PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 29th October, 2020
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
OBSERVANCE OF SITTING TIMES
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members are reminded that we should be in the House by 1400 hours, and not later than 1410 hours. You should not come after the Speaker’s procession; that is out of order.
DECLARATION OF ASSETS BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
THE HON. SPEAKER: I would like to advice the newly sworn in Members of Parliament that they must register their assets in terms of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Members of Parliament as read together with Standing Order No. 50 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the National Assembly. Standing Order No. 50 states that it is a statutory requirement that every Member registers his or her proprietary interest within 60 days of the date of opening of the new Parliament and where a Member is appointed after the opening of the Parliament, the disclosure is to be done within 60 days after his or her appointment as a Member.
I would also like to remind Hon. Members who had previously declared their assets before and have, since such declaration, attained new properties to register them in the declaration register. Hon. Members are advised to attend to their asset declaration as soon as possible at the Counsel to Parliament office which is office number 306 on the third floor, Parliament building.
APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSONS OF PORTIFOLIO COMMITTEES
THE HON SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that MDC-T Party has nominated the following Hon Members as Committee Chairpersons:
Hon. Peter Moyo – Committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT);
Hon. Yvonne Musarurwa – Committee on Environment and Tourism;
Hon. Lindiwe Maphosa – Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development; and
Hon. Sipho Makone – Committee on Information Media and Broadcasting Services.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise on a matter of public importance. It troubles my heart that 40 years after we dislodged the brutal British rule, characterised by acts of banditry against our people, the same people with a colonial hangover would want to lecture Zimbabwe on democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism. Indeed, it pains me that those neo-colonialists in the mould of Mr. Peter Hein are making baseless conclusions as they try to meddle in the affairs of our sovereign state, a country borne out of the revolutionary struggle for self determination. We are not a British colony and we certainly do not care a hoot about what they discuss in their Houses.
As a sovereign nation with equal global rights, what we ask from the British is mutual respect and not to be lectured about human rights and due processes, tenets they denied our forefathers and which we only regained in 1980.
They hanged our women, they raped our women, they spat on our women, they had no respect for the Africans, regarding us as animals to be hunted down and then kept in their museums as trophies. Today, castles and palaces in London are a direct result of our gold and diamonds they looted, yet they have not offered to pay any form of restitution or reparations for their grand and sickening thievery. Such people with base animal instincts cannot and must not be allowed to tell us about human rights because we fought for those rights and today enjoy walking in the streets of Harare where just four decades ago we were denied the same.
Today we vote, today we write our own constitution and today we define our own destiny through hard work and comradeship. Yes, we can argue amongst ourselves, across the political divide as Zimbabweans, correct each other where signs of omission or commission emerge but we do not need a people whose forefathers killed our people with impunity to lecture us on human rights, in fact we are better placed to advise them on human rights because we forgave their kith and kin who murdered hundreds of thousands of our people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, perhaps time has come for us to go to the International Courts and demand reparations from the British for the atrocities they committed during the colonial era, and indeed even today through illegal economic sanctions that are designed to make Zimbabwe bleed, only because we dared take back our land. Mr. Speaker Sir, why is Mr. Peter Hain lying, who lied to him that Ms Henrietta Rushwaya is President Mnangagwa’s niece? Is there anything honourable in parroting and reproducing falsehoods from social media platforms in the so-called House of Lords, perhaps House of Lies?
In his ignorance, Mr. Peter Hain insinuates that what Ms Henrietta Rushwaya did had the blessings of the President, what a load of rubbish from a supposed to be Lord.
The arrest of Ms Rushwaya is clear testimony that President Mnangagwa is walking the talk on corruption and economic saboteurs of whom we have many in this country, but who are being hunted day and night by the security forces. Thieves will be brought to book. These criminals do not have political colours, they are found in all race groups. We commend our Government for arresting Henrietta and her accomplices and strongly condemn the ill informed rants on our issues that we were treated to yesterday in the British House of Lords. Zimbabwe is a sovereign nation. We are no longer a British colony. The British killed our people, they have the heads of our forefathers kept in their museums to this day as evidence of their murderous past. They killed women, Nehanda was hanged by them. History is littered with their killings, looting and abuses of Africans. Today they spend half of their sitting discussing how to manage an independent country - that is unacceptable Mr. Speaker.
HON K. PARADZA: I rise to inform this House that on 27 October, the British House of Lords, conducted yet another of their meandering debates on the situation in Zimbabwe.
The obsession with Zimbabwe continues – reflecting, sadly, their Lordship lingering nostalgia for an Empire forever lost, and perhaps their frustration with the inescapable truth of ever-dwindling British influence across the swathes of territory, where it was once said that the ‘Sun Never Set.’
This was yet another manifestation of the mindset illustrated by Lord Adrian Palmer in 2019, when he advocated that Zimbabwe’s problems could only be resolved by way of British recolonisation.
No doubt, having delivered this gem of policy advice to his fellow peers – all unelected by the way – the venerable Lord must have returned to the Members Bar where, one assumes, he had already spent a large portion of his day. Even sadder, Mr Speaker is the evident disdain, condescension and ill-will their Lordships harbour towards the Government of Zimbabwe and the deep-rooted ignorance of our situation reflected in many of their questions and observations.
Note how the UK and others always speak of their support for the people of Zimbabwe – they never speak of their support for the Government of Zimbabwe. They always shout about the millions of dollars of humanitarian assistance they dispense to Zimbabwe. British assistance is a fact and we are grateful for it. But, none of it is channelled through Government or Treasury. One assumes that somewhere along the line, the funds are audited and accounted for. As Government and also as Parliament, we are not privy to that information. Their message though is that, we the British are assisting you the people of Zimbabwe because your own Government is failing to do so, which is nonsense.
So, whilst they subtly seek to drive wedges between the people and the Government, they also seek to intensify the pressure on Government by way of sanctions or what they call “restrictive measures”. In this approach, they are mirroring the sentiment reflected in the now infamous utterances of the former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr Chester Crocker when he testified before the US Senate, advocating the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe. He said, “to separate the Zimbabwean people from ZANU-PF, we are going to have to make their economy scream and I hope you, senators have the stomach for what you have to do”. The stereo type approach and largely repetitive responses from Baroness Sugg – Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the British Foreign Office to comments and questions from their Lordships, reflect also the distance which the British Government deliberately maintains towards the New Dispensation; and their stubborn refusal to acknowledge or recognise any of the progress achieved by Government since it assumed office in November 2017.
Of note is that the Baroness chose to inform the venerable House that the UK is currently in the process of considering future sanctions on Zimbabwe – once it exits from the European Union and now it has armed itself with its own “Sanctions and Money Laundering Act”.
As already stated by the Chief Whip, notably one of the principal items of interest in the debate was the arrest of Henrietta Rushwaya. But their Lordship’s focus was more on the fact that the lady-in-question is said to be a relative of His Excellency the President than on the swift and commendable actions of law-enforcement agencies, to arrest, detain and arraign her before the courts on serious charges of corruption, fraud and smuggling.
Their Lordships spent quite some time on the issue of corruption in Zimbabwe. One eminent Peer, Lord St John of Bletso, stated that there have been “no prosecutions for corruption” in Zimbabwe and even asked what measures the British Government was taking to get South Africa to get involved in Zimbabwean affairs.
It is this kind of ignorance, accompanied by the usual British arrogance and condescension which I believe Mr. Speaker, all Zimbabweans from whatever political persuasion they might hail –should find deeply that offensive, intrusive and completely unacceptable.
We note without comment Mr. Speaker, serious and to our knowledge, as yet unresolved allegations of gross corruption with regards to the award of Covid-19 related contracts to companies “closely linked to senior figures in the (UK) Government” with at least two multi-million pound contracts being awarded to “dormant companies”.
Let me also point out Mr. Speaker Sir, my research has shown that the Corporate Tax Haven Index published by the Tax Justice Network shows that the three countries that have done the most to facilitate tax fraud, tax avoidance and tax-related grand theft are the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands – all of them British territories. Jersey, a British dependency comes 7th on the list. All are satellites of the City of London: astonishingly, the City of London is “exempt” from, the UK’s Freedom of Information laws creating further layers of secrecy and opportunities for all manner of nefarious activity. Their Lordships and the Baroness spent time as well on the issue of human rights in Zimbabwe and on the issue of “people being held accountable for their actions”.
But we note without comment Mr. Speaker, the UN’s criticism of the British Government’s continuing failure to meet obligations in the UN Convention against Torture. We note also without comment, the UK’s reversal of its previous promise to establish an independent inquiry into allegations of complicity, torture and ill-treatment of detainees held by other countries in counter-terrorism operations.
Finally Mr. Speaker, we note without comment, the fact that the UK has yet to conduct a human rights compliant inquiry or to introduce other accountability measures for alleged abuses perpetrated by the British Armed Forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009. So, who is the worst human rights violator between Zimbabwe and the UK?
Mr. Speaker, the British Government continually criticises our Government on issues to do with media freedoms and so on. Not a single word was heard from the local embassy or indeed from London when AIPPA was repealed and replaced with the Freedom of Information Act yet the Honourable Lords have always had a lot to say about media freedom in Zimbabwe.
We note without comment, the recent formal warning issued by the Council of Europe to the British Government for threatening press freedom, “after it blacklisted a group of investigative journalists and denied them access to information”.
We note also that the UK has slipped to 35th place in the World Press Freedom Index down 2 places since 2019 and below countries such as Ghana, South Africa and Costa Rica. Zimbabwe comes in 125th position up one place since 2019.
What we are saying is that whilst the UK is wallowing in its own problems to do with Brexit, their Covid-19 response, economic decline and so on, their Lordships might well be advised to direct their attention and opinions to their own internal problems and to keep out of our affairs in Zimbabwe. Simply put, Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. This Rhodesian era nostalgia must now come to an end. This is now Zimbabwe, a sovereign state. The British can only visit us either as investors or tourists, not as colonisers.
We have no problem with criticism but let it be constructive and not destructive in nature. Let it be evidence based and factual, not based on social-media hype and fabrication. Let it be conveyed on the basis of mutual respect and courtesy, not in the form of prescription and dictation, from a master to an underling.
Sadly for their Lordships and their Rule Britannia or Great Britain mind-set, that ship not only sailed long long ago, but it has completely vanished from view and will never return to these shores. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I want to repeat what I said after prayers. In future anybody who is an Hon. Member of Parliament coming in after prayers shall not be allowed to enter the House. You must be here at two o’clock and not later than ten past two o’clock.
HON. T. ZHOU: Good afternoon Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of privilege arises from our national Constitution, Section 129 (1) (m) that states that, ‘The seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member is certified to be mentally disordered or intellectually handicapped under any law in force in Zimbabwe; or
Hon. Joanna Mamombe was certified as mentally ill by two Government doctors. I therefore Hon. Speaker Sir, ask that a Privileges Committee be set to look into the matter. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. We should be able to get an official response from the Judiciary and the doctor’s reports accordingly and compare with whosoever is the sponsor of the Hon. Member.
However, because the matter is still with our courts and the courts have not pronounced themselves as to the results of the medical findings. We shall have to be cautious in proceeding accordingly until such time that the matter has been fully ventilated by the courts.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 6 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 7 has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: 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.
HON. MAVETERA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir and a very good afternoon to you. Hon. Speaker Sir, thank you very much for this opportunity. I would like to thank His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for bringing about and setting the tone for this Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe and we are very much grateful. Let me also acknowledge and thank the mover of this motion Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Mhona. We are very happy because indeed they spoke to issues that the President also spoke about and we are grateful.
Hon. Speaker Sir, let me first of all start by highlighting one of the key issues that His Excellency spoke about which was of unity. He said that unity should be able to make us resolve certain differences and also make us resolve certain problems that we may have as a country and then be able to find solutions to what confronts us today. Hon. Speaker let me be able to also acknowledge and recognise with great dismay what one Hon. Member did in this august House.
Hon. Speaker Sir, we had Hon. Chikwinya who came in one day which is on Tuesday this week and spoke against denunciation of sanctions. Hon. Chikwinya went on to highlight the issue of corruption saying that it is the greatest course of decline and in that way he went on to say sanctions were not of any great use in this country. Mr. Speaker Sir, on this issue, we need to speak with one voice. We need to speak with unity when it comes to issues to do with sanctions. We had Hon. Khupe who then went on to even talk of sanctions.
Indeed, what we expected from Hon. Chikwinya was not for him to walk out of this august House but for him to be able to recognise what his leader was doing, whereby she was speaking about sanctions.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is very surprising that we have certain Hon. Members within this august House who do not recognise sanctions yet the rest of Zimbabwe and the rest of SADC knows that there are sanctions. Does it mean that the whole of SADC is speaking against sanctions yet we have got certain Members here who are speaking for sanctions saying there are no sanctions in this country.
Mr. Speaker, it is very important for us to recognise and understand where we are coming from as a country when it comes to the issue of sanctions. We need to be united like what the President said in his SONA whereby we are united as a country and we speak against sanctions. We are the young people of this country and when we are young, people like Hon. Chikwinya, I would say that he is a seasoned and experienced Hon. Member. For him to be speaking against sanctions misleading the rest of Zimbabwe, for us as young people, that is disheartening. We are supposed to take a leaf from him as an Hon. Member because he has got experience. For him to mislead his constituents whereby he is going ahead saying that indeed there are no sanctions, I feel that is very much disheartening.
Mr. Speaker, His Excellency said indeed, sanctions are an albatross to our socio-economi development and we are saying we need to look at this holistically. We need to be united and have cause for us to go forward. If we do not unite as a country, if we do not unite within us as Parliament, we are not going anywhere.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also commend what the President did. He told us that in the Third Session of this Ninth Parliament, we are going to have a Youth Bill into place. Since 1980, we did not have any Bill that was put in place, we did not have any Act of Parliament which we believe was supposed to enforce any law towards young people. We want to thank His Excellency for coming up and saying there is need for us to address the issues of the young people. The young people constitute 67% of the population of Zimbabwe and when issues concerning the young people are being recognised that is good for us and we would be happy that they are going to be addressed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me look at the Zimbabwe Tourism Act. As young people, we are the best beneficiaries when it comes to tourism and we are happy that the President said that there is going to be a Zimbabwe Tourism Act. We are happy that as young people, we are going to participate in the whole economy and mainstreamed so that we go forward when it comes to tourism issues. In that way we are very much grateful and looking forward to that Act to look and address issues to do with young people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I go on to thank Government recently for having and approving the principles of the Patriotic Act. Patriotism is one issue that a lot of young people need to address and understand. We need to be patriotic and work for our country. Yours truly, Mr. Speaker Sir, I am one person who has never left this country but has worked for this country for I know that patriotism is very important when it comes to youth issues. I feel that it is important for young people to work for our country. We had instances whereby we were surprised by some Hon. Doctors who I believe are of my age that went on and were seen not to be patriotic. What we need to understand is that when it comes to such issues, as young people we need to look forward and make sure that we foster the economic development first and foster our national interest when it comes to issues to do with development.
Mr. Speaker Sir, still on the Youth Bill, as Zimbabwe, we do not have a youth council board. The issue now is as much as we are looking at the Youth Bill, it needs to be implemented. We need young people, we need an interface of the Government and also the people of Zimbabwe. We are calling upon the Ministry of Youth, as much as they are coming up with the Youth Bill, they need also to constitute the Zimbabwe Youth Council Board. Until now, it has not been constituted and we are saying who is going to be the interface between the Government and the youth? There is great need for us to have that interface so that youth issues can be addressed. We feel that not having a youth council is detrimental when it comes to development of young people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in the same gesture, let me also look at the Government’s measures and strategies that have been put in place in terms of COVID-19. Indeed we want to thank the Government for reopening schools. At least children will be able to finish up the syllabi. We are grateful and that was a step in the right direction but there are that are being raised whereby there is a lot of indecency when it comes to many children that are going to school. Yesterday the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education went on and said there are some measures that they are putting in place to ensure those issues are addressed.
Mr. Speaker, there was an issue that the President talked about where he said he is going to make sure that he will preserve some jobs for young people and make sure that the Public Service will also look into the market. Unemployment has been the greatest thing when it comes to young people. When we are going to address the issue of the labour market, we are going to address the issue of employment and it is a step in the right direction. We want to thank His Excellency for that.
We also want to thank His Excellency for being able to introduce the launch of the five year development programme which also is going to start in the 2021 budget. We are happy that this development programme has got a cluster which is going to be looking at young people’s issues and we are happy that we are going to be mainstreamed into development programmes as young people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am sure there are a lot of other Hon. Members who want to speak on this issue. We really want to thank His Excellency. He set the tone for us in the Ninth Parliament and indeed we are grateful because as Parliament, we now know what is at the heart of His Excellency. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.
*HON. DR. NYASHANU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to start by thanking you Mr. Speaker Sir for according me the opportunity to support the speech by His Excellency during his SONA in this august House. Let me also commend Hon. Togarepi and Hon. Mhona who also debated in support of the President’s Speech. I would like to appreciate his words which were so encouraging which are going to pave way for development. Let me also thank all the Hon. Members who have supported the President’s Speech during the SONA.
The first issue was of corruption, the constitutional issues and children’s issues. I would like to thank the President who spoke passionately about development which is evident in Government programmes. The President is doing his best to make sure there is development in Zimbabwe. The other issue that was presented during the SONA is an issue which resonates with what the late leader of the United Nations, Kofi Annan used to talk about. He used to explain that development means bettering people’s lives.
Looking at young children who travel long distances going to school, when these issues are addressed, then it means there is development. Looking at women who walk long distances to access medical care from clinics, then we would claim that we have development.
I would like to thank the President for his passion regarding development in Zimbabwe. The major challenge is corruption. We have a number of people among our citizens who engage in corrupt activities. Such people are disadvantaging the vulnerable women who need medical attention. They disadvantage the sick that need Paracetamol and other medication.
Corruption at the moment is being addressed by ZACC. Most corrupt people are the people we live with. These are people who go to church, led by headman and led by Pastors. My question is, what are Pastors and fathers doing in their homes to address this scourge? Our parents were principled people who used to assist even strangers, but we are externalising large amounts of money taking it to other countries whilst our own people are suffering. This issue pains me a lot. My desire is that fathers, headmen and church leaders should be found addressing corruption because some of the money that is being externalised and raised through corruption is being used to pay tithes. We need to work together to address this.
I will talk about the new law regarding the rights of young children which was spoken about by His Excellency. Children are our future and our heritage and they are Zimbabweans. We need to look after them. We are looking forward to this new Act of Parliament to benefit young children. We know some Hon. Members of this august House sire children and such children are disadvantaged. They are not looked after. The law should prosecute such people who neglect their own children because Government cannot, through the Social Welfare department look after such children, but we want parents to be responsible for their children.
With these few words, I would like to thank the Buhera Central people whom I represent in this House. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. PETER MOYO: I would like to add my voice on the State of the Nation Address which was delivered by the President for us to know what to discuss. I just want to dwell on the issue that he pointed out with regards to corruption. The President alone cannot fix this problem. It needs all of us to put our heads together and make sure that we defeat this disease which has arisen in our country. Those people who surround the President sometime ululate when he arrives and shower him with praises saying he is a good man and he has done this and that. If you look around, most of these people are corrupt. They are the ones who are instigating corruption in this country.
Therefore, let us put our heads together to fight this disease in our country. You look at the people who are arrested at the airport with gold - those are the people entrusted to hold influential positions and they take that as an opportunity to loot the resources of this country and smuggle them out of the country. If you go to those people, they are the people who are saying ‘I am next to the President’ yet they are destroying the lives of our children in this country. I call upon every Zimbabwean to be a police officer or whistleblower.
The people who are entrusted with our laws in the country also are corrupt. You now wonder why some people at different police stations have been arrested. The President is trying his level best, but he is alone in this fight. If he was not on the forefront to fight corruption, you can be rest assured that the person who was arrested with gold at the airport was not going to be arrested. People had the audacity to switch off the CCTV so that they would not be seen but we thank God, there were people who were honest to defeat this Lucifer. I am happy for those people who are courageous enough.
You go to the local authorities out there; they sell residential stands to desperate home seekers. They have become land barons in every local authority. The President is fighting for every citizen to have shelter over his or her head, but some people are busy demolishing those houses. They are working against the President. It is high time the President looks around. There are big brains out there. There are big brains in the opposition who can take this country forward than the people he thinks love him. Even as I speak, I can be a very good Minister. I can do a better job than the people we think are in front of us and they are better equipped to do a better job. They are working against the President but if they come here, they say ‘ah, we are here to defend the President, we are here to support him’ but during the night, they work against him. Therefore, corruption must be fought from all cylinders. We are here as parliamentarians to make laws. The President was putting some motions to say let us start from here and end there. He is trying his level best but look right around in this country, we have got a disease of elections. We clamour to go for elections which are toxic and this has destroyed this county.
We thought maybe elections were a messiah for us to be united and build our country but it is very unfortunate that we go to elections without the fundamental electoral reforms required to unite us. We rush for elections every time when there are elections. Let us go for elections under which conditions - under conditions to hurt each other and to throw grenades at each other? So we need to make our laws conducive for our people and conducive for us to take our country forward. Therefore, Mr. Speaker Sir, I do not have many words to say but these few words, I think they will knock in someone’s head and throw away this corruption thing. I thank you.
**HON. MABOYI: Hon. Speaker Sir, I am here to add my voice on the President’s speech on his SONA. He mentioned quite a lot of things in his address, but I want to speak about COVID first. All I am saying is that the President did a great job even though we did not have much as a country, he played a major role in making sure that it does not impact greatly in our country, taking into congnisance that we did not have enough resources. He made sure that people remained safe by staying at home.
This helped us so much as a country to make sure that COVID-19 does not give us great challenges. Still in the issue of COVID, there were quite a number of things that were sourced which things include sanitisers and masks which are the things that help us as a country. The President made sure that he played a major role in all this. Thank you so much Mr. President.
On this COVID issue which is under the Ministry of Health and Child Care and as a representative of Beitbridge West Constituency, my plea to the President is that he needs to help us and make sure that we have a big hospital because we are a border town. We had a lot of people coming into the country through our town and we did not have so many hospitals. To make matters worse, a big hospital to take care of those people that tested positive and needed health care.
As a border town, we need to have a big hospital since we are a border post that is greater than any other in this country. We need to have a general hospital to help people not only looking at COVID - there might be accidents or other outbreaks that might require major health care. Therefore, it is necessary that we have a big hospital in this border town. Secondly, I would also like to talk about Pfumvudza which is Intwasa in Ndebele and Digaudle in Venda. This Pfumvudza, Intwasa or Digaudle is done by people who have energy to dig.
Let us look at the old people, the aged. Who is going to help them? We have realised that it is a good initiative, however we are saying the elderly need to get a programme that will help them and in helping them, it will help us make sure that everyone else gets something to assist them. We will all grow to be elderly people and therefore, we need help. This programme helps quite a number people - but for the elderly, it is quite a challenge because they do not have the energy to dig. As representatives of these constituencies that we come from – how are we going to help these elderly people to make sure that they also take part in farming?
The third issue is with regards to schools. The President said a lot about schools. We realise that there are quite a number of development programmes that are being engaged in. There are quite a number of secondary schools that have been built and there are quite a number of tertiary education facilities that have been put up. However, right now quite a number of children are not doing anything at school because there are no teachers.
Therefore, we are saying to His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa there is need to make sure that we look into this Ministry of Education because right now children are not learning. We can say they have gone back to school but there is no learning taking place. There is absolutely nothing happening. Our President should make sure that they talk to people that lead these Ministries to make sure that teachers go back to school and children continue to learn because they are our future and our tomorrow. As we are here, we went through the same process of being taught by the same teachers. We need to make sure that our children also get an opportunity to go to school and learn, but right now our children are not learning. We need to look into this issue Mr. Speaker Sir. Children are not learning. Thank you so much for the few words that I have added on this SONA.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. This is the third year and I am happy to be able to debate on this SONA. It was not coming out all this time. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to speak very few words. The President spoke about devolution and it must include Members of Parliament and councillors. It must not be done by councils only without MPs because we are the custodians of the people. We move in different areas. In my area, we do not even understand how the devolution funds were managed. So we are appealing that the devolution issue include Members of Parliament, even for us, to just censor for free, we do not mind.
On the issue of education, we are saying that Government and teachers must not fight to show their powers. People must sit down and negotiate in a very good way so that the teacher can survive well because teachers are suffering. In Botswana, you can count the number of cars parked outside and know the number of teachers but here in Zimbabwe you cannot find even a bicycle parked outside the classroom. If we force the teachers to go to schools and teach without being well resourced, our children will not receive enough education. That is when we hear that our leaders’ children go to other countries for education, but I am happy the President said we are going to negotiate with the teachers.
We are saying we must take the President’s words to negotiate. So Ministers must negotiate with the teachers and not fight because we will not achieve anything. We want our teachers to survive very well because when we were growing up, the teacher was very important and was a respectable person. So, where is the importance now? Therefore we must resolve this issue.
The President also talked about the issue of health. I do not know where other Members of Parliament come from but in my constituency, there is a very big problem. There are no medicines, there is nothing. We see that our leaders go outside the country for medication. I heard that the late former President spent about $3 million to go for medication and it ended up in us not having medicines in hospitals. So the issue of doctors, they are saying they do not have proper equipment and it is very true. There are no medicines, there is no equipment. Many cancer and diabetic patients are dying.
What the Ministers say when they come into this House when we ask them about the policy of taking care of the aged, they say something else and yet on the ground it is different. When someone is a cancer patient and applies for social welfare grant, that application will not come back. For a country to be called a country it is because of the health system. Without health, even becoming a Member of Parliament does not make any sense. You must be healthy first in order to go to school and to work. So we are lagging behind on that issue. The President said health must be looked into. We have a surplus but there are no medicines in the hospitals.
A Member of Parliament previously said there are some people who say doctors must go to hospitals to prescribe medicines yet there are no medicines. The medicines are very expensive in pharmacies. Sometimes we end up hiding because Constituency members may bring about 20 prescriptions to us at our offices seeking for help. So we are appealing to Government to intervene. A law must be enacted so that if someone is airlifted and goes for treatment outside the country, he/she gets arrested. Everyone must receive medication in this country.
On the issue of roads, I am very happy. I was in Masvingo and we are very happy, we are glad about the works being done on the road infrastructure. The refurbishment of roads is moving forward. We wondered where money from tollgates was going to but now, we are seeing progress. The problem is in the rural areas where there are no roads. Since I started my term for the past three years, I have never seen even one grader working on the roads. So we are appealing that the programme of roads refurbishment must take place on rural roads because during election campaigns, we see politicians becoming very busy in those rural areas lobbying for support. We must treat these people fairly. Even before the elections, the roads and bridges must be repaired.
On employment, the President talked about employment creation but the greatest percentage of employment creation is vending. The vendor’s life is very important during election time, but after election time they get chased away by council police. They are trying to survive but they are being arrested by the police. Government can get money from the vendors. I am saying if we can have laws on vending. As Parliament, we can enact a law which obliges them to must pay taxes so that Government benefits.
There are no jobs; there is no one who gets oxygen from pumping air. Even right now, Members of Parliament we are saying our salaries are not enough. So we must put laws that support the vendors because it is a major employment activity in the country.
On the issue of Pfumvudza, Pfumvudza is a very good scheme, but it needs to be looked into because sometimes there is corruption. Corruption must end. Deserving people must get the inputs. It must not be one sided; benefits must reach the deserving people. We must not look at political parties at the time of inputs distribution. It must be done in time. Even the elderly we must look after them. We are saying Pfumvudza Programme must be done this year and the following year then after that everyone must be self sufficient. A child must be given the opportunity to grow because not teaching the child to walk day in and day out does augur well.
We must introduce competition to farmers; empower them with skills and promotional materials and you will be a winner. Previously, some were given diesel but they ended up selling that diesel. There are programmes like the Presidential Inputs Scheme where a person must be given inputs and he/she pays back. We went to a workshop where we talked about development. We talked about the youths being given loans, but some said if you fail to return the money there is no problem. But, a person must repay whatever he or she has been loaned. The President wants development. A person must return what he/she has borrowed so that our country will move forward. We are aware that His Excellency the President is moving forward towards the development of our country. However, on the issue of CDF (Constituency Development Fund), we are appealing that we must not embarrass the President by issuing meager funds. Those who are responsible for issuing out CDF funds must allocate reasonable amounts, not figures like $1700 for the whole constituency – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – People will then blame the President and not the issuing office. Allocate reasonable amounts so that we develop our constituencies. People think that we are issued with a lot of money and always ask about the CDF funds because they do not know that the money is meager.
On the issue of corruption, we will not be able to achieve Vision 2030 when we do not do something to eradicate corruption. In China and Rwanda, there is zero tolerance to corruption. You will be sentenced to death because of corruption. I remember when ESAP (Economic Structural Adjustment Programme) was introduced, there was a lot of corruption. Cabinet had many Ministers. Then the yesteryear President just removed the ministers and reappointed them as governors. The package was the same with what Ministers were entitled to. That is corruption; nothing was done because he was supposed to send them home to cut expenses. There were 50 Ministers and he reduced them to 15 and that did not help much. Corruption is not about money only; it involves abuse of office also.
I am pleading with the Executive not to be corrupt. There was an investor called Dangote; people were happy to hear of his coming but he heard that Zimbabwe was very corrupt and he just left – [AN HON. MEMBER: Is that the reason?] – That is the reason, he saw it not fit to invest in Zimbabwe. When we speak about the ease of doing business, let us do it wholeheartedly. We must not request for bribes or kick backs when giving people contracts.
His Excellency the President also talked about people who commit murder. I was so touched by this issue but however, I was happy that when the issue of a murdered child was brought to Parliament, we all debated that it is wrong. We must not just pay lip service but we must act. If we say this is wrong and we start seeing some murder cases being given preference over other cases, like the case of a soldier who was murdered in Chivu, whereby the following day action was taken and people were arrested. In 2008, a lot of people died and no one was arrested. We do not progress; if people are not arrested they will continue to murder because they know that they are protected.
If we want to support our President, we must respect life no matter what party they belong to, their age, occupation, gender, et cetera. People must be treated equally. We must be pained by the lives of our people. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to add my voice to this motion moved by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona, on the State of the Nation Address by our President, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa. Mr. Speaker Sir, let me start with the concluding sentences from the speech by the President and I quote ‘this is our only home and our mother land’ – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, that sentence on its own means a lot to us as Zimbabweans and in particular, to us as Legislators and Hon. Members in our respective constituencies. It tells us we have a home, a home which has people with expectations. We are the only country that has got Great Zimbabwe; we are the only country with Victoria Falls and the only country with some renowned heroes, the likes of the late Joshua Nkomo and the late Mbuya Nehanda.
When we talk about our issues, we should understand that we are Zimbabweans and the British have no room in our home, in terms of us managing our own issues as Zimbabweans. When we say no to sanctions, we must speak with the same voice because we have a common home. I also want to say, just yesterday we were debating on the establishment of Victoria Falls as a city and all those who debated put their minds closely together to make sure that Victoria Falls becomes a city because it is in our mother land and it is in our home.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we would like to make sure that as Zimbabweans we remain with the concept of trying to make sure our people do not starve. We should not have people who go out of the country to invite starvation for our people. We must make sure that whatever we do, it is for the good of our people. Even the Bible says, “how can you say you love God when you do not love those who are close to you” If we go to another country and show love to those who are very far away from us while our people are starving because of sanctions, then we are not doing well. Mr. Speaker Sir, I was quite excited about the National Development Strategy which was stated in the SONA, where we find we are trying to improve and develop in terms of infrastructure in our country – the excellent roads that we see. I am one of those people who ply the Beitbridge – Harare road and there are some sections where even if you are a careless driver you enjoy driving along such roads. You will also enjoy coming to Parliament because you will reach here feeling well. When you drive along a ravaged road, you even end up feeling sick. We want such development things to continue happening.
I am also excited that for the period 2021 – 2025, one of the two roads in my constituency has been earmarked for tarring and those roads have made a lot of noise. Actually the roads made me win as a Member of Parliament because I said we will talk to the listening President and it will happen. Now the roads are now being given attention. Mr. Speaker Sir, we understand that schools are opening. Parliament is sitting though virtualy. We were advised by the President not to relax over the COVID issue because in our neighbourhood, we have South Africa who are shaking their heads once more because the ailment seems to be coming back home. So it is good that we continue subscribing to the WHO guidelines. Even when we get home, let us talk to our children and continue advising them that COVID – 19 is not yet over.
In terms of production, and productivity, the President did not means his words to say those who got land must make sure that they produce. We all know that it is the land that actually gave us a bad name in the eyes of our former colonisers. If the land is now in our hands, it is now our responsibility to make sure that we produce so that the nation does not starve. We have actually shown it that even with sanctions, Zimbabwe has the capacity to continue survive.
Mr. Speaker Sir, because our President is a listening President, he overcame the challenges bedeviling the civil service. If he was not a listening President, he would have just ignored it and not talk about it. He talked about it and we know solutions will come because we know our President is a person who can actually understand that people should not continue suffering in a country which we fought for and him being one of the outstanding guerrillas during the war.
The President also touched on the issue of criminality. Our country, of recent days, has gone through some challenges. We have debated here the issue of Tapiwa Makore. Such issues are not supposed to be heard of in Zimbabwe. We have heard cases in Beitbridge of armed robberies; cases in Chivhu where some people just came from nowhere and started shooting. Even in Harare here, things like that have happened. This country needs to be peaceful. I want to applaud our security forces for keeping an open eye over people who want to arm themselves and destroy innocent lives.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President has given us an assignment as Parliament that we have to make sure that we continue rolling out and debating those Bills so that we quickly have some of those laws that are supposed to see this country tick; be established because Zimbabwe is a Constitutional country. We have our own Constitution, a home grown Constitution, which we have to abide by and the President strictly said let us abide by the Constitution and make sure our country is governable. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for affording me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion that was moved by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona on the SONA by His Excellency the President. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am going to speak on two items that were mentioned by the President.
His Excellency the President mentioned about two cancers that are affecting the wellbeing of our country. He talked about corruption and sanctions. These are two terrible cancers which are killing our nation and are pulling down the growth of this nation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to zero in on the relationship between corruption and sanctions. Our President has Zimbabweans at heart. He has actually set up two strong institutions, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission as a means to fight corruption. To add on the seriousness the President has, he went on to set up a unit called Special Anti-Corruption Unit to make sure that corruption is nipped in the bud. These are the institutions in addition to our police and the Judiciary. What I want to emphasise on is the relationship between corruption and sanctions.
Sanctions happen to be a catalyst in corruption that we are experiencing in this country. Why do I say so Mr. Speaker Sir? Corruption is measured by what we call a perception index. This was initiated by an organisation called Transparency International in 1995. What they do is, they look at corruption; how the population in a particular country does business corruptly. So, they came up with an index which is a number measured out of a hundred. The bigger the number means the less corrupt the country is. If the figure is low that means you are a very corrupt nation. Mr. Speaker Sir, in 1995 Zimbabwe was not measured. In 1996 we were also not measured but we were only measured in 1998. In that year 1998, Mr. Speaker, we were at 42 and the average for the whole world was 53. I want you Mr. Speaker Sir to follow these numbers. It is the numbers that I want to look at so that everyone follows my line of argument. We were at 42 on corruption perception index when the average was 53 in 1998. In 2000, when the sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe our corruption perception index as Zimbabwe was around 30, it had gone down.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in 2020, where we are today, our corruption perception index is at 24, so we have really gone down but we are not very bad compared to Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa perception index has an average of about 32. Mr. Speaker Sir, let me draw your attention to the figures. They list Venezuela as having a corruption perception index of 16, followed by Yemen with 15, followed by Syria with 13, followed by South Sudan 12 and lastly Somalia. Somalia is a failed State and it has got 9.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to draw your attention on the group of countries that I have mentioned. Most of them are sanctioned countries; this is why they have such a low corruption perception index, why, because they resort to a survival mood, these countries have to survive Mr. Speaker Sir. These Governments have to look after their populations. That is why in the end, they use middlemen and all these other means in order to burst sanctions.
So, you find there is a group of countries that I have mentioned and Zimbabwe is also in that group of countries that are sanctioned. The sanctions that have been imposed on Zimbabwe are actually a catalyst to the corruption that we are experiencing. So, if anybody wants to help Zimbabwe to fight corruption, they should be standing with Zimbabwe, standing with SADC and standing with the progressive countries in crying out that these sanctions should be removed because they are ending up being a catalyst in the corruption that we are experiencing.
Zimbabwe on its own is fighting tooth and nail to fight corruption but as long as these sanctions are there, it will be a futile exercise. I have to extrapolate the figures and you realise that soon after the imposition of sanctions until now, the corruption has gone up. What is happening? I want to give a typical example Mr. Speaker Sir. Look at our diamond trade. If you block us from trading diamond over the counter, that means they are going to do it under the counter in order to survive. If we are trading under the counter, that means there are going to be middlemen involved. If you are going to block us from buying fuel openly, that means we are going to do it under the counter in order for Zimbabwe to survive and by so doing, you are creating middlemen, you are creating corrupt people. So, it is not Zimbabwe’s fault, we are trying to survive. Please remove these sanctions so that we survive, so that we are not going to be using all these middlemen.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let us look at the western world. Unites States of America on its own, the CPI for USA at the moment is around 69. So they are not very clean but they will stand up and say ours is a corrupt nation. USA’s CPI stands at 69 and United Kingdom is on 77. The people that are less corrupt are the ones that are making less noise. You find right at the top you have countries like Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, they have got corruption indexes up above 80 but then they do not shout about it, some of them did not even sanction Zimbabwe because they realised that sanctions are cancerous and that they are a catalyst to so many untold occurrences.
Mr. Speaker, in wanting to buttress my argument, I will pick just two countries, Venezuela and Iran. They are all sanctioned countries. Venezuela by the year 2000 had a corruption perception index of nearly 27 and today is on 26. Iran was not measured in 1998 and today is on 26. These are two countries that are being forced to operate outside the norm in order to survive.
So, in conclusion, in support of our President and the SONA speech, I would urge all progressive bodies including the Transparency International and United Nations to rally behind SADC for sanctions to be removed, not only on Zimbabwe but on all the other nations that have been sanctioned. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you for affording me the opportunity to debate about the State of the Nation Address. We were unable to debate this over the past two to three years that we have been Members of Parliament. This is an important address that we should be debating as it has come from the President. I would want to thank our Acting President Hon. Khupe who allowed us to debate on this motion because she could have barred us from debating on this motion – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
Without health, there is no life. For us to be called people today, it is because we are healthy, regardless of whether one has money or not. Money cannot buy your health, health is more important than money. I want to applaud ourselves for having defeated COVID-19. People were safeguarded and our President stood by our country despite the challenges. We were able to victoriously sail past this difficult period.
Secondly, I want to deal with the issue of doctors in our country, doctors look after our health. Our country should ensure that doctors are well treated. Doctors take care of our health. Therefore, they need to be motivated. A person who is in charge of your life is akin to a domestic worker or a maid. If you ill-treat a maid, they can burn your clothes during laundry or poison your food because she in unhappy and she can ill-treat your children when you are away. Doctors should be well remunerated – they should be given good houses.
We used to know that at hospitals, there would be good houses for doctors because even if the country has no money, the doctor cannot look for money for rentals, electricity and water. However, if a doctor is renting in the high density suburbs, he will be required to pay dues to the landlord. So because of the stress and burdens that doctors will be carrying from home, they might not be able to perform their duties well.
The health personnel should be well remunerated, transport should be provided, and it is pointless for a doctor who is to start work at 08oohrs when he has to use public transport. Commuter omnibuses might be stopped by police officer while at the hospital patients will be dying without the doctor’s assistance.
It should be known that the majority of the people in this country are unemployed. In the previous years, people used to earn wages and salaries and they were able to go to health care centres whenever they fell ill. However, nowadays the majority of our people are self employed, therefore hospitals should not be that difficult in terms of admitting ill patients. Payment upfront should not be demanded. Let us value our people’s lives and not money. It is better for one to be treated first and once treated, measures are then taken to ensure that they repay for the treatment that they would have received. At times if you visit the hospitals you find some of the patients heavily bleeding due to injuries but not being treated because they would not have money.
The women who deliver at hospital maternity wards, their issue is painful. In 1980 I was a grown person, I was also a war collaborator during that time and we were receiving treatment for free. Child birth is a national duty, people are now thinking that once they conceive, they should have an abortion as there is no money to pay for antenatal clinic services. The new born baby’s requirements are not easily affordable, hence people are buying second hand clothes that end up affecting the children. The majority of our Zimbabwean people have now resorted to using second hand clothes. This also applies to the new born babies who are unfortunate to have come into a world where no new clothes are given.
When women fall pregnant, they should receive free medication. The child belongs to the country, hence child delivery should also be offered free of charge.
There are also children who are born of fathers that would have denied responsibility or paternity. People grow up and they have a right to have sexual intercourse, however, when a woman becomes pregnant, she cannot run away - unlike the man who can do that. Once the woman has given birth to the child, it becomes difficult for the mother to get a birth certificate so the woman is on the receiving end from day one of conception up until the child is born and thereafter. So there should be a desk from the Registrar’s office from each and every polyclinic where women can easily get birth certificates after giving birth. There will not be a requirement for witnesses because the clinic itself that would have delivered the child becomes the witnesses. This will become even easier for children to acquire birth certificates, unlike a situation where the fathers run away and then it becomes difficult for them to come and have the children obtain birth certificates. It is quite problematic for the mother to send the child to school without a birth certificate. It is a right for every child to have an identity document in Zimbabwe
The President also talked about food, sanitation and accommodation which fall under the local Government. Firstly, one is entitled to accommodation. We should hold the need for one to have a decent accommodation as a priority - it is not good to destroy people’s houses. People should not be allowed to build houses in areas that are illegal and thereafter go on to destroy them. They should be given houses in legal areas.
During the Rhodesian times, the conditions were bad and difficult but there were certain good things that used to happen. I was born at the Old Highfiled Clinic, my parents were residents in Highfiled but they were renting a house. They later acquired their own house in Glenorah. They walked into a house that was already serviced with water and everything else. Houses were never given to people without all the facilities, you would get your four roomed house and there would be three fruit trees outside. So our Government should also do the same, rather than giving someone a stand without even a toilet. People hassle to get money to buy stands and build in illegal settlements and the structures will be destroyed after they would have lost their hard earned cash.
It does not make sense for one to pay a lot of money in stands when they will fail to develop the stand and also lose it when the stands are reposed. The issue of sanitation, water and accommodation should be looked into, people should have affordable food. Basic foodstuffs should not rise, both the poor and the rich need to eat, so prices should be affordable – that is my plea.
On the issue of education, for one to be respectable, one has to go to school. Regardless of the level of education that they will have attained, education is a good thing. Education helps and one needs to have it. Related to the issue of education is the issue of the teachers.
The President spoke well when he said that teachers have a right to speak against their working conditions. A teacher should be given accommodation. Once you do not give a teacher accommodation, children will fail to go to school. For instance, you are giving them $75 and the landlord requires $250 as rent. Where do you think the teacher will get the difference? He will not teach your children and will spend most of his time looking for money for rentals. That is why the teachers are now doing extra lessons at home. The conditions of service for teachers should be reasonable.
