the retirement of civil servants?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): May I indulge
you Hon. Speaker, to get a little bit of explanation because I am not sure which groups he is referring to which may have the disparities that he is referring to.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes Hon. Munetsi, may you clarify
which segment or cluster you are talking about.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. You will
discover that if a police officer works for 20 years, he or she can go for retirement, but a teacher goes up to 60 or 65 years. Why is there such a disparity?
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: The police as well as the military
are governed by conditions that are different from the general civil service. If someone joins the army for example, they have the option after 20 years to opt out. The police, it is the same thing. So at that particular point in time, they can retire. I am sure there is a lot of wisdom in that because both services are services that require continual renewal, but you also realise that the option to continue is still there.
In the general civil service, I think we have given previously and even today the possibility of early retirement but the retirement age at the moment is 65 years. It is essentially the nature of the service that we are looking at. You do not want the police or the army to be filled with people who are all in their 60s because of the nature of that service, though the option to continue is there as well in those services.
HON. MUNETSI: Have you noticed that teachers who have
served up to 60 years are not well acquainted with this ICT issue and it affects the children. What are you going to do with teachers and other people in the profession who go- up to 60 years and have no knowledge of ICT which is being introduced now?
THE HON. SPEAKER: That is a new question altogether,
unfortunately.
HON. TEKESHE: My question goes to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. Exchange rates determine prices. In this country at the moment, our exchange rate is very stable. I want to know why prices keep going up yet our exchange rate is very stable.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(HON. PROF. MURWIRA): I wish to thank Hon. Tekeshe for this very important question which is basically a national moral question where it is very important that we take note that our exchange rate is stable. As a people of this country, we really need to have discipline, be empathetic and have to be unselfish. What we are saying is that if our fundamentals are right, all business people and citizens have to celebrate that by stabilising all issues including prices because industry utilisation in terms of capacity utilisation has gone up. You can see that most of the products that are on our shelves are Zimbabwean products and this is something to celebrate. So when prices of certain goods are going up against the trend of stabilising the economy, that is what we call indiscipline in the business community. It is misinterpretation of capitalism where we are saying people cannot profiteer carelessly. I think that kind of discipline is needed in a nation and Hon. Members can help us spread that message across the economy to talk about discipline for national stability and advancement. I thank you.
HON. TEKESHE: I would like to find out from the Minister if they are making supply and demand take its course and not fixing prices. Are they able to supply the foreign currency which is needed in the country? If not, why has the exchange rate remained stagnant because it is supply and demand that should determine the rates?
THE HON. SPEAKER: I thought the Hon. Minister answered the question when he spoke of business ethics and indiscipline.
HON. DR. KHUPE: The Minister spoke about indiscipline which is causing prices to increase every day. The fact of the matter is that prices are increasing, so what is the Ministry doing to make sure that they monitor so that prices do not increase. I think the Ministry can simply do that. They must monitor to see whether prices are not increasing, looking at the fact that we have got a stable exchange rate. What is the Ministry doing to monitor and ensure that prices do not increase on a daily basis? He spoke about stability but there is no stability and indiscipline is still going on. They must monitor to make sure that this indiscipline stops and prices do not increase because people are suffering. Even if the Ministry increases salaries by 50%, it will be eroded by price increases.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you are now debating.
Can you please allow the Hon. Minister to respond?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I thank Hon. Dr. Khupe for her supplementary question which is re-emphasising the importance of a country that respects itself. These prices are being charged by Zimbabweans who also go and participate in the auction system which is very open and is being conducted according to market forces. Basically, within our national collective effort, discipline is very important so that what affects us must be of a nature which shows that we care for each other. The issue here is that the Ministry is in the process of making sure that the way the money is supplied to the market in terms of foreign currency has actually stabilised and increased production. Utilisation is around 96% on average which shows that the rest – let me give a small example in order to illustrate the point. In fighting a long war for economic development, there are those who fight very small battles and spend their energy on small battles which might be the careless business people. There are those who fight the infinite war which is a bigger strategy. I am sure those who are fighting the infinite war will win because on average the Zimbabwean economy is stabilising and going up. The rest can be little battles but they will ease out because as we speak, the amount of foreign currency supply in this country is at its highest since 1980. So, basically these are small curves on a rising curve. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, while you are upstanding. The kernel of the question is monitoring. What measures are you putting in place to monitor the price increases? That is the kernel of the question.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Hon. Speaker, we have the
Consumer Council and Competitions and Tariffs Commission in this country. These are policy instruments or legal instrument or entities that are monitoring prices every day. So in terms of Government, it is very clear. What we were addressing now Hon. Speaker, is the issue of saying now that the policy is there and the monitoring is happening, the only thing we can be looking at as an explanatory variable is the discipline. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Mr. Speaker, buttressing on what you
have just said and the Minister’s reply, could the Minister explain what disciplinary action or monitoring are they doing as a policy, on companies that are taking money on the auction rate at Z$85:US$1? Are they sure that the product when it comes into this country is being priced at Z$85: US$1 or at the parallel rate? I do not believe there is any monitoring. Could the Minister explain the disciplinary policy on that?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon. Markham for
further rising points of clarification on this very important issue. People are getting arrested, certain CEOs because of the issue of the punitive lines that are in Statutory Instrument 127 or 27. The people that are abusing the auction rate are being punished heavily in terms of funds by the RBZ and we believe that while the law is also taking its course in this way, national pressure including pressure from this House has to take place so that people know that a country is a country of people and together we need each other. However, as we try to implement these disciplinary measures, what we are seeing is that these are small explosions on a rising curve. This country is stabilising and the economy is improving and we are expecting that the economic growth rate of this country is going to be the highest in Africa and Southern regions. So, I ensure that the measures we are taking, we might not see the effects this week or next week, but we will see the stabilisation as we go forward towards December. I thank you.
HON. GONESE: My supplementary is, if the Hon. Minister can clarify why there is a backlog in terms of the supply of foreign currency in respect of business which would have bid for the currency and had their bids accepted yet they do not access the foreign currency. Others are unable to access foreign currency on the auction market. Is this not an indication that there is not enough in terms of supply and is this rate not an artificial one?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon. Gonese for a
further question on this important issue. The thesis of Hon. Gonese is on the artificiality or whether the rate is artificial. It is not artificial as it is determined by auction and it is a weighted average that is determined by the Dutch Auction System. On issues of some people who might not be able to access foreign currency, that is very specific because there are rules for the auction, basically.
On the issue of whether there is enough supply of the USD, Hon. Speaker, I have just said statistically and this is true. This country has the largest proportion or sum of USD in the banks since 1980, about US$1, 9 billion plus but also when we look at glitches in the implementation system which was clearly explained by the RBZ, that if there is any backlog that might have been caused by glitches, this is going to be cleared by the end of this September. This has been clearly put by the RBZ, so all measures are there because what is happening is that no matter what, the trend is rising and anything that might be happening is just temporary. I thank you.
HON. B. DUBE: My supplementary goes back to the issue of discipline. What is being done to really effectively punish those who violate the system by accessing money through the auction rate and behaving in the parallel market manner, and at the same time we see them receiving again the following week on your list of beneficiaries? How do you reconcile that with the aspect of the discipline that you are talking about?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon. Dube for
further asking on this issue of discipline. In the Statutory Instrument 127 or 27, there are punitive measures that are there and in the press, there were people who were also complaining that these punitive measures might affect this and that. What is happening is that those punitive measures are being implemented on perpetrators and this is happening. If there are some people who might not have been caught, we will really be interested in that specific information so that they can get into the net. I thank you.
*HON. MURAMBIWA: My question is directed to the
Minister of Agriculture. What measures does the Government have concerning payments to cotton farmers for the last farming season? I asked this question in March and the Minister said that they would be done with payments by May but that has not happened. The farmers are mourning in the rural areas. My request is that the Minister enlightens us on when the farmers can get their payments? Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE,
FISHERIES, WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL
RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question on cotton. Cotton is a very important product for Zimbabwe, for us to be able to achieve a middle income economy by 2030 and for that reason; the Government has committed to pay the arrears from last year. What the farmers should get together from the banks comes to
Z$1.5million.
Let me talk about the arrears of 2020 - it amounts to Z$850 million and of that figure, the Government has paid Z$566 million. The remainder is Z$290 million and that is for famers who grew cotton last season. Last Wednesday, I met with the Presidents of the
Farmers’ Union and this morning, I had another engagement with them. I encouraged that all farmers who produced cotton last year should register with COTTCO so that we can pay them. The Government apologises for the late payments but we have made a commitment to pay. So farmers should assist us so that we can also meet their payments. I thank you.
*HON. MURAMBIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary question is that, when you pay farmers their arrears, are you also going to take into consideration the value that it had last year and the value that it has this year considering the fact that the rates have fluctuated? Are you going to look into that to ensure that they are able to buy whatever they would have managed to purchase had they received their money during that period?
*HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. From what I heard, he is saying that if the arrears then were sufficient to buy 2kgs sugar, are the amounts that we are paying going to be able to pay for the same product? What we are currently looking at is how much the arrears are and that is what we are going to pay. I thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. My question
to the Hon. Minister is; why are there delays in the payment of cotton farmers? The Z$550 million he referred to, we read that in the press about three to four weeks ago but not even a single farmer has received that amount. Why is Government not expediting payment to those cotton farmers? Thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you and I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. Government has released the money through the Reserve Bank to Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) to enable COTTCO to pay farmers. If there are specific areas where this payment has not been received by farmers, I will gladly investigate the specific areas with a view to expediting the payments because it is Government’s view that once the money is released, it must be paid expeditiously so that farmers are not held back in their preparations for the season. Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
HON. MBONDIAH: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is; what mechanisms has Government put in place to ensure that the cotton that is harvested is processed locally? We have material being sold outside the country rather selling the cotton in its raw form then we have more money when we add value to that cotton, so that farmers are paid well on time the following season. I thank you.
HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and I thank
the Hon. Member for that very important question. The context is, in terms of Vision 2030, this is for a prosperous empowered upper middle income society - 12 million people are involved in agriculture, two million people involved in cotton. They can only have their lives uplifted if there is value addition and beneficiation, if they can get better value for their effort. This is the context in which Government is increasing its shareholding in COTTCO from the current 37% to over 51% so that it can have better control and direction of this important transformation agent for the rural areas.
We also have a very robust cotton transformation strategy where we are looking at increasing production, that is area expansion. We are also looking at increasing volumes per unit area, that is yield so that there could be farmer viability. More importantly, each time we export lint, we are exporting jobs and value for this country and in that cotton transformation strategy, we envisage a system where we will be able to value-add through to cloth and clothes making within the country. It is something that is dear to Government and something that we are pursuing with vigour as a Ministry. So I thank the Hon. Member for highlighting that. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. MUCHIMWE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, my
question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. Is it now mandatory that the Covid vaccination is now compulsory in view of the fact that there are other entities that do not indulge in medication? If people are vaccinated, I am sure that they are safe and the unsafe are the unvaccinated. Why is it that now we are denied entry in Parliament because we were not vaccinated? Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Hon. Speaker, I
did not quite get the question?
THE HON. SPEAKER: The question was, is it now compulsory- [(v)HON. MUCHIMWE: Inaudible interjection.] – I got your question and I am explaining to the Hon. Minister. Is it compulsory to be vaccinated to the extent that Parliament does not allow members who are not vaccinated to come through for the sitting in person.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you very
much Hon. Speaker and I wish to thank Hon. Muchimwe for that question. It is one of the weapons that we can use to fight this terrible disease called COVID-19. It is very dangerous for anyone to impose themselves on people when they are not vaccinated because they are actually endangering the very same people they think they will be protecting if they want to interact with them.
It is therefore very important and I want to thank you Hon. Speaker for not allowing any member who is not vaccinated to come to this House physically. So to clarify the issue, it is very important that the people who are not vaccinated stay where they are whilst those ones who are vaccinated can interact while social distancing.
(V)HON. MUCHIMWE: My supplementary question is COVID-19, to me and the Johanne Marange Apostolic Sect Church is just a drop in the sea, we are not even affected. Since this COVID-19 started, we have been kissing each other and shaking hands, we are not even affected by COVID-19. Why deny us entry into Parliament? Come to us, we will help you to eradicate the disease. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you bring your spiritual medicine to Parliament so that we see how it works.
(v)HON. MUCHIMWE: Not spiritual medicine.
(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, my
supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that by putting restrictions on those unvaccinated or those that unvaccinated because of religion or other views, the Government is in a way setting a wrong precedence for it is actually encroaching into the rights of individuals?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I wish to thank Hon. Mushoriwa for his question so that we can clarify the fact for that. Zimbabwe is its living people, when we are all gone and let us say for some reason all of us die, the person who will come here might not call it Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe is us. It is therefore important to know that there is a limitation even in the Constitution that rights are exercised with limits. The most important thing is that we have to believe as Zimbabweans that life is very important. Respecting people, you only respect people that are living and from this point, I think it is very important that we emphasize that scientifically we have found that vaccination is the best option. We are saying those who are vaccinated can get together and enjoy. Those who are not vaccinated can wait until they are vaccinated to come and enjoy with others while social distancing.
So, Hon. Members, without over emphasizing this point, those ones who are not vaccinated must stay where they are and not impose the virus on those people that are abiding by the rules of COVID-19. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I hear what the Minister is to portray. There are two issues on Government policies that I would like to look at. The first issue and it has been asked before, the undocumented people in this country in my constituency for example, they are many and they are being turned away unless they have a letter from the Member of Parliament. The issue of undocumented people, if we base on the arguments that the Minister is giving anyone in that queue must be vaccinated. It does not matter whether you have got the identity document nor not...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you are now debating,
ask a question.
HON. MARKHAM: My question is the undocumented are still being turned away in queues and it does not rest in what the Minister has just answered us.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker and I thank Hon. Markham for this question which makes us be able to explain Government policy on undocumented people. Hon. Speaker, coronavirus affects all people, those with documents and those without; no one is safe until all of us are safe. Those ones with identity documents and those ones without, so Government policy as His Excellency the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa said, we want to project this policy. Vaccination will be done on people with or without identity documents. There are always ways to identify people which are different from the identity document. When it comes to COVID-19, we want people to be vaccinated. It should be very clear to the worker on the floor, front line worker, everyone in
Government, Parliament and Judiciary that people shall be vaccinated and the identity document is not a requirement for that. If there are specific incidents where people are not clear, let it be very clear that vaccination will not be conditional in terms of identity documents. (v)HON. MUCHIMWE: Supplementary.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Muchimwe, you originated the question and asked a supplementary question, you cannot ask another supplementary question in terms of our Standing Orders.
(v)HON. MUCHIMWE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I appreciate very much the response from the Minister; we all agree COVID-19 is very dangerous. We saw it in Europe where they have got the best doctors and best medicines, they are dying in their thousands. What the Minister is saying is very correct but what I would like to say to the Minister is; is it possible for you to go to the Apostolic Sect and educate them about the dangers of COVID-19 and the importance of being vaccinated? I thank you.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Hon. Speaker, I wish to sincerely
thank Hon. Dr. Khupe for that intervention. I think it is very important that all of us know that it is medicine that helps us. Sadza is medicine, therefore any other medicine is good. I thank you. THE HON. SPEAKER: The Christian sects seem not to
believe in these vaccinations.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: His Excellency the President met
with the leaders of all religious sects and that is why I was really very excited at the intervention of Hon. Dr. Khupe, which I completely agree with. It means we have to intensify our educational outreach and the answer is in the affirmative. I thank you.
HON. MOKONE: My question is directed to the Minister of
Primary and Secondary Education. With the recent spike in COVID19 cases in schools, what new measures are there to make sure that our children are protected in schools? I am asking this question because since schools opened, we have seen a number of school children testing positive to COVID-19. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): What has
happened in terms of COVID-19 cases that have been found in the schools is largely a manifestation of community infections which have surfaced when schools opened and when screening was being conducted in the schools.
What we are saying to our schools is that they have to strengthen the standard operating procedures so that our children our protected. Those who have been found to be infected have been isolated and are under the care of the Ministry of Health. Those not infected, we have to ensure proper wearing of masks, sanitization, social distancing and everything that goes with protecting our learners. I thank you.
HON. MOKONE: We have seen some schools especially in
Beitbridge where I come from, Tongwe High School in Matabeleland South, they have run out of testing kits in schools. What measures are you putting in place to make sure that schools do not run out of testing kits?
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker.
Schools do not really test; they screen using different tools like temperature checks, observations and so forth. When it comes to testing, it is Ministry of Health that comes in to test. In the suspected case of infections of COVID-19, those students are put aside and then the Ministry of Health is invited to come in and conduct the testing. So, I may not really answer on the availability of test kits because that is the domain of the Ministry of Health. I thank you.
HON. L. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question
goes to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is the Government policy on the regulation of school fees in the private schools? Private schools have increasing fees from 350 USD to 789
USD.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): The issue of fees
has been discussed quite a lot and the procedures for the setting up of fees is clearly defined, that is, the parents assembly meet to discuss, a budget is presented and 20% or more of the parents should be present in that meeting. If the proposal is to the affirmative, then that is carried.
This applies to both Government and private schools. In the event that regulations are followed in terms of the process of coming up with fees, we need specific information where that has occurred so that action is taken against those schools. What is largely happening is that we hear about these things but there are no specifics and evidence to prove some of those things. Where these have been proven, headmasters have been charged for that.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Is it Government policy for schools where grant in aid is being operationalised for schools to chase away students who have not paid fees?
HON. E. MOYO: I think the Member is talking about grant in aid of tuition. Government came up with a pilot project for the realisation of State funded education and some distressed districts were identified in the country where grant in aid of tuition was paid. What has since happened is that due to inflationary pressures, some of those monies have become insignificant. However, we have written to the fiscal authorities so that those fees are revised upwards.
We have been getting inquiries from schools saying, can we charge fees and things like that. Our response is that – no-one in those schools should be charged any fees; it is the responsibility of Government and Treasury to look after those kids. So, those children must not be sent home for non-payment of fees, rather they should send Government home. I thank you.
HON.T. MOYO: My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Energy and Power Development. Is it Government policy to practice load shedding?
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): The answer is; it is not
Government’s policy to do load shedding.
HON. T. MOYO: My supplementary question is that, may the Minister explain to this House why we have seen a schedule of load shedding? Can he give reasons for load shedding? I thank you.
HON. SODA: The reason as to why a schedule was provided to various consumer groups is for the purposes of planning. After the situation on COVID-19 subsided, there was some opening of the economy in terms of the level of economic activities. We have seen the demand for electricity going up and for the purposes that the general public gets informed as to when electricity would be available, obviously we have to ration the available power.
At Kariba Power Station at the moment, we are producing 900megawatts. Two units are out of service for 12 hours a day due to the rehabilitation of the dam wall that is currently being undertaken. From Hwange Power Station as of this morning, it was producing 403 megawatts, giving a total of 1300megawatts plus the small thermals, we are producing an average of 1400 megawatts from within the country. The region is also constrained. We normally get additional power supply from South Africa and Mozambique but because of the demand obtaining in those countries, we are not getting enough power from these other countries.
What we decided to do was to inform the public by way of giving them a schedule so that those who want to do irrigation know exactly when the power will be available so that they are able to plan. Our situation has not deteriorated much than what it used to be two months ago but for purposes of good order, we have decided to inform the consumers so that they do proper planning.
Let me indicate that the situation we are in is temporary given that most of our wheat is now at maturity stage and the power that we had ring-fenced for agriculture will soon be available for domestic and other economic activities. We are in discussions with
Mozambique for the recently commissioned power plants to give us an additional 180 megawatts. We are also at final stage of discussion with Zambia to get an additional 100 megawatts. This is also a temporary measure whilst we are awaiting the completion of the expansion that is happening at Hwange Power Station through the additional 7 and 8 units and we would be expecting 600 megawatts to come through next year. I thank you.
HON. DR. KHUPE: I would like to request the Minister to tell us what is the current supply and demand and what is the deficit so that we know the extent of the problem. Yes, you have told us that you are generating 600 megawatts in Kariba but if he can just tell us what the current supply is against the demand and the deficit because there are power outages of 12 hours a day for four days a week. It means there is a serious problem. Can the Minister advise us? HON. SODA: I had given the statistics in terms of the supply side to say we are generating internally up to 1350 megawatts but the demand due to the high economic activities, it is getting up to 1700 megawatts giving a deficit of around 350 megawatts but as of yesterday after there was a recovery of Unit5 from Hwange Power station which is generating 150 megawatts, our deficit has come down to 200 megawatts.
That schedule is the worst case situation but you will find that the hours will be reduced because of the interventions that are currently being undertaken, especially the recovery that was done through Unit 5 which is now back in service generating 150 megawatts.
HON. NDEBELE: Could the Minister kindly inform this House
as well as the nation, what practical steps he is taking to resuscitate the Gwanda Solar Project that is lying in limbo?
HON. SODA: Gwanda Solar Project has been embroiled in some litigation issues which we are still working on. At the moment, there is nothing that is happening with Gwanda Solar Project but after the court processes, we will resume the Gwanda Solar Power Plant. (v)HON. KASHIRI: The schedule for load shedding seems to affect residents when they need the power most. Why is it that they cannot exchange with farmers who can irrigate at night?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister did you get the
question. Your load shedding needs to be informed by where the greatest need of power is so that where the greatest need of power is, the people concerned can utilise that power.
HON. SODA: Mr. Speaker, that schedule, when it was prepared to inform the public, there were a lot of considerations which were made, including a lot of consultations which were made. So as far as we are concerned, unless there is evidence to the contrary, that schedule speaks to the demand that is obtaining from the various consumer groups, including agriculture and we think it was properly done in relation to the demands obtaining from the various consumer groups. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
ORAL ANWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
THE HON. SPEAKER: Question number 1 Hon. Murambiwa. Hon. Minister Soda, do you have your answer to question number 1 so that you can table it with the Clerks at the
Table?
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): Mr. Speaker, the answers are not ready but will be provided tomorrow. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Ministers and
Deputy Ministers, we are not through as yet. May I make an observation Hon. Minister Soda? Your questions, numbers 1 to 3, were deferred since August 18, 2021. In terms of our Standing
Orders you should have given the responses by now. Are they written somewhere because you need to read them and then submit to the
Clerks at the Table?
HON. SODA: Hon. Speaker, no wonder why I had said I could provide them next time because they are not printed but I have them here as a soft copy. I could give the responses if it is appropriate, Mr. Speaker. If I can proceed to give the responses and then bring the printed copies tomorrow, Mr. Speaker Sir, with your indulgence.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You can email them now to our e-mail address and they will be recorded. Do you have the e-mail address?
HON. SODA: I can obtain it and do like you have indicated.
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please approach the Clerks-at-the
Table.
Hon. Soda promised to submit the responses to the Journals
Office.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Question No. 4. Hon. Hamauswa.
Question No. 5 Hon. Hamauswa and Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Hon. Hamauswa, you are not there. Clerks-at-the Table, strike off those questions.
POLICY REGARDING OPERATIONS OF NGOs
- HON. TSUURAasked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to inform the House what Government policy is regarding the operation of NGOs who are duly registered under the laws of Zimbabwe, but are being banned from operating on a directive by a Provincial Development Coordinator.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): The question Mr
Speaker Sir was, what is Government policy regarding the operation of NGOs that are duly registered under the laws of Zimbabwe but are being banned from operating on a directive by a Provincial
Development Coordinator?
In response, there is a procedure for registration and monitoring of Private Voluntary Organisations Act [Chapter 17:05], and the policy on the operations of Non-Governmental Organisations of 2003. We have noted as the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare the list of organisations that the PDC has approved to operate within Harare Province. However, we are meant to believe that this decision was based on the policy for operations of humanitarian organisations of 2003 and not on the PVO Act [Chapter 1705].
Your attention is further drawn to the provisions of the Private
Voluntary Organisations Act [Chapter 17:05] which mandates the
Ministry to register, regulate, suspend and deregister all NonGovernmental Organisations. The statutes (PVO Act) is enforced and operationalised through the PVO Board that regulates the operations of all Non-Governmental Organisations. Sections 9 and 10 of the said
Act reads thus:
Section 9 - Registration
- The Secretary of any private voluntary organisation which is required to be registered, shall lodge with the Registrar in the prescribed manner, an application for such registration together with the constitution of the organisation.
- A private voluntary organisation which lodges an application in terms of subsection (1), shall at its own expense publish in a newspaper circulating in the area concerned, a notice containing the prescribed information and shall submit proof to the
Registrar that such notice has been published.
- Any person may within the prescribed period, lodge with the Registrar, an objection to the grant of the application setting out the grounds on which such objection is made; and the Registrar shall submit any such objection to the board for consideration.
- The Registrar may require any private voluntary organisation which has applied for registration to supply any further information in connection with its application which he may deem necessary.
- Where the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements referred to in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) have been complied with, he shall submit the application together with the constitution of the organisation, any objection to the grant of the application and any further information supplied in connection with the application to the board and the board may:-
- after considering the application, grant it and direct the
Registrar to issue to the organisation concerned, a Certificate of Registration, subject to such conditions as the board may impose; or
- reject the application if it appears to the board that-
- the organisation is not bona fide operating in furtherance of the objects mentioned in its application for registration; or ii. the organisation does not, in respect of its constitution or management, comply with the provisions of this Act.
- Where the board rejects an application for registration wholly or in part, the Registrar shall notify the applicant organisation of the rejection, and inform it of the grounds upon which the rejection was based.
- The registration of an organisation under this section and the objects in respect of which it has been registered shall be published by the Registrar in the Gazette.
- Where a registered private voluntary organisation wishes to change its name or add to or alter any of the objects in respect of which it is registered, the Secretary thereof shall apply to the Registrar for the Certificate of Registration thereof to be amended accordingly; and the provisions of this section shall apply mutatis mutandis as if such application were an application for registration.
Section 10 – Cancellation or amendment of certificate 1. The board may at any time cancel any Certificate of Registration:
- on any ground other than a ground referred to in subparagraph (v) or (vi) of paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of Section 9 upon which he could have rejected an application for registration by the organisation concerned; or
- of subsection (5) of Section 9, upon which he could have rejected an application for registration by the organisation concerned; or
- if any remuneration or reward, which in his opinion is excessive in relation to the total value of the contributions received by the organisation concerned, has been retained or received by any person other than a person for whose benefit the contributions were intended; or
- if the organisation has failed to comply with any condition
of
its registration; or
- if the organisation has ceased to function as a private voluntary organisation; or
- if he considers that the objects in respect of which the organisation was registered are merely ancillary or incidental to the other objects of the organisation or
- if the organisation, unless a certificate or exemption has been granted to it under section 7 -
- has failed to submit any report or return in accordance with section 15; and ii. thereafter, having been requested by the Registrar to rectify such default, has failed to do so within three months after receipt of such request.
- The board may, at any time, direct the Registrar to amend a
Certificate of Registration –
- for the purpose of correcting any error therein or by varying the conditions attaching thereto; or
- by the deletion there from of any of the objects in respect
of which the organisation in question was registered, if in the opinion of the board the organisation is no longer bona fide operating in furtherance of such objects.
- Before cancelling or amending a Certificate of Registration in terms of subsections (1) or (2), the Registrar shall cause written notice of his intention to do so to be given to the Secretary of the organisation concerned and shall afford him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause why the certificate should not be so cancelled or amended.
- If the Secretary of a private voluntary organisation receives a written request from the Registrar to lodge with him for the purposes of cancellation or amendment of any Certificate of Registration granted to such organisation and without reasonable excuse, fails to comply therewith within ninety days of the receipt of such request, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level three or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
- The cancellation of a certificate of registration under this section or the deletion therefore, of any of the objects in respect of which the organisation in question was registered, shall be published by the Registrar in the Gazette and shall take effect as from the date mentioned in such publication, whether or not the certificate has been lodged with the Registrar in compliance with the request made under
(4).
Similarly, section 15 of the same Act mandates the Registrar of PVOs by stipulation. Thus, the Secretary of every registered private voluntary organisation shall be responsible for ensuring that books, accounts and records are kept to the satisfaction of the Registrar and shall, within the prescribed period, render to the Registrar the prescribed reports and returns and such additional information as may be required by the Registrar.
Pursuant to the provisions of the said section, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare took the stance to publish and advertise 459 dormant organisations to comply with the PVO Act.
It is therefore the prerogative of the Registrar of PVOs, working with the PVO Board together with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, to suspend any errant NGOs from operating in the country. The quoted provisions of the policy on operations of nongovernmental organisations, section 5.1.1 (2) relating to the support of the PDC is required at two levels;
- At registration, where the support of the Provincial
Development
Committee is required, conforming to the PDC’s resolution and approval for organisations to operate in the province. The PDC is guided by its Provincial Development Plan which the organisation can contribute to. The letter of support should be attached to the application for registration to the PVO Board which is duly constituted in terms of the PVO Act Chapter 17.05.
- The Provincial Development Committee’s resolution can also
be sought when the organisation intends to commence its operations after registration or as it expands its operations from one province to the other. The same statute provides that all stakeholders who discover a PVO is deviating from its mandate and in breach of the conditions of its registration, must refer them to the Registrar of PVOs for compliance investigation and for further management. I thank you.
FUNDS FOR COMPLETION OF RIMUKA PRIMARY
SCHOOL
- HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to inform the House when funds to complete Rimuka Primary School are going to be availed.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): In our
operations, we are guided by the Ministry’s mandate of providing equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence-driven primary, secondary and non-formal education at all times. Provisions and funds therefore, have also been made for extra space within our schools with also 17 new schools being constructed (11 primary and 6 secondary). We have also completed 950 classroom blocks within existing schools and rehabilitated 139 classrooms and Rimuka Primary School is amongst them. This has all been done in a bid to decongest our schools and encourage social and physical distancing.
HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: What is the
future of pit latrines in our schools seeing that they are intensifying the construction of primary and secondary schools?
HON. E. MOYO: We are transforming our infrastructure in the schools and we are slowly but surely phasing out pit latrines. I am sure Members have read what the Ministry of National Housing is doing. They have come up with new designs, which we are hoping to roll-out to all schools, funds allowing. Thank you.
REVERSAL OF ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT IN COMMUNAL AND
A1 SETTLEMENT AREAS OF UMZINGWANE
18. HON. BRIG. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME asked the
Minister for Local Government and Public Works to inform the
House-
- when the Ministry is going to stop and reverse illegal settlements in Communal and A1 settlement areas of Umzingwane.
- why the district devolution fund for Umzingwane District for
2021 has not been released.
THE MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, my response is, Cabinet took a position to resolve challenges related to dysfunctional settlement and a Committee has already been set. The Ministry has already received reports from Districts of all dysfunctional settlements covering both urban and communal lands. The report will inform the process of regularising, demolition and relocation of all affected people, depending on the suitability of the areas in question.
In Umzingwane, the areas affected by illegal settlers are Wards 20 and 5 where people settled themselves and established an urban settlement in communal and resettlement areas in the Mbalabala area, 40 kms from Bulawayo; Ward 19 of Godlwayo area where people settled themselves and were given eviction notices; in Wards 1 and 2, people were settled next to the cantonment area of the Zimbabwe National Army, the people need to be resettled to safe areas.
On Question 17 (b), thank you Hon. Mayihlome for asking that important question. However, it is not true that devolution funds for Umzingwane Rural District Council have not been released. The Local Authority was allocated Z$150 841 500.00 for the financial year 2021 and out of the total allocation of Z$30 168 300.00 will be used for Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2) and this money will be accessed by the Local authority through ZINARA. To date, cash amounting to $37 286 000.00 has been released to the Local Authority. The balance will be released during the remaining course of the year as funding from Treasury improves. I thank you.
HON. BRID. GEN. (RTD.) MAYIHLOME: Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. The import of this supplementary question is that in 2020, out of Z$23 million that was allocated, only Z$5 million was released to the Local Authority. In 2021, out of Z$150 million, so far less than Z$20 million has been released and we are approaching October. I do not see how the bulk of the money will be released in the remaining two months. This is going to be a perennial practice of under allocating the people of Umzingwane.
The perception out there is that the Government does not care about the people of Umzingwane or the President does not care about the people of Umzingwane. We want to understand the responsibilities that who now should carry the cane for failure to release this money? Is it the Ministry or the Local Authority? If it is the Local Authority, what action is being taken against them to ensure that funds are released on time? If it is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, why Umzingwane only for two years in succession? Other Local Authorities are boasting of buying construction equipment yet we are not hearing that in Umzingwane because the funds have not been released for two years in succession?
What is the explanation Hon. Speaker Sir? Thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Mayihlome for that
follow-up question and thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I hear and agree with Hon. Mayihlome that not all the devolution funds have been released but not only to Umzingwane Rural District Council but to almost all the Local Authorities. They have not been able to access all their devolution funds. Luckily or unluckily, our Financial Act speaks to that - at the end of the year, there is no rollover of whatever has not been disbursed. What happens is that whatever has not been disbursed to the Local Authorities is reverted to Treasury.
What we do as Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, we only transfer the money that we receive from Treasury and we try by all means to impress upon the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development to release the budgeted funds. As you know, sometimes our coffers run dry mostly because of unforeseen programmes that encroach during the financial year. We have made it a point to try to pressure the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to make sure that they release the five percent (5%) that is set aside for devolution and they are doing their best. I think that by the end of this year, you will notice a big difference.
As has been stated by Hon. Mayihlome that it seems like the Umzingwane are being short-changed; I do not agree with him although I agree with him but it is not only them. They have been short-changed because they have not received all five percent that has been set aside for them to receive. They would have budgeted for it yet they do not get to enjoy the budgeted for funds. As I stated, my
Ministry will do its best to make sure that the funds are released. The Z$30 million is not much and I will do my best to make sure that you get a chunk of it before 31st December, 2021. I thank you. HON. I. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question is on the people of Umzingwane who settled themselves illegally. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that all these people are moved and do not resettle themselves illegally somewhere else but they are legally resettled? I am asking this question because I have a similar problem in Bulawayo East where we have people who illegally settled themselves and are called squatters. I thank you.
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and thank you
Hon. Member for the follow up question. Did I hear you correctly that they settled legally? – [HON. I. NYONI: Illegally!] – Illegally, yes we have that rampant across the country where people have taken it upon themselves to settle themselves illegally. There is a Cabinet Inter-Ministerial Committee that was set up to make sure that they address the dysfunctional settlement issues that are cropped all over the country. We have been going through the 10 Provinces to make sure that we identify where all those dysfunctional settlements are. There is a programme that is being drawn up to make sure that we identify who settled those people there. Was it the land barons? Was it the Local Authority or was it us Ministry of Local Government and Public Works?
First and foremost, we have to identify a place to move those people to and the cost of moving them is going to be borne by either one of them, that is the land baron, Local Authority or the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. If they settled themselves on that ground, then it means that they will bear the cost of moving but the central Government is trying to make sure that all those people who illegally settled themselves on those dysfunctional settlements are well settled. We will try to do that before the onset of the rain season. I thank you.
(V)NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Hon. Deputy Minister Chombo relates to the seven courts of the land from the Magistrates and not limited to the chiefs’ court. Would it please the Minister before eviction, to get a court order before they unilaterally evict people who have settled on areas that they are now allowed because two wrongs do not make a right? Taking the law into their own hands is called self trading. Would it please the Minister to give allowance of the jurisdiction of the court processes to evict what is called statutory tenants, people that are settled without any permission or any orders before they evict them? Would it please the Minister to get a court order before they take the law into their own hands?
HON. CHOMBO: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir and Hon. Nduna for that follow up question. I hear you, but my Ministry has gone all the way to make sure that they get the requisite court order before we do any evictions or demolitions. What happens is that those people that settled themselves illegally, they tend to ignore those court orders and it will seem like we go in without notice. We even give them 48 hours after giving them months of notice. If you have any that we have done demolitions or evictions without those court orders, I will be very happy if you can bring them to my attention, I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH
NOTICE
REFURBISHMENT OF A TRANSFORMER THAT SERVICES
DEKETA PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
- HON MURAMBIWA asked the Minister of Energy and
Power Development to explain to the House;
- When the Ministry will refurbish a transformer that services Deketa Primary and Secondary School as well as the Business Centre in Ward 21, Zaka West Constituency which was destroyed sometime back.
- When the electricity poles that were damaged will be repaired in Ward 29, in the Zaka West Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): On Deketa Primary School,
there are no transformers in stock. They shall be available year end 2021. In Zaka West, Ward 29, 29 poles are to be repaired by end of October, 2021.
INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS IN ZAKA
NORTH CONSTITUENCY
- HON. MAVENYENGWA asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to explain to the House when the Ministry will install electrical transformers at the following places; Nhema Clinic Ward 10, Govo Primary School ward 11 and Chitate Primary
School Ward 4, in Zaka North Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. SODA): A transformer will be installed at
Nhema Clinic at the end of October, 2021. Both Govo and Chitate Primary Schools will be supplied with transformers at the end of
- PACKAGES FOR FORMER DAVID
WHITEHEAD AND SCOTFORD TEXTILES EMPLOYEES
- HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to inform the House when former employees of David Whitehead and Scotford Textiles who were retrenched some decades ago are going to receive their packages.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Employees were
terminated under the 2015 Zuva Judgment. The matter was referred to a labour officer at our Kadoma Labour Court in terms of Section 93 of the Labour Act [28:01]. Conciliation was done and the matter is now before the Labour Court for confirmation of the draft ruling made by the labour officer. The adjudicating authority ruled that employees should be paid cash-in-lieu of their leave days and all the outstanding retrenchment packages. The company’s Human Resources Manager said he is still compiling bank details of the employees who are due to be paid their packages as some of them are unreachable since they left the company. In terms of Section 13 of
the Labour Act [28:01], an employer is supposed to comply with the law and honour the termination agreements by paying everything that is due to the employees. As for the Scortford Textile the case is currently not before the Ministry. However, our offices are open for assistance and enquiries.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE
TEMPORARY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No.64.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that we stand over all the Orders of the Day on today’s Order Paper until Orders of
the Day, Nos. 16, 24 and 25 have been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
ON THE ANALYSIS OF VOTE 8 FOR THE MINISTRY OF
LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2017 AND 2018
Sixteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the
Second Report of the Public Accounts Committee.
Question again proposed.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Let me begin by thanking Hon. B. Dube who is the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in this particular report. I will not be long on the floor due to the fact that the issues that were identified by the Attorney General in the report and stressed by Hon. Dube and other members of the Public Accounts Committee, are a matter of critical importance and therefore, even though the Minister could not come to respond to the report Hon. Speaker Sir, my humble submission is actually for the House to adopt the report.
Secondly, for the Executive to implement the recommendations as recommended by the Committee, what we have done merely after the critical observations and oral evidence is that we compiled those recommendations. Hon. Speaker Sir, it will be a waste of resources if those recommendations were to go unimplemented because there is money that has gone in through efforts of the Attorney General’s office and through the public hearings by the Committee on Public Accounts. My humble appeal Hon. Speaker, through you is that, can we have the recommendations of this report implemented by the
Executive so that we have accountability and we have transparency? We cannot continue with witnesses who refuse to come and interface with committees of Parliament. To me, I think it is a breach of the proceedings. It is actually demeaning the weight of Parliament and in future, we need to hold to account such behaviour by officials, of not wanting to come and give oral evidence. I thank you Hon. Speaker for this opportunity.
HON. B. DUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. With your permission, I move that the report be adopted by this House.
Motion that this House considers and adopts the Second Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Analysis of Vote 8 for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, put and agreed to.
MOTION
COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S
DAY
Twenty Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the proposal for the Executive to declare a specific day to celebrate women’s achievements in the development and liberation of the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to the aforementioned motion which was moved by Hon. Madiwa and seconded by Hon. Mpariwa. Hon.
Speaker Sir, a proposal was to make International Women’s Day a public holiday or a national holiday for Zimbabwe. We have
International Women’s Day which falls on the 8th of March. In my opinion, we would celebrate women’s achievements in Zimbabwe on the 27th April, the day Mbuya Nehanda died. Moreso, because we have built a monument in Zimbabwe in honour of her unique leadership skills in the First Chimurenga War of liberation in
Zimbabwe. So, even if we celebrate international women’s day and we do not have a national holiday on that day. I am actually adding on to that motion that it will be more significant to celebrate on an important date when we know our hero met her demise on 27th April, 2021. As we remember the day she was killed, we will be celebrating other women who made good achievements in Zimbabwe. We will be celebrating achievements and the importance of women in the society before and after the colonial regime.
Mbuya Nehanda is an example of many women who played
critical roles in the society. Another notable example is that of
Lozikeyi, Mzilikazi’s wife who also showed immense courage and unique organisational skills. So for that, I second that women have a special day whereby the whole nation celebrates the importance and existence of unique people like women.
I want to repeat that it was proposed that the international day be a public holiday. I am further proposing that 27th April be set aside or be the chosen day for commemoration. Yes, we celebrate with the whole world on international day, the 8th March but we will not be having a public holiday. However, on the 27th April, I am proposing that we really have a public or a national holiday for Zimbabwe whereby we celebrate females.
In conclusion, we can celebrate the international women’s day on 8th March but I think it is of more significance that we celebrate on 27th April, the day our heroine, Mbuya Nehanda met her demise. I propose that day be called Nehanda Day. I thank you.
*HON. TSUURA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Madiwa and seconded by Hon. Mpariwa, that Zimbabwe should recognise the work that is being done by women. The women folk should be celebrated and appreciated because of the role that they play. We have got various other holidays that we have like the Heroes and Independence Day, so the women should also have a selected day on the calendar that they are celebrated.
Women do a lot of important chores in the country and in the home, for example when a woman is pregnant, she goes through a lot of hard times until she gives birth nine months down the line. After the child is born, the child might be prone to illness and the women will spend sleepless nights attending to the ailing child. It is important therefore that these important roles that the women play be celebrated. If the man is not feeling well, the woman is the one who looks after the husband whereas when the woman falls ill, she is told to go back to her parents.
In some instances, if a woman gives birth to only girls, the man will demand that she falls pregnant as quickly as possible to ensure that they can conceive and deliver a son whilst she has not yet fully recovered from the previous birth. I thank you.
HON. N. MGUNI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the movers of this motion. I would want to agree with all the Members of Parliament who debated.
Women are very important Mr. Speaker Sir but I would like to think that those women like Mbuya Nehanda and Lozikeyi that fought for women in their days fell as heroes and I feel they are well catered for on the heroes day but this particular one where we want to celebrate, it is an ongoing celebration that does not centre on those that have gone but even those that are still to come. So, I would suggest that this be a day where we are just celebrating. We will remember our heroes on Heroes Day, therefore I propose that this be a different day that is an international women’s day for every women living and not living in this country. I thank you.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I
just want to add my views on this matter that is in this House with regards to women. I know a lot of women do a lot of various activities in the homes and in the country. These women can be referred to as managers. For a husband to go to work, he would have come out of the hands of a woman.
A man is born from a woman’s womb, for nine months they carry, even biblically, Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Even Mary Magdalene was the one chosen to see Jesus rising from the tomb. Therefore, we should have a special day to commemorate the lives of women. This day should be there to commemorate the work done by women; anyone called a mother that is important in one’s life. Women should have a day designated for them to celebrate their lives and men should help celebrate the lives of women. We should be at home teaching our children how important the woman is. There is no country that is built without a woman, Mothers are there to bring peace and an end to the violence that would have arisen. A woman’s words will reprimand and everyone listens. Women all over and even in Zimbabwe should be celebrated and acknowledged for the work that they do. I thank you.
+HON. BHUDHA-MASARA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion to do with mothers that was brought into this House. The motion is a very touching one because homes are built because of mothers but we sometimes look down upon them. When someone succeeds in life, you only remember of the woman behind the success at the end. Even when you look at how we work in our rural areas, when you go to the fields when the mother is not there, there is nothing that is done. There is a lot that mothers do but they are not being recognised as mothers. When you talk of the liberation struggle, we only talk of male characters and we act as if there were no women who participated in the war of liberation. We have the 21st February Movement, the youth now have their day. There is a date when we celebrate the birthday of the late former President. The sculpture of Mbuya Nehanda was done only now after a very long time. Why are we not being recognised as women? When you look at South Africa, they have a Women’s International Day, why can we not have the same day in Zimbabwe?
I want to support the motion that was brought by one of us for 27 April to be a day recognised as a holiday. I thank you.
(v)HON. NDUNA: Everyone is born of a woman and it is clear that man is singular of men and women is plural of men and it should be recognised as such –[HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- My discussion will border on celebrating the woman everyday that we deal with vending, everyday that we deal with health issues, everyday that we deal with drug abuse and child abuse issues, everyday that we deal with water and sewer reticulation; everyday that we deal with housing, everyday that we deal with our minerals and mining and mining claims, especially of our ubiquitous amount of mineral wealth, every day we deal with the schooling for the girl child and every day we deal with farming – we should celebrate the womanhood in all those days.
A good example is where we celebrate Mbuya Nehanda and
Sekuru Kaguvi and Lozikeyi is in Section 72 (7) (c) of the
Constitution which says “people of Zimbabwe should be able to assert their right to land which was formerly taken away from them by the erstwhile colonizers without any compensation”. Now because of the agrarian reform programme of 2000, that land has come back, it should go back to Mbuya Nehanda, Lozikeyi and Sekuru Kaguvi in the same way it was taken without any payment from Sekuru Kaguvi and Mbuya Nehanda because we allowed the Mbuya Nehandas of today. As we celebrate womanhood, it should be every day. If we address the housing deficit through giving back land to those people who are the descendants of Mbuya Nehanda, we are going to be addressing and celebrating womanhood.
Chegutu Hospital is supposed to cater for 300 000 patients where it was designed to cater for 20 000, if we expand that infrastructure or health delivery system, we would be celebrating womanhood. It is enhancing the capacity of our health care delivery systems that are going to see us as celebrating womanhood every day. Formalising the informal sector should celebrate the womanhood. It is my clarion call today and going forward that every day we live; we should be celebrating women. The capacity of water, especially in the urban sector, women have had a torrid time carrying buckets of water on their heads. If we capacitate our local authorities that they provide optimum safe potable drinking water, we will be celebrating womanhood. Optimum electricity and sufficient renewable energy, if it is given to the nation, we would have celebrated womanhood. If you empower a woman, you have empowered a nation, if it is given a woman, we would have celebrated womanhood in its entirety. I want to thank you for giving this opportunity for celebrating this motion that was advanced by Hon Madiwa and seconded by Hon Mpariwa. Thank you so very much. You have heard me speak in the manner that the people of Chegutu West would have heard me speaking. I thank you.
HON. MADIWA: Let me thank all Hon Member who
contributed to the motion I raised on having a public holiday for women. Let me also thank those Hon members, I know we have a lot of Hon Members who wanted to debate on this motion. Let me thank them inasmuch as they did not get the opportunity because of time. I now move for the adoption of this motion
Motion that this House:
MINDFUL of the important significance that Public holidays, national monuments and historical artifacts and the naming of public assets play in the country as symbols of cultural identity;
ALSO MINDFUL that public holidays contribute immensely to national identity as they reflect national values, vision and aspirations of the citizenry on issues that reflect gender equality, equity and demonstrate national commitment to constitutionally shared values and principles;
CONCERNED that there is no public holiday set aside to commemorate achievements, contributions and the role played by women in the cultural, political, socio and economic development spheres of the country;
ACKNOWLEDGING that the country has recognized specific holidays to honour the roles played by some groups in the society, for example the 21st February movement, National Youth Day, Workers
Day and Heroes Day and Defence Forces Days;
COGNISANT that the International Women’s Day commemorations are held annually on the 8th of March to honour the role played by women in the struggle for the emancipation and their contribution to their respective Nations in the past, present and future and yet in Zimbabwe this day is not a formal public holiday;
REALISING that other countries in the region have set aside public holidays that are related to their historical background and economic development including women’s achievement;
FURTHER COGNISANT of the critical roles played in the first and Second Liberation War by women such as Nehanda Nyakasikana, the spiritual leaders and others.
NOW THEREFORE, calls on this August Assembly to urge the Executive to emulate other countries in the region by declaring a specific day to celebrate women’s achievements in the development and liberation of the country, put and adopted.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that we revert to Order of the Day
No. 25 on today’s Order Paper.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RESUSCITATION OF THE ECONOMY THROUGH DOMESTIC
RESOURCE MOBILISATION
Twenty-Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on domestic resource mobilisation for the repayment of debts and resuscitation of the economic sector.
Question again proposed.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir.
First of all, I would like to thank all Hon. Members who debated this very important motion on methane gas in Lupane, Lubimbi area, which is estimated to be 40 trillion cubic feet and is also estimated to generate billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. At the same time, it is expected that it is going to produce a lot of fertilizer so that we stop importing fertilizer from other countries.
I would also like to urge the Executive to start implementing recommendations from this motion Hon. Speaker Sir, so that we become part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This is going to assist in that there is going to be information in the value chain beginning from the point of extraction to how revenue gets to Government and to how revenue is ploughed back to the communities.
I would also like to urge the Executive, even if the Minister did not respond to the motion- that they look for a big investor who is going to invest in this lucrative methane gas because it has been on the cards for a long time and it has seen a lot of ribbon cutting yet nothing has happened. This project Mr. Speaker Sir, has got a capacity of generating more than 9 000 megawatts of electricity. Remember earlier on during the question and answer session, where the Minister was talking about a deficit that we have, hence the outages of about 12 hours and four days every week. So once this project is started, we are going to deal with our energy crisis such that we will have enough energy for the country and we will be able to export to other countries and earn more foreign currency.
I therefore move Hon. Speaker Sir, that this motion be adopted and that the recommendations be implemented thereof.
Motion that this House;
MINDFUL that domestic resource mobilisation is essential in ameliorating the burden of repayment of overdue debts and bringing about normalcy in the resuscitation of the economic sector in the country;
ACKWOLEDGING the inalienable rights of the people to better living conditions through the utilization of their country’s diverse mineral resources such as the untapped lucrative coal bed methane gas which still lies untapped in Lupane, yet it can generate millions of revenue to the State;
COGNISANT that the natural methane gas reserves in Lupane which were discovered several decades ago have the potential to strengthen the economy of the country in a very short time by boosting the energy generation capacity;
FURTHER COGNISANT that Zimbabwe is not a party to the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global standard for the good governance of mineral resources which seeks to address the key governance issues in the extractive sector;
NOW, THEREFORE, CALLS upon the Executive to;
- Expeditiously find a reliable investor to convene operation on the methane gas resources on a Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
- Prioritise the engagement of locals in this project in view of their background knowledge of the prevailing conditions in the area.
- Consider joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as a matter of urgency in view of the benefits that can be accrued along the value chain starting from the point of extraction right up to where Government generates revenue put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Eight Minutes past Five
O’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 14th September, 2021
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
INVITATION TO A ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the Senate that there will be a Roman Catholic Church service tomorrow Wednesday, 15th September 2021 at 1230 hours in the Senate Chamber.
All Catholic and non-Catholic members are invited.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 3 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 4 has been disposed
of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
JOINT REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND GENDER
DEVELOPMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL GENDER POLICY IN THE SMALL HOLDER
IRRIGATION REHABILITATION SCHEMES AND
PFUMVUDZA/INTWASA AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Joint Report of the Thematic
Committees on Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and Gender
Development on the Implementation of National Gender Policy in the
Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa
Agriculture Programme aimed at Eradication Hunger, Sustainable
Development Goal 2.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I second.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: Madam President, I rise to give a report of the Joint Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable
Development Goals and Gender Development on the Implementation of the National Gender Policy in the Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa agriculture programme aimed at eradicating hunger, SDG 2.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Government of Zimbabwe has given priority to food production and eradication of hunger through the small-scale farmers across all eight rural provinces by implementing the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa, a climate-proofed upgrade of the Presidential
Inputs Programme. The Government is also implementing the Smallholder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes for crop production during off-rain season in all arable provinces. This development was expected to give households not just food security, but also income from surpluses and cash crops to boost national standards of living. In June 2021, the joint Thematic Committees on Sustainable Development Goals and Gender and Development conducted a joint inquiry into the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 through the above-mentioned agriculture programmes aimed at eradicating hunger and also assess the extent to which they adhere to the National Gender Policy.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
- To assess the progress towards the attainment of Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 2 on ending hunger in all its forms.
- To assess whether the following Government Agriculture programmes aimed towards eradicating hunger in the country were gender responsive and inclusive according to the National
Gender Policy:
- Pfumvudza /Intwasa Programme
- Small holder irrigation rehabilitation schemes
- To assess the general challenges being faced by women, men, people with disabilities and youth in the agriculture sector, particularly in Small Holder Irrigations and the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
In May 2021, the joint Committee invited the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, for oral evidence on sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices aimed towards the implementation of SDG 2 on the eradication of hunger in the country. The Permanent Secretary updated the Committee on deliberate efforts made by the Ministry to ensure that women, people with disabilities and youth benefited under the Pfumvudza and Small Holder Irrigation Schemes and gender disaggregated data on beneficiaries.
The joint Committee also received oral evidence from the Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Trust on the challenges encountered by women farmers in accessing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and small holder irrigation programmes. It is against this background that prompted the Committee to conduct verification visits and consultations to farmers.
The joint Committee visited different Small Holder Irrigation
Schemes from 21 -25 June 2021 and received submissions from
farmers in the following areas; Banga Irrigation Chivi, Kufandada
Irrigation Bikita, Tshongogwe Irrigation Lupane, Silikwe Irrigation Gwanda, Wenimbi Irrigation Marondera, and Hopewell Irrigation in
Chegutu.
4.0 BACKGROUND
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2020 extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many countries. Worldwide, there are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Undernourishment and severe food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America. Sustainable Development Goal number 2 is aimed at ending all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, thus making sure all people have sufficient and nutritious food all year. Some of the targets under this goal include, ensuring sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that will increase productivity and production, strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought and other disasters. The National Gender Policy seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, people with disabilities and youth. It also targets to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
As weather patterns continue changing and droughts are becoming more frequent, Zimbabwe has failed to produce enough grain to meet domestic demand. Despite interventions by the government, the country’s national production has been failing to meet or match domestic demand for grains, among other key food items, and the recurrent deficits have been increasingly met with food imports.
5.0 COMMITTEE FINDINGS
5.1 National Gender Policy
5.1.1 Oral Evidence from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, highlighted that the National Gender Policy seeks to achieve a gender just society where men and women enjoy equality and equity and participate as equal partners in the development process of the country. He indicated that the policy goal is “to eradicate gender discrimination and inequalities in all spheres of life and development.”
In support of the National Gender Policy, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement put in place a gender strategy for the agriculture sector in 2015.The strategy was put in place to enhance equality and participation of all gender groups in agriculture to facilitate delivery of high-quality services, responding to the practical and strategic needs of both men and women farmers and other value chain actors, and ensuring that all benefit equally from the opportunities in the sector. The strategy recognises:
- that gender equality enhances agricultural growth and improves incomes of farming communities, hence the need to reduce gender inequalities.
- the need to take into consideration the practical and strategic needs of men and women in order to increase agricultural productivity and production for household and national food and nutrition security, thus making effective contributions to the country’s economy.
5.2 Smallholder Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Programme
The joint Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural
Resettlement that a total of US $18 million was channeled through
Sakunda Irrigation Development Programme in 2 and had a target of
203 000 beneficiaries in all the provinces of Zimbabwe. The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the smallholder irrigation revitalisation programme was targeting 125 smallholder irrigation schemes (6,100 ha), 15,000 irrigators working an average of 0.4 ha, 2,000 youths and 50% of beneficiaries were to be women out of a total of 4266 beneficiaries.
5.3 Climate Proofed-Presidential Input Support Scheme (Pfumvudza /Intwasa)
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement pointed out that the Climate Proofed-Presidential Input Support Scheme is supporting 1.8 million vulnerable rural households to produce maize, traditional grains and pulses. The input packages availed to each farmer were 5kg maize seed, 50kg basal and 50kg top dressing fertilizers for a standardized 0.06ha plot. The joint Committee was informed that a total of 324 129 farmers were trained on the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme and of these 262 950 were females while 61 179 were males.
6.0 FINDINGS AT VISITED AREAS
6.1 Establishment of Irrigation Schemes
Small Holder Irrigations Schemes are initiatives by Government to enable community farmers to grow crops throughout the year such as maize, potatoes, cabbages, sugar beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and wheat. In all the visited schemes, the Committee noted that the Irrigation begun after the Land Reform Programme in 2000. The areas that were converted into Small Holder Irrigation Schemes were from the land acquired through the land redistribution by
Government. The smallest schemes have an average of between 10 - 45 hectares whilst the largest have an average of 160 hectares. The joint Committee noted from the visits that those irrigation schemes with smallest land size were London Farm, Silikwe and Kufandada which had 10 ha, 19,3ha and 22ha of arable land respectively. Each individual has a portion of 0,2 ha per block out of the three blocks in each irrigation scheme. Tshongogwe, Banga and Hopewell had the largest land sizes with each individual having up to 0,5 ha per block out of the three blocks in each irrigation scheme. For the purpose of water supply, the schemes are divided into blocks and each block is allocated its own time to use water since the pumping system and water supplying equipment cannot service the whole fields at once.
Throughout all the visited irrigations schemes, farmers posited that the Government through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement is supporting all the irrigation schemes throughout the country with farm equipment such as tractors, planters, discs and irrigation equipment which were availed under the More Food Programme.
6.2 Crops grown
The Joint Committee was concerned to witness that at some irrigation schemes, there was lack of knowledge of crops to grow in relation to each season as witnessed by maize which was affected by frost at London Farm and Wenimbi. The Committee noted that at all Irrigation schemes, there were different types of crops that were grown ranging from maize, wheat, vegetables, sugar beans, butternuts and tomatoes. The Committee noted that some irrigation schemes like Hopewell had vast land which was not being utilized and hence no crops were grown.
6.2.1 Crops Grown under the Irrigation Pfumvudza/Intwasa program
During the visits, the Committee witnessed that the Pfumvudza/
Intwasa Programme was also incorporated into the irrigation schemes and farmers were growing maize and wheat. However, at London Farm irrigation, the farmers had not yet planted the winter wheat because of inadequate and late supply of seed and chemicals. The Committee was dismayed to witness that at Wenimbi Irrigation scheme, wheat was still at its germination stage since the seed was availed to farmers lately after the recommended planting time for winter. It was also presented by farmers to the Committee that farmers had not received the herbicides for weed control in planted wheat at Wenimbi Irrigation scheme, hence weeds were competing with plants. The Committee noted that some of the irrigation schemes were already meeting the expected harvests for both family sustenance and surplus. An example was at Banga and Kufandada irrigations, where the Committee was informed that a total of 11 tons of wheat and 17 tonnes of maize were sold to the Grain Marketing
Board respectively in the 2019/2020 season.
6.2.2 Crops Grown under the dry land Pfumvudza/Intwasa program
Dryland Pfumvudza/Intwasa was being done at household level. The Committee noted that in all the visited areas, farmers were testifying that they received the following inputs; 5kg maize seed, 50 kg compound D fertilizer, 50 kg top dressing fertilizer, 5 kg sorghum seed and 10 kg soya beans seed. The Committee learnt that of all the inputs supplied to farmers for the Pfumvudza programme, only maize gave them a good harvest since the seed and basal fertilizers were availed to farmers on time. Farmers reported that an average of 1,5 tonnes of maize was harvested per 0,5-acre plot.
On small grains like sorghum and other crops like soya beans, the Committee observed that farmers did not attempt to plant since the seed was distributed in mid-January- February way after the timeframe for planting these crops. Overly, the Committee noted that the Pfumvudza Programme was greatly accepted by people and has proved to be a solution to food deficit at family levels. Farmers at all visited areas, recommended for the extension of the Pfumvudza land sizes from 0.5 acres to at 1 acre.
6.3 Power and water sources
The Committee appreciated that all the visited schemes used either river with perennial water supply as their water source, for example Kufandada and Hopewell irrigations while others use either dams or solar/electric powered boreholes as their water sources. The Committee was pleased to get reports that due to the abundant rainfall in the 2020/2021 season, the dam and river levels were at full capacity and there will be no water shortages for crop production. However, the community leaders raised concern that some dams were now affected by weeds and siltation which will affect the dam capacity in the long run, for example the Banga Dam. The Joint
Committee was informed by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, that the main source of power for the Small Holder Irrigation Schemes is electricity from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. The Committee was pleased to note that there were no power outages caused by load shedding. The Committee also noted that in some areas such as Banga, the scheme uses gravity as its source of power to pump water from the dam to the scheme and in Kufandada, the scheme uses solar powered system to pump water from the river to the field reservoirs. However, in some areas such as Hopewell, they experience power shortages as a result of none payment of bills to the service providers such as Zimbabwe National Water Authority and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, hence they were disconnected from services. The water shortages reported to the Committee were as a result of pump breakdown and pump incapacity to service the whole fields, for example at Wenimbi, farmers use one pump instead of three.
6.4 Gender Inclusivity
In terms of gender equity and inclusivity in the schemes, the Committee witnessed that in overall, women were participating in both irrigation schemes and the Pfumvudza Programme in their numbers. In addition, women and youth were also part of the management committees of the irrigation schemes. Youths and people with disabilities were also benefiting from the irrigation schemes and the Pfumvudza Programmes. In addition, some schemes like Silikwe Irrigation created a separate sub-scheme which is only meant for youth in the area and there are 56 youth beneficiaries in that scheme. However, there were still some areas where there is need for awareness to ensure that women and people with disability participate and benefit from such programmes. At Hopewell Irrigation, the Committee was dismayed to witness that the current sitting irrigation Committee had no women, or youth member. As a result, the Committee did not consider women and youth as beneficiaries or part of the irrigation scheme.
In brief, the Table 1 below illustrates the Committee findings on gender inclusivity per each visited scheme for the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa in the irrigation schemes. Total number of participants and gender disaggregated data as well as women representation in Committee leadership are presented by the table.
Table1. Sample of Gender Representation in Pfumvudza and
Irrigation
Irrigation scheme | Total beneficiaries | Number of women | No. of men | Disability | Youth | Women in committee | Men in committee |
Wenimbi
Irrigation |
129 | 25 | 68 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 5 |
London Farm | 33 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Kufandada
irrigation |
120 | 66 | 54 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 4 |
Silikwe
Irrigation |
56(scheme A) 56(scheme B) | 41
|
15 | 6 | 5
56 |
4
0 |
3
0 |
Banga Irrigation | 294 | 130 | 160 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 4 |
Tshongogwe
Irrigation |
62 | 41 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
Hopewell
Irrigation |
52 | 8
|
39
|
0
|
5
|
0 | 7 |
The table above shows that areas such Banga Irrigation Scheme considered women to be part of beneficiaries, leadership in irrigation schemes which is in line with the National Gender Policy. On the other hand, the table confirms that in other areas like Hopewell Irrigation Scheme, women were not actively included in the irrigation committee and their number as beneficiaries of scheme is extremely lower than the number of men. The table also illustrates that most of the visited schemes, people with disabilities were not participating except for Kufandada, Banga and Selikwe Irrigation Schemes which indicated that there are people with disabilities benefiting.
7.0 GENERAL CHALLENGES IN
PFUMVUDZA/INTWASA AND SMALL HOLDER
IRRIGATIONS SCHEMES
7.1 Disbursement and distribution of inputs
The joint Committee was informed in all areas visited, that both Pfumvudza inputs for households in communities and Pfumvudza inputs for Small Holder Irrigation were not disbursed in time.
Farmers at Wenimbi, Banga, Kufandada, London Farm and Tshongogwe Irrigation, presented to the Committee that inputs were not provided on time to allow proper planning and preparations for planting. In most cases, the Committee received submissions that maize seed and compound D were distributed in November and the farmers did not get any top-dressing fertilizers up until March and April when they received 50kg bag per each person of ammonium nitrate well after the time for the application fertilizer.
Across all the arable provinces visited, the Committee was disheartened to note that other inputs such as sorghum and soya beans seed were only been availed to farmers between mid January to February 2021. Farmers at Kufandada, Hopewell indicated to the Committee that these inputs had no purpose since they were distributed after planting period had lapsed. The inputs were returned back to the Grain Marketing Board. Farmers were of the view that by distributing the inputs late, the Government was denying them a bumper harvest which would go a long way in increasing food production in the country. Farmers bemoaned that the Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should give the full package of farming inputs which include seed, compound fertilizers and top-dressing fertilizer at once by September to allow farmers to properly plan and prepare for the planting season.
With regards to the distribution of inputs, cases of corruption were reported to the Committee that some inputs were distributed at night and if farmers were absent, the inputs were said to have been returned to Grain Marketing Board. However, there is no follow-up procedure to the Grain Marketing Board to ensure that the inputs were returned. Farmers alerted the Committee that inputs were being diverted from farmers and sold somewhere.
7.2 Use of Agriculture equipment
The joint Committee was told by female and other farmers that in most instances, male counterpart farmers especially those that have leadership position in community or in irrigation did not want to share the equipment such as tractors or planters with female farmers. The Committee was displeased to hear that at Hopewell
Irrigation since the scheme received a tractor from Government in 2012, the tractor had been only used by three farmers out of 52 in the scheme and this has also affected the loan payments for the tractor to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural
Resettlement.
7.3 State of infrastructure
Farmers presented to the Committee that some farm infrastructures were now old and dilapidated. This was witnessed at Banga Irrigation scheme where the fence is 1.5 metres high and is very easy for livestock to break into the fields. Furthermore, at London farm and Tshongogwe Irrigation Schemes, farmers articulated that they had serious problems with cattle since there was no fence on the other sides of the irrigations. Farmers indicated that the fences were vandalised and stolen.
In terms of water pumps and other irrigation equipment, farmers indicated that they use only one or two pumps to draw water from source to the fields. At Tshongogwe, London farm, Hopewell and Wenimbi Irrigation Schemes, the Committee witnessed water pumping challenges. These irrigation schemes were using one pump instead of three pumps since the other water pumps were not functioning due to breakdown. This has affected crop yield since farmers cannot adequately water their crops. Additionally, the water pressure was said to be low since the working pump will be overwhelmed.
Farmers also indicated to the Committee that irrigation pipes were old and as a result, they experience frequent bursting and breakdowns. In other areas such as London Farm and Wenimbi, farmers use mono pumps which are outdated and hence difficult to find spare parts for repair.
7.4 Support from Agricultural Extension Officers.
The Committee was pleased to note that in some areas, the officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, particularly the Agricultural Extension Officers were reporting for duty and rendering their services and assistance to farmers. However, in areas such as Wenimbi and
Hopewell Irrigation Schemes, farmers indicated that no Agricultural Extension Officers came to assist the farmers, hence they have no knowledge and skills to grow certain crops and had no cropping calendar.
7.5 Road network and proximity to market
In most cases, the Committee witnessed that majority of the farming activities were being done away from access roads. Roads in such areas were not being rehabilitated, for example the road leading to London farm, Silikwe, Kufandada and Wenimbi were very poor and inaccessible, thus farmers face problems in transporting their produce to the markets. The only available ready market for farmers to sell their produce was the Grain Marketing Board, whose depots are away from the communities, for example farmers at Silikwe
Irrigation Scheme deliver their produce to Gwanda Grain Marketing Board depot which is 45 kilometres away. These long distances to reach their markets prove very expensive to the farmers owing to the inaccessibility of their road networks and as a result, prompt for side marketing.
8.0 COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
- The Committee observed that all small holder irrigation schemes had received assistance from Government in the form of farm equipment such tractors, discs, planters under the More Food Programme and farming inputs under the Presidential
Input Scheme in the form of wheat seeds, maize seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.
- The Committee noted that land was under-utilized at Hopewell
Irrigation in Chegutu and London Farm Irrigation in Lower Gweru because of water pump breakdowns and unpaid water
bills.
- The Committee observed that most farmers lacked farming knowledge and had no cropping calendars. This was compounded by insufficient Government support through the Agricultural Extension Officers who do not frequently report for duty as evidenced by farmers growing crops which are not winter resistant such as maize and butternuts.
- The Committee observed that irrigation schemes, for example Silikwe, Kufandada, Banga and Tshongogwe which have women as majority of beneficiaries, tend to thrive and are more productive as compared to those with more men, for example Hopewell and London Farm Irrigation Schemes. This is because they are almost entirely responsible for virtually all activities such as hoeing, weeding, harvesting, processing and marketing and they make significant contribution to food production.
- The Committee noted that the role of women in agriculture is so important economically but has remained obscure, because women rarely play any major roles in decision making processes as witnessed at Hopewell Irrigation.
- The Committee observed that there are no Grain Marketing Board collection points close to the farmers to enable them to sell their maize and wheat without incurring exorbitant transport costs.
- The Committee noted that inputs such as wheat seeds, sorghum, herbicides and topdressing fertilizers for
Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme were not distributed on time, hence resulting in late planting.
9.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and
Rural Resettlement should ensure that a complete package of Pfumvudza/Intwasa dryland summer inputs for 2021/2022 season, that is seed, compound fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and topdressing fertilizer are disbursed to the farmers before the onset of the rain season by 30th of September 2021.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should ensure that Grain Marketing Board collection points are established and be accessible to all farmers by at least 10 km being the furthest as of 30 March 2022.
In the 2022 National Budget, the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development should allocate a budget for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement to embark on dam weed control and dam scooping to remove deposited material to ensure that there will be no water shortages for irrigation due to siltation.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement as for the 2021/2022 summer season, should increase the Pfumvudza/Intwasa target size of land from the current half acre to at least 1 acre to all targeted farmers since it was well adopted and proved to produce good yields.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should distribute the winter wheat inputs by 28 February each planting season.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should urgently put a monitoring and tracking mechanism to ensure that agricultural extension officers are reporting for duty and rendering their services to farmers in their areas of jurisdiction by 30 October 2021.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should facilitate for the withdrawal of underutilised irrigable land and farming equipment given to unfunctional and unproductive schemes such as Hopewell Irrigation Scheme in Chegutu and allocate to new potential farmers by 30 November 2021.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water,
Fisheries and Rural Resettlement and the Ministry of Women Affairs Small to Medium Enterprise Development should embark on awareness campaigns to encourage women, youth and people with disability’s participation in all Government oriented agricultural programmes by 31st October 2021.
10.0 CONCLUSION
The integration of gender concerns in agricultural development programmes is important. This will not only lead to increased productivity but also, will create equal opportunity for the targeted groups to participate in poverty reduction and food security, thereby promoting the policy thrust of the agriculture sector transformation agenda. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I want
to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu for a well detailed report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development. He has articulated it very well but I just want to add a few points which he left out. It is true that Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme is going on very well but as we moved around, we saw that in some of the irrigations, people are not aware of what they are supposed to do. This means that those who are supposed to train them are not doing their work. It is very important that the Agritex Officers should be talking to farmers on ways of farming because this is a very good programme which was embraced well by the citizens and it went on very well in many areas.
We also discovered that in most of the irrigation schemes, youths are not involved. We realised that only elderly people are involved in those irrigation schemes but it is good that the youths be involved so that they can help their parents because they still have the energy. We also saw that those who use drip irrigation harvested something but it was not bumper; it was only for family consumption just to take them up to the next season. This means that they would not get any income from their efforts so that they maintain the irrigation because these irrigations get worn out after two or three years. So, they need to refurbish them but they would not have the money.
We also noticed that in some irrigation schemes as has been articulated by Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, farmers are not aware of what to plant. They are not aware of rotational cropping and they do not know the types of crop to grow in a particular season. For example, butternuts are not winter crops, which is an indication that the Agritex Officers are not doing their job properly.
We also discovered that in those irrigation schemes, the committees that have been set up that are supposed to supervise the work, women are very few. We noticed that in a committee of seven people, there will be more men than women. Like at Winimbi Irrigation, there are five men and two women. At Hopewell, the committee comprises of seven members but there is no woman in that committee. What we realised is that women are found in field work and we feel that it is good that when it comes to administration, they should use the
50/50 principle. As the two Committees, we recommend that farmers be given inputs in time so that they start farming early. When the harvest is good, it would improve their lives and they will also get some income from farming. I just wanted to add a few words. The report was written very well. That is what we came across on our visits. Thank you. *HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President for
according me this opportunity to add a few words on the report which has been tabled by Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, informing us of their investigations as they went around the country looking at irrigation schemes, the Pfumvudza Programme and also how women are being incorporated in those schemes.