All civil servants in the past had residences that would be built up for them and you would never meet police officers all over. When a police officer is now a tenant to a landlord who sells drugs, he will not arrest him. Police officers should never stay with the people because it causes corruption. They will be drinking beer together at a beerhall. Teachers should also be given decent accommodation so that they remain respectable people in society, unlike situations where they end up doing piecemeal jobs in order to raise money. It is not proper for someone to say that because teachers are raising their grievances, therefore temporary teachers are going to replace them. That is not a good idea.
I want to talk about the issue of transport and infrastructure. If the country has no good infrastructure such as roads, there will be no development. Transporting goods will be difficult; if the planes are not moving well, there will be no tourism to talk about. If the railway lines are not running properly and there are no trains, goods and minerals cannot be delivered.
Lastly, I would want to deal with the issue of corruption, especially on agricultural inputs. The inputs are causing corruption. Village heads are now corrupt because yearly they are being given inputs. They should be told that they will be given implements and seeds this year and the following year they have to buy. There is a lot of corruption in this country because of what is happening in our country. We should do things that will ensure that corruption dies. Corruption is the song of the day but no big fish has been arrested. Corruption should be eradicated. People should understand that there is corruption. Even if we say that sanctions should go before dealing with corruption, it will be like putting grain in a torn sack. We should not sing about sanctions when we cannot do much about it. I thank you.
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President, E.D. Mnangagwa. I would like to thank the President for being so clear in setting the tone for a development strategy.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Hon. Member, can you unmute your gadget.
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the President for setting the tone for a developmental oriented strategy after commending the successful conclusion of the TSP and laying the foundation for the national development strategy. I also want to commend the President for being so resolute and being very clear on the irreversibility of the land reform programme and giving comfort to the indigenous people of this country that land will forever be their national asset and heritage.
I also want to thank the President for emphasising on productivity by reiterating his commitment towards the “Pfumvudza, Intwasa” and the enhancement of horticulture production which is a major foreign currency earner, and also emphasising on the resuscitation of irrigation schemes. I also want to thank the President for setting the tone for industrialization through the efforts of Government to create a stable power supply and the Government efforts of expanding Hwange 7 and 8 and giving more space to independent power producers to partake in the generation of power under the solar and thermal programmes nationwide, which is highly commendable. No one would want to bring industry and investment in a country where there is no stable power supply.
Some Hon. Members having been engaged in conversation.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please. May the Hon. Members there observe social distancing and properly put your masks on. You can proceed Hon. Member.
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to commend the President for showing his people centred approach by emphasising the strengthening of social safety nets under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare by making sure that under such a drought prone year, Government is making every effort to make sure that people do not starve, but are provided for as far as food is concerned. On the same note, the President mentioned the issue of labour market information centres where there is one-stop shop for labour market information which is very important for investors and supports the thrust of Government being open for business. I would like to commend the President for his commitment to continued reengagement process so that Zimbabwe becomes part of the global community of nations, which is good for business in that it reduces the country risk and allows Zimbabwean companies and businesses to access international credit lines.
I would also want to commend the President in his State of the Nation Address, where he showed his commitment for the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle after he commented on the enactment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act. It shows the President’s commitment towards the welfare and being of the veterans of the struggle.
On the legislative agenda, I would also want to commend the President for putting his weight behind the Sugar Industry Production Control Amendment Act which is coming so that the sugar industry will continue to play an even more enhanced role in economic development. At the same time, with his open for business approach, I would like to commend the President for putting his weight behind the ratification and domestication of the Minamata Convention which will foster responsible and mining for gold and other related minerals and hence open further markets for our minerals as a country which mines its minerals in a responsible way. That is all for now Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you for the opportunity.
HON. MAPHOSA: First, I would want to thank my party MDC-T for the appointment that they have made today. I am humbled. Any party or Government that invests in the young people and young generation has got surety of continuity and success. I would like to thank the party so much.
I would want to add my voice on the SONA that was presented by the President last week. It is our first time to debate SONA and we were deprived of this opportunity for a long time. I am happy that today I will air my views. I would like to talk about the issue of the Youth Bill. I was very much excited to know that for a long time the youth have been regarded as leaders of tomorrow – leaders that are yet to come but now Government has realised that we need to take the involvement of the youth seriously and consider putting them in decision making positions and recognise them as people who can also enrich and contribute to the growth of this country.
The President also talked about the continuity of schools even in this era of COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst we welcome that, my concern is that we all know that teachers are on strike since the opening of schools. We have examination classes that are said to be sitting but are not learning. It is a concern and I hope the Executive together with the President will look honestly to the welfare of all teachers so that they reach an agreement that will make our children to continue learning and to sit for examinations that will produce something. There is a difference between sitting for examinations and producing results. What we are worried about as parliamentarians is for us as a country to produce something after those children sit. I would like to urge Government to look closely on the plight of teachers and health workers, for us to celebrate as a country to say at least we are doing something in unison.
I would like to talk about the stability of the foreign exchange rate that the President spoke to. Indeed, this is a plausible move and we all agree that for a long time the rate has stabilised and we have seen a lot of efforts in trying to end the black market. We hope and wish that this goes on and we see our country moving forward. This also goes to the issue of fuel prices stabilisation. Fuel prices have stabilised but we note it is in foreign currency. There is a discontinuity of having fuel in foreign currency while people have their salaries and wages in RTGS. There must be a nexus so that when somebody gets paid RTGS they also get fuel in RTGS. Our sources of income are in RTGS, so we cannot be happy and applaud having fuel being sold in us$. I hope Government will look into that.
There is the issue of Pfumvudza - when I was going around the country with one of my Committees I did not understand much about it. When I asked, I got an explanation of how it is done. This is a great move but my wish is to see some technology in it. Why not try to modernise Pfumvudza? It is indeed there to eradicate poverty in our country and it is there to uplift the livelihoods of those households which do not have any form of income or who are not able to do those things on their own. The concept behind is very good and impressive. When I was following it, I just said I would do this in my backyard and see what I will produce. I wish the programme could be modernised because the manual labour behind it is like some form of punishment on those that do not have, unlike those that have tractors and ox-drawn equipment. I urge our Government to research and find ways to do this noble programme in a modern way.
I would also want to talk about the issue of engagement and re-engagement. This is very important if we are going to venture in a lot of businesses that will uplift our country and stabilise our economy. This is a very important aspect of engagement and reengagement, so I will urge the Minister of Foreign Affairs together with his counterpart to take this thing seriously and make sure we get something from it.
The President also spoke about Bills and the Bill on war veterans. I was so much humbled because I was part of the team that went around. It was so touching to see those that had fought for this country but they are living in abject poverty. Some of them when they were relating their encounters and looking at the deformations that they suffered and the pain that they still relate to – I want to applaud that this Bill has gone through and at least they will be going to get something though a lot of them have died. We wish their families and wives could benefit from the passing of the Bill.
The President also spoke about the mining sector and of note is the Minamata Convention. I was privileged to go to the workshop and I was shocked to learn that mercury has got a lot of disadvantages especially when it comes to child birth and women themselves using mercury. I also urge the Ministry of Mines and all those that are involved to make sure that they work hard in conscientising the community on the disadvantages of using mercury and giving alternatives that will not hinder their family income. Mr. Speaker Sir, if we look at our country right now and if I zero into my province Matabeleland South, a lot of people are surviving on gold mining. Most of them are small scale miners. Some of them even use mercury in their homes to produce gold, so it is important for an alternative to be given to enable the families to continue getting their source of livelihood rather than abruptly stop their source of income by disbanding the use of mercury without offering an alternative. If people stop producing gold, what then will they do for a source of living? I hope the responsible ministries will seriously look into these issues.
I would also want to talk about the Provincial Council Bill. I think this has taken too long and I would like to encourage the Minister of Local Government to try and speed up the coming of the Bill to Parliament and ensure that devolution is implemented. I was a member of the provincial council elected in 2013. We went on for five years without being sworn in or even being told how it was going to work. So we are now in the third year of the second term and still nothing has been done so far. If we are to be seen as a serious country and serious Parliament, we must make sure that we pass this Bill because for us to pride ourselves as a Parliament, we should be getting pressure from provincial governments. As we are at a national level, it is difficult for us to know all that is happening, the challenges and so forth. Therefore devolution must come to pass as a matter of urgency. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank Mr Speaker for affording me the opportunity to add my voice to the State of the Nation address which was moved by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona. I was very pleased to hear His Excellency the President, E. D. Mnangagwa complimenting Zimbabweans for good behaviour. He urged us all to be disciplined because when COVID-19 started, Zimbabweans listened to the President and self isolated. So, the President urged us to remain resolute in following all rules and regulations pertaining to Covid-19 such as sanitising, putting on masks and social distancing to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
In his speech, he also touched on the issue of farming. Our President has a vision. This year our cattle perished especially in our rural areas. The cattle are so thin that it is a burden to make them plough. Because of the introduction of Pfumvudza, we do not have to harness our cattle but can do the 4960 holes which are not a large hectarage to be worked on. If one wakes up early in the morning with the assistance of family members, it can easily be done and there is great likelihood of getting a good harvest. People adopted the Pfumvunza option with joy. In Chimanimani where I come from, they have always ploughed by hand in the mountains. People are happy as they have dug the holes, they have been given fertiliser and seed and all they are waiting for are the rains. It is a worthwhile vision which will enable everyone to sustain themselves. There is DDF everywhere and my plea is that they should be given tractors from those that came so they can assist people plough their fields because people lost their cattle.
The President also spoke about engagement and reengagement with other countries. It is another commendable vision because when Covid-19 arose and we were ill prepared for the pandemic we were able to get assistance from those countries he had engaged in order to curb the pandemic. He also thanked those all weather countries and all Zimbabweans who assisted with making of masks and sanitisers. If you see a father thanking his children, those children will be blessed.
The President also touched on the issue of Bills and I remember the Children’s Amendment Bill. I hope it will also look at those children we call stateless. We have many children, men and women which the State is not aware exist but they live in this country. I think it will also look at addressing this issue and other children who are born out of wedlock – the fathers are not looking after them. The Bill should ensure that these children have identification documents like Birth Certificates and national identification. Every Zimbabwean is entitled to national identification.
The State must know how many people are in the country. As a result of none registration, we will discover that many people do not have adequate personal identification documents when we go to census. It also helps women when they deliver babies alone without the father figure as it will be easy for them to acquire identification documents. So, I expect the Bill to address all these issues because women suffer the most to live with children who do not have identification particulars.
The President also spoke about the NGO and PVC Amendment Bill saying that all the NGOs must be properly registered and that we are going to give food to people. When most of these NGOs are on the ground, they do not stick to their mandate for which they were registered for and all these things are going to be scrutinised to ensure that they are doing what they were registered for in the designated areas. Some claimed that they have 700 NGOs but the NGOs are not on the ground. I think I have said enough. I thank you.
*HON. SAIZI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to contribute to the issue that was tabled by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. KHUMALO): Order, order Hon. Member, may you please unmute your device? You are not connected.
*HON. SAIZI: Thank you Hon. Speaker for affording me this opportunity to add a few words to the motion that was tabled by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona in line with the State of the Nation Address by the President of Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
As a representative of Muzarabani, I want to speak to the issue of roads. I am one of the people who managed to get this development. We have a road that comes from St. Alberts leading to Dande. The road had not been tarred since 1980 till 2018, that is when the road was tarred. So, we are happy about this development.
Hon. Speaker, there is only a stretch of three kilometers of untarred road but looking at the work that was being done, I noticed many youths, both boys and girls, being employed which was a very good thing. This project of reconstruction of roads around the country will see local companies being considered for tenders thus contributing to job creation.
The President also spoke about the issue of dams. I am happy Hon. Speaker that Muzarabani also got the opportunity for the construction of Silverstream Dam that is currently under construction. The wish of the people of Muzarabani is to see another big dam being constructed. This would benefit them a lot. The dam is called, Mavhuradonha. The construction of this dam will bring development to the people of Muzarabani and the whole province because it will be big enough to service the whole province.
In addition, if it was possible, we have other smaller dams like Charmwood Dam. The dam wall was washed away, which means we need repairs on the dam wall so that irrigation can resume in the area. This dam can also help a lot at Chawarura Vocation Training Centre. We also have another smaller dam called Kasho, if desiltation is done, we can get enough water to assist the community. Around Muzarabani Constituency, we have many small dams that need desiltation. If this were possible, it would help us a lot.
I also want to touch on another issue that the President alluded to and that is the issue of Pfumvudza. This is a very commendable thing and people in Muzarabani were surprised because most of the time when we talk about the issue of inputs, they delay to be delivered to people but this time around, people received farming inputs in time. We are only waiting for the rains now. If we receive enough rains Mr. Speaker, we foresee a bumper harvest through Pfumvudza.
I also want to talk about corruption and sanctions. Hon. Speaker, I am happy to say that in this august House we are speaking with one voice that sanctions must go. We were tired of people arguing about the 2018 elections but we cannot continue looking in the past. We must be united as has already been alluded to by the Opposition that sanctions must go. This will help us as a country. Unity will also help us to eradicate corruption because without unity, it is difficult to fight corruption. I want to applaud the vision by the other Hon. Members and the encouragement from the President of Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa that we must fight corruption always.
I want to conclude by talking about the issue of COVID-19 and applaud the President of Zimbabwe. When he first spoke about the issue of lockdown, we saw it as not being fair to the whole country but later realised that it helped us a lot as it helped to preserve our lives. He also encouraged us to continue observing the WHO guidelines so that COVID-19 does not affect us again. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
+HON. E. MASUKU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, can you hear me?
+THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You may proceed Hon. Member, we can hear you
+HON. E. MASUKU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. His Excellency spoke about unity in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are united. Mr. Speaker Sir, people are prepared to adhere to the laws governing the nation and this shows unity. His Excellency E. D. Mnangagwa spoke about Pfumvudza/Intwasa. In Matabeleland North Pfumvudza/Intwasa is already under implementation. Our people are busy and I believe that this is going to eliminate poverty and hunger in Matabeleland North. As residents of Matabeleland North, we are busy implementing the programme.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President also spoke about how sanctions are affecting Zimbabweans. The Western World believes that they are punishing individuals but this is not true. This is affecting the general populace of Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker Sir, these are not targeted sanctions but they are sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe. As Zimbabweans and people of Matabeleland North, no matter how tough the going might be, with the little resources that we have, it does not matter what they are doing to us, we know that we have a leader who cares for us. Despite the prevailing circumstances, Mr. Speaker Sir, I am very happy that the President clarified that land would not be given back to white commercial farmers. There are some who are saying land will be taken back to the previous owners. Mr. Speaker Sir, land will not be taken back because this country got its independence after a protracted struggle.
Many issues were mentioned by other Hon. Members. I would like to urge my fellow Hon. Members and the people of Zimbabwe to take heed of the words that were said by His Excellency during the State of the Nation Address. With those few words, I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. L. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for awarding me this opportunity. First and foremost, I would like to pass my greetings to you and to my fellow Hon. Members who were with me in the last Parliament and the new Hon. Members. Mr. Speaker Sir, my name is Luwazi Sibanda. I represent Matabeleland North Province, the richest province in Zimbabwe with its natural resources. I would like to thank people from Matabeleland North who have afforded me a second chance to come to this august House.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency talked about the climate change. We have noticed that the climate change has affected the rainfall pattern. There are areas like Binga where there is less rainfall. Hon. Dr. Khupe said that the Government should look at the irrigation scheme programmes. Mr. Speaker Sir, despite that Binga has the largest water reservoir, the Government must prioritise Binga, as a victim of colonial displacement, for it to get more irrigation schemes. The irrigation scheme like Simathelele, I think it should be expanded to benefit people who are living in poverty and hunger in the drought areas like Binga.
The President also spoke about education in Zimbabwe. In Matabeleland North, children still travel long distances going to school. Some travel 10-15 kilometres on a dusty and sandy road. Education is the gateway to economic empowerment. We urge the Government to revisit the rural schools in Matabeleland North.
I am surprised that as Matabeleland North is the richest province with natural resources such as gold, coal and tourism – the government must ensure that those natural resources are used to build schools and roads in this province.
Timber is found in Matabeleland North in Tsholotsho, Nkayi and Lupane, but when you go to schools, you find that children learn sitting on the ground or small chairs whilst timber is found in this province. It is very painful that Matabeleland has been marginalised for a long time whilst it is rich in natural resources. I think the Government should see to it that we get more attention than any other provinces because most of the resources do not benefit people from those areas
The President spoke about devolution of power. The President must look into that, that local authorities must benefit from their resources. If you go to Hwange, you will find that compound looks like it has been deserted for a long time. Coal is from Hwange but if you go there, it looks like the place has been deserted a long time ago. In devolution of power, the President must also accommodate the locals, they must benefit.
Lastly, I would like to urge Hon. Members of this august House to be united in any debate that is brought in this august House.
HON. MKARATIGWA: I am pleased to acknowledge the decorous address that was presented to this august House by His Excellency, the President of the Republic Cde Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa on the occasion of the Official Opening of the Third Session of the 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Indeed, it is an over arching synopsis of the state of the nation. We thank His Excellency for renewing the nation’s hope and your courage, astuteness and servant leadership is already paying dividends. You are comprehensively and unwaveringly wading through the waters of impeding national challenges, yet with simplicity, cooperation, national pride, you are driving the adaptation of policies and programmes to national characteristics, hence the giant in us as Zimbabweans has begun to rise again.
Mr. Speaker Sir, as the Member of Parliament for Shurugwi South, the people are grateful for the Government’s drive towards food security, underpinned by the Presidential Climate Proofed Agriculture Programme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa among other livelihoods sustainability programs and economic empowerment initiatives. Livelihoods sustainability is important in our society which is under the threat of shocks induced by climate change and variability. Climate proofing, coupled with the ongoing economic and political proofing, has the propensity to galvanize attainment of vision 2030. Roads are being built and it is evident to any well meaning Zimbabwean that the country is now well set in the path of recovery and transformation. The cooperative approach embedded in His Excellency’s personality and conduct is a strong social capital that enables us to yield positive results as exuded during the COVID-19 pandemic era. We saw many corporates coming on board in solidarity with the leadership His Excellency and we your people, are indeed appreciating the nature of your inspiring leadership which we have also embraced and now the light to our paths in our daily engagement in service – we have embraced less talk and more action and replaced vindictiveness with unity, cooperation and selflessness in love and solidarity with all groups that make up our society.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Shurugwi South is situated in the Great Dyke and coincidentally - with pleasures your leadership has appointed me to chair the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development - hence, on that one note, my views represent the broader Zimbabwean community beyond my constituency. The mining sector is key in the attainment of Vision 2030 for Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, there are a number of challenges staring in the sector’s face. Our small scale and artisanal miners are grateful for the raft of changes the Government is making along payment models upon delivery of gold to Fidelity Printers and Refineries.
Efforts are being made through the parent Ministry to address most of the challenges but still mining disputes continue to impact negatively, particularly on gold production in the country. The vastly informalised small scale and artisanal miners are leading to gold leakages. Exploitation of miners by unscrupulous and unsustainable livelihoods which are another cause of excessive negative reliance on the natural environment for livelihoods with add effects on the rise of climate change and variability.
Mr. Speaker Sir, prioritization of the Mines and Minerals Bill will go a long way for the economic development of Zimbabwe. I am glad that in the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency emphasised the need to make sure we deliver on the finalisation and enactment of all outstanding Bills. There are also claims of children being involved especially in small scale and artisanal mining. this is against international and our national labour laws and practices. These young people are dropping out from both primary and secondary schools.
As a result, they are falling away from the mainstream economy. In that respect, the proposed Children’s Amendment Bill together with the Mines and Minerals Bill and the unemployment benefit schemes trickle down effects can help protect children from such disadvantages. I have noted Mr. Speaker Sir that we are deriving benefits from our peaceful co-existence with the mining companies among other ethical investors in the country and throughout their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
The partnership is birthing infrastructural development support programmes in hospitals, schools, vocational training and technical colleges, universities, rural community livelihoods improvement throughout the country is guaranteed. Nevertheless, there still exist divergent and convergent voices with regard to relationships between mining companies, communities living in mineral rich areas where mining companies operate, the civil society and the Government as well as the natural resources management pundits.
On the other hand, citizens are grappling with economic challenges, social economic security of mining workers, post mine life and during mining work stoppages. Shabani/Mashava Mine is one case in point and we need to urgently draw lessons from past experiences as we move towards Vision 2030 with the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra tied to engagement and reengagement being the bedrock of economic direction.
I must testify that during budget consultations when we were in Mberengwa and Zvishavane, the community of Zvishavane was highly expectant, following pronouncements by His Excellency that Shabani Mine and Mashaba Mine should be prioritised and revived to better the livelihoods of the existing communities and they were wondering why the pace is so slow when His Excellency has dictated what should happen.
The proposed Economic Empowerment Act as well as the amendment of the Environmental Management Act should help in that regard, especially through the leave no one behind bottom up approach adopted by this Government including through devolution. The slow pace of doing business we are witnessing in some of our Government Ministries and Departments does not seem to tally with the Vision 2030 that is just a decade away as pronounced by His Excellency.
The work ethic should reflect the haste, for example the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development has been experiencing the opposite with regards to the Mines and Minerals Bill. With your indulgence Mr. Speaker Sir, we ended up appointing a Steering Committee to expedite the finalisation of incorporation of the reservations that were raised by His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. Indeed, we are finalizing the Bill which has to be submitted to Parliament soon after incorporating views from the All Stakeholder Conference we expect to be announced soon. The Bill would in fact will help address most of the issues infesting the sector in Zimbabwe.
Corruption is still there and with the ongoing efforts, citizens are becoming more and more proud of their motherland again. It is indeed true that a brighter future depends on us all as enunciated by His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa,. Cooperation is yielding a common and shared responsibility among citizens and national development partners, inclusive of the private sector, NGOs and CSOS as well as the bureaucracy. We are enjoying the collegiality and simple, honest and selfless contribution and criticism is yielding positive results, unlike the former selfish and hedonistic approaches.
Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that this country invest in the establishment of the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development among other initiatives. Already, the pleasing report of the rise in innovative products certified by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe this year is good news. Zimbabwe requires that for smaller equipment and machinery retooling as we support development of our small and medium enterprises. Some technologies more affordably, if investors can help in transforming our broader economy from agriculture to mining and manufacturing, we will rid the economy of many other ills such as child labour and local financial incapacities experienced by our local industry, Mr. Speaker Sir. That can also support our elderly and child headed families predominant in our rural communities and in particular those who rely more on primary production that is labour intensive.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Can you avoid reading. Please refer to your notes as much as possible.
HON. MKARATIGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In ending Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank His Excellency for highlighting the need to ratify the Minamata Convention. This is key in facilitating responsible mining in Zimbabwe.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: There are only five minutes left Hon. Member. Can you wind up.
HON. MKARATIGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The most important aspect is for us to move carefully like when you are crossing a flooded river, you use a stick in one hand so that you feel the depth. This is how I feel the Minamata Convention would, if we ratify, help us to be part and parcel of a global initiative that has got a say in making sure we promote the development of newer and better technologies like the use of Borax which can replace mercury in the processing of gold. If this is rolled out, it means in terms of cluster mapping, it can actually help in the creation of employment, it can actually help boost the manufacturing sector thereby boosting the number of young people that can be employed. Also in terms of import substitution, we can slowly move away from imports which actually negate the gains that we gain from the foreign currency proceeds that we benefit from the mining and agricultural sector exports because besides the mining sector, you will find us importing things like tooth picks, wooden boards for use in our homes and food when we have got good land and soils in Zimbabwe.
So Mr. Speaker Sir, initiatives to do with incubation hubs as explicitly stated by His Excellency in his State of the Nation Address should be used and these should help us to actually come up with very simple, fine products that will substitute imported products and ensure that the internal resource mobilisation drive that we are undertaking is actually mobilised by preserving the much needed foreign currency. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
+HON. S. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to deliberate on the SONA speech which was delivered by His Excellency and was moved by our Chief Whip, Hon. Togarepi seconded by our Chair, Hon. Mhona.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me deliberate in a language that I am comfortable in. I come from Insiza South. Mr. Speaker Sir, the people of Insiza South appreciate the speech that was given by His Excellency, E. D. Mnangagwa during the State of the Nation Address in this august House. The area I come from in Matabeleland South is an area which falls under Region 5. This is an area where people rear domestic animals like cattle. There is not enough rainfall in Matabeleland South but let me thank His Excellency the President who spoke about sanctions, corruption and mentioned sanctions which are economic sanctions that were put by the white people. Then he also spoke about corruption which involves a lot of bad things that are perpetuated and done by people.
Where I come from Mr. Speaker Sir, people might say that sanctions are not evident but let me say that there is a road which links West Nicholson and my constituency. This road was supposed to be tarred but only 5km of that road was tarred. Up to now, there is no development. There is another road, a road which links Avoca and Filabusi which was tarred for 10km in 1992. Up to now, there is no development. This is because of sanctions Mr. Speaker Sir. I am saying this so that people understand that sanctions are affecting development.
In Insiza South Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the way the President spoke about the health sector, particularly COVID-19 because when we compare Zimbabwe with other countries you will discover that in Zimbabwe God should be thanked because he intervened. Local statistics are differing from global statistics. Yes, we were affected by COVID-19 but we need to appreciate God because our statistics are lower than other parts of the world. Zimbabweans are people who listen when they are counseled and guided; they adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. People are beginning to relax; some no longer wear their masks. I would like to urge them to continue adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.
Let me also talk about Pfumvudza programme. People are concerned in my constituency because this programme is run by Agritex Extension Officers. People are expressing concern over the transportation of their inputs because councillors and Members of Parliament were left out. Agricultural Extension officers are charging people for transportation and most people cannot afford paying for such. I am saying this because His Excellency the President and the Minister of Agriculture is aware of the situation. So, my request is that this issue needs to be looked into.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me now speak on the issue of devolution. When the (CDF) Constituency Development Fund is disbursed and when it reaches to councillors, we need to be told so that our input in the implementation of various projects is considered. Sometimes we see developmental programmes happening in our constituencies despite the fact that we are Members of Parliament and without being told about such projects.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on sanctions, the Umzingwane Dam which feeds into Mawabeni or which takes water from Mawabeni River has been drastically affected by siltation; this needs to be looked into.
I will touch on education, my request is that teachers should be guided and they should seek divine intervention so that they can also be considerate because they are given the task of looking after students and teaching them. Now, they are acting as if they are incapacitated and even after being given salary increments they are failing to deliver. My request is that they should be considerate. Let me end by saying that we appreciate what His Excellency the President is doing because in everything that is happening he says that if people agree then the will of God happens. I am saying this because some of us in this august House have decided that we need to unite against sanctions across the political divide yet the whites have a saying that ‘if you cannot beat them you have to join them’. Mr. Speaker Sir, sanctions are affecting all Government sectors. The voice of the people is the voice of God. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes to Six o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 28th October, 2020
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 annual Pre Budget Seminar is scheduled for 5th to 7th November 2020 at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare. Presiding Officers, Ministers, Members of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders,
Chairpersons of Portfolio and Thematic Committees, Members of the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development and Members of the expanded SDGs Committee will participate physically. Anyone who is not mentioned here will not be allowed into the room.
The rest of the Members of Parliament will participate virtually from hotels where they will be accommodated, National Assembly and Senate Chambers and areas of their choice where connectivity is established. A zoom link will be shared with those participating virtually. Hon. Members participating virtually from the precincts of
Parliament are requested to confirm with Ms. T. Mutare, Acting
Director Public Relations on extension 2236, mobile number 0772423463 or Mrs. Njovana, Public Relations Officer on extension
2005, mobile 0779474426.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: Apologies from the Executive:
Hon K. Mohadi - Vice President;
Hon. C. Chiwenga - Vice President;
Hon. Sen. Mutsvangwa – Minister of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services;
Hon. N. M. Ndlovu – Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Hospitality Industry;
Hon J. B. Matiza – Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development;
Hon D. Karoro – Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement;
Hon. D. Marapira – Minister of State in Vice President
Mohadi’s Office;
Hon V. Haritatos - Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture,
Water and Rural Resettlement;
Hon. J. M. Gumbo - Minister of State: Presidential Affairs in charge of implementation monitoring;
Hon Prof. A. Murwira – Minister of Higher and Tertiary
Education Science and Technology Development.
HON. T. MLISWA: I rise on a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. I have been wanting to move a motion to hold these Ministers in contempt. The last time I tried to do it they all came. I have been on it and that is why I am clear in the names. Each time I go to the administration, they tell me that the apologies tend to come late and we are waiting for the day to come to an end then we collate. So, I wanted to understand, is that within the Standing Rules and Orders that after the session you then compile the apologies and then thereafter you cannot hold anybody in contempt if I wanted to. I really wanted to understand that because we are a Parliament of rules and we know the time we start.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have got what you want to say. HON. T. MLISWA: This has gone on for a long time. The
institutions in this country are losing credibility and it is only this institution that can restore it.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa, can I assist you with the
substance of your point of order.
HON. T. MLISWA: Also assist me, how do I then move a motion to hold them in contempt. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It is important that you have a correct record Hon Mliswa so that you do not shoot in the dark. Tomorrow you will see the Hon Ministers who are here will be recorded, those with apologies will be recorded and those without apologies – then you move your motion tomorrow targeting those that have not apologised and they are not in the House. Otherwise you will be shooting in the dark.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. My question goes to the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Hon.
Garwe. What is Government policy in relationship to downsizing the national backlog in terms of national housing delivery services?
THE HON. SPEAKER: The last part of your question verges on the Minister coming up with proper numerical numbers which should have been a written question but I will indulge you.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): Thank you Mr Speaker
Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Hon. Speaker, if you can indulge me to defer this question. As you are aware, this Ministry is about nine months old today. We are developing the human settlements policy. We discussed it this morning and we intend to present it to Cabinet within a week from today. I will be more comfortable here after we have gone through those processes. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Appreciated.
HON. PETER MOYO: On a point of clarity Mr Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is no clarity which is better than what the Minister has said.
HON. PETER MOYO: It is there Mr. Speaker Sir, you remember we spoke about it...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, sit down. The Hon. Minister has made a commitment that the National Housing Policy for settlement is being reviewed extensively and it is now going to be put to Cabinet and thereafter, it will be presented here in this House so that you can debate it in full under a ministerial statement. It cannot be more comprehensive than that.
HON. PETER MOYO: On a point of order.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What point of order?
HON. PETER MOYO: I think though you have been harsh in
the way you said I should sit down, I still respect what you have said. Two weeks ago you ruled that the Minister comes here and gives a ministerial statement pertaining to the housing backlog and demolition of houses in this country. We are still waiting for him to do that, but today he is telling us that Cabinet is doing something yet you had requested him to come and give a ministerial statement.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, if you feel hurt by
telling you to sit down in straight forward English, I do not understand what you are talking about. I am asking the Hon. Minister to come up with a comprehensive statement which will also update on the question of the national housing backlog in Zimbabwe. At that stage, we will be able to debate.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. Can
Parliament as an institution, in light of the principle of the separation of powers, be held hostage to Executive processes? He is telling us that the Executive is acquainted with the matter but as Parliament, we want an answer today. Their process in the Executive does not have anything to do with concerns of the legislature. He must not give us an excuse of the Executive being acquainted with the matter. We cannot accept that Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: My ruling still stands. I want the Hon. Minister to give a comprehensive response on national policy including demolition of houses.
HON. T. MLISWA: It is not policy until Cabinet passes it. Hamuverenge here imi. He said it very clearly. It will just be passed by Parliament. How many times must Mr. Speaker tell you the same thing? You must get your members educated to understand the process.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Mliswa, I think you
have done some good education. Let us not be elastic about the matter.
+HON. S. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question
is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and
Rural Resettlement…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please ask your
question.
HON. MATHE: I am asking Mr. Speaker. – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are not. What is the question, do not mind them.
+HON. MATHE: My question pertains to the Pfumvudza programme. What is the Ministry saying about the elderly who are no longer able to prepare land in accordance to the requirements of Pfumvudza and are on social welfare – those who are 80 years and above? There are also others who are of morbid health, how are they going to access the seed? The question arises from the fact that people who are receiving seeds are those who would have complied with the Pfumvudza land preparation requirements.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please take your seat.
Hon. Member, your question is self-explanatory because the elderly are not required to prepare their land as they already receive assistance from social welfare.
+HON. MATHE: On a Point of Order Mr. Speaker!
+THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mathe, I believe that no
supplementary question can arise from a question that already has an answer. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order,
order!
+HON. MATHE: On a point of clarity Mr. Speaker! Mr.
Speaker, my question has not been responded to. The elderly are not being given seed because they do not prepare their land in accordance to the Pfumvudza Programme.
What assistance is going to be rendered to the elderly because the law states that those who do not comply to the requirements of the Pfumvudza Programme do not get the seeds?
+THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mathe, your original question
was not that precise. You said that what is going to be given to them since they cannot prepare their land? I responded that since they cannot prepare their land, therefore the question was self-explanatory.
The current question is on those who want to be assisted with seed. The Hon. Minister can respond.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. The Pfumvudza concept …
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are not connected Hon. Minister.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Pfumvudza
concept was meant to ensure that approximately 1.8 million households get sufficient packs for food sufficiency. We could not give those who could not prepare land but from our assessment, as Africans even in our culture, we take care of the elderly and prepare land for them.
The simple answer would be, go back to the communities and assist the elderly to prepare the small pieces of land that is required and that would ensure that they also access the food packs. Otherwise there is no point in giving them seed when they cannot till the land. I thank you.
*HON. P. ZHOU: My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. What measures is Government taking concerning those who may be affected by COVID-19 pandemic especially in the rural areas? Can they also be tested free of charge as their HIV+ counterparts?
I also want clarity on those who are HIV+, what is Government planning to do for them? Are there any measures in place to address their plight?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker,
that is the ultimate aim of Government to ensure that as we mobilise resources and understand the pandemic, we should ensure that at clinic level, we would be able to test for the COVID-19 virus but at the moment, the tests that are there are not sufficiently good to ensure that we get a definitive diagnoses at a rural health centre, hence you realise that the Ministry of Health had been relying on the sophisticated PCR testing – that is the test that has been approved. As technology improves and we get new technology, we should be able to roll our testing to rural health centres.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Zhou, did you get the answer?
*HON. ZHOU: I have a supplementary question. We do not have enough resources and it is difficult to ferry a sick person from the rural area to the urban hospital. What plans do you have to set up testing centres at District hospitals because that is what was done for HIV?
HON. ZIYAMBI: The COVID and HIV viruses are different.
The COVID virus is in the same class with the flu virus.
*If you contract HIV, it remains in your blood for the rest of your life. In HIV we can use rapid tests which show that your blood has got antibodies which have been produced through getting the virus. If you contract COVID-19, you can get treatment even if you go back to be tested, you can test negative. Right now we do not have rapid test kits. Even if you have antibodies, you might not have COVID-19. If experts get those things, we are going to get there but right now, the experts are saying let us use PCR.
HON. SIKHALA: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. My question today is specifically about justice and not parliamentary and legal affairs. In line with Section...
Order. You cannot remove the full
title of the Hon. Minister which has been constitutionally given to him – [Laughter.] - You have no authority to do that.
HON. SIKHALA: It is alright Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. In light with Section 164 of our Constitution that guarantees the independence of the Judiciary in our country; what is your Ministry doing vis-a-vis issues of interference and judicial capture that are currently being raised by judicial officers in our country? What is your Ministry doing to reassure both the public and also members of the judiciary that our country will continue upholding the independence of the judiciary?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, your question is on a
knife edge. It was not explicit.
HON. SIKHALA: My question to the Minister of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you be linked please?
HON. SIKHALA: Am I not connected Mr. Speaker Sir?
No you are not. You are now
connected.
HON. SIKHALA: Issues that are being raised concerning the interference of the Chief Justice Luke Malaba on how to deal with officers and other judges of the superior court in our country has become a matter of national concern in as far as the independence of the judiciary is concerned?
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is the question?
HON. SIKHALA: What is the Ministry doing so that judicial officers remain independent and their roles are not interfered with?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala seems to be repeating something that is before the courts.
HON. SIKHALA: Not that one Mr. Speaker Sir. I am talking about the memo that was written by the judges of late.
THE HON. SPEAKER: This is why I had said you should be
clear.
HON. SIKHALA: Not on that issue that is before the court...
You are talking about a
memorandum.
HON. SIKHALA: Yes.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That is clear now.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I will respond
broadly and then go to the specific request that Hon. Sikhala has asked. Our Constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary officers. In so far as they are dealing with specific cases, even the Chief Justice cannot interfere with whatever they are doing, be it a judge or a magistrate. That is enshrined in the Constitution. There are also several provisions that insulate our judicial officers so that in the exercise of their duty they must feel safe from whatever victimisation that they may encounter. It also extends to the provision regarding their removal – where the President would be requested to set up a tribunal to investigate that question against specific parameters. You cannot just wake up and say I do not like Justice so
and so and a tribunal is set up. Certain requirements have to be satisfied.
Coming to the so called memo, I have not seen the memo and I would like Hon. Sikhala to favour me with that so that I can study it and see how it is interfering with the functions of our judicial officers.
I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary follows also on the same route of the independence of the judiciary. What is the Minister’s view vis-à-vis the special projects office being manned by one Thabani Vusa Mpofu in the Office of the President and Cabinet whose rule is to interfere with the functions of the judiciary both at lower courts and superior courts?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, will you favour the
Minister with a copy of the memo in due course?
HON. SIKHALA: I will favour him with the memo Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Firstly, my personal opinion does not arise when I am executing my duties. I am guided by the parameters that I am supposed to follow, the Constitution and the laws of Zimbabwe. Again, if the Hon. Member feels that there is interference in so far as the functioning of the judiciary is concerned, he can favour me also again with whatever interference he feels is being done. As far as I am concerned, the judiciary is so much independent to do whatever they want and I cannot even interfere with their work myself. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, to be specific it is the Special Anti-Corruption Unit which has been given the mandate to investigate and prosecute, yet in the Constitution those powers are given to ZACC and to the Prosecutor General and the ZRP. From a constitutional point of view, where does the Special Anti-Corruption Unit fit? Which section of the Act? We would like to know because they are acting illegally. The three institutions I have mentioned are the ones which should do that in the Constitution…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Your question has gone into some quagmire because it is not related at all to Hon. Sikhala’s question on the independence of the judiciary and some referred interferences – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order!
That is a different question alltogether.
HON. T. MLISWA: Hon. Sikhala mentioned and we can check the Hansard, the name of Thabani Vusa Mpofu. He is the one who is heading the Special Anti-Corruption Unit. That is where I am coming from. He mentioned that name and his role is head of the special anti-corruption unit. That is how I brought it in. I do not know if that makes sense.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, it does not. What you need to have done is to indicate to the Hon. Minister what extent the gentleman concerned is interfering with the judiciary.
HON. T. MLISWA: This is why I said, in the Constitution, the
Special Anti-Corruption Unit is not there. So it is interfering. It is
ZACC which can investigate the ZRP and the Prosecutor General’s Office. That is where I am coming from. I am coming from a very constitutional manner and I do not think there can be any better explanation than that. It is not there in the Constitution. That is why I am saying the role that he is playing, where is it in the Constitution…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. That is a different fundamental question.
HON. T. MLISWA: I will ask it with your indulgence. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are not demonstrating to the Hon. Minister. The question of interference with the independence of the judiciary – that is where I am coming from.
HON. T. MLISWA: He is interfering because he is arresting people and investigating them when he has no mandate constitutionally. I do not know if you now understand me. So that is interference.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, the judiciary does not arrest the people. So, there is no connection. I want a connection raised by
Hon. Sikhala that there is interference with the judiciary.
HON. T. MLISWA: I stand guided. I will ask this it as a question.
HON. B. DUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary is following up to what Hon. Hon. Sikhala asked the Minister, to what extent does the Ministry consider the implications of the now withdrawn circular which had been directed by the Chief Justice which was more like revising or approving judgments before they are out, especially taking into account that the chief justices of Africa had to also write a memo to that effect. How is the Ministry guaranteeing us on that aspect?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Alright, I got it Hon. Dube. The difficulty of the Chair is that you are now chasing a moribund memo which the Hon. Minister had requested. How can we chase after a dead donkey? We cannot – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order. Hon. Sikhala, what you need to do is you do not speak and address the Chair while you are seated. You rise and you are recognised and you seek clarification.
HON. SIKHALA: I am saying this Mr. Speaker Sir is that the question which was asked both by Hon. Mliswa and Hon. Dube are fundamental because they touch the core and root of the independence of our Judiciary. Can I seek your indulgence that the Minister gives us –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, please do not mislead the House. Hon. Mliswa has admitted that his question is fundamentally different –so no reference to it. Stick to the clarification that was raised by Hon. Dube.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker, the memo that I gave reference to is partially not related to the one Hon. Dube gave reference to. The one that I am referring to is the one by our own Judicial officers but the one which Hon. Dube referred to was a memo by the Chief Justice of Africa to our Chief Justice when he gave a directive that all judges must submit all judgments before delivery to him to which the Chief Justice of Africa had to intervene to say this is an assault at the root of the core of the independence of the Judiciary. That is the one which Hon. Dube was referring to.
THE HON. SPEAKER: So which one was withdrawn?
HON. SIKHALA: That memo which the Chief Justice has
given directive to judicial officers.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That is the one you were supposed to give to the Hon. Minister.
HON. SIKHALA: No, that is not the one. The one that I am talking about is the one by our own local judicial officers – but Mr. Speaker, I would beg that if the Hon. Minister will do us a favour to give us a written Ministerial Statement on the state of the Judiciary so that we will be able to extensively enquire on some of those things that we want to understand as the House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You mean on the independence of our
Judiciary?
HON. SIKHALA: On the independence of our Judiciary.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Alright. You are still going to favour the Hon. Minister with that memo.
HON. SIKHALA: Yes, I will do that.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Mr. Speaker, my duty as the Minister is not to supervise the Judiciary insofar as how they conduct their work. I give policy directions and whenever they have internal memos, I do not vet them; neither do I request for them, but from what I got from Hon. Dube there was a memo by the Chief Justice which the Chief Justice eventually withdrew. So if he withdrew the memo there was some acknowledgement of error by the Chief Justice and I am not sure why he still wants to pursue a dead donkey, so to speak. I thank you – [HON. SIKHALA: Its impact on the independence of the Judiciary. The Judiciary is all about the confidence of the Judiciary outside.] –
HON. SINGO: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is the Government policy concerning teachers who do not provide their services in schools but have private lessons at their homes making children to pay?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATUKE): I would like to
thank the Hon. Member for the question. The policy of the Ministry is that no private lessons should be given to students on a fee. It is illegal to do so and in the event that it does happen, and evidence is given, such teachers should be charged.
HON. MUSHORIWA: My supplementary question to the Hon.
Minister is what is the Ministry doing to ensure that the teachers come back into the classroom, given the fact that they are complaining in terms of their remuneration? What is it that you are doing to augment so that you motivate those teachers to come back into the classroom?
HON. MATUKE: I think it is common cause that there are problems in terms of labour relations currently in the Ministry and different Government agencies are working on that. We are confident that in the next few days or so, a settlement is going to be arrived at. Looking at the balance of probabilities, we think that sufficient progress is being made towards that end.
HON. MUNETSI: My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture. What is the position with regards to farmers who grow tobacco who are being refused to change companies they contracted before to new companies?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS on behalf of THE MINISTER OF
LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, this goes
down to the contract that they signed. If the contract was for a certain number of years then you attempt to move then you have liability to the one you are contracted to but outside that I would not be able to answer without having the specific contract in my hand. I thank you.