Hon. President, the Pfumvudza Programme was started this past season but the strides that it has made are very big. It was able to alleviate hunger in families, which means that the motive was accomplished although there were some hiccups here and there, as has been articulated in the report. Those challenges are common when a new thing is introduced. After having the opportunity of going around investigating on what transpired, we urge that during the next season those who are responsible should go around and try to iron out the challenges.
The other thing that has been brought about from the report is that the inputs were delivered late to the people. I think the Ministry responsible for distribution of inputs should take a leaf from the findings, so that we have a policy that anyone who is being incorporated into the Pfumvudza Programme, there should be a deadline when inputs should be delivered to the people. So, we need the monitoring and evaluation policy. We want to act as if we are on a race so that we start at the same time and we do not leave anyone behind in the Pfumvudza Programme.
In the report, it was brought out that there are some irrigation schemes which are not being utilised. I do not think the problem is with the people but the Government and all the responsible authorities because people are not trained on how to do it. We are urging that people be trained before embarking on such programmes. When people do it without training, they will give up because they think it does not work. We are urging that there be a deliberate effort so that anyone who goes into these programmes would be trained in time.
Last time, we were told in this House by the Late Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement giving us the number of Agritex officers in the country. We found that we have so many Agritex officers. In this report, it was highlighted that it should be clear whether they are reporting for duty and whether they are training farmers. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation is very important in that area so that they can give feedback on progress. That is the challenge that we are faced with as a country when it comes to farming, that we have workers whom the Government is paying but most of them, if you go around they are busy working on their fields instead of training farmers. We are encouraging the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to closely watch these people to see whether they are doing their duties. With these few words, allow me to thank Hon. Sen. Ndlovu for this pertinent report. Thank you.
^^HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate
for this opportunity to add my voice on this motion raised by Hon. Sen.
Ndlovu, supported by Hon. Sen. Muzenda. Mr. President, looking at the SDG2 issue, we will be talking of food security. Therefore, we are grateful for the joint Committees that took time to tour different irrigation schemes because it is hurtful for people to operate under hunger. In English, it is said a hungry man is an angry man. People who were in the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme and in the irrigation schemes faced challenges of water. Without water on the dry land, it was not going to be possible for the farmers to get a bumper harvest. Due to the adequate rains, they managed to have a better harvest than previous years.
The involvement of women in the irrigation schemes was a wonderful idea because most of these women have children. They managed to put food on the table for their children and they will not starve. Most of the farmers had a quarter of a hectare which they planted the Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs. However, they managed to produce yields that could sustain their families and send the other grains to the
GMB.
We would like the national budget to give more money to the Ministry of Agriculture so that farmers may have enough inputs and equipment to increase productivity. Farmers had a plea that if these inputs could be distributed way ahead of time, they may be able to prepare and plant before the rains. Mostly inputs take time to get delivered and this delay usually affects the harvest. Also to note is that if the programme is well managed successfully, it would reduce poverty since there will be more food which is produced by the farmers than spending money importing. We thank the President for this initiative. I encourage all citizens to take it seriously because if managed successfully, our budget will not be spent on importing food but on other important imports. With these few words Mr. President, I thank you. *HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu for moving such a motion. I am one of the people who moved around the country. Pfumvudza is quite a commendable programme which we appreciate that it is producing good results and the country had a bumper harvest last year. My plea is regarding irrigation programmes that we saw. Every place we visited, you discover that those who are involved in irrigation schemes are not growing but they continue receiving assistance from Government. Mr. President, I would like to say that the Ministry should teach them so that they are empowered. Wherever we met those who are involved in irrigation programmes, they were requesting for assistance from Government. If this trend continues, then we are not growing as a nation. I believe that most of these people have over ten years in these schemes. My suggestion will be that such farmers be empowered through technical expertise. They must be taught so that they will learn to operate on their own without assistance from Government. If we continue assisting as they continue requesting for assistance from Government, then we are not going anywhere. So, they need to grow as farmers. There are a lot of dams where there is potential for irrigation but there is no irrigation programme that is happening.
The biggest issue is that of course farmers are farming but some are not fully exploiting their potential. Some are requesting for tractors, implements and inputs and some need assistance on having a good way on their road networks. So, the Ministry should look at this issue and come up with a training exercise which will empower farmers so that they will be able to stand on their own without leaning on Government subsidies. There must be more irrigation programmes around the country because those who are in irrigation need to grow. Of course they are farming but I noticed that they allocate each other small portions of land where they cannot fully exploit their potential, hence they continue complaining and requesting for assistance. There is need for bigger portions of land. In other areas, we saw more than 60 people in one irrigation scheme. This is a result of lack of knowledge, lack of training, overcrowding because some do not attend to their land at the same time because they cannot do so.
Mr. President, Government should look into this issue because some have been in this industry for more than ten years. If someone was given a tractor by Government, then he should be able to buy his or her own tractor. Those who were given whatever implements should have more now but they were given inputs again. My prayer is that the Ministry should look at this issue and identify qualified and experienced people who are agronomists to assist our farmers so that they are empowered. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. Speaker for
giving me this opportunity to speak on this report and I also want to thank the Thematic Committees which visited different areas. First of all, we must deplore and not allow scenarios which were mentioned by the chief, where certain inputs are distributed wrongly or at night. My suggestion is that it is unfortunate that Ministers who are supposed to be listening to our debates are not here.
My suggestion here is that it is not just for irrigation, it is also for Pfumuvudza. Like this year, it has been announced that there will be good rains. Instead of Government to give inputs to certain individuals, they must subsidise the seeds to ensure that everyone gets it. We must try to find a way of ensuring that those good farmers get enough inputs. We concentrate on those who are weak, who cannot plough and end up selling the seeds at night. They are given inputs and they are abusing them.
We have records of all these past years, of the same people who get inputs every year and produce nothing. So, we must change our approach. We must have a new norm of looking for productivity amongst ourselves. I seriously think that we should help each other with our oversight role to ensure that there is equitable, reasonable distribution of inputs, especially to those farmers who are good. On irrigation, it is important that we went to see those who are already practicing in irrigation. What is critical is - what are we doing to improve the irrigation methods? This is now the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that it follows through and ensures that people out there have improved methods of irrigation depending on the water supplies that are available. In certain areas, we are looking at drip irrigation and in certain areas, we are asking for wet-flow irrigation like the sugar plantations in other areas. The recommendations must come out of reasonable research. In this small to medium enterprise, farmers must be able to get inputs. Hon. President, you must not forget that soon after 1980, our best production was from the peasant farmers. The peasant farmers were happy, they worked and produced the best maize. We must do our own thing in Zimbabwe that makes us get results. The frustration comes when we do not do enough to ensure that our people do proper farming. I want to follow through the previous speaker who said that they would want to improve on project farmers. Is there any evaluation of these people? If we do not evaluate their production levels and make sure we enhance them, we are also doing ourselves a disservice. There is need to ask the research – there is an agriculture research station here; we have got extension officers there to make sure that they give us the results of those who are reasonably well equipped.
There is distribution of tractors which is being talked about everywhere. The tractors must be allocated to certain areas so that they are used profitably by communities. I know certain areas where there is no more draught power because of death of cattle. Are we working or assisting on that? Are we asking Government to do that? That is what I am asking personally and that is what this Senate should ask from Government that these tractors, yes they may be allocated to individuals so that they repay but we can also give DDF. I know people can hire tractors from DDF but you find that some DDF areas have no tractors. Can they plough for different people now and make sure that people without draught power and there are good farmers who could have work done to ensure that Pfumvudza and other things are done in their areas. We are empowering people every five years. Certain people go and get loans and the loans are written off. They continuously repeat the same process of getting loans. Are we doing any evaluation because we must say, if we could not do it last time, what reason do we have to do it this time? People must learn to be productive. This also needs strong hands from central Government to ensure that, that is produced. I am sorry to say that the way our Ministers are working is lackadaisical. They do not even come to listen to our arguments. We are just talking to ourselves. At the end of the day, we should also check the register - do they have an official here in Parliament because we shall talk to these walls and they will never read the answer. We will never get much help from central Government. I insist that the report is good. We must follow through and do our oversight role but ensure that next year or the year following we check whether anything has been done to enhance the Pfumvudza, irrigation system and empowerment of women and youths.
It is important that we all work as one Government to ensure that our great grand children see some productive work that we would have done in progression of what we have innovated and we must innovate within Zimbabwe especially when we know that there is enough rain; we innovate like we have done in Pfumvudza. We innovate in terms of draught power. In everything we do, we must put some research in it. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MURONZI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this time to contribute towards this motion sharing my experience with the Senate, of what we observed during our tour of irrigation projects around the country as joint committees.
I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu who moved the motion and the seconder. My plea is that if possible women should be allocated irrigation schemes. They should be given the opportunity to participate in such projects alone. There will be a difference because women are hard working. When they work, they commit themselves to work towards the livelihoods of their families. We went to Hopewell in Chegutu. It is very painful because there is not much that is happening there. There are no women in that irrigation committee. There is no progress. It is called an irrigation scheme but the farmers wait for the rain season. There is no economic activity as a result of the irrigation scheme. The tractors and engines are down, hence there is no progress in that community.
As has already been said by another Hon. Senator, when we were moving around, we discovered that there are functional irrigation projects despite the fact that most of these farmers have been in the industry for a long time but there is no tangible progress. That is why I request that there should be at least an irrigation programme for women alone. Government should allocate women so that we see a difference because women are despised in everything and in every programme. Pfumvudza is a good programme and this year there was a bumper harvest. A lot has been said about delays in allocation of inputs so that people plant early.
We also went to Wenimbi in Marondera. Their wheat was planted towards the rain season. People were complaining that they do not have adequate piping for water. I was not impressed. I did not see any good report from all the irrigation projects that we visited because there were a lot of complains regarding inadequate water and engines that are not working properly. I do not know whether they expect Government to assist them despite the fact that they were given tractors and other implements. It is important that they work hard but they are just complaining. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. MKWEBU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMITTEE ON HIV AND
AIDS ON THE STUDY VISIT TO UGANDA ON HIV AND AIDS
MANAGEMENT AND FINANCING
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS on the Study Visit to
Uganda on HIV and AIDS Management and Financing.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM TO
ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to strengthen the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. DUBE: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity. I want to support the motion that was brought by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi about health facilities. I am from Nkayi and there are a lot of challenges faced in this area. People are giving birth in buses as they travel for nearly 90km to access health services. You will realise that before the bus gets to Nkayi, that mother would deliver along the way. There are no clinics and they are 150kms apart or you are supposed to go to Gokwe to access these facilities. As I am speaking, I have two sisters who died during delivery because they were bleeding as they were going to Kana Mission. Another one called Jennifer passed on as we got nearer to the hospital. You will realise we use traditional ways in trying to circumvent such problems. We are appealing to the Government to intervene on the issue of health facilities because there is no transport. There is only one bus travelling and how do you expect our people to travel using scotch carts to a hospital which is almost 150kms away. Business transporters do not want to take their buses there because of the poor road network. Since I was born, I have never seen an ambulance in that area. Therefore, I am appealing to
Government to intervene. The CDF money should be used to construct small clinics that can be used for both health service and delivery.
People are taken to Ngwalangwa and they only find a nurse who is under Red Cross. What do you expect from that nurse? The standards of living are very poor in Matabeleland North. Matabeleland North is seriously underdeveloped. We also went to areas like Hwange where there are only five rooms but there is no fridge used to store the injections which needs low temperatures. We also found that nurses are transferring because of the poor conditions that they are working under in Matabeleland North. Nurses do not have cottages for accommodation. How can that person be motivated to work?
When talking about a person who gave birth in the bus, I travelled to Kana Mission using my own resources. On the way, this mother gave birth and people had to request for accommodation in the nearby homesteads so that she could give birth there. I am really bemoaning that the Government should improve the standards of living for Matebeleland North, especially in the health sector. Sometimes nurses are given accommodation in people’s homes, there is no
accommodation. We are also requesting that ministers should also drive to Matebeleland North so that they become eye-witnesses of what I am talking about.
In those areas, that is why you realise that there are high death rates because of malaria. People are dying on their way to hospital facilities. Mbuma Mission Hospital is very far and the patient will be crying for help as they go there. Therefore, time is no longer on our side, we have no dispensation. Let the Government move around and see how the citizens are living in these areas. If anyone has not yet visited these areas, surely you have not seen Zimbabwe. I have never seen areas where people are living yet they are depending on hospitals which are 100kms away from their villages.
With these words, I am begging the Government to go around. Let the Ministers go and visit these areas, if possible we can also have mobile clinics because we have people living with HIV/AIDS who are supposed to take medications and are supposed to go as far as those hospitals to collect their medications. We are saying, we are now 40 years and still we do not have health facilities in Matebeleland North.
Surely, how can we be celebrating 40 years? We just have Hwange and
Victoria Falls and the rest there is nothing. Thank you Madam President.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON THE PROVISION OF
QUALITY EDUCATION, SANITISATION AND HYGIENE
MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on the Provision of Quality Education, Sanitisation and Hygiene Management in Schools.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING
AND THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON PEACE AND SECURITY
ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS MADE IN AREAS
AFFECTED BY FLOODS AND ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF
COVID-19 TREATMENT, QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION
FACILITIES
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the assessment of progress on construction of COVID-19 Treatment, Quarantine and
Isolation facilities.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
HONOUR IN RESPECT OF MBUYA NEHANDA STATUE IN THE
CITY OF HARARE
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the heroics of
Mbuya Nehanda.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add a few words on the motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Kambizi and the seconder, in relation to Mbuya Nehanda. We know that Mbuya Nehanda participated in the First
Chimurenga and with her resilience and the words that she said that ‘of course we have participated in the First Chimurenga and have been overcome but my bones are going to rise again’. This is what we saw happening - her bones rose again. This culminated in the Second Chimurenga which brought independence to Zimbabwe. There were some people who got revelations which came out as a spirit medium that their spiritships should be fulfilled. So, during the liberation struggle for independence, that spirit was taken to a Zambian base called Chifombo, where the spirit would visit liberation war fighters to tell them what was supposed to be done.
When the enemy was coming, the fighters were forewarned to leave the base so that they run away from the enemy before an imminent attack. This continued to happen and liberation fighters were being informed of what they should do. That is why we see most of us who saw Comrades coming, every one of them had some snuff that they carried which they used as per instructions by the spirit mediums. This is the heroship that we saw in Mbuya Nehanda and which continued to the next generation.
There is a book that was written by Solomon Mutsvairo, which is called ‘Feso’. This is the book which has the Mbuya Nehanda poem, which when there were any celebrations, the late Vice President Hon. Muzenda would recite the poem Nehanda Nyakasikana so that we understand the great deeds and exploits that were left by Mbuya Nehanda and that these were not in vain. These are works which culminated in successful liberation of Zimbabwe. This helped because we know that in Zimbabwe, there are a lot of sacred places and things, some which were done by our great grandparents. When we were growing up, we were told to go to Ematonjeni so that we understand what we were supposed to do. Now, because of the imperialist system which came to Zimbabwe, we ended up not knowing where Ematonjeni is because we were brainwashed. We were taught that our African traditions were heathen; they were anti-Christianity. So, this was deeply inculcated into our minds and we despised our traditional customs in order for the imperialists to continue ruling.
What helped is that they knew that the power of Black people is in their chiefs. You know that most chiefs were dethroned. Their powers were taken away. That is why you discover that we have a lot of problems in this country. Our children are being married at a tender age because we have dumped our culture. We have been brainwashed to shun our culture. Young girls are falling pregnant. We are very concerned about the situation and we do not know what to do.
So, I would like to thank our heroine, Mbuya Nehanda
Nyakasikana because the great exploits she did brought independence to Zimbabwe. When the White men came, they put their holidays; they would call each and every sacred day, giving it a different name. For example, Rhodes and Founders Day holiday which was on 26th
December every year. This holiday was continuously celebrated as
Rhodes and Founders but after independence, it then became the Boxing Day. When we look at it, we do not understand what boxing is. If you understand what it means – those who box are involved in physical fights. So, I am saying that whatever happened Madam President, is that 26th December is the day when one of our heroes died, the late General Tongogara. It is my request that 26th December, should we continue calling it Boxing Day yet we have a Commander of the ZANILA Forces died on 26th December? My plea is that - why do we not change that holiday to Josiah Tongogara Day? May be it will help us a nation so that we begin to transform systems which we inherited from the White imperialists. Now, we will be having our own systems.
Let me end by thanking Hon. Sen. Kambizi who raised this motion which is a critical motion; a crucial motion regarding Mbuya Nehanda and her contributions and the people who were getting revelations from her spirit until we attained independence. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Madam President
for awarding me this opportunity so that I can add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Kambizi. The motion was thanking the Government for the job that they did by erecting a statue for the late heroine, Mbuya Nehanda. Madam President, I think the most crucial thing is for the people to know their history and respect it.
To those who know the liberation struggle, there is a song which was sung first during the “Pungwes” which reminds people where they are coming from, where they are going and the purpose. People used to sing a song about Mbuya Nehanda. It is only that people are no longer allowed to sing in the House, otherwise I would have sung the song.
Most people would be able to realise that we were being oppressed. That is why many Zimbabweans sacrificed and dedicated their lives to liberate the country. Women were cooking, the war collaborators would walk during the night and even during the rainy season, trying to liberate the country. People were dedicated to liberate their country. Madam President, for the children of Zimbabwe to forget something crucial like that, it is very worrisome.
When there was word that the statue of Mbuya Nehanda was going to be erected, many people said a lot of things. The step which was taken is crucial and must have been taken in 1980 during independence.
The first thing which we must have done is to respect our heroine,
Mbuya Nehanda because she was very crucial in the liberation struggle. She fought very hard for the country to attain its independence. It is worrisome to see that most people in Zimbabwe do not understand their cultural values. You can hear other people saying ancestral spirits are demons. Culture cannot be demons. We know the role the spirit mediums played during the liberation struggle for us to be liberated.
I want to thank the Government for erecting the statue of Mbuya Nehanda although the Government took long to identify that it is crucial to erect Mbuya Nehanda statue. The Government decided to erect the statue because it is very important for the history of the country. Madam
President, I am troubled as a Zimbabwean about how other people think. Some people who say they are very educated, when invited to give speeches, spend their time in libraries researching. They quote prominent people like Winston Churchill. If they mention these people, they feel that they have done something greath. They feel that it is important to worship heroes from other countries but they fail to respect our own heroes. We see that these people are lost because they fail to identify their cultural roots.
As Government, we must teach people where we are coming from. It must start from schools. During our times when we were going to school, we were taught about Bismarck, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito
Mussolini, et cetera. Those things were very difficult and you could not understand where they were coming from. They failed to teach us history about our country Zimbabwe. Nowadays, it is better because our children are being taught history that is relevant. Most of the things our children come home to ask are easy for us to narrate because it is our history. If they know where we are coming from, it helps them to understand patriotism.
An American national wherever they are when they hear people saying things about their nation, they stand and defend their country and their history. As Zimbabweans, we do not have what we call patriotism. If we do not have patriotism, we must forget about development. We will remain colonized. Therefore, Madam President, the erecting of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is a reminder to the Zimbabweans on the route which we must take for the development of the country.
If you go to countries like China and South Korea, they invite people to see statues of their heroes. Hon. Senators can give testimonies that if they go to other countries, they get photographed at statues of heroes of those countries. Here in Zimbabwe, many people do not see it necessary to respect their heroes. These are our own heroes. Mbuya Nehanda inspired the freedom fighters, the war collaborators and our mothers to continue fighting. Although it was difficult in the liberation struggle, they used to be inspired by the saying of Mbuya Nehanda that her bones were going to arise. As a country, it is crucial to respect our heroes and heroines.
Madam President, as a Government we must change how we groom our kids. If we do not change our ways in terms of grooming and raising our children, at the end of the day, there is no history for us but our kids will respect heroes from other countries like Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. Therefore Madam President, I want to say the erection of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda must show the drive for learning the importance of respecting our heroes and heroines. We must have rallying points so that as a country we will be able to benefit or achieve what we want. The liberation struggle managed to be a success and going forward until the country attained its independence in 1980. We have got one thing which was our rallying point. Let me say that the rallying point was the spirit of Mbuya
Nehanda. If you move from all different parts of the country, there was one-word rallying point for Mbuya Nehanda which says, “my bones are going to rise - I am going to die for this country, take a gun and rule yourself”.
This means as a country, we had one message which is going to encourage us of patriotism; taking your country and put it first and see that it is important. I want to thank the Government for the job it has done for erecting the statue of Mbuya Nehanda at Corner Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere and these roads are named after our national heroes who helped us in the liberation of this country.
If it was not Mbuya Nehanda’s inspirational words, there was no one who was going to be found sitting here. Therefore, if we are not going to pass these words to our children and some other people who are ignorant in terms of raising of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda, we would be doing a bad thing. Let us teach them so that they can understand our history. It is not about where we are coming from but it also shows us where we are going as a country because Mbuya Nehanda was a rallying point and that rallying point is going to unite us as Zimbabweans so that we can be able to fulfill our wishes.
Madam President, I can continue to say more and more because
this issue seems as if it is a small thing but to some of us, it is a very crucial and big thing. With these few words Madam President, I want to take my seat and encourage people by saying that as a country, if we forget where we are coming from, we are not going to change if we are reading about Mao tse Tung and Winston Churchill, we are not going anywhere. We must focus on discussing our heroes here in Zimbabwe in how we are working, dressing and even our eating habits - it is because of our heroine Mbuya Nehanda. Thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTON
VIRTUAL REPORT OF THE 65TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ON WOMEN’S FULL AND
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION AND DECISION MAKING IN
PUBLIC LIFE
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. N. KHUMALO: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the report on the 65th
Session of the Commission on the status of Women held in March 2021. I also want to thank Madam President for leading the Parliament delegation to this year’s session. My focus will mainly be on child marriages - an issue that I am passionate about and would want to see its eradication to ensure all women and girls participate fully in public life and are free from violence.
UNICEF defines child marriages as a formal marriage or union before 18 years of age. Zimbabwe is a State Party to international instruments whose aim, among others, is to protect the girl child, including protecting them from child marriages. These legal frameworks, which include Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC), SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development, have been considered and their provisions have been incorporated into gender laws of the country. Zimbabwe prioritised children’s rights. It adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child and various laws have been passed in the recent years which protect the children.
Children’s rights are now set out in Section 19 of the Constitution. Section 19 (1) clearly sets out that the State must adopt policies and measures to ensure that in matters relating to children, the best interest of the children concerned are paramount. In Section 19 (2), the State has undertaken to ensure that children enjoy family or parental care or appropriate care when removed from the family environment. They have shelter, basic nutrition, health care and social services. They are protected from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse and have access to appropriate education and training.
Further to that, Section 78 of the Constitution stipulates that every person who has attained the age of eighteen, has the right to start a family of their own. In addition, criminal law has protected children against sexual offences that might be committed against them.
However, notwithstanding these constitutional provisions, the Marriage Act [Chapter 5:11] provides that a girl between the ages of 16 and 18 may, with the joint consent of her mother and father, enter into a civil marriage under the Marriage Act. The Marriage Act does not however permit a boy below the age of 18 years to contract a marriage. The report on the 65th Session of the CSW noted early child marriages as a big threat to the human rights and well-being of children and the development agenda. Child marriage denies the young an opportunity to grow and empower themselves. It challenges the basic rights of these children to education, health, protection and development. The girls are forced into it a lot more in comparison to their male counterparts and impacts girls with more intensity. Child marriage is caused by many causes like cultural, social, economic and religious. In many cases, a mixture of these causes results in the imprisonment of children in marriages without their consent. Girls from poor households are twice as likely to be married earlier than the girls from higher income groups. With the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, the prevalence rate has more than doubled. This has also contributed to the high teenage pregnancies rate noted by the Portfolio Committees on Education and on Health and Child Care.
Madam President, according to the CSW Report tabled by Hon.
Ndlovu, it is estimated that by the end of 2021, 10 million girls will have dropped out of school because of the teenage pregnancies and child marriages. According to multiple human rights agreements, marriage under the age of 18 is a violation of human rights, including the right to equality on grounds of sex and age, the right to marry and establish a family, the right to life, the right to education, development and the highest attainable standard of health. Child marriage is a product of cultures that devalue women and girls and discriminate against them. The discrimination, according to UNICEF Report on Child Marriage and the Law, often manifests itself in the form of domestic violence, marital rape, deprivation of food, lack of access to information, education, health care and general impediments to mobility.
Madam President, Zimbabwe pioneered the SADC Model Law on
Child Marriages and protecting those already in marriage, at the
Regional Parliament, the SADC Parliamentary Forum and Hon. Sen.
Mohadi can testify to that. What are we doing as Zimbabwe to ensure we protect those already in marriage? Our National Budget should at least have a budget to protect those already in marriage so that they are empowered to participate in public life and are also protected from violence against women. I wish to applaud the Government for putting in place legislation to allow pregnant girls to go back to school so that they can continue with their education. For those in marriage, there is need to equip them with vocational training skills as a source of empowerment and roll out more income generating projects. The Marriages Bill has partly addressed the issue of child marriages but I am of the opinion that we need a stand-alone piece of legislation to address the issue of child marriages, not just mainstream it in the Marriages Bill. Madam President, I also wish to applaud the efforts being made to address this child marriage scourge noted in the report by the traditional leaders, namely Chief Bushu and Chief Mangwende who have come up with empowerment mechanisms to assist children already in marriages. This is the information we need as legislators so that we work together with the traditional leaders as well in our constituencies. Ending child marriage requires a united effort from all community leaders to ensure that girls are empowered to participate in public life.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON.
SEN. TONGOGARA, the Senate adjourned at Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 14th September, 2021
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
CHANGES TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House of the following changes in Committee membership which has been necessitated by the need to fill up vacancies in some Committees occasioned by recalls and deaths:-
- Lindani Moyo, Hon. Base Miranzi and Hon. January Sawuke will serve in the Portfolio Committee on Media and
Broadcasting Services.
- Rueben Chikudo, Hon. Lwazi Sibanda, Hon. Phelela Masuku will serve in the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology Development.
- Virginia Mafuta and Hon. Jasmine Toffa will serve in the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.
- Shakespear Hamauswa will serve in the Portfolio Committee on Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services.
- Judith Chimwaza and Hon. Sibonile Nyamudeza will serve in the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International
Trade.
- Cathrine Gozho will move from the Portfolio
Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development to the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development.
- Lindiwe Maphosa will move from the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to the Portfolio
Committee on Health and Child Care.
- Spiwe Muchenje will move from the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education.
- Dube to move from the Portfolio Committee on Media and the Broadcasting Services to the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.
INVITATION TO A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE THE HON. SPEAKER: There will be a Roman Catholic
Church Service tomorrow- Wednesday, 15th September, 2021 at
1230hrs in the Senate Chamber. All Catholic and non-Catholic Members are invited to attend.
HON. MADHUKU: On a point of national interest and priviledge. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My issue of national interest arises from the issues being raised as schools have opened. Of late, the print media has been awash with an issue of Israel Dube from Zaka District who wanted to transfer from Machiva to Panganai. He spent 6 days sleeping outside when he could not get the original offer of transfer which had been granted because somebody had been recruited and posted from head office in Harare. This is alleged corruption of head office staff which recruits mostly their relatives and shortchanging other needy employees. Mr. Speaker Sir, we have problems where specific interests of teachers teaching specific subject areas in certain districts and regions are being disregarded because recruited members from head office just arrive in schools without the requisite or the required teaching areas.
Earlier on, I think a few weeks ago, we raised an issue and requested the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to devolve powers as is required in Section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which calls upon Government to devolve power and responsibilities to promote democracy, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
It is pleasing to note that other Government departments like the Army, Police, Prisons and Health have devolved the recruitment of staff. It is baffling and surprising to see that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is not doing the same and complying with the requirements of Section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
We are concerned that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to cling on to this important responsibility of recruitment of teachers in disregard of the specific requirements of citizens in specific areas. It is my request that the Ministry looks into this issue and complies with Section 264 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe like other Government departments. I thank you – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Madhuku, you raised a very
substantial issue that requires some response, either from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare or in conjunction with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Perhaps you can pursue that matter tomorrow during Question Time.
HON. MARKHAM: I rise on a point of national interest. The interest I have is that over the past year, as we know fuel coupons have been traded and used to purchase fuel. There were two types; one is the direct fuel import (FDI) which is now dominant and the only one you can get. However, prior to that, there were coupons that were bought in bulk by numerous members of the public and they still cannot remit and get their 20 litres of fuel per coupon on this. They have now resorted and it has been going on for a long time, where they would get half of what they paid for. Is the Minister aware of this practice? Is the Minister sanctioning this practice? I would be grateful if the Minister could be called to explain the practice, the issue being that there is a huge amount of what I call local coupons out there and people cannot get fuel. They have paid for this fuel over a year ago but now they are getting half. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. I again suggest
that your issue you raised is very critical. Why do you not ask the question tomorrow and if the Hon. Minister does not give a satisfactory response, then you can ask for a Ministerial Statement so that the matter is debated fully.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I stand on a matter of
privilege Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me thank you very much for allowing me to stand in this House most likely and definitely for the last time. I thought I could just say a few words before I leave this home that I have called home for the past 21 years. It would have been unfair if I had just disappeared.
I found it very interesting when I went into the Constitution to look for what happens in circumstances where a Member of Parliament has not lost their seat, where a Member of Parliament has not necessarily been recalled or has not died. Our Constitution does provide for it in 129 (g), but what we have not provided for in this
House probably because we have always made an assumption that Members of Parliament will only leave under those three circumstances is that our Standing Rules and Orders provide for a maiden speech but it does not provide for a farewell speech. In circumstances where Members of Parliament have decided to voluntarily leave, we should provide for such in our Standing Rules and Orders.
Having said that, I do not want to take much of your time because it has been a privilege and it is not supposed to be a debate. I just thought that there were a few things that I needed to bring to the House. I came to this House in my late twenties and this House has revolved in an amazing way. I remember coming into this House as only seven female Members of the Opposition; some of them I am glad are here, Hon. Dr Khupe, Hon. Mpariwa, others have now left the House. At the time that we came, relationships were still very difficult in the House. I remember at that time beginning to found what you now call the Women’s Caucus and agreeing within that
Women’s Caucus that in spite of our political differences, we would still work together as women that will be representing the House. I will take that memory with me because at that time it was unheard of for an opposition and those that were in the ruling party to be working together.
There are a lot of things that we worked and delivered as a Women’s Caucus; one notable one being the Sexual Offences Act but most importantly, the one on marital rape which we worked with Hon. Chinamasa. We knew that our male colleagues were unlikely to agree to it and decided that we were going to buy them drinks in the bar which has been barred but managed to pass that particular provision in the House. I want to celebrate the women during that time that pushed it. It is now part of our statute.
I am not only saying this because you are on the Chair. The time that you have come in and have become the Speaker, has fundamentally changed the way business is done in the House. Most importantly, allowing some of us to come and raise issues that normally would not have been accepted in this very House. I want to celebrate you and thank you because we found a partner. I personally found a partner on the feminist issues that I strongly believed in. I remember the most important one was when you allowed me to come into this House holding a baby. Yes, I did not stay throughout but you used that as an opportunity to speak to the issues that I think are critical and important. Today, even as we speak in this old Parliament, we now have a room in which mothers who breastfeed can go and breastfeed. I am just disappointed that the women that are in this House have decided that they do not want to use a lot of that and do not want to have babies but indeed, the room is now available. Mr. Speaker, one of the things I have held very close to my heart in my 21 years have been issues around gender equality. I know that most of the time when we speak about them, we speak as if there are no males that have supported women and empowered them. I have examples of men that have supported me and have seen some potential in me, have empowered me and have held my hand. The first one when I came into this House, like I said before, was Dr.
Morgan Tsvangirai; may his soul rest in peace.
I am one of the first women Mr. Speaker Sir, who chaired the now very important and always important Public Accounts
Committee. No woman had ever chaired it and I was appointed to be the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee through Dr.
Morgan Tsvangirai. I then was brought back to the House through Prof. Welshman Ncube. I want to acknowledge him too because it is him who appointed me, first as the only female negotiator, but most importantly, as a Minister in the GNU that we had and I think I want to celebrate him too.
Mr. Speaker, I now celebrate His Excellency who has appointed me. Yes, I am here not as a stranger because I still have to sign my contract to accept the appointment. Those are the three males, not females, that have seen potential initially in a very young woman at the time that Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai appointed me, but also now as I have matured and the President has seen in me, and I know that what you are finding in the social media is questions about ‘this is a person in the opposition’. I think the very fact that somebody can sit down and decide that I think there is potential in that particular individual and make that appointment should be celebrated.
Like I said Mr. Speaker, Parliament has evolved during the time that I have been here. There is a time in which in this very Parliament, people who are coming from the region that I have represented were unable to speak in their language. I am now happy that when we sit here, people can speak in Tonga, Ndebele and Shona. I celebrate that because at the time that we came, that was not the issue. I also want to celebrate, in particular the work ethic that has been shown by the staff members of this Parliament. I am concerned Mr. Speaker, that their remuneration does not probably speak to the amount of work that they do, but in working with this Parliament through the able leadership of the Clerk, I have seen members of staff that have been respectful and diligent and I want to celebrate them because I carry that with me.
What do I leave for Hon. Members and you Mr. Speaker? What
are the things that I hold so dear that I hope will be carried forward? I leave the women that have been provided for in the Constitutional Amendment (No. 2). At least I know that whatever happens, there will be 50 young women in 2023 that will be sitting in this House. I hope Mr. Speaker, that the mature women in the House will be able to hold their hands, will be able to carry them through and that the men in this House who I have also seen evolve and become more respectful and are even speaking about sanitary wear, I hope that when they see these young women coming, those young women will get the same support that some of us got when we came into this House. Yes, we were heckled perhaps a bit more but I am expecting that what I have seen change in the men that are in this House will create a more facilitative and more comfortable space for the young women that will come to this House.
What still tugs me is education Mr. Speaker. The past three years that I have been Chairperson of this Portfolio Committee, I carry that with me. I hope that this House does not stop the agitation around education for our people. I carry with me a prayer that the Government of Zimbabwe finds the space in which to engage with the teachers because I think the teachers hold the key to this country. So I hope and pray that as I walk out of this House, teachers and their children will be one of the priorities that we have here. I have also learnt, as I began to work in education, the importance of inclusiveness particularly for people with disabilities. So I carry with me a hope that this whole environment and the new Parliament will become disability friendly. To ensure that happens, you will remember Mr. Speaker, I brought to this House and had asked that we begin to have an oath that is in braille because I think what we do sends a message on our inclusiveness. I realise that it has taken a bit of time for Parliament to do so. So I proceeded, as my go away gift, to do braille oath, both the affirmation and the oath and I leave it in this House in case we have somebody who cannot see, who has a disability can then use that in memory of me and what this House has meant to me.
Lastly Mr. Speaker, It would not be me if I do not give something big to the House. One of the things that I pushed for was the baby room. I have gone and I have looked at the baby room and I see that for the girls that will come, they may not have a space for the babies to sleep, so I bought this. It is called a Moses basket. So for the first baby that comes to the House, they will have a place to sleep and I hope the Women’s Caucus will be able to accept this gift and put it in the baby’s house and that it will find its space in the new Parliament building.
Mr. Speaker, this becomes my good-bye. I do not want to cry, but yes, I will miss all of you because you have made me become who I am. I thank you Mr. Speaker. - [(v)AN HON. MEMBER: Ufambe mushe muni’nina.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Member is still an Hon. Member because she has not yet signed the contract accepting the nomination to be our next Ambassador in Sweden.
One issue that has been raised is that we need to glean our Standing Orders so that we are clear as to how we handle those amongst us who will leave in this similar fashion, like the Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga and let us not rely on common sense which verges on common law as to how we can handle the situation.