An Hon. Member having stood up to make a supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAEKER: I cannot allow the supplementary
because the terms and conditions of the contract must be revealed for debate to be meaningful.
HON. MAHLANGU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question
is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Since lower grades are reopening, what measures are being put in place to ensure that children especially minors are protected from bullying and criminal nonsense and encouraged to adhere to COVID-19 pandemic protocols since the teachers who act in loco-parents are on strike and are not attending classes? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. E. MOYO): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir and thank you Hon. Member for the question. Our phase 3 is going to becoming early November and we hope by then a resolution would have been arrived at. Secondly, we have student teachers that have recently been released into the schools who we hope are going to provide sufficient relief in terms of discipline. We are currently completing the recruitment of additional teachers to assist in the schools. Our view is that by the time the lower grades that you are referring to come to school we would have found a resolution to the current impasse. Thank you.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In
response to the Hon. Minister’s question that they are in the process of recruiting teachers, could the Minister explain to this august House because judging by the 2020 Blue Book in terms of the allocations of funds that was allocated to your Ministry, there is no room to maneuvre. Has the Ministry been given additional funding by the Minister of Finance...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, address the Chair.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker, my question
to the Hon. Minister, the Hon. Minister said in his response, that the Ministry is in the process of trying to recruit teachers before the reopening of the schools for all other grades. My analysis of the Blue Book pertaining to the allocation of funds to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is that there is no room to maneuvre in terms of the allocations. My question to him is to say; has the Ministry been availed additional funding by the Ministry of Finance for that purpose?
HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and thank you to the Member. I might not be so authoritative as to talk about entries in the Blue Book and all those provisions but however, we normally get clearance from Treasury to say you can have these numbers. All the time, I am sure this House is aware that we have a shortage of teachers in the country, the teachers in the schools and also we have added responsibility in terms of social distancing to get more teachers. In that regard, Treasury concurrence was availed for the employment of those teachers. That is the bit I can say.
HON. MAPHOSA: Supplementary Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What supplementary – please ask
supplementary questions that are robust. Proceed.
+HON. MAPHOSA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary question is that it is like we are still in denial that the teachers are at school. The question is - the ages of pupils that will be going to school are still young and children cannot look after themselves. They can face some challenges whilst at school. You have said that there are student teachers whom you are sending to schools but student teachers have got mentors who also go to schools. My question is - what measures have you taken as the Ministry that those who are attending school do not face some challenges. What measures have you taken unto that? Thank you.
(HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Yes, I answered the question at first. When schools are going to open that will be corrected and we heard from the State of National Address His Excellency the President mentioned it and said that it will be corrected when schools open.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Leader of Government Business, in the absence of the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. What is Government policy regarding the funding of students living with disabilities in tertiary institutions? Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The funding policy for disadvantaged
students?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. The question is very specific but I would like to say that in terms of the general funding of students, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary
Education came up with packages in terms of student loans wherein students can access them. If he is talking specifically for the disabled, I think they need to approach the Department of Social Welfare with their specific needs as Social Welfare is responsible for such categories of people. I thank you.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I do not know if
the Hon. Minister will be able to answer my question. We see that in many towns there are many houses which are being demolished with people building these houses illegal. What measures is the Ministry putting in place so that those houses are officialised…
*THE HON. SPEAKER: That one will be replied by the Hon.
Minister when he makes his Ministerial Statement to the House. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Wait, I cannot hear you. You want to clarify? Alright, just a minute Hon. Minister. What is the clarification? Hon. Minister, just a minute - that should be part of your Ministerial Statement. Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I have said the Hon. Minister must come up with a comprehensive policy statement which will encapsulate what Hon. Togarepi has asked.
HON. T. MLISWA: It is local government and it is under Hon. Minister July Moyo. These are two - housing and local government. Mr. Speaker will guide me. Local government is under local authorities, the demolition and housing is a different issue all together. We need to understand which departments are under national housing. Physical planning is under Local Government.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I am asking the Hon.
Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities; if he has got a problem he can liaise with Hon. Minister of Local Government and Public Works who should make an input to that statement. Thank you.
+HON. NYATHI: Hon. Speaker, thank you for giving me this
opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The food that is given to the disabled and the elderly, we call them the vulnerable; they are facing challenges like transport. What plans does the Government have to hand over the inputs to the vulnerable so that they get transport to go and take the food because they face challenges when they do not have transport?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. I think in December 2019, Cabinet made a resolution that all food hand-outs to the vulnerable in this country would reach the recipients free of charge. They were not going to be responsible for paying the transportation fees and that decision has stood since then. If there are any being made to pay that is wrong; that is not proper. They should just let us know and we will investigate the matter. They are not supposed to pay at all. Government is paying for the transportation of all social welfare food hand-outs. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
+THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Nyathi, if there are people who
are charging the vulnerable for transport, may you take their names and report them to the Minister. If they are going to be arrested, let it be so. Food must reach the vulnerable without payment.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker
Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There are no more supplementary
questions.
HON. CHIKWINYA: It is about who coordinates because in our constituencies, there seems to be no connection between the Local Government and Public Works Ministry and the Public Service,
Labour and Social Welfare Ministry with councilors under the Local Government and Public Works Ministry and Social Welfare officers under the Public Service Commission. So who coordinates that transport? That was my supplementary.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, your question must relate to the
charge for delivery of maize, whatever is coming from social welfare.
That is how your supplementary question must arise.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of clarity. Hon. Speaker, in
his response, the Minister said the transport is free of charge. Now, where we are in our constituencies people are assembled and then local councillors come and say you must pay. The Social Welfare officer says transport is for free. So I simply wanted a clarification from the Minister and then I take it back to the constituency.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I will help you; you seem to have a problem in asking the question. The question should be; Hon. Minister, if there is such eventualities, to who should the complaint be made to?
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you. The
payment is done by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and indeed, if there are councillors who are making people pay then those councilors should be reported to authorities so that they can be prosecuted. It is not supposed to be paid for.
HON. MUSHORIWA: The question of food from the
Government, people being made to pay, the Minister said that in
December 2019, the Government made a resolution that they were going to make sure that they provide the transport, but during the course of 2020…
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your supplementary question Honourable?
HON. MUSHORIWA: My supplementary question therefore
is to say, because there had been a rampant practice of people being asked to pay; the Minister cannot pretend to say that they are not aware of that. I want to find out if there are any people that have been taken to court because we know that this thing has been happening.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, take your seat please.
As representatives of the people, bring concrete evidence to the Ministry so that those who are charging can be dealt with. Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mwana asingacheme anofira mumbereko.
Can I come in with my question?
THE HON. SPEAKER: A new question? I thought you were going to ask a supplementary.
HON. T. MLISWA: My question is directed to the Minister of
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi. Chapter 13 Part 1 talks about Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission with its functions of investigating. Chapter 2 talks about the National
Prosecuting Authority. Section 258 and Section 254 is that of the
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission headed by Mr. Thabani Mpofu has been established which is exactly doing the same roles as these two. Which section of the Constitution empowers it to carry out that mandate?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. There is absolutely no conflict at all within the functions of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Police and the Special Corruption Unit within the Office of the President. It is purely a special unit in his office and if they do their work, should they want to go and prosecute, our National Prosecution Authority Act allows the Prosecutor General to issue prosecutorial certificates to legal practitioners with special skills according to his own assessment where he sees that there are deficiencies and that is what is followed.
In so far as arresting is concerned, those that are vested with the powers are doing that. This is purely a special unit within the office of the President with a specific mandate given by His Excellency the President and they do not and have never interfered with the work of any organ that is established in the Constitution.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, we are obliged to have a Speaker who is a lawyer. Not only that but also an advocate. The President functions through the Constitution and his appointments are constitutionally based. I have asked a very simple question and you have admitted that ZACC is carrying out a mandate of investigating and prosecuting through an Act under the Prosecutor General’s office and it must be headed by a lawyer. Mr. Thabani Mpofu is now a lawyer. So, why is he heading a department – [AN HON. MEMBER:
He is a lawyer.] – can I finish. Why is he heading the department?
You cannot hide under the President’s name or office saying that he gives powers. That is why I asked for a certain section which you being the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, should tell us precisely because we are tired of being told these issues without citing the particular section of Act.
It is incumbent upon you as Minister of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs to tell me the Act and I will be convinced. Without that, it is hearsay. I therefore, implore the Hon. Minister to tell us the Act which gives Mr. Thabani Mpofu the powers to do what the other constitutional bodies are mandated to do through the Constitution of Zimbabwe and under section 119 of the Constitution, we must uphold provisions of the Constitution. The President cannot violate the Constitution, he is a lawyer.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Hon. Member is asking questions and he is answering himself at the same time. The special unit is a unit in the President’s Office. Everyone in the office; the majority of them, are not in the Constitution. Those that work in the President’s office, the President is mandated to set up his office and he has people that work for him and all of them are not in the Constitution. He set up a unit that will assist him to fight corruption and the mandate is given by him. What they do is if the Prosecutor General so desires to have one of them appear in court to prosecute, he is the one with the authority to issue a prosecution certificate. If the Hon. Member has a case where they have been
going around pretending to be police officers, then he can bring that forward. In so far as I am concerned, they are doing a good job for His Excellency in terms of assisting in coming up with completed dockets for prosecution in terms of corruption cases. I do not see any conflict at all with established constitutional bodies. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: The President cannot willy-nilly appoint someone and it is not true because he is now abusing the name of the President, its wrong. He has a mandate given in the Constitution and he cannot willy-nilly pick anybody without following the Constitution...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. T. Mliswa, please take your seat. Order please, can I help you Hon. T. Mliswa. The Constitution does indicate that corruption has got to be fought and it is up to the President to put structures that can help him to fight corruption –
[HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – order Hon. T.
Mliswa. Can you read the Constitution wholly – [HON. T.
MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – I have said do your research and come back.
HON. T. MLISWA: I have done it. It is an illegal entity the
Anti Corruption Commission.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I want to advise you Hon. T. Mliswa – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – Order when the Chair is speaking you must listen.
HON. T. MLISWA: It is okay Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Where you are not clear, you can
approach the Constitutional Court to clarify issues for you.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, I want to assist Hon. T. Mliswa, be guided by section 167 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe in what I have said.
*HON. TEKESHE: My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. We are witnessing police throwing spikes on people’s vehicles. Why are they using spikes?
Why can they not use modern technology like taking videos?
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is the question now? Is it spikes or you want clarity on national policy? I think you need to rephrase your question.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is why is police using spikes as this will result in damage to tyres and vehicles rather than using modern technology? – [HON. NDEBELE:
Inaudible interjection.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Ndebele, I do not
need an assistant. Thank you.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (HON.
MADIRO): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking such a pertinent question. This question is in line with the day to day operations of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). If it is a policy issue, then our police use what is in line with particular situations that might be happening at a particular time. If there is a particular event which the Hon. Member is referring to, he should write to the Ministry so that we carry out investigations to ascertain how this happened. However, police can deploy means that are necessary and that auger with what will be happening at that particular time. I thank you.
*HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In the
previous Republic, a lot of spikes were deployed and this issue came to this august House and it was determined that spikes were dangerous because they were leading to loss of life. So, my question is, are we back to that previous arrangement? Thank you.
*HON. MADIRO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me say that
for the police force to discharge their duties diligently, citizens must observe and adhere to the laws of the land. If there is risk, suppose the police have used spikes, button sticks, guns and tear gas, then these things might lead to risks. Citizens are urged not to be found against the law. As I have said before, the police will use appropriate means to contain a situation, including spikes.
*HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The issue is that are there no modern means of containing situations other than spikes and the like because they end up harming people?
HON. MADIRO: The Hon. Member seems to suggest that he
may be aware of the so called modern means better than spikes. I think he is privileged to suggest that to Government. However, that does not exclude the use of spikes. Thank you.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
supplementary question is Hon. Minister, regarding what police use to deal with different situations, what is the purpose of number plates? Are number plates not enough to identify offenders? So what is the use of having number plates in Zimbabwe if they are not useful to track offenders?
*HON. MADIRO: Number plates are another way that can be
used by police to identify offenders of traffic rules. Number plates are used to identify motorists so that the police know who owns that particular car. They can also be used as an alternative form. However, the issue of spikes – my request is that there must be reports regarding spikes. People should put these things in writing, if there are specific issues identified of loss of life when spikes are deployed. Let me say that spikes are a deterrent means. Those who do not adhere to the laws of the land will be found wanting. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order. The Hon. Minister is
prevaricating.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, the Minister is very clear. As far as I understand him, he says you can use the number plates in terms of identifying the culprits – [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjection.] – Yes, there are naughty culprits that may want to invite the use of the spikes. However, if there are cases where the spikes have killed people, bring them forward and the Ministry will investigate. Thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. What is Government policy in respect to the formulation of a medium term debt strategy as per our Public Finance Management legislation?
What are the current challenges in formulating? What is the
Ministry’s policy position regarding the question of arduous debt.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Madam Speaker, I
thank the Hon. Member for his question. He asked about the medium term policy which basically is a debt accumulation or debt containment strategy. The other question is on how to deal with arduous debts which I believe you mean debts also due to illegal leakages according to some books that that have been written on arduous debts, including the Thabo Mbeki’s AU Report on illicit flows.
On the issue of policy, we are very clear that we have to adhere to making sure that in terms of the debt accumulation process, we make sure that the interest rate that we pay on these debts, we strive to make sure that they are lower than the rate of growth of the economy and lower than the rate of growth of exports. Whenever the growth of exports is lower than your interest rate, you run into trouble as a country because it means that then you are accumulating debt, you cannot catch up with the interest payments.
Certainly, one key issue to maintain in order to contain debt accumulation is to make sure that our fiscal discipline is found and we stick to it. We should not run a large budget deficit and in the last two years we have stayed true to that, we have managed to contain our deficit. If you do not deal with those two in the way that I have explained, as Zimbabwe, we will accumulate debt and that is not a good thing. For the debt that we already owe externally, we have resumed now our token payments after the pronouncement of the G20. We want to make sure that we start honouring those debts and eventually we will get back to dealing with the IFI debt of the World Bank and the African Development Bank before we proceed to a
bilateral debt.
Turning to the arduous debt which arise out of transfer pricing, out of illicit outflows, I must say that that report by the former
President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and also an earlier report that I worked on myself many years ago when I was the Vice President of the African Development Bank, they show that African countries lose easily as much as US$60 billion a year due to illicit flows in terms of transfer pricing and so forth. We are doing our best in dealing with money laundering issues. We are implementing the anti money laundering rules. There is an international imperative to do so by the way, otherwise then we will stay on the grey list for while, we want to make sure that we comply.
Madam Speaker, other things are not easy because it has been shown that some of the leakages in these illicit flows arise from things such as - you know when companies invest in a country you find a foreign investor who will set up a subsidiary in an offshore tax free entity and over here, they register a company and then you find that the offshore entity then extends a loan to the local company. Then what happens is that the local company has to service the interest on the loan from the mother entity before they declare any profits and so forth. So, they end up not paying taxes domestically and continuously service this loan because interest payments are tax deductable.
So, we are aware of those tricks, companies use those tricks everywhere and it is not easy to deal with because within the law it is allowed. Within the accounting rules that is allowed but nevertheless it prejudices the country. Madam Speaker, one thing to do over time is to make sure that foreign companies form joint ventures with local companies.
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: Thank you very much. I just
want to follow up with the Minister on the question of debt repayment. I want to know whether the Minister is following the Lima Process or he has revised it and come up with a new debt repayment approach. Following that, I would also want to hear your views, whether you have considered the HIPC route to lessen the debt to the country. Thank you.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Madam Speaker I want to thank
the Hon. Member for the question. We have adjusted the Lima Process for the following reasons. First of all the Lima Process involved specific country and I do not know whether I am allowed to mention it because I do not know whether that country’s involvement was official or not back then. There was a country which had large amount of resources that was willing to assist us in the bridge financing for the shortfall of the African Development Bank and the
World Bank arrears. That country then fell by the wayside for various reasons, so we have adjusted in the sense that we are speaking to other potential sources of funding that can assist with that bridge funding including specific financial institutions in the commercial sector.
Also, I said we are adjusting the Lima Process, we are also still looking at the issue of talking to the creditors as well in the first place. The trouble of going the route of commercial source for bridge loan is that it blocks the second stage of the debt resolution process which is the Paris Club negotiations because all creditors do not have to rank pari passu, and even the commercial lenders have to take a haircut under the Paris Club and they were never willing to do that. So it gives challenges in the second phase, so sometimes it is better to try to go through the route of the Paris Club Creditors in the first place.
So we have kept that channel also opened.
The Hon. Member also asked about whether we are following the epic route or not. We have looked into it and the response that we have received so far is that you as Zimbabweans are not exactly a low income country because this route is available to those that are officially designated as low income countries in terms of the Gross National Income per capita. As you are classified as lower middle income country – that has been expressed. We believe that route maybe closed but we have to keep trying to make sure that we find right path to resolving our arrears clearance and to keep our debt in check.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Orders Number 64
HON. CHIKWINYA: I seek the extension of Questions Without Notice by a further 15 minutes.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Time for Questions
Without Notice has been extended by another 15 minutes.
HON. A. NDEBELE: I second.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My supplementary to the Hon. Minister
emanates from his response with regards to financial leakages. Hon. Minister, firstly, we need confirmation as Parliament that your Ministry through Fidelity has you expanded the network of exporters of gold. We view that as Parliament that maybe the channel of how money leaks out of the country. If you have expanded that pool of exporters of gold outside Fidelity, how are you accounting for that so that at least we avoid the leakages?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: We have not expanded the
exporters in terms of the approved list of those exporting to wherever gold needs to be sent, that is to the various markets. It is still
Fidelity’s job to that. Of course, other players have expanded themselves without our permission illegally and we obviously have those challenges. There are some illicit outflows of gold, but we will make sure that we continue to plague the leakages. We are doing that in many different way but we have not expanded the pool of exporters.
HON. NDUNA: My supplementary to the Hon. Minister is two pronged. Have we tried the countries or multinationals that we owe money in terms of debt cancellation and or the reduction of humongous and gigantic interest rates that they have charged us?
Have we tried to have them reduced or completely eradicated and have we also tried them in terms of debt cancelation completely?
What has been the response in relation to those two issues?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Yes, we have tried debt cancellation and that request has not met favourable response so far but of course we should never give up.
On the issue of reducing the interest rates, though we have received a more positive response, one of them without mentioning them, has said that should we begin to reduce the arrears that we owe, they will write-off the penalties and reduce interest payments. So once we start clearing those arrears, we will get a more positive response in terms of cancellation of the penalties we have incurred so far. I thank you.
HON. A. NDEBELE: Our total debt stock seems to keep shifting depending on what literature one is reading and depending on who is speaking at a given moment. Is it possible for the Minister then to bring to this House to enable or to facilitate that Parliament in plenary as well as in relevant committees, undertakes a debt audit of what it is that we owe the outside world? In that Statement, could we have a sub heading that speaks to the Chinese debt?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I have taken note of that, I am happy to present a Ministerial Statement, but I must hasten to say that twice a year, I am mandated to bring a statement of accounts on the state of our debt situation and I have done that judiciously. It could be that the Hon. Member has not had access to the report, I do not know what happened but I have presented these judiciously in the last
2 years as I am mandated by the Public Finance and Debt Management Act.
HON. MURIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker Maam. My
question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. What is the Government policy on distribution of devolution funds among constituencies and wards in rural district councils? The question is premised on the fact that the Ministry of Finance gave a criteria and basis for allocation to provincial councils, but when we go down to grassroots, it looks like Rural District Councils have no criteria. For example, you would see communities that have clinics and schools being allocated funds ahead of those that do not have such facilities. We have communities where children walk long distances to school but they do not get an allocation yet in areas where there are so many schools they get an allocation. So the question is; is there a criteria in terms of Government policy in allocating those resources or allocation given to Executive Officers in councils? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): Madam Speaker, devolution
funds are given to local authorities on the basis of population as well as depth of poverty and also in terms of the scarcity of facilities in education, roads, health facilities, sewer, water and social amenities on a pro-rata basis. The money is distributed from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to our Ministry and onwards to the local authorities. In terms of devolution, we are aware that these local authorities have certain autonomies that they must exercise and we cannot be micro-managing them. However, we have said because of the necessity to eradicate some of the disparities that are existing between local authorities to local authorities and between provinces to provinces and within each local authority from one ward to the other, they must pay attention to those areas where there is scarcity of health and education facilities. We go and monitor to see what they would have done. Obviously, we cannot sit in every council and see how they are making those decisions but follow ups by Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Provincial Development Coordinators as well as District Development Coordinators show us areas where these monies are not being properly used. We use that as remedial action in order to make sure that it is not repeated but we cannot go and sit in every council when they are making those decisions because that is the essence of devolution. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MURIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker. In terms of
Section 264 of the Constitution, the objective of devolution is to give powers of local governance to people and enhance their participation in the exercise of the State. I believe that the Ministry should have a mechanism to monitor and ensure that there is compliance at the achievement of the objectives of the Constitution. Now, it is not a question of micro-managing …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Murire, please may
you ask your question.
HON. MURIRE: My question is; is there any monitoring mechanism other than not micro-managing? Does the Ministry have a way of monitoring efficient and proper utilisation of those funds to ensure accomplishment of the Constitution objective? I thank you.
HON. J. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I have just
indicated that monitoring is done by Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution as well as the decentralised structures that we have created in order to give substance to our devolution agenda. That is why the President has appointed Provincial Development Coordinators as well as District Development Coordinators. In addition, as you know, this Parliament monitors what happens through the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General so that reports come to you but this is post-facto what would have happened on the ground. That is the process of learning; this is the process of having devolution empowering people to make decisions of their own. Government is there to make sure that resources are there and are put in terms of the Constitution. In Section 301, we are required to make at least 5% go to these local authorities. Having done that, this Parliament as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and ourselves have to monitor to see whether they have complied. That work of monitoring definitely is going on. We can give you enough evidence of what has been monitored, what has been found to be not working and how we have taken corrective measures in order to make sure that next time they do better.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by the HON.
DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON ZIYAMBI): I move that
Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 3 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 4 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CITY STATUS FOR MUNICIPALITY OF VICTORIA FALLS
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): I move the motion standing in my name that;
WHEREAS in terms of subsection (1) of Section 14 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), a Municipal Council may apply to the Minister for the municipality concerned to be accorded city status if the municipality is the dominant centre of influence for a significant area; and
WHEREAS on receipt of the application, the Minister appoints a Commission which shall call upon any person who wishes to make representations to submit them to the Commission; and
WHEREAS in considering the matter, the Commission is guided by matters set out in the Executive Summary of the report in addition to any other matters which are considered to be relevant and shall thereafter submit its report to the Minister; and
WHEREAS the Municipality of Victoria Falls, applied to be accorded city status on 21st July, 2017; and
WHEREAS the Commission submitted its report recommending the city status to Victoria Falls, to the Minister on 19th January 2018;
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of subsection (6) of section 14 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), Parliament resolves that an address be presented to His Excellency the President, requesting him to accord city status to the Municipality of Victoria Falls.
In terms of Section 4 (1) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29;15], whenever the President considers it desirable, he may subject to this Act, by proclamation in the Gazette after any local authority concerned has been consulted, establish a municipality or town or city and
- establish a municipal council or a town council, as the case may be therefore;
- fix the area of the municipality or town or city;
- assign a name to the municipality or town or city; and after consultation with the commission, divide the council area into a number of wards.
Statutory Instrument 49 of 1997, Urban Councils Regulations, 1997 provides that an application made by a council for a change of its status shall be made to the Minister after a resolution is passed by majority votes cast in an ordinary meeting of the council. Upon receipt of an application in which a council applies for municipal or city status, the Minister shall;
- appoint at the expense of the council concerned, a Commission consisting of such number of persons as the Minister may determine to consider the matter and make recommendations to him, provided that no member of the Commission shall be a councillor or employee of the same council;
- after the appointment of the Commission, give notice in three issues of a newspaper of the appointment of the Commission and calling upon any person who wishes to make representations, to submit them to the Commission before a date specified in that notice being not less than thirty days after the date of the first publication of the notice in the newspaper.
Following receipt of an application by Victoria Falls
Municipality for upgrading to city status in terms of Section 14 (1) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15], I appointed a Commission to investigate the suitability of the council to be elevated to a city status.
Upon my receipt of the report from the Commission in December 2017, I studied the recommendation contained therein and am now satisfied that the fast growing local authority and tourist epicenter of Zimbabwe should be awarded city status.
Growth is inevitable. Victoria Falls Municipality started off as a railway station in the colonial era, with Livingstone as the town (under the Federation), and then achieved town status in 1971 before being proclaimed a municipality in 1999. It is therefore befitting that they progress to the next level.
It is imperative to stress that the municipality is up to date with audited accounts and has also crafted a robust redevelopment concept for the coveted city. Areas envisioned for regeneration have been identified and mapped. These include the Chinotimba area,
Government houses (CBD), Council office site (CBD), NRZ land (CBD) and the Golf Course (Elephant Hills Hotel). This is based on a thrust towards improved land utilisation and modernisation which is expected to go a long way in unlocking land for new investment in the
city.
The city title embolden the impression of credibility and attracts development and potential investment from both local and international investors while simultaneously embracing the element of prestige, which is what any local authority envisages. Potential visitors to any country, especially on the worldwide web look up cities rather than towns or municipalities, hence the title itself augments image. Looking at world tourist cities, Victoria Falls regrettably is not featuring. The local authority together with the Ministry has therefore initiated a processing of upgrading the municipality to a city status.
Victoria Falls Municipality has hosted many international events, among such conventions being the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly, hence conferment of city status would attract more of such events and thus benefit the fiscus. If city status is conferred, Victoria Falls would be the first city based on tourism industry in our country.
The planning and designing of a mixed use development for the
Victoria Falls Mixed Commercial use project has started. Victoria
Falls Municipality has since awarded a Design and Construct Commercial Contract on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis to
Cardinal Corporation Private Limited for this project. In venturing in the investment programmes, constant consultations with the Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority and Ministries of Finance and Economic Development; Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Local Government and Public Works are being done.
On the other hand, the town is host to significant Government real estate which unfortunately is in a dilapidated state. To this end,
35 houses around the city centre have been identified for redevelopment. The houses are sitting on approximately 3.5 hectares and this needs redevelopment and regeneration.
Victoria Falls Municipality is the core of the recently approved special economic zone corridor, which comprises Masuwe Statelend, Batoka City, Mlibizi, Binga Centre, Sijarira, Hwange Hinterland and Gwai Shangani resort. The foreign currency stock exchange has already been opened in the city to enhance the attractiveness of this city within the municipality area in order to increase the real estate for the municipality and release more land for investment. Land adjacent to the municipality affectionately known as Masuwe Stateland has been identified for high value tourism investment. The initiative dove-tails with recently launched initiative dubbed Victoria Falls Area Tourism Development Plan which seeks to boost tourism in and around Victoria Falls and support the recovery of the local tourism sector in the country.
Victoria Falls being the second city mostly populated with hotels after Cape Town in our region, due care must be taken in order to safeguard the world heritage site as conferred by UNESCO and this is being done by a team of experts from Ministries as well as Civil
Society and players in the tourism industry.
I therefore call upon Parliament to resolve and recommend to the President to proclaim the municipality as a city and thereby Victoria Falls assume the status of an eminent tourism city in the world. I so submit Madam Speaker.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker for affording me
this opportunity to add my voice and to also applaud the Minister for entertaining Victoria Falls Municipality on this issue. I want to support the motion and say this was long overdue in my view as he has alluded to. A stock exchange has already been established but I go further to the issue of a special economic zone which I think should be expeditiously put in place in order to enhance the activities of that city. Victoria Falls, as he alluded to is a world heritage site and is only second to Cape Town in terms of the proliferation of hotels in that city. I want to also go further and say it has an establishment of an aviation sector second to none in Zimbabwe. It has one of the largest and longest runways which has been established by the Chinese Exim loan and financed to the tune of US$150 million and it hosts a lot of international flights and it is my view because of all this that the issue of having a city status is definitely long overdue.
I support the renaming of Victoria Falls to a city status.
This is also home to a lot of cruise companies and helicopter companies as we speak. We have cities like the City of Kadoma which is called the ‘city of gold’ but it has no runway except one that used to be at Carmen Motor at Eiffel Flats but if we compare Victoria
Falls and the City of Kadoma, you see by a long margin that Victoria Falls deserves city status.
As I conclude, the people of Chegutu West Constituency actually recognise that a place that is endowed with handling of a lot of foreign currency should be allowed to run its affairs using that mode of transfer and currency that the tourists bring into the country. It is my view and hope that the Hon. Minister of Finance can actually tailor how the taxes can be received from the City of Victoria Falls where a lot of transactions are in hard currency. Let me also applaud the Hon. Minister of Finance in establishing a robust, resilient, effective and efficient stock exchange in Victoria Falls. It is going to be a magnet to a lot of money that is going to be brought in, not only by tourists but by business executives who are going to put together a tourism package together with their business plan as they enjoy the majestic Victoria Falls which is one of the seven wonders of the world. So the people of Chegutu West support the Minister in his quest to make sure that Victoria Falls becomes a city and they hope also that in not so distant future, he can also make Chegutu
Municipality a city because we are endowed with ubiquitous amounts of mineral wealth. We have more than 40 gold mines in a very small area. It is my hope that we can turn all that gold and mineral wealth into establishment of a robust and resilient city. I thank you.
+HON. G. DUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for
affording me this opportunity. I would also like to make a contribution towards this issue of the Victoria Falls city status which is in Hwange West.
We are happy and celebrating that Victoria Falls has been given city status and this will make it easy for the responsible Minister Hon. Moyo. He should make sure that there is a special arrangement for the Victoria Falls city status. It should not be equated to other cities like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and others because this one is totally different. We are also expecting development which is not going to disturb what is already there because we know that our visitors come to Victoria Falls because of what is in Victoria Falls which includes wild animals and the river.
Since we have been given the city status, we do not want these things to be disturbed and game corridors, the Zambezi and the falls should not be tampered with. I hope they will realise that and at the same time Madam Speaker, since the town has been conferred with city status. Hon. Minister Moyo working together with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Prof. Ncube they should make it clear that the resources that are in Victoria Falls, should set aside a big share to develop Victoria Falls and places around Victoria Falls. This should not just be a celebration without benefitting the local community. This city status should not make life difficult for the locals. For example high rates as they are already paying higher rates. I hope that they will take all that into consideration and also look into the issue of the Master Integrated Plan since the Hon. Minister said that it should be looked into.
Madam Speaker, we realise that Victoria Falls has a beautiful airport which is most probably the most beautiful airport in the country but the locals are not benefiting. I know that they are receiving devolution funds but our prayer is that the funds from the national parks in Victoria Falls and also from the Zambezi in Victoria Falls should not be all collected and brought to Bambazonke. It is the hope of the people in Victoria Falls that as they celebrate, all these things are taken into consideration and be corrected so that the clinics, schools and roads are developed or repaired by these funds that are generated by Victoria Falls because all eyes in the country are now on Victoria Falls. We can celebrate for now and maybe disturb us in the future if the funds generated in Victoria Falls are not being apportioned or distributed in the correct manner.
We are happy that we now have the stock exchange in Victoria Falls which all goes to show that it was high time we got city status. We hope that everything will be dealt with in the proper manner and that the Hon. Minister will look into it and put it more clearly.
There is also the issue of land; we are also looking forward to that since we have attained city status. It is our request that Victoria Falls should be left in its natural state. We do not want houses to be built everywhere because we do not want to end up looking like Mbare or Makokoba – we do not want that in Victoria Falls. We want to remain as a tourist destination that is liked by everyone even after it has attained city status. If ever there are going to be towns, they should be satellite towns. All things should not be crowded in one place – if such things are going to be considered and if the Hon. Minister is going to look into them, I think Victoria Falls is going to be the best tourist destination the world over. I thank you.
HON. SANSOLE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to add my voice to this debate on the granting of City Status to the town of
Victoria Falls. I have gone through the report of the Commission of
Inquiry and I speak as a resident of Victoria and former Executive Mayor of that town.
The report talks about population of about 56 000 - [HON. S.
SITHOLE: We cannot hear anything Madam Speaker Ma’am.] – THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. Hon. Sansole,
are you linked?
HON. SANSOLE: I have unmuted.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please may you unmute.
HON. SANSOLE: Alright, I have. Madam Speaker, I was saying that I would speak as a resident of Victoria Falls and former Executive Mayor of that town. The report speaks about a population of 56 000 people but that has since changed with the advent of COVID-19. A lot of people who were employed in the tourism sector have since left the town and the numbers have gone down significantly.
Secondly, there is need to preserve the natural setting of Victoria Falls. The world heritage site status could be lost as a result of overdeveloping the town. The main attraction to Victoria Falls is the wilderness experience. When you go to Victoria Falls, you go through a forest and Victoria Falls town is surrounded by a national park. The natural environment being the main attraction should be maintained as natural as possible i.e. the rain forest near the town should be maintained naturally. It is the view of the business community that Victoria Falls should be left as it is so that we do not lose the world heritage site status.
There is talk about increased revenue base in the report but at the same time the commissioners also report that the rates account is sitting on $7 million arrears – at the time that the report was done, that was quite a significant amount. So it shows that although your revenue that you have invoiced maybe high but if you are sitting with a large amount in arrears, it shows that the people are struggling to pay those arrears. The people of Victoria Falls are struggling to pay the rates because the rates in Victoria Falls are probably the highest in the country compared to Harare – it is probably higher than Harare and far much higher than cities like Bulawayo. So, in terms of rating of properties, Victoria Falls is overpriced.
The report also talks about Council having weaned off ventures like beerhalls which they maintain when not generating profits. I think if properly run, those beerhalls can generate revenue for the town rather than over burden the residents with rates.
Also, it has leased the rest camp. That rest camp is being run profitably by a private company and they have since renovated it and made significant additions to the buildings. I believe that if that rest camp is run by the council itself, it can generate enough revenue for the town. The argument that it has been leased out because it has not been profitable does not hold water.
There is also the issue of the water supply. The report talks about the treatment capacity being at 22 mega litres a day and demanding 15 mega litres therefore the supply being in excess of
100%, that is not the situation now. It could have been at that time in
2017/18 when the report was done but now there is a water crisis in Victoria Falls mainly due to the pumping capacity. The master plan being referred to in the report was suspended in 1999 because of withdrawal of funding by the Canadian International Development Agency. I think there is need to revive that master plan.
The Commissioners also went to seek oral submissions from various stakeholders and amongst those submissions; they state that there is likely to be an improvement in property value which will increase local liquidity. Again, the implication is that with an increase in the value of properties and with the evaluation role which shows properties at a much higher value, there is likely to be an increase in the rates. That also indicates a desire to milk the residents who are already suffering with high rates.
There are also financial implications which go with upgrading the status of the town. These have not been budgeted for in the town’s 2021 budget. Perhaps if there is real need to grant that status, it will need to wait until there is enough funding or the expenses are budgeted for.
As I have already stated, a lot of people have already left the town due to Covid 19. Victoria Falls is a tourist resort and tourism is at its lowest level at the moment. Most tourist operators have closed shop, a lot of people are out of employment and that has had an impact on incomes in there.
I think we should also look at the environmental implications of granting city status to the town of Victoria Falls. Once the city status is granted, it comes with massive construction. Once massive construction takes place, you destroy the natural environment. As a result, the game corridor is disturbed. The natural habitat in which animals live will be disturbed. Therefore the game corridor becomes disturbed and the impact on the environment will be irreversible. The idea is to leave Victoria Falls as natural as possible for future generations to enjoy the natural beauty of the falls being one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
I know that there is a lot of prestige attached to being a city and most towns would like to grow and graduate from being a municipality or being a town to a city, but let us not just end at expanding and growing. Let us look at what the attraction at that particular time is. The attraction is not just tall buildings or various sporting stadia and so forth, it is the natural environment of Victoria Falls. I would like to record my objection to the granting of city status to the town of Victoria Falls. I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: I am sure Hon Sansole was indirectly supporting although with reservations. I want to applaud the Minister’s presentation and state that this was long overdue to the people of Matabeleland North and Victoria Falls.
If Victoria Falls was a business, it was a going concern. The future of most of the cities that have been granted city status has been doomed in the sense that Victoria Falls being a tourist town, it will never die as long as the attractiveness or that scenery that attracts tourists is still alive, it will always be there and it will continue growing. Unlike what Hon. Nduna was proposing, the people of Chegutu West – Chegutu and Kadoma being mining towns; when the mineral is finished, they also collapse.
Fortunately for Victoria Falls just like any other port town, it is a boundary or one town which is at the boundary with other nations and therefore it will remain a transit point or tourist attraction, hence it has life. However, granting a city status to a town has its own responsibilities or costs. I would like the Minister to seriously look at that. The Commission established that they have the capacity to manage some of their infrastructure but water is always a problem in
Victoria Falls. If granted the city status, there will be extra responsibilities and we implore Government to assist in that area. The last time that we toured Victoria Falls, they had a serious shortage of water. Some hotels were actually providing their own water outside the ZINWA infrastructure which was quite a big challenge.
Currently, the amount of water that ZINWA is able to pump to the people of Victoria Falls is not enough and there is always water rationing and shortages of water. I think Government must look seriously into that. They must not just grant the city status and forget and expect that Victoria Falls will be able to charge the residents some rates and build up the water infrastructure. There is need for additional resources.
Land is a problem in Victoria Falls mainly because it is a national park. It is a town within a national park. Expanding outside further than where the town is now would mean encroaching into the national park. My suggestion will be that we will need proper city planning where if I was the town planner, we would need to establish a town immediately a few kilometres from the main city centre where there is the current Victoria Falls – perhaps around the areas of the airport where we can build upwards.
Currently, the policy is that if you are in Victoria Falls, you cannot build beyond the tallest three. I think that is the concept of Washington D.C. – you do not go up. You can only build up to two floors in order to preserve the environment. I think that has been the position of the Ministry of Environment and Government. Once we do not build upwards, you are actually attracting urban sprawl. Your town will now spread going outwards into the national park but you do not have the land. That is why I would propose that as the planners and the Government think of conferring city status, let us put up a new town away from the Victoria Falls but within driving distance for people to build going upwards so that they can maximise on the available little land or small amount of land which is at their disposal. Certainly, it is a good development. Everyone wants to grow big but in growing big you attract a lot of responsibilities. We pray and implore upon the Minister of Local Government to assist, not to just confer the status but to assist that status of being a city does not cost the residents of Victoria Falls who are already overburdened by the rates. It is a very good move. We support it and we would want to see it. I am sure the Victoria Falls people would be very happy to hear that as the good news coming out of Parliament in the recent past. Thank you very much.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also stand
here in support of the city status for Victoria Falls. It is overdue and very critical for development. Victoria Falls attracts a lot of people throughout the world who come to visit. Some believe Victoria Falls is all Zimbabwe or it is part of South Africa today because it is very attractive. People with a lot of money also come to visit. Government has already set up a Stock Exchange which is potentially going to be a strong capital market...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Togarepi, may you unmute your gadget.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you. I stand in support of upgrading the municipality of Victoria Falls into a city. It is very critical for the development of that area. We realised that
Government has also allowed the development of a stock market in Victoria Falls. That will attract a lot of financial investment from all over the world. I think a city status will then support that type of development. Of course, yes, we should be concerned that any development should avoid Victoria Falls itself because the main attraction there is Victoria Falls and a city status will not interfere. There is no way a city status will be built on the falls. So it is not going to affect the falls. The falls will remain there. We do not want our Victoria Falls to be behind in terms of development and services behind Livingstone because we will find people staying in Livingstone but coming to see Victoria Falls. It is going to be a disservice in terms of strategy and in terms of development for our country.
Victoria Falls has potential also because of its attractiveness to develop in to some form of Disney land. We can see development there because of high profile people who are coming to see Victoria
Falls. it is critical that the standards that people face when they get to Victoria Falls are upped and a city status will provide such type of environment. I am also a keen supporter of what Government has done. I said it initially that there is going to be a stock exchange, the capital market which has already started. We need to support that by having facilities that are going to be run at world class level so that there is no other reason why people will not go there and do their financial transactions in Victoria Falls. We will not even advertise. What we need in developing the city status is to provide services and infrastructure. I agree with Hon. Member who said in terms of development of houses, let us move away from the falls, if we have land closer to the airport, the better. We will not touch the Victoria Falls which is the main attraction but the developed city will provide services for all our visitors and all those who would be coming to see Victoria Falls.
My only recommendation is for the local Government, the city council and Central Government to protect the environment. There is a lot of research from the report by the Minister that was done to see the co-existence with the natural environment, the animals there and so forth. I think all that must be captured in the master plan so that we do not interfere with the advantages already given to us by God, but developing it into a city is number one. We cannot argue on that. It is given because we want to see everyone who visits Victoria Falls getting the world class services they expect when they visit such a unique attraction like Victoria Falls. I thank you.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am overjoyed today that our Minister of Local Government came up with the initiative to ensure that Victoria Falls attains a city status. I was thinking about it a lot and as a Committee we pondered over this and after our visit to Victoria Falls we saw it fit that it should be uplifted to city status. We realised that this area is able to bring in a lot of foreign currency for the country because just beyond the river there is a city known as Livingstone in Zambia. That city was getting a lot of money that could have come to Zimbabwe.
If we are able to upgrade to city status I foresee hotels being built in the area and such hotels will be affordable. Some of our tourists are going to stay in South Africa or Zambia because of the expensive hotel rates. Therefore, more hotels will bring in competition. The Victoria Falls Municipality should embark on an initiative to ensure that they get investors and should also offer incentives for those who want to build in Victoria Falls. I also realised that yes, there is water but they should be given water by ZINWA like what happens in other cities. The way they get water is different from how we get it. I hope this will be addressed to assist the city.
My request is that after upgrading to city status it will enable the municipality to assist in the building of schools because there are very few schools. I think it would be better to increase the number of schools and once we have more schools, people who want to go and –
[Mic off]
I was saying that if the number of schools is increased and the town is upgraded to city status, the municipality will assist. Furthermore, hospitals will also be upgraded and increased even though there is no water in Victoria Falls, there are so many things that we witnessed. It is true that the municipality also had positive things that they were doing because their water is very clean and it is better than the water that we have in Harare. So for that reason, I think it is important to upgrade Victoria Falls to city status. I thank you.
*HON. MUTAMBISI: I also want to add my voice thanking
the Minister of Local Government, Hon. July Moyo for the initiative to upgrade Victoria Falls to city status similar to other cities in
Zimbabwe. When you talk of Zimbabwe and tourism and you do not mention Victoria Falls, it is as good as you have not come to
Zimbabwe. I want to proceed by saying getting city status for Victoria
Falls has taken a long time. Since 1971, it has been a town and in 1999 it was given another status, which means it has taken a lot of time for it to be upgraded.
We heard that this town is a tourist resort centre and has a lot of economic activity in terms of tourism. As women, we are requesting that as you give city status to Victoria Falls, do not forget about us. We heard someone saying there will be massive construction. My request is that you also avail stands to women so that we build hotels which will charge reasonable rates because we also want to venture into the tourism sector. As Victoria Falls is growing, the men are the ones who are benefitting and have most of the boating industry. We also want to be part of that industry so that we also earn foreign currency from tourism. If women are part of such a business, it will assist us in our livelihoods. Thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. PETER MOYO: I rise just to give a few words because my colleagues have already said a lot. It is a good initiative for Victoria Falls to be upgraded to city status and that it should be a stand-alone in terms of its administration. This will assist us and we will be liberated in our thinking as it relates to Victoria Falls. We want to thank the Minister for bringing such an initiative.