I think Hon. Members, you will agree with me that Priscillah Misihairabwi-Mushonga has been one of the most dynamic chairpersons that we have seen. Very fearless in putting across what her Committee has seen or found out. She was very courageous in terms of conviction.
On the issue of the baby sitting room, we want to assure you that you have challenged us with that cubicle and we will ensure that we have got not only one but more than one, just in case the rate of production will be high at the appointed time. We will make sure that in your memory, we shall embellish it. Once you have signed your contract and your credentials are received in Sweden, do not forget the certain shortfalls that this Parliament has in the area of capacity building, and necessary equipment, particularly as we move to the new Parliament building.
There is one important issue that you have left out in your valediction which has always remained right at the centre of my heart, among other things. When I travelled with you to Kuwait and found out how our young women were abused, basically as slave workers, you stood by me as the leader of the delegation and said we shall not go back to Zimbabwe without these youngsters who want to go back because they are tired of this slave drudgery in Kuwait. Together, we worked and convinced first, the Speaker of Parliament there and secondly the Head of State and Government. The necessary travel documents were arranged within 24hrs and we were able to bring back those 35 youngsters. I shall never forget that.
You went further to ensure that the rehabilitation process through the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare as well as the Ministry of Health and Child Care was taken care of in terms of giving the necessary psychological support once they were back here in Zimbabwe. I, on behalf of this Chamber, the National Assembly, wish you well and God speed in terms of good health and success in the new assignment that you are going to sign for very soon. Have a safe journey to Sweden. Hopefully, one of our delegations will come there and you will be able to receive them according. Amhlope, makorokoto, tatenda.
HON. NDUNA: My point of privilege hinges upon the
proclamation by the Minister of Education in as far as it relates to the examination dates which have not changed, irrespective of the fact that children have not been attending school and have only begun going to school now. Failure by our children in these exams is going to undermine our exams in two things. It undermines the quality of our education because these examinations are home grown. Secondly, this causes alarm and despondency amongst both the parents and the children. My prayer is for the Minister to push forward the dates for the exams along the same lines that the children have not been attending school, with a view that our children might have an opportunity to pass both the O and A level exams that they are about to undertake. That is my point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Nduna. You may
want to raise the matter as a question tomorrow, if the Minister would allow the postponement of examination dates.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 33 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 34 has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.HON. MUSHORIWA: Point of
clarification Mr. Speaker Sir. It is pertaining to the order of the business for the day where the Chief Whip has moved for the skipping of all Government business to Order of the Day No 34. I just wanted the Chair to possibly guide us ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, I asked the question ‘is there any objection’ and there was no objection so we cannot move in reverse gear.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,
FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
EXPANDED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON THE
2021 POST-BUDGET FEEDBACK MEETINGS
Thirty-fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on the Report of the
Portfolio Committee On Budget, Finance and Economic Development
And The Expanded Sustainable Development Goals on the 2021 Post-
Budget Feedback Meetings.
Question again proposed.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise to
thank all Hon. Members who participated in debating this motion and I thank them so much for the participation. The exercise which we carried out; the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee, together with the Sustainable Development Committee was an exercise which as Parliament, we did for the first time in the history of Parliament. Generally, yes as mentioned by Hon. Members, I agree with them that the turn-out in various venues was low but the quality of submissions, I want to believe would assist us in the 2022 National Budget in terms of the input which we gathered from various venues. I would like to thank all Hon. Members who participated in this exercise and those who then debated.
I thank you Mr. Speaker and therefore, move for the adoption of this motion:
That this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio
Committees on Budget, Finance and Economic Development and the
Expanded Sustainable Development Goals on the 2021 Post-Budget
Feedback Meetings, put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the House reverts to Order of the Day, Number 14.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE VIRTUAL 49TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY
SESSION OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
HON. NDIWENI: I move the motion in my name that this
House takes note of the Report of the 49th plenary Assembly Session of the SADC – Parliamentary Forum held virtually from 25 to 27 June
2021.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
HON. NDIWENI: 1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The 49th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum was held virtually from 25th to 27th June 2021. The deliberations were aimed at consolidating administrative and financial matters of the forum as well as to discuss issues of regional concern. The Plenary Assembly was held under the theme “Leveraging the AfCFTA for Post-COVID Economic
Recovery in Southern Africa: The Role of SADC
Parliamentary Forum and National Parliaments.”
1.2 Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, led the delegation which comprised the following Members of Parliament:
- Tambudzani Mohadi, Member of the Standing
Committee on Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Infrastructure; o Hon. Goodlucky Kwaramba, Member of the Standing
Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and
Youth Development and Chairperson of the Zimbabwe
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus;
- Dought Ndiweni, Member of the Standing
Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human
Rights; o Hon. Anele Ndebele, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment; and o Hon. Paurina Mpariwa, Member of the Standing
Committee on Human and Social Development and
Special Programmes who took “Oath or Affirmation of
Adherence in accordance with Article 7 of the SADC PF
Constitution”
2.0 OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY
2.1 The President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, was the Guest of Honour and officially opened the Plenary Assembly. The President declared that the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) is one of the key instruments that can position
Africa as an economic powerhouse. President Masisi underscored the SADC Regional Integration Agenda as the necessary precursor to the true realisation of the AfCFTA.
2.2 The East Africa Legislative Assembly (EAALA) pledged to support the SADC Parliamentary Forum to realise its dream of transforming itself into a Legislative Assembly and urged SADC member Parliaments to enact the necessary legislation that enhances the ease of doing business in the region. The representative emphasised the need for harmonisation of immigration and customs services to spur the movement of
African citizens, including goods and services on the continent.
2.3 The Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC), called for the incremental roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. The RWPC further urged Parliaments to persuade their governments to leverage on the AfCFTA to foster gender-sensitive regional trade that opens access to markets and finance for women to enable them to realise their full potential in human capital development.
2.4 Hon. Christophe MBOSO N’KODIA PWANGA, SADC PF
President and Speaker of the National Assembly of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, commended the Strategic
Lobbying Team of Hon. Speakers led by Hon. Jacob Francis
Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the Parliament of
Zimbabwe, for its excellent and pointed Lobbying Missions on SADC PF Presiding Officers and currently on Heads of State and Governments. Consequently, the SADC Summit in August 2021 should see the transformation of SADC PF into a Regional
Parliament.
2.5 In proposing a vote of thanks, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho, Hon. Sephiri Enoch Motonyane, bemoaned the failure by the region to establish a regional Parliament. It is thus, untoward to have a region that has historically strong antecedents and luminaries in PanAfricanism, but without a Regional Parliament as envisaged in the Protocol establishing the Pan African Parliament. In this regard, the Hon. Speaker Motonyane invited the region to meet in Lesotho, the Kingdom in the sky, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the SADC Parliamentary Forum during the last quarter of 2021.
3.0 STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF ZIMBABWE, HON. ADVOCATE JACOB
FRANCIS NZWIDAMILIMO MUDENDA PURSUANT T0
RULE 45 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
3.1 Hon. Jacob Francis Mudenda presented the summary report of the 142nd IPU Assembly held virtually under the overall theme “Overcoming the pandemic today and building a better tomorrow: the role of Parliaments” from 24th to 28th May 2021.
3.1.1 Among other resolutions, the report called for immediate and multilateral action to address climate change and mitigate its effects on international stability and security with the same urgency as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, Parliaments were called upon to expedite and facilitate the ratification, domestication and implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
3.1.2 The resolutions also called for mainstreaming digitalisation and the circular economy to achieve the SDGs, particularly responsible consumption and production.
3.1.3 The Hon. Speaker, Advocate Mudenda reported the unprecedented global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as it exacerbated inequalities within and between countries and stalled socio-economic progress on sustainable development, youth empowerment and gender equality. Accordingly, there is need for Parliamentary action at the national level and through multilateralism to resolve global challenges arising from COVID – 19’s unprecedented impact.
4.0 POSITION TAKEN BY THE ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
ON THE THEME OF THE PLENARY ASSEMBLY
4.1 The Plenary Assembly received submissions on the theme, with facilitators calling for a revamp and harmonisation of customs and immigration formalities to suit the obtaining new reality of collapsing borders to ease trade among countries on the African Continent.
4.2 Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda made a passionate plea for expeditious legal reforms for the harmonisation of customs and immigration services to ease the movement of goods and services on the continent.
4.3 He pointed out that there is need for an African passport and the attendant collapse of stringent visa regimes on the continent. Added to this, air connectivity should be improved through modernisation of airports and the establishment of less cumbersome routes among African countries.
4.4 Industrialisation should be anchored on sustained value addition and beneficiation, hence the need for pragmatic approaches to technology transfer, infrastructure development and rapid integration and modernisation of rail equipment. Africa should be alive to the growing wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and rapid digitalisation of modern economies.
4.5 Universities should be at the forefront in championing innovation in order to catch up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. There is need to research on COVID-19 vaccines by local universities and the mobilisation of domestic resources to spur economic growth post the COVID-19 scare. Added to this, is the need for full scale research on indigenous knowledge systems as a possible curative measure against COVID 19. A
Marshal Plan is required to lift African economies out of impugned poverty.
4.6 Above all, thought leadership is required at both Government and Parliamentary level to achieve rapid economic growth and industrialisation through innovative leadership.
5.0 ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE AND THE TREASURER’S REPORT
5.1 The Executive Committee tabled its report for consideration and adoption during the 49th Plenary Assembly meeting, which was duly adopted.
5.2 The 49th Plenary Assembly expressed profound appreciation to the National Assembly of Botswana, through Hon. Speaker Phandu Chaha Skelemani, for hosting the 49th Plenary Assembly Session. The warm hospitality of the Batswana vibrated virtually to the whole region.
5.3 The Plenary Assembly implored the Secretariat to continue its research on the SADC PF structure as it prepares itself for the transformation into a Regional Parliament.
5.4 The Report urged the region to prepare itself to confront the obtaining regional challenges head-on, which include terrorism and the threat of neo-colonialism.
5.5 The Plenary Assembly also tasked the Secretariat to produce a harmonised budget showing the financial position of the SADC
PF on both subscriptions and donor funding.
5.6 In the same vein, the Plenary Assembly applauded all Parliaments that had paid their subscriptions and implored all those in arrears to pay up their dues.
6.0 MOTIONS ADOPTED DURING THE 49Th PLENARY
ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
6.1 Consideration of the Report of the Standing Committee on
Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment
6.1.1 The Plenary Assembly Session adopted a motion encouraging Member States to substantially harmonise the operations of One Stop Border Posts (OSBP) to ensure that there is seamless movement of goods and citizens in line with the common vision of the AfCFTA.
6.2 Motion on Harnessing Domestic Tourism In Times Of Pandemics: A Case Of The COVID 19 Pandemic: The Role
Of Parliaments
- 1The Plenary Assembly urged Member States to support the implementation of the SADC Unified Visa regime to facilitate movement of tourists across the region. Added to this, there were calls for SADC Parliaments and Parliamentarians to advocate for stout COVID-19 relief funds and increased budgetary allocation to the tourism sector in order to accelerate recovery of the sector.
6.2.2 There is need to capacitate One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) to facilitate the ease of movement across country borders. This is meant to enhance both domestic and intra-regional tourism. SADC Members States need to support the implementation of the SADC Unified Visa to facilitate movement of tourists across the region.
6.3 Motion on the Role Of Parliament In Protecting Constitutionalism And The Rule Of Law In Southern
Africa: Prospects And Challenges
6.3.1 The Plenary Assembly encouraged Member Parliaments to promote and respect Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law as envisaged in their constitutions.
6.3.2 Members of Parliament were encouraged to study and understand the provisions of their constitutions.
6.3.3 Zimbabwe for example, has made a deliberate effort to translate the Constitution into all officially recognised languages in the country and encourages its widespread dissemination. Furthermore, the country requires the Constitution to be part of the curricula in schools, public institutions, and that it be taught in the private sector as provided for in Article 7 of the Zimbabwe Constitution.
6.4 Motion on Post COVID in the SADC Region: Meeting
Women’s Needs in a Context of Multiplied Challenges
Consideration of the Report of the Regional Women’s
Parliamentary Caucus
6.4.1 The adopted motion encouraged countries to craft measures that are aimed at cushioning women post-COVID 19 pandemic scourge.
6.4.2 Countries were urged to implement gender-responsive health budgets and inclusive public health and safety measures. It was recommended that financial barriers such as health fees should be suspended or removed in order to offset potential difficulties for the most vulnerable patients, especially women and girls.
7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD
7.1 Parliament of Zimbabwe to hold an All Stakeholder Workshop between the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) and the relevant Civil Society Organisations to map out the strategy to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and ensure that post-COVID recovery measures are gender-responsive. There is need to engage the Civil Society to ensure that women have access to justice and equity. SADC-PF should be at the forefront in advocating for political accountability, access to Primary Health Care, investment in Health Care Data Systems and collaboration in vaccine research and investment in the health sector. The Workshop is to be held by mid-September 2021.
7.2 Parliament of Zimbabwe notes and appreciates the attendant benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as one of the key drivers of development on the continent. In this regard, Parliament calls on the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce to convene an oral evidence session with the relevant Ministry before holding an all-stakeholder meeting to receive updates on the status of implementation regarding the AfCFTA. The oral evidence session is to be held in August 2021.
7.3 On One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), there is need for both the Executive and Legislature to demonstrate strong leadership and commitment in developing infrastructure that facilitates cross border trade such as OSBPs and roads among others, in order to enhance trade facilitation including advancement of regional economic integration. The relevant Portfolio Committees on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services will be engaged in this regard. The Portfolio Committee to
hold an oral – evidence session by mid-September aimed at enhancing service delivery by OSBPs.
7.4 There is need to streamline visa and immigration procedures to ensure the smooth movement of tourists in the region. The region should emulate Zimbabwe’s exemption of all SADC Member States from visa requirements, thereby taking the lead in the region as part of accelerated efforts to operationalise the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
7.5 There is need for Parliamentarians to advocate for stouter COVID-19 relief funds and increased budgetary allocation to the tourism sector in order to accelerate the recovery of the sector. The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Tourism should make robust initiatives through advocating for measures and exemptions that lead to the recovery of the tourism sector. This should be done in August 2021, as the warm season draws in and the imminent recession of the
COVID -19 pandemic unravels due to the Government’s
proactive vaccination programme.
8.0 CONCLUSION
8.1 The Plenary Assembly concluded by requesting the SADC-PF and National Parliaments to leverage the AfCFTA for postCOVID economic recovery in Southern Africa. It is important for the region to adopt measures that are aimed at seamlessly encouraging intra-Africa trade and the removal of barriers that impede the full implementation of the AfCFTA.
8.2 Parliament of Zimbabwe commits itself to the full implementation of the resolutions of the Plenary Assembly to be shared among all Members of Parliaments, to facilitate action by different Portfolio Committees of Parliament, through the Liaison and Coordination Committee (LCC) once availed by the SADC PF Secretariat.
8.3 Parliament of Zimbabwe should champion all measures aimed at ensuring the full socio-political and economic recovery of Zimbabwe post-COVID-19 pandemic. The institution must be ready to work with all institutions in the region that are geared towards these recovery mechanisms.
8.4 The next 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF will be hosted by the Kingdom of Lesotho in the last quarter of 2021 virtually.
8.5 Parliament of Zimbabwe continues to champion the Transformation Agenda in its role as the holders of the Chairpersonship of the Strategic Lobby Team of Hon. Speakers on the Transformation of the Forum into a SADC Regional
Parliament.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me begin by thanking Hon. Ndiweni who has so adequately moved and tabled the report of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, 49th Plenary Session which was held virtually.
Let me also add on to thank the Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Adv. J. Mudenda, who was the head of the delegation in terms of guidance and he was so emphatic in terms of the way to go. For some of us who were beginners, we learnt a lot in that session though it was on a virtual platform. I want to thank God that it was virtual, which I think was better for us as beginners because we had to grasp a lot through the digital communication. Madam Speaker, the mover of the report has touched on almost everything but I think I want to buttress on number 1, that you will find that there is the mention on the Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, the issues of COVID, the necessary protective measures that governments need to take towards ensuring that everything else to do with COVID is also provided for the women.
When there are problems in terms of health, women suffer more because we then attend to the burden of being the care givers. So the mention of having women to play a key role and get provision in terms of how governments handle the COVID-19 equipment such as vaccines is key and important. I want to acknowledge the way we have been doing it in Zimbabwe but we also had lessons to learn from other countries in the SADC region. I want to appreciate the emphasis in terms of having this particular item being flagged and as the Regional Women’s Caucus, we picked on it.
Secondly, the issue of the one stop border post, customs, and one passport, etcetera - who are those people who globe-trot the borders who want access? Who are the majority in terms of wanting to feed the family, to look for the extra dollar and use that particular passport? The bulk of them are women, therefore the barriers of crossing the borders to reach to other countries for them to get what they can utilise so as to sustain their families becomes key and a priority. Hence, even the mention for gender sensitive budgets by SADC is a deliberate attempt to turn the waves towards protecting women.
We have deliberated even in this House on gender sensitive budgets, that we need to target on issues that protect and promote the interests of the other gender because we are care givers. Yes, gender means men and women but when we say responsive, it means something there is amiss. So, I want to appreciate even the Secretariat of SADC for having deliberately placed this item on the agenda of the SADC 49th Plenary Session for deliberation because at the end of it all, when a budget does not target where it is the weakest, we will have problems in attaining the gender balance.
Madam Speaker, gender responsive budget is the way to go the world-over and I am glad that SADC is also on the way. I do not want to believe that we will fail as a regional body because already in
Zimbabwe, the gender responsive budget are issues that the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has dealt with. We can comfortably say that issues to do with women have been spoken of and men in this room have tended to speak on gender responsive budgets as well.
Let me also join the presenter of the motion in thanking the SADC Heads of State and governments for adopting that SADC, a regional body, becomes a Parliament. I want to acknowledge because the East Africa Legislative Assembly assisted in the coming up of the recommendation to assist and lobby. They were busy lobbying and they promised that they will lobby and indeed, we have seen some
results.
However, I want to acknowledge and thank all the Heads of State and governments that sat and agreed that there is need for a parliamentary body to be formulated. I hope and trust that by the time it becomes into being, we will still all be alive so as to witness the push and the work that we would have done. I want to thank the Hon. Speaker in absentia; he went around the whole region lobbying the Speakers and Presidents because he had been mandated by SADC to do so, so that we could have all the members of the SADC Heads of
State and governments to agree.
I want to touch on ICT; you would find that without digitalisation we are nothing. If I were to switch off this mike, all the Members would say I am not audible. So that is how fast the world and the region have become in terms of getting information, accessibility and in terms of placing ourselves as nations. As much as we may run away from this particular item of digitalisation, we are nowhere. So, I am encouraging that even those that are out there, our diasporans; I want to acknowledge the demo that was done by Hon. Nduna when he donated two Ipad gadgets that were donated by diasporans to our ZBC crew to show how important it is.
My final point is on the innovation in terms of COVID-19 treatments, I think maybe one out of 10 people will say we never took Zumbani during the peak of COVID. One out of 10 might swear that they never took lemon as a way of prevention during the peak of COVID but my worry and question is, how far have we gone in terms of experimenting to find out how Zumbani can actually treat COVID19? Our own researchers, universities and n’angas should do a research so that at least we will have our own medicine which is locally produced. Yes, it might fall into the traditional medicines but I think on this one, it is key because we are talking about the COVID-
19 era and we are still in it.
Madam Speaker, it is my hope and trust that as a nation we will be proud enough to further research in terms of how effective Zumbani and lemons. I have friends that are in the diaspora. They would actually say, please send us lemons from home because they are more effective in terms of treating COVID. We need some research to attach to that. Let us be like Madagascar. After Madagascar discovered its herb that was displayed to treat COVID, you then never heard of that herb again. If it was not destroyed, it means they have preserved it to say this is ours. We must also preserve our own zumbani. We must also further study it in terms of how effective our own medicines are.
Finally, I encourage the House to adopt the recommendations of the particular Session of the 49th Plenary Assembly, that we move with the recommendations. Yes, some of them are tired recommendations. The recommendations on COVID, civil society engagements, passports and digitalisation are still current and we can run with as a country and as a House so that we copy from others. There is a lot that we can copy and emulate from other countries in the region. I want to appreciate the teamwork that was shown by the Zimbabwe delegation and the teamwork that was shown by the SADC grouping of the 14 countries. We had an excellent meeting. Three days is a long time and you become so tired but I never saw anyone dosing amongst our delegation. I want to appreciate and thank the delegation. I hope and trust that as a country, we will continue to move on so that we emulate others.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the motion that has been moved by Hon. Ndiweni seconded by Hon. Mpariwa. I want to thank Hon. Ndiweni for such an insightful report. The major areas which were discussed are also very important, especially for us in Zimbabwe.
The issue regarding incremental roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines which was a major provision of that meeting is also very important. We have seen the Zimbabwean Government importing drugs. As I speak, the Government of Zimbabwe has imported more than eightmillion drugs and I want to believe that in Africa, Zimbabwe is the best in terms of dispensing COVID-19 vaccines. We need to applaud the Government for a job well done unlike other countries that are lagging behind in terms of vaccination processes. The Government of Dr. Mnangagwa leads by example. It has gone further to donate 200 000 vaccines to our neighbours in Namibia and that is a very good gesture showing that the Government of Zimbabwe is concerned, not just with citizens of its country but also wanting to show that it is very serious in mitigating the effects COVID-19.
It is also important to commend the theme “Overcoming the Pandemic today to builda better tomorrow”. COVID-19 pandemic is a global pandemic and it is a disaster. We have seen economies taking a nose dive throughout the world and Zimbabwe is no exception but we are fighting to control the disease through various ways where people are being encouraged to wear masks and follow WHO procedures as ways of fighting the disease.
At that Plenary Session, one of the important points which were raised is the issue of modernisation of border posts and airports. That is what is being done in Zimbabwe. Government of Zimbabwe is serious in terms of reconstruction, trying to build a state of the art airport and also to modernise the border posts. We have seen massive developments taking place in Beitbridge. That is being done so that clients would not be delayed. This is no time for tedious delays anymore. The Second Republic is very serious. The issue of one stop border posts is very important. It remindsme of the visit that we undertook in 2019 when we went to Chirundu – goods are cleared at a very fast pace, so expeditious. When you are moving from Zambia to Zimbabwe, the clearance is done in Zambia. When one is moving into
Zimbabwe, clearance is done in Zimbabwe. It is fast and efficient.
That is one stop border post. That is what is going to be done in Beitbridge. There will be no time wasting. Movement of goods will be done at a fast pace and that will be in line with Zimbabwe’s
economic development.
I move on to industrialisation anchored on value addition and beneficiation and that is in line with NDS1, one of the pillars in terms of development of Zimbabwe that the fourth industrialisation is imminent. Our universities will play a very pivotal role and I need to applaud the Ministry of Higher Education for coming up with the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill.
Very soon it is going to be assented to become an Act of Parliament.
It means there is a lot of innovation taking place right from the primary school. Students from ECD are subjected to the art or science of innovation. They are supposed to experiment in the laboratories. University and polytechnic students should be innovative in innovation hubs. There must be a way of harmonising and bringing together university students and also industry, to work together singing from the same hymn book so that industrialisation of
Zimbabwe will be speeded up. That is also very important.
On confronting regional challenges, the issue of terrorism is a very serious matter. Terrorism is an act of instilling fear on people through mercenary forces. We have seen that happening in Mozambique whereby the Jihadists kill people. I have seen a video circulating where 30 people were being beheaded and just being thrown into a mass grave. Such acts of terrorism should be condemned in the strongest words that can be found in the dictionary, Madam Speaker. As a region, as SADC, we need to come up with an army that deals with the agenda of terrorism.
Then the issue of neocolonialism, Madam Speaker, I will quote
Kwame Nkrumah who said “neocolonialism is the most insidious and most dangerous form of colonisation”. Colonisation is better.
Neocolonialism manifests itself in a number of ways. It can manifest itself in the form of aid. When you get your aid, there are strings attached to that. The issue of our minerals just being taken away in their raw state, that is another form of neocolonialism. We have to work to ensure that the pillars of NDS are respected and that those minerals should be processed in Zimbabwe so that we export the manufactured products because the value of our products when we sell them when they are raw will be less. So there is need for processing of those goods in Zimbabwe instead of just taking them away.
Then there is the issue of tax holidays, tax holidays being given to those companies that are exporting our minerals. I think the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should put huge taxes on those companies that are exporting as a deterrent measure for exporting our raw materials so that we manufacture them locally.
Madam Speaker, let me finish by considering one more issue so that I give others a chance – the need to promote and respect constitutionalism is very important and indispensable. The curriculum development and planning should be structured in a manner that students from primary education are taught the
Constitution of Zimbabwe. They should know what is in the
Constitution as a Bible. Why is that important? It is important so that people know their legal rights, they know the fundamental rights enshrined in our Constitution. This is very important Madam
Speaker.
May I end by thanking Hon. Ndiweni and Hon. Mpariwa for a job well done. I thank you.
(v) HON. I. NYONI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to contribute on the report presented by Hon. Ndiweni and supported by Hon. Mpariwa. My contribution will border on two issues. One is the need for improvement of transport infrastructure in the SADC region and Africaat large and the second one is the harmonisation of
Customs and Immigration in the SADC region and Africa…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nyoni you are not
audible. I think we have lost Hon. Nyoni.
(v)HON. I. NYONI: I hope I am audible now. I was saying that there was need for improvement of transport infrastructure in the region and Africa at large. Here I am talking about road, rail and air transport. An example is the Kazungula Bridge that is now providing all transport to the north and to the south. There is also need for more rail infrastructure. Currently, Zimbabwe has an option to use Walvis Bay Port in Namibia. However, only transport that is available is road.. We have no other alternative mode of transport from that area and the other area like Durban, we have an option of using rail or road. If we use Beira Port, we also have an option of using rail or road, but Walvis Bay is only road. There is need for development of rail as well from that area.
The issue of harmonisation of Customs and Immigration formalities in the region is of great importance. This can be promoted through the auspices of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Through AfCFTA, the region and Africa as a whole can pursue issues of a Customs Union. This would mean that goods originating from AfCFTA countries being imported to a member State of AfCFTA will go in there duty free and with minimum documentation, thereby reducing the time taken and promoting trade in members of AfCFTA.
The issue of one-stop-border post which has been highlighted by the Hon. Member who debated before me also helps in minimising time taken when clearance is done at the border since it involves clearance only on one side of the border, not on both sides, thereby minimising time taken…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nyoni, your network
is bad and we cannot hear you. Maybe you can try next time.
HON. N. MGUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me
this opportunity. I would also want to thank Hon. Ndiweni, the mover of the motion and the seconder Hon. Mpariwa. I am not a member of the SADC Parliamentary Committee but they just touched on a topic that is dear to my heart. The topic is free trade Madam Speaker. I want to congratulate our country for being a signatory to the Africa Free Trade Area. It is a very integral agreement to accelerate generally into the whole Africa trade and to boost Africa’s trade position in the global market. This is going to be achieved by strengthening Africa’s common voice policy space in the global trade negotiations. It will also eliminate tariffs within the intra Africa trade.
Why I am passionate about it; Hon. Mpariwa touched on the women.
As we come up with trade policies in our country, we need policies that will spell out and allow women to be part of this trade. We want to encourage women to be involved in the production sector so that they can be part of this free trade which is going to be very beneficiary for them. When we trade globally we pay tariffs but because this trade agreement is going to allow free trade, women need to be involved in trading. It is not only in going out of the country to bring goods to sell in the country but we also want women to be part of production so that they can trade and send their own goods to sell in other countries especially within Africa, considering that this trade is going to be free. I also urge the region to develop and adopt value addition activities in order to export goods which will bring forex into our country and to the continent in general. Like I said earlier on, we would want the country to have policies that clearly stipulate the role of our women as alluded to by Hon. Mpariwa. This AFCFTA is a very important agreement and I hope that our country is going to intensify especially the ICT that has been mentioned.
We have a problem of ICT in the sense that African countries have lost a lot of money through illicit financial flows because there is no transparency or good ICT in the country. If they open up that our
ICT is so developed in such a way that whatever trade is happening in Zimbabwe our neighbour Botswana is able to detect what is happening in order to avoid the stealing that has been going on in these trades that have been happening. Thank you once again for the opportunity afforded me.
HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to thank Hon. Moyo, Hon. Nyoni and Hon. Mguni for their enriching debate on this report. It has actually value added my report. All I am left with at this juncture is to seek leave of the House to withdraw my motion. I thank you.
Motion; With leave, withdrawn.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House
that the Parliamentary Legal Committee met on 5th August 2021 and considered clause by clause the Statutory Instrument 202/2021 and came to the anonymous resolution that the High Court Rule 11 (11) violates the provisions of the Constitution, in particular the right to administrative justice stipulated in Section 68 and also the right to a fair hearing in terms of Section 69 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the House reverts to Order of the Day No 10.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON
INFORMATION, MEDIA AND BROADCASTING SERVICES ON
THE PETITION RECEIVED FROM YOUTH BROADCASTING
FM (Y-FM) REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF COMMUNITY
RADIO STATION LICENCES
HON. MOKONE: I move the motion standing in my name.
HON. N. MGUNI: I second.
HON. MOKONE:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1. On 16 March 2021, the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services received a petition from Youth Broadcasting FM (Y-FM) appealing to Parliament to consider the licencing process of community radio stations so that applications are invited from all over the country and from different special interest groups. In this regard, the Committee engaged the Permanent Secretary of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) on the petition. The Committee noted that community radio stations are important in disseminating information to the marginalised communal areas and the country as a whole. To that end, this report provides highlights of the
Committee’s findings, observations and recommendations with respect to the petition.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
- To gather evidence from the Petitioners, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services on the issuance of community radio station licences, and ii. To assess whether the licenced community radio stations are inclusive of special interest groups such as youths.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 The Committee received oral evidence from Mr.
Chakanyuka, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, Mr. Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and the Youth Broadcasting FM on the issuance of community radio stations licences.
4.0 BACKGROUND OF THE PETITION
4.1 The petitioners were concerned that the Broadcasting
Authority of
Zimbabwe (BAZ) excluded special interest groups such as youths and women in its invitation for prospective community radios in the country. They argued that in BAZ's recent invitation for applications for potential radio stations, it extended requests to potential community radios in specific areas to apply. This gave the impression that only those invited to apply would be awarded the community radio licences. BAZ's invitation did not take into account the set-up of community radios, that they are not only geographically established, but represent interests of specific groups in various communities.
5.0 COMMITTTE FINDINGS
5.1 Legislation Pertaining to Broadcasting
5.1.1. In Zimbabwe, the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) of 2001 provides for the licencing of community broadcasting. Section 7, subsection 2(b) of the BSA states that the Broadcasting Authority of
Zimbabwe shall authorise the licencing of a community broadcasting service. The Ministry also put in place Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 39 of 2020 which only deals with the licencing of community and campus radio broadcasting services.
5.2 Issuance of Community Radio licences
5.2.1. Approach used in the licencing process
5.2.1.1.The Committee was apprised that the authority used a phased approach in licencing community radio stations. In the first phase, they identified areas that were traditionally underserved in terms of coverage that is areas without broadcasting services. This was done in order to ensure that there were universal broadcasting services to all. Additionally, in the second phase, BAZ identified officially recognised languages spoken in Zimbabwe according to Section 6 of the Constitution and they considered areas with languages that had limited expression on the currently licenced broadcasters.
5.2.2 Licensing process
5.2.2.1. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe official pointed out
that the authority invited applications for the provision of community radio licences in the areas specified in a notice in accordance with section 10 of the Broadcasting Services Act. Upon receipt of an application, the Authority examined the proposal for compliance with the Act and any regulations in place and upon satisfaction thereof, issued a community or campus radio broadcasting service licence to the applicant.
5.2.2.2 It was highlighted that a licence was only issued out upon full payment of licence fees. Once the licences were issued, the licencee was required to be on air within 18 months and to date, two applicants had paid their licence fees in full and were issued with the licences. The two community radio stations issued with licences are Ntepe Manama Community Radio Trust of Manama in Gwanda South and Nyangani Community Radio Trust.
5.3 Factors to be considered when granting community or campus radio licences
5.3.1. The Committee was informed that in accordance with
Section 6
(3) of S.I 39 of 2020, the authority considered the following factors before granting a community radio licence:
- The community interest of the applicant;
- The extent to which the applicant is supported by the concerned community;
- The source and proof of funding such as bank statements of the broadcasting service and sustainability mechanisms;
- The manner in which members of the community will participate in the membership of the governing body including organisational mechanisms for the active participation by the community in the radio station’s management, development and operations; and
- The manner in which members of the community will participate in the selection and provision of programmes to be broadcasted.
5.3.2 It was highlighted that when licencing they also considered
frequency allotment plan which gives them a geographic area where a broadcasting licence is to be issued, number of channels present in that area and specific broadcasting services to be licenced in that area.
5.4 Licencing of community radio station for youths
5.4.1 It was highlighted that according to demographic
statistics, youths are all over Zimbabwe hence it was difficult to issue a licence that was mainly for the youths under the circumstances that the radio frequency spectrum was a limited resource. The Committee was informed that during the licencing process, BAZ ensured that the licenced community radio stations included different interests that are youths, the elderly, people living with disabilities and women amongst others within the governing board. This was guided by section 5 (2) of Statutory Instrument No. 39 of 2020 with regards to licencing of community radio stations. Additionally, the Permanent
Secretary pointed out that BAZ’s policy thrust included a look at the community structure to ensure that there was inclusion of all special interest groups.
5.4.2 The Acting CEO submitted that during the training for application of community radio stations they emphasised on the composition of the governing board, that it should take into consideration youths and other vulnerable groups. In this regard, the Acting CEO highlighted that Youth Broadcasting FM (Y-FM) was not excluded in the licencing process of community radio stations. Further, the Permanent Secretary informed the Committee that licencing of community radio stations was ongoing as BAZ was to take into consideration the frequency spectrum and their ability and capacity to regulate.
5.5 Youth participation coverage
5.5.1 The Committee was informed that BAZ advocated for youth participation in the application for community radio stations. The authority concurred with the idea that the higher percentage of youth participation was from the urban areas because of the location of the stations as they were urban based thus, they were licencing community radio stations in marginalized communal areas so as to accommodate youths in rural areas.
5.6 Definition of the Community
5.6.1. The Acting CEO Mr Chakanyuka defined the term
“Community” as defined in Statutory Instrument No. 39 of 2020 as follows: “for the purposes of licencing community broadcasting services means a group of people bound together geographically, with shared norms, values and tradition whose control is domiciled in members of that geographical space”.
5.6.2 He stated that the authority goes on to further define a
“Community broadcasting service” as follows: “a free to air (radio or television) broadcasting service not operated for profit or as part of a profit-making enterprise which provides programmes that-
- Are for community purposes
- Are capable of being received by commonly available equipment; and
- Do not broadcast programmes or advertisements on behalf of any political party”.
5.7 Petitioners (Y-FM) submission on the issuance of
Community
Radio Licences
5.7.1 The Call for Applications
5.7.1.1 The Chairperson of Y-FM informed the Committee that section 10 of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) infringes on the rights of citizens as it gives powers to BAZ only to determine when to invite for applications from prospective broadcasters. He submitted that since the year 2000, BAZ only made three invitations for applications and only the last call made in 2020 was specifically for community radios. The petitioners highlighted that the system used by BAZ to licence radios derailed development of community radios because one has to wait for up to five years for an invitation of applications. In this regard, the community radio initiatives lose momentum since they are community funded and rely on volunteers for manpower.
5.7.1.2 The petitioners recommended that the Committee should amend the BSA and empower prospective community radios to submit applications to BAZ whenever they are ready to do so in compliance with the broadcasting laws. The petitioners further informed the
Committee that they did not apply for a community radio station licence as the applications were invited in specific areas.
5.7.2 Definition of community radio
5.7.2.1 The petitioners submitted that the function of a community
radio is to serve the developmental interests of a specific community.
However, BAZ’s current definition of a community was determined
solely by geography, yet within a specific geography there were multiple communities with different interests. Y-FM alluded to the fact that
BAZ’s current model crams the conflicting interests into one station and it infringes on communities’ developmental interests.
5.7.2.2 The Committee was informed that according to demographic statistics youths are made up 60% of the population, yet there are no stations that reflect this on their programming.
5.7.2.3 The petitioners emphasised that the current model on issuance of community radio licences does not recognises the equality of the 16 official recognised languages in Zimbabwe as highlighted by an invitation made by BAZ in 2020 which did not allow overlaps between radio stations. The petitioners gave an example of Hwange where there is one community radio (to broadcast in Nambya) which was licenced against Tonga, Dombe, Chewa, Nyanja, and IsiNdebele which are widely spoken in the area.
5.7.2.4 It was recommended that there was need to recognise the multi ethnicity in various communities by allowing more community radios that broadcast in different languages within the same area. They further recommended that BAZ should expand its definition of a community radio to include not only a specific geographic area but also interests of specific groups in various communities. This will help mainly communities of interest who are marginalised to have their developmental interests catered for. In this regard, the petitioners defined a community radio as a station that caters for a specific geographic area and/or community of interest.
5.7.3 Reason for having Y-FM as a Community radio stations
5.7.3.1 The Committee was informed that Y-FM caters for youths with a specific cultural slant and the station had conducted a number of cultural activities amongst them the Umthwentwe International
Cultural
Expo. They also had set up Matebeleland Cultural Award which recognizes various cultural actors on a yearly basis. The petitioners emphasised their need to be licenced as a community radio station so that they can continue meeting the developmental interests of the youths as well as protecting their cultural values.
6.0 COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
6.1 The Committee noted that invitations of applications are guided by the Broadcasting Services Act and BAZ followed the licencing processes of community radio stations as highlighted in the Act.
6.2 It was observed that the petitioners were innovative and enthusiastic in terms of ideas, however BAZ was not to be taken to task with regards to the narrowing of the station to serve youths only in a particular area as youths are all over the country. The Committee highlighted that in order to licence youths only, BAZ would require to locate youths in one geographical area in order to allocate a frequency which is geographically restricted and finite.
6.3 The Committee commended BAZ for reaching out to every citizen in Zimbabwe by ensuring that the underserved areas receive information through community radio stations.
6.4 The Committee disagreed with the recommendation by petitioners that submission of applications to BAZ should be done whenever the applicants are ready to do so in compliance with the broadcasting laws. It was highlighted that this recommendation usurps the responsibility of BAZ as a regulator responsible for determining when to invite applications from prospective broadcasters.
6.5. Further, it was noted that BAZ as the regulator knows areas that require community radio broadcasting and the airwaves that must be regulated in order to manage the frequency spectrum so that there is fairness and efficiency in use of the frequency.
6.6 The Committee noted that from the submission made by BAZ on age composition of community radio stations, the youths were well represented in the licenced community radio stations.
7.0 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 The Committee recommends the following:
7.1.1 That the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe should assist the Petitioners in establishing a community radio station that meets their licence requirements by December 2021.
7.1.2 That youth programmes should be part of the community radio station’s content;
7.1.3 That Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe should give a notification to members of the public on their invitations of applications and should provide a timeline of two months for the submission of applications;
7.1.4 That the right to invite applications should remain with the
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe; and
7.1.5 That the petitioners should be guided by the definitions of community and community broadcasting services as outlined in the Statutory Instrument No. 39 of 2020.
8.0 Conclusion
8.1 The Committee recognised the importance of licencing community radio broadcasting services as it ensures fair and equitable access to the radio spectrum as well as keeping citizens informed of national and regional news. However, the petition was of less concern as BAZ cannot licence a station for youths only rather, youths and other special interest groups should be part of the governing board of community radio stations. Additionally, the petitioners were quick to raise an alarm as the licencing of community radio stations is still an ongoing process. So I submit Mr.
Speaker.
(v)*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving
me the opportunity to add my voice to this report. Mr. Speaker, the
Committee sat and analysed the report that was submitted by Y-FM.
They argued that since the youth constitute the majority in this country, the Community Radio Licences should consider them in allocating licences. They also said that as youth, since there is funding involved, they are also supposed to be given an opportunity to access funding in order to finance those radio stations. They also spoke a lot about that but in these processes that are being carried out by BAZ; they should invite applications from the public to apply for those licences. In most instances, youths realise that during the transmission of information into various areas, sometimes they do not get accurate information pertaining those processes.
They also argued that as youths, they would like to get licences in order to churn out information to their peers efficiently. They also stated that youths, together with people living with disabilities are supposed to be considered. The licences should consider all these various groups. They were explaining, seeking information and clarity on how the process is conducted. So BAZ explained to them that applications are invited and that they are also eligible to apply. They further clarified that successful applicants are considered on the basis of various factors, including funding but the youth argued that if you look at the licences that were granted in some communities and regions, BAZ did not go there. So they argued that youths should be considered so that they grow properly and fit well into society and that they are supposed to get allocations/quotas dedicated to the youths.
We realised that indeed BAZ explained their position and the youths also expressed their position and with time, we realised that all the stakeholders should come together and give information in detail on the requirements and consider languages spoken predominantly. As time goes on, they must sit down together so that they highlight to each other how they can align radio stations with languages spoken in that area. We resolved as a Committee that BAZ and other stakeholders must look at the issue of languages. In border areas like Mbire, Rushinga and others, they do not have radio stations. We must take into consideration that youths like to be kept up to date with information through radio stations. Different areas must have radio stations that speak their languages. With these few words Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to thank you.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also add my voice to this petition brought to this House by Hon. Mokone, seconded by Hon. Nyabani. I think from the onset, we have actually been enlightened that community radios are meant for a defined community. The implication there is that we are supposed to be having a community that has got its own interest, a community that speaks perhaps the same language so that when the information comes, it is going to be understood. Also, there is a notion that the community radios are supposed to be catering mainly for the youths. Our youths, if we are to look at what they do, normally they have got varying interests even when they are in the same community. Usually our youths would want to see something rather than just hearing. If they forego the seeing because normally they want something which is taking place at that same time, some action; if it is just a mere radio then it must really attract them so that the contents of the information they are getting from the radio can keep them glued to the radio.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to say the fact that a community radio is the baby of the community, it can actually give some challenges. I have seen some Community Information Centres; there is one in my constituency where you find that it is now a ghost structure. There is no one who is coming there, even when we had some televisions put outside our Rural District Council, you find people are not so interested when they see things that are so just public. They want to be in places where they enjoy whatever they are going to listen to and hear when they are at secluded places.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to say BAZ is doing the right thing to give time for the applications that will be approved. If a provider is going to be given two months to make sure that the provider is going to offer a community radio station-that is a good thing because some of our providers simply come because they have heard something. They will not end up providing the necessary equipment and gadgets that are required. I also want to say these community radio stations are very vital in our communal areas, especially in the rural areas. Most of our rural areas do not have facilities like televisions and there is no accessibility in terms of internet and so on. At least if they are given a community radio they also listen to what is happening in the world and around. I just feel the issue of community radio stations is very vital as given by a petition from YFM. It is good that these community radios are given to our disadvantaged communities so that they can also access information because information is a constitutional right. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to commend the Committee for recommending that the YFM be considered by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. (Network
failure).
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Ndebele, you are no
longer audible.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: I believe that if granted a licence, that will cater for that obvious gap. Sometimes the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe moves too slowly that we as the representatives of the people end up questioning the sincerity of our Government in terms of its willingness to share the air waves with rural communities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I do not see why applicants should wait for the authority to advertise so that they can then be able to apply for licences. It should be an ongoing process and open for those who want to apply to do so at any particular time. This also corresponds to the fact that the Broadcasting Authority itself does not have a specific time in which they consider applications. The report says the Broadcasting Authority said that licencing is ongoing, it is open ended and so should be the application process. Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to clearly point out a missed opportunity that the Committee may want to consider going forward so that we put the issues of licencing to
rest.
The Committee should lead the Parliament in seriously looking into regulations that we enacted as some of these bar - the pricing for instance. They must look into the life of those community radio stations that we have licenced so far. What are we doing to support them if we are truly dedicated to the establishment of community radio licencing?
Radio stations thrive on advertising; we have enacted laws that have banned community radio stations from receiving advertising revenues. It is critical; any radio station needs advertising for survival. There is need for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe to set allowable threshold for advertising. For example, we could say 30% collected through advertising remains with the station while 70% goes to the Broadcasting Authority.
From a legislative point of view, the Committee needs to get the exact budget that the Ministry has to support community radio stations development and the line item that the budget will fund. The establishment of community radio stations; we must apply our minds to the survival of those community radio stations that we have already licenced so that they do not remain as white elephants. I so submit.
HON. MOKONE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Members who debated on this motion on community radios. I recognise that they have put all their efforts in their debate and in that regard, I move that this House adopts the report that I presented before the House. Motion; With leave, adopted.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the rest of the Orders of the
Day be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 32 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Thirty-second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the proposal for the Executive to declare a specific day to celebrate women’s achievements in the development and liberation of the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would also like to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Madiwa seconded by Hon. Mpariwa. I would also want to take this opportunity to thank them for raising this motion.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I remember in 2016 that a similar motion was brought before this House by myself and seconded by Hon. Mpariwa calling on the Executive to declare the 8th March as a public holiday. I am in support of the call for a day to be set aside as a public holiday where women will be celebrated. I would like to substantiate this call by raising three issues - socially, politically and economically. Women carry babies for nine months and during those nine months, they go through a lot of problems and after that, they go through excruciating pain in bringing those children to this world. Thereafter, they look after those children, make sure that the children are fed, clothed and when they are sick, they are taken to hospital. After all that, they make sure that those children go to school from primary, secondary and tertiary universities so that they become graduates.
Hon. Speaker Sir, as you are sitting on that chair, it is all because of your mother who carried you for nine months and nurtured you to become who you are today. This is evidence enough for the
Executive to declare a women’s day as a public holiday.
Half of the food which is consumed in this world comes from a woman’s hand and half of the food which is consumed in this country also comes from a woman’s hand. Just a few days ago, the Ministry of Agriculture was saying they are increasing the Strategic Grain
Reserve from 500 000 tonnes to 1, 5 million tonnes all because of
Pfumvudza Programme and women are the ones who were doing Pfumvudza. So, now they are increasing this Strategic Grain Reserve all because of women.
Zimbabwe is highly informalised with more than 90% of the people in the informal sector and out of that 90%, more 78% of those people are women. Women are earning a living in the informal sector, they are crossing borders, and they are the ones who are paying duties. Government right now is relying on women. They contribute more than 80% to the Gross Domestic Product of their country. Women are creators of wealth. Once again, this is evidence enough for the Executive to set aside a women’s day so that people are able to celebrate their mothers.
Politically, statistics have shown that women are the majority voters. Every person who is sitting in this House was voted for by a woman, form the President to the councillors – statistics speak for themselves. You are sitting on those chairs because of women. This is evidence enough for the Executive to declare a day so that people celebrate their mothers. I do not think that there is anyone who does not want to celebrate their mothers. Just a few weeks ago when this motion was debated, Hon. Madiwa was saying more than eight countries in the SADC region have set aside a day as a public holiday where people celebrate their mothers. Why are we not doing the same as Zimbabwe? I have outlined the reason why women must be celebrated. People of Zimbabwe require a day where they will sit in their homes and relax, where our children will appreciate us, where our children will sit down so that we do parties, celebrate and appreciate the work that we did for them. Children are in this world because of their mothers.
I would like to call upon the Executive to set aside a Women’s Day which is going to be a public holiday where every Zimbabwean will be able to appreciate their mothers for carrying them for nine months, for being their nurses, for being their friends, for giving them all the love, for bringing them up to be the persons that they are today. I hope and trust that as a Parliament, we will unanimously agree and make sure that we ask and push the Executive so that they set aside a Women’s Day which is going to be a public holiday.
As we speak right now, there is a Youth Day and Heroes Day and all these other days. So, I do not see anything wrong by a women’s day being set aside as a public holiday where mothers will be appreciated for the work that they did for you to be in this world. I rest my case.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Thank you for allowing me to lend my weight behind this noble cause that our country establishes and recognises a special day as a holiday in honour of our wives and sisters.
Zimbabwe has a long history of commemorating key events and critical stakeholders in the public holiday framework of the country.
This represents a country’s tradition of ensuring that the nation collectively pauses to reflect on the role and contribution of a particular institution or sector that has made great contribution to the very fabric of who we are as a country. It is in this regard that I support the noble cause that we have a holiday to honour all the women in our society.
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September 2021.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI seconded by HON.
MPARIWA the House adjourned at Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 14th September, 2021
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
INVITATION TO A ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the Senate that there will be a Roman Catholic Church service tomorrow Wednesday, 15th September 2021 at 1230 hours in the Senate Chamber.
All Catholic and non-Catholic members are invited.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 3 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 4 has been disposed
of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
JOINT REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND GENDER
DEVELOPMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL GENDER POLICY IN THE SMALL HOLDER
IRRIGATION REHABILITATION SCHEMES AND
PFUMVUDZA/INTWASA AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Joint Report of the Thematic
Committees on Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and Gender
Development on the Implementation of National Gender Policy in the
Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa
Agriculture Programme aimed at Eradication Hunger, Sustainable
Development Goal 2.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I second.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: Madam President, I rise to give a report of the Joint Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable
Development Goals and Gender Development on the Implementation of the National Gender Policy in the Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes and Pfumvudza/Intwasa agriculture programme aimed at eradicating hunger, SDG 2.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Government of Zimbabwe has given priority to food production and eradication of hunger through the small-scale farmers across all eight rural provinces by implementing the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa, a climate-proofed upgrade of the Presidential
Inputs Programme. The Government is also implementing the Smallholder Irrigation Rehabilitation Schemes for crop production during off-rain season in all arable provinces. This development was expected to give households not just food security, but also income from surpluses and cash crops to boost national standards of living. In June 2021, the joint Thematic Committees on Sustainable Development Goals and Gender and Development conducted a joint inquiry into the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 through the above-mentioned agriculture programmes aimed at eradicating hunger and also assess the extent to which they adhere to the National Gender Policy.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
- To assess the progress towards the attainment of Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 2 on ending hunger in all its forms.
- To assess whether the following Government Agriculture programmes aimed towards eradicating hunger in the country were gender responsive and inclusive according to the National
Gender Policy:
- Pfumvudza /Intwasa Programme
- Small holder irrigation rehabilitation schemes
- To assess the general challenges being faced by women, men, people with disabilities and youth in the agriculture sector, particularly in Small Holder Irrigations and the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
In May 2021, the joint Committee invited the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, for oral evidence on sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices aimed towards the implementation of SDG 2 on the eradication of hunger in the country. The Permanent Secretary updated the Committee on deliberate efforts made by the Ministry to ensure that women, people with disabilities and youth benefited under the Pfumvudza and Small Holder Irrigation Schemes and gender disaggregated data on beneficiaries.
The joint Committee also received oral evidence from the Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Trust on the challenges encountered by women farmers in accessing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and small holder irrigation programmes. It is against this background that prompted the Committee to conduct verification visits and consultations to farmers.
The joint Committee visited different Small Holder Irrigation
Schemes from 21 -25 June 2021 and received submissions from
farmers in the following areas; Banga Irrigation Chivi, Kufandada
Irrigation Bikita, Tshongogwe Irrigation Lupane, Silikwe Irrigation Gwanda, Wenimbi Irrigation Marondera, and Hopewell Irrigation in
Chegutu.
4.0 BACKGROUND
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2020 extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many countries. Worldwide, there are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Undernourishment and severe food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America. Sustainable Development Goal number 2 is aimed at ending all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, thus making sure all people have sufficient and nutritious food all year. Some of the targets under this goal include, ensuring sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that will increase productivity and production, strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought and other disasters. The National Gender Policy seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, people with disabilities and youth. It also targets to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
As weather patterns continue changing and droughts are becoming more frequent, Zimbabwe has failed to produce enough grain to meet domestic demand. Despite interventions by the government, the country’s national production has been failing to meet or match domestic demand for grains, among other key food items, and the recurrent deficits have been increasingly met with food imports.
5.0 COMMITTEE FINDINGS
5.1 National Gender Policy
5.1.1 Oral Evidence from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, highlighted that the National Gender Policy seeks to achieve a gender just society where men and women enjoy equality and equity and participate as equal partners in the development process of the country. He indicated that the policy goal is “to eradicate gender discrimination and inequalities in all spheres of life and development.”
In support of the National Gender Policy, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement put in place a gender strategy for the agriculture sector in 2015.The strategy was put in place to enhance equality and participation of all gender groups in agriculture to facilitate delivery of high-quality services, responding to the practical and strategic needs of both men and women farmers and other value chain actors, and ensuring that all benefit equally from the opportunities in the sector. The strategy recognises:
- that gender equality enhances agricultural growth and improves incomes of farming communities, hence the need to reduce gender inequalities.
- the need to take into consideration the practical and strategic needs of men and women in order to increase agricultural productivity and production for household and national food and nutrition security, thus making effective contributions to the country’s economy.
5.2 Smallholder Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Programme
The joint Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural
Resettlement that a total of US $18 million was channeled through
Sakunda Irrigation Development Programme in 2 and had a target of
203 000 beneficiaries in all the provinces of Zimbabwe. The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the smallholder irrigation revitalisation programme was targeting 125 smallholder irrigation schemes (6,100 ha), 15,000 irrigators working an average of 0.4 ha, 2,000 youths and 50% of beneficiaries were to be women out of a total of 4266 beneficiaries.
5.3 Climate Proofed-Presidential Input Support Scheme (Pfumvudza /Intwasa)
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement pointed out that the Climate Proofed-Presidential Input Support Scheme is supporting 1.8 million vulnerable rural households to produce maize, traditional grains and pulses. The input packages availed to each farmer were 5kg maize seed, 50kg basal and 50kg top dressing fertilizers for a standardized 0.06ha plot. The joint Committee was informed that a total of 324 129 farmers were trained on the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme and of these 262 950 were females while 61 179 were males.
6.0 FINDINGS AT VISITED AREAS
6.1 Establishment of Irrigation Schemes
Small Holder Irrigations Schemes are initiatives by Government to enable community farmers to grow crops throughout the year such as maize, potatoes, cabbages, sugar beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and wheat. In all the visited schemes, the Committee noted that the Irrigation begun after the Land Reform Programme in 2000. The areas that were converted into Small Holder Irrigation Schemes were from the land acquired through the land redistribution by
Government. The smallest schemes have an average of between 10 - 45 hectares whilst the largest have an average of 160 hectares. The joint Committee noted from the visits that those irrigation schemes with smallest land size were London Farm, Silikwe and Kufandada which had 10 ha, 19,3ha and 22ha of arable land respectively. Each individual has a portion of 0,2 ha per block out of the three blocks in each irrigation scheme. Tshongogwe, Banga and Hopewell had the largest land sizes with each individual having up to 0,5 ha per block out of the three blocks in each irrigation scheme. For the purpose of water supply, the schemes are divided into blocks and each block is allocated its own time to use water since the pumping system and water supplying equipment cannot service the whole fields at once.
Throughout all the visited irrigations schemes, farmers posited that the Government through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement is supporting all the irrigation schemes throughout the country with farm equipment such as tractors, planters, discs and irrigation equipment which were availed under the More Food Programme.
6.2 Crops grown
The Joint Committee was concerned to witness that at some irrigation schemes, there was lack of knowledge of crops to grow in relation to each season as witnessed by maize which was affected by frost at London Farm and Wenimbi. The Committee noted that at all Irrigation schemes, there were different types of crops that were grown ranging from maize, wheat, vegetables, sugar beans, butternuts and tomatoes. The Committee noted that some irrigation schemes like Hopewell had vast land which was not being utilized and hence no crops were grown.
6.2.1 Crops Grown under the Irrigation Pfumvudza/Intwasa program
During the visits, the Committee witnessed that the Pfumvudza/
Intwasa Programme was also incorporated into the irrigation schemes and farmers were growing maize and wheat. However, at London Farm irrigation, the farmers had not yet planted the winter wheat because of inadequate and late supply of seed and chemicals. The Committee was dismayed to witness that at Wenimbi Irrigation scheme, wheat was still at its germination stage since the seed was availed to farmers lately after the recommended planting time for winter. It was also presented by farmers to the Committee that farmers had not received the herbicides for weed control in planted wheat at Wenimbi Irrigation scheme, hence weeds were competing with plants. The Committee noted that some of the irrigation schemes were already meeting the expected harvests for both family sustenance and surplus. An example was at Banga and Kufandada irrigations, where the Committee was informed that a total of 11 tons of wheat and 17 tonnes of maize were sold to the Grain Marketing
Board respectively in the 2019/2020 season.
6.2.2 Crops Grown under the dry land Pfumvudza/Intwasa program
Dryland Pfumvudza/Intwasa was being done at household level. The Committee noted that in all the visited areas, farmers were testifying that they received the following inputs; 5kg maize seed, 50 kg compound D fertilizer, 50 kg top dressing fertilizer, 5 kg sorghum seed and 10 kg soya beans seed. The Committee learnt that of all the inputs supplied to farmers for the Pfumvudza programme, only maize gave them a good harvest since the seed and basal fertilizers were availed to farmers on time. Farmers reported that an average of 1,5 tonnes of maize was harvested per 0,5-acre plot.
On small grains like sorghum and other crops like soya beans, the Committee observed that farmers did not attempt to plant since the seed was distributed in mid-January- February way after the timeframe for planting these crops. Overly, the Committee noted that the Pfumvudza Programme was greatly accepted by people and has proved to be a solution to food deficit at family levels. Farmers at all visited areas, recommended for the extension of the Pfumvudza land sizes from 0.5 acres to at 1 acre.
6.3 Power and water sources
The Committee appreciated that all the visited schemes used either river with perennial water supply as their water source, for example Kufandada and Hopewell irrigations while others use either dams or solar/electric powered boreholes as their water sources. The Committee was pleased to get reports that due to the abundant rainfall in the 2020/2021 season, the dam and river levels were at full capacity and there will be no water shortages for crop production. However, the community leaders raised concern that some dams were now affected by weeds and siltation which will affect the dam capacity in the long run, for example the Banga Dam. The Joint
Committee was informed by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, that the main source of power for the Small Holder Irrigation Schemes is electricity from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. The Committee was pleased to note that there were no power outages caused by load shedding. The Committee also noted that in some areas such as Banga, the scheme uses gravity as its source of power to pump water from the dam to the scheme and in Kufandada, the scheme uses solar powered system to pump water from the river to the field reservoirs. However, in some areas such as Hopewell, they experience power shortages as a result of none payment of bills to the service providers such as Zimbabwe National Water Authority and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, hence they were disconnected from services. The water shortages reported to the Committee were as a result of pump breakdown and pump incapacity to service the whole fields, for example at Wenimbi, farmers use one pump instead of three.
6.4 Gender Inclusivity
In terms of gender equity and inclusivity in the schemes, the Committee witnessed that in overall, women were participating in both irrigation schemes and the Pfumvudza Programme in their numbers. In addition, women and youth were also part of the management committees of the irrigation schemes. Youths and people with disabilities were also benefiting from the irrigation schemes and the Pfumvudza Programmes. In addition, some schemes like Silikwe Irrigation created a separate sub-scheme which is only meant for youth in the area and there are 56 youth beneficiaries in that scheme. However, there were still some areas where there is need for awareness to ensure that women and people with disability participate and benefit from such programmes. At Hopewell Irrigation, the Committee was dismayed to witness that the current sitting irrigation Committee had no women, or youth member. As a result, the Committee did not consider women and youth as beneficiaries or part of the irrigation scheme.
In brief, the Table 1 below illustrates the Committee findings on gender inclusivity per each visited scheme for the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa in the irrigation schemes. Total number of participants and gender disaggregated data as well as women representation in Committee leadership are presented by the table.
Table1. Sample of Gender Representation in Pfumvudza and
Irrigation
Irrigation scheme | Total beneficiaries | Number of women | No. of men | Disability | Youth | Women in committee | Men in committee |
Wenimbi
Irrigation |
129 | 25 | 68 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 5 |
London Farm | 33 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Kufandada
irrigation |
120 | 66 | 54 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 4 |
Silikwe
Irrigation |
56(scheme A) 56(scheme B) | 41
|
15 | 6 | 5
56 |
4
0 |
3
0 |
Banga Irrigation | 294 | 130 | 160 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 4 |
Tshongogwe
Irrigation |
62 | 41 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
Hopewell
Irrigation |
52 | 8
|
39
|
0
|
5
|
0 | 7 |
The table above shows that areas such Banga Irrigation Scheme considered women to be part of beneficiaries, leadership in irrigation schemes which is in line with the National Gender Policy. On the other hand, the table confirms that in other areas like Hopewell Irrigation Scheme, women were not actively included in the irrigation committee and their number as beneficiaries of scheme is extremely lower than the number of men. The table also illustrates that most of the visited schemes, people with disabilities were not participating except for Kufandada, Banga and Selikwe Irrigation Schemes which indicated that there are people with disabilities benefiting.
7.0 GENERAL CHALLENGES IN
PFUMVUDZA/INTWASA AND SMALL HOLDER
IRRIGATIONS SCHEMES
7.1 Disbursement and distribution of inputs
The joint Committee was informed in all areas visited, that both Pfumvudza inputs for households in communities and Pfumvudza inputs for Small Holder Irrigation were not disbursed in time.
Farmers at Wenimbi, Banga, Kufandada, London Farm and Tshongogwe Irrigation, presented to the Committee that inputs were not provided on time to allow proper planning and preparations for planting. In most cases, the Committee received submissions that maize seed and compound D were distributed in November and the farmers did not get any top-dressing fertilizers up until March and April when they received 50kg bag per each person of ammonium nitrate well after the time for the application fertilizer.
Across all the arable provinces visited, the Committee was disheartened to note that other inputs such as sorghum and soya beans seed were only been availed to farmers between mid January to February 2021. Farmers at Kufandada, Hopewell indicated to the Committee that these inputs had no purpose since they were distributed after planting period had lapsed. The inputs were returned back to the Grain Marketing Board. Farmers were of the view that by distributing the inputs late, the Government was denying them a bumper harvest which would go a long way in increasing food production in the country. Farmers bemoaned that the Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should give the full package of farming inputs which include seed, compound fertilizers and top-dressing fertilizer at once by September to allow farmers to properly plan and prepare for the planting season.
With regards to the distribution of inputs, cases of corruption were reported to the Committee that some inputs were distributed at night and if farmers were absent, the inputs were said to have been returned to Grain Marketing Board. However, there is no follow-up procedure to the Grain Marketing Board to ensure that the inputs were returned. Farmers alerted the Committee that inputs were being diverted from farmers and sold somewhere.
7.2 Use of Agriculture equipment
The joint Committee was told by female and other farmers that in most instances, male counterpart farmers especially those that have leadership position in community or in irrigation did not want to share the equipment such as tractors or planters with female farmers. The Committee was displeased to hear that at Hopewell
Irrigation since the scheme received a tractor from Government in 2012, the tractor had been only used by three farmers out of 52 in the scheme and this has also affected the loan payments for the tractor to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural
Resettlement.
7.3 State of infrastructure
Farmers presented to the Committee that some farm infrastructures were now old and dilapidated. This was witnessed at Banga Irrigation scheme where the fence is 1.5 metres high and is very easy for livestock to break into the fields. Furthermore, at London farm and Tshongogwe Irrigation Schemes, farmers articulated that they had serious problems with cattle since there was no fence on the other sides of the irrigations. Farmers indicated that the fences were vandalised and stolen.
In terms of water pumps and other irrigation equipment, farmers indicated that they use only one or two pumps to draw water from source to the fields. At Tshongogwe, London farm, Hopewell and Wenimbi Irrigation Schemes, the Committee witnessed water pumping challenges. These irrigation schemes were using one pump instead of three pumps since the other water pumps were not functioning due to breakdown. This has affected crop yield since farmers cannot adequately water their crops. Additionally, the water pressure was said to be low since the working pump will be overwhelmed.
Farmers also indicated to the Committee that irrigation pipes were old and as a result, they experience frequent bursting and breakdowns. In other areas such as London Farm and Wenimbi, farmers use mono pumps which are outdated and hence difficult to find spare parts for repair.
7.4 Support from Agricultural Extension Officers.
The Committee was pleased to note that in some areas, the officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, particularly the Agricultural Extension Officers were reporting for duty and rendering their services and assistance to farmers. However, in areas such as Wenimbi and
Hopewell Irrigation Schemes, farmers indicated that no Agricultural Extension Officers came to assist the farmers, hence they have no knowledge and skills to grow certain crops and had no cropping calendar.
7.5 Road network and proximity to market
In most cases, the Committee witnessed that majority of the farming activities were being done away from access roads. Roads in such areas were not being rehabilitated, for example the road leading to London farm, Silikwe, Kufandada and Wenimbi were very poor and inaccessible, thus farmers face problems in transporting their produce to the markets. The only available ready market for farmers to sell their produce was the Grain Marketing Board, whose depots are away from the communities, for example farmers at Silikwe
Irrigation Scheme deliver their produce to Gwanda Grain Marketing Board depot which is 45 kilometres away. These long distances to reach their markets prove very expensive to the farmers owing to the inaccessibility of their road networks and as a result, prompt for side marketing.
8.0 COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
- The Committee observed that all small holder irrigation schemes had received assistance from Government in the form of farm equipment such tractors, discs, planters under the More Food Programme and farming inputs under the Presidential
Input Scheme in the form of wheat seeds, maize seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.
- The Committee noted that land was under-utilized at Hopewell
Irrigation in Chegutu and London Farm Irrigation in Lower Gweru because of water pump breakdowns and unpaid water
bills.
- The Committee observed that most farmers lacked farming knowledge and had no cropping calendars. This was compounded by insufficient Government support through the Agricultural Extension Officers who do not frequently report for duty as evidenced by farmers growing crops which are not winter resistant such as maize and butternuts.
- The Committee observed that irrigation schemes, for example Silikwe, Kufandada, Banga and Tshongogwe which have women as majority of beneficiaries, tend to thrive and are more productive as compared to those with more men, for example Hopewell and London Farm Irrigation Schemes. This is because they are almost entirely responsible for virtually all activities such as hoeing, weeding, harvesting, processing and marketing and they make significant contribution to food production.
- The Committee noted that the role of women in agriculture is so important economically but has remained obscure, because women rarely play any major roles in decision making processes as witnessed at Hopewell Irrigation.
- The Committee observed that there are no Grain Marketing Board collection points close to the farmers to enable them to sell their maize and wheat without incurring exorbitant transport costs.
- The Committee noted that inputs such as wheat seeds, sorghum, herbicides and topdressing fertilizers for
Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme were not distributed on time, hence resulting in late planting.
9.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and
Rural Resettlement should ensure that a complete package of Pfumvudza/Intwasa dryland summer inputs for 2021/2022 season, that is seed, compound fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and topdressing fertilizer are disbursed to the farmers before the onset of the rain season by 30th of September 2021.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should ensure that Grain Marketing Board collection points are established and be accessible to all farmers by at least 10 km being the furthest as of 30 March 2022.
In the 2022 National Budget, the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development should allocate a budget for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement to embark on dam weed control and dam scooping to remove deposited material to ensure that there will be no water shortages for irrigation due to siltation.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement as for the 2021/2022 summer season, should increase the Pfumvudza/Intwasa target size of land from the current half acre to at least 1 acre to all targeted farmers since it was well adopted and proved to produce good yields.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should distribute the winter wheat inputs by 28 February each planting season.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should urgently put a monitoring and tracking mechanism to ensure that agricultural extension officers are reporting for duty and rendering their services to farmers in their areas of jurisdiction by 30 October 2021.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should facilitate for the withdrawal of underutilised irrigable land and farming equipment given to unfunctional and unproductive schemes such as Hopewell Irrigation Scheme in Chegutu and allocate to new potential farmers by 30 November 2021.
The Ministry of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water,
Fisheries and Rural Resettlement and the Ministry of Women Affairs Small to Medium Enterprise Development should embark on awareness campaigns to encourage women, youth and people with disability’s participation in all Government oriented agricultural programmes by 31st October 2021.
10.0 CONCLUSION
The integration of gender concerns in agricultural development programmes is important. This will not only lead to increased productivity but also, will create equal opportunity for the targeted groups to participate in poverty reduction and food security, thereby promoting the policy thrust of the agriculture sector transformation agenda. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I want
to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu for a well detailed report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development. He has articulated it very well but I just want to add a few points which he left out. It is true that Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme is going on very well but as we moved around, we saw that in some of the irrigations, people are not aware of what they are supposed to do. This means that those who are supposed to train them are not doing their work. It is very important that the Agritex Officers should be talking to farmers on ways of farming because this is a very good programme which was embraced well by the citizens and it went on very well in many areas.
We also discovered that in most of the irrigation schemes, youths are not involved. We realised that only elderly people are involved in those irrigation schemes but it is good that the youths be involved so that they can help their parents because they still have the energy. We also saw that those who use drip irrigation harvested something but it was not bumper; it was only for family consumption just to take them up to the next season. This means that they would not get any income from their efforts so that they maintain the irrigation because these irrigations get worn out after two or three years. So, they need to refurbish them but they would not have the money.
We also noticed that in some irrigation schemes as has been articulated by Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, farmers are not aware of what to plant. They are not aware of rotational cropping and they do not know the types of crop to grow in a particular season. For example, butternuts are not winter crops, which is an indication that the Agritex Officers are not doing their job properly.
We also discovered that in those irrigation schemes, the committees that have been set up that are supposed to supervise the work, women are very few. We noticed that in a committee of seven people, there will be more men than women. Like at Winimbi Irrigation, there are five men and two women. At Hopewell, the committee comprises of seven members but there is no woman in that committee. What we realised is that women are found in field work and we feel that it is good that when it comes to administration, they should use the
50/50 principle. As the two Committees, we recommend that farmers be given inputs in time so that they start farming early. When the harvest is good, it would improve their lives and they will also get some income from farming. I just wanted to add a few words. The report was written very well. That is what we came across on our visits. Thank you. *HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President for
according me this opportunity to add a few words on the report which has been tabled by Hon. Sen. Ndlovu, informing us of their investigations as they went around the country looking at irrigation schemes, the Pfumvudza Programme and also how women are being incorporated in those schemes.
Hon. President, the Pfumvudza Programme was started this past season but the strides that it has made are very big. It was able to alleviate hunger in families, which means that the motive was accomplished although there were some hiccups here and there, as has been articulated in the report. Those challenges are common when a new thing is introduced. After having the opportunity of going around investigating on what transpired, we urge that during the next season those who are responsible should go around and try to iron out the challenges.
The other thing that has been brought about from the report is that the inputs were delivered late to the people. I think the Ministry responsible for distribution of inputs should take a leaf from the findings, so that we have a policy that anyone who is being incorporated into the Pfumvudza Programme, there should be a deadline when inputs should be delivered to the people. So, we need the monitoring and evaluation policy. We want to act as if we are on a race so that we start at the same time and we do not leave anyone behind in the Pfumvudza Programme.
In the report, it was brought out that there are some irrigation schemes which are not being utilised. I do not think the problem is with the people but the Government and all the responsible authorities because people are not trained on how to do it. We are urging that people be trained before embarking on such programmes. When people do it without training, they will give up because they think it does not work. We are urging that there be a deliberate effort so that anyone who goes into these programmes would be trained in time.
Last time, we were told in this House by the Late Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement giving us the number of Agritex officers in the country. We found that we have so many Agritex officers. In this report, it was highlighted that it should be clear whether they are reporting for duty and whether they are training farmers. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation is very important in that area so that they can give feedback on progress. That is the challenge that we are faced with as a country when it comes to farming, that we have workers whom the Government is paying but most of them, if you go around they are busy working on their fields instead of training farmers. We are encouraging the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to closely watch these people to see whether they are doing their duties. With these few words, allow me to thank Hon. Sen. Ndlovu for this pertinent report. Thank you.
^^HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate
for this opportunity to add my voice on this motion raised by Hon. Sen.