Furthermore, want to talk about the issue of building. I think we need high-rise buildings so that wild animals will not be affected, not only in Victoria Falls but nationwide. We should have provision for people to build high-rise buildings. So, Victoria Falls needs to be upgraded. If we are to consider our neighbouring countries, they come to Victoria Falls and think that it belongs to South Africa and not Zimbabwe. It needs to be clearly stated that Victoria Falls belongs to Zimbabwe.
Those companies that are here, be they Chinese or European companies can build but we must also allow our locals to build in Victoria Falls and also for upgrading that is going to happen, our natives should be given an opportunity to earn a living from that. I do not have much to say because my predecessors have said a lot. I want to thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity, I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion brought by our Minister, Hon. July Moyo. He has enlightened us that Victoria Falls with its current standing should be upgraded to city status. I support that move because some of the meetings and workshops we have had as Parliament were held in Victoria Falls. Whilst there, I considered what happened and I witnessed it whilst in the plane as well as by road. I went to Zambia and I saw the beauty of the Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls has Mosi-o-tunya which is a tourist attraction. Victoria Falls has game parks and that is a tourist attraction as well. I even saw the statue of the late David Livingstone in Victoria Falls and most tourists coming from the West want to see their ancestor. As a country, we are saying we should leave the statue there for tourists to see, thereby bringing us foreign currency.
Victoria Falls also respects our cultural heritage. I think we need to increase the number of those who provide entertainment in Victoria Falls through traditional dances. It is a splendid initiative. I think that once that is done, it will increase the number of tourists and I think just besides tourists it will bring more business. We need planes that actually have a carrying capacity of between 20 – 40 people to ply the Harare – Victoria Falls and Harare – Bulawayo routes. The other things that people enjoy in terms of entertainment should also be available in Victoria Falls. With these few words, I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. MADZIMURE: Mr. Speaker, I want to deal with the
issue of development of the master plan of Victoria Falls. Whenever such a move is taken, it turns to attract a lot of people. The fact that it is now going to be a city, a lot of people will flock into Victoria Falls. What we have seen destroying our very good plans is allowing unplanned settlements. This has been a challenge and it is still a challenge. More so if it happens in a place like Victoria Falls, we know we have to preserve the falls and the game parks that we have.
I implore the Minister of Local Government to ensure that the town planning is well prepared and well equipped to deal with the influx of people who are going to be attracted by the city status of Victoria Falls. The issue of transparency, accountability and professionalism becomes so important. Hon. Gabbuza emphasized the issue of developing a place probably around the airport so that we take away the pressure from our natural environment that we want to preserve like the falls. If we could develop around that area, we can build going up a little bit. By so doing, we are creating a place where things like accommodation become less expensive for the tourists to come.
The biggest challenge that we have today and why South Africa managed to market Victoria Falls as part of their tourist attraction is because of the cost of spending a night in Victoria Falls. It is expensive to spend a night in Victoria Falls. It will be better for someone just to come from South Africa in the morning, spend the whole day in Victoria Falls and in the evening they fly back. Those are the things that we should make sure that as we start developing our city, we always remain focused on those issues to make Victoria Falls attractive. You cannot equal Victoria Falls with any other falls in the world. It is a majestic site where when one visits Victoria Falls, but the fact is that it must be affordable and our people must benefit.
Whoever comes to Victoria Falls must spend a night in Victoria Falls.
We must also be able to develop an efficient transport system from the airport to the falls. If we build around the airport we should have an efficient transport system that creates employment for our people because whatever we want to do, we must know our main objective. The objective is to make the people of Matabeleland North a better people and that is why we want to upgrade the status. The only way we can do it is to create employment and how do we create employment? We must be able to develop in terms of the buildings that are affordable. We must be able to develop a transport system where we will employ more people. Even around that area, we must also be able to start industries, to perfect the art of manufacturing the things that we have always been doing as Zimbabweans.
This must be done from secure places and from small industries where we can be able to follow up and tax our own people because our people should enjoy their resources but at the same time, also contribute towards the development of the whole province. How do we do that? We must account for all the people who do business in Victoria Falls. This is why it is important to make sure that as we develop a city probably around the airport, we also make sure that we have industrial sites, like the concept that we have in South Africa. The Government develops the industrial parks or investors and even institutions like NSSA should develop those industrial parks so that our people can rent affordable spaces.
It is easier to account for those people. We cannot continue informalising our economy. We have an opportunity to start doing the right thing, let us do it. Let us use Victoria Falls as a model. What is it that we want to see? There must be someone who has a vision – what we say in Shona muono wetwiza to say after ten years, how Victoria Falls should look like. Today, we must start seeing that from the Minister saying this is what I see Victoria Falls in ten years. I think if we do that Mr. Speaker, we will have harvested from what God gave us in the Victoria Falls. Thank you.
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for according me
this opportunity to add my voice on the motion that was put by Hon. Moyo who is the Minister of Local Government. I want to thank the
Hon. Minister that he has seen in the President’s Speech of SONA, and if you go to paragraph 4, it is saying we are going to look at ways of developing the provinces. So I want to thank Hon. Moyo because he is well ahead even before we have finished debating on the issue. On aligning the laws with our Constitution of 2013, the Minister has gone on that direction as well. I want to thank his vision that we should be well ahead and spearheading his projects.
Secondly, I want to say that there are a lot of animals in Victoria Falls which attract tourists. My plea is that we should look after those animals because the future generation whom we are setting these laws for will end up not knowing the animals that we have here in our country. The reason why I am saying this, Hon. Speaker is that, there will be infrastructure there that will be built and trees will be destroyed which means we will displace the animals that are there and they will end up being extinct. I know that it is not his department but I know that he works with people from other Ministries who look at wildlife and fauna. I plead that we should not destroy our animals. Secondly, when it comes to those wildlife Mr. Speaker, when they are running away from the deforestation which will be happening, they will go to where people live and destroy the lives of people.
Hon. Speaker, we are in competition when it comes to Victoria Falls. Many of us who went to Johannesburg Airport, you will find that Victoria Falls is being marketed in Johannesburg more than here in Zimbabwe. Many people think that Victoria Falls is probably in South Africa. For us to be able to sell the Victoria Falls people should know that it is one of the seven wonders of the world found in Zimbabwe. We should be able to market it outside. I think we should cherish what we have, what we were given by God because it is our inheritance our children’s inheritance and we should have it written down so that people know that we have it here.
Coming to jobs, that is my passion Hon. Minister. People who stay in surrounding areas just observe people coming in, mining and building and they do not know what is happening. I think this is the best opportunity for people in Matabeleland North to get jobs. The young people, even the old, those who are able to work should get the chance to work. I know that Hon. Moyo has a passion for workers. All the jobs should be lucrative jobs because at times we hear so many stories that happen. The companies that will construct, it is my desire that the local companies should have the opportunity to get tenders there so that they construct infrastructure there.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, we have our indigenous languages which are in the Constitution. If you go there, you find that there is Tonga and other languages. It is very important that if a person lands in Victoria Falls, he or she should be greeted in that language so that people are aware. I did not want to contribute but I saw that many languages are talked in this House but you find that languages from Matabeleland North are not normally used in this House. So this is the opportunity for Matabeleland North so that the languages are marketed. I think the language should be found even in hotels because when we go to Kenya, you find that they communicate in their indigenous languages. Since we want to upgrade it to city status,
I think we should upgrade it by using their indigenous languages.
Thank you.
*HON. E. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I do not have a lot to say but I just have one point that I want to request, that it be considered in terms of the upgrading of the Victoria Falls. We all want the town to be upgraded to city status. I was of the opinion that when this town is upgraded to city status, I am sure we have all agreed that it should be built within considerable distance from the Victoria Falls so that the beauty of the Falls is not affected because once we have settlements very close to the Falls, that tourist attraction will cease to be attractive. My wish is that it should not be called Victoria Falls but we need to change the name and use our indigenous names such as Mosi-o-atunya. For instance, we have roads in Victoria Falls. The people in Tonga have their indigenous names that they can use to name areas in Victoria Falls. For example in Masvingo we call it Masvingo because of the indigenous knowledge and language that we have. So what we hope is that the people of the area will be given an opportunity to rename their area in line with their culture and language.
Someone talked about the issue of employment. I want to urge that since the people residing around Victoria Falls are gifted in terms of various skills and can make a lot of crafts, they should be given working areas to showcase their expertise close to where the tourist attraction is and this should not be within the city. We know the different crafts that they make and those are beautiful. They should be close to the Falls itself.
With these few words, I thought I would just add this to ensure that our Victoria Falls is upgraded in the right way. In terms of roads, we need rehabilitation of the roads so that people can access the tourist resort area easily. So let us not only look at 2030 but we need to start now to make sure we rehabilitate the roads for easy access to Victoria Falls. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I
want to thank, at the initial, all those who have contributed to this debate and thank you for enriching what must become of the City of Victoria Falls once the proclamation is made by the President. For
Hon. Nduna, all the accolades that you have said will be captured and
I want to assure this House that as we perfect what Victoria Falls should be, we will take all these on board. If there is a time when I will direct one city and many other officials to read; what this Hansard will produce is what we have done today. I do not want to go one by one in answering what you have said because most of it really provides reasons why Victoria Falls must be a city. Let me say to Hon. Dube who has supported and all others who have supported, we value this support. Hon. Sansole who has some reservations, on population, I think it is clear that when you are saying a place is a city, population is only one of the measurements.
If you look at Victoria Falls versus Livingstone, Livingstone became a city a long time ago and its population was not near what Victoria Falls has become today. So, while the Commission underscored the fact that the population might be lower than other cities, they also said this is not a big measure. Most of you are worried about the natural status of the Victoria Falls area. It is a world heritage town, a world heritage city and by UNESCO standards, they came and inspected to make sure that we keep it that way; having been one of the people who was able to propagate that this must become a heritage site. As Government, we are taking so much care to make sure that Victoria Falls is preserved. That is why the involvement of National Parks and National Museum, those who are looking about the forest area and those who are in EMA are part and parcel of the planning of this new city.
I also said and I want to emphasise that Victoria Falls is the centre around which we are building a corridor of many nodal points and the first nodal points is what Hon. Gabbuza has said that we move away a little bit from the Falls into Masuwe. Masuwe is that area is near the airport and that is where the new epicenter of our tourism buildings is going to be. We even have moved the fence which was near the town; we have moved it closer to the airport. So, the planning is already going on and if time permits, I would like to bring the concept design that we have done for the Victoria Falls, Masuwe and as I have said Batoka area, Mulilizi, Binga and Sijalila. More importantly, we have said the whole area around Hwange where you know that the President visited so many mines, we are saying to those mines do not create housing compounds in those areas. Let us plan them well so that they link each other. Gwai-Shangani dam is going to be a tourist attraction. All these must link each other but Victoria
Falls will become the first city in Matabeleland and as people you have said it must benefit the people of Matabeleland first. Most but the people around Victoria Falls and the nodal points that I have pointed out must benefit as well.
This is the essence of what His Excellency the President as Hon. Mpariwa says in his speech, paragraph 44; is talking about economic development of areas and these are the areas which we want to develop. So are the cardinal points that all of you Hon. Tagarepi,
Hon. Chikukwa, Hon. Mutambisi, Hon. Moyo, Hon. Dzuma, Hon. Madzimure and Hon. Mpariwa have said. The cardinal points is the preservation of the eco-system around Victoria Falls and this we are paying attention to and that is why all those animal corridors in the presentation that I will have an opportunity to make to this august House, you will see that care has been taken to make sure that animal corridors, wetlands and river systems are preserved because that is the attraction not just Victoria Falls itself although it is the majestic one but around the area we must preserve. At the same time, we must create a situation where with this foreign currency trading, we are creating the conferencing that we must do in Victoria Falls. In February this year, we had this Sustainable Development Conference SDGs for Africa. This had the highest number of people who have ever attended such a conference but you know the attraction was we are going to Victoria Falls. We must create conferencing that is needed in Victoria Falls.
I have also said there is a detailed plan about the development of the Victoria Falls itself, the present one, it is sitting on 2900 hectares and we want to preserve that as it is. The additionalities are outside those 2900 hectares and we want to redevelop the 2900 hectares. As you go into Victoria Falls, you see houses on your left before you reach OK Stores. Those houses belong to Government and there are large tracks of land and we are saying as Government, let us densify and create an ambience that will attract investors. People will come in and say this is a renewed Victoria Falls. The city itself or the municipality itself has already said ‘Chinotimba’ and they have come up with a development model which we have looked at and I have taken it into Cabinet and I am willing to come and share with you. They have even said let us move the VID so that it does not create the noise that it is creating today. So, the municipality has been preparing and in some case has attracted investment already and when it attains the municipality status, Government must recognise that it has grown like anybody who is now building a new house and you are a child. The parents must give you something so that you can go and start.
What we do with councils when they achieve municipal status from a town status, the Government properties, particularly land, is given to the municipality so that it can run and the municipality of
Victoria Falls was already handed over land that used to be run by Government. What we are left with right now is to complete this. Growing of the Municipality of Victoria Falls is to give it the right to pump water. Right now the pumping is being done by ZINWA and yet the purification is done by the council. We think that is an abnormal situation and we think that the municipality can actually pump its own water, purify and reticulate its own water because we think that it has reached that status.
There are some responsibilities which we must now devolve as Government so that the city becomes a really city. Let us look at it this way when everything is done. If you started looking for tourist cities today, you will get Livingstone and you will not get Victoria Falls. A lot of our marketing now is through logging on sites and this site will be upgraded obviously when we give it city status and it will join those other tourist attraction cities in the world. That is what we owe to ourselves because it is a world heritage site and it is grand and something that must attract people not only to come to Victoria Falls but also to go to other parts of the country.
I want to thank you Hon. Members for supporting this noble cause and for supporting Victoria Falls because after all, it is not me who asked that Victoria Falls become a city but it is the city councillors, the citizens of Victoria Falls and the business people of Victoria Falls are the one who have requested Government to say please consider us as grownups so that we become a city. I so submit Hon. Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Hon. Speaker, I now move for the adoption of the report so that we can proclaim Victoria Falls Municipality as a city. I thank you.
Motion with leave, adopted.
On the motion of THE HON. MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. J. MOYO), the
House adjourned at Five Minutes Past Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 27th October, 2020
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. DEPUTY SPEAKER
DEATH OF HON. JOOSBI OMAR
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is with profound sorrow that I have to inform the House of the death of a Member of
Parliament for Mwenezi East, Hon. Joosbi Omar, on Sunday, 25th October, 2020. I therefore invite all Hon. Members to rise and observe a minute of silence in respect of the late Hon. Member of Parliament.
All Hon. Members observed a minute of silence.
RESSUMPTION OF COMMITTEE BUSINESS
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House
that in order to expedite the work of Parliament, all Committees of the Second Session will continue to operate as previously constituted
until such time that new committees are appointed by the Standing Rules and Orders Committee. Accordingly, committees will resume sitting on Monday, 2nd November, 2020.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I rise on a point of privilege in that on the 25th of October, Zimbabwe commemorates what it calls Anti Sanctions Day. These are conditions that are being labeled as making life difficult for the majority of Zimbabweans. As a Member of
Parliament, various persuasions have been given especially by the Government and the ruling party. From an opposition perspective, I think it is now time that we lay bare the facts of what is affecting our economic performance. Therefore, I challenge Members of the ruling party to come with a motion to deal with what is affecting the economic performance of our country armed with evidence of sanctions and us armed with evidence of corruption. I thank you.
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you Hon. Chikwinya.
I will consult on that one.
*HON CHINOTIMBA: I rise on a point of privilege. My point
of privilege is on the issue of school children. I wanted to ask tomorrow but this has become of concern to us. In my opinion teachers are no longer on strike but are on an opposition mission. The opposition mission that I want to mention is that MDC is not the only opposition. Teachers, in my opinion, are on the payroll of the opposition. Our children are not going to school. If they go to school they are not learning anything.
*HON CHIKWINYA: On a point of order. Takataura nyaya
iyi ikapera. Anga ari ku VID.
*HON CHINOTIMBA: Iwewe wataura zvema sanctions wani.
The Government has done its best to try and address the grievances of teachers but it seems like they want to continue with the strike. When I thought about it yesterday and pondered over this issue, the teachers are being paid by one of the biggest opposition parties in Zimbabwe to make this nation ungovernable. The issue that I want here is that it is better for those teachers to stay at home…
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Tomorrow Wednesday is
question and answer session, you will be in a position to seek clarification and pose questions to the Minister who can give you comprehensive answers.
*HON CHINOTIMBA: The Hon Member who interjected
talked about an issue which should be addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so what is the problem if he can also wait for the Ministers tomorrow. So you should not tell me to wait for tomorrow in order to pose my questions. I thank you.
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think we have three points
of of privileges and that is enough for today. Can we move to the business of the day? I am no longer taking any points of order.
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, it has to do neku correcta ma facts ataurwa. Zvikabuda zvakadaro mu Parliament muno hazvifambe mushe. Ndanga ndichida kucorrecta ipapa because zvinopinda muHansard and zvinozonetsa seParliament. It is to do nenyaya yataurwa naHon Chinotimba kuti ma teacher anobhadharwa ne opposition. We cannot say that about them. It is wrong for this Parliament to be seen to be accusing teachers. It goes on record.
As a Member of Parliament in Norton my teachers are not paid by the opposition.
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa, I have given a
ruling that Hon. Chinotimba will raise his questions to the Minister concerned.
HON. T. MLISWA: My point of order is to correct what Hon Chinotimba said. He said that teachers are on opposition payroll which is not true because this Parliament would be seen…..
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Vano correcta mangwana. HON. T. MLISWA: No, ngava correcte izvozvi. He must withdraw that statement. He cannot say ma teacher ari papayroll ye opposition. My own teachers in my constituency are not on any opposition payroll and I am here to represent them to say they are not. Hon Chinotimba must withdraw that statement because if it goes in the public that this Parliament said teachers are on a payroll it is wrong. Which teachers are on a payroll? I therefore implore Hon. Chinotimba to remove that aspect to say teachers with a blanket statement are on a payroll for opposition. This is Parliament which represents everyone.
Madam Speaker, may I implore you to tell Hon Chinotimba to withdraw that statement.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa, I have already
given a ruling. I have directed Hon Chinotimba to ask the Minister tomorrow.
HON. T. MLISWA: You cannot allow that to be on record. It cannot be a record. Hon Ziyambi you are Leader of Government Business, you must guide accordingly. You cannot make such a blanket statement on teachers, that they are all on the opposition payroll. We cannot. The teachers who are there – Clerk help them, it cannot be a blanket statement like that.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, please take
your seat.
HON. T. MLISWA: Are you saying that teachers are being paid by the opposition?
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE RESTORATION OF MOTIONS ON THE
ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam Speaker, in terms of Standing Order No 170, I seek leave of the House to restore the following notices of motion and Orders which were superseded by the end of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. The following Orders in the previous Order Paper pertaining to:
- the Report on Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission,
- Debate on the Motion - Second Reading of the Forest Amendment Bill.
- The Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill at the stage at which it was.
- Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 2) Bill at the stage at which it was.
I thank you Madam Speaker.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RESTORATION OF MOTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER
HON. ZIYAMBI: Madam Speaker, I move that the following motions which were superseded by the prorogation of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stage at which they were.
- The Report on Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the years 2018 to 2019.
- Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
- The Forest Amendment Bill.
- The Cyber Security and Data Protection Amendment Bill
- The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No 2 Bill.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Madam Speaker, I will recognise myself if she does not recognise me. This is our Parliament for us to contribute. If she does not recognise me, I will recognise myself.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, this is a
people’s Parliament and it has got some rules which governs it. Please, may you take your seat? I will recognise you first before you speak. You are aware that you cannot just speak before I recognise you.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. TOGAREPI: 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. We, the
Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe, desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer or respectful thanks for the speech which you have been pleased to address to Parliament HON. MHONA: I second.
HON. TOGAREPI:
COVID Pandemic
The President noted that the economy has faced a number of challenges caused by changing climatic conditions, sanctions and lately, the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic which no country had anticipated and whose effects were devastating both economically and socially.
I want to agree with the need to cooperation, discipline and resilience during these unprecedented times. Without unity of purpose and understanding the nature of our challenges, we will continue in this quagmire.
Re-opening of the economy
It is important that the country re-opens the economy to allow economic activity to resume. We need to grow the economy, hence the need to interact with the rest of the world.
National Development Strategy
We want to applaud the President for indicating that we are now moving into the First Five-Year National Development Strategy: 2021-2025 (NDS 1). It is important that we link the NDS1 and the 2021 National Budget for consistency.
Exports and foreign currency receipts
We are pleased that in spite of the global and local economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our exports increased by 4.9 per cent while our imports declined by 5.9%. In addition, foreign currency receipts appreciated by 18% as at end of August 2020.
The increased certification of new products by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe is another positive signal that our industry is indeed alive and that jobs are being created.
The trend of the positive trade balance will be sustained through increased productivity and exports across all sectors of the economy.
State Enterprises and Parastatal Reform
Parastatals need to reform in order to contribute to the socio economic development of our country. The dependence on Government hand-outs should be a thing of the past as parastatals should be able to contribute to GDP. Good corporate governance, accountability, transparency, productivity and profitability is essential in all State-owned entities in line with our Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.
Corruption
Corruption must go and go now. It knows no boundaries, be it private or public sector, political divide or religion. We need to fight corruption and those responsible should be brought to book.
Agriculture
The historic signing of the Global Compensation Agreement was very necessary as it demonstrates the commitment of our Government to follow and respect the Constitution and the rule of law and respect for property rights. This does not reverse the Land Reform Programme but actually consolidates it and brings finality to the historic Land Reform Programme. I would like to applaud many of our people who have embraced Pfumbvudza. In Gutu South Constituency preparations have been completed and inputs have arrived. We are only waiting for the rains to come.
Energy
I want to celebrate the efforts by Government to stabilize the electricity and fuel supplies. These are critical enablers of economic development. It is essential that we work on solar energy and electric cars.
Infrastructure
The efforts by Government to use our resources to construct roads should be commended. The construction of the Harare-Beitbridge Road should be a source of economic growth since it will enhance connectivity and facilitate greater economic trade within our country as well as the region as a whole.
Social Sectors
Food security
The Government, through its people-centred policies and vibrant social protection interventions, has ensured timely and appropriate interventions for the vulnerable and food insecure households.
Currently, over 700 000 households receive grain per month while others are benefiting from the cash-for-grain programme under the Urban Feeding Programme.
The Schools Feeding Programme is being resourced and over one million children will be assisted under the Basic Education Assistance Module.
Health
The government is undertaking reforms in the health service sector to improve accessibility and affordability of health and medicines for all our people. To mitigate the negative impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic,
Government availed ZW$18 billion Stimulus Package for the productive sectors, vulnerable social groups and provision of public services, especially health, water and sanitation.
Housing
Government is recapitalising the National Housing Fund and
Housing Guarantee Fund to facilitate housing delivery.
Unemployment Benefits
Consultations in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum are progressing well with regards to the establishment of an
Unemployment Benefit Fund. The fund will cover workers in case of retrenchment, or natural disasters which cause work stoppages.
Improvement of Working Conditions for government employees
The President assured the nation that Government takes note of the legitimate calls for better working conditions by our teachers, health workers and public service in general and is doing its best to ameliorate their concerns and improve their plight.
Engagement and re-engagement policy.
It is true that the illegal economic sanctions imposed are an albatross to our socio- economic development and growth, and must be removed unconditionally. As Zimbabweans, we are grateful to SADC, the African Union member states and many others who continue to echo the call to remove sanctions with us.
In the same vein, we should be proud of our security services for defending our peace. We salute these men and women for a job well done.
Legislative agenda
As Parliament, we should prepare ourselves through work plans to deal with the legislative agenda list (with 36 pieces of legislation) provided by the President. We need cooperation among stakeholders. I see this challenging but very achievable if we remove unnecessary bickering and aligning those laws will assist Government to achieve its reform agenda.
Call for Unity of Purpose
I would like to conclude by concurring with the President in reminding us all that first and foremost, we are Zimbabweans and that Zimbabwe is our only home and our motherland. All of us need to be partners in the new path towards a modern, prosperous and stronger Zimbabwe. A brighter future depends on all of us and that we are stronger when we believe and work hard to achieve our plans and vision. As Zimbabweans, we should always seek to promote our national interests in unity and love for the development and prosperity of our beloved country, in spite of our challenges and obstacles. I thank you.
*HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also want to thank the Speaker of the National Assembly. I want to thank the Chief Whip for the motion that he moved on the Presidential Speech on moving the country forward. Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe raised an issue on the covid-19 pandemic which globally has affected everyone. I want to thank him for all the efforts that he made and steps taken to try and contain the covid-19 pandemic. During that difficult time, so many vulnerable people and those with disabilities and others were faced with so many challenges.
We saw some of the Hon. Members extending a helping hand. Everyone joined hands to fight the covid-19 pandemic, which means that we had time to share the burden together as Zimbabweans.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the President that he adhered to the transitional stabilisation programme (TSP) which outlined the steps in terms of development. The period of TSP has now passed but I believe we have a programme that will show us the way forward. There are programmes that are put in place for the people in the communities and rural areas where we come from. Now that we are done with the transitional stabilisation programme, as we go back to our communities we should be able to inform them and they should be aware of the economic blueprint that we are going to be using in terms of development of the nation.
Madam Speaker, the President also talked about the issue that there are so many people who are getting land in these difficult times. Our challenge is yes, we have access to land – but there are others who do not have inputs. We know there are those who have land and are also privileged to get inputs and implements, but some do not have access to those. We want to thank the President for the Pfumvudza programme. There are some people who are getting farming inputs and they are selling them instead of engaging in agriculture and that distorts the programme laid by the President.
That is a point of concern Madam Speaker.
The President also highly commended the war veterans. We have those who held the gun, the detainees and the war collaborators.
They have now been recognised and are being assisted which is good. I think we need to move with speed so that they are given their compensation and given their due respect.
Madam Speaker, it is true our nation is experiencing economic challenges. I want to thank the mover of the motion that we are experiencing hardships because of the sanctions that have been imposed on Zimbabwe. What I commend the President for is that he acknowledged sanctions are affecting us but as Zimbabweans we must unite and work together and ensure that there is development in the country. Sometimes, if you are hurt you will lose sight of where you are going. It would be good that as Zimbabwe we unite and work together to ensure that we fight corruption which has greatly affected our nation.
The President also talked about the Bill for the youth. He said that it is time that we recognized our youngsters. We are not giving the youth a chance to get into Parliament or even attain the positions that we have. It would be good for us to ensure that we mentor them to ensure that they can take over and know that Zimbabwe belongs to them because we are aging and tomorrow we will not be here. Most of us have gone through half of our lives and what remains is that the young carry the torch. They need to be promoted. If we see those who are engaged in illegal mining, the ages are a sorry sight. You find young children below secondary school age – which means that it is going to be a challenge for Zimbabwe in the future.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for the time and opportunity you have given me to applaud the President for the roadmap that he gave us. For us to succeed there is need for unity. What it means is that we need to put our minds together and show love to one another. Yes, some of the words might be painful but we need to co-exist as the people of Zimbabwe. In conclusion, there is a proverb that says once you have given birth, you should know that the child is for the whole community. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. KHUPE: Madam Speaker, I rise to add my voice to the
State of Nation Address which was presented by His Excellency on Thursday last week. First of all, I would like to thank the Lord Almighty for affording me yet another opportunity to come to this august House as a Member of Parliament and Leader of the
Opposition –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – [HON. MADAM SPEAKER: Congratulations!] – [Hon. Chikwinya having walked out] – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
Madam Speaker, today I stand in front of this august House as a proud Leader of MDC-T and Leader of the Opposition in this Parliament. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all MDC-T members for the unconditional love they have given to me to this date. May the Lord Almighty bless them all. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay my condolences to all those who lost their beloved ones as a result of COVID-19. COVID-19 is real. It is an invisible enemy which strikes without you realising. It is therefore important that we adhere to the lockdown protocols and restrictions and they will save our lives.
I would like to begin by talking about the role of the opposition.
Our role is to question Government and hold them to account for their actions to the public. Our role is to represent the alternative government and therefore we are responsible for challenging Government policies and proffering solutions. Our role is to be the eyes and the ears of what the people are saying out there concerning their needs and aspirations and then come to this august House to raise those issues so that remedies and solutions are found and everyone has a better life.
My question Madam Speaker is have we been doing this? – [HON. MEMBERS: No!] – If we have not, then we have been letting the people of Zimbabwe down. I would like to assure Zimbabweans that going forward, we will make sure as MDC-T that we perform our representative, legislative and oversight roles to the best of our ability and knowledge. I would also like to state categorically that our purpose as MDC-T is not just about power and positions. Our purpose is about advancing the interests of the 14,6 million Zimbabweans so that they have a better life.
The sad reality is that for others, it is just about power and positions: for the reason that I did not get the power and position that I wanted, Parliament must not operate; because I did not get the power and position that I wanted, Zimbabwe must come to a standstill, because I did not get the power and position that I wanted the country must be burnt down – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, we are here to advance the interests of the 14,6 million Zimbabweans. We are here to represent them. Once elections have come and gone, it is important that we unite as a country, nation or people and advance the development across so that Zimbabwe becomes a developed country–[HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear.] –
Madam Speaker, let me move on. The President spoke about issues to do with development and I would like to define what development is. Development is the ability of a country to satisfy the needs of the people using its own resources. What are the basic needs that I am talking about? The basic needs are food, shelter, health, education, clean water and sanitation, energy, jobs and so forth.
These are the basic needs which are required by the 14, 6 million
Zimbabweans. In order for one to have these basic needs, the definition says it is the ability of the Government, using its own resources, to satisfy the needs of the people.
Where is the Government supposed to get these resources in order to satisfy the needs of the people? Government is supposed to get the resources largely from our mineral resources. Zimbabwe is a very rich country. We are endowed with enormous resources. Zimbabwe has got 60 minerals resources. We have got gold, platinum, diamond, nickel, methane gas and many more. Last time we heard that $15 billion from diamonds disappeared - [HON. T. MLISWA: Vakaba.] – This is the money which Government was supposed to use to satisfy the needs of the people. There is gold everywhere in Zimbabwe but unfortunately – [HON. T. MLISWA:
Inaudible interjection.] – There are gold leakages…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, order please!
HON. KHUPE: Hon. Mliswa, there are gold leakages as we speak right now. If we do not talk about these issues, who is going to talk about them? There are gold leakages Madam Speaker and this is the money which is supposed to be used to satisfy the needs of the people. . We have platinum and that is the money which is supposed to be used. We have methane gas in Lupane and we are told that this methane gas is the finest in the whole world. We are told that investors have come to try and invest in that methane gas but there are people who were given claims who are holding on to papers and they have not done anything since. When investors want to come and invest in this mineral, they are told there is somebody who is holding on to the paper.
As I said earlier on, our role is to challenge and proffer solutions. I would like to challenge the Minister of Mines right now to say Minister, can you please withdraw those papers from people who are not doing anything. Can you give claims to people who are going to do something because that methane gas is going to change our fortune as a country. That is the money which is going to be used to satisfy the needs of the people. I would like to challenge the Minister to say, within a few weeks we want see something happening in Lupane. We cannot allow money to remain underground, money which is supposed to satisfy the means of the people.
Madam Speaker, there is the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives. It was under my office when I was Deputy Prime Minister and I would like to challenge the Minister of Mines to say as
Zimbabwe, let us be looking at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives. This institution is going to help us because once you are a member, there is going to be transparency in the issuance of mining licences. There is going to be transparency in the mining of our mineral resources so that we know how much gold, diamonds, platinum and other minerals have been mined and it is going to make sure that we know how much these minerals have been sold for. It is going to make sure that we know how the money from the proceeds has been used because these are God-given resources. They do not belong to one person but they belong to all the 14.6 million Zimbabweans.
This is the money which is supposed to be used to satisfy the needs of the people. That is my plea. As we speak right now, there is a mismatch between the cost of living and salaries and my plea to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour is, please can you close that gap? Make sure that the cost of living matches salaries so that teachers, nurses and doctors perform their duties to the best of their knowledge and ability. Let us try and do this.
Madam Speaker, I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I believe in the word and I believe in biblical issues. Zimbabwe turned 40 years this year and I would like to equate it with the Bible where the
Israelites wondered in the desert for 40 years without food and water. They were going to the promised land where there was milk and honey. For me, I think this is it. Zimbabwe turned 40 years this year and this is it. I strongly believe that Zimbabwe is going to change and it is going to change for a better life for everyone because we have turned 40 years. We need to unite as a country for us to work together as a country and make sure that we push the development agenda so that everyone has a better life.
It is high time we move the people of Zimbabwe from the land of hunger and poverty to the land of plenty. We are a rich country and we have got enormous mineral resources yet there is nothing to show. This is the time to show we are a rich country, the time we change lives of our people and this is the time our fortunes are supposed to be changed as a country. Let us unite; we will do it, yes we can. The President spoke about Pfumvudza and I would also like to talk about issues to do with food security.
Madam Speaker, agriculture was the back-bone of this country.
It provided employment to 60% of Zimbabwe and incomes to 60% of Zimbabweans. Agriculture produced 60% of the raw materials required by the manufacturing industry. Agriculture contributed to 40% of export earnings – the foreign currency that we require. If agriculture was to operate at 100% of its normal productive capacity, our fortunes will change in this country and we will resolve more than 50% of our problems because it will absorb more than 60% of the workers. It is going to produce 60% of the raw materials required by the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing industry will start operating and it will employ more people. It will generate foreign currency and it will generate enough food for this country. Let us do
it.
Zimbabwe has the capacity to cultivate two million hectares of land using the 1000 water bodies that we have. If people do not know, we have got 1000 water bodies in this country and if we were to use those 1000 water bodies, we can irrigate two million hectares of land. It will be enough to give us food, foreign currency and create jobs for this country. Development is not rocket science. It is about copying what other people did. Development is about discovering what other people did. Look at Israel, all their crops are under drip irrigation.
I would like to challenge the Minister of Agriculture that, let us go for drip irrigation because with drip irrigation you use a small piece of land, little water but the yield is very high. Just one hectare – I did it and I am talking from experience because in 2010 I did just one hectare in front of my homestead, 100m by 100m. With one hectare if you grow maize, you will get between 7 to 10 tonnes of maize. This is enough food to feed 10 families for a whole year and with drip irrigation you can do three crops per year. People will have food and will have money to sustain a living with their families. I challenge the Minister of Agriculture – let us go for drip irrigation, it is going to change our fortunes.
Madam Speaker, corruption is a cancer which is the enemy of development and good governance. It is a cancer which is from the poor which is paid by the poor Madam Speaker and it is high time collectively, Government together with everyone else in this country, we unite and get up against corruption because every dollar stolen by a public official is a dollar stolen from a child who wants to go to school. Every dollar stolen by a public official is a dollar stolen from a pregnant woman who wants antenatal care. Every dollar stolen is a dollar stolen from communities who want clean water. So it is high time we gang up and fight this cancer called corruption.
I would like to call upon Government to say, can you please build strong watch dog systems in this country because without strong watch dog systems corruption becomes the foundation upon which it is built on. So let us make sure that we dismantle all foundations which allow corruption to exist and this Parliament has got a job to do because Madam Speaker, countries are not destroyed by those who do evil but countries are destroyed by those who watch those who do evil without doing anything. So as Parliament, let us not be one of those people who will watch those who do evil without doing anything. Let us gang up, let us fight corruption because corruption is our worst enemy. We are told that in the last five years $10 billion was lost through corruption. Let us deal with it Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, I would also like to talk about dealing with injustices. So many injustices have been committed. We have got Gukurahundi, we have got Murambatsvina. Madam Speaker, my plea is that as we deal with these issues, whatever processes are taking place right now, let us make sure that these processes are victim led because the victims are the ones who are feeling the pinch. They are the ones who know how the shoe is fitting.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Khupe, you are left
with five minutes.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Alright, I think I will finish. Madam Speaker, I was just saying with the injustices, let us make sure that whatever processes that are taking place, they must be victim led.
Constitutional realignment - Madam Speaker, we have got a good constitution in this country which has got an excellent bill of rights. Let us implement the Constitution to the letter and in the spirit in which it was written. Once we do that, every Zimbabwean will have the full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms. We have got so many issues that have been going on - alleged abductions and so on, all those disturbances. We have got section 210 which is in our Constitution which talks about an independent complaints mechanism. I would like to urge the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to ensure that he brings in a Bill to this Parliament for us to have an independent complaints mechanism where civilians are going to have an opportunity of sending their complaints to that body and their complaints are remedied.
Devolution of power, Madam Speaker - the President spoke about provincial councils. Devolution of power is very good because it will ensure that there is equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. It will facilitate for equal development in all the provinces, it will enhance unity in our diversity, and it will also enhance community participation and decision making for local development. This is why it is important that that Bill be brought to Parliament again as a matter of urgency so that provincial councils begin to operate.
Dialogue Madam Speaker, is very critical. Dialogue serves as a catalyst for national reconciliation. Dialogue, energises people to work together and hence the reason why after every election, we must expeditiously get out of the election mood and move forward towards the development agenda. Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members!
Order Hon. Mliswa please!
HON. DR. KHUPE: Madam Speaker, I am about to finish. It is important as a country that we collectively deal with the toxicity of hate. Let us uproot weeds of hate and plant seeds of love. Let us practice values of love, peace and reconciliation as a country. We want enduring and lasting peace in this country. We want Zimbabwe to be a treasury of peace, progress and prosperity, but we can only do this if we unite as a country and start to speak with one voice and start singing from the same hymn book for the sake of the 14.6 million Zimbabweans because these are the people we are representing in this
House.
Madam Speaker, I would like to challenge leaders; that as leaders, let us be transformative leaders, leaders who are going to move away from advancing their own personal interests and move forward for the common good. Let us all work towards the common good and the common good is a better life for every Zimbabwean.
I would like to say this Madam Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition I am going to be dialoguing with the President for a better life for everyone – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – and Madam Speaker, I know that there are people who have the notion that whoever dialogues with the President is selling out and like I said earlier on I am going to be dialoguing for a better life for all – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order!
HON. DR. KHUPE: Madam Speaker, I would like to say this because it is important. If those who think that dialoguing with the President is selling-out and I said I am going to be dialoguing for a better life, then let me be a sell-out, but I will deliver a better life to everyone at the end of the day – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, like I said, ‘united we stand and divided we fall’. Let us unite as a country and move forward together for the good of every Zimbabwean.
Madam Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying there is not even a single person who was born poor. Every person was born with their own potential but people are poor because of institutions that are built, people are poor because of systems that are created and people are poor because of policies that are formulated. Madam Speaker, I would call upon Government to build good strong institutions to create good systems of governance, to formulate investor friendly policies so that we return Zimbabwe to its former glory that of being the bread basket of Africa; that of being the jewel of Africa and that of being the envy of the whole world. That is what we want. I would like to call upon all investors to come and invest in this country because Zimbabwe is a good investment destination – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Zimbabwe has got hard working people, it has got educated people, good soils, we have the best weather on this planet, we have mineral resources and investors will get value for their money Madam Speaker. So, I am calling on all of them to come.
Lastly, on the issue of sanctions Madam Speaker...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member your
time is up.
HON. MASHAKADA: Madam Speaker, I move that the time
for the Hon. Member be extended by 10 minutes.
HON. T. MLISWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. KHUPE: Madam Speaker, on sanctions, when sanctions
were imposed, we all knew that one day we will want sanctions to go. No one said they wanted sanctions to remain permanently. Right now there is a call that sanctions must go but the problem that we have is that we are not speaking with one voice. I have a proposal that as
Parliament, can you please organise a workshop for all Members of Parliament where you will bring experts who will talk about the cost of sanctions, effect of sanctions on the economy and livelihoods so that we all have the same understanding and we start singing from the same hymn book and speak the same language. I am proposing that that workshop be held and after the workshop, I believe that we are going to be speaking with one voice that sanctions must go Madam
Speaker. I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear. Khupe!
Khupe!] –
*HON. MADIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I want to take
this opportunity to add my views to the debate on the State of the Nation Address presented by His Excellency the President as he opened the Third Session of Parliament. Firstly Madam President, I am deeply concerned and also happy especially if I have to speak after the leader of the opposition. We want to applaud her for that especially the fact that it has been said by a female. I am happy that it has been fully revealed that for a home to succeed, it is because of a woman. If we look at our economy, for example looking at 2008 when people experienced extensive hardships, the women through the informal sector kept the nation running as they were doing all sorts of activities like cross border trading.
The leader of the opposition did well and her words were full of wisdom as the leader of the opposition. Madam Speaker, women experience a lot of hardships. It is not easy to carry a baby for nine months and then after giving birth to a child you see that child suffering. We would not want to see our children suffer. She talked about the issue of unity and the issue of engagement and reengagement, that we need to dialogue, that is what His Excellency the President said. It has been reiterated again. It is my first time in
Parliament. I do not know yet what exactly happens in Parliament and I thought normally there is no agreement but I have realised that people can work together.
His Excellency the President talked about the issue of energy, tourism and agriculture which means that His Excellency the President has a vision to ensure that the country develops and to protect our country. On the issue of energy, we need to strengthen our initiatives on renewable sources of energy, the issues of hydro and solar energy. We must ensure that our country has enough energy and also to assist the women who mostly use different sources of energy for cooking.
His Excellency the President also talked about housing delivery to the people and building houses for Zimbabweans. This project has already begun. His Excellency the President also talked about recapitalisation of the housing fund. This is delight to us because when looking at Zimbabwe and other countries where we visit, we realise that Zimbabweans are very particular about where they live and they want decent accommodation. His Excellency the President has a vision that as we proceed, all Zimbabweans should have decent accommodation.
Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President spoke on the conditions of service for civil servants that needs to be addressed. You cannot solve issues in a day. We are looking at where we are coming from and where we are going. In this new dispensation, even the houses that we stay in, some people have not even finished building their homes because it is a process. So we need to understand and see that we are in the process of rebuilding our nation. No president wants to lead a country full of suffering people. It is not only one department of Government but the welfare of all civil servants is going to be addressed to ensure that they get a decent wage.
His Excellency the President also mentioned about the legislative agenda and he talked about the Bills. Out of 39 in the last session, only 10 were mentioned. We are hoping that as Parliament we will do our work as expected. What I actually appreciated from His Excellency the President to show that he has his people at heart is he talked about the following Bills; the ratification of the
MINAMATA Convention. Mr. Speaker Sir, MINAMATA
Convention talks about mercury. We hope that this House will quickly ratify this convention. There are other Bills that were mentioned by the President that will enable Parliament to look on issues of mandatory sentencing for rape and also how this will work. The Bill will also ensure that all perpetrators of rape are given a deterrent sentence, even up to 100 years in jail because this is a serious crime. With these few words, I want to thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
*HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to add my voice to the motion that was raised by Hon. Togarepi in light of the State of the Nation Address. Firstly, I want to talk about what the President said in terms of climate change, that has given us foresight to look at irrigation schemes that are no longer in use in our rural areas to ensure that they are resuscitated to ensure food security. He also gave us a foresight into the Pfumvudza Programme and it has been well received.