Ndlovu, supported by Hon. Sen. Muzenda. Mr. President, looking at the SDG2 issue, we will be talking of food security. Therefore, we are grateful for the joint Committees that took time to tour different irrigation schemes because it is hurtful for people to operate under hunger. In English, it is said a hungry man is an angry man. People who were in the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme and in the irrigation schemes faced challenges of water. Without water on the dry land, it was not going to be possible for the farmers to get a bumper harvest. Due to the adequate rains, they managed to have a better harvest than previous years.
The involvement of women in the irrigation schemes was a wonderful idea because most of these women have children. They managed to put food on the table for their children and they will not starve. Most of the farmers had a quarter of a hectare which they planted the Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs. However, they managed to produce yields that could sustain their families and send the other grains to the
GMB.
We would like the national budget to give more money to the Ministry of Agriculture so that farmers may have enough inputs and equipment to increase productivity. Farmers had a plea that if these inputs could be distributed way ahead of time, they may be able to prepare and plant before the rains. Mostly inputs take time to get delivered and this delay usually affects the harvest. Also to note is that if the programme is well managed successfully, it would reduce poverty since there will be more food which is produced by the farmers than spending money importing. We thank the President for this initiative. I encourage all citizens to take it seriously because if managed successfully, our budget will not be spent on importing food but on other important imports. With these few words Mr. President, I thank you. *HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu for moving such a motion. I am one of the people who moved around the country. Pfumvudza is quite a commendable programme which we appreciate that it is producing good results and the country had a bumper harvest last year. My plea is regarding irrigation programmes that we saw. Every place we visited, you discover that those who are involved in irrigation schemes are not growing but they continue receiving assistance from Government. Mr. President, I would like to say that the Ministry should teach them so that they are empowered. Wherever we met those who are involved in irrigation programmes, they were requesting for assistance from Government. If this trend continues, then we are not growing as a nation. I believe that most of these people have over ten years in these schemes. My suggestion will be that such farmers be empowered through technical expertise. They must be taught so that they will learn to operate on their own without assistance from Government. If we continue assisting as they continue requesting for assistance from Government, then we are not going anywhere. So, they need to grow as farmers. There are a lot of dams where there is potential for irrigation but there is no irrigation programme that is happening.
The biggest issue is that of course farmers are farming but some are not fully exploiting their potential. Some are requesting for tractors, implements and inputs and some need assistance on having a good way on their road networks. So, the Ministry should look at this issue and come up with a training exercise which will empower farmers so that they will be able to stand on their own without leaning on Government subsidies. There must be more irrigation programmes around the country because those who are in irrigation need to grow. Of course they are farming but I noticed that they allocate each other small portions of land where they cannot fully exploit their potential, hence they continue complaining and requesting for assistance. There is need for bigger portions of land. In other areas, we saw more than 60 people in one irrigation scheme. This is a result of lack of knowledge, lack of training, overcrowding because some do not attend to their land at the same time because they cannot do so.
Mr. President, Government should look into this issue because some have been in this industry for more than ten years. If someone was given a tractor by Government, then he should be able to buy his or her own tractor. Those who were given whatever implements should have more now but they were given inputs again. My prayer is that the Ministry should look at this issue and identify qualified and experienced people who are agronomists to assist our farmers so that they are empowered. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. Speaker for
giving me this opportunity to speak on this report and I also want to thank the Thematic Committees which visited different areas. First of all, we must deplore and not allow scenarios which were mentioned by the chief, where certain inputs are distributed wrongly or at night. My suggestion is that it is unfortunate that Ministers who are supposed to be listening to our debates are not here.
My suggestion here is that it is not just for irrigation, it is also for Pfumuvudza. Like this year, it has been announced that there will be good rains. Instead of Government to give inputs to certain individuals, they must subsidise the seeds to ensure that everyone gets it. We must try to find a way of ensuring that those good farmers get enough inputs. We concentrate on those who are weak, who cannot plough and end up selling the seeds at night. They are given inputs and they are abusing them.
We have records of all these past years, of the same people who get inputs every year and produce nothing. So, we must change our approach. We must have a new norm of looking for productivity amongst ourselves. I seriously think that we should help each other with our oversight role to ensure that there is equitable, reasonable distribution of inputs, especially to those farmers who are good. On irrigation, it is important that we went to see those who are already practicing in irrigation. What is critical is - what are we doing to improve the irrigation methods? This is now the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that it follows through and ensures that people out there have improved methods of irrigation depending on the water supplies that are available. In certain areas, we are looking at drip irrigation and in certain areas, we are asking for wet-flow irrigation like the sugar plantations in other areas. The recommendations must come out of reasonable research. In this small to medium enterprise, farmers must be able to get inputs. Hon. President, you must not forget that soon after 1980, our best production was from the peasant farmers. The peasant farmers were happy, they worked and produced the best maize. We must do our own thing in Zimbabwe that makes us get results. The frustration comes when we do not do enough to ensure that our people do proper farming. I want to follow through the previous speaker who said that they would want to improve on project farmers. Is there any evaluation of these people? If we do not evaluate their production levels and make sure we enhance them, we are also doing ourselves a disservice. There is need to ask the research – there is an agriculture research station here; we have got extension officers there to make sure that they give us the results of those who are reasonably well equipped.
There is distribution of tractors which is being talked about everywhere. The tractors must be allocated to certain areas so that they are used profitably by communities. I know certain areas where there is no more draught power because of death of cattle. Are we working or assisting on that? Are we asking Government to do that? That is what I am asking personally and that is what this Senate should ask from Government that these tractors, yes they may be allocated to individuals so that they repay but we can also give DDF. I know people can hire tractors from DDF but you find that some DDF areas have no tractors. Can they plough for different people now and make sure that people without draught power and there are good farmers who could have work done to ensure that Pfumvudza and other things are done in their areas. We are empowering people every five years. Certain people go and get loans and the loans are written off. They continuously repeat the same process of getting loans. Are we doing any evaluation because we must say, if we could not do it last time, what reason do we have to do it this time? People must learn to be productive. This also needs strong hands from central Government to ensure that, that is produced. I am sorry to say that the way our Ministers are working is lackadaisical. They do not even come to listen to our arguments. We are just talking to ourselves. At the end of the day, we should also check the register - do they have an official here in Parliament because we shall talk to these walls and they will never read the answer. We will never get much help from central Government. I insist that the report is good. We must follow through and do our oversight role but ensure that next year or the year following we check whether anything has been done to enhance the Pfumvudza, irrigation system and empowerment of women and youths.
It is important that we all work as one Government to ensure that our great grand children see some productive work that we would have done in progression of what we have innovated and we must innovate within Zimbabwe especially when we know that there is enough rain; we innovate like we have done in Pfumvudza. We innovate in terms of draught power. In everything we do, we must put some research in it. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MURONZI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this time to contribute towards this motion sharing my experience with the Senate, of what we observed during our tour of irrigation projects around the country as joint committees.
I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Ndlovu who moved the motion and the seconder. My plea is that if possible women should be allocated irrigation schemes. They should be given the opportunity to participate in such projects alone. There will be a difference because women are hard working. When they work, they commit themselves to work towards the livelihoods of their families. We went to Hopewell in Chegutu. It is very painful because there is not much that is happening there. There are no women in that irrigation committee. There is no progress. It is called an irrigation scheme but the farmers wait for the rain season. There is no economic activity as a result of the irrigation scheme. The tractors and engines are down, hence there is no progress in that community.
As has already been said by another Hon. Senator, when we were moving around, we discovered that there are functional irrigation projects despite the fact that most of these farmers have been in the industry for a long time but there is no tangible progress. That is why I request that there should be at least an irrigation programme for women alone. Government should allocate women so that we see a difference because women are despised in everything and in every programme. Pfumvudza is a good programme and this year there was a bumper harvest. A lot has been said about delays in allocation of inputs so that people plant early.
We also went to Wenimbi in Marondera. Their wheat was planted towards the rain season. People were complaining that they do not have adequate piping for water. I was not impressed. I did not see any good report from all the irrigation projects that we visited because there were a lot of complains regarding inadequate water and engines that are not working properly. I do not know whether they expect Government to assist them despite the fact that they were given tractors and other implements. It is important that they work hard but they are just complaining. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. MKWEBU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMITTEE ON HIV AND
AIDS ON THE STUDY VISIT TO UGANDA ON HIV AND AIDS
MANAGEMENT AND FINANCING
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS on the Study Visit to
Uganda on HIV and AIDS Management and Financing.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM TO
ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to strengthen the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. DUBE: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity. I want to support the motion that was brought by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi about health facilities. I am from Nkayi and there are a lot of challenges faced in this area. People are giving birth in buses as they travel for nearly 90km to access health services. You will realise that before the bus gets to Nkayi, that mother would deliver along the way. There are no clinics and they are 150kms apart or you are supposed to go to Gokwe to access these facilities. As I am speaking, I have two sisters who died during delivery because they were bleeding as they were going to Kana Mission. Another one called Jennifer passed on as we got nearer to the hospital. You will realise we use traditional ways in trying to circumvent such problems. We are appealing to the Government to intervene on the issue of health facilities because there is no transport. There is only one bus travelling and how do you expect our people to travel using scotch carts to a hospital which is almost 150kms away. Business transporters do not want to take their buses there because of the poor road network. Since I was born, I have never seen an ambulance in that area. Therefore, I am appealing to
Government to intervene. The CDF money should be used to construct small clinics that can be used for both health service and delivery.
People are taken to Ngwalangwa and they only find a nurse who is under Red Cross. What do you expect from that nurse? The standards of living are very poor in Matabeleland North. Matabeleland North is seriously underdeveloped. We also went to areas like Hwange where there are only five rooms but there is no fridge used to store the injections which needs low temperatures. We also found that nurses are transferring because of the poor conditions that they are working under in Matabeleland North. Nurses do not have cottages for accommodation. How can that person be motivated to work?
When talking about a person who gave birth in the bus, I travelled to Kana Mission using my own resources. On the way, this mother gave birth and people had to request for accommodation in the nearby homesteads so that she could give birth there. I am really bemoaning that the Government should improve the standards of living for Matebeleland North, especially in the health sector. Sometimes nurses are given accommodation in people’s homes, there is no
accommodation. We are also requesting that ministers should also drive to Matebeleland North so that they become eye-witnesses of what I am talking about.
In those areas, that is why you realise that there are high death rates because of malaria. People are dying on their way to hospital facilities. Mbuma Mission Hospital is very far and the patient will be crying for help as they go there. Therefore, time is no longer on our side, we have no dispensation. Let the Government move around and see how the citizens are living in these areas. If anyone has not yet visited these areas, surely you have not seen Zimbabwe. I have never seen areas where people are living yet they are depending on hospitals which are 100kms away from their villages.
With these words, I am begging the Government to go around. Let the Ministers go and visit these areas, if possible we can also have mobile clinics because we have people living with HIV/AIDS who are supposed to take medications and are supposed to go as far as those hospitals to collect their medications. We are saying, we are now 40 years and still we do not have health facilities in Matebeleland North.
Surely, how can we be celebrating 40 years? We just have Hwange and
Victoria Falls and the rest there is nothing. Thank you Madam President.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON THE PROVISION OF
QUALITY EDUCATION, SANITISATION AND HYGIENE
MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on the Provision of Quality Education, Sanitisation and Hygiene Management in Schools.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JOINT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING
AND THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON PEACE AND SECURITY
ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS MADE IN AREAS
AFFECTED BY FLOODS AND ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF
COVID-19 TREATMENT, QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION
FACILITIES
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the assessment of progress on construction of COVID-19 Treatment, Quarantine and
Isolation facilities.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that
the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTION
HONOUR IN RESPECT OF MBUYA NEHANDA STATUE IN THE
CITY OF HARARE
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the heroics of
Mbuya Nehanda.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add a few words on the motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Kambizi and the seconder, in relation to Mbuya Nehanda. We know that Mbuya Nehanda participated in the First
Chimurenga and with her resilience and the words that she said that ‘of course we have participated in the First Chimurenga and have been overcome but my bones are going to rise again’. This is what we saw happening - her bones rose again. This culminated in the Second Chimurenga which brought independence to Zimbabwe. There were some people who got revelations which came out as a spirit medium that their spiritships should be fulfilled. So, during the liberation struggle for independence, that spirit was taken to a Zambian base called Chifombo, where the spirit would visit liberation war fighters to tell them what was supposed to be done.
When the enemy was coming, the fighters were forewarned to leave the base so that they run away from the enemy before an imminent attack. This continued to happen and liberation fighters were being informed of what they should do. That is why we see most of us who saw Comrades coming, every one of them had some snuff that they carried which they used as per instructions by the spirit mediums. This is the heroship that we saw in Mbuya Nehanda and which continued to the next generation.
There is a book that was written by Solomon Mutsvairo, which is called ‘Feso’. This is the book which has the Mbuya Nehanda poem, which when there were any celebrations, the late Vice President Hon. Muzenda would recite the poem Nehanda Nyakasikana so that we understand the great deeds and exploits that were left by Mbuya Nehanda and that these were not in vain. These are works which culminated in successful liberation of Zimbabwe. This helped because we know that in Zimbabwe, there are a lot of sacred places and things, some which were done by our great grandparents. When we were growing up, we were told to go to Ematonjeni so that we understand what we were supposed to do. Now, because of the imperialist system which came to Zimbabwe, we ended up not knowing where Ematonjeni is because we were brainwashed. We were taught that our African traditions were heathen; they were anti-Christianity. So, this was deeply inculcated into our minds and we despised our traditional customs in order for the imperialists to continue ruling.
What helped is that they knew that the power of Black people is in their chiefs. You know that most chiefs were dethroned. Their powers were taken away. That is why you discover that we have a lot of problems in this country. Our children are being married at a tender age because we have dumped our culture. We have been brainwashed to shun our culture. Young girls are falling pregnant. We are very concerned about the situation and we do not know what to do.
So, I would like to thank our heroine, Mbuya Nehanda
Nyakasikana because the great exploits she did brought independence to Zimbabwe. When the White men came, they put their holidays; they would call each and every sacred day, giving it a different name. For example, Rhodes and Founders Day holiday which was on 26th
December every year. This holiday was continuously celebrated as
Rhodes and Founders but after independence, it then became the Boxing Day. When we look at it, we do not understand what boxing is. If you understand what it means – those who box are involved in physical fights. So, I am saying that whatever happened Madam President, is that 26th December is the day when one of our heroes died, the late General Tongogara. It is my request that 26th December, should we continue calling it Boxing Day yet we have a Commander of the ZANILA Forces died on 26th December? My plea is that - why do we not change that holiday to Josiah Tongogara Day? May be it will help us a nation so that we begin to transform systems which we inherited from the White imperialists. Now, we will be having our own systems.
Let me end by thanking Hon. Sen. Kambizi who raised this motion which is a critical motion; a crucial motion regarding Mbuya Nehanda and her contributions and the people who were getting revelations from her spirit until we attained independence. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Madam President
for awarding me this opportunity so that I can add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Kambizi. The motion was thanking the Government for the job that they did by erecting a statue for the late heroine, Mbuya Nehanda. Madam President, I think the most crucial thing is for the people to know their history and respect it.
To those who know the liberation struggle, there is a song which was sung first during the “Pungwes” which reminds people where they are coming from, where they are going and the purpose. People used to sing a song about Mbuya Nehanda. It is only that people are no longer allowed to sing in the House, otherwise I would have sung the song.
Most people would be able to realise that we were being oppressed. That is why many Zimbabweans sacrificed and dedicated their lives to liberate the country. Women were cooking, the war collaborators would walk during the night and even during the rainy season, trying to liberate the country. People were dedicated to liberate their country. Madam President, for the children of Zimbabwe to forget something crucial like that, it is very worrisome.
When there was word that the statue of Mbuya Nehanda was going to be erected, many people said a lot of things. The step which was taken is crucial and must have been taken in 1980 during independence.
The first thing which we must have done is to respect our heroine,
Mbuya Nehanda because she was very crucial in the liberation struggle. She fought very hard for the country to attain its independence. It is worrisome to see that most people in Zimbabwe do not understand their cultural values. You can hear other people saying ancestral spirits are demons. Culture cannot be demons. We know the role the spirit mediums played during the liberation struggle for us to be liberated.
I want to thank the Government for erecting the statue of Mbuya Nehanda although the Government took long to identify that it is crucial to erect Mbuya Nehanda statue. The Government decided to erect the statue because it is very important for the history of the country. Madam
President, I am troubled as a Zimbabwean about how other people think. Some people who say they are very educated, when invited to give speeches, spend their time in libraries researching. They quote prominent people like Winston Churchill. If they mention these people, they feel that they have done something greath. They feel that it is important to worship heroes from other countries but they fail to respect our own heroes. We see that these people are lost because they fail to identify their cultural roots.
As Government, we must teach people where we are coming from. It must start from schools. During our times when we were going to school, we were taught about Bismarck, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito
Mussolini, et cetera. Those things were very difficult and you could not understand where they were coming from. They failed to teach us history about our country Zimbabwe. Nowadays, it is better because our children are being taught history that is relevant. Most of the things our children come home to ask are easy for us to narrate because it is our history. If they know where we are coming from, it helps them to understand patriotism.
An American national wherever they are when they hear people saying things about their nation, they stand and defend their country and their history. As Zimbabweans, we do not have what we call patriotism. If we do not have patriotism, we must forget about development. We will remain colonized. Therefore, Madam President, the erecting of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda is a reminder to the Zimbabweans on the route which we must take for the development of the country.
If you go to countries like China and South Korea, they invite people to see statues of their heroes. Hon. Senators can give testimonies that if they go to other countries, they get photographed at statues of heroes of those countries. Here in Zimbabwe, many people do not see it necessary to respect their heroes. These are our own heroes. Mbuya Nehanda inspired the freedom fighters, the war collaborators and our mothers to continue fighting. Although it was difficult in the liberation struggle, they used to be inspired by the saying of Mbuya Nehanda that her bones were going to arise. As a country, it is crucial to respect our heroes and heroines.
Madam President, as a Government we must change how we groom our kids. If we do not change our ways in terms of grooming and raising our children, at the end of the day, there is no history for us but our kids will respect heroes from other countries like Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. Therefore Madam President, I want to say the erection of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda must show the drive for learning the importance of respecting our heroes and heroines. We must have rallying points so that as a country we will be able to benefit or achieve what we want. The liberation struggle managed to be a success and going forward until the country attained its independence in 1980. We have got one thing which was our rallying point. Let me say that the rallying point was the spirit of Mbuya
Nehanda. If you move from all different parts of the country, there was one-word rallying point for Mbuya Nehanda which says, “my bones are going to rise - I am going to die for this country, take a gun and rule yourself”.
This means as a country, we had one message which is going to encourage us of patriotism; taking your country and put it first and see that it is important. I want to thank the Government for the job it has done for erecting the statue of Mbuya Nehanda at Corner Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere and these roads are named after our national heroes who helped us in the liberation of this country.
If it was not Mbuya Nehanda’s inspirational words, there was no one who was going to be found sitting here. Therefore, if we are not going to pass these words to our children and some other people who are ignorant in terms of raising of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda, we would be doing a bad thing. Let us teach them so that they can understand our history. It is not about where we are coming from but it also shows us where we are going as a country because Mbuya Nehanda was a rallying point and that rallying point is going to unite us as Zimbabweans so that we can be able to fulfill our wishes.
Madam President, I can continue to say more and more because
this issue seems as if it is a small thing but to some of us, it is a very crucial and big thing. With these few words Madam President, I want to take my seat and encourage people by saying that as a country, if we forget where we are coming from, we are not going to change if we are reading about Mao tse Tung and Winston Churchill, we are not going anywhere. We must focus on discussing our heroes here in Zimbabwe in how we are working, dressing and even our eating habits - it is because of our heroine Mbuya Nehanda. Thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th September, 2021.
MOTON
VIRTUAL REPORT OF THE 65TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ON WOMEN’S FULL AND
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION AND DECISION MAKING IN
PUBLIC LIFE
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. N. KHUMALO: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the report on the 65th
Session of the Commission on the status of Women held in March 2021. I also want to thank Madam President for leading the Parliament delegation to this year’s session. My focus will mainly be on child marriages - an issue that I am passionate about and would want to see its eradication to ensure all women and girls participate fully in public life and are free from violence.
UNICEF defines child marriages as a formal marriage or union before 18 years of age. Zimbabwe is a State Party to international instruments whose aim, among others, is to protect the girl child, including protecting them from child marriages. These legal frameworks, which include Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC), SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development, have been considered and their provisions have been incorporated into gender laws of the country. Zimbabwe prioritised children’s rights. It adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child and various laws have been passed in the recent years which protect the children.
Children’s rights are now set out in Section 19 of the Constitution. Section 19 (1) clearly sets out that the State must adopt policies and measures to ensure that in matters relating to children, the best interest of the children concerned are paramount. In Section 19 (2), the State has undertaken to ensure that children enjoy family or parental care or appropriate care when removed from the family environment. They have shelter, basic nutrition, health care and social services. They are protected from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse and have access to appropriate education and training.
Further to that, Section 78 of the Constitution stipulates that every person who has attained the age of eighteen, has the right to start a family of their own. In addition, criminal law has protected children against sexual offences that might be committed against them.
However, notwithstanding these constitutional provisions, the Marriage Act [Chapter 5:11] provides that a girl between the ages of 16 and 18 may, with the joint consent of her mother and father, enter into a civil marriage under the Marriage Act. The Marriage Act does not however permit a boy below the age of 18 years to contract a marriage. The report on the 65th Session of the CSW noted early child marriages as a big threat to the human rights and well-being of children and the development agenda. Child marriage denies the young an opportunity to grow and empower themselves. It challenges the basic rights of these children to education, health, protection and development. The girls are forced into it a lot more in comparison to their male counterparts and impacts girls with more intensity. Child marriage is caused by many causes like cultural, social, economic and religious. In many cases, a mixture of these causes results in the imprisonment of children in marriages without their consent. Girls from poor households are twice as likely to be married earlier than the girls from higher income groups. With the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, the prevalence rate has more than doubled. This has also contributed to the high teenage pregnancies rate noted by the Portfolio Committees on Education and on Health and Child Care.
Madam President, according to the CSW Report tabled by Hon.
Ndlovu, it is estimated that by the end of 2021, 10 million girls will have dropped out of school because of the teenage pregnancies and child marriages. According to multiple human rights agreements, marriage under the age of 18 is a violation of human rights, including the right to equality on grounds of sex and age, the right to marry and establish a family, the right to life, the right to education, development and the highest attainable standard of health. Child marriage is a product of cultures that devalue women and girls and discriminate against them. The discrimination, according to UNICEF Report on Child Marriage and the Law, often manifests itself in the form of domestic violence, marital rape, deprivation of food, lack of access to information, education, health care and general impediments to mobility.
Madam President, Zimbabwe pioneered the SADC Model Law on
Child Marriages and protecting those already in marriage, at the
Regional Parliament, the SADC Parliamentary Forum and Hon. Sen.
Mohadi can testify to that. What are we doing as Zimbabwe to ensure we protect those already in marriage? Our National Budget should at least have a budget to protect those already in marriage so that they are empowered to participate in public life and are also protected from violence against women. I wish to applaud the Government for putting in place legislation to allow pregnant girls to go back to school so that they can continue with their education. For those in marriage, there is need to equip them with vocational training skills as a source of empowerment and roll out more income generating projects. The Marriages Bill has partly addressed the issue of child marriages but I am of the opinion that we need a stand-alone piece of legislation to address the issue of child marriages, not just mainstream it in the Marriages Bill. Madam President, I also wish to applaud the efforts being made to address this child marriage scourge noted in the report by the traditional leaders, namely Chief Bushu and Chief Mangwende who have come up with empowerment mechanisms to assist children already in marriages. This is the information we need as legislators so that we work together with the traditional leaders as well in our constituencies. Ending child marriage requires a united effort from all community leaders to ensure that girls are empowered to participate in public life.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON.
SEN. TONGOGARA, the Senate adjourned at Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 9th September, 2021
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise on an issue of national importance. Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to congratulate Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in particular, for the launch of toll free line 317 that was launched on Monday, 6th September, 2021. The launch of the toll free line is going to enable the smooth floor of information from grassroots up to the Ministry itself. Parents can now interact with the Ministry even on issues that used to be hazy to them. Also our children are going to be speaking to the Ministry using toll free line 317. That also fulfills what they say ‘anything for us without us is not for us’. This time the Ministry will be interacting with our children. Teachers can also get information on issues that might have taken long time – you know the bureaucracy that usually goes with reporting systems from grassroots as you go up to the Ministry. Even ourselves as Members of Parliament, some of the questions we would ask here in Parliament are going to be asked by the beneficiaries at grassroots. That is going to assist us in getting information faster to our beneficiaries.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to say this programme could not have succeeded without the assistance and funding from Higher Life Foundation. We would like to applaud that development partner for making it possible that the toll free line was made accessible to our beneficiaries. I also want to thank the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education for the role they played in the advocacy process of ensuring that this programme would be a success. I want to mention in particular the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga for the role she played to ensure that the programme is a success. I want to say this now because I might not be able to thank her anymore as I have alluded to because she might not be going ahead making such successes with us.
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. M. KHUMALO): Thank
you Hon. Sithole. Your point of privilege is noted.
*HON. KACHEPA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of privilege is directed to His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe Cde. Emerson Mnangagwa. The President has devised many channels to disburse funds for the development of different areas that include the Devolution Fund and Constituency Development Fund (CDF). There is money that is being allocated from RBZ as grants to different ministries so that they reach the grassroots. The Minister of State for Devolution can gather people around and see the developments achieved through the devolution funds but the process being used to disburse the money to different projects is long. For example, when it comes to tenders and everything, the process is tiresome. At Kotwa Hospital, we requested money on 30th of the month and on the 10th of the following month, the money was already allocated but the process of tendering and procurement has not been done, hence the money ended up going back to Treasury whilst the parents and residents will be saying the hospital is now under refurbishment. Therefore, we are appealing to His Excellency for those who are in procurement processes and tendering to be housed under one roof so that the process takes fewer days compared to what is taking place currently. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. KARIKOGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. As you can see, we are all dressed in cotton and not animal skins, therefore my point of privilege concerns cotton farmers. Cotton farmers have not been paid for more than a year now. I will take you back for a bit. The process of cotton farming is very painful, it takes the whole year to work on the production and we expect to be paid once off per year but this has not happened. This year, our cotton merchants came up with a new plan where they say they will pay farmers in small installments. Looking at someone who has not been paid their money for the cotton they sold last year and the money is then paid in small installments - it is not viable for us as cotton farmers.
Since last year, our country has been placed under COVID-19 lockdown and it is not feasible for a cotton farmer to be under such conditions without money. Most of us are married to women of the
Shumba and Mhofu totems, life is unbearable at home without money
– [Laughter.] – We are asking that if it is possible, the Minister of
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement comes to Parliament to present a Ministerial Statement regarding payment of cotton farmers and tell us when these payments are going to be made. Before I take my seat, schools opened last week, the farmers I am talking about expect to pay school fees for their children using proceeds from the cotton sold but this is not happening. This non-payment of cotton farmers has also reduced the economic activity in our constituencies. Through your wisdom Mr. Speaker Sir, can you allow the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to give us a Ministerial Statement concerning cotton farmers’ payments. I thank you.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. A month ago, I requested a Ministerial Statement on the payment of cotton farmers but the Minister has not come up with that. Can the
Clerk of Parliament take note that this is the second request for a
Ministerial Statement on that payment? Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Members. I think
your concerns are noted. We will inform the Minister to respond.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my point of national interest is on unreliable statistics that we get from ministries. Mr.
Speaker Sir, the Zimbabwe Vulnerable Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) statistics on the provision of food to the insecure households: in 2019, it was 30%, in 2020 it has gone up to 43%. From 30% to 43%; this exposes that the so called economy which is said to be blossoming is not as a result of these statistics. Why are we being given statistics which are not a true record of what is happening on the ground?
This is a programme which the World Food Programme (WFP) does, working with other donor organisations like the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) and they are looking at distributing food to the insecure households. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am bringing this up because the issue of Ministers not bringing correct information is really treacherous because we are said to have a surplus yet the domestic is blossoming, so is the external debt. I say so because the issue of the parallel market exchange rate right now is at 1:150 and the RBZ auction rate is 1:80.
The truth of the matter is that it is the US Dollar that dictates the market. So, whilst you are paid in RTGS and the so called 80 plus does not apply, what is applicable is the $150. How then can we say people are doing well when the auction rate on the parallel market is as good as 100% in terms of the difference? So it is important to get the Minister to come with true statistics on the situation on the ground. Members of Parliament here will agree with me that what we are told here and what is on the ground are two different things.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, you are now
debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, may I implore the Minister of Finance to come with true statistics on the recovery of the economy. We appreciate the roads and the airports being built but the people in the rural areas, who are the majority, do not fly and it is insignificant to them. Bread and butter issues are important to build the economy at the end of the day. While I appreciate the infrastructure, it means nothing when the people on the ground are suffering and cannot afford school fees and a proper meal. It is important that true records and statistics are brought into this House on what is on the ground but not what is in Harare and what you discuss at Cabinet and so on. We become helpless as an institution on our role of oversight. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
PROVISION OF ONLINE CLASSES TO LEARNERS DURING
COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND
COURIER SERVICES (HON. PHUTI): Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir. I would like to give a response to the first Report of the joint Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology,
Postal and Courier Services and Primary and Secondary Education. First of all, I would like to apologise that this report was supposed to be presented earlier than this time but because of a few other hiccups, it had to come this late. Nevertheless Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you for this opportunity.
I would like to thank the Hon. Members of the joint Portfolio
Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services and Primary and Secondary Education for a comprehensive report on the state of the programme to provide online classes to learners during this COVID-19 pandemic period. I also want to thank the House for its constructive contributions to this debate, it shows how much we are all concerned about our children’s learning and the development during this pandemic era.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is very true that our children learning in rural areas are the most affected as there is little or no e-learning that is taking place in those areas. There are rural schools that are connected but does not serve any purpose if the learners are not connected at their homes or if they do not have the necessary gadgets. What we are therefore doing as a Ministry and the entire ICT sector, is to ensure that our rural schools are connected to the internet and that they are equipped with ICT gadgets. This of course will not be something that can be done overnight but the will is there.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the report referred to the National E-Learning Strategy. I am happy to say that the Cabinet has since approved this strategy. The objective of the strategy is to produce and distribute ICT gadgets as well as to provide internet connectivity to schools throughout the country. The roll-out of this initiative will thus complement what we are already doing in collaboration with other development partners.
Mr. Speaker Sir, concerns have been raised that the teachers in the rural schools are not computer literate as compared to teachers in urban areas. This makes it difficult to rural teachers to effectively carry out e-Learning. To alleviate this, the Ministry has been running an ICT capacity building programme for the past seven to eight years. The Ministry for instance, has a state of the art training room housed at its Mukwati building offices. These training facilities have since been decentralised and spread to all the other provinces. Furthermore, the Ministry periodically dispatches officers to train people all over Zimbabwe on ICT usage. We are certainly going to arrange with my counterpart, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to ensure that teachers are trained and capacitated with basic computer
skills.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the nation to go into lockdown
and this resulted in a shift in telecommunication traffic patterns as more people had no option but to work from home. This shift resulted in congestion in some base stations. The Ministry, POTRAZ and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) embarked on a Capacity
Enhancement Project aimed at decongesting the networks and ensuring continuation of quality of service in this COVID-19 era. This resulted in the upgrading of most base stations. NetOne for example, upgraded a total of 75 base stations to 3G from 2G and a further 60 base stations were upgraded to 4G from 3G. This upgrading of base stations is continuing and construction of new network towers, especially in rural areas is being speeded up. We have also started receiving equipment for the National Broadband (NBB) Phase 3 Project and our major target is the rural areas. This will enhance network coverage and ensure that more learners can access e-Learning. To emphasise on this NBB Phase 3 project, I must say with confidence that the President is going to be commissioning some equipment to the roll-out of this programme which will ensure a total of more than 260 base stations spread across the country.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we have Community Information Centres
(CICs) that are spread throughout the country. These CICs are meant to be one stop ICT access points, achieving quality of access to information especially for the marginalised areas. It is also our hope that since these CICs have internet access and are also fitted with computers, our children can use them for e-Learning purposes as well as for training. We will however, continue to construct these CICs, especially in our peripheral areas so that school going children can benefit.
As Hon. Members have highlighted in various contributions made, the prices of ICT gadgets are too high, which makes it difficult for ordinary people to buy them. I am happy to say that the country’s first ICT Assembly Plant is now operating in Msasa. It will come in handy to breach this problem. Very soon we should all be able to purchase ICT gadgets at favourable prices.
The issue of data bundles will remain a challenge and it is this issue that is affecting e-Learning for most of our rural children. The problem is MNOs are in business for profit and they cannot always fully support Government and humanitarian efforts for fear of making losses. We will however, continue to play the humanitarian side through the regulator POTRAZ, and I must say that it should be of note that ZARNET has also been given support by Government to roll-out support to the e-Learning Strategy. That will see us achieving better pace than has been of late. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move that
Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 15 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 16 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. My
point of order Hon. Minister, the truth of the matter, all these programmes which you talk about on ICT, in my constituency I do not know them, may be others do. It will be good for you to tell us exactly which constituencies and how many have been done because it is all talk show, to be honest with you. You are a Member of Parliament, I do not know if it has been done in your constituency but in Norton where I represent, I know of no ICT programme whatsoever. I thank you.
HON. PHUTI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to give a response to Hon. Mliswa’s very noble concern, that of nonvisibility of ICT programmes and projects in his constituency. I want to promise the Hon. Member that we are willing to look at all grey areas where there is need for focus on ICT deployments. Having mentioned Norton in this august House, it gives us the shift of focus to look at how much there has been - I know that we have done a lot in Mashonaland West Province but I cannot confidently say we have done as much in Norton Constituency in particular. I promise that forthwith we are going to shift our focus and find what we can do.
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE AND WOMEN
AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT ON THE PETITION FROM
EMTHONJENI WOMEN’S FORUM ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
IN THE WORK PLACE
HON. E. NCUBE: I move the motion standing in my name; That this House takes note of the report of the Portfolio
Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises and
Development on the petition received from Emthonjeni Women’s Forum on sexual harassment in the work place.
HON. TSUURA: I second.
HON. E. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to give a report of the Portfolio Committees on Public Service, Labour and
Social Welfare and Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium
Enterprise Development on the petition received from Emthonjeni
Women’s Forum on sexual harassment in the work place.
1.0 Introduction
Sexual harassment has become a major issue of concern affecting the work place, public, private and other spaces. Pursuant to Section 149 of the Constitution, the Portfolio Committees on Public
Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Women Affairs Community,
Small and Medium Enterprises Development received a petition from
Emthonjeni Women’s Forum imploring Parliament to comprehensively address the issue of sexual harassment in the work place. In particular, the petitioners beseeched Parliament to review the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] in order to strengthen provisions to curb violence and sexual harassment in the work place. The petitioners noted that Section 8 of the Labour Act defines sexual harassment through inference, categorising it as an unfair labour practice which is inappropriate, considering its adverse and usually life altering impacts on victims psychologically, socially and economically. Additionally, the petitioners highlighted that the Act lacks provisions for compensation of victims in relation to the harm suffered and remedies which address the psychological effects through recourse to rehabilitative services. The petitioners also called for the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of
Work.
2.0 Objectives
The objectives of the inquiry were to:
ascertain the prevalence of sexual harassment in the country and its impact on victims; assess the available framework and processes of securing redress; solicit stakeholder views on whether the Labour Act and other laws adequately address issues of sexual harassment in the work place and other spaces; and come up with recommendations which address the relief sought by the petitioners.
3.0 Methodology
The Committees undertook the following activities as part of the inquiry:
3.1 They attended a capacity building workshop organised by
Parliament in collaboration with the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust to unpack the concept of sexual harassment and the petition received from Emthonjeni Women’s Forum. Apart from members of the two Portfolio Committees, the workshop was attended by Emthonjeni Women’s Forum and the Female Students Network.