The President also talked about sanctions. Sanctions have affected every family, be it those in the ruling party or opposition party. I was happy that the Leader of the Opposition also called for the removal of sanctions. The President also talked about the stability of the currency. Since the introduction of the auction system rate, it has stabilised the prices and there is some form of stability.
His Excellency also mentioned about corruption. No one likes corruption and we are happy that the President said that noone is above the law and we see that happening. People are being arrested, be it law enforcers, even at Local Government level. So we applaud the President for that. Our President is a listening President and he has realised that people are experiencing hardships. He then looked at better working conditions, especially teachers and civil servants in general and also ensures that the concerns of the teachers were addressed.
He also talked about the re-opening of schools and the issue of BEAM. The President is aware that children from vulnerable families need to go to school. So, he said the Government is ensuring that when schools re-open, children will be able to get food at school. The President also talked about devolution. I am sure we see what is happening in councils in rural areas. There is progress in terms of development in our constituencies.
In conclusion, I want to say that our President has got the people at heart because soon, he is bringing in the Children’s Bill. It is going to give the Judiciary the powers to ensure that those who abuse children, especially abuse in the form of child labour are prosecuted. Recently we debated about the murder of a child. If this Bill is passed into law, it will bring stern punishment for those who abuse children.
I thank you.
HON. MGUNI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is my pleasure and great honour to be offered this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech. I would like to support the motion which was moved by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mhona. First of all, allow me to mention that I am in this august House through the legacy that was left behind by my husband, Hon. O. H. Mguni. – [HON. MEMEBRS: Hear, hear.] – therefore all propositions and aspiration of the people of Mangwe Constituency and Zimbabweans as a whole are based on his line of thinking. We may differ and there, but looking into the future, I have seen that times are changing as we embrace technology but I am confident that I will continue empowering women just like he did.
I will be focusing on development on small enterprises and promoting trust based projects so that his community can generate sustainable incomes. We appeal to the Government to spearhead infrastructural development, roads, electricity, housing, health and water supply in order to ensure smooth running of projects. We applaud the Government for the Vision 2030 with digital knowledge driven economy.
In his State of the Nation Address and Official Opening of the
Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on 1st October, 2019, His Excellency of the Second Republic Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa, assured the Parliament and Zimbabweans at large that Vision will be a reality with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (PSP) as the key building block. Last week in his SONA speech, His Excellency once again reminded us that we are stronger when we work together, hence the need for unity of purpose – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – He also reiterated that we all need to partner by being thorough as Zimbabweans on a new modern and prosperous path. I urge all of us to take heed, especially as Parliamentarians – we must be at the forefront.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Mangwe Constituency is dominated by women since the men and youths have migrated to South Africa and Botswana for greener pastures. It is my sincere hope that women are incorporated in building the economy hence eradicating the dependency syndrome. When I say, women, I am not just mentioning the urban women but rural women as well affected by feminization of poverty, because they also have a role to play in all this.
COVID-19 has increased the vulnerability of most women who bear the brunt of fending for the family and household. I am aware of projects currently running such as distributing of funds for women to manufacture soap, candles and bake bread amongst other activities.
Let us use those initiatives to cover all constituencies Mr. Speaker Sir.
The 2019/2020 cropping season was characterised by low rainfall, resulting in reduced area planted and poor germination. We hope that 2020/2021 farming season will be better. People are succumbing to the ravages of hunger due to those after effects and the current state of the economy. Mangwe has 73.2% poverty prevalence and urgently need assistance from the Grain Marketing Board and all the other organisations which can offer food relief to the people.
Duty free importation of fertilizers was positively welcome. We are looking forward to the programme of dipping chemicals in order to improve generally animal husbandry practices. Hon. Speaker, dissemination of information should be addressed by availing relevant media to play that role. The general public need to be updated on matters of devolution. The layman also needs to be equipped about
the ongoing of the processes. Let there be statements, press releases and other documentation on the progress made so far and also outlining the future plan.
Let us work hard and be united for a common goal of attaining Middle Income Economy by 2030. Let us put our partisan differences aside so that we can build the prosperous Zimbabwe that everyone desires. Let us all say no to corruption, let us all commit to rebuilding of our nation as one people.
Lastly, I would like to openly denounce the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West. These sanctions are illegal and they are hurting every sector of our economy and affecting growth. They are indeed “weapons of mass destruction” which should be condemned by every peace-loving and patriotic Zimbabwean. I thank you.
*HON. PRISCILA MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Togarepi, seconded by Hon. Mhona. The address presented by the President showed the progress in our country and it showed commitment in terms of execution of duties. Personally I want to give my condolences for the loss of Hon. Joosbi Omar. Mwenezi has lost a cadre when we least expected. I want to say to relatives and friends on the loss of Hon. Omar, we worked well together and his untimely death is painful. I have risen to debate, yes, but I am in pain because of this loss.
I want to add my voice to the SONA. I want to applaud the President for the work that is being done in the rehabilitation of roads, not just the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway but the whole of Zimbabwe. We want to thank the President for his vision. I hope in the next few years our children will be impressed and made happy by the work done by us in this House as we are the ones leading development through leadership of the President.
In our different communities, challenges are being faced as a result of COVID-19. Globally it has affected all countries, as a way of life for people has been affected including working life. So there was regression in terms of progress. Despite these hardships, we witnessed the increase in health facilities, considering the economic challenges Zimbabwe is facing, especially after Cyclone Idai. Even in Mwenezi, Cyclone Idai affected us, though not as bad as in Chimanimani. So with such a background of challenges then you see the country moving forward, we thank God that the President continues to receive strength to lead the country. The Mwenezi Constituency is excited and happy with the rehabilitation of roads as we have witnessed construction never seen in the past years. It is all because of our excellent leader President E. D. Mnangagwa.
We also applaud the reopening of schools even though there are concerns that children can get the virus. I want to urge us parents to ensure that our children are protected by being given the relevant protective gears. In Mwenezi we are raising awareness. We gave them masks and some served to prevent contracting the virus because this pandemic knows no colour or status. We are thankful for the opening of schools and that teachers and children are adjusting in terms of co-existing with the pandemic that will not go away soon.
We want to urge teachers that even in this august House, no one is getting enough remuneration. The whole nation is affected because of the challenges. If they do not go to work, we will have an uneducated nation leading to crime and other immoral behaviour. For them to be leaders, it is through education. If the President says children should return to school, we need to adhere.
Let me talk about unity, without unity we are sowing wrong seeds for our children. We need to be tolerant of diverse views of each other because we are all Zimbabweans. The President promoted the need for unity, and for us to have foresight that though we may differ, the nation has to progress and not to consider everything as bad, even the good. This House has elderly people who look up to us.
I want to thank the President and his vision will be achieved. I want to add that I am happy with the address. I thank you.
*HON. MAVHENYENGWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for
awarding me this opportunity to debate the motion on the words of the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, President of
Zimbabwe and the Opening of the Third Session of the 9th Parliament. I also want to thank Hon Togarepi who raised the motion which was supported by Hon Mhona.
I want to say a few words, especially on the issue of sanctions and corruption. Sanctions are there but there are some people who say there are no sanctions. As representatives of the people in rural constituencies where we come from, I have noted with great concern that that is where the impact of sanctions is. Sanctions do not look at colour or political party because sanctions affect a lot of people in rural and urban areas.
People in the rural areas are failing to get money to go to grinding mills or transport money because of sanctions imposed on our country. Zimbabwe is now unable to get credit or investors from other countries in order to do projects which encourage growth of our economy. The sanctions which we are talking about, there are some people who when we denounce that sanctions must be removed, they say sanctions must be added and you wonder if this person is a Zimbabwean. The way they talk about sanctions seems as if that those people and their relatives have another way of surviving which is different from the ways being experienced by other people to survive in Zimbabwe.
I think the Government must enact a law that anyone who talks bad things or lobbies for sanctions for our country must face the full wrath of the law. I think that the Bill must be urgently introduced to this august House and we are going to support it - people in this country are suffering because of these sanctions. Therefore, I would like to thank the President for his 2030 vision. We also thank SADC, African Union and other countries which are outside the African Continent for helping us and supporting us on the issue of denouncing and removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe. Sanctions have been a thorn in the flesh for us for a very long period in this country.
In the new dispensation that we are in right now, His
Excellency showed that he has different leadership from what used to be there because he is doing a lot of reforms, some of them have always been talked about in this august House. Some laws are also being amended in order to focus on things which are expected to bring peace and harmony in the country.
The President brought laws like Access to Information. These laws came in this country and amendments were done, which was one of the issues discussed by those who say sanction must remain.
President Mnangagwa continues to resolve these things which need attention but someone does not see how the President is trying to solve and that person says continue to put sanctions so that the people of Zimbabwe suffer. So we are saying that those people who say these words show that they are not true sons and daughters of Zimbabwe, but they have other people who they are working for and live luxuriously while the rest of Zimbabweans suffer. Sanctions have badly affected even Members of Parliament who are in this august House, businessmen who have shops in this country were also badly affected and everyone else, especially those in the rural areas.
We see this because we live with people and see how they are suffering. Therefore, I am saying sanctions must go and I also thank some Hon. Members who have the same vision. I have seen a great change in Parliament today whereby most of the Hon. Members from both sides want to see their country progressing. However, there are some people who do not want to see their country developing. His Excellency, the President came in this House talking about the progress and programme of the country and some Hon. Members from the opposition walked away as we saw in this House today. We also heard them talking about the way forward in terms of developing our nation and removal of these sanctions.
These Opposition Members talked about unity. Yes, we can have different views in politics, but we must be united for the country to move forward. Therefor, Mr. Speaker, this must remain as it is since the Members from the other side have seen the vision that the country cannot be built by the ruling party alone. We build the country if we are united as the wish of our President E.D Mnangagwa who encourages peace, unity and building our country.
Sanctions were imposed on our nation so for one to say they were put for a few people - it is a lie, because few people are not the ones suffering but the ones who are suffering are the general public of the country. So I am saying sanctions must be removed.
On the issue of corruption, I thank His Excellency, E.D Mnangagwa, he is always on record saying corruption must end in this country. If you engage in corruption, the president will not stand by you. We see this even with the Ministers, the President said let any Minister face the full wrath of the law and send them to the courts of law.
This shows that he is a true and good leader who does not want corruption to be found in the country. Corruption causes a lot of problems, it kills the economy and disturbs everything. Corruption heavily affects someone in the rural areas because elders say if two elephants fight; the grass is heavily affected, meaning the least person is the one who feels the pain the most. So I am saying we as people’s representatives in Parliament are denouncing corruption and every person who has done corruption , we are saying as
Parliamentarians, this person must be arrested and face the law. We do not want anyone who says I have this position I am above the law - no. The President said no one is above the law and everyone must face the wrath of the law if he or she is corrupt. As the representative of Zaka North constituency, I support what the President said that everyone who is corrupt must be arrested.
On the issue of farming, I want to thank the President of
Zimbabwe, Cde. Mnangagwa. He introduced to us “Pfumvudza” programme, Presidential input scheme and command agriculture. All those things are the programmes which are being done by the President to make sure that there is enough food security in the country. The speaker who debated previously said the important thing is food security. The President has very good vision. He had imported combine harvesters, tractors and other farming implements. We are encouraging people so that we can add more irrigation schemes, especially in the rural areas like Zaka and other areas where there is low rainfall. We have big dams like Tokwe-Murkosi and Kyle. I heard about the programme being done by the Government to have 200 hectares under irrigation in every district. Government must fulfill this promise so that in all rural areas where we come from, people have enough food. This is the issue which causes disunity and lack of peace in different areas. If people get enough food, we leave everything to the Government to solve the issue of economics.
In agriculture, our Government must address the issue of irrigation, especially in the rural areas. On commercial farms, I was talking with my colleague sitting there and we said that if we have about 600 hectares and maize is planted properly, we can get enough grain for the country for the whole year. The Government must look at it properly, combine the hectares and give those farmers enough inputs and irrigation facilities so that they can farm under the monitoring and supervision of Government to ensure that they deliver their grain to GMB.
In rural areas where we come from, we have issues in schools. We also faced the challenges of COVID-19. School children in towns managed to learn because they have access to ICT but in rural areas there is nothing like that. We have the elderly who look after orphans. They have got small phones which are not compatible to internet and WhatsApp. It therefore means that these children are lagging behind while children in towns are going forward. We are encouraging the Government to install network transmitters, electricity and computers in all schools in rural areas so that the children can also benefit. Even if the grandparents have got a phone which is not compatible to internet, the child can go to school and use the materials at school. Some lessons were conducted on radio but others do not have radios. We are therefore encouraging that in rural areas, these things must be put in schools and information centres so that children can use them free of charge.
I come from Zaka and I pass through Masvingo. The Beitbridge – Chirundu Road is being re-constructed. If you travel through the road you can see that the road is at its best. Most parts of the road are now in good state and if this project is completed, you will see that this is one of the major projects that have been done by the new dispensation. When the new dispensation came in, it saw it fit that this road must be refurbished because it is a very important road which can bring in a lot of money to the country. The money will help in the development of the country. I am saying what is being done by the President using our local currency to develop the country and using local companies, we are saying this is a very good thing because we are using our local resources for our country to develop. On the issue of roads, the Government must continue to go into our rural areas. Our roads were re-graveled long back. The roads must be graded and re-graveled so that the roads can be easily accessible. We are encouraging the Government to go to the rural areas and repair the roads because the state of the roads is not good. It is difficult to carry food to the people.
We also thank our President, His Excellency, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa because of the programme that he has put forward of constructing clinics. In my constituency, there are wards that do not have clinics. People travel 20 to 30 kilometres to seek medication but through the programme and the devolution funds, in my constituency, there are two new clinics that are being constructed. It will reduce the distance which was travelled by people to go and look for health services. I am appealing for the clinics to be built at least two clinics per ward. This is because some wards are too big; so even if we put a clinic at the centre, people still travel long distances. We are encouraging the Government to build at least two clinics in each ward.
The last issue I want to talk about is the issue of schools. School children are going to school but the problem is teachers are not teaching. A student from Chitonhora in Zaka phoned me saying that when they arrive at school, the school head tells the students to go back home because there are no teachers. We are encouraging teachers to go back to school and teach children. When they go to do teaching practice, they take the oath that they are going to teach students. Right now, they are striking. They want parents to pay them for private lessons so that they can teach the children. It shows that education is now for the rich. For school children from rural areas who cannot afford the extra lessons, it means those children are lagging behind while others are going forward. We are saying, while Government is preparing the issue to do with teachers salaries, the teachers must go back to school and teach the children. Before I sit down, sanctions and corruption must go. Thank you.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir, for giving me this time to add my voice to what His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe said to the nation. I also want to thank His Excellency the President for addressing the nation on several issues that were so befitting. It was a lengthy rendition but it was full of knowledge. Before I get into what I want to say, I want to applaud the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Dr. Khupe for what she said to us this afternoon. Now we are in Parliament where the ruling party and the opposition seem to have one vision – working in oneness, togetherness and forwardness.
In his address to the nation, His Excellency spoke about agriculture as a backbone to the nation’s economy and at length he spoke about the introduction of Pfumvudza which is being said all over the country. In my constituency Makoni North, it is at full throttle. Almost everyone is in the field implementing what the President said, taking heed to what the President said and almost everyone is trying to do the Pfumvudza business. I want to applaud the President under this Pfumvudza, that almost all people who prepared their fields received their seeds and compound fertilizers. At the GMB at Chendambuya we still await for people when they finish to prepare their fields, compound D and seed is there. The President is meeting his target and I want to applaud the President for that.
The President spoke about this deadly pandemic Covid-19, how it drew back our economy in this country. He also applauded the people of Zimbabwe when they listened to what he said that they stay at home and wear their masks. Even today if you notice, it is difficult to walk without a mask. The day when they are going to say no more masks, I do not know what it will become of us. I think I will remove mine when I see that everyone has no mask in Zimbabwe. I am so used to it. People in Zimbabwe took heed of what the President said. Some people might think that we do not listen to the President but look at it, the whole nation at large took heed and we were able to control this pandemic in this country because we listened and gave an ear to what His Excellency said. I want to applaud that.
I also want to thank the security sector for assisting the President in trying to control movement and putting laws in place so that this pandemic would not spread. COVID-19 is there and it is real.
It is a deadly disease and if you do not take heed you will die. The President spoke about unity. Unity is one thing of paramount importance. If you are not united you will not achieve anything. If you get back to the Bible a type of animal that is so united is the ant. They can build a very big anthill but look at how small they are. Very small but they are united. If you just take a look at them they give way at each other – this one is going there, the other one is going that side and they build like that. In Zimbabwe, like what the President was saying, let us be united. His words were; let us move this journey together as Zimbabweans, as one nation. Who are you to dispute what Zimbabweans want? If you want to go and stay in America, you go there. We are Zimbabweans and we will remain Zimbabweans and we will die in Zimbabwe. So, the President spoke a lot about unity across the divide so that we become one.
The President spoke about industry. Some may not want to say it but several industries were opened in Zimbabwe and investors have come. Take for instance the tile industry in Norton. It was not there. It became because the President opened Zimbabwe for business. Industries were opened and we applaud that in his speech. Land belongs to the people of Zimbabwe. Words may vary in what we think and interpret but our President is firm on the fact that there is no land that is going to be taken away from the black Zimbabwean and we must applaud that. He is our President and I want to believe as I used to do before that he is a man who sticks to his word.
Let me talk about the road infrastructure in the country. I have travelled to Masvingo. The road is being done very well. If you are going to Bulawayo the roads are being done. Let me say to my
President, I am a Member of Parliament who comes from Makoni North Constituency and I want to say that, maybe it is the only constituency in Zimbabwe which does not have a centimeter of a tarred road. It is all dust. I want to turn an eye to some constituencies out there so that this move of road infrastructure can also reach to the remote constituencies out there like Makoni North Constituency. I know he can do it because he has done it in some constituencies.
I want to applaud the President for the issue of war veterans and I will say it in passing - for also considering the young people so that they can take part in what is happening in the country. I also want to say I believe young people are tomorrow’s leaders and they must be nurtured to become good leaders of tomorrow. New brooms sweep clean so they say but an old one knows all the corners of the room. That is the end of the proverb. If we leave the country to the young they will sweep very clean but we need the old madhalas to show them the dirt around the corners and then the country will move forward. Gender equality and equity, the President spoke about that. I support gender equality. We are all human, we are equal and we must be put at the same footing.
Lastly, let me speak about devolution. The decentralisation of power to local authorities so that they can be able to decide what to do on their own is a noble idea. That is the type of father that we have who decentralises power to the bottom, the local government, local authority and to someone in the village to exercise power and develop from there. That is what the President says about devolution. If you do not develop with the resources that you have then it is up to you. I also want to applaud the President for shunning corruption.
Corruption is a cancer, it stings and it must be eradicated in Zimbabwe once and for all. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Togarepi who brought this motion regarding the State of the Nation Address. Let me also thank Hon. Mhona for seconding the motion. I also want to thank His Excellency, the President of
Zimbabwe for presenting the State of the Nation address on Thursday. We thank God who is in Heaven who gave him good health, and the strength and fortitude to address without drinking even a glass of water. We thank God for that and let us applaud him. Let me also commend Hon. Khupe for noting that the President’s Vision 2030 is a good vision. Our country is a good country. The President touched all sectors of the economy, the construction of dams, road infrastructure and other sectors. So, the Leader of the Opposition said we should not tamper with his presidency but to allow him to go through until even 2030. The Leader of the Opposition said she does not even qualify or stand against the fact that he be given the opportunity to go on to 2030. This Parliament must have such a vision. We need to look at issues that way and we should have that perspective. We are told that divided we fall but united we stand. This means that even detractors from outside the country who have been resisting such good things have also watched this on television. Now they understand that this House has a different perspective.
As one of the liberation fighters, President Mnangagwa understands the plight of the veterans of the struggle because we have been remembered. It was not easy to go for training but you would just go even without being told to go. All these veterans of the struggle experienced these challenges but they were not bothered about them. Now the President has said war veterans should benefit. Those who went to count the number of enemies without even using weapons should also receive these benefits. Those who were detained are also going to benefit. The benefits might differ but all these have been recognised by the law. This is a result of the law that was put in place by President E. D. Mnangagwa the President of Zimbabwe. The other issue that was mentioned is that the President had a vision which he presented during the State of the Nation Address.
Even today we still have our masks as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and is here to stay. We now understand what COVID-19 is. The President also spoke about the Minamata Convention which is a big thing and might be a time bomb if not addressed properly. There is a certain town in Japan called Minamata which perished when people were eating fish. People reacted differently to the fish. Some could not give birth or their fertility was affected. This is a disease that does not have a vaccine and that is why the President learnt from other countries that we need to find methods of purifying our gold. The Minamata Convention is a Bill that should go through Parliament so that we identify what other countries are doing. We also want to appreciate and commend the President for appointing capable Ministers who are doing a good job. Actually, there is competition among the Ministers and you would see that they are outdoing each other in doing good things. We have seen this in different areas, for example in my constituency Buhera North, people used to walk for long distances to get their identity cards but now we have a resident office which was opened by Hon. Kazembe and my constituency is very happy with the new development. The office of the Vice President, Hon. Mohadi donated a big cage of fish (30,000) for our dams which was brought to the constituency. This means that our residents have been empowered with income generating projects. I also want to thank the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises headed by Hon. Nyoni. We have seen a lot of residents benefitting from her Ministry, some doing different income generating projects. I also want to thank His Excellency through the First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa who has gone around the country developing and emancipating women. A lot of women have identified their needs and have been assisted by the First Lady. A lot of constituencies have been grouped together so that they can benefit from such projects.
We have also seen the girl child benefitting from the First Lady’s efforts in Buhera North and other areas. A good job is being done in these areas and we have seen this especially in young girls who have benefited through sanitary wear. The First Lady is doing a good job just as the President is also doing a good job. My desire is that God should add more years to their lives.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would also like to commend the National Assembly for observing a minute of silence when we started to honour the late Hon. Member. We do not need to segregate between the old and the young and let me say that people like myself who are old, when we get things like our Parliament vehicles, if possible, first priority should be given to the elders because we are prone to die any time as we never fall sick but just drop dead. I thank you.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir for
giving me this time to also add a few points on the State of the Nation Address. Let me also begin by paying tribute to our late Hon.
Member of Parliament, Hon. Joosbi Omar and say that May His Soul Rest in Peace and also realise that whilst we are here, life is vanity. It teaches us that we should love each other very much even as we deliberate in this House.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to give special thanks to the mover of this motion, Hon. Togarepi and the seconder, Hon. Mhona and also pay special thanks to Hon. Dr. Khupe for debating in detail on this motion. It was very enriching and convincing. We thank her so much for all she has contributed – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the President of the
Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for showing us very good leadership qualities. This reminds me of what one great African writer, Chinua Achebe said, that everything rises and falls on leadership. Meaning that everything that we do here – we are talking about so many developments that happen in this country, they all point to the good leadership of His Excellency. He is also a listening President as he always says and he also leads by example. I also like what he says that, the voice of the people is the voice of God. So we are debating here and appreciating the good work that he does which means that we are the voice that is also appealing to what the Lord has done. We are saying and confessing that he is also a good leader, so may the Lord bless him with more years as he leads this country.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we thank him for everything that he has done. We have just opened the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament. Three years in leadership and we appreciate the work that he has done which could have been done in more than a decade by some people. What we failed to accomplish in 38 years, we have done it in two to three years. So, we appreciate all these things and the great work that he is doing.
Let me speak about the issue that he also spoke about, the issue of devolution and the decentralisation policy. This is a very welcome development which we have seen and witnessed in this new dispensation. It has completely changed the lives of our people in the rural areas and even urban centers. I also want to appreciate the issue that this concept speaks a lot to equality and equity. It speaks to the issue of equitable distribution of resources. So no one will be left behind and no area in Zimbabwe will be left behind because of this concept of devolution. So, we want to appreciate and thank His Excellency for introducing this policy of devolution.
We have been receiving funds for devolution and this year around, I thought with the negative impact of COVID-19, I thought that we were not going to receive anything on devolution because so many funds were channeled to mitigating and eradicating this scourge. To my greatest surprise, we are continuing to receive funds for devolution. To me, this is a sign of good governance. So, we want to thank the President for releasing these funds and changing the lives of people as schools, hospitals, clinics you name it are being built.
So, it is a life changer and we believe that the President’s vision to be a middle income economy by 2030 is going to be met because we are already seeing the fruits of these endeavors.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also talk about the issue of food production. We have seen great strides by His Excellency in Command Agriculture, we have seen so much done. In the mechanisation project that other Hon. Members have already alluded to, of late, we have seen the issue of this concept of Pfumvudza which in my view, is a very well calculated model of production that is backed by empirical evidence. I think there have been a lot of mathematical calculations in this whole concept because it is based on the issue that if so much is given to our peasant farmers and all other people – we use so much in empowering them to produce. If we do not do that, we will spend so much more than what we give them.
So, what the President is giving to the people is based on the calculations that we will produce more and if we produce more, it means that we are going to save more from the social fund. This means that if this concept works as it should, then a lot of revenue is going to be collected by the Government and it is not going to spend more money in social packages. Meaning the money is going to be diverted to other developmental projects. I also appreciate what the President spoke about on the Presidential Horticultural Scheme and to me, this is a new concept. I had never heard about this – so this is innovation, which the President is giving in – the Presidential Horticultural Scheme which is aimed at giving more space to rural communities and capacitating them. This is a very welcome development and we hope that this project is going to be a game changer for all our people in the rural areas. We thank the President and also request that whilst the President launches this Presidential Horticultural Scheme, he should also try and open markets for the projects. I have witnessed that back home there is a tendency of flooding of some of the inputs. I have seen flooding of tomatoes, cabbages and so on in rural communities.
I would like to thank the President because recently we have seen new appointments of ambassadors to the DRC, Zambia and so on. We thank them because when we listen to part of their mandates, they were talking about opening up new markets for the country. They have to augment this great move by the President of the horticultural scheme so that when more produce is given by the people, they also open up markets so that we do not flood and end up giving our products to animals. I would like to thank the President for this innovation.
Let me also move to the other aspect which the President talked about – the mining sector progress. I would like to thank Hon. Khupe because she talked about many salient points on this issue with regards to the eradication of corruption. As we all know that the President is targeting a 12 billion mining sector by 2023, this has to be supported and there are so many loopholes which have to be closed in terms of safeguarding the produce.
The President also spoke about the need to expedite amendments to the Mineral Mining Bill which he said should lead to the amendments of the Precious Stones and the Gold Trade Act. We appreciate this move because having these amendments also point to the move to try to eradicate corruption. Of late, we have been hearing a lot of leakages of gold. It is said that maybe the gold which is sold formally is less than the gold which goes via other unscrupulous means. We appreciate that the President is trying to make sure that he plugs in some loopholes to all the leakages to do with corruption in the trade of the precious stones and gold.
Whilst the President is talking about the need to eradicate corruption, Hon. Khupe talked about the need to ensure that
Zimbabwe joins Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
This is very critical because when the President talked about closing all loopholes to do with corruption than when we are talking about the mining sector, we cannot achieve this if we do not join this Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. Thank you so much Hon. Khupe for talking in detail about this issue.
Let me just buttress or add a few points about this initiative. Basically, this initiative talks about the need to promote good governance and also to eliminate corruption, conflicts and poverty.
We are seeing these things – we are talking about machetes and so on. These are conflicts within the mining sector. When we are talking about the need to join this, it is very critical. Let me point out that in this financial year, the Hon. Minister of Finance budgeted for something towards Zimbabwe joining EITI. We have to interrogate this to ensure whether this was done. If it was not done, we need to know why it was not done because fighting corruption is very critical.
This initiative is concerned with revenue and payments by companies and also revenues received by the Government. It opens the whole issue of transparency. We have heard and seen companies saying that they are giving so much to community projects. They talk of maybe a million which they plough back to communities but the question we should ask is, they are giving a million out of how much? How much have they made from that resource if they are giving a million? We do not know. A million may seem to be a lot of money but it may be very little if they were making declarations of how much revenue they collected from the mining of that mineral. I am just saying that it is very critical to push and ensure that we join EITI.
It also talked about the awarding of licences and contracts. At the moment, there is a loud cry about the EPOs, special grants and so on; which is a grey area. However, if we join transparency, everything becomes transparent and we will assist in fighting corruption. There is also an issue of gender impacts in mining. This is a very critical area because we are very much aware that women are also involved in mining but they also need to be capacitated and given their fair share. They also need protection in view of all these conflicts that I am talking about. The issue of gender – we are talking about the issue of parity, gender equity which is very critical in mining if we join EITI.
There is also the issue of environmental impact to do with mining. At the moment there are conflicts with the farmers and the miners are fighting against each other. His Excellency talked about the Minamata Convention with regards to the issue of environment and protection of human life. As my colleagues have already said, the President was talking about the need to get rid of mercury, which is very dangerous and has far reaching consequences, some of which are not very easy to discern or see in the near future. They will have far reaching impacts. The President talked about the need to quickly ratify this convention. Zimbabwe has already signed in anyway. We have already joined but what is left is the ratification which the President impressed upon us to do that as quickly as possible. If the convention is ratified, it is going to bring in so many benefits by being members and we are talking about alternative ways of processing the gold. If we ratify this convention, we are going to be empowered because we will have the capacity to borrow and get more money from that convention which we will use.
I also want to thank the President because of late this week, we have seen …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): May
you wind up Hon. Member.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am almost there. We have seen a meeting which was done - which was basically to do with the Zimbabwe Miners Federation which talked about the capacitation of the small scale miners where some of our big banks like CBZ are involved. This is very critical because we are aware that if we are going to meet the target of the $12 billion mining sector by 2023, a lot of that gold - more than 60% comes from the small scale miners. So this capacitation which we are seeing from the
Government is very much applauded and we appreciate all the President is doing to ensure that improves and changes positively the livelihoods of all Zimbabweans.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would not do justice to end my contribution without saying no to sanctions. Sanctions are evil in every respect. Those who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe have to ensure that they are lifted. When we talk about sanctions, there is nothing like targeted sanctions. Sanctions are sanctions. They are targeted on every citizen of Zimbabwe and not on few individuals. As we are talking of the mining sector progress Mr. Speaker Sir, we should take cognisance of the fact that even when we sell our gold and diamond, we sell at a very reduced price because of the sanctions – the
Kimberley Process and what not. So sanctions are biting us. That is why we are getting less revenue than all the other players in the gold sector and diamonds. Mr. Speaker Sir, we are saying no to sanctions. We want to thank SADC and AU for standing with us Zimbabwe in observing 25th October as the anti-sanctions day. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Eighteen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THIRD SESSION – NINTH PARLIAMENT
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 22nd October, 2020
(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 Third Session of the Ninth Parliament. Business is now suspended but be around not outside. Thank you.
Business of the House was suspended at Twenty 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:
The First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa;
Vice President, Gen. Rtd. Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga;
Vice Pesident, Col. Rtd. Cde. K. C. D. Mohadi;
Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Adv. J. F. Mudenda;
Madam President of the Senate, Mai M. M. Chinomona;
Leader of the Opposition, Dr. T. Khupe;
Hon. Members of Parliament;
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
I warmly welcome you all to the State of the Nation Address and Official Opening of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. The need to abide by COVID-19 protocols has compelled us to adopt the virtual platform for this occasion and similar ones when in ordinary times we would have assembled in our Parliament Building.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
Our economy has faced a number of internal shocks in an environment of changing climatic conditions, sanctions and lately the COVID-19 pandemic. First and foremost, therefore, I want to sincerely thank all Zimbabweans for their cooperation, discipline and resilience during these unprecedented times. Let us continue in unity and resolve to find solutions to challenges which confront us. Our heartfelt sympathies are with all individuals and families who lost loved ones.
Normalcy is gradually being restored to our systems following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I appeal to us to carry on adhering to the World Health Organisation guidelines to consolidate the gains we have so far achieved.
We have now reopened our skies to domestic and international flights, and simultaneously allowed the tourism and other critical sectors to also reopen.
Government made a deliberate decision to reopen schools to enable children who constitute our rich future human resource endowment, to conclude the year and progress to the next grades in the coming year. We will redouble efforts to ensure that syllabi are completed and examinations proceed smoothly in a safe, secure and stable environment for both teachers and learners.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
Our Transitional Stabilisation Programme has delivered and there are causes for optimism. My Government is indeed encouraged by the current economic stability, evident since the launch of the foreign exchange auction system in June. The system has resulted in the stability of the foreign exchange rate as well as the prices of our goods and services.
To mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Government availed ZW$18 billion Stimulus Package for the productive sectors, vulnerable social groups and provision of public services, especially health, water and sanitation.
In spite of the global and local economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our exports increased by 4.9% to US$1.96 billion during the first half of 2020, from US$1.86 billion in 2019, for the comparative period. Meanwhile, imports declined by 5.9% from US$1.96 billion to US$1.84 billion during the 2019 and 2020 first half comparative periods respectively.
In addition, foreign currency receipts have performed better than anticipated, appreciating by 18% as at end of August 2020. Coupled with Diaspora remittances, these should continue to anchor and drive further stability.
The reported increased certification of new products by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe is another positive signal that our industry is indeed alive and that jobs are being created.
We expect the trend of the positive trade balance to be sustained through increased productivity and exports across all sectors of the economy.
The attainment of Vision 2030 is premised on a performanceoriented and results-driven culture. Thus the Reform of State
Enterprises and Parastatals remains a priority as we revisit the strategic importance of these entities in line with Vision 2030. Strong structural and administrative frameworks will be enforced together with good corporate governance, accountability, transparency, productivity and profitability in all State owned entities.
Going forward, Government will soon launch the First Five-Year National Development Strategy: 2021-2025 (NDS1) which builds on the successes of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. The NDS1 will guide the formation of the 2021 National Budget which will provide more details on the state of our economy.
The fight against corruption continues to be a central goal for my Government. This vice cannot co-exist with sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, let us all strengthen our determination to rid Zimbabwe of corruption. Nobody is above the law
– Justice shall be pursued.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President, the historic signing of the
Global Compensation Agreement reaffirmed the irreversibility of the Land Reform Programme. It further symbolised by Government’s commitment to the entrenchment of constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for property rights.
It is now incumbent on all of us to ensure production and productivity is galvanised on our land. The Meteorological Department has forecasted a normal to above normal 2020/2021 rainfall season. We must therefore ensure that all measures are in place for a successful agriculture season. I commend communities throughout the country for the land preparations made under the Presidential Climate
Proofed Agriculture Programme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa. The Presidential Input Support Scheme will see over 1.8 million households being supported with free inputs to grow maize and traditional grains; while cotton farmers will also continue to receive support. Input distribution under this facility has commenced in earnest.
The opening up of the horticulture space for our rural communities as a vehicle for improved economic inclusion and empowerment is essential. To this end, my Government has resolved to roll out the Presidential Horticulture Scheme.
Furthermore, the accelerated resuscitation and development of irrigation schemes as well as construction of dams in all our provinces will help climate proof our agriculture against the adverse effects of climate change.
To meet the funding gaps, private sector led financing models are being rolled out for our farmers to access both mechanisation and inputs.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President; Energy is an essential enabler for the realization of our modernisation and industrialisation agenda. The current stability in power supplies owing to improved hydro-power generation at Kariba Dam and increased energy output at the thermal power plants has had a positive impact on productivity across all sectors of the economy. Independent Power Producers are equally poised to feed additional power onto the national grid, by the second quarter of 2021.
The ongoing coal mining projects in Hwange District, will ultimately translate into an increased national generation capacity of over 6 000 megawatts by 2025.
This will see Zimbabwe becoming a net exporter of energy. Works on the Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project will be expedited following delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since my previous address to this august House, fuel supplies have stabilized put in place by my Government. We shall continue to strengthen competitiveness in the fuel sub-sector and energy sector as a whole, through innovations coming out of institutions of higher learning such as the Harare Institute of Technology.
Road construction, modernization and rehabilitation are ongoing throughout all provinces of our country. These will enhance connectivity and facilitate greater economic trade within our country as well as the region as a whole. The use of local financial resources, skills and companies is yielding impressive results and the model will be vigorously pursued going forward in other infrastructure projects.
Mr. Speaker, Madame President; my Government, through its people-centered policies and vibrant social protection interventions, has ensured timely and appropriate interventions for the vulnerable and food insecure households. Currently, over 700 000 households receive grain per month while others are benefiting from the cash-for-grain programme under the Urban Feeding Programme. The Schools Feeding Programme is being resourced and over one million children will be assisted under the Basic Education Assistance Module.
The ongoing reforms in the health service sector will improve accessibility and affordability of health and medicines for all our people. in our quest to facilitate housing delivery, the National Housing Fund and Housing Guarantee Fund will be recapitalised.
Consultations in the Tripartite Negotiations Forum are progressing well with regards to the establishment of an Unemployment Benefit Fund. The fund will cover workers in case of retrenchment or natural disasters which cause work stoppages.
Related to this, I have directed the Ministry of Public Service,
Labour and Social Welfare to set up a robust Labour Market Information System to facilitate the provision of timeous, reliable labour market information and associated policies.
Government takes note of the legitimate calls for better working conditions by our teachers, health workers and public service in general. We will do our best to ameliorate their concerns and improve their plight.
Mr Speaker Sir, Madam President;
The Second Republic continues to consolidate its engagement and re-engagement policy. Economic cooperation and trade within our region is being consolidated towards awakening the collective potential of our respective countries, region and continent as a whole.
The illegal economic sanctions imposed are an albatross to our socio-economic development and growth, and must be removed unconditionally. We remain grateful to SADC, the African Union
Member states and many others who continue to echo this call with us.
Our Defence and Security Forces who are defending the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interest as well as maintain law, peace and order in our great country are commended for their sterling work. I want to reiterate that my Government will not tolerate any form of criminality in our country. Those who dare to engage in unlawful activities will face the full wrath of the law.
It is pleasing that the long awaited and all-encompassing Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act has now been promulgated. This will entail more holistic attention to issues affecting all categories of our
Veterans who now include Ex-combatants, Ex-Political Prisoners,
Detainess and Restrictees, Non-combatant Cadres and War
Collaborators.
Mr Speaker Sir, Madame President;
The Second Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe had 25 Bills on its Legislative Agenda and an additional 15 other Bills which were not on the initial agenda. As at 22 September, 2020, a total of 16 of these Bills were passed by Parliament.
I therefore call upon the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament to expedite the completion of processes with regards to all outstanding Bills, the enactment of which, will help to deepen the ongoing economic reforms as well as entrench constitutionalism and our democratic culture.
To buttress the economic gains made to date, and enhance our attractiveness as a preferred investment destination as well as the ease of doing business in our country; the following legislation will be attended to;
- The Sugar Industry Act will amend the Sugar Industry Production
Control Act [Chapter 18:19];
- The Economic Empowerment Act is set to replace the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act [Chapter 14:33] which will be repealed.
- The Competition Act will be amended to align it with regional and international agreements, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
- Given the role of Small to Medium size enterprises and the informal sector, the Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies Act
[Chapter 23:05] will be amended.
It is pleasing to note the immense progress made in the Mining
Sector towards the realization of a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023. Concerted and collaborative efforts must be urgently pursued to conclude the amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act. This will in turn usher in the necessary processes for the amendment of the Precious Stones, and Gold Trade Acts.
Meanwhile, the Minamata Convention which will end the use of mercury in mining activities will be tabled for ratification.
New and less harmful alternative technologies should be speedily adopted to ensure sustainable mining in our country.
To support the achievement of the US$5 billion tourism sector, by 2030; the Zimbabwe Tourism Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act will be tabled for consideration. The amendments will encourage tourism investment and embed community based wildlife management. The unmitigated spike in cases of vandalism of power infrastructure is bleeding the economy and disrupting productivity and key services to our economic sectors. The Electricity Act will be amended to increase the mandatory sentences for the perpetrators while the Cooper Control Act (Chapter 14:06) will also be amended to curb illegal possession and trade of copper products.
In line with the Devolution and Decentralization policy which guides the nation towards inclusive and rapid socio-economic development, industrialisation and modernisation and the quest to give more autonomy to the Local Authorities, the Third Session of Parliament will consider the following Bills:
- the Provincial Councils Amendment Bill;
- the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill;
- the Urban Councils and Rural District Councils Act will be amended as envisioned by the Constitution.
Meaning the;
- Regional Town, Country and Planning Act;
- Environmental Management Act;
- Roads Act; the Public Health Act;
- Education Act;
- The Housing Building Act and
- the Water Act; and the Liquor Licensing Act;
will all be amended to enhance the devolution of powers and functions to the lower tiers of Government.
In view of our ongoing efforts to stimulate the construction of industry coupled with the general growth of the sub-sector, Parliament will consider a Bill that seeks to establish the Construction Industry Council which will regulate the industry.
In pursuit of Education 5.0 model the Third Session of the Ninth
Parliament must dispense with three Bills from the Higher and Tertiary Education Sector in line with the Constitution, namely;
- the Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Bill;
- the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and
Development Bill; and
- The State Universities Amendment Bill.
The Youth Bill will set the parameters to regulate youth development and empowerment promotion; vocational training and skills development, financial inclusion; youth participation and leadership; as well as national service.
The Bill will also provide measures to strengthen the Zimbabwe
Youth Council and its sub structures.
- The Sport Integrity Bill will also be introduced to eliminate the corrosive and corrupt practices such as competition manipulation, illegal betting, doping as well as riots and violence within the sector.
The harmonisation of laws in the sport and recreation sector will entail various pieces of legislation being presented to the august House.
These include:
- The Sport, Leisure and Recreation Bill, which will repeal the Sports and Recreation Commission Act and the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board of 1956.
The enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill into law during the Second Session was a significant milestone in our media reform programme to increase media diversity and pluralism in the country. These Bills must ensure that our media industry act in the national interest and propel the development of our country. The Third Session of the Ninth Parliament is thus expected to complete the outstanding media
Bills which include;
- the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill; Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill; and
- The Protection of Personal Information Bill.
The enactment of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill which was introduced in the Second Session of the 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe must be speeded up, more-so given the importance of robust and secure information systems to drive digital services in all sectors of our economy.
Mr. Speaker Sir, during the Third Session, we also expect the finalisation of the Citizenship and Immigration Amendment Bills and the
Police Act.
The prevalence of abuse and violence against children place a demand on us to quickly guarantee their protection. As such, the
Children’s Amendment Bill must be quickly passed by this august House.
Our Criminal Justice system is urged to impose deterrent sentences to perpetrators of heinous and evil acts against our children.
The conduct of some Non-Governmental Organisations and
Private Voluntary Organisations who operate outside their mandates and out of sync with the Government’s humanitarian priority programmes remain a cause for concern. This august House will therefore consider the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill to revamp the administration of NGOs and PVOs and correct the current anomalies.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President;
In conclusion, I wish to remind us all that first and foremost, we are Zimbabweans. This is our only home and our motherland. We are on a new path. A path towards a modern, prosperous and stronger Zimbabwe. I encourage you all to be partners in this journey. Let us be decisive, deliberate, purposeful and thorough in all our actions,
A brighter future depends on all of us. We are stronger when we work together. We are stronger when we believe and work hard to achieve our plans and vision. No matter the challenges and no matter the obstacles - whether natural or man-made, let us always seek to promote our national interests, in unity and love, for the development and prosperity of our beloved country.
With these remarks, I now have the honour and privilege to declare the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe duly opened.
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 SENATEand some Hon. Senators withdrew from the Chamber.
THE HON. SPEAKER resumed the Chair at Fourteen Minutes to
One o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
THE HON. SPEAKER laid upon the Table a copy of the
Presidential Speech which the President of Zimbabwe has been pleased to deliver this day.
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.
- E. D. Mnangagwa has been pleased to deliver to Parliament.
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
Motion put and agreed to.
THE HON. SPEAKER adjourned the House at Twenty Minutes to One O’clock p.m. without putting any question in terms of Standing
Order No. 12 (2) (b) until Tuesday, 27th October, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
THE SENATE
THIRD SESSION – NINTH PARLIAMENT
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday 22nd October, 2020
(OFFICIAL REPORT)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWEARING IN OF A NEW MEMBER
THE HON PRESIDENT OF SENATE: On the 8th of October, 2020, Parliament was notified by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), of the nomination of Eleven Kambizi by Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF), to fill the vacancy which occurred in the Senate following the death of Hon. Sen. Air Marshall Perrance Shiri. The appointment is with effect from 6th October, 2020.
Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that “before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the 3rd Schedule”. Section 128 (2) states that “the oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament”. I therefore call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the oath of a Member of Parliament to Hon. Eleven Kambizi.
NEW MEMBER SWORN
HON. SEN. ELEVEN KAMBIZI subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the Law and took his seat – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
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 3rd Session of the 9th 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 Zoom platform from wherever they are. Business is now suspended.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE accompanied by some Hon. Senators left the Chair at Thirteen Minutes to Twelve o’clock noon.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, was pleased to address Parliament through virtual platform as follows:
The First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa;
Vice President, Gen. Rtd. Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga;
Vice Pesident, Col. Rtd. Cde. K. C. D. Mohadi;
Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Adv. J. F. Mudenda;
Madam President of the Senate, Mai M. M. Chinomona;
Leader of the Opposition, Dr. T. Khupe;
Hon. Members of Parliament;
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
I warmly welcome you all to the State of the Nation Address and Official Opening of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. The need to abide by COVID-19 protocols has compelled us to adopt the virtual platform for this occasion and similar ones when in ordinary times we would have assembled in our Parliament Building.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
Our economy has faced a number of internal shocks in an environment of changing climatic conditions, sanctions and lately the COVID-19 pandemic. First and foremost, therefore, I want to sincerely thank all Zimbabweans for their cooperation, discipline and resilience during these unprecedented times. Let us continue in unity and resolve to find solutions to challenges which confront us. Our heartfelt sympathies are with all individuals and families who lost loved ones.
Normalcy is gradually being restored to our systems following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I appeal to us to carry on adhering to the World Health Organisation guidelines to consolidate the gains we have so far achieved.
We have now reopened our skies to domestic and international flights, and simultaneously allowed the tourism and other critical sectors to also reopen.
Government made a deliberate decision to reopen schools to enable children who constitute our rich future human resource endowment, to conclude the year and progress to the next grades in the coming year. We will redouble efforts to ensure that syllabi are completed and examinations proceed smoothly in a safe, secure and stable environment for both teachers and learners.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President;
Our Transitional Stabilisation Programme has delivered and there are causes for optimism. My Government is indeed encouraged by the current economic stability, evident since the launch of the foreign exchange auction system in June. The system has resulted in the stability of the foreign exchange rate as well as the prices of our goods and services.
To mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Government availed ZW$18 billion Stimulus Package for the productive sectors, vulnerable social groups and provision of public services, especially health, water and sanitation.
In spite of the global and local economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our exports increased by 4.9% to US$1.96 billion during the first half of 2020, from US$1.86 billion in 2019, for the comparative period. Meanwhile, imports declined by 5.9% from US$1.96 billion to US$1.84 billion during the 2019 and 2020 first half comparative periods respectively.
In addition, foreign currency receipts have performed better than anticipated, appreciating by 18% as at end of August 2020. Coupled with Diaspora remittances, these should continue to anchor and drive further stability.
The reported increased certification of new products by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe is another positive signal that our industry is indeed alive and that jobs are being created.
We expect the trend of the positive trade balance to be sustained through increased productivity and exports across all sectors of the economy.
The attainment of Vision 2030 is premised on a performance-oriented and results-driven culture. Thus the Reform of State Enterprises and Parastatals remains a priority as we revisit the strategic importance of these entities in line with Vision 2030. Strong structural and administrative frameworks will be enforced together with good corporate governance, accountability, transparency, productivity and profitability in all State owned entities.
Going forward, Government will soon launch the First Five-Year National Development Strategy: 2021-2025 (NDS1) which builds on the successes of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. The NDS1 will guide the formation of the 2021 National Budget which will provide more details on the state of our economy.
The fight against corruption continues to be a central goal for my Government. This vice cannot co-exist with sustainable economic development and growth. Therefore, let us all strengthen our determination to rid Zimbabwe of corruption. Nobody is above the law – Justice shall be pursued.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President, the historic signing of the Global Compensation Agreement reaffirmed the irreversibility of the Land Reform Programme. It further symbolised by Government’s commitment to the entrenchment of constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for property rights.
It is now incumbent on all of us to ensure production and productivity is galvanised on our land. The Meteorological Department has forecasted a normal to above normal 2020/2021 rainfall season.
We must therefore ensure that all measures are in place for a successful agriculture season. I commend communities throughout the country for the land preparations made under the Presidential Climate Proofed Agriculture Programme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa. The Presidential Input Support Scheme will see over 1.8 million households being supported with free inputs to grow maize and traditional grains; while cotton farmers will also continue to receive support. Input distribution under this facility has commenced in earnest.
The opening up of the horticulture space for our rural communities as a vehicle for improved economic inclusion and empowerment is essential. To this end, my Government has resolved to roll out the Presidential Horticulture Scheme.
Furthermore, the accelerated resuscitation and development of irrigation schemes as well as construction of dams in all our provinces will help climate proof our agriculture against the adverse effects of climate change.
To meet the funding gaps, private sector led financing models are being rolled out for our farmers to access both mechanisation and inputs.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam President; Energy is an essential enabler for the realization of our modernisation and industrialisation agenda. The current stability in power supplies owing to improved hydro-power generation at Kariba Dam and increased energy output at the thermal power plants has had a positive impact on productivity across all sectors of the economy. Independent Power Producers are equally poised to feed additional power onto the national grid, by the second quarter of 2021.
The ongoing coal mining projects in Hwange District, will ultimately translate into an increased national generation capacity of over 6 000 megawatts by 2025.
This will see Zimbabwe becoming a net exporter of energy. Works on the Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project will be expedited following delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since my previous address to this august House, fuel supplies have stabilized put in place by my Government. We shall continue to strengthen competitiveness in the fuel sub-sector and energy sector as a whole, through innovations coming out of institutions of higher learning such as the Harare Institute of Technology.
Road construction, modernization and rehabilitation are ongoing throughout all provinces of our country. These will enhance connectivity and facilitate greater economic trade within our country as well as the region as a whole. The use of local financial resources, skills and companies is yielding impressive results and the model will be vigorously pursued going forward in other infrastructure projects.
Mr. Speaker, Madame President; my Government, through its people-centered policies and vibrant social protection interventions, has ensured timely and appropriate interventions for the vulnerable and food insecure households. Currently, over 700 000 households receive grain per month while others are benefiting from the cash-for-grain programme under the Urban Feeding Programme. The Schools Feeding Programme is being resourced and over one million children will be assisted under the Basic Education Assistance Module.
The ongoing reforms in the health service sector will improve accessibility and affordability of health and medicines for all our people. in our quest to facilitate housing delivery, the National Housing Fund and Housing Guarantee Fund will be recapitalised.
Consultations in the Tripartite Negotiations Forum are progressing well with regards to the establishment of an Unemployment Benefit Fund. The fund will cover workers in case of retrenchment or natural disasters which cause work stoppages.
Related to this, I have directed the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to set up a robust Labour Market Information System to facilitate the provision of timeous, reliable labour market information and associated policies.
Government takes note of the legitimate calls for better working conditions by our teachers, health workers and public service in general. We will do our best to ameliorate their concerns and improve their plight.
Mr Speaker Sir, Madam President;
The Second Republic continues to consolidate its engagement and re-engagement policy. Economic cooperation and trade within our region is being consolidated towards awakening the collective potential of our respective countries, region and continent as a whole.
The illegal economic sanctions imposed are an albatross to our socio-economic development and growth, and must be removed unconditionally. We remain grateful to SADC, the African Union Member states and many others who continue to echo this call with us.
Our Defence and Security Forces who are defending the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interest as well as maintain law, peace and order in our great country are commended for their sterling work. I want to reiterate that my Government will not tolerate any form of criminality in our country. Those who dare to engage in unlawful activities will face the full wrath of the law.
It is pleasing that the long awaited and all-encompassing Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act has now been promulgated. This will entail more holistic attention to issues affecting all categories of our Veterans who now include Ex-combatants, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainess and Restrictees, Non-combatant Cadres and War Collaborators.
Mr Speaker Sir, Madame President;
The Second Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe had 25 Bills on its Legislative Agenda and an additional 15 other Bills which were not on the initial agenda. As at 22 September, 2020, a total of 16 of these Bills were passed by Parliament.
I therefore call upon the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament to expedite the completion of processes with regards to all outstanding Bills, the enactment of which, will help to deepen the ongoing economic reforms as well as entrench constitutionalism and our democratic culture.
To buttress the economic gains made to date, and enhance our attractiveness as a preferred investment destination as well as the ease of doing business in our country; the following legislation will be attended to;
- The Sugar Industry Act will amend the Sugar Industry Production Control Act [Chapter 18:19];
- The Economic Empowerment Act is set to replace the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act [Chapter 14:33] which will be repealed.
- The Competition Act will be amended to align it with regional and international agreements, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
- Given the role of Small to Medium size enterprises and the informal sector, the Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies Act [Chapter 23:05] will be amended.
It is pleasing to note the immense progress made in the Mining Sector towards the realization of a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023. Concerted and collaborative efforts must be urgently pursued to conclude the amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act. This will in turn usher in the necessary processes for the amendment of the Precious Stones, and Gold Trade Acts.
Meanwhile, the Minamata Convention which will end the use of mercury in mining activities will be tabled for ratification.
New and less harmful alternative technologies should be speedily adopted to ensure sustainable mining in our country.
To support the achievement of the US$5 billion tourism sector, by 2030; the Zimbabwe Tourism Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act will be tabled for consideration. The amendments will encourage tourism investment and embed community based wildlife management.
The unmitigated spike in cases of vandalism of power infrastructure is bleeding the economy and disrupting productivity and key services to our economic sectors. The Electricity Act will be amended to increase the mandatory sentences for the perpetrators while the Cooper Control Act (Chapter 14:06) will also be amended to curb illegal possession and trade of copper products.
In line with the Devolution and Decentralization policy which guides the nation towards inclusive and rapid socio-economic development, industrialisation and modernisation and the quest to give more autonomy to the Local Authorities, the Third Session of Parliament will consider the following Bills:
- the Provincial Councils Amendment Bill;
- the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill;
- the Urban Councils and Rural District Councils Act will be amended as envisioned by the Constitution.
Meaning the;
- Regional Town, Country and Planning Act;
- Environmental Management Act;
- Roads Act; the Public Health Act;
- Education Act;
- The Housing Building Act and
- the Water Act; and the Liquor Licensing Act;
will all be amended to enhance the devolution of powers and functions to the lower tiers of Government.
In view of our ongoing efforts to stimulate the construction of industry coupled with the general growth of the sub-sector, Parliament will consider a Bill that seeks to establish the Construction Industry Council which will regulate the industry.
In pursuit of Education 5.0 model the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament must dispense with three Bills from the Higher and Tertiary Education Sector in line with the Constitution, namely;
- the Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Bill;
- the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill; and
- The State Universities Amendment Bill.
The Youth Bill will set the parameters to regulate youth development and empowerment promotion; vocational training and skills development, financial inclusion; youth participation and leadership; as well as national service.
The Bill will also provide measures to strengthen the Zimbabwe Youth Council and its sub structures.
- The Sport Integrity Bill will also be introduced to eliminate the corrosive and corrupt practices such as competition manipulation, illegal betting, doping as well as riots and violence within the sector.
The harmonisation of laws in the sport and recreation sector will entail various pieces of legislation being presented to the august House.
These include:
- The Sport, Leisure and Recreation Bill, which will repeal the Sports and Recreation Commission Act and the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board of 1956.
The enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill into law during the Second Session was a significant milestone in our media reform programme to increase media diversity and pluralism in the country.
These Bills must ensure that our media industry act in the national interest and propel the development of our country. The Third Session of the Ninth Parliament is thus expected to complete the outstanding media Bills which include;
- the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill;
- Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill; and
- The Protection of Personal Information Bill.
The enactment of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill which was introduced in the Second Session of the 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe must be speeded up, more-so given the importance of robust and secure information systems to drive digital services in all sectors of our economy.
Mr. Speaker Sir, during the Third Session, we also expect the finalisation of the Citizenship and Immigration Amendment Bills and the Police Act.
The prevalence of abuse and violence against children place a demand on us to quickly guarantee their protection. As such, the Children’s Amendment Bill must be quickly passed by this august House. Our Criminal Justice system is urged to impose deterrent sentences to perpetrators of heinous and evil acts against our children.
The conduct of some Non-Governmental Organisations and Private Voluntary Organisations who operate outside their mandates and out of sync with the Government’s humanitarian priority programmes remain a cause for concern. This august House will therefore consider the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill to revamp the administration of NGOs and PVOs and correct the current anomalies.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Madame President;
In conclusion, I wish to remind us all that first and foremost, we are Zimbabweans. This is our only home and our motherland.
We are on a new path. A path towards a modern, prosperous and stronger Zimbabwe. I encourage you all to be partners in this journey. Let us be decisive, deliberate, purposeful and thorough in all our actions,
A brighter future depends on all of us. We are stronger when we work together. We are stronger when we believe and work hard to achieve our plans and vision. No matter the challenges and no matter the obstacles - whether natural or man-made, let us always seek to promote our national interests, in unity and love, for the development and prosperity of our beloved country.
With these remarks, I now have the honour and privilege to declare the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe duly opened.
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 Second 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, 1st November, 2020.
In terms of Standing Order Number 12 (2b) THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE adjourned the Senate at Eighteen Minutes to One o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 21st October, 2020
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of clarity Madam Speaker.
Unfortunately, we have not yet been given the zoom link, the I.D.
number and passcode.
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MAVETERA): Have they
not been sent to your e-mail?
HON. CHIKWINYA: It is being erratic Madam Speaker. I rise to seek clarification over an announcement that the Chairperson of the day made last Wednesday on 15th October to the effect that Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020 had been deemed unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee. Subsequent media reports arising after that suggested that there was a backtrack from that announcement to which I did not hear being announced in the House. Therefore I seek either a confirmation of that position or a restate of the correct position as of now. Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: The announcement was made and
indeed there was nothing which was said by the Parliamentary Legal Committee which was contrary or which was an adversary report to SI
225A of 2020. Thank you very much.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING SPEAKER
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I have got apologies received from
Hon. Ministers in respect of the National Assembly sitting on
Wednesday 21st October, 2020. We have got Hon. Vice President K. C.
- Mohadi, Hon. Vice President C. G. Chiwenga, Hon. O. C. Z Muchinguri-Kashiri, Hon. S. B. Moyo, Hon. N. M. Ndlovu, Hon. Dr. S. Nzenza, Hon. G. J. Moyo, Hon. C. Matema, Hon. J. B. Matiza, Hon. Chitando, Hon. S. D. G. Moyo, Hon. D. Karoro, Hon. Marapira. Thank you very much.
HON. MADZIMURE: Point of order Madam Speaker. Madam
Speaker, yesterday I raised a point of privilege and the Speaker made a ruling that the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education was going to come to the House to give a Ministerial Statement in regard to the situation at our schools which is a dire situation and I do not know whether the Minister turned down the invitation by the Speaker because I hear he has tendered an apology, but the situation in the schools cannot wait any longer.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Maybe he is going to send his Deputy Minister, however, let me wait for the proper communication to that effect.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon.
Mliswa?
HON. T. MLISWA: Good afternoon to you Madam Speaker. I am sure my colleague Members of Parliament will agree that it is difficult to have something on screen and you cannot hear what is being said. We will all lose focus because of that. You wonder what the person is saying. The anti-sanctions march is very clear but it is destructive. So may it be switched off. May we go back to our zoom meeting so that they are seen there? There has never been a time where Parliament can be in session while television is on. It has never happened and it will be the first in the world. May the televisions be switched off. Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Mliswa.
I am sure that is going to be addressed, Hon. Mliswa, as soon as possible. The I.T people are actually on it, so it is going to be rectified soon.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker.
My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development. What is Government policy on the powers of the PMDs compared to the former mining commissioners? What is Government policy because the mining commissioners could sit in arbitration as a magistrate? Is it still the status quo and what is Government policy towards the powers of the PMDs? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. The question requires me to go and look at the legislation and then interrogate the specific powers that are bestowed on the PMDs versus when we used to have the commissioners. So if he can put that question in writing then we can interrogate and give a detailed response. I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: All right, thank you. Hon. Matangira, may you please put it in writing so that the Hon. Minister can then be able to respond.
HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Yes,
we can but what is happening in the entire country is detrimental to a
Ministry’s functions rightly and legally because the Ministry is not in control of its major duties as a Ministry for mining, hence – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*HON. RWODZI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My
question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. How do we move forward especially on this issue where someone had his cattle missing in the rural areas and he reports to the police of the missing herd of cattle about five of them. The police can document the case and promise to report back as soon as the cattle in question are recovered. Later on the cattle are found in another side of the area and the owner is not notified. After the end of the year, the cattle owner then hears that there were cattle which were sold at the market by council officials and police officers. On investigation the owner finds that the cattle sold are his, meaning the police involved did not notify the owner of the recovered cattle which were then sold at the market. In that case, who is guilty of an offence, the policemen or the council officials who sold the cattle at the market? I thank you.
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Rwodzi, what you are asking,
are you asking the Minister to give you the response in terms of the judgment or you want to ask what the Ministry’s task is.
HON. RWODZI: I am asking what Government Policy says in terms of that scenario. He is asking what to do, he does not know whom to consult. The police are asking him to go to the council who sold the cattle whilst council officials are accusing the police for selling, saying they are the ones who approved the selling of the cattle. So I want to know what the law says in that scenario.
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you for the question Hon.
Rwodzi but we want you to ask questions related to policy. So, I am asking you to ask your issue as it relates to policy and according to the
Ministry’s policy, not narrating folk tales or stories. So, go and rephrase your question and you will be given an opportunity to ask again.
*HON. RWODZI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thought it was
alright to ask through narrating the story since I asked what the policy says in such a scenario.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Rwodzi I am saying we cannot
ask our questions like that, we should be specific on policy questions and not narrating a case, it means we are asking the Minister for the judgment which is the purview of the judiciary. So, it becomes problematic, that is why I asked you to rephrase your question and I will give you a chance to ask.
*HON. RWODZI: Thank you. Will you give me a chance to ask?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Yes if you rephrase your question. *HON. RWODZI: Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. MASUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. May the Hon.
Member be heard in silence.
HON. MASUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. My
question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Many people lost their employment as a result of the lockdown, what is the Government policy regarding the protection of workers post the COVID - 19 pandemic lockdown? How can employees be reinstated to their posts as failure to do so exposes them to poverty? I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: In the absence of the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, may the Hon. Leader of the House be able to respond.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Hon.
Speaker. Hon. Speaker, we have a Labour Act that governs how employees and employers relate including dismissal and other related matters. So, that is what is followed and we do not have any position outside our laws. I thank you.
HON. MATHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary
question – before I contribute to my supplementary, allow me to cry because this week is meant for crying – [Mayibabo ngamasanctions mayibabo] – [HON. MEMBERS: Mayibabo!] – Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – My supplementary question Madam Speaker to the Hon.
Minister is, those people who suffered different challenges due to
COVID -19, once COVID is over, what measures are you putting in place to make sure that those who have lost jobs are getting their jobs back and those who suffered extreme poverty due to the same are alleviated? I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Mathe, can you please approach
the Chair.
Hon. Mathe approached the Chair.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): What was the
question?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Leader of the
House. The question was - what is going to happen after COVID-19?
What is Government’s policy in terms of being able to take them back to their work after COVID-19? What empowerment programmes are there to make sure that they are going to help people after COVID-19?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. There is a programme that was put in place, a package to help companies that were affected by COVID-19, but as per specific workers that may be retrenched or lose their jobs, my response was the laid down procedures in terms of the law must be followed in dismissing someone or in retrenching someone but as to the global picture, Government put in place a fund to help companies that are in distress because of COVID-19. I thank you.
HON. GOZHO: My question goes to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education or to the Leader of the House. Madam Speaker, since 1992, the School Development Levy policy has not changed and many schools are breaking the law by increasing levies more than 10%.
What is Government policy on school levy?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. We have several categories of schools and only last year we debated here and passed the Education Amendment Bill. If a school is strictly private and parents and the school authorities have agreed, Government does not interfere but if it is a Government school, the Minister approves the levies and fees that are payable. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Hon.
Mathe made some noise and I thought I need an explanation on what that meant. I took some time trying to wonder what the expression was and its relevance to Parliament. Can she be allowed to explain to us what she meant? It was like she was crying and I am not quite sure what is the problem.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Chikwinya. I am
sure we all understood what she was saying. May be you could have not understood – so unless there are other people who have not understood what she was saying but it was an expression of interest. As legislators, we have got a role to represent people and that is one of our mandates.
Therefore, she was representing people in the call against sanctions.
Thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I was worried
because I heard exactly the same cry last night at the hotel in Room 306.
So, I am not quite sure to whom she was referring to. Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, that is
unparliamentary.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I am not saying it was her crying – I am
just saying there was a similar cry at the hotel in Room 306.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, when we are in this
House, we believe that we are supposed to speak maturely. I understand those were your sentiments but I do not think it will be good for you to be uttering words that can relate otherwise. I am kindly asking you to withdraw those words as much as it something which happened which you are very much relating to but truly speaking, it leaves a lot to be desired. May you kindly withdraw those words. Thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I withdraw Madam Speaker.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. His
Excellency will be addressing SONA tomorrow and it will be virtual and the ICT system is not functioning properly. They were trying to fix it but they are failing. I am afraid that a lot of people will lose their jobs and I propose that he comes in person.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa, however
everything is under control. ZBC is not covering us today because they are preparing for tomorrow’s address to the Nation by His Excellency.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is
directed to the Hon. Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. It relates to the resuscitation, rejuvenation and maintenance of swimming pools and amenities in the local authorities where we come from. What is Government policy relating to the rehabilitation, resuscitation, reconstruction and maintenance of the same? I know the Hon. Minister is endowed with accolades and is an olympia herself in terms of backstroke swimming or in terms of aptitude in swimming.
HON. MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND
RECREATION (HON. DR. COVENTRY): I want to thank the Hon. Member for his question. The Government policy in terms of resuscitation, maintenance of facilities including pool facilities, the responsibility lies with the city councils. They have a responsibility to the citizens to maintain and uplift the sporting and recreation facilities in the country. Thank you.
HON. NDUNA: I believe that was a well-rounded answer. To what extent is the Ministry which Hon. Dr. Coventry heads is involved with the Ministry of Local Government in the resuscitation, rehabilitation, reconstruction of the amenities in particular of the swimming pools that she found herself coming from in terms of her talents and accolades both nationally and internationally.
HON. COVENTRY: I originally said the responsibility is with the city councils. As far as the Ministry is involved, what we are looking at and planning with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is that we have been working on the National Sport Stadium since that falls within the purview of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. As a Ministry, we are working on resuscitating 40 recreational youths interaction centres across the country. These are community centres that we are now uplifting. Particularly to swimming pools, as I said in my first reply, they fall under city councils and as of now, the Ministry is not focusing on any swimming pool resuscitation.
HON. MADZIMURE: What is the Ministry’s role in ensuring
that there is proper development of our young people for them to be able to compete at the highest level? I am saying so because the Minister is suggesting that the Ministry has nothing to do with those swimming pools at local level where sports people live. Does it then honour our sports persons when they compete out there if they are not interested in knowing the policy at that particular level?
HON. COVENTRY: In terms of what the Ministry is focusing
on, it is the realignment and redrafting of the Sports and Recreation Act. The Act will allow for National Sports Associations to put in place the proper development plan from grassroots all the way up to international level along with the Ministry, the National Sports Association and all the other stakeholders knowing the clear roles and responsibilities. Right now we are working with the Attorney - General’s Office in drafting this Bill. The principles were approved by Cabinet about three/four weeks ago. I thank you.
*HON. E. NCUBE: My question is directed to the Minister of
Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement. What measures has Government put in place in preparation especially for rural folks who lost their cattle due to January disease to get tractors that they can hire at reasonable cost as well as availability of fuel for them to hire and engage in agricultural activities especially ploughing? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): The question is
very broad and it is not specifying the category of farmers that the Hon Member is focusing on because we have the communal farmers that are benefiting from the Presidential Input Scheme whereby we have now even zeroed-in and said even if you do not have a cow, you can still produce. We moved a step further to pfumvudza and we moved a step further to those A2 farmers that produce on a large scale. Fairly recently, we have had several launches of mechanisation programmes by His
Excellency. Over and above that, we have a perennial programme run by DDF of hiring out tractors. Perhaps if the Hon Member can categorise and also advise the farmers to visit DDF for tillage programmes or speak to their Arex officers on how to access the implements in terms of the mechanisation programme. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Judiciary seems to be under siege. The Anti-Corruption Commission seems to be more corrupt than the people that they are looking for. A good example is other members of ZACC who are working there are said to have been given money and externalised it but they are officers. The police itself seem also to be corrupt. In the President’s speech today on the Development
Agenda, corruption is among those cited in terms of zero tolerance. We seem to have individuals like Delish Nguwaya who visited the prison while he was a complainant to see an accused Felix Munyaradzi.
What is the lawful way of moving forward in terms of the prosecution case where the State has the case and the accused is Felix Munyaradzi who was denied bail on condition that he does not interface with witnesses? The complainant who is a chief witness then went and saw him in prison. How then does the State intend to continue with that? From a judiciary point of view…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa, that is a case which is
before the courts and you are not supposed to be discussing it. So if you are going to be giving examples, please give your examples which are outside court issues. Secondly, is that a question or you have another question.
HON. T. MLISWA: I thank you for your diligent intervention. What is Government doing about officers at ZACC who were given money to buy property on behalf of anti-corruption but they put property in their names? They were given houses to buy here and they externalised money of up to US$1.9m but they are still there. There is also…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa, we are not supposed to
be relating to cases – that will be more specific now. We are looking for policy questions. Please be specific to a policy question and not a case like I have said before.
HON. T. MLISWA: I thought I would give a background and then the question would come in from a policy question.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Ask policy questions, Hon Mliswa.
HON. MLISWA: How can we have confidence in the law enforcement agencies who are supposed to curb corruption when they themselves are corrupt in many ways? How can we again repatriate money which has left the country back into Zimbabwe from any official who has been given the money on behalf of Government? How do we get back those properties which were bought in their names instead of
Government institutions? How do we go about that?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Corruption was
identified by His Excellency as the number one enemy of the State. Corruption, by its nature, is performed by at least two individuals. Our police force in terms of its structure and the constitutive document which is the Constitution that gave birth to our police force is not a corrupt organ. Wherever you find individuals, there may be one or two bad elements. It does not translate to the whole organisation to mean that it is corrupt. It is our endevour to ensure that we strengthen all our institutions that support the economic development of our country.
Coming to specific issues of what transpired about 8 years ago, I believe Hon Mliswa, if he as evidence, we will gladly accept that and ensure that independent investigations are done with a view of ensuring that whatever State resources were misappropriated is recovered.
HON. T. MLISWA: Minister, you shall be getting the letter tomorrow because I have copied it to you. Is there anybody who is above the law because the Commissioner General of Police, Commissioner Matanga, has a case where he violated procurement procedures at ZACC with police. The matter is with ZACC. Secondly, there is a case of former Commissioner General Chihuri which is failing to take off because the key witness is the current Commissioner General of Police because he was the DCG in charge of administration. It is said that he appended his signature to everything that the former
Commissioner General did. What are you doing to make sure that the Commissioner General is investigated and brought to book since he likes to arrest people without any crime and this time zvavakwake. Muchamu investigater sei mukuru wemapurisa nenyaya dzeku violater procurement nekuvharidzira nyaya dzavaChihuri nekuti iye ndiye ayi sayina kuti mari ibude. Ari kunzi akapisa mapaper ese saka chii chamuchaita?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker, again I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Madam Speaker the only person that is immune from arrest and prosecution is the His Excellency the President. Everyone else is not according to our Constitution. In that regard like my previous response Hon. T. Mliswa will do national service if he has got evidence of the misdemeanors that were done by the current Commissioner General if that can be brought forward.
In this case he said the case is with ZACC, so I suggest that we await the investigations that ZACC is doing and when they have completed I can then take it from there. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: I thank you Madam Speaker. It is policy that when someone in office is accused and his position does affect his current or is related to his current position; the person is expected to go on leave to allow for smooth investigations? Is the Ministry of Justice, or Home Affairs considering to ask the Commissioner General to go on leave so that we allow for proper and effective investigations in the allegations that are being laid against the Commissioner General?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker, what Hon. Madzimure said is correct and is not correct. When investigations are still in the early stages, without having gathered sufficient evidence to warrant that somebody be sent on leave, you wait until you have sufficient evidence to say okay, there is indeed something that we feel is wrong. Also in this case it is not the police that are investigating according to the information that we got here from Hon. T. Mliswa, it is the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. The Commission has its own investigators and it has the liberty of inviting anyone to assist them in their investigation. The core function of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is to investigate, once they believe that there is sufficient evidence to refer the docket to the prosecutor general and possibly arrest then they will do that.
My plea to them is that Hon. T. Mliswa has indicated that there is some work that is happening, let us just be patient and await those investigations and then we can interrogate the matter. I thank you.
The Acting Speaker and the Hon. Deputy Speaker exchanged seats.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you very much it is just that I wish we would know when there is a handover and takeover then we say bye, bye or welcome to the other one. But unfortunately welcome Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: My question to the Minister is what does the State do in a matter where an accused who is incarcerated is visited by a complainant and the conditions are like the witness is in jail because the witness interfaces the accused. What then happens in a situation like that? The Hon. Minister did not respond to that. It is a State case; the accused is in jail on condition that he must not mix or interface with witnesses but the complainant who is the chief witness then goes and sees the accused in prison. What then becomes of the State case and is it allowed?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. That is a very specific and unique question where the complainant visited - according to Hon. T. Mliswa. I am not privy to the details but it is very specific and I would suggest that Hon. T. Mliswa, if you can put that in writing so that it can be investigated. It is not the normal procedure that a complainant visits the accused in prison.
HON. T. MLISWA: I have written to the prosecutor general on this case and he has not responded to me and it falling under his ambit, it is important for you to then direct him Madam Speaker with your permission to respond to my letter of an accused who was incarcerated and was visited by a complainant and there was no recording by the prison officer in charge of the accused coming. I gave him all the information, the car number, the time and the person. So, there is no point for any further investigation because it is there. Like you said you have to investigate with evidence. So, why is the Prosecutor General not responding to that issue?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, I agree with
what you said Hon. T. Mliswa please may you put it in writing so that the Hon. Minister will make some investigations and report back to
Parliament.
HON. T. MLISWA: I wrote the letter to the Prosecutor General on this. So I wanted him, with your indulgence, to tell the Prosecutor General to respond to my letter - that is all I wanted you to tell him. I already wrote the letter to the Prosecutor General – [HON. ZIYAMBI: I will do that.] – so can you implore the prosecutor general to respond. If you can go on record as is. I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker, this is very
specific and it is an issue that he can visit my office with the letters and we can follow up.
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I would want to ask the Minister of Sport what Government is doing to ensure that rural communities access sporting equipment and sporting facilities because as you would know sport has become very much a part of people’s lives,
even in the rural areas.
MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND
RECREATION (HON. COVENTRY): Thank you Madam Speaker
and thank you to the Hon. Member for the question. In terms of what
we are doing, I mentioned that earlier the Ministry is this year focusing on trying to resurrect 40 community centres. The centres are a holistic overview of the Ministry where there will be youth, sport and arts facilities. We have started in Mufakose, Chambuta and I can get a full list and share it with the Hon. Member. The goal is that all the community centres in each of our district will be resurrected as part of the Ministry’s goal over the next three years. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question is the issue of the rural constituency for sport has gone in for a long time. Is there anything that the Government has done to create these centres because the former Minister of Sport Hon. Makosini Hlongwani had gone far in doing this? Being the Minister, I thought there would be a continuation. For as long as sport is not spread in the rural areas we will never tap on the best talent as you know. What do you think should be done to ensure that sport gets to the rural areas, because that is where most of the talent is?
HON. COVENTRY: Thank you Madam Speaker and I thank the Hon. Member. This is a continuation of what was already done and there has already been a lot of work done in terms of ensuring that every part of the country is put into the new Sport Council Act so that there are proper care roles and responsibilities of every community, about every national sport association of the Ministry so that we all work together. Part of the resurrection of these community centres is so we can identify talent. Madam Speaker, the idea will be the Ministry would resurrect the centres and we will bring in the national associations to identify talent to coach coaches. Once the talent is identified, we can work with the National Associations and the Sports Recreation Commission in order to then propel those talented athletes to the next level, depending on where that is and what that means.
HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, and in his absence to the Leader of the House. What is Government policy on unscrupulous AREX employees that facilitate the issuance of the fake documents to undeserving fly by night farmers that lead them getting command agriculture inputs that end up being sold in the streets year in year out?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I did not get the
question.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You were not listening Hon.
Leader of the House.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Sorry Madam
Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Ndiweni, please may you come again – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Please may you ask your question Hon. Ndiweni:
HON. TOGAREPI: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Ndiweni. What
is your point of order Hon. Togarepi?
*HON. TOGAREPI: I am asking Hon. Sikhala to withdraw his words that he is rebellious. Are we dealing with rebels in this
Parliament – [HON. SIKHALA: inaudible interjections.] –
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, we should
respect the august House. To say you are rebellious is unparliamentary.
HON. SIKHALA: Madam Speaker, I was trying to say you cannot give one Hon. Member of Parliament four times of attempting to ask one question when on your list you see there are over twenty other Members of Parliament also waiting to be given chance. We cannot operate like that in this House. This is not a village…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, I hear you. Please may you take your seat? Hon. Ndiweni, please may you go ahead? - [laughter.] -
*HON. NDIWENI: Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker, I am unable
to connect.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. You will ask
your question next time.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My question is directed to the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. COVID-19 regulations are drafted in compliance with advice from the global regulations as provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Now, the WHO has advised that elections can be conducted and indeed so many countries have proceeded to conduct national elections, Malawi included.
We have by-elections which are pending and in his announcement, the Speaker said Statutory Instrument (SI) 225 (a) of 2020 was deemed unconstitutional by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC). When is Zimbabwe going to hold the by-elections that are now overdue to replace the seats that were left vacant by members who left this
Parliament this year?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): When we make
regulations, we make them according to our enabling legislation. We take advice as and when we see it fit according to our local condition. We do not just take advice for the sake of advice otherwise it will not be advice at all; it will be a directive. In our case, we analyse the advice or the statements that are issued by international organisations and we apply them to our local condition. Let us not worry about what WHO said. We take what we believe is applicable to our own environment.
Coming to when the by-elections will be held, we have a state of public health emergency or a state of pandemic that was declared by His Excellency. That declaration is ending next year in January. Pursuant to that, which is perfectly legal; several Statutory Instruments were enacted to give effect to that declaration in order for us to control the pandemic and among the S.I. that was issued was one that dealt with holding of elections to say that they are suspended for the duration of the pandemic.
In other words, we have just simply suspended the right for some time.
Once we believe that the system has normalised and that we do not endanger the lives of our citizenry we will then proceed with the byelections. We also have to be mindful that there is a curfew that is still in place. When people are campaigning and there is a curfew, we are bound to criminalise a lot of our people. So we took into consideration several factors in coming up with that position.
However, this is merely a suspension of that right of holding byelections for the duration of the declaration of the pandemic and they will be held as per our constitutional provisions and our enabling Act – the Electoral Act. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am being advised by the
Clerk here that the PLC is still considering the S.I. in question and has not pronounced its step on the matter.
HON. CHIKWINYA: The question does not only speak to the S.I. The S.I. was only augmenting the gravity of the matter but he touched on a number of issues which require supplementary.
The Hon. Minister alluded to the issue that they do not take the advice from hook, line and sinker but we have seen that in all other S.Is which he has mentioned, there is reference to WHO guidelines. That is number one.
Number two; we have seen the opening of spaces that even endanger people to the extent of contravening COVID 19; exercises like political parties gathering and certainly in his case, the DCCs of ZANU PF are currently gathering. Primary elections are happening across political parties; churches are gathering – why is it that specifically for elections, the Government is not comfortable to hold by-elections when people have the right to be represented by persons of their choice?
+HON. MATHE: On a point of order Madam Speaker. My point of order is to see Hon. Chikwinya contributing in this Parliament. I am pained by the way he treated me when I was contributing. He did not treat me well as a woman yet I have a right to express myself and issues that are happening in my community in this Parliament. He insulted me Madam Speaker. I am appealing to you to assist me because I am really pained – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members, please may you take your seats. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order Hon. Members! Hon. Members, this is what we are always advised, to respect this House and always use appropriate words. Let us never denigrate women especially from you as leaders. I have spoken to Hon. Mathe; she has understood and has gone to sit down after I assured her that will never be repeated, otherwise we will take action.
The Hon. Member also understood that since Hon. Chikwinya withdrew the offensive statement the issue has been resolved. So let us not have a repeat of the offending issue because as women, we will act. I thank you. - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order Hon. Members, new question please, Hon. Khumalo S.S.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Madam Speaker! The
Hon. Minister is yet to respond to my question.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker, the first part … - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please order Hon. Members,
may the Hon. Minister be heard in silence please!
HON. ZIYAMBI: The first part of Hon. Chikwinya’s question was, why do you make reference to WHO Guidelines in S.Is. It is perfectly okay to cite the opinion of WHO as a body that has authority in terms of health matters but I said it is persuasive in that we look at our local conditions and say, against this advice and our local conditions, what is it that is applicable to us? We do not take everything that they say as if it is from the Bible.
The second issue was on the conduct of Zimbabwean citizens.
There are two issues Madam Speaker – legislating and enforcing.
Perhaps what he needs is to ask the Minister of Home Affairs and
Cultural Heritage and the relevant organs that deal with enforcement, why they are allowing the flouting of regulations under COVID-19. I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of clarity Madam Speaker, there is a very crucial part of the question by Hon. Chikwinya that the Hon.
Minister did not answer.
His question was; primary elections are being held across the political divide and in holding those primary elections they are not distinct from by elections that could be held in this country. Why are primary elections being allowed to take place but when it comes to by elections, the Government changes goal posts? That is the question and we want an answer to that question Madam Speaker.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker, Hon. Sikhala was not listening.. – [HON. SIKHALA: I was!] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please may you listen now
Hon. Sikhala?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Allow me to respond – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Madam Speaker, there are two processes. We put in legislation here and we do not enforce it.
Primary elections are governed by any other law that is there to control COVID-19. I am not aware of whatever was happening, whether there were primary elections or not – I do not know – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - What I know is that we came up with legislation to ensure that we continue surviving because the dead do not vote. So we said to ourselves, in terms of our capabilities and the nature of the pandemic we are going to suspend the right to vote until the pandemic is over.
The issue of enforcement that Hon. Sikhala is talking about is a separate matter from the legislative process. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: Madam Speaker, re-engagement, as the
Government would want us to believe, is based on upholding democracy and constitutionalism. It is very clear that all the regulations have been relaxed. We now have people travelling from here to Bulawayo in a 75seater bus. The regulations that the Government of Zimbabwe follows are like scientifically proven and it is a fact that elections can be held because we are already doing that. The Minister is the Chairperson of Mashonaland West and they have held primary elections in every ward that is vacant. In Kadoma, they have done so. Can the Minister have other reasons other than citing Covid-19 as a reason? If you look at the statistics, the science, you are not even testing. Masvingo, for the last two weeks was zero testing. Where are you finding that science that informs you not to hold by-elections when you are not even testing people?
HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to thank Hon. Madzimure but he has
raised several unrelated issues. The question of testing, surely if it is not being done, I think the Minister of Health can deal with that. Secondly, we have not said the pandemic is over. The state of public health emergency that was declared is still there. Our position is that we cannot endanger our people. The dead do not vote and we are not in a rush to ensure that our people die and we have several regulations that are still in place. We are still monitoring the pandemic. At such a time that the declaration is removed, that is when we will start talking about the exercise of that right. It was simply suspended according to our laws and perfectly constitutional. I just urge the Hon. Member to be patient before he endangers the life of the majority of our people.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: My question is directed
to the Minister of Finance. There was an issuance of a Statutory Instrument a week or two weeks ago which compelled retailers to charge in foreign currency or put the cost of goods or price in foreign currency. My question however is, if that is the case, why are we still having those retail shops having an exchange rate because what should generally happen is if I am buying in foreign currency, I should just be issued my receipt in foreign currency. So, there should not necessarily be any exchange rate and I am surprised because I would have thought that the Ministry of Finance would be wanting to get taxes or VAT in foreign currency. So why are we still having shops displaying an exchange rate when we should just be paying in foreign currency and be given your receipt in foreign currency and the Government receiving that foreign currency so that they actually have foreign currency as part of their tax that they are receiving. Perhaps he could explain that policy.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank the Hon.
Member for the question. Basically, we are trying to achieve several things. The first one is to make sure that agents adhere to the auction rate. We have said that we must also remit taxes in the currency of trade and that is why we want to continue to enforce the display of the exchange rate because we have noticed that some will display it correctly at $81.3 or whatever it is and some will use some other exchange rate of $100 and above, surely that is wrong. We are doing other things as well.
Those who are accessing money from the auction, we are compelling them to sign an undertaking that having access to money from the auction, they will sell their goods in terms of display of the exchange rate which we are compelling them to display. So we just want to make sure that there is compliance. The Central Bank (RBZ) has issued six hotline numbers which any citizen can call in order to make sure that we know who is violating the law. You can also inform the police so that they can act. We want to make sure that we enforce the law as stipulated and everyone complies. I thank you.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I think the Minister is
not getting me at all. When you are now paying in USD and they are pricing their goods in USD; you merely give them your $10 and pay your goods at $5, you are given your $5 change and you pay VAT in USD for the $5 that you are paying. So, I do not understand why we still have an exchange rate because at the point that we had said you can pay in your currency of choice, they should just receive the money that I am giving them. If I pay in RTGs, I get my receipt in RTGs and I pay my VAT in RTGs. If I pay in USD – I still cannot understand why they are having an exchange rate because we are now paying in USD and I would have thought that the Minister would have been quite excited about wanting to get whatever money that is being paid in VAT in hard currency to be registered as hard currency. So, I am still not getting that explanation Madam Speaker.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you very much, I think I am
clearer now. The question is very clear. When the customer pays in the currency of their choice and the retailer accepts, they ought to remit the tax that applies to that transaction in the currency of trade. So, if the customer has paid in US dollars, the retailer must remit the tax in US dollars as well. If they are not, as the Hon Member is saying, they are breaking the law and we will enforce the law and catch them. I will instruct ZIMRA to go around doing the relevant inspections to make sure that those who are breaking the law are brought to book. We must enforce that, otherwise we are losing revenue because they are playing around with the exchange rate when they are keeping the forex, depriving us of foreign currency. We will make sure that we deal with them. I thank you.