3.2 They received oral evidence from the Minister of Public
Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
3.3 They conducted public hearings from 31 May to 4 June 2021 as follows:
31 May 2021, Mashonaland West, Rimuka Community Hall,
Kadoma and Hurungwe Rural District Council Guest House;
- June 2021, Masvingo, Rutenga-Mwenezi Rural District
Council Offices, Mucheke Community Hall, Masvingo and Midlands
Gokwe-Nembudziya;
- June 2021, Masvingo, Nyika Growth Point – Training Centre and Selbourne Hotel, Bulawayo;
- June 2021, Manicaland Moffat Hall, Mutare
Diamond FM Radio Station and Matabeleland South Dingumuzi Hall,
Plumtree;
- June 2021, Mashonaland East, Mbuya Nehanda Hall, Marondera, Harare, National FM Radio Station and Matabeleland North Agape Mission, Nkayi.
The public hearings attracted high attendance by a cross-section of members of the society including; church leaders, village heads, workers unions, university students, civil society organisations, ordinary men and women, amongst other groups.
3.4 The Committees analysed written submissions received from stakeholders including the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Women’s Academy for Leadership and individual persons.
4.0 Background
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines sexual harassment as “a sex-based behaviour that is unwelcome and offensive to its recipient.” Sexual harassment usually takes two forms, namely; quid pro quo when a job benefit such as a pay rise, promotion, or even continued employment is made conditional on the victim acceding to demands to engage in sexual behaviour and a hostile working environment in which the conduct creates conditions that are intimidating or humiliating for the victim. Behaviour that qualifies as sexual harassment include:
Physical - physical violence, touching, unnecessary close proximity.
Verbal - comments and questions about appearance, life-style, sexual orientation, offensive phone calls.
Non-verbal - whistling, sexually-suggestive gestures, display of sexual materials such as pornography.
Cyber harassment – through text messages or internet-based platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.
Sexual harassment “pollutes” the working environment and can have devastating effects on the health, confidence, morale and performance of individuals affected by it. The anxiety and stress caused by sexual harassment commonly leads to loss of production time as victims take time off work due to sickness and become less efficient. In some instances, employees even opt to resign which adversely affect their livelihoods.
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) is a leading voice on highlighting issues of sexual harassment in Zimbabwe through its reports on incidences of sexual harassment in the public sector, colleges and universities. According to the TIZ Report on Gender and Corruption in Zimbabwe of 2019, the country recorded an unprecedented number of reports by women being forced to exchange sex for employment or business favours during that particular year. More than 57 percent of 1 680 women surveyed in the report indicated they had been forced to offer sexual favours in exchange for jobs, medical care and even when seeking placements at schools for their children. Women in business also experienced sexual harassment when seeking Government tenders.
In June 2020 the Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary, reported to the Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development that 19 cases of sexual harassment in Government ministries had been recorded since 2019 and that 10 of them had emanated from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The Committees were also informed that sexual harassment was rampant at universities and colleges where women were abused to secure better grades or by “semester husbands” who ask for sexual favours in exchange for upkeep.
Sexual Harassment, also referred to as 'sextortion' is a form of corruption or extortion and is a global phenomenon that causes serious harm, robbing women of dignity and opportunity, and undermining confidence in public institutions and other spheres of life. It apparently appears that sex is a 'currency' in many corrupt deals in Zimbabwe. Sexual harassment seems to have been institutionalised, and women have been suffering in silence for a long time, thus, the need to effectively deal with sexual harassment in its various forms across sectors.
The supreme law of the country, the Constitution of Zimbabwe No. 20 of 2013, does not expressly provide for the right to be protected against sexual harassment, although there are provisions which can be relied upon to protect women against this vice. These include Section 3 (f) on equality of all human beings; Section 3(g) on gender equality; Section 11 on fostering of fundamental rights and freedoms; Section 13 on national development; Section 14 on empowerment and employment creation; Section 17 on gender equality; and Section 24 on work and labour relations.
Sexual harassment is a human rights issue and the following sections of the Constitution are pertinent in this regard: Section 51 on the right to human dignity; Section 52 on the right to personal security;
Section 53 on freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Section 54 on freedom from slavery and servitude; Section 56 on equality and non-discrimination; Section 65
(4) on labour rights and satisfactory conditions of work; and Section
80 on the rights of women.
5.0 Oral Evidence from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Hon. Prof. P. Mavima, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare assured the Committees of the Government’s commitment to ending violence and sexual harassment as evidenced by signing the ILO Convention 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Sexual Harassment of 2019. Other initiatives included the drafting of a Sexual Harassment Policy for the Civil Service by the Public Service Commission and conducting sensitisation meetings on ending sexual harassment which had been held in November 2020.
In response to the appeal by Emthonjeni Women’s Forum for the Government to amend the Labour Act so as to amplify provisions to curb sexual harassment in the work place, the Minister indicated that the Ministry’s position was that the Constitution and Section 8 of the Labour Act adequately address issues of violence and sexual harassment in the work place. In addition, he explained that as a Minister his jurisdiction was limited to regulating sexual harassment in the work place. He further highlighted that the Government had opted to domesticate the ILO Convention 190 before ratification in order to avoid the intricacies of reporting and supervision associated with that move. However, he highlighted that the Ministry was amenable to the enactment of a statutory instrument which was informed by the ILO Convention 190.
6.0 Public Hearings and Written Submissions
In its inquiry, the joint Committees focused on the following key areas: prevalence and impact of sexual harassment, legal provisions on sexual harassment, handling of sexual harassment reports.
6.1 Prevalence and Impact of Sexual Harassment
The joint Committees were informed that cases of sexual harassment were very prevalent in work places, colleges, universities, churches, informal sector, public spaces such as bus termini, on-line platforms and social media. Examples of forms of sexual harassment that were highlighted to the joint Committees include; sexist comments by touts at bus stations, sex for food relief and or during distribution of agricultural inputs, “a thigh for a pass” at colleges. It was also mentioned several times to the joint Committees that women experience inappropriate forms of touch or conduct in bus queues and by police when they evacuate informal traders in cities and at growth points.
The joint Committees were dismayed to receive submissions indicating that, invariably, women and girls constitute the majority victims of sexual harassment although men and the boy child at times experienced the same. Widows and women in politics were particularly identified as highly vulnerable to sexual harassment. The joint Committees also learnt that victims of sexual harassment range from female and male students and workers, including people living with disabilities, some of whom were unable to communicate their ordeal.
Members of the public attested that sexual harassment was deeply rooted in local cultural practices such as “chiramu” according to which it was permissible in some relationships such as between a wife and her husband’s younger brother or a man and his wife’s younger sister. Additionally, excessive poverty and the high unemployment rate in the country which increased vulnerability levels, particularly amongst women were put forward as key drivers of sexual harassment.
Furthermore, members of the public noted that sexual harassment thrived due to ignorance as to which acts constituted the vice. The use of electronic gadgets by learners as required by the new educational curriculum also enabled youngsters to access pornographic material through the internet. The Committees learnt that sexual harassment could have long term effects on victims and their families, for instance when an individual contracted sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and AIDS. It was also highlighted that victims suffered psychological trauma which could affect their productivity in schools and work places. In extreme cases sexual harassment could lead victims to commit suicide.
6.2 Legal provisions on sexual harassment
The joint Committees were informed that although the
Constitution protects the rights of women, the challenge is that the
Constitution does not expressly provide for the right to be protected against sexual harassment. Relevant sections of the Constitution that protect women rights mentioned during the public hearings include Section 3 (f); 3(g); Section 14; Section 17; Section 24; Section 51; Section 52 and Section 80. Members of the public and stakeholder organisations reiterated that the Labour Act does not provide a comprehensive definition of sexual harassment. It was noted that the Act narrowly defined sexual harassment as an unfair labour practice towards any employee, whether verbal or otherwise, such as making physical contact or advances, sexually coloured remarks, or displaying pornographic materials in the workplace.
The joint Committees were further informed that the Labour Act neither provides for compensation to the victim nor state how the compensation is computed. Additionally, the other remedy available under the Labour Act was cessation but there were concerns that it does not address the injury caused or trauma the victim maybe experiencing.
Stakeholders also complained that the Act lacks mechanisms to protect the victim or whistleblower against retribution from the perpetrator and their sympathisers who may still be in authority. It was further reported that the Labour Act fails to provide any counseling for the victims of sexual harassment. In addition, the joint Committee noted with concern that although the Act had provisions on remedies, the number of registered cases of victims seeking compensation or criminal sanction was very low.
In the same vein, submissions were made to the joint Committee on the provisions of Public Service Act [Chapter 16:04] and the
Public Service Regulations of 2000, pertaining to sexual harassment. Concerns were raised that these regulations recognise sexual harassment as an act of misconduct under the First Schedule. Furthermore, stakeholders bemoaned that the Regulations do not list or outline actual types of behaviour which may be included in the category of conduct that constitute sexual harassment. Additionally, it was noted that the Public Service Act was yet to be aligned with the Constitution.
The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter
9:23] also partially address the issue of sexual harassment. Section
67(1) stipulates that indecent assault is committed where “a male commits upon a female person any act involving physical conduct that would be regarded by a reasonable person to be an indecent act...” Stakeholders noted that this provision only offers protection against sexual harassment involving physical conduct and excludes other forms such as verbal and cyber.
6.3 Handling of sexual harassment reports
Throughout the public hearing meetings, the joint Committees consistently received complaints relating to how cases of sexual harassment were being handled, and quality of care given to the victims, both at crime scenes, work places and by the Police after a formal report is made. The joint Committee was dismayed to learn that both workplace management and the police treat victims of sexual harassment with some degree of “undue skepticism”. In extreme cases, police officers were allegedly dissuading victims from proceeding with prosecution or mocked them in front of onlookers at the front office. The police were said to always encourage victims of sexual harassment and or other sexual offences to sign a withdrawal or “Victim Waiver,” which absolved the police from responsibility of investigating the crime. Withdrawal of cases was reported to be rampant even at courts. As a result of the poor handling of complainants, the joint Committee learnt that a lot of cases of sexual harassment were not being reported because of fear that management or law enforcement agents would not handle them properly.
Submissions made also reflected that there was nothing done at work places to ensure post-investigation and comfort for the victim. Even in cases where harassment was found to have occurred, no measures were being taken to create a conducive work environment, free from sexual harassment. Given that sexual harassment is primarily viewed as a form of misconduct, the victim and harasser often continue to work together or the latter is just transferred to another school or Government department. It was the conclusion of the joint Committees that given that scenario, the overwhelming majority of people who experience sexual harassment never file formal charges, and of the few who do, only a small percentage of such cases reach the courts. Submissions made to the joint
Committee indicated that court proceedings, for those cases that made it to prosecution stage, were often long drawn out and protracted for months, which compounds the victim’s trauma.
7.0 Observations
7.1 Sexual harassment affects both males and females in Zimbabwe regardless of social standing, age or location. However, there is a general lack of awareness of the exact acts that constitute sexual harassment. Some members of the public confused sexual harassment with rape and other sexual offences.
7.2 Sexual harassment is currently an under-regulated issue which is rampant in the work place, informal sector, political spaces, tertiary institutions and society at large. While sexual harassment is regulated by various pieces of legislation such as the Labour Act,
Public Service Act and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, all fall short of fully addressing sexual harassment in its various forms. The Labour Act and Public Service Act regulate employment relationships in the private formal sector and civil service respectively, leaving out the informal sector which accounts for about 95 percent of employment in Zimbabwe. Moreover, the Acts inadequately address sexual harassment issues in the world of work as these narrowly define sexual harassment, do not provide protection and remedies for victims.
7.3 The Government signed the ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work in 2019 and these instruments are still pending ratification by Parliament in terms of Section 327 of the Constitution. These instruments are key for the elimination of violence and sexual harassment in the work place. The Convention recognises that violence and harassment in the world of work, and other spaces, constitute a human rights violation or abuse, is a threat to equal opportunities, unacceptable and incompatible with decent work.
Additionally, the Convention acknowledges that violence and sexual harassment affects a person’s psychological, physical and sexual health, dignity, and family and social environment, and also affects the quality of public and private services, prevent persons, particularly women, from accessing and advancing in the labour market. Furthermore, the convention and recommendation call upon State Parties to adopt a comprehensive strategy in order to implement measures to prevent and combat violence and harassment, strengthen enforcement and monitoring mechanisms, ensuring access to remedies and support for victims, and also providing for sanctions for offenders.
7.4 As duty bearers, the Police have been found wanting in terms of ensuring that perpetrators of sexual harassment and other related cases are prosecuted. There is a general perception that police officers lack the know-how to handle such cases and the requisite resources to enable them to effectively execute their duties, including vehicles and an adequate number of officers manning the Victim Friendly Unit. Corrupt tendencies have also been noted to be a serious challenge undermining service delivery by the Police Service.
8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 Ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 and
Recommendation No. 206
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should urgently submit a motion to Parliament seeking ratification of the ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206 in terms of section 327 of the Constitution by 30 August 2021.
8.2 Domestication of ILO Convention No. 190 and
Recommendation No. 206
Once Parliament approves the ILO Convention No. 190 and
Recommendation No. 206, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and relevant Government departments should immediately endeavour to domesticate the instruments in order to facilitate the effective elimination of violence and sexual harassment in the work place by 31 March 2022.
8.3 Amendment of the country’s labour laws
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should submit a bill to Parliament amending the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] and Public Service [Chapter 16:04] Act by 31 October 2021. Apart from aligning the mentioned Acts to the Constitution, the Bill should amongst other key issues; criminalise sexual harassment, define sexual harassment comprehensively, ensure easy access to appropriate and effective remedies and safe, fair, and effective reporting and dispute resolution mechanisms and procedures, including transferring reported case to police for further investigation, arrests and trial of offenders. In addition, the bill should guarantee the privacy and confidentiality and provide protection mechanisms for complainants against victimisation orretaliation, witnesses and whistle blowers.
Furthermore, it should provide legal, psycho-social, medical and administrative support measures for complainants. Enactment of the above mentioned law should be followed by public awareness campaigns by the Ministry to ensure that workers and other stakeholders know their rights.
8.4 Enactment of a distinct law on sexual harassment
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development should urgently draft and submit a stand-alone and all-inclusive Sexual Harassment Bill to Parliament by 31 January 2022. This Bill should address all forms of sexual harassment occurring in various sectors including: the education sector, formal and informal world of work, public, churches, and social spaces, private and political spaces. The proposed Bill should particularly provide for a broad and clear definition of sexual harassment.
In line with section 3.4 of the United Nations Handbook (2020), the Bill should criminalise sexual harassment, outline clear punitive measures for perpetrators of both light and grave offenses, including effecting mandatory imprisonment of offenders. The Bill should also make it mandatory for all organisations including political parties to establish anti-sexual harassment policies as part of their codes of conduct. This will go a long way in protecting women political candidates from sexual harassment, assault and rape during elections. It is further strongly recommended that anyone convicted of sexual offenses should be barred from contesting for public positions.
Finally, the proposed Bill should set out clear rules regarding media coverage of sexual harassment, and other sexual offenses, pertaining identity of the victims and use of sexist language whose effect exposes and aggravates the victim's trauma. Once the Bill is passed into law, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development should conduct extensive public awareness campaigns on the Act and sexual harassment in general.
8.5 Gender Based Violence One Stop Centres to deal with sexual harassment cases
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and
Medium Enterprises Development should extent the mandate of the Gender Based Violence One Stop Centres to dealing with sexual harassment cases. In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and other relevant Government departments, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development should ensure the availability of adequate human and material resources at all times and decentralise the One Stop Centres to district level by 31 August 2022.
8.6 Provision of adequate resources to the Police Service
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should allocate adequate financial resources to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage through the 2022 National Budget, in particular for purchasing vehicles and ensuring that Victim Friendly Units (VFUs) at all police stations across the country have enough material and human resources at all times. Financial resources should also be availed for training all Police Officers on handling sexual harassment and related cases. This will enable investigating officers to offer professional services to victims reporting cases of sexual harassment in a conducive environment and facilitate gathering the necessary evidence for logical conclusion of cases.
8.7 Ending corruption in the Police Service
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage should implement stern measures to stamp out corruption and restore public confidence in the Police Service, particularly in the handling of cases by 30 September 2021.
9.0 CONCLUSION
In view of the high prevalence of cases of sexual harassment in both the formal world of work, informal sector, private and public spaces, the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill provides a historic opportunity for Parliament and the Government in general to curb sexual harassment in the country. The findings of the joint
Committees clearly indicate that a stand-alone Act of Parliament that criminalises sexual harassment and also codifies all other relevant provisions existing in other pieces of legislation is long overdue. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order, I would like to pay my condolences on behalf of Members of Parliament to Hon. Ncube and Hon. Bhuda-Masara on the passing away of their husbands. All we can say is, may the good Lord comfort you. She is really a great person so is Hon. Masara - a true example of how even the girl child must be. My condolences to their families and may God strengthen you. It was good to see you read with enthusiasm. I am sure that your good husband is proud of the work that you are doing.
*HON. TSUURA: I would like to thank our Chairperson of the Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for giving us a very good joint report between this Committee and the Committee on Women Affairs on their tour of the country looking at gender based violence (GBV).
As we were travelling around the country, we heard a lot of contributions from the nation. Women said that they were being violated at school, work place and market place when they are fending for their families. There are men who come and belittle whatever women are doing. Some will come and grab their wares and promise to pay but they do not. Some will come and destroy food stuffs, for example tomatoes and as a woman, you cannot run after the man. This is really troubling women.
Women are also violated when they are travelling. Because of shortage of transport especially during the COVID era, the mushikashikas will be overloaded and some women end up sitting on men’s laps because it will be late. You know what happens when a woman sits on a man’s lap. That can take place in the presence of your husband’s young brother or your young sister. Emotionally, you are disturbed.
In churches, there are pastors who take advantage of women as well and abuse them. This can take place in front of other people and you cannot complain to your husband that you have been physically abused by the pastor.
You can be walking around the streets and you are probably dressed nicely but some young men can use derogatory words to comment on your dressing. This is really troubling women and you cannot report it. If you go to the police, they will think that you are mad. They will ask for evidence of the physical abuse and it is very difficult to argue your case.
At times you receive messages on Whatsapp from known or unknown people trying to propose love to you. When these women are fetching water at boreholes, you find that women wake up very early, queue because there will be a lot of people and they cannot go back home without the water because the family will be waiting for the water in order for them to go to work and school. So the marshals at the borehole will propose love so that they can get water earlier.
When it comes to work situations, if you want employment, probably the boss will propose love to you, so you have to fall in love with him in order to get a job and this is really troubling the women. At the universities and secondary schools, you find that the lecturers abuse the girl child so that they award them high marks. So because of fear of failing, the girl child will end up falling in love with these lecturers.
However, some women are also abusing men because they move around wearing very tight clothes and exposing clothes which in turn abuse men psychologically. If possible, the police should be well educated that if anyone comes reporting on physical abuse, they should know how to arbitrate in all areas of sexual harassment. Most of the cases are just dying down because of lack of evidence and it is very depressing to women.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I am a Member of the Committee for Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and I would like to add my voice on this debate. As a Joint Committee we are so impressed about the report the Chairperson has presented to Parliament. It is a report that we hope will help to bring progressive change in Zimbabwe. We also hope it will help to promote the vision of the country, especially as represented by the Constitution to promote gender equality.
One of the key issues that women of Zimbabwe are facing today is with regards to their dignity when it comes to their sexuality. As you saw the petition that we received, it was complaining about the prevalence of sexual harassment especially when you look at women in Zimbabwe. As a joint Committee, we managed to travel across the country and managed to get submissions in line with the report that our Hon. Co-Chairperson, Hon. Ncube has shared.
The first point that I need to emphasise on is that the vision to achieve gender equality as a country is a responsibility not just of
Parliament of Zimbabwe but it is a responsibility of every citizen of Zimbabwe. We must all unite and fight to ensure that women are treated as equals with men in terms of gender equality because at the end of the day, Zimbabwe remains one of the most patriarchal countries in the world. It is important for us as a country to declare war against gender equality and also to make sure that the Constitution of Zimbabwe as adopted in 2013 is implemented in terms of promoting the attainment of gender equality.
We know that if women are given equal opportunities with men, this will help us to develop faster as a country. It is important that everyone joins hands in order to promote gender equality in
Zimbabwe. In particular, we are saying everyone in Zimbabwe should join hands to end such patriarchal practice as sexual harassment.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe has responsibilities at three levels. The first level is around its capacity to represent. We are saying as representatives of the electorate, we must make sure that we speak out and listen to the voice that is coming from the ground. Everyday women are being sexually harassed.
We are therefore, crying for help so we appeal to all the Parliamentarians in the Lower House and Upper House to support the voices of our electorate to speak on behalf of the silent majority as representatives of the people and in one big chorus saying enough is enough. We must end gender inequality; we must end the sexual harassment. So, as parliamentarians, that is our responsibility as representatives of our people.
We also have a legislative role; as parliamentarians let us work together to fight to end gender inequality and sexual harassment. One of the things we can do is to ensure that we support the recommendations from the joint Committee report to say we need a new law in Zimbabwe. Let us enact a new law that will help to criminalise sexual harassment, let it be a criminal offense in Zimbabwe to commit sexual harassment.
At this moment in time, a lot of people are getting away with murder; a lot of people are committing this offense knowing that there is no penalty associated with it. So, as legislators, let us play our legislative duty in line with recommendations from the report of the Joint Committee. Let us all work together to ensure that a new law in this Parliament before 2023 is passed, that will help to criminalise sexual harassment and contribute in the fight to end sexual harassment in Zimbabwe and contribute to the fight to promote gender equality in Zimbabwe.
Related to our legislative role, let us also make sure that we push the relevant Ministers especially with regards to the laws on sexual harassment whether with regards to the laws on sexual harassment or whether with regards to the Public Service
Commission, let us support the work that is being done there. I know that there are efforts to make sure that there is a code of conduct that protects women from sexual harassment at work places. In the same vein, let us fight to enact changes in the Labour Relations Act to make it very difficult for offenders who do such kinds of acts. Again, in the same vein in the Act related to the institutions for higher learning where we hear there is a lot of sexual harassment in institutions for higher learning in our country, let us push the relevant Ministers to make sure that there are amendments to the laws and there are sexual harassment policies that are very strong and are very prohibitive in nature so that they discourage the offenders.
More importantly, let us also ensure that there is a sexual offender’s database in Zimbabwe. We know that sexual offenders move from place to place, change job to job but we need to have a live database that will include all convicted sexual offenders so that when they are applying for a job, before someone interviews them, they already know that this person has a history of sexual offences. So, it is important that Zimbabwe has a very strong database of all sexual offenders.
Let me also add that we also have a third role in our oversight role which is to ensure that once amendments to the laws are done, sexual harassment policies are put in place, we need to make sure that there is a way to monitor and evaluate progress in terms of implementation of these policies against sexual harassment. Let us ensure that there is system, maybe an annual report, index, or barometer working with civil society and other stakeholders to make sure that we can see a progressive change in the country. I also wanted to say, last but not least, we have seen in this country that we can use the Parliament of Zimbabwe to change the laws in order to change the normal social practices that undermine the integrity of women.
I know historically that in 1982, the Parliament of Zimbabwe enacted the Legal Age of Majority Act. That was a big push in terms of promotion of gender equality in Zimbabwe that ensured that every woman in the country, upon the attainment of 18 years, was recognised as a major in the face of the law. That is the same law that also dealt with issues around the cultural practice of lobola to make sure that women were recognised as equals in the country.
I also know that in recent years, Zimbabwe through the
Parliament of Zimbabwe, has worked with our colleagues in Southern Africa to fight against another patriarchal practice that is common in this part of the world of child marriages. We have united and taken leadership in recent years across SADC to ensure that there is a SADC model law against child marriages and also that in Zimbabwe, we have had the Marriages Bill that seeks to end child marriages. We have also gone out of our way as Zimbabwe to start a public awareness campaign against child marriages and to end cultural practices that undermine women‘s capacity to become equal. We also have, in the 2013 Constitution of the country, created the Zimbabwe Gender Commission which has been doing well so far and we hope it is going to improve. So as Parliamentarians, I want to encourage us to unite and support the report that the Joint Committee has come up with. I fully support it and all this should happen in order to make sure that we end sexual harassment especially of women in Zimbabwe, and we end gender inequality against women in
Zimbabwe. I thank you.
HON. N. MGUNI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for allowing me this opportunity to add my voice. I would also want to send my sympathies as well to Hon. E. Ncube for the loss of her husband. Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank the Hon. Members that have just given us this report. It is a very important report indeed. The women in this country are very fortunate that our own Constitution allows for 50:50 representations. So I would want to encourage women that for us to reach that 50:50, it is on us. We have a high percentage in this country as women, but when it comes to voting our own women into these decision making positions, we are the ones that then vote for the men. So it is up to us to change our mindset.
As much as I say that, I also feel it is important that we need a concerted effort for this, which means that we are also asking the men to assist us because as the MP who was debating just now rightfully said, everyone including men, should assist in this endeavour. We can all see what is happening to the Taliban women. They had tried to go to school. Some were in the colleges doing law, but now what we see is they have gone 10 steps backwards. We are fortunate that we are not in that situation. So I am encouraging women that let us send our children to school, let us encourage our girl child to go to school because it is important in this day and age to be educated as it gives you the courage to stand for your rights and to stand and compete with the men in any field.
I am also hoping Mr. Speaker Sir, that when the Independent Complaints Bill comes to be an Act, it can assist because in the report as they were reading, they mentioned that there is a problem when women go and report assault or rape cases with the police. That Independent Complaints Bill is going to help us because it will assist women to go and report without fear. So women should be able to go and report their cases so that they do not continue being victimised. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the mover of the motion and the seconder. I want to agree and differ with quite a lot of sexual harassment issues. I think as a nation, we must appreciate that it affects both and for as long as we refer gender to women, then it becomes a problem. The report is rich in certainly exposing the malpractices which are happening in terms of women, but I also want to go through the malpractices which men go through. We all know that women also abuse young men below the age of consent, how come that is not spoken about? Why are women abusing boys? The very same child you gave birth to, you end up forcing him to sleep with you. So where is your dignity in that aspect, where is your integrity?
It is important that we understand that the very same women we talk about go after other women’s husbands. I see you have gone quiet. So to me this is sexual harassment which you are doing to another woman who is married. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is sexual harassment enough on its own because you are now forcing the other woman who is married to be deprived of her conjugal rights because you are taking somebody else’s husband. When he gets home, he is tired. That is abuse. He cannot perform and this is caused by other women. So you therefore cannot blame men.
This again has led to men being insecure and now saying to their wives you cannot go to work because you are threatened by somebody who goes after your wife. That has been happening for a very long time. Even in the struggle, it also happened where women were also abused. What is important here is for us to see how best we can have a generational consensus for dealing with this mindset.
I totally agree with Hon. Ncube that the aspect of mindset is critical in dealing with this. How then do we come up with institutions? You know our culture and tradition is important and I am glad Hon. Ncube spoke about it. I see the person that you are and I am not the one who just comments; your upbringing was solid. You would go to the rural areas to your aunts and grandmothers. Today’s young girls, where are they going Mr. Speaker Sir? You now keep them in town on virtual. They tell you they have got their rights and so forth. When we were growing up, we had to go to Silobela to spend a week with my grandmother there, go to Rusape and go to
Shurugwi. That is how we spent our time and we would go and learn.
The Zulus are very strong in that they examine every girl’s virginity every month in their culture. Why are we not doing that? Why are we not doing that Mr. Speaker? Where is our tradition, culture and heritage in doing this? We have got women there who have so much experience in dealing with these issues. The aunties are there. What is the role of an aunt? It is to make sure that the upbringing of the girl child is done properly but there has got to be a monitoring mechanism amongst our tradition and culture, which ensures that you do not do anything. The boys too, if you look at the Swati and the Zulus, circumcision happens. It is a result of a culture and we need to invest deeply in our culture so that we are able to deal with this menace at the end of the day. This exposes us that we are no longer a people. If you look at our mothers – that is why it is difficult for me to marry because any woman I marry must be near my mother. Any man a woman marries must be near their father. I look at how my mother was like and how at times when dad would not be behaving but my mother was mother.
So, today, to think of marrying these young women who are not well groomed; that is why the divorce rate is very high. The divorce rate is three months or six months after marriage. Why is that so? It is because there is no foundation for us to protect our own people or culture. These issues are critical in building a country. You can only be a people if your ubuntu is at the highest level and we need to start finding ourselves. We are too colonised and we think we are British or American.
Let us reengage with our traditional leaders and our traditional norms. That is the first thing that we must do. The reengagement with anybody is not as important as reengaging with your own culture. To me, that is important. I have built a home in Shurugwi not because I live there but my kids go there because I have moved from urban to rural migration. Every holiday, they go there and meet people in the village. That is where ubuntu is. So, for me, the aspect of thinking that you have a nice house in Borrowdale with 10 bedrooms yet your kids do not understand their culture and tradition leads to this. There must be a way where we find ourselves, where we go and take these kids.
I also want to talk about the aspect of sex being encouraged. So true in that it means at the top also they have that tendency.
Yesterday I spoke about how men are quiet but women are also quiet. When a woman is sexually abused, you cannot report to anyone. By just mentioning it to your husband, you are seen as actually having participated. So we keep quiet. Your conscience is your master. How then can you share this secret information with your partner? I can imagine how they will react, so they keep quiet. It will then be heard through rumours that Mrs Z was wanted by Mr X. You know rumours travel faster than the truth and the woman is in trouble at home. Physical abuse starts because the man is emotional. Why did you not tell me you did it, but she cannot explain? To me it is a very serious issue that needs to be dealt with. The only way to deal with this is that men, if we can have a law that whoever steals cattle gets nine years in jail, we must also have a law that whoever abuses a woman sexually, gets 18 years imprisonment. What are cattle, you can buy or replace them but you cannot replace self esteem or the dignity of a person. You do not buy dignity and integrity or self esteem. No wonder when this happens to them, they lose self confidence and that cascades to their families and children, thereby becoming a family issue and social issue. At the same time, there are no safety measures to deal with this safety issue.
I want to also talk about the Constitution. I agree with Hon. Mguni that you cannot keep on changing the Constitution when you are already in power. However, women being the majority of the people in the country, you are empowered. Let me even go a step further, 55.5% of the people on the voters’ roll in this country are women. Why do you not put yourselves in the echelons of power so that you are not abused by men? Who then tells you to go and vote for a man? It is your own decision. I do not see any sexual harassment there, to be honest with you because you are on your own in the ballot box. So you cannot blame it on men when you also make decisions which are self defeating. Hon. Khupe stood, very capable and if you ask what is wrong with her, there is nothing but she was never voted for. There was physical abuse from many quarters and women were very quiet. There are many issues which are happening here in terms of women but you keep quiet. You choose which ones to comment on and which ones to keep quiet about. You cannot do that if you are women. A mother is a mother and whatever has happened to another woman will equally happen to you. That silence must be broken; we need institutions with women who will speak against all the malpractices. The laws are there - if I am not mistaken about 30% of any procurement at a company is for women. How many women have businesses now to procure in companies such as Mimosa or Zimplats? The issue of empowerment is already there in the Constitution; therefore we should be able to ride on the Constitution so that we are able to empower ourselves. We cannot be waiting for a women’s bank all the time. We will end up having women’s banks all over, yet all you need is to go to a company and get an order. In Norton, I told women to set themselves up into cooperatives and then go and get orders from companies. I urge the MPs here to lead by also opening doors for them. Procurement is not about having money. You could be cooking or cleaning for the company. There is nobody who is a better cleaner than a woman. There is a lot of money in the cleaning industry. They must start pursuing those initiatives so that once empowered, you are independent. The issue of economical empowerment leads to your independence and when you are independent, you are not compromised. However, if you are weak in that area, you become compromised at the end of the day.
I also want to talk about the aspect of education, intellectual capacity. You cannot substitute intellectual capacity no matter how wise you are. It is a critical aspect and you have to further their education. I want to thank the Speaker through you Mr Chairman for the robust motivation he has given to MPs to further their education.
How many here are willing to go to school? You saw the former Vice President Joyce Mujuru furthering her education after the war. That is something which women must also yearn for so that they are empowered in that regard.
I want to conclude by saying that Abraham Lincoln says “for what I am and hope to be, I owe it to my mother”. Basically, that is how important the woman is in anybody’s life. If anybody is in pain, the first thing they say is ‘mother’ and never ‘father’. It shows the significance of the role of women and we must also be gender champions for women.
I am a gender champion for women. I have nineteen (19) children. Of those 19, fourteen (14) are beautiful and intelligent girls. To me, that is my pride. My pride is not in the boys but in the girls and the only thing I can do for them is to give them a good education. My first daughter is a lawyer and has a Masters in Law. The second is with a media organisation in the UK because of my political name, but this is what I invest in. I invest in them getting good education. What I also want to say to Members is, invest in the girl-child to be educated to get the best and they will look after you. I do not have a structure in my family which says the boy will inherit, no. The girl inherits and we prefer girls because they protect you more than the boys at the end of the day.
So, I really want to say the girl-child is important and it is important that we give them opportunities to be educated. As such, may we also as Members of Parliament look into the law? Those being married and having sex at 14, you cannot answer and do not know how you can answer that. In this august House, we need to make history by coming up with a law to say you can only marry a woman and she can only accept when she is eighteen (18). We must raise the bar. Right now the bar is low. It is at 14 and we must raise it to 18. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for this opportunity and for the mover of the motion to say it was excellent and more execution and implementation is needed on the ground to make this a success.
Thank you.
(v)HON. MPARIWA: I would want to support the motion that has been put before the House. You find that yes, we did have the petition from Emthonjeni Women’s Forum but let me inform the
House that this is a true reflection and reality of what is obtaining on the ground. This has been a silent problem that women and the girlchild are suffering from, and they would not speak out because it is like it is a taboo. Those who speak out against it get also to be punished in a way because if it is at a workplace then you will have problems of actually having exposed the one who is supposed to be your boss.
Hon. Speaker, I do not want to belabour the House repeating what the petition was all about or the hearings that were conducted. The Chair has actually articulated what was said by the communities, where the Committee had some oral evidence. Perhaps, let me emphasise on the need to have this motion adopted, have the recommendations implemented and the Minister responsible come and respond to the motion so that we also get some kind of input and adoption by the relevant ministries. In that way, constituents and communities will then respect Parliament for having tackled the issues that were tabled before the Portfolio Committees that went around the country to gather evidence. The resources that were put in this particular activity will not have gone to loss because it will have reaped results in terms of having delivered the intentions.
I would want to pay tribute to Emthonjeni Women’s Forum for having brought this particular petition that opened the eyes of both the Members of Parliament from both sides and the Committees. I thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity.
(v)HON. MUCHIMWE: My contribution is very short but it might be helpful. I suggest a law must be enforced whereby education about contact between boys and girls is taught in schools. This must be started as early as ECD level. Some people do wrong due to lack of knowledge. Those who devise the curriculum of secondary enhancement must be professionals in both wisdom and academic because people, especially young boys and girls do not have that education or knowledge about how bad it is to harass a woman. I suggest that there must be a law enforced to educate people from ECD level that this is a bad situation.
HON. NDUNA: I just have a few points Mr. Speaker. The first one is that poverty takes the form and face of a woman. This is where the issues that bedevil the fairer sex emanate from and as long as there is the issue of an economic downturn or poverty or impoverishment, there is bound to be challenges that bedevil the fairer sex. There are also challenges that bedevil the masculine part, especially at the lower level and at primary level.
Also, what comes to mind is the issue of economic empowerment. Earlier on, Hon. Mliswa spoke about our ubiquitous amount of mineral wealth. There is need, according to Section 13 (4) of the Constitution, to utilise our mineral resources to develop the locality or the areas from where they were extracted. It is my fervent hope and view that these minerals that we are endowed with can also benefit the woman in the areas of their extraction in order that we capacitate the girl-child, including the boy-child and that can be a panacea and antidote for a lot of the challenges that they currently have because this is the birth of all challenges, the lack of economic emancipation and empowerment.