*HON. B. DUBE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I think the question was how will you know that the retailer sold goods in forex because all the receipts are in RTGS? That is where our issue is. Even if you are looking forward to receiving tax in forex, how will you know how much they sold in forex because by the end of the month, you will be given receipts in RTGS while they keep the forex. That is where we need clarification from the Hon. Minister.
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I thank the Hon. Member for that
follow up supplementary question. If the retailers are producing receipts in RTGS having conducted transactions in US dollars, that is illegal and indiscipline. We will follow up on it and enforce the law because they are breaking the law. That is why we want to send our inspectors around from ZIMRA to make sure that we catch them and the law can be enforced. Thank you very much.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Madam Speaker, the Hon. Minister speaks of a dual regime of accepting RTGS and US$. Government departments, in particular the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, through the CVR, is refusing to accept RTGS even at interbank rate for the purposes of paying for number plates. Is it your instruction that a government department refuses to accept RTGS, our own local currency?
HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Madam Speaker, that is a new
question but I will still answer it with your permission just for the record. Certainly it is not my instruction. Thank you very much.
HON. MADZIMURE: Madam Speaker, the Minister has said he
is ignorant of what is happening at a government institution. CVR is a
Government institution which works hand-in-glove with ZIMRA. Is the Minister really ignorant that CVR is refusing people to pay in RTGS and they accept only US$? As a Member of Parliament, I actually paid in US$ and I was denied the right to use RTGS. Is the Minister saying he is not aware and does not know what is happening in his department because this was a policy decision that was made? Is he saying CVR made its own unilateral decision?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon, Madzimure, on that
one, I think we can give the Hon. Minister the chance to investigate. He said he is not aware.
HON. T. MLISWA: Hon. Members, this is a very important
question for you. May the Minister clarify whether retailers are selling in US$ at auction rate. Why are Members of Parliament not also being paid auction rates so that there is buying power? It is a simple question.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Hon.
Mliswa for that very important question. It is about the welfare of Members of Parliament. I am going to reveal something that he is aware of, which is that we are currently in discussions with the leadership of
Parliament. We want to adjust the sitting allowances for Members of Parliament. I think we have reached a position that is based on affordability and the budget projections of Parliament up to year-end. We have a figure and I think at the right moment, leadership of
Parliament and the office of the Clerk will communicate to Members of Parliament. We have done something in response. I cannot reveal the figures because it is up to the leadership to communicate that position.
We covered a lot of things such as sitting allowances, vehicle issues, aah they are many. I thank you.
HON. MAYIHLOME: Thank you Hon. Speaker Maám. My
question is directed to the Leader of Government Business in the absence of the Minister of Public Service. The current position is that when the Public Service is filling in vacancies for junior employees, they advertise in the State Media, print and electronic, thereby disadvantaging those in the rural constituencies. My question therefore is, when is the Ministry going to decentralise the filling up of vacant posts in the Public Service to districts and provinces? Currently, clerks, drivers, cooks and security guards are being recruited centrally. As a result, the people without access to information are losing out and people are just coming from the centre which is not fair. Thank you very much.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. The Government position is that our Public Service Commission is decentralised to provinces and districts. We have people who work in those areas and their duty is also to assist Members of the Community when there are vacancies that exist. I am not aware of any area that does not have members of the Public Service Commission that are employed in those respective areas. If the Hon. Member has any, then perhaps he can put that in writing so that we can investigate why that specific administration district does not have members of the Public Service Commission who are supposed to conduct their duty in those respective areas. I thank you.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: In those towns and districts, there are Public Service Offices, can they advertise for those offices rather than centrally as Hon. Mayihlome has said. I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to thank the Hon. Member for the follow up question which is a very good suggestion. The very reason why they are in those areas is to ensure that they serve the public including interviews. If that is not happening, I will engage the Minister of Public Service to find out why that is not the norm, but the general policy is
that we have those officers in every administration district. Should a vacancy exist, naturally they are supposed to take charge rather than centralise it. I will make a follow up or also the Hon. Member can engage the Minister so that he can get more clarity as to the specific reason why that is not obtaining at the moment.
HON. SIKHALA: This question is motivated on the grounds that the Government has failed to implement devolution as provided for in the Constitution. We do not want to hear this question again at the next Parliamentary session. When is Government going to fulfill the call to devolution in our country in terms of the Constitution so that all these questions and grievances will not emerge again?
HON. ZIYAMBI: The Government is committed to devolution and the Hon. Members are aware that His Excellency even changed designation of Ministers of State to say Ministers of State and Devolution. The previous budget, the esteemed Minister of Finance allocated funding to cater for that. We have had some activities going on in terms of devolution, so it is not very correct to say Government has done nothing in terms of devolution. A lot has happened and a lot is happening, what we are going to do is to identify certain inconsistencies in our laws starting with the Constitution. Once we tied up the legislative framework, then we will roll out in a clearer manner our devolution agenda. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Why are you not pushing the Devolution Bill quickly to Parliament?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. in my earlier
response I indicated that in order to give effect and more clarity to our devolution agenda, we identified certain inconsistencies that are obtaining in the Constitution. We have before the House Constitution amendment Number 2 to deal with that and we will then bring the legislation that will give effect to devolution after we have undertook that exercise. I thank you.
HON. A. NDEBELE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Prof.
Ncube. Madam Speaker, the budget strategy paper remains an important document in the budget processes and consultations in particular. Despite its significance, the 2020 budget strategy paper was only released on the last day of public consultation, thereby defeating its purpose of informing the submission of the public to the budget consultations. This has been recurring over the last two years.
Madam Speaker, allow me to check with the Minister what the policy position that informs this delay of the release of the budget strategy paper is. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMETN (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Madam
Speaker, the Hon. Member has raised an important question about the timing of the release of the pre-budget storage paper. The reason for the delay was because of a few things. It was because of the national development strategy. That process and consultations for it was delayed due to COVID-19. We conducted nationwide consultations so that there has been a delay, but now I am happy to say it is back on track. We have been able to extract the pillars of the NDS which we are using as the foundation for the pre-budget strategy paper as well as the 2021 budget which is a follow up to the pre-budget strategy paper.
The NDS process was delayed by COVID-19. That is really the issue there. Covid-19 plus NDS are the reasons why there was a delay, but I would like to encourage Hon. Members to make use of the document as usual. They will find it clear, I think they will find it logical, but it is up to them to judge. I am saying it because I wrote it so I have to say that. Also, remember we are going to do a four or five day retreat together with Hon. Members and we will continue to use the document. I do not think there would be a big loss at all. There is still time to consult, and I hope that you will find the document useful.
I will be very happy, Madam Speaker, later today to officially table it before you, before the House as our official document for the prebudget strategy discussions. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am being told that questions
number 1 and number 2 were already submitted by the Minister.
THE HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam
Speaker, seeing there are no questions there…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Leader of the House,
please may you approach the Chair. Order Hon. Members, order please!
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker there was a request that the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation presents a Ministerial Statement. With the indulgence of the House, I request that she be afforded the opportunity to present that Ministerial Statement. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Leader of
the House. I call upon the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to give us a Ministerial Statement.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
RESUMPTION OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND
RECREATION (HON. COVENTRY): Thank you Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation is indeed pleased to learn of the anxiety and apprehension that has gripped the nation over the continued sabbatical of some of the sporting discipline as related by Hon. T. Biti. This shows that appetite and the deprivation by the Hon. Member of Parliament that underline the length and breadth of the role of sport in our life as Zimbabweans, particularly in these periods of distress, somberness, isolation sponsored by the corona virus. It is also a depiction of this House’s consciousness on the role of sport in generating national feeling as well as up scaling the happiness index amongst our own citizens. It is to that end the Ministry would like to submit its appreciation of this enquiry by the Hon.
Member of Parliament.
On the resumption of activities, Madam Speaker, on 14th April, 2020.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Minister, please may you unmute your gadget. Thank you, you may proceed.
HON. COVENTRY: Thank you Madam Speaker. On the
resumption of activities, Madam Speaker, on 14th April, 2020 the WHO developed an interim guidance paper for sports federations, sport event organisers to consider when planning match sports and recreation gatherings in the context of covid-19. In view of this development by WHO the Ministry and its arms, the Sport and Recreation Commission and the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board developed a schedule classifying sporting disciplines according to risks as related by WHO in the interim guideline.
The Ministry and its arms made consultations with the National
Sports Association and the following categories were developed:
- Low risk sport with physical distancing is possible, for example archery, shooting and some athletics events. These will be less of a risk if physical distancing advice for athletes, coaches and spectators is followed.
- Medium risk sport which was classified as sporting disciplines where contact is possible but can be managed and distancing maintained. In such activities participants though vulnerable can devise mechanisms to abstain from contact vulnerability to risk.
- High risk sport was catigorised as physical and close contact among players which could increase the transmission of covid-19.
Following the consultations sporting disciplines were classified as outlined in the table below:-
LOW RISK | MEDIUM RISK | HIGH RISK |
Archery | Badminton | Soccer |
Pool | Baseball | Wrestling |
Swimming | Lawn Bowls | Boxing |
Athletics | Soft ball | Basketball |
Rowing | Triathlon | Water Polo |
Cycling | Weightlifting | Volleyball |
Equestrian | Taekwondo | |
Fencing | Rugby | |
Golf | Netball | |
Gymnastics | Judo | |
Motor Sport/BMX | Handball | |
Shooting | Field Hockey | |
Tennis | ||
Chess | ||
Darts | ||
Draughts | ||
Goal Ball (Visual Impaired) |
Criteria of Resumption
Madam Speaker, after following the recommendations by WHO in consultations with National Sports Associations, the Ministry of Youth. Sport, Arts and Recreation advised low risk sports to apply for resumption and share their covid-19 precautionary measures for consideration. Each and every National Association was tasked to develop its precautionary measures suitable for the sporting discipline. Seventeen National Sports Associations applied, and as you may recall
Madam Speaker, during one of the post Cabinet briefings on Tuesday, 19th May, 17 sporting disciplines were allowed to resume activities with the only restriction being crowd presence. They were archery, swimming, athletics, rowing, cycling, equestrian events, fencing, golf, gymnastics, motor sports and BMX, shooting, tennis, chess, darts, draughts and pool.
Given that and for the record, allow me to reiterate that sport in Zimbabwe resumed on 19th May, 2020 starting with low risk sport as guided by the World Health Organisation in a communication which has also caught the attention of the Hon. Member of Parliament. Madam
Speaker Ma’am, the absence of our favourite sporting disciplines in the initial phase of resumption should therefore not mean failure by the Ministry to put mechanisms for the recommencement of sport in the country.
Hon. Speaker Ma’am, as the Ministry trudges ahead with the staggered resumption of sport guided by the set criteria, high risk sporting disciplines have begun to apply for the resumption of activities. In their application, they have also been requested to put the measures that they are putting in place to mitigate contraction and spread of Covid-19 as guided by their international federations. Zimbabwe cricket has successfully re-applied following its undertaking to follow Covid-19 procedures as well as guidelines by the International Cricket Council.
Zimbabwe will tour Pakistan at the end of the month of October, 2020 and the domestic cricket league as well as club cricket is also set to resume.
Football has also applied for the resumption of the domestic league and their application with the recommendation of the Sports and Recreation Commission has been approved. The domestic league will resume in a staggered way starting with the PSL and Women’s League as well as international matches which will resume with the use of biosecure bubbles.
You may also be aware Madam Speaker Ma’am, that Government gave a reprieve for the Zimbabwe National Football team to play Malawi in an international friendly where warriors drew one all with The Flames of Malawi.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, as a Ministry and Government, we have noted the commencement of activity in other countries but the solutions to the containment of COVID-19 do not require a copy and paste attitude but systematic approaches in the interest of our athletes and athlete support personnel. You may want to know that in the run-up to the international friendly with Malawi, Kudakwashe Mahachi, one of our top players who plies his trade in South Africa tested positive as he was preparing to travel to Zimbabwe and join camp. He became the first Zimbabwean player to test positive of COVID-19. The detection was as a result of the conditions of travel and had the player not intended to travel, it could have risked colleagues at his base in South Africa.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, as a Ministry, we understand the anxiety
for sport particularly football but for the love of our athletes and support personnel, let us be patient as the best environment is being created for the resumption of the ‘world’s most beautiful game’.
Above and beyond mainstream sporting disciplines, the Ministry has also been monitoring activities around gyms, fitness and wellness facilities. As of 1st July, 2020, the following fitness and wellness facilities were reviewed on a case-by-case basis after their applications were given the green-light to resume operations:-
- Gyms and recreational facilities.
- Pro Fitness.
- Sweatnation Fitness.
- Body Active.
- Total Fitness (Longchen).
- Total Fitness (Borrowdale).
- Innovate Sport & Health.
- Curves Gym.
- Olympus Health and Fitness.
The resumption was sponsored by the need to foster active life styles amongst Zimbabweans and every citizen keen on participating on physical activity has the liberty to do so with these accredited facilities.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, it would be amiss if I do not share with you the evolution in cost centres that have been caused by the emergence of COVID-19. For every National Sport Association to resume activity, there should be adequate presence of personal protective equipment (PPEs), testing funds and even more the use of bio-secure bubbles. This equipment that is for the safety of athletes and athlete support personnel do not come cheap and require the net capacitation of our National Sport Associations as well as clubs. The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, through Treasury has been able to share funding with National Sport Associations through the Athletes Relief Fund but is not enough for these requirements. The onus is on this House Madam Speaker Ma’am, to determine if more funding can be channeled to sport for such purposes.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, I would like to once again take this opportunity to appreciate the hunger for sport as contained in the inquiry and would be glad if the same can be invested in the support, maintenance and sustenance of the sport in our various constituencies for an active Zimbabwe. More- so, I would want this House to note that investment required to deliver sport is now different as the uses of bubbles and testing has severely transformed the cost centres of sport. It is therefore my plea through you Madam Speaker Ma’am, that as we prepare the budgets for sport, let this new development be considered. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you. My first question relates to rural area soccer. My observation is; since the advent of COVID 19 soccer has been going on in rural areas and maybe because it is done in an open area environment, would it not be wise to allow it to proceed as it is the only source of entertainment in rural areas? The other question; we see your Sports and Recreation Commission distributing sport equipment throughout urban areas. When will this equipment also come to rural areas for rural youths to be able to enjoy the same? I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. If the Football Association is given the go ahead to commence the soccer activities, the few questions I wish to raise are; what would happen to their leagues because we are already moving towards the end of the year?
Secondly, what would happen to those rural constituencies where soccer is played particularly at division level less than Premier League level? Certainly, they may not afford to abide by the World Health
Organisation regulations on COVID.
Lastly Madam Speaker, we have seen internationally - because the soccer bodies can afford it, they are able to play in vacant stadiums to reduce the transmission of COVID virus. As a country, can our soccer teams afford that. What would be the implications in terms of the generation of revenue because most of our soccer teams do not have income generation ventures which can sustain them other than the use of gate-takings? Thank you – [HON. NDUNA: Hon. Speaker Ma’am, I ask you to recognise me if you may. My name is Dexter Nduna.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You may proceed, Hon.
Dexter Nduna.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma’am. I
just have two questions that I have for the Hon. Minister. The first one is nearly the same as the one that Hon. Gabbuza has just spoken to and above ,in particular we currently have social leagues that are not competitive in terms of Division 1, Division 2 or Premier League. What is Government’s position relating to regularisation or allowing those social leagues to go ahead and start playing because even without the authority, we have seen the proliferation, the continuation of these social league clubs playing in particular in peri-urban areas. The second one is that the Hon. Minister sits on the board of the Global Olympics. What is it that is accruing through you Hon. Minister, in the game of swimming to the nation in relationship to the position that you hold so that we can have the children emulate you, use you as a pedestal for swimming excellence enhancement. Those are the two issues that I have Hon. Speaker Ma’am.
HON. COVENTRY: Thank you Madam Speaker. I will just
respond in order of the questions. First on the question of rural soccer and the social leagues, as we have seen and mentioned and allow me to give some background; what we did with the Ministry and SRC is to put together a taskforce made up of medical doctors that will allow us to help assess which sports should start in terms of the capabilities in upholding the guidelines of the WHO as well as the Government guidelines to COVID-19. Let me proceed to say that our first priority is the safety of our people and secondly, is the resumption of sport.
With that being said in terms of soccer directly, we will start with the PSL and the Women’s League. Once that bubble concept is done in the form of a mini-league, we will be able to see the capacity and the capability of the other divisions and leagues that fall below them and ZIFA will be reporting to the Ministry and to SRC in terms of the capacities that the other divisions have. As Hon. Members have mentioned, some of the social leagues have continued and I would hope that the social leagues have, above all put the safety of their players and themselves first in terms of at least adhering to the national law of social distancing, sanitising and wearing face masks.
Allow me to address the question on distribution of equipment. I will have to come back to this Hon. House because I would be very interested to see in terms of the distribution whether they have been made. As far as my offices are aware, that distribution is supposed to be done nationally and be given no importance to urban over rural.
In terms of what would happen with the vacant stadiums, the Hon.
Member brings a good point that a lot of teams may not have other income sources but in terms of the PSL and the Women’s League and mini-tournament, we would want to be focusing on broadcasting the games which will allow the teams to potentially gain some sponsors.
In terms of the other divisions again, unfortunately this is the pandemic that we find ourselves in and it is faced by all countries across the world. In terms of the last question, the International Olympic Committee as Hon. Members are aware Madam Speaker, represents all sports not just one in particular and so, as that pertains the question in terms of what word the country would be acquiring specifically to swimming, does not really pertain to the position that I felt as the IOC and the International Olympic Committee represents over 55 different sports and not one in particular. Thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
HON. K. PARADZA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. K.
PARADZA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 20th October, 2020
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
OFFICIAL OPENING OF PARLIAMENT AND STATE OF THE
NATION ADDRESS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to remind the House that His
Excellency The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa, will in terms of Section 140 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, address a virtual joint sitting of the Senate and the National Assembly on Thursday, 22nd October 2020 at 12.00 o’clock during which time he will set out the Government legislative agenda for the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament and in terms Section 140 (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe deliver the State of the
Nation Address.
PRE-BUDGET BRIEFING SEMINAR
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also have to inform the House that there will be a pre-budget briefing seminar tomorrow, Wednesday 21st October, 2020 in the Jacaranda Room at the Rainbow Towers Hotel from 0830 hours to 1300 hours. The bus will leave Parliament at 0800 hours from the Nelson Mandela entrance. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, you are advised that only the Presiding officers, Chairpersons of Committees, Members of the expanded Committee on SDGs and the Secretariat will participate physically while the rest of the Hon.
Members will participate virtually from either the National Assembly Chamber, Senate Chamber, respective hotel rooms and may also connect from wherever it may be convenient to do so. Please note that the zoom link will be shared with you before the seminar through your e-mail addresses.
HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: A point of order? There is no debate that has taken place.
HON. MUSHORIWA: It is actually in respect to the announcement that the Chair has announced.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Are you asking for a point of
clarification?
HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes, it is pertaining to the budget meeting, the one you have announced which is taking place tomorrow.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Which the Hon. Speaker has announced.
Be very careful with your language.
HON. MUSHORIWA: My apology, Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to point out that Parliament, as we are, we are the representatives of the people and we are supposed to make sure that we uphold the Constitution and the laws of this country. Budget is such an important instrument in the economy of this country and the Public Management Finance Regulations, Chapter 2, stipulates that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development shall lay before Parliament the budget strategy paper and it is supposed to be laid on 31st July. We could have understood that because there was COVID-19, there could have been delays, but Mr. Speaker Sir it is wrong for this House to condone an illegality to participate in budget processes without the Minister having come before this august House to lay the budget strategy paper, or at the very least to seek condonation in this august House. So Mr. Speaker Sir, I am actually thinking that it is wrong for us to even go forward with budget processes until the Hon. Minister respects this august House. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: A very pertinent and sound observation
which is very legal. Some two weeks ago, this matter was raised and I had instructed the Chairperson of the Budget, Finance and Economic Development to bring that to the attention of the Hon. Minister to do exactly what Hon. Mushoriwa has indicated.
HON. MHONA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir for
according me this very important time to clarify on the issues raised by my fellow Hon. Member who happen to be a Member of the
Committee…
Hon. Mhona having been off on the virtual platform.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are not linked.
HON MHONA: Thank you very much once again Hon. Speaker
Sir for the very important debate that was raised by my fellow Hon. Member who happen to be from the same Committee. I think I need to induce a whipping system because I had said to my Members that I am going to announce on this very important attribute. For better reasons known to my fellow Member, of which I think with your power, I need to fire him from the Committee Hon. Speaker Sir – [Laughter.] –
However, he has raised very important issues and also to clarify - it is not the Public Finance Management Act, it is, according to Statutory
Instrument 135 of 2019, which are Public Finance Management General Regulations where this has been cited. In particular, Section 11 (1), paragraph c. For the benefit of the House, I can just go through to the relevant legislation, it says, “Ministry of Finance provides the Budget
Strategy Paper to Cabinet not later than the 30th of June and provides the Strategy Paper to Parliament for information and comment, not later than the 31st of July. Hon. Speaker Sir, with your wise counsel, truly, you actually mandated me to engage the Minister, of which I tried and apparently managed to get hold of the directors in the relevant Ministry and ensured them that this is a very topical issue and that it is a constitutional matter which cannot be taken lightly. With your wise counsel, I warned the Minister that failure to come and seek condonation – because already this has happened and the only way he can be excused is through a condonation.
With your indulgence Hon. Speaker Sir, I have directed the Minister through his proxy to appear before this very important House to seek for condonation before we go for the pre-budget consultation. I am sure right now he is in a Cabinet meeting and failure to come today; he has to come tomorrow Hon. Speaker Sir to seek for condonation before this august House. Truly speaking, this is an oversight from the Ministry, which must not be tolerated going forward. We want to speak to the dictates of the Constitution so that if the law says 31st of July, we had to go to public consultations without being guided in terms of priority areas. However, since we have the mandate according to
Section 141 to go to the public and solicit for their views, we had to go on Hon. Speaker Sir. With your indulgence and guidance, I have done the same in trying to get hold of the Minister whom I am sure will appear before this august House and seek for condonation through your indulgence. Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It is not a question of seeking condonation, the Hon. Minister must present that document to the House before pre-Budget seminar, tomorrow. So, I am instructing you now to go out of this House, get the Clerk of Parliament and look for the Permanent Secretary who must fish out the Hon. Minister to come and do so this afternoon – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I rise…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mhona, I said leave the House and look for the Clerk of Parliament.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise to encourage all Members of Parliament; on the 25th of October, the whole country will be united to fight the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. I therefore request all Members to stand with the people of Zimbabwe in calling for the removal of sanctions. On this day, SADC countries and all progressive countries of the world will be standing with Zimbabwe to fight these sanctions.
It will be very unfortunate if representatives of the people of Zimbabwe, parliamentarians - will keep quiet and not stand with the people they purport to represent, that sanctions be removed and stand with the people of Zimbabwe for the removal of unconditional sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe. Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, it is my request that as Members of Parliament, we can also come up with a joint statement that as representatives of the people of Zimbabwe, we would want sanctions to be removed for the development of our people, for the provision of social services, for everything that will make Zimbabweans happier and go about their business. So, I call upon Members of this House to take a strict choice whether to stand with the people of Zimbabwe or not. I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, just to add my voice to Hon.
Togarepi’s call for the anti-sanctions march, participation…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Procedurally, you cannot debate a point
of privilege.
HON. T. MLISWA: Okay, let me go to my point of privilege which is emanating from a well articulated submitted ministerial statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. S. B. Moyo on Thursday last week. It will not be complete if the line ministries do not respond to it. Your indulgence is sought in that he clearly stipulated the foreign direct investment which had come into the country under each Ministry but of course, he was not the person to talk about the implementation and the progress of that. Seeing that Portfolio Committees are the engine rooms which unfortunately have failed, this is the vehicle which again is the responsibility we can indulge his office...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Did you say unfortunately he failed?
HON. T. MLISWA: Unfortunately, Portfolio Committees in their mandate have failed to bring these Ministers before them to account for the foreign direct investments in terms of how far the implication has been. We have always known Portfolio Committees as the engine rooms of Parliament speaking into this vehicle. It is also incumbent upon this vehicle which hosts the engine room to hold them accountable by coming up with a ministerial statement on the foreign direct investment which the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade alluded to so that they can tell us on the progress of those.
Time is moving and we were quite satisfied by the brilliant presentation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and such work and such a brilliant submission would not certainly go well if there is a compliment coming in from the line ministries like Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and from the various tourism sector specific to them so that we are able to ask them in terms of the progress on how far they have gone. I would like to say the Ministers have an easier part to play because the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs was impressive, humble and he knew exactly what he was talking about but equally said he could not respond to issues which are with the line ministries.
So it is important that we hold them accountable for the foreign direct investment. Your indulgence is sought Mr. Speaker Sir, where we could have each Ministry coming up with a ministerial statement and we are able to understand and to respond because I feel the economy really is the $12 million economy in mining. We would want to know how far we have gone in terms of that. The $50 million of the Chinese factory in Norton, how much has gone into that because the structure which is there does not look like it is a $50 million but it is the line Ministry that must respond to that.
I really want to thank him, and for other Ministers to learn from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on how he presented his issues. There is also the Minister of State and Implementation. I do not know if with your indulgence - he comes here a lot but questions are never asked, if there is anything. That is not the Minister that we must also ask in terms of implementation on all these Government programmes. I have not seen that happening and maybe it is us who are not doing our work, but being a Minister of State and Implementation; can we go and ask him those questions because the Minister of State in the President’s Office, you cannot really ask questions. I am not privy to the protocols in that regard.
Let me end by saying the anti-sanctions in as much as it is important, a joint caucus would also help and having the welfare for the Members of Parliament as an agenda to the same thing. The two would go well because the welfare of the Members of Parliament is important.
If it could be put on the agenda then the anti-sanctions becomes second. The welfare of the Members of Parliament should be first and that one second. I am sure they will all participate. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa has put forward a
suggestion and we place this at the door of the Liaison and Coordination
Committee (LCC), that as we start on the Third Session of the 9th Parliament, each Chairperson will have to engage the line Ministry under their Portfolio and invoke a response in that direction. I want this one coordinated by Hon. Togarepi who is the Chairperson of the LCC and that it must be done as a matter of urgency before the end of the year particularly as we begin our Third Session of the 9th Parliament.
*HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. It has been a
number of days since schools have been opened. We are still waiting for other children to go back to school. However, since our children have gone to school, we have noted a number of misdemeanours that are happening at schools. These are things that might affect our children’s behaviour. It might come back to hound us and it might take a number of years to fix. Right now, we expect other children to go back to school. As it is, this will give us a headache. We are going to use a lot of money and it will exceed the amount that we should spend to fix this current problem.
I would like to propose that the Minister of Primary and Secondary
Education comes to this House and present a report of what is
transpiring in schools because we need to fix this. As we were going around the country as the Budget Committee and capturing people’s views, a number of parents were expressing concern over what is happening. They think that we do not care about the future of our children. My request is that the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education should bring a ministerial statement to this House and address the House with a explaining what is happening and what is going to happen.
If you watch a number of videos that are circulating on social media, the videos are obscene and some are shocking. This is happening in schools and it is also happening on our streets. We have seen a number of girls falling pregnant and if this continues for the next two or three months it will be really bad. So my request is that the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education should come to this august House and explain what Government is doing to make sure that teachers go back to school. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I shall engage the Hon. Minister to make a Statement tomorrow so that he can indicate to this Hon. House what steps are being taken to remedy the situation.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 23 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 24 has been disposed
of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PROLIFERATION OF CHILLING INCIDENTS OF MURDERS
HON. TOGAREPI: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House-
DISTURBED by the proliferation of chilling incidents of murders that have been perpetrated against members of society for ritual purposes in various parts of the country;
CONCERNED that victims of such heinous crimes are the vulnerable and unsuspecting members of our communities mostly women and children who are targeted by insensitive and brutal killers who unwittingly believe that they can eke a living and get rich overnight through the harvesting of human organs;
DEPLORING AND CONDEMNING in the strongest of terms
such heart wrenching and retrogressive practices which instil a deep sense of fear, revulsion and insecurity among our people who can no longer safely conduct their routine family errands and chores without suspicions of what might befall them or their loved ones at any given time.
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon
- the law enforcement agents to mobilise all necessary resources to expeditiously bring to book the unscrupulous culprits who are wantonly wreaking havoc among communities in the country;
- the Legislature to enact deterrent and punitive legislative measures to effectively and completely eradicate incidents of ritual murders in different parts of the country by the end of 2020.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. After experiencing
the painful killing of a young child for ritual purposes, I decided to come up with this motion. It is painful that as educated as we are, our nation still has a Zimbabwean person who still believes in ritual killings of children for lucky charms. It showed me that we still have a long way to go in becoming humane especially looking at different traditional or religious beliefs. There is need for Government to show the nation that the idea of killing each other will not be tolerated. You should work hard to become rich. You should work hard to become educated and you should not kill.
Hon. Speaker, I urge Members of Parliament to go and senstise people that what happened to the late child from Makore family is a taboo, this has no place in our country. This is not developmental – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Who, knows may be this child was going to be tomorrow’s leader, for example a Member of Parliament; but someone decided to kill that child. To make matters worse, the person who was involved in the killing was the child’s uncle. The child was given his uncle’s name and the child knew that but the uncle killed him for his business to become successful. This is painful Mr. Speaker that you will be working hard in trying to uplift your child yet there is somebody who wants to kill that person.
Our plea to Police and all Zimbabweans is to work together to curtail the killing of young children and other people. There is still that spirit in quite a number of people. I know that some traditional healers do their businesses in a proper way but there are others who encourage people to kill people for ritual purposes. We want those traditional healers to be convicted together with their clients because they were working together – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - We want them to be send to jail. There are prophets like Tsikamutanda who are busy encouraging bad practices within families. They are dividing families and they should be banned…
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is to bhana?
HON. TOGAREPI: I am sorry Hon. Speaker, kumiswa. Those people should be banned from practising. This should be banned because this practice is affecting many people. They start believing these false prophets. I urge the Government to give more funds to ZRP Public Relations in 2021 Budget for them to be able to move around educating people that there are deterrent measures to those who kill people.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am one of the people who believes that the death penalty is quite intense but in this instance, I feet that this man deserves death penalty.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I desire that as a nation, we must empower civic organisations so that they are given the opportunity to go around the country, to our schools, educating people that some customs we believe in do not work because some people do that believing that this works.
Such beliefs are caused by one’s upbringing, not knowing that these are just myths and these things do not work. Sacrificing someone’s blood does not work. What would make you to succeed in life is working hard.
Such practices should be discouraged.
As Parliament, we need to work with Government so that we find ways of capacitating our police so that they will move around the country educating the nation about bad cultural practices that do not work. There are some cultural practices that we still believe in which are archaic, obsolete and retrogressive, which do not assist us as a nation. There must be research on such cultural practices so that people are made aware of these bad practices. This is really painful. I have heard that in Central Africa, those who live with albinism are being sacrificed for ritual purposes in order to boost ones business. Such thoughts are retrogressive and they should be discouraged.
Those who believe in such practices, whether they are traditional healers, prophets and others might end up believing in those things and we will end up seeing a lot of people being sacrificed. That kind of behaviour is bad and this will not work. Sacrificing other people will not work. The people of Zimbabwe need to know that for one to succeed, it is important to work hard in business because the more time you spend in your business, the more you succeed. The secret to succeed is
working hard. You cannot excel in life by sacrificing other people. I would like to request other Hon Members to dedicate a day in their constituencies to sensitise people about these bad cultural practices. As Hon Members, we can engage our traditional leaders like chiefs, headmen and traditional healers then we discuss on such bad practices which are not acceptable in Zimbabwe. This might open our people’s minds and it might open traditional leader’s minds as well.
My desire is that the issue of taboos should be looked into by Government so that we understand why such thoughts are found in people, then we will be able to know how to remove such thoughts. If this is emanating from traditional healers, then maybe we need to convene a meeting of all traditional healers in Zimbabwe so that such issues are addressed once and for all. It is my desire that we need such a day as a nation so that we address these bad practices and do away with them. May the spirit of the departed child rest in peace but those who destroyed his life should not have peace. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: I want to add my voice to the motion that has been brought here by the Chief Whip. The motion that he speaks to and about is a motion that brings a lot of anger deep within me because if you want to get anyone to be sad, if you want them to feel very sad, if you want any human being to cry, you need to take away their child, wife and husband in the event that one is married. Having said that, I want to touch on the last point that the mover of the motion raised. I want to bolster it as follows; that we are Members of Parliament who have legislative role, representative role and oversight role on the Executive in the manner it carries out its mandate.
The representative role is the one that I want to touch on and go further to say we need, as Members of Parliament, like he said, to actually raise the bar and emotions within our constituencies and make sure that we do a solidarity march with the family of the young man who is now deceased and was murdered for his body parts. We want to make sure that when the message reaches our constituencies, what happened to the toddler will not happen again in our constituencies.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Constitution of Zimbabwe recognises in the Bill of Rights in Chapter 4, the freedom of worship. That freedom should not be abused to mean murder, mutilation or killing of somebody for their vital organs. That freedom of association and freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution should not be abused, especially as it relates to when it infringes on other people’s rights. The
Constitution also goes further to talk of rights of children Mr. Speaker
Sir. The rights of children are women’s rights; rights of children are men’s rights because children are the future of tomorrow. So the Constitution Mr. Speaker Sir should not be abused by the people because of the freedom of religion and association with any other religion. Therefore, on that score I now call upon your Portfolio Committee of Parliament to call religious leaders in their...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna can you please cover your mouth.
HON. NDUNA: I wanted to...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Otherwise you start to infect the gadgets
here.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I was just trying to catch my breath again. Mr. Speaker Sir, concerning your relevant Portfolio Committee, I want to make a clarion call that it calls the relevant department, faith healers and all traditional healers included so that it interrogates them on their position relating to issues that are before us, in particular where a toddler or a child is murdered for their body parts. It must be very clear and should be impressed upon them that no one can be enriched using another person’s life or another person’s vital organs but only effort through resilience and hard work can get somebody where they want to be in terms of enrichment and economic development and wealth.
How do you want to be enriched and economically developed Mr. Speaker Sir, if you sleep like somebody who is in the morgue, you sleep for more than 8 hours and you hope to become rich by either genital mutilation or murdering somebody for their body parts? This is just a suggestion, proposal and advice to those that think that they can murder and get away with impunity and maybe also murder their way to enrichment. It does not work like that, it is in the hands that either you are gifted with or it is in the mind, it is in your body if you are going to get rich you are not going to get rich through the murder of another man.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to touch on the religion, or faith that touches on Christianity as it relates to the issue of murder Mr. Speaker
Sir. The Bible in Matthew Chapter 33:6, says ‘seek ye first the kingdom of heaven then all other things shall be added unto you’ including wealth. If you do not seek the kingdom of heaven, certainly you will start looking for wealth through such acrimonious and very ludicrous behaviour and acts that we are touching on here this afternoon. So, it is my thinking Mr. Speaker Sir that the people that engage and indulge in such activities need to seek God first and foremost.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bible in Psalms 90:10 says, ‘the days of our years are threescore years and ten, and if by reason of stenth they are fourscore years…’ The young man we are talking about has been cut off from the earth at the time when he has not even gotten up to 20. If we do not speak against this Mr. Speaker Sir, no one else will. We as parliamentarians, in particular myself, coming in from Chegutu West constituency, I want to use this pedestal and platform to denounce such acts Mr. Speaker Sir to say no one can ever be enriched by cutting off what the Bible has said to be life for somebody under this earth.
Any other years above 70 years Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bible goes on to say one should honour their mother and father so that their life upon this earth can be long and can be much more than 70 years. It is my thinking Mr. Speaker Sir that no one should have their life cut off before they get to the age that is religiously allowable which is 70 years.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also ask in the same vein that we recognise what the Bible teaches us; in Jeremiah 33:3, God says ‘Call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things which you know not’ because ‘I have got plans for you which are plans of good and not of evil.’ Plans to see you have an expected end because he says the gold and silver is mine.
People are trying to look for the gold and silver in the wrong places. You do not look for gold and silver through the blood of another man, through the head decapitation and severing of vital organs of children.
It is my thinking therefore, Mr. Speaker Sir that if we adhere to the values of the teachings Christianity, we can get where we want to be using the dictates of the Holy Bible, already Mr. Speaker Sir, it does not speak of killing another man, especially in the New Testament. There is no eye for an eye. It is my thinking therefore Mr. Speaker as I wind up that anything that is set forth on this earth that does not include
Christianity is vanity and comes in vain. Psalms 127 verses 1 and 2 says the builders build but in vain if they build without God, the watchman watches but in vain he watches without the Lord. I therefore ask that this nation embraces Christianity in terms of their wellbeing so that they do not kill another man, without failing to adhere to the values of Christianity which speak against the ills. Let us embrace the Bible because it is the only thing that ends the only narrative that I see can get us together, galvanise us and make us united against these ills. Mr.
Speaker Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to vociferously, effectively and eloquently debate on this motion. I want to say the people of Chegutu West Constituency speak against these ills through me in Jesus name. Amen.
+HON. MABOYI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to debate a little about Tapiwa, a little child. I would like to say he was killed for the name that was given to him. Tapiwa died for the name that was given to him, his uncle’s name. I believe that Tapiwa’s uncle was a devil. It is scarring that someone can kill someone in that manner. It is my belief that if I was given the right to decide this case, I would suggest that he be hanged. People are not animals which can be killed like that. As a woman, I feel pain on the manner that he died. It was not a proper manner that he died. His body parts were cut off.
It is very scary - I cannot describe it but it all emanates from traditional healers. These traditional healers and Tsikamutandas are the ones who cause people to commit such heinous acts. I would like to talk a bit about Tsikamutanda because they are a problem in my constituency. They come from Maranda in Mberengwa. They have caused divisions amongst the people. They are mostly involved in witchcraft and they bring various objects and allege that they would have removed them. They come with cats and beasts and people in the rural areas believe that - I once approached the police when I heard they were in my area. The police went there and but did not do anything.
Some prophets with red and green cloth also cause children to be killed. I like working in the garden and if you kill me and remove my hand it will not work for you. Tapiwa’s uncle and his agents should not be given a custodial sentence because they are mental patients. It is my request to the President that these culprits be hanged. If they are not given deterrent sentences they will influence others. They should be given deterrent sentence so that others of a like mind are deterred. I thank you.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Madam Speaker for the
opportunity to add my voice on the debate. I come from that area and I know Tafadzwa the murderer. This was shocking and an abomination in the area. It is unbelievable, especially to those staying in the area where it has happened. The murder of Tapiwa was painful because there is no parent who can expect that a relative can kill another person in the family. Every time I look at Tapiwa’s mother I feel pained. We all have children in our families and if you think the child I was with in the morning, his head has been decapitated and cannot be found. The legs and his hands are on their own. That situation traumatises. After the issue became public and the one perpetrator of that murder case had been identified, then eventually the head could not be found. It was really touching and painful. The most challenging issue is that as residents of that area and people who know how the story transpired and knowing that the perpetrator spoke and confessed that he killed four other people, you then end up wondering why the head has not been found yet and why it is delaying. I wonder how groceries and donations help the family. The family does not just want groceries but they want closure to the matter. They want the head to be found so that it can be buried together with the body. I am pleading that as legislators and
Government, we assist this family so that the child’s head is recovered because Tapiwa’s mother is suffering. This is really painful. That is my first point.
Secondly, we need to identify people who should be reported to the police in our communities. The man who killed Tapiwa was an evil man because his wife left their matrimonial home due to physical abuse. His wife gave birth to a disabled child after suffering physical abuse. On being left by his wife, Tafadzwa used to move around with his son even going to beer halls with him for five years. The community was supposed to identify that this man’s behaviour was not good and the man was evil. So when we see people perpetuating and perpetrating violence on their families, we need to identify and report them because this has been happening for a long time.
I have also noticed that when issues are being investigated, this man was an irresponsible man. If a man could take beer and feed it to a small child, it shows he was not a good man. We are just quiet concerning Tapiwa’s issue. There is no need for a lawyer because this man deserves a death penalty. If he is put behind bars and gets out of jail, where is he going to go? In this case there is no need for a lawyer. We do not need a lawyer but in various communities there is religious and other laws – this is unacceptable. Chief Mangwende knows that in this area no one is allowed to kill another person. The Headmen also knows that.
As Parliament, we need to be in solidarity with this family and then bury this child because we are representatives of the people. I believe this is one of the first cases of ritual killings of a child in Zimbabwe. I live in a community of people. If we have children in our rural communities; they should not go to the gardens on their own; they should not go to herd cattle to look after livestock and they are not supposed to walk for long distances because this exposes them. We have been doing this for a long time but we are now failing. We need to educate our communities that young children should not do anything on their own.
Just the other day, there was a similar case next to Murewa Centre, where some children were taken by strangers. Parents need to look after their children. As legislators, we have the oversight role as well as the representative role. We need to request for a bus from Parliament Administration so that we go and visit this family and then we can empathise fully with them. After visiting them, we will then be able to speak in confidence having seen what they are going through. If this trend continues it jeopardises the work of future legislators.
As a Member of Parliament, I am requesting that Government should intervene so that the family finds closure and that the head is found. As a parent, this is really painful. You cannot just bury a body without its head.
*HON. ZEMURA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate on this issue regarding the death of Tapiwa Makore who was seven years old.
This is a painful issue. As the people of Murewa, we were really affected by this issue. We are neighbours with the Shamba family, even the perpetrator of this ritual killing is someone that I am familiar with.
We visited the family when we were invited as MPs together with Hon.
Minister Matiza. We failed to control ourselves when we saw Tapiwa’s mother. We were shown where the family dug Tapiwa’s grave. The child was not buried because the Chief refused to bury that child without finding the head. He also informed the police that Tapiwa could not be buried without his head and hands. His legs were found two weeks after death in a state of decomposition. This issue really pained the whole of Murehwa community, i.e. our leadership, Government departments and the community itself. Everyone who spoke at the funeral cried. Imagine a young child being murdered and mutilated like a chicken.
The perpetrator said that when he was mutilating the child, the child responded. He spoke about the gruesome murder. When speaking about the gruesome murder, how does the child’s mother feel? There is need for personal counselling and socio-psycho support for the victim’s parents because the father tried to speak at the funeral but it was really difficult for him. Those who tried to speak on behalf of the family could not do so either.
Looking at this issue that happened in Murehwa, Government should intervene and demonstrate that this is unacceptable. Currently, it has been a month and a week since the child was murdered and the body is still in the same state. There is no head and no one knows whether the body, arms and other parts are together. What I appreciated is that a lot of people visited the family. Others are still coming using different modes of transportation, i.e. buses, cars, et cetera and bringing tonnes of mealie meal and different food stuffs because mourners still need to eat.
This has never happened in Zimbabwe and it is very painful.