Having said that Mr. Speaker, I urge that issues of the Community Share Ownership Trust be repudiated and repealed in terms of their form and conduct. In 2011 or 2013, those Community
Share Ownership Trusts were formed and instead of them helping the communities, they definitely have pulled back the communities in that the minerals that they are extracting are a finite resource Mr. Speaker Sir. They will never again sprout out of the ground. So, it is my clarion call and fervent view that there is need to have a relook so that both the girl and boy children from inception can be economically empowered. How Mr. Speaker Sir is the big question?
We got these Community Share Ownership Trusts formed in
2011 maybe up to 2013 for argument’s sake. This is nearly 10 years after their formulation. There was only seed capital at some point and I will give an example of ZIMPLATS. They gave out seed capital of USD$10 million – that was all and there was promise of a dividend that was going to be given annually. An example is if 10 years and there was USD$10 million annual dividend that was due to the community, currently, there would be US$100 million. So this money, according to our Constitution, Section 13 (4) has not benefited the masses, the innocent, unsuspecting citizens of the areas where these Community Share Ownership Trusts are supposed to be residing. This is not only criminal in nature but we are not getting anything from our God given finite resource.
I am making this proposal that we get that dividend by hook or crook because it was designed for at inception and we empower our girl child economically; our vendors in Chegutu West Constituency; our vendors in the Chegutu Admin. District and that includes Hon.
Shamu’s Constituency in Chegutu East; Hon. Kapuya in Mhondoro- Mubaira and Hon. Temba Mliswa in Norton. They need to benefit our women, our boy child and girl child in order that this issue of being backward and being abused is annihilated completely through economic emancipation. This is my clarion call and these were my few words Mr. Speaker Sir. I thought I should add my voice to this very good motion and petition. I thank you.
HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would also want to add my voice to this sexual harassment issue. During our consultations across the country, there are a few things that were of concern to people. People were concerned about the dress code and said some women wear skirts that start where they end. You know how nature is, people are tempted and things like that. The other thing is there should be a special police unit that is trained to handle such issues because when someone approaches the police, they are sometimes ridiculed. What is this? You are lying?
When there are specially trained officers to handle these issues, it will give confidence to the women so that they can always report their cases. You will be surprised that there are a lot of cases outside there that are not reported because people are saying there is no secrecy. You go there to make a report and within the next five minutes, you are on WhatsApp across the world. So, for the sake of your dignity, people end up not reporting. There is also too much corruption within the police force. When someone has been raped, someone will go and pay and the next thing is you will see the rapist roaming around the neighbourhood. So people end up dejected and believing that reporting is of no use. Generally, men and women across the divide were in support of good stand-alone laws at work places that really stand for sexual harassment because it is just general at work places. The other thing that people wanted was deterrent sentences for perpetrators so that it deters a lot of people from doing the same. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for recognising me. May I also add my voice to the motion tabled by Hon. Ncube and seconded by Hon. Tsuura. Mr. Speaker Sir, first and foremost sexual harassment at the work place is evil, criminal, an offence, ungodly and abuse to say the least. Why we should condemn sexual harassment at the work place using the strongest words ever?
The first thing is it is a violation of human rights as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, sexual harassment should be condemned.
According to our own laws in Zimbabwe, Section 24 of the
Constitution is an aspirational provision of the right to work. Section 65 confers labour rights on every person and refers directly to the right to fair and safe practices and standards. What are we saying?
We are saying the environment at work places should be conducive. The ambiance must be good. There must be enabling environment that promotes career open to talent that people who are capable should execute their duties in a diligent manner without any disturbances because once there is sexual harassment, capabilities of individuals will be disturbed. According to the International Labour Organisation Convention 190, for the elimination and harassment at work – sexual harassment is condemned. It is sad Mr. Speaker Sir, that sexual harassment has been institutionalised. Sexual harassment manifests itself in various forms through sexual farvours, abuse at the work places, in institutions like universities, polytechnics, vocational centres, schools and even in churches you name it.
The perpetrators of sexual harassment should be punished Mr. Speaker Sir. Sexual harassment knows no boundaries Mr. Speaker
Sir, it is also on vulnerable people, those with disabilities. You will find able-bodied men, highly educated, preying on deaf students in universities, blind students in schools. That is so disgusting and we need to condemn sexual harassment using whatever term in the dictionary.
Finally Mr. Speaker Sir, in my conclusion, perpetrators of sexual harassment should be arrested. Secondly, there is need for information dissemination. We need to revisit our curriculum in terms of curriculum development and implementation that students should be taught from ECD-A, that sexual harassment is bad and is evil so that men who happen to be perpetrators of the sexual harassment would realise the ugliness of this act. On that case Mr.
Speaker Sir, thank you. I rest my case.
(v)HON. MAGO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Chairperson, Hon. Ncube seconded by Hon. Tsuura for an elaborate report on the petition we got from Emthonjeni Women’s Forum. Mr. Speaker, sexual harassment is an act which is unwelcome in the society. The victim can feel intimidated, uncomfortable, embarrassed or threatened. The laws that we have do not adequately cover sexual harassment Mr. Speaker. They lack clear policy and procedure for detecting and resolving sexual harassment cases. Unfortunately, sexual harassment cannot be proved, that is why it has not been taken seriously. It can be her word against his because she can say he did that and he will say no or he can say she did that when she says no. It is true that Transparency International Zimbabwe highlighted that 57% of women are said they have been forced to offer sexual favour in exchange for jobs, medical care even when seeking placement for their children in schools. It is also high in tertiary institutions as they demand sex for favourable marks. We have seen students failing their exams because they did not consent to the sexual favour requests. Sexual harassment is a persistent problem affecting our nation but victims are unlikely to be reported because it has been normalised. There has not been awareness of what exactly constitutes sexual harassment. There is lack of effective redress and stereotyping, blaming the victim not the perpetrator, like the other Hon. Member was saying. The State has an obligation to respect and protect the right to equality and non-discrimination between men and women and to put in place legislative measures to protect its citizens particularly women and girls against the incidences of all kinds of violence including sexual harassment. The Labour Act has no proper definition of what sexual harassment is but only defined it as unfair labour practice and the penalty to it is just general. We need the Labour Act that defines sexual harassment and provides a list of forms of sexual harassment confidentiality and counselling services. During the public hearings that we went to, some women proposed that perpetrators should be jailed for 20 years or castrated. This shows how grave the situation is, how victims feel about sexual harassment.
Mr. Speaker, we could feel the bitterness of especially women on sexual harassment. They feel for too long, the Government has left them to be harassed without taking action. Because most of sexual harassment victims are women, men do not take it seriously. They are the perpetrators Mr. Speaker and they are the ones who should deal with it as we find that most of them are the judges and magistrates. So they just cover up for the sexual harassers. They are the decision makers and something needs to be done sooner or later Mr. Speaker. I thank you.
(v)*HON. DUTIRO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to the sexual harassment debate. Sexual harassment has affected a lot of women negatively. Some have been forced to drop out from school and some from their work places leaving gainful employment. For instance, you find a husband waiting for his wife at a workplace at 1630 hours if she is supposed to finish at 1645 hours despite the fact that the husband might have to finish work at 1700 hours. This is a result of the insecurities that are found in marriages because of the suspicion that if the wife is allowed to mingle with other people, then she might be vulnerable which might culminate in her engaging in extra marital affairs. Most men end up protecting their women because of the harassment they see happening to both young ladies and married women at the work place. Even the domestic violence that is happening in different households cannot be attributed to poor performance in terms of discharging household duties or the misuse of family funds but it could be because the husband is afraid to confront his wife that I saw a certain man following you or I saw you walking next to a man or laughing with a man because this might result in domestic violence. The actual reason is unfound suspicions, so it is important that gender based violence is curbed through deterrent sentences. If that is done, then such perpetrator would not repeat gender related offences. Sexual harassment continues to contribute to gender based violence in both home and work place. This in turn affects the performance of women in different spheres of life and it curtails them from excelling in the professional world. For instance, a woman who is a potential nurse, teacher, doctor is disadvantaged when she gets married before attaining her professional goals. So gender based violence does not only affect individuals but it affects the nation at large because
women are failing to attain their potential. If you look at stereotypes that are found in different localities, it is believed that an educated woman is not a good woman and people suspect that they get their promotion through carpet interviews and extramarital affairs and this culminates in the discrimination of professional women who are viewed as loose people. Therefore, the issue of sexual harassment must be curbed. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for the time you have afforded me. I thank you.
*HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to add my voice to the motion which was raised by Hon. Ncube, seconded by Hon. Tsuura. The issue of sexual harassment is problematic in our country. However, I feel that is exacerbated by the fact that our children are ignorant on what constitutes sexual harassment. As legislators who represent our constituents, when we gather people to address them, let us educate our children or women who are mostly exposed to sexual harassment on what constitutes sexual harassment, be it the way they talk or the way they touch them. They should be able to be alert and tell bad intention through someone’s behaviour in terms of speech or touch.
I would like to thank our First Lady, I realise that on this issue, she has already made a milestone, through the programmes that she pioneered, the Nhanga and Gota. She is moving around educating children, something that we have not been doing. You heard Hon.
Mliswa alluding to the fact that we no longer have aunts but our First Lady is ahead of us teaching and cautioning our girl children to deny anyone touching any part of their bodies. This means that even when they go out to look for work, if they meet perpetrators of sexual harassment intending to touch them indecently, they will be alert and will not allow such acts of harassment to happen. They are aware that such acts will result in the defiling of their bodies. It is said that charity begins at home, meaning that we as people’s representatives in our constituencies or as parents, we should find time with our children to teach them on issues to do with sexual harassment. We should tell them that they should not seek employment through selling their bodies to potential employers.
Let us also help and protect our disabled children in the communities as they are vulnerable to sexual harassment. They seek assistance and in the process, unscrupulous people take advantage and harass them sexually and ask for sexual favours in return. Therefore, we should teach our children and women to report on any form of sexual contact that would have happened to them unwillingly so that the culprits can be prosecuted. There should be a law in schools or circulars which clearly state that anyone who is found guilty of sexual harassment should be prosecuted. If the law is enforced, I think our nation can be peaceful without any form of sexual harassment taking place. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to add my voice to this motion presented by Hon. Ncube, seconded by Hon. Tsuura. Mr. Speaker Sir, I personally feel that when the Emthonjeni Women’s Forum brought the word ‘World of
Work,’ they were actually thinking about what we are now seeing. Generally, the world of work which people are usually interested in is where we are doing formal work yet our day-to-day living shows that the world of work is almost 90% of the activities that we see today. Even in the rural areas, you find that people are hired to work in the fields for other people and they can be paid for that. That shows that we are now talking of a plethora of issues which have to do with a world of work unlike what the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Mavhima was referring to in terms of our labour laws. I want to say, the world of work is now a real big world of work.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when it comes to issues of sexual harassment, there are some inert behaviours that take place. The twitching of an eye, the movement of the lips can say a word even if someone does not actually tell you what the person wants. You will realise that men can also get sexually harassed because women can do it just by the movement of their eyes or the lips. Mr. Speaker Sir, when we were out on a public hearing, we came across a situation where it was revealed that a female lecturer was always harassing a male lecturer asking him to sire a son with her because she had no son. Therefore, you will find that it is no longer on the side of men only but it can also be engineered by women.
One former musician, may his soul rest in peace, Matavire, tried to express the issue of sexual harassment, ‘honour ladies, huyai amai mugare kuno mberi…’you can continue and finish it up. This implies that at times people are trapped into sexual harassment in a cunning way and they might find themselves being trapped there.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there is also one issue that is very controversial that we came across, that is the attire put on by ladies. This is quite controversial because some ladies were saying, ‘why do you have to look at the mini-skirt and start thinking otherwise, just take it as normal?’ The issues of dressing seems to have some controversies here and there. However, some of us will definitely get trapped when we see something that is almost a quarter in length up, we get disturbed by that.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to say something about criminalising sexual harassment. Definitely, it has to be criminalised because those of us who read the Bible come across verses like ‘if your eye causes you to sin, remove it.’ If your head causes you to sin, you must cut it off. So, in a way, the Bible is trying to express that there are certain things that are done which have to be corrected through some form of punishment and perhaps severe one.
The issue of social media has a lot of effects on our children and us as adults. Some of the information which is posted on social media can be harassment to someone even to our children before they have become of age. That way, they will feel that sexual harassment is something that is good because they will be seeing some things which they are not supposed to be exposed to. I want to say, the issue of sexual harassment should be dealt with and it must be incorporated into situations which are beyond the usual formal place of work because even in our houses, we do have domestic workers. How many times have we had cases of a father against a 16 or 18-year old who might be working there? So, the place of work is so expanded and we also have to consider a domestic worker just like any other worker. I thank you.
(v) *HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am also one of the Members who went around on public hearings. Sexual harassment is affecting many age groups, boys, girls, men and women. It is also taking place in various places, be it schools or even in political circles but the biggest problem that we have is a clear definition of what sexual harassment is. Many people do not know what exactly sexual harassment is. Even the police do not know the perimeters of sexual harassment. We have also realised that the
police do not actually know the gravity of this issue. Some of them take it as a joke. They do not treat the perpetrators with respect which they need to be educated on how to handle sexual harassment victims. The other issue is the police are not fully equipped in terms of tools of trade to handle such issues, such tools of trade like vehicles to help them carry out their duties in response to sexual harassment.
If you look at colleges and universities, it is rife as what the Hon. Member said. I would like to refer especially to female students who are liked by male lecturers. They are made to fail for no reason simply because they would have turned them down on their demands for sex. Some of them might pass even without putting in much effort and they call it a ‘thigh for a mark’. You have to expose your thigh in order to pass. This is very disturbing and the situation is very bad in high schools and colleges.
I think a law must be promulgated to curb this issue and the law should be aligned to our Constitution. The definition should also be very clear so that the people know what exactly sexual harassment is. People should also have access to information so that they get access to lawyers and information on gender based violence in their various communities. This will help them to get assistance quickly. The Ministry should also ensure that victims of sexual harassment are attended to timeously. This means the Sexual Harassment Bill should be quickly enacted and outreaches done so that people get to know what it contains and what it is all about. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs should also undertake outreach programmes to educate the populace on sexual harassment.
There is also need for police to be assisted with equipment to use such as vehicles in order for them to be able to attend to victims of sexual harassment. The police also need to be educated on how to handles cases of sexual harassment because it is a sensitive issue. Sometimes we stay with our brothers or sisters in laws and at times we commit that sexual harassment in return for a favour such as to pay for school fees. So all that must be clearly explained that if someone is paying for your school fees, that person is not guaranteed to have to touch your body indecently. So, there should be widespread education in order to reduce sexual harassment. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Listening to the
debate this afternoon, one could see that it is really centred on one of the most important pillars of our culture, which is human dignity. Mr. Speaker Sir, the debate emanated from the working place as part of the petition as it were but I want to thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Hon. Ncube for having raised the bar in terms of her presentation. The debate has now become national and the evil nature of sexual harassment has been to permeate into every part of our society.
More-so, I would like to thank Hon. Tsuura for having seconded so ably this very important motion. It has now become quite clear that we spend more time of the day at work and if one is at work, one is harassed, harassed in a sexual manner then life becomes unbearable. Life becomes intolerable and humiliating. Those are conditions that are not acceptable into today’s society, especially when we come to Zimbabwe where we are trying to create a country that is devoid of any “isms” that end up taking people back into slavery. Mr. Speaker Sir, sexual harassment undermines the family unit. It erodes personal confidence in a person. Sexual harassment erodes the dignity and respect that should be exuded in our culture.
Mr. Speaker Sir, sexual harassment is but an extension of oppression and yet we today are talking of being a liberated country. The freedom, the right for one to enjoy their God-given life, determining their own destiny without undue influence is indeed undermined. Zimbabwe belongs to the United Nations and we all know that we have to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
By not dealing decisively with the curse called sexual harassment, we will be contributing to the failure of our ability to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the issue of economic growth, which is linked to decent work and Goal No. 8 as well as the issue of gender equality, Goal No. 5 - there is no doubt that by sexually harassing one, you are saying they are sub-human. You are refusing to accept equality and you are being unfair. Yes indeed, you are oppressing and refusing one to be a master of their own destiny.
Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to call upon
Government to come up with a very clear policy that inculcates within our workers committees an element of looking into this evil type of behavior. They, as workers committees, whilst they talk about the interest of workers, must also expose any sexual harassment at the work place and obviously as has been said by many Members in this august House, it must also be eliminated in all aspects of our society.
I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. E. Ncube, who raised the issue to do with sexual harassment which was seconded by Hon. Tsuura. I was also touched by the issue which worries a lot of women. Women are being abused and for them to go and report, nobody listens to them.
Looking at colleges and universities, students are being abused so much, mainly because some would have limited funds or resources. Some parents give their children inadequate funds such that the children are abused to the extent of having an affair with adults. We need to have a law that states that teachers and lecturers should be monitored on how they are handling assignments and examinations. If a female student refuses to have an affair with the lecturer, at times they are given lower grades. It is very painful to the girl child.
I heard a lot of speakers saying a lot of things which I do support. There must be a law such that perpetrators of sexual harassment are taken to courts as early as possible. Again, children must be monitored closely. A lot of people are being abused in their homes and they do not even know where to report their cases. If they go to report the cases to the police, at times the cases are not handled properly.
In Parliament, there is also abuse of women but the issues are covered up because it is embarrassing to publicise such issues. There should be a law that protects females from being abused. I have observed that the joint Committee visited a number of places in the country but there are a lot of remote areas that were not visited. There are many people who are being sexually abused in those areas and they do not know where to report their cases. As representatives of the people, efforts should be made to visit areas in the remote parts of the country. It is my plea that a law should be formulated in order to curb sexual harassment of women. In political parties, women are also abused. This issue should be treated with the urgency that it deserves.
I heard some speakers saying that young people no longer seek counseling from the elders. This is no longer possible in the times that we are living because children spend most of their time at school. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we realised that many people were abused. Many girls dropped out of school due to pregnancies. Some of these girls were abused by close relatives such that the child cannot report that his father or his uncle is the one who is abusing that person that way. As women, let us please try to assist our children. We need to monitor closel,y be it a close relative and that person should be reported because most of them are abusing their children and they are not reported simply because some of the cases will be like - how can I report my father who will take care of us. That is one of the issues that is worrying a lot of children. Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
HON. E. NCUBE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 14th September, 2021.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Order of the Day, No. 17 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 FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ON THE 2020 FIRST,
SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER BUDGET
PERFORMANCE REPORTS FOR THE MINISTRY FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE. HON. SHAMU: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the 2020 First, Second,
Third and Fourth Quarter Budget Performance Reports for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
HON. GWANETSA: I second.
HON. SHAMU:
INTRODUCTION:
Parliament draws its oversight mandate from the Constitution of
Zimbabwe Section 119 (3) which provides that “all institutions and agencies of the State and government at every level are accountable to Parliament.”. Section 298 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, provides inter alia, that there must be transparency and accountability in financial matters. Section 299 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe obliges Parliament to “monitor and oversee expenditure by all State institutions in order to ensure that all revenue is accounted for, all expenditure has been properly incurred and any limits and conditions on appropriations have been observed”. This is further buttressed by provisions in the Public Finance Management Act
[Chapter 22:19] which regulates the management of public resources.
Sections 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the PFMA compel ministries to submit monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying reports to their respective Portfolio Committees.
REPORTS RECEIVED:
The Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Herein after referred to as the Committee) received the four quarterly reports all at once on 24 February 2021, well after the prescribed 60 days after the end of the quarter (Save for the fourth quarter report). It then analysed them, with technical assistance from the Parliament Budget Office. The analysis checked compliance with the reporting guideline that Parliament developed in 2016 and the PFMA reporting standards. The Committee also invited the Ministry to appear before it where it sought clarity on a number of issues and more information.
The Committee noted with concern that the Ministry is failing to comply with Section 34 of PFMA which reads, “Every accounting officer shall submit monthly financial statements and reports for submission by the Minister to the appropriate Parliamentary
Portfolio Committee, within thirty days of the respective month.” The four quarterly reports were submitted all at once on 24 February 2021, well after the prescribed 60 days after the end of the quarter (Save for the fourth quarter report). The Ministry availed the main appropriation account for the year ending December 31, 2020 and promised to comply as per the statutory requirements.
The Ministry further availed the following documents to the
Committee;
- Ministry’s Strategic Plan: 2021-2025. ii. Ministry’s Integrated Performance Agreement for 2020.
The Ministry is working towards availing its Strategic Plan online and to make it accessible to relevant stakeholders timeously in line with the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1) thrust on paragraph 112 on building a robust information management and dissemination strategy. This is aimed at “making Zimbabwe an attractive investment destination and building a highly competitive national brand bolstered by the implementation of the engagement and re-engagement drive in support of a shift from traditional diplomacy to economic diplomacy”
COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FOUR
REPORTS RECEIVED:
The Committee observed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is mandated to promote, protect and safeguard the national interests, image and influence of the Republic of Zimbabwe in the regional and international arena and to protect the interests of Zimbabwean nationals abroad. The Ministry has three Key Result Areas namely:
- Establish and maintain relations with the international community,
- Provision of protocol services to the Government of
Zimbabwe, the diplomatic and other stakeholders, and
- Promoting and protecting the interests of Zimbabwean nationals.
The Committee noted the six policy priority areas for the
Ministry for the 2020-2021 period which are:
- Strengthening of cooperation with more counties in Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Asians and Pacific regions.
- Work towards removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries and their allies continued reengagement with the USA, EU Members states such as UK, Germany, France, France, Italy, Norway and Sweden, remains critical.
- Intensifying Diplomatic re-engagement with Multilateral
Agencies, Institutions and international
Organisations. iv. Prioritisation of BIPPAs with the rest of the world to show commitment towards investment protection.
- Economic diplomacy vi. Diaspora Diplomacy
The Committee noted that the Ministry has 2 programmes namely Programme 1: Policy and administration and Programme 2: International Cooperation and Diaspora Engagement. The Committee further noted that the NDS1 on Paragraph 691 rightfully identified the need for a good image, diplomacy and international standing if this country is to be competitive for inward investments, tourist arrivals, favourable international trade relations and increased exports to support job creation and better living standards for citizens as envisaged in Vision 2030. As such, the Ministry is expected to drive the shift from traditional diplomacy to economic diplomacy.
The Committee noted that NDS1, under the objective of improved country image is aiming at achieving the following: - ▪ Improve on the Good Country Index from 100/153 in 2020 to 90/153 by 2025;
▪ Improve on the Country Brand Ranking from
120/189 in 2020 to 100/189 by 2025; and ▪ Improve on the Global Happiness Index from
146/191 in 2020 to 100/191 by 2025.
To achieve this, one of the 10 strategies laid out in paragraph 701 is the sprucing up and adornment of public buildings and spaces in Zimbabwe and Missions abroad with Zimbabwean art, culture and heritage products.
From the reports submitted, the Committee observed that the Ministry had 728 employees in post and 229 vacancies as at the end of the fourth quarter 2020. The 24% vacancy rate needs to be addressed as soon as possible to enable the Ministry to achieve its mandate and contribute to the attainment of vision 2030. The Ministry should urgently expedite the recruitment of 43 Accountants and
Admin Officers at Head Office as well as 188 Ambassador’s, Trade Promotion Officers, LRS, and Ministers Councillors posts.
The Committee also observed that the Unallocated Reserve allocation which the Ministry received contributed to the artificial growth in Ministry expenditure. The Ministry’s original budget was ZW$1.385 billion which was revised to ZW$3.232 in the PFMS system, albeit without Parliamentary approval as Parliament never approved a supplementary budget. Reports from the Ministry indicate different figures for the recurrent budget. The first quarter report for the Ministry had a recurrent budget of $1 088 199 000, the second and third quarter reports have $1 385 435 000 while the fourth quarter report indicates $2 934 787 750. This is attributed to the movement in the exchange rate wherein the exchange rate was initially pegged at
US$1:ZW$25 before the adoption of the forex auction system on 23
June 2020 which allowed the rate to float and has converged around 1:83. The Ministry has a foreign component and most of the payments are made in foreign currency.
The Committee noted that there was underutilisation of disbursed funds in Q3 and Q4 for programme 2 as only 34.53% and 34% of the funds were used respectively. The Committee noted that such anomalies arise from the situation where payment runs are raised but not funded and end up being reversed year end. The Committee also noted that Treasury release funds to the Ministry for capital expenditure, but cash and Nostro Funding for Diplomatic Missions is not sufficiently availed. Without the Nostro funding, funds cannot move to Missions, hence the funds will technically be unavailable to our foreign missions.
The Committee noted with concern that all foreign Missions are not connected to the SAP system hence giving rise to the Auditor-
General perennial observation of a repeat offence by the Ministry of non-disclosure of expenditure for forty-five (45) foreign missions in the Appropriation Account, excluding employment costs resulting in an understatement of expenditure. The Ministry has been receiving qualified opinions from the Auditor-General for the fiscal years 2017 to 2019 because of this understatement. Expenditure incurred at
Missions is not uploaded onto the system in real time as accounts
from Missions are only submitted quarterly in line with the movement of the Diplomatic Bags.
The Committee observed that the Ministry reported that it has successfully engaged with the outside world, achieved higher levels of re-engagement and successfully engaged diaspora community without any reference to the outcome indicators. The report mainly focused on diaspora engagement and did not indicate improvement on trade and investment against the indicated targets. The Committee therefore calls upon the Ministry to relate its achievements to the targets in NDS1 on the results matrix on pages 280 to 283 as well as the indicative yearly targets in the blue book.
The Committee noted with concern that the major challenges faced by the Ministry include late disbursements of funds to finance the programmes, rising costs of goods and services shrinking the budget available, lack of foreign currency to funds mission operational budgets and dilapidated infrastructure, furniture and equipment’s at missions. The proposed solutions suggested by the Ministry are timely release of funds to support the programmes and an increase in the budget allocation.
The Committee is encouraged that despite the funding challenges, the Ministry managed to achieve the following:
- Undertook basic maintenance work for some missions at a cost of $214 880 000 (Budget $272 000 000). ii. Office furniture was procured at a cost of $ 20 800 880 (Budget 21 236 000). iii. Initial works for renovation of Guest Houses including resuscitation of boreholes at a cost of $400 000 which is 100% of the budget. Insufficient budget hampered achievement of targets. No vehicles were however acquired despite the glaring need after Treasury suspended vehicle procurement. Fines were virement to furniture acquisition.
The Committee is also fortified that the Ministry engaged Treasury over the issue of utilising revenue generated at Missions to cover urgent pressing issues. It was unanimously agreed that Missions could not watch situations deteriorating to unacceptable levels while there were funds sitting in the bank account. It was agreed that in those extreme circumstances where such revenue is used, the Ministry should comply with statutory requirements by writing to Treasury seeking authority use the specified sums of funds. The Ministry has been doing that and a running file was opened where all such requests are being kept. The Ministry has also directed that Missions submit quarterly returns of revenue collections for onward submissions to
Treasury.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Committee recommends the following:
That the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade should always timeously submit its Quarterly Budget Performances
Report in line with the provisions of Sections 32,33,34 and 35 of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 20:19] which compel ministries to submit monthly and quarterly financial and accompanying reports to their respective Portfolio Committees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade should urgently expedite the recruitment of 43 Accountants and
Admin. Officers at Head Office as well as 188 Ambassadors, Trade Promotion Officers, LRS, and Ministers Councillors posts. These posts should be filled by 31 December 2021.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade should publish specific incentives to diasporans in the regulations for the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act [Chapter 14:37] so as to encourage diaspora participation in national development. The NDS1 envisages an increase in diaspora remittances as a percentage of GDP to 8 % in 2021. There is therefore need to review Diaspora Policy and transform it into legislation that will protect the diaspora investments by December
The NDS1 speaks on the need for acceleration of the
rationalisation and streamlining of diplomatic missions. The Ministry should come up with a plan for rationalisation by 30 September 2021 so as to cut costs. That the Ministry of Finance and Economic
Development should timeously release budgeted funds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in order for it to fund its mandates in a more efficient and effective manner as erratic releases impede on the Ministry’s ability to achieve its intended objectives. The Committee recommends quarterly releases starting in the third quarter of 2021. These releases should also include the release of the required foreign currency component to ensure smooth operations at missions as well as the clearance of all outstanding salaries.
That the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should yearly increase the budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade programmes, to bolster the country’s international trade which is pivotal on attainment of Vision 2030. Also, that the budgeted funds should be timely released for them to have significance impact.
That a budget should set aside funds for diplomatic training across all Government departments in order to build a robust and vibrant diplomatic corps with requisite capacity to represent the country in foreign missions. This should start in the 2022 budget.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of ICT should ensure that all Diplomatic Missions are connected on to the SAP system by 31 December 2021 so that
Missions’ expenditure will be uploaded in real time.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should prioritise vehicle procurement for the Zimbabwean Diplomatic Missions. As such, the 2022 budget should set aside funds to procure all the outstanding vehicles for the Missions.
As part of the capital budget, the 2022 to 2025 budgets should set aside funds to procure or construct at least two properties abroad annually so as to reduce rental costs.
CONCLUSION:
In light of the above, it is clear that with regular, consistent oversight of the Executive, sustainable resource utilisation can be realised. This has been witnessed in the reporting and submission of the Ministry’s financial performance reports. It is therefore imperative that release of budget resources be made quarterly and predictable so that meaningful outputs and outcomes can be realised. I thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. KARIKOGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I wish to add
my voice as I second this motion. While the Ministry endeavours to establish and maintain relationships with the international community, we can also promote larger markets for our ZIM products within the region, through African agreements such as African Continental Free Trade Agreement. This is promoting trade within central African regions and as Zimbabwe, we can as well join that bloc.
Mr. Speaker, this can only be done by resourcing ZimTrade. The reengagement policy must also focus on African common markets. That is focusing on ensuring removal of trade barriers for movement of goods and people across borders. Mr. Speaker Sir, Zimbabwe is a gateway to Africa through our borders, especially for road freight. The relaxation of visa requirements by Zimbabwe immigration is also a positive move towards transformation of trade in Africa being spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade. I will give you an example about the Kazungula Bridge, we stand as Zimbabwe to benefit if we apply our minds right on the operations of Kazungula Bridge. Let us also invite key development actors from Africa, such as academics, researchers, professors, financiers and politicians from our region. All these must visit our country. Today social media plays a very pivotal role in the development of the country. These days we have social media influencers of Facebook and other social media platforms. They play a very good role in marketing the country positively. For all this to happen, the Ministry must be properly resourced and we should be led by business-minded executives within the Ministry. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: I would like to thank the mover of the motion Hon. Shamu and the seconder, Hon. Karikoga. I agree with the presentation made by Hon. Shamu. One particular area that touched me was related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs being a cash cow on its own and being able to generate income but having difficulties in using or getting a share of those resources that it earns. I would definitely recommend that the Committee and Parliament pushes that the Ministry gets a quarter of what it receives and be able to use those resources to spruce up the embassies that we have dotted around the world. This will ensure that the image of Zimbabwe is projected well such that when you get to a Zimbabwean Embassy, you will be proud of the asset and also that you feel proud that you are Zimbabwean. You will also be proud that the structure represents the image of our country. I really would want to see a situation where resources that are procured by our foreign embassies being used also in the Ministry to try and project the image of Zimbabwe well.
I also agree that the Ministry of Finance during budgeting should allocate more funds. We are in an overdrive as a country through the vision of our President, of doing business with everyone in the world. People would want to do business with people who also project value and also project that they are people of means, even a country. Without resources, it becomes difficult for the Ministry to project that image to be able to participate in areas where they would actually influence on behalf of Zimbabwe for us to have more business and friends and use that as leverage towards our development.
Zimbabwe is open for business – for me, it starts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we would want to see more resources being allocated to this Ministry and ensuring that they have enough vehicles at embassies. If you have an opportunity to travel to some of our embassies, you sometimes find that they have transport challenges. We would want to see this changing. There are also issues relating to income. I have seen a lot of improvement in terms of our ambassadors getting their remuneration. I pray that the
Ministry of Finance prioritises that to ensure that our ambassadors are looked after well. I think we would want to see these being a serious commitment on the Ministry of Finance to ensure that foreign embassies are looked after very well because they are our face in relation to the whole world.
I also feel that we have got a lot of land throughout the world – the Zimbabwean Government has bought land. I would encourage that we develop the land to malls or high value properties that can earn income for the Ministry of Finance or Zimbabwe. In the process, we can also encourage those that have free funds outside Zimbabwe – insurance companies or pension funds can invest there; build those embassies, earn an income for themselves and also create value for the people of Zimbabwe through a shopping mall. For example, if you go to Tanzania, we have properties. I went to Tanzania at one point and saw massive Zimbabwean properties. As I was saying, a pension fund or an insurance company could be engaged and we build a big embassy there or state of the art building that can be rented out.
We can earn an income and also look after our foreign missions.
I urge the Ministry of Finance to ensure that such assets are improved and they then contribute to the income that we earn as a country and also help our embassies to then function well.
In a nutshell, I would want to agree with the observations – yes, I saw some areas where they delayed their submissions and some areas that were raised in terms of them not meeting the expectations of the Committee. This all goes down to the funding; whether it is coming from their activities or from the fiscus, it has to be a priority. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be a priority because we are driving. The President is driving our international re-engagement and our development through bi-lateral or multi-lateral relationships.
I would like to give an analogy but I do not know whether I will not offend people. Any beautiful girl needs to be more beautified through good dressing. Is it not? But also, if you want to sell a car, if it is scratched, damaged and so forth – who will buy it? The best way is to make sure that the car has been spruced up before you put it on the market. I would want to see our embassies which is my main area, I would want to see them improving. I would like to thank Government because I have seen tremendous efforts towards improving.
I would like to also thank our foreign missions. They are doing a very good job. If you look at the business that has flown into Zimbabwe, you can tell that there is effort there. There is serious selling and marketing of Zimbabwe. With that, they are really playing their role and they need to be supported by this House. As Parliament, we need to support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Every Zimbabwean should thank these men and women who are working hard to see the development of our country and relations that we have that then come to be fruitful and help Zimbabwe to develop.
I thank you.
*HON. NZUMA: I would like to support the motion moved by Hon. Shamu and seconded by Hon. Karikoga in relation to our foreign policy. The fact that he introduced motion is very important to us as a nation. If we look at our country when we initially faced Cyclone
Idai, we saw a lot of regional and international countries coming to assist Zimbabwe and that showed that our foreign policy or our engagement with other foreign countries is very good.
If you also look closely that during the days when our nation got sanctions because of the alleged mistakes and that it was about to be handed over to the United Nations, a lot of countries stood for Zimbabwe to say this country does not have any problems. Even if we look back, 40 years ago, on the issue of armed struggle we saw Zimbabwe being assisted by a lot of countries.
Even during the time when this country faced issues to do with droughts, Zambia had to supply lots and lots of tonnes of maize such that Zimbabwe can serve its nationalities. What was just being said by the previous speakers is that we need the Departments of Finance to have a visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs so that they be given more budget lines for the job to proceed and to go ahead well?
It is very pleasant that when we are in Russia or any other countries, we build structures or houses just like how we do it here in Zimbabwe, and our people there will feel free to say this is how we do it in our country rather than renting. To continue renting those houses does not show that you want to stay there for long. So, if there are other countries that we have good relations with, we need to build permanent structures. I can give an example that in our homes; if you continually threaten to divorce your wife everyday they will not do any permanent thing.
So, I am in agreement with Hon. Shamu and Hon. Karikoga that we need to do something and support our Department of Foreign Affairs to be 100% funded with all the requisite resources such as vehicles. I remember some other time when I got a call from a relative from Mongolia, if our Ambassador in Russia did not have a vehicle maybe that relative of mine would phone our representatives there, Brig. Sango and in no time, this person would see a convoy of small vehicles with Zimbabwean flag coming to assist him. That relative of mine was very proud to say we have a Zimbabwean
Ambassador that represents us.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be funded well such that they deliver their services well outside there. I 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 September, 2021
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Twenty-Eight Minutes to Six o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 14th September, 2021.