Contributions are also coming through. A delegation from Doves Funeral parlour came and spoke in an emotional manner. They advised that Doves Funeral parlour was going to cover all the funeral expenses,
i.e. burial and other requirements as and when Tapiwa’s remains are set to be buried. Chief Mangwende communicated that there was need for the head to be found so that the body is interred in its complete state. He stated that if all the body parts are not found then the child would not be buried in the community.
So Government needs to look into this issue so that the perpetrators of this ritual killing are prosecuted. We also need to visit Murehwa prison where the perpetrator is imprisoned. Currently, the other prisoners who committed small crimes like stealing and other crimes, I do not believe that they are free but because it is a jail, they still have to share the cell with this man. This is quite a touching issue and right now schools will be opening very soon. You will find that children are going to be running away because they are afraid of ritual killings. However, since this is now public information, the last speaker stated that Parliament should visit the family and also educate the nation against ritual killings.
This is not just about Makore who murdered his nephew but people end up saying Murehwa men or people are bad and some will be saying that men are evil. Imagine someone mutilating a child when some even fear slaughtering chickens. When Tapiwa’s burial date is set then we would need to invite each other especially those from
Mashonaland East and Murehwa to come together and bury our child.
This is the first case in Zimbabwe where a child’s hands and other body parts are not found. This is touching and affecting a lot of people.
I thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am for giving me the opportunity to speak about these bad acts. I worked with the elder brother of the perpetrator at the municipal offices. He was a good man but now his young brother has committed this despicable act. I thank you Hon.
Speaker Ma’am.
*HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I
will not say much but Tapiwa’s issue is a very emotional one. In this august House where laws are promulgated, we assemble here to formulate laws and all children of our nation are being represented by Tapiwa.
Right now we need to make sure that the businessman, traditional healer and the uncle who performed the ritual killing is also prosecuted. My proposal is that they must be handed the death sentence. We read this in the Bible when Cain murdered his brother Abel. These people must be brought to book and face the death penalty. We know that everyone has his/her time of passing on but this has put a dent on local business people across all political divide. All those in business ventures are eventually portrayed as people who have dirty money since owning a business now seems like a curse …
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon.
Matangira, may you use one language please?
*HON. MATANGIRA: This motion Hon. Speaker, is very touching because when God has blessed you with a child then you will be confident that God has indeed blessed you. This is painful to all Hon. Members. What surprises me is that the perpetrator of this ritual killing is known, the business person is known and the traditional healer are all known yet the head of the child has not been found. So, where are the investigators? The investigators should dig deeper into this issue so that the head is found. There is no problem; the man who mutilated the child should be accountable so there is need for prosecuting the perpetrators. They can be told that since they mutilated a child then their heads are also going to be cut-off. If then there are three or five heads these heads will represent Tapiwa’s head. I thank you.
*HON. MANGORA: I would like to add my voice to this debate
as a resident and child of Murewa sharing border lines with the family. We are related because we come from the same community. I am saying this representing Tapiwa. I know a lot of people spoke about Tapiwa’s mother and as a woman, I sometimes think about Tapiwa’s issue because this affects me. Even when your child is beaten up and collapse, even if the child is alive you will feel a lot of pain.
However, mai Tapiwa who has a child who was mutilated and the way Tapiwa died considering the weight of the perpetrator who killed the child and sat on the child for ritual purposes, he was a big man who was above 40 years. I am going to use the words that he used that the child was resisting and pressed the child down until the child became still. The police after investigations indicated that the child was forcefully subdued. I am trying to demonstrate the ritual killing, the evil and despicable act that was done by this ritual killer.
Why should justice not prevail instantly because imagine if I was Tapiwa who was forced to drink beer despite his tender age and then he was given sadza and fish by force and beer so that he could sleep. Even when he awoke, he was carried at night. I believe that Tapiwa died a painful death. When justice eventually prevails, such issues should be taken into account because there are some people who manipulate others. This uncle manipulated his worker taking advantage that he was a paid worker. So, the biggest perpetrator is the uncle who was responsible for this act and he took advantage of the situation that this young men was a poor who was herding livestock for Tapiwa’s uncle.
When justice prevails, then Makore senior should be prosecuted and the driver of the Honda Fit which was used should also be prosecuted. The driver of that car is known and it is known that he participated in the ritual killing and should be brought to book. The traditional healer who is known and who spent three days at his homestead from Monday to Thursday after the incident and question is what is stopping the police from discovering the head or doing their investigations and finding where the head is?
As a parent, it pains and the courts should look into the issue. I do not know much about court systems so I believe that this ritual killing is more serious than armed robberies, rape causes and other petty crimes. The young man who killed Tapiwa confessed and explained how he killed this child. I am requesting that the law should take its course so that this child rests in peace and amai Makore will be comforted. I will not say much because we are really pained as a community.
I am saying that as a nation let us demonstrate to other countries that in Zimbabwe we will not have a similar case of killings. People should not believe that ritual killings will enrich them or improve their businesses but we need to work hard because the blood of innocent victim cannot enhance anyone’s business. We grew up knowing that there are people like traditional healers who do such bad practices. I am requesting that those who practice such bad cultural practices should be prosecuted. We know when schools open some children will know about the case. Even those who continue posting things on social media should desist from such practices because this is really affecting Tapiwa’s parents and their family. I thank you.
*HON. RWODZI: I rise as a woman and parent to support the motion that was moved by Hon. Togarepi and my fellow Hon. Legislators. We are really touched as women. What affects us most is what has been explained that the perpetrators of this ritual killing are known. Let us start with the businessman who sent the uncle. The employee confesses that he has done a number of ritual killings. As legislators, people laugh at us and some even insult us. There are no other issues that are been discussed but this issue. Some people are now trying to look after their children and ask us what we are doing as legislators regarding this issue or what is our police doing. We have noted that they arrest robbers and other criminals but what is happening with this case? Is it because of magical powers or what?
The death of Tapiwa is quite clear. Everyone knows that the child was mutilated and justice should prevail forthwith like what Hon.
Matangira said that this case should be finalised. We are people who fear God and at times we do not believe that such things can happen. These people should be forced to say the truth and if it fails, then send us as Hon. Members of Parliament to engage them and see whether we are going to fail or not. As an Hon. Member of Parliament, I am ashamed to go and see Tapiwa’s mother. How am I going to express my condolences? What if she asks where her child’s head is? Government should help us and intervene in this issue so that there is closure and the perpetrators are prosecuted as soon as possible.
As a parent, when you hear that your child has been beaten up, at times you restrain yourself but at times you feel like revenging, investigating and finding out what happened. However, in this case, after this mutilation, this case is just low. This has happened to a child but the police is just watching and not saying anything. They just folded their hands as they listened to this young man explaining how he committed the ritual killing. When someone decides to enhance their business, they are told by traditional healers to kill people. Most traditional healers are registered with ZINATA. This is a crime which should be investigated and every traditional healer should be registered with ZINATA so that they practice following the ethical standards that are set. Even when this case goes to court, it must be clear and there must be evidence of what happened. If the traditional healer is not registered with ZINATA, he must be arrested. So, let us continue lobbying for all traditional healers to be registered. If these are cultural practices that we believe in, traditional healers should operate within the confines of the law. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. MUTOMBA: Allow me Madam Speaker to read from the
Bible, Genesis 6:5-7. “Now that the Lord had seen that the sinning was too much and their thoughts were evil all the time, the Lord was not happy with the manner in which people behaved on this earth. The Lord said I will destroy people from this earth.”
Madam Speaker, this motion that was brought before us by the Chief Whip Hon. Togarepi, that of Tapiwa, is a very painful one. If you listened to what I just read, we should look closely at what the Lord said about the evil things that people were doing. We look at what works that the people were involved in that made the Lord to regret creating people. He was so angry to the extent that he decided to exterminate people from this earth. Even those in Sodom and Gomorrah, they were killing each other, men were marrying men and women were marrying women. The killing which took place then is the same manner Tapiwa Makore died.
My Hon. Members, it is very painful to be given a flower in your life by the Lord but because of greed and lack of knowledge, people desire to have more money, they need blood of a human being, a heart or head of a person and that results in murder. Jehovah said my people die because of lack of knowledge. It is true there is no business without a customer. A customer is a human being. Can you imagine the dying minutes of Tapiwa Makore, being given opaque beer/traditional beer to make his death as easy as eating porridge. Like I said, for a business to be successful, it needs a customer but instead we are seeing a father and a businessman killing a young person, a customer that is supposed to be buying from him. Instead we are seeing a father closing the channel in which they were supposed to get money from a customer by killing him for his head and heart to make his business flourish. We have lost it as Zimbabweans. We are crying saying things are tough but are we looking at whether our actions please the Lord or not. We are supposed to unite and look at the situation that befell the family of Tapiwa. How many children have we been reading in the newspapers that are missing and nothing has been done about it? Children are being innocently killed, men also are being killed and nothing is being done.
We greatly support what Hon. Togarepi has raised in this House to say those who committed these murderers including the traditional healer and all the relatives involved should be burned to death. I am kindly asking this Hon. House to come up with a resolution on this matter and the resolution has to be on record. I know there are deliberations that are being done to come up with such laws but in this scenario something must be urgently done.
We are supposed to come up with one voice saying no to these murders. Whilst we are taking time to come with a resolution, somewhere in Buhera or Mutare, a child is being killed. Precedence must quickly be set so that other murderers will learn the repercussions of such actions in society.
The lawyers are not forthcoming in standing for this matter in the courts; yes there is no reasonable lawyer who can stand in defence of such demonic actions. These perpetrators should just be sentenced to death, we should set precedence and respect the Lord. Therefore, as parliamentarians we should come and stand together and come up with a resolution to fast track this case. These people should be hanged to emphasize what the Hon. Chief Whip, Hon. Togarepi has said. I thank you.
HON. NYAMUDEZA: Tapiwa’s predicament is a very sad one to
everyone who is sane. The cases of murders that are being recorded in this country sums up to say the law is not effective in this country. The country has no clarity to the law; the law that criminalises those who commit murders is sometimes surpassed by corruption through bribes to escape justice.
What all Hon. Members are saying is that there are a lot of murders being committed around the country. Three days after Tapiwa was killed, in Chipinge a dead man was discovered, it was also suspected that it was a businessman doing his rituals and the police know about this issue.
A child is a greatest gift for human beings, when you start aging; you need these children to assist you. This Tapiwa’s case, if it is possible, the Government should fast track and come up with a law to that effect. However, I am requesting through you Hon. Speaker that the Minister of Justice makes a Ministerial Statement with regards to such murderers going on in this country.
As a country, we are very grateful that the Lord has opened our eyes through this Tapiwa’s story that there are a lot more of these cases that are happening in our country. In Gwanda, there are a lot of artisanal miners; people are no longer living in peace because of these miners. A lot of people have also been murdered amongst these artisanal miners but nothing was done to prosecute the perpetrators of the law.
This habit of these so called businessmen who want to advance their business through killing other innocent souls should be brought to an end. As has been mentioned by other Hon. Members, the body parts are known where they were hidden but we are wasting time by not coming up with a resolution to this matter.
In Malawi, they have come up with legislation to say if you are caught threatening or touching anyone with albinism, you will be sentenced. Such laws like these in Malawi should also be implemented in our country. A human being must not be slaughtered like a chicken or a cow. I am in support of what all Hon. Members said, even the Hon.
Member who brought this motion, it is a motion that assists us as Members of Parliament to fix things in our country.
A committee should be set up to go to Murewa, in solidarity and as a compassionate gesture to the family of Tapiwa. Let us make resolutions to this matter urgently. It is not only painful to women but to us as men because how else will I bring back the child? We would have understood it better if the child had fallen ill and died. I thank you.
*HON. GOZHO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank the Chief Whip for the motion he has moved in this House. I have been paying particular attention to the case of Tapiwa on Tilda Moyo’s show on radio to get all the updates. The issue of his missing head is a very painful one. As a female Member of Parliament, I was thinking that all female Hon. Members should go to the police station demanding the head of Tapiwa. The Chief in Murewa declared that the child cannot be buried without his head. This issue of Tapiwa Makore is very painful. These murderers who are killing children and old people - even in Nembudziya, we had an issue of a businessman who was involved in the murder of a human being but the issue never went anywhere. We are thinking these people are from Murehwa because his body parts were missing.
What I am asking is that if these murderers are given the death sentence - let them be killed so that everyone sees, so that other people in Zimbabwe will learn that killing someone is a very big crime. Let it be a lesson to others that it is a crime to kill someone. To cut short someone’s life is very difficult and painful. To this judgment also I say if possible before the head is availed let them feel the same pain Tapiwa felt. It was very difficult when I carried my child for nine months and imagine someone taking that child just to kill for business sake. It is very painful. Every day when I listen to Tilda Moyo’s Show I feel great pain because of this. I thank you.
+HON. E. MASUKU: Thank you Madam Speaker. Tapiwa’s
issue is indeed a painful one. Tapiwa’s issue has disturbed everyone in Zimbabwe showing that those people who killed Tapiwa for ritual purposes should be punished. If possible they should be killed. They should just be killed so that the pain that we as Zimbabweans are feeling is also felt by the people that committed this crime. There should be a follow up as to where Tapiwa’s the missing parts are. It is not possible that no one is aware of where the head is. We therefore ask for further investigations because we are so much touched by this ritual killing.
As I speak, there is a 10 year old child that has been missing in Ntabazinduna for the past three days. This shows that if nothing is done about such ritual killings we are going to face a continuation of such in our society. Punishment should not only be done to those people that killed Tapiwa, but to everyone else who uses such things as knives to kill other people. It is our plea that such people be punished. If possible we bring back the issue of making sure that people get the death penalty whenever they commit such cases.
My message to Tapiwa’s family is that we continue to stand by them and we continue to cry with them during this difficult time. We are also saying as Government, we need to make sure that those people who will think of committing such ritual crimes do not ever try to do this. Thank you Madam Speaker for these few words.
*HON. CHIHURURU: Thank you Madam Speaker. As a woman the manner in which the child died in Murehwa is very painful. I just want to say a few words so that we alert each other of what is happening in the country. The manner in which the child died is very painful and the people who killed this child are known. As I stand here, I request that the Government give a harsh sentence because after this child died in Chipinge a girl was killed and her breasts were taken off and she was dressed in a uniform so they could not see who it was. In Chimanimani in Rusitu it was my relative who died. A man arrived asking for directions to a certain homestead. She did not realise that there were two other men hiding. When the mother went out to show them the way she left her door open and the two men entered the house without her seeing them. When she came back and closed the doors they killed the woman. When the child heard some noises she enquired what was happening and the men responded saying they were putting something in order in the house.
These men are not known where they went. It is very painful. How do we live in a country when these cases go nowhere? We kingly ask for a harsh sentence for all those who commit such crimes. Cattle rustlers we hear get harsh sentences, so many years in jail, but for murderers they do not go anywhere.
We ask the National Assembly to come to an understanding to say all those who kill; such crimes should get a harsh sentence. I have been to Mozambique in Beira. When I was sitting I heard people screaming. The law in this land Mozambique is that if someone steals something they burn him using a tyre. What confuses us is that the murderers are known, everyone involved is known but nothing is being done. This is a shame to us. We ask the Government to come together so that these people get a harsh sentence.
+HON. S. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member that brought this motion that is so touching like this. As women, each time a person is killed, whether it is an elderly somebody or a child it pains us so much because we are the ones who carry these people as babies and the Bible says ‘thou shall not kill’ but what we are realising now is that killing has become rampant and it has taken us to a point where children are being killed, which is why we are seeing such children as Tapiwa Makore being killed.
Children are now afraid to be sent anywhere within the vicinity of where they are staying. The killing of people has become rampant. Recently, there are people who were killed in Plumtree; a grandmother and grandfather. Right now, in Bulawayo a child who was learning at
Milton High has gone missing and the search is continuing up to now. We continue to read on social media that people continue to be killed because there is no law. It appears there is no harsh sentence which deters people to kill others. Artisanal miners continue to kill each other using machetes. Our plea is that there be harsh sentences so that people stop conducting such killings.
The previous speakers highlighted that these people need to be killed. If necessary, we should make sure that they are killed through death sentence because this is not only troubling the Makore family but the whole Zimbabwean society. Right now, no one is celebrating because of what has happened. Schools are going to be opening Madam
Speaker Ma’am, but how are our kids going back to school when we are talking about a missing head.
Our culture, and not only our culture but each time we go and bury somebody, culturally we say the head is supposed to face a certain direction but in Tapiwa’s case the head is missing and the burial exercise is still to be done because there is a missing head. The culprits made sure that they mutilated the body but the head is still missing. We just need police officers to make sure that they do their part in making sure that the culprits bring back the head of this child. The law should be applied because what happened to Tapiwa should not happen in the near future. If we fail to make sure that we bring a stop to this, we will face problems as a country.
I concur with previous speakers that the appropriate sentence to these culprits should be death sentence. We should agree as Members of the august House that the sentence be harsh so that whoever will think of killing someone for ritual purposes will think twice, be it a businessman or whoever. If there is no hangman, we will look for that person as Government and make sure that he does his work. We know that there is someone holding on to Tapiwa’s head right now. Madam Speaker, we will not continue to let such ritual killings happen in our country. I continue to air my voice on this issue and say that these people should be killed. Thank you very much.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me an
opportunity to contribute, for us to mourn together with the Makore family. It has now reached an unprecedented level here in Zimbabwe because the cases are just becoming too many. A lot of people are being killed through murder.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can you unmute your gadget
Hon. Member.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank you. I have nothing much to say, Hon. Members have said a lot. Where did this come from, to say a business will flourish through spilling the blood of a human being? People should work hard, that is what brings riches or wealth. Wealth comes through hard-working. We are saying as Members of Parliament, let us come together and condemn this so that it comes to an end in our country.
There are things we wonder to say when they will come to an end.
Because of Tapiwa’s death, things of this nature should come to an end. A lot of people have died through killings by artisanal miners in order to get a very small piece of diamond. So I agree with other Hon. Members who spoke before me to say a person is not supposed to die like that. In this House we once agreed that evil should not be paid with evil. However, as we continue to witness people who commit murder crimes, it does not benefit us to live with murderers in our community. If it has come out and it is clear that this is the murderer, those from the Makore family are saying bring that head to us. What is also painful is that we continue to wonder where this head is. The murderers are there and that is what is stopping them from burying their child. If it is because of the traditional healer who is using muti to stop people from getting information, let the traditional healer disappear first and the others follow. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
*HON. JANUARY: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I just stood up so
that we mourn together with the Makore family. If I look at the issue of Tapiwa Makore, I feel great pain because as I stand here I am also a victim of such acts. I feel the pain because I also experienced the same. It is not easy for a mother; it leaves a permanent wound throughout her entire life time. Everything that they will do, she will question herself about the whereabouts of Tapiwa. I am really pained and I wonder what the murderer and the traditional healer are thinking about the relatives as it relates to the missing head. It means we are failing somewhere somehow.
If it was a businessman who wanted to do this, it means it was not only the ritual killing of Tapiwa but it means it has been happening to a lot of people. We would rather close businesses because they cannot continue to get profit after spilling children’s blood, some of whom we are not aware of at this point. Tapiwa’s mother is in great pain, she has got a very big wound. It is easy to comfort people but if it faces you, you then think it is the end of the world.
This is very painful to an individual. It is easier if the child falls ill because you take the child to a doctor where the doctor prescribes medication. It easier that way as compared to the murder of a child; when you expect your child to come back in the evening and you are only told that the child is not there. Tapiwa’s death is very painful. He died like an animal since he was slaughtered. What happened to Tapiwa Makore is very painful and I say may his soul rest in peace.
*HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I will not say much
because this issue has been debated at length. Our story is centred on judgment that is supposed to be given to the perpetrators of this crime. All we are saying is that these people are supposed to die but it does not mean that Tapiwa will be the last. We are all in pain and we should act with urgency to put a stop to all this. Let us come up with a law to stop this madness and put an end to this. Let us act with urgency and enact a law that is deterrent enough. If there is evidence that these people are the perpetrators, let them face the firing squad in full view of everyone and let us do it now. We know it is painful and it is not God’s plan to have someone slaughtered. Let us enact a law to put an end to this act in our country. Thank you.
*HON. MAGO: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I am not
from Murehwa myself but this is very painful to every woman. I heard another Hon. Member suggesting that we go there to comfort the family. This is a very painful story on how Tapiwa was murdered. Women should be extra careful on protecting our children so that stories of this nature do not happen again.
It is our wish that police show their presence in the rural areas. I meet a lot of road blocks on our way home but in the rural communities, you do not see the presence of the police force. When we grew up we used to meet with the police and we ran away but now there are no such things. These perpetrators should get a harsh sentence so that would-be criminals will learn a lesson from the harsh judgment. Thank you Hon.
Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute.
*HON. JAJA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. I just want to say a few words on Tapiwa Makore’s story as this is a very painful story. I take him as my own child to say I am here at work, when I get back home, there is nothing. Government should help on this Tapiwa Makore’s issue. Time is moving for us to get his head. We kindly ask the Police if they are failing to interrogate these people who got his head to get information on the whereabouts of his head. My request is that we get Tapiwa’s head. I am very thankful to the Chief who said no one will be buried without his head. As a woman, if I was Tapiwa Makore’s mother, I would feel great pain. Honestly a chicken is better; the manner in which this young boy was killed is very painful. Even those who killed him, where are they getting the strength to give such a description of their act. The traditional healer and those who killed him let them die just as Tapiwa died. They really killed him in a gruesome manner. I agree with this House for a harsh sentence. We do not want these people to live, the manner in which Tapiwa Makore died is not good. Let them give us his head, just for us to see his head. Where did they put his head? The Government should be very active in this case so that we get
Tapiwa Makore’s head. Thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I want to thank
Hon. Members for the very emotional debates, very touching. You can tell that this unfortunate incident affected the whole nation. I would like to say Parliament is going to take all necessary steps to ensure that the House will be taken seriously and the relevant authority will act accordingly.
I now move for the adoption of the motion that this House-
DISTURBED by the proliferation of chilling incidents of murders that have been perpetrated against members of society for ritual purposes in various parts of the country;
CONCERNED that victims of such heinous crimes are the vulnerable and unsuspecting members of our communities mostly women and children who are targeted by insensitive and brutal killers who unwittingly believe that they can eke a living and get rich overnight through the harvesting of human organs;
DEPLORING AND CONDEMNING in the strongest of terms
such heart wrenching and retrogressive practices which instil a deep sense of fear, revulsion and insecurity among our people who can longer safely conduct their routine family errands and chores without suspicions of what might befall them or their loved ones at any given time.
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon
- the law enforcement agents to mobilise all necessary resources to expeditiously bring to book the unscrupulous culprits who are wantonly wreaking havoc among communities in the country;
- the Legislature to enact deterrent and punitive legislative measures to effectively and completely eradicate incidents of ritual murders in different parts of the country by the end of 2020.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May I give this opportunity to
the Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance to present a Ministerial Statement.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
BUDGET STRATEGY PAPER
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I
rise to seek condonation in the delays in presenting the Budget Strategy Paper that was supposed to guide the 2021 National Budget Consultation
Process.
The Hon. Minister Prof. Ncube was supposed to come to this
House to seek condonation and table the Budget Strategy Paper. Unfortunately the Hon. Minister at the moment is still attending Cabinet and I had to stand in for him to allow the process to move forward. I am aware that the Budget Consultation Process has to be done in line with Statutory Instrument 135 of 2019. The Public Finance Management
(general) regulations of 2019, Section 11.1 (c), it says the Ministry of
Finance provides the Budget Strategy Paper to Cabinet no later than the 30th of June and provide the Budget Strategy Paper to Parliament for information and comment no later than 31st of July.
I would want to inform the august House that the presentation of the Budget Strategy Paper came at a time when we are moving from the Transitional Stabilisation Programme which started 4 October, 2018 and is coming to an end now. We are moving from Transitional Stabilisation Programme to the National Development Strategy 1. The National
Development Strategy 1 which is starting January 2021 is supposed to inform the 2021 National Budget. Because of the Covid containment measures, we delayed the consultation processes. It is because of the consultation processes that we were not in a position to come up with the draft NDS1 in time.
So the 2021 National Budget is to be aligned in line with the NDS1. So, I would like to apologise to you Mr. Speaker Sir and to this august House for the delay in the presentation of the Budget Strategy Paper in line with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 135 of 2019. I would also want to assure this august House that going forward, this is not going to happen again and we are going to present the Budget Strategy Paper as per the provisions of Statutory Instrument 135 of
So, with your permission, I do hereby present the Budget Strategy Paper to guide the 2021 National Budget Consultation process. Thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to applaud the Minister for coming into the House according to your dictates, our Constitution and our Acts of Parliament that we originate as the legislature Mr. Speaker Sir. Having said that, if he had presented the National Strategic Paper and document in time, it would have given us an opportunity to seek clarity on exactly what it is that is NDS1 or ND1 exactly hears what it covers what it is that we are supposed to have achieved in which year. Having said that, it is my humble submission that he has to come in to seek condonation. It is my hope that condonation gets to be given so that we can chart the way forward. We can use that document as a pathfinder in the Second Republic because I believe, in all fairness, that it also speaks to and about Agenda 2030. Even if I have not had sight of it, it is my thinking that if we go ahead with tomorrow’s presentation and subsequent presentations thereafter, because of today’s submission and condonation that is sought, it is only prudent that we continue on that path for our national economic development – not only our 2021 National Budget as enshrined and as underpinned by the National Development Strategy. It is my hope and view that in the future, we get to have these submissions on time so that it gives us an opportunity to effectively, efficiently and vociferously give our input as we would have been sent by the electorate in our representative role and also adjudicate our oversight role without any impediments. I thank you.
HON. MHONA: Let me also thank the Hon Minister for coming
before the august House to seek condonation. Maybe just to reiterate the essence and the importance of this Budget Strategy Paper that is enshrined in our Constitution under Section 141, as a Committee of Parliament, we are mandated to go to the public and solicit views and the only radar that we have under our purview is the Budget Strategy Paper which will then give us the priority areas to focus on. If you have noticed, with your indulgence and wise counsel from your office, you had mandated us to get hold of the Ministry and in particular the Minister to raise that anomaly to say why the BSP was not tabled as enshrined in the supreme law but to no avail. The BSP only managed to be tabled last Friday which was way behind in terms of the schedule that we had to consult the masses of Zimbabwe.
However, with your indulgence, the Hon Minister has managed to come before Parliament, we are still seized with the processes of budget formulation whereby tomorrow we are going for the Pre-Budget briefing where we are going to interrogate the BSP again. I want to thank the Hon Minister, we have delayed in terms of the submission of the BSP but still now we are going to interrogate the BSP again and also next week when we do the Pre-Budget Seminar, we will also be in a position to interrogate the same document. Let it be a wakeup call to the Ministry to say next year as we gravitate towards another 2022 Budget, then the Minister will stick to the dictates of the Constitution. I want to thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir for indulging us. I thank you.
HON TOGAREPI: Like the Chairman of the Budget Committee
has said, it is critical that our Ministers are sensitive to areas that they are expected to perform before this House. We do not have to follow them up. Sometimes some of them do not answer calls. It is very critical that they liaise with their Chairpersons. Everyone understands that they work under a lot of pressure and there is a lot of work to do. If there are challenges, the Chairperson must know in time that you have got these hiccups and this is how you are going to do to remedy the situation.
If you just keep quiet and when we come here, we just think it is negligence yet you have other commitments that are pressing you. It is very important that as Ministers, we follow the law and what we have laid out to be done as it is written in the Constitution or the laws that govern the presentation of our Budget. It is very critical and simple. This House is very friendly, you talk to your Chairman and we can deal with these things than to have you being called to come and seek condonation when you can just liaise with the Committee Chairperson and deal with these things upfront without any of these challenges. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON CHIDUWA): I move that the condonation be now adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that all Orders of the Day on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order Number 27 has been disposed of.
HON. MHONA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF HON. PATRICK
CHIDAKWA
Twenty Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the death of Hon Patrick Chidakwa, the Member of Parliament for Marondera East Constituency.
Question again proposed.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I will be very brief. I want to add my voice to the motion by Hon. Togarepi on the untimely death of the Late Hon. Chidakwa. It is quite saddening but I just have two issues. Now that we have our new Mt Hampden Parliament coming up, we need also to include a robust resilient, effective and efficient health delivery system for the Member of Parliament during our subsistence as Members of Parliament so that at least we can use what we have to get what we want. We can use our Parliament as safety nets and also derive from it good health delivery system and health care system.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I stand here today debating this motion on the death of the Late Hon. Chidakwa because of health issues which otherwise would have been cured if we had expeditiously reacted to his condition, in particular around the circumstances and around the place of our placement. We spend a lot of hours in this House Mr. Speaker Sir and to come out of this House to seek health care someplace else certainly would be hampering or it will be retrogressive in terms of our adjudication in terms of our business uptake. It is my thinking and humble submission that as we build our second Parliament building, if we can also include a good health care institution there. so that we can quickly attend to some of these opportunistic infections and some of these ailments that members are grappling with. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you and I want to also say to the Late Hon. Chidakwa, may his soul rest in internal peace.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like
to add my voice to this very important motion. We worked together in the same Committee; his work was something you could count on. We were shocked as a Committee to learn of his untimely death. I would like to say that if a member dies, if it is possible within their political parties to replace that Hon. Member with the wife, husband or child so that the family does not lose their benefits. Everyone will eventually die and no one knows the day.
Where I used to work, I will not mention the name of the company, we were getting meager salaries and pensions, people complained but the directors said that money was enough to cater for people’s needs. One of the directors then reached 60 years and it was time for him to get his pension. He then came to the company and said ‘this money is very little it does not buy anything.’ What people said is that when you had authority, you failed to listen to what people were saying, if you had wanted, you could have done something for the people who were complaining, now it would have been good for you also.
What I have leant is that we are here and we are able to make laws, let us make it a point that when a member dies, someone from his family will come and fill that position to finish their term of Parliament so that the family does not lose the benefits.
*HON. MHONA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker for giving
me this opportunity, I also want to thank the Chief Whip who came up with this motion that is very important. I am also thankful of the issue that was brought before this House when we lost one of us. I want to remind this House that death is a very painful situation. I am very thankful for what the Late Hon. Chikukwa said. I am one of the Chairpersons who was working with the Late Hon. Chidakwa. I am thankful that as we were working I was not worried when it came to the issue of quorum when we had the Late Hon. Chidakwa. He was someone who was very punctual, even if you look at the register, he attended most of the meetings, and he showed dedication. What is so painful is the rate at which we are dying as Hon. Members and we are seeing a difference in the way we are treated because some are known and some are not known that much.
Our wish Hon. Speaker is that even if we do not know each other facially when it comes to death, let us unite and work together so that we do not become a mockery as a National Assembly and that we do not look down upon each other. We lived together in Mashonaland East but he always mentioned that he was from Gokwe. He was buried in Gokwe. What really pained us is that we did not have an opportunity as members - to sit down and discuss how we should assist each other during such situations. We would be very grateful if our Chief Whip would lead us during times of trouble so that we do not seek assistance from anywhere else. We should come together as a people and work around such situations that we assist each other with resources. Whatever we have we should assist. Yes, Parliament pays something but as Members of Parliament, let us find time to bid farewell to our colleagues.
This issue of love, you do not send someone to love someone. It is always good as Members of Parliament when we meet we should know that we have a responsibility as Members that one day we will not be in this House. Let us show love to each other when we meet, which means we are one family. We are related as people. I kindly ask this House that next time when we lose one of our colleagues let us come together. We should know that there is no one else who will comfort the family besides us who are in this House. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much to all other Members who spoke before me on this issue. Back to you Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity you gave me.
*HON. MASHONGANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the mover of the motion that was moved in remembrance - to pay tribute to one of our Members who passed away. In my opinion Mr. Speaker, looking at the family that was left behind by Hon. Chidakwa, I think as Parliament, we should have in place measures to assist our Hon. Members once they pass on - to ensure that the family has a legacy and remember that he was a representative of the people.
Mr. Speaker, for one to be a Member of Parliament, if we could consult God, an MP should not get sick. An MP should remain strong because he is a representative of the people and serves the people who will look up to the MP to change lives for the better. They assist the vulnerable and less privileged, especially the orphaned and other groups in the constituencies that they serve.
In my opinion, I think Hon. Chidakwa’s constituency has lost an icon. When I look at Hon. Chidakwa during the time that I communicated with him, I realised that he was full of love and was a good representative. He is not the only one whom we have lost in
Parliament, but I think we do not pay our respects in a dignified way.
We have buses as Parliament and when we go on tours. we use our bus. When we lose one of our Members, I think Parliament should consider hiring a bus or taking one of the Parliament buses to provide transport to Hon. Members to go and lay to rest our fellow MPs. I also want to support the Hon. Member who debated before me that if it was possible,
Parliament should also consider the family that has been left behind.
The MP does not have much but that he represents and assists the constituency. So when an MP passes away, if that MP’s period of serving in Parliament was five years, the MP should be given his full benefits because we need to consider the fact that this person was committed to represent people in Parliament and should be accorded all the benefits and whatever is available to assist the family. Parliament should consider this.
I also support the issue that was raised that if it was possible we should have a person from the family of the deceased to finish of office for the late Hon. Member. In my opinion this is very possible. We can get someone because once the MP gets a constituency he gets support and assistance from his family. That can be moral and financial support. There is no way we cannot get someone to represent the constituency in the way Hon. Chidhakwa represented the constituency. I think that is the matter that we need to consider as Parliament so that his family can be well looked after and also the nation will also remember us as we leave a legacy. I thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me a chance to add my few words. I thank you.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon. Members who contributed strongly to the debate expressing their pain for the loss of Hon. Chidakwa who was our fellow MP. It is painful that when an MP dies, the family does not get anything. I hope this will be considered because it is painful. I want to thank Hon. Members who said a lot of positive words about Hon. Chidakwa who worked well with others. Most of the words that were said that came through this motion should be considered. There are quite a number of issues that emerged from this debate and as Parliament we have learnt a lot from this debate as a result of the motion on Hon. Chidakwa. I want to thank Hon. Members who contributed to the motion. In that regard, I move for the adoption of the motion that this House:
EXPRESSES its profound sorrow on the sudden and untimely death on Saturday, 12th September, 2020 of the Honourable Patrick
Chidakwa, the Member of Parliament for Marondera East Constituency;
PLACES ON RECORD its appreciation of the services which the late Hon. Member rendered to Parliament and the nation; and RESOLVES that its deepest sympathy be conveyed to the
Chidakwa family, relatives and the entire Marondera East Constituency.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that we revert to
Order of the Day, No. 26.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ALL-INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES CATERING FOR
THE NEEDS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
Twenty-Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to add a few words to this very good motion that was raised by Hon. Togarepi.
I would like to debate in the following manner; Aware that we have more than 15% of our people that are differently abled or that are disabled in this country. It is therefore very prudent, just and right that we also have principles, ethos and values in place that adhere to the dictates of the livelihood of the people with disability.
Aware that not only are people born disabled, I have already said 15% of our population, more than 1.5 to 2 million are living with disability. Amongst them are people that have hearing impairment, no limbs and those who are blind. This is not of their own making; either they were born in that condition and it is inherited or a condition gotten through life. In particular people with sugar diabetes, at some point in life, they find that their limbs are amputated to save their lives because of an ailment that would have developed that call for amputation of certain limbs.
Some health elements and ailments require that people get to be disabled in order that they continue to be alive. Having said that, it is therefore right for us to have safety nets in order that people with disability or those that are differently abled at least live a life that is worth living because disability does not mean inability. The people that I am talking about are people of repute. The Reserve Bank Governor moves with a limp, meaning that his other leg is differently abled from the other. The Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank also moves on crutches with one leg.
This speaks volumes of the technocrat ability that is embedded in these people that I am talking about. Disability does not mean inability but it is the values, ethos and conditions that are set by this august House that can make sure that their livelihood is better. When I speak of disability, I am also alive to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of 2030 that are clearly inclusive of persons with disability. In 2030, the SDGs commit in the same spirit to empower those at risk of vulnerability and include the people with disability. It also promotes a universal respect for human rights, equality and non-discrimination. It is my thinking and hope that as long as we do not have an inclusive approach for people living with disability; we are far off from actually attaining the SDGs that were taken over from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) because the SDGs are quite pointed, incisive in their nature and they have to be attained and achieved by 2030.
The issue that the mover of the motion calls for in terms of his prayer that speaks to the domestication of treaties and international laws that govern people with disability is quite applaudable. The prayer also calls for alignment of our laws with the Constitution as it relates to people living with disabilities. Our Constitution of 2013 is different from the one that was adopted by the Kenyan Parliament after their elections in 2015. The Kenyan Constitution actually puts in benchmarks and timelines in terms of alignment of the Constitution with the Acts of Parliament whereas ours of 2013 is a process and did not give timelines of alignment of certain Acts with the Constitution.
Therefore, it is because of this motion that I also call on expeditious alignment of the Acts that govern people living with disability so that they can also at least live a life that is worth noting Mr. Speaker Sir. I stand here also Mr. Speaker Sir and call for the inclusion of people with disability in this august House. I am alive to two Hon. Members in the Senate who represent people living with disability but in this august House, we do not have a Member of Parliament who represents people living with disabilities.
I call upon this House to actually stand for the rights of people living with disability, in calling for at least two members of the community who can be chosen from their groups of people living with disability without looking at any political affiliation for them to come here and stand for the rights of people living with disability. I have already said that we have a lot of technocrats in the society, of people living with disability. I say in the year 2023 when we have ten youths coming from each province, I also call for at least two members of the community to also join that grouping and also come and serve in Parliament. If there is need for an amendment in the Constitution, let it be so that we have people living with disability included in the law making process; in the representation of the electorate and in the oversight role over the Executive.
I also call for the reduction of duty or for zero rating of duty on all equipment that is used by people with disabilities.
When I talk of people with disabilities, I talk of people who have driving licences that they obtained whilst they still had all the limbs but some of them now no longer have limbs. I am alive to Mr. Wunganai of Chegutu West Constituency. He was my boss in the Air Force but because of diabetes, he no longer has his limbs and spends the whole day sitting on the couch. A good and high spirited man but he still has his certificate of competence but can no longer drive the vehicle that he used to drive because he used to drive it with both limbs.
It is my clarion call that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development removes duty on specialised vehicles for such people so that all the controls are on his finger tips but he can buy that vehicle from outside the country at zero duty. In the same vein, all the crutches and wheelchairs, it is my hope that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development finds finances from other duty bearers as opposed to charging duty on wheelchairs, crutches and other pieces of equipment that aide people living with disabilities. Also, the creams for people living with albinism; that those creams be zero rated in terms of duty. This is my clarion call.
According to our Standing Rules and Orders, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development is meant to respond to motions and reports within the next 21 days. I am hoping that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development can come on this pedestal and platform and proclaim that he has embraced this motion and is going accordingly to find duty and economic benefit from other pieces of equipment other than those for people living with disabilities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, 15% is a big number and 15% is a number that we cannot ignore. Fifteen per cent is more than two million people and it is my thinking that we should all be inclusive in our quest to achieve sustainable development goals starting with our own National Agenda 2030. We can only achieve it if we embrace the values, ethos and dictates of people living with disabilities. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to vociferously and effectively debate on this motion for people living with disabilities. I hope that all the prayer that has been advanced by the mover of this motion plus what I have added are going to be embraced without fear of favour. I thank you.
HON. JAMES SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am quite excited due to the wide ranging debate that was packed out in this motion, where people really displayed that any one of us if not disabled may be disabled at any time in one’s life.
I would like to say that the quality of debate and enthusiasm within our Hon. Members and encouragement that we are getting from civil society groups shows that we are now sensitive to people with disabilities. I feel that among the issues debated, the issue of the
Disabled Person’s Act needs to be aligned to the Constitution and also the idea of making sure that we domesticate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an issue that needs only a matter of days from today. With that Mr. Speaker, I move that this motion be now adopted. I thank you.
Motion that this House -
NOTING that Zimbabwe ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013;
ALSO NOTING that Section 83 of the Constitution exhorts the State to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities realise their full mental and physical potential;
CONCERNED that persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised in socio-economic development initiatives, including disbursement of the Covid 19 lockdown cushioning grants for vulnerable groups and e-learning facilities during the lockdown;
ALSO CONCERNED that the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] of 1992 has been overtaken by events and no longer adequately caters for the rights of persons with disabilities;
NOW THEREFORE, calls upon:
- the Government to craft all-inclusive development policies which cater for the needs of persons with disability, amongst other groups;
- the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to urgently provide specific grants and e-learning packages for persons with disabilities respectively by 31st July, 2020; and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to present a Bill to Parliament which aligns the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] to the Constitution and domesticates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 31st December 2020.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
POLICY AND SELECTION CRITERIA OF BENEFICIARIES
OF THE BEAM PROGRAMME
Thirty Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Basic
Education Assistance Module (BEAM) Programme.
Question again proposed.
*HON. E. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice to the issue pertaining to BEAM. I know that it was debated in our absence but I want to add a few issues since it is a matter that is under our Committee.
The issue of BEAM is a painful one. Before we got to BEAM in 80s, Zimbabwe had a programme known as ‘Education For All’ which meant that the country was committed to ensuring that everyone becomes literate regardless of whether one came from a privileged family or not. So people were encouraged to go to school through programmes such as Adult Literacy. When Government realised that they wanted all under-privileged children to go to school they then established BEAM. Considering this BEAM programme, it is not all the disadvantaged children who are benefitting from BEAM because of corruption. To be honest, those people who select children to fall under
BEAM end up taking their relatives’ children and making sure they benefit from BEAM living out the intended beneficiaries who are less privileged.
If you go to the rural areas and look at the children who are under BEAM, you will realise that half of them are from the disadvantaged families but half of them are relatives of the teachers or those who are part of the selection process. What we request is that when selection is done for students under BEAM, it should not be done by people who are stationed in that particular area. For example, people from Midlands should come and select BEAM beneficiaries in Masvingo and probably, people from Masvingo should do the same in Mutare so that the intended beneficiaries benefit from BEAM programme.
For the headmaster and School Development Associations to do the selection process is unfair because most of the kids falling under the programme are not supposed to be beneficiaries of BEAM. The BEAM Funds arrears in the past year were cleared towards the end of 2019. It is my wish that the funds be released early so that children are not disadvantaged and told to go back home because fees would not have been paid. Government policy is that no child should be chased away from school for not paying school fees but children are being chased away from school even under BEAM. I think we need to tighten this policy or legislation. As a child is sent home because fees has not been paid, that child lags behind in terms of his or her education and the teacher will never go back to where the child last attend lessons in order for him/her to catch up with other students.
The other issue which I want to talk about is the issue of children probably at Primary School and is orphaned, that child should be under the BEAM programme up to tertiary level. If we say that BEAM should only cover for the primary education, it means at secondary and tertiary level papers have to be processed again. For example, if one wants to be a teacher, it will be a cumbersome process. There should be documentation to ensure that a child who is disadvantaged and comes from a less privileged family should know that his education is catered for up to tertiary level.
In conclusion Mr. Speaker, I also want to go back to the issue of the BEAM Programme. We also realise that Government finally pays the fees but the way the payments are done, you find that children who are under BEAM can be told that your name cannot be found under BEAM when others are there. I think that should be addressed because this is stressful and has psychological effects on the child who faces such challenges. There is a lot of corruption in schools. When the
BEAM funds are being paid, all the children should be served not a few.
It is my hope that such matters be dealt with and addressed to ensure that our children are able to proceed with their education without any challenges. If our children are educated, then we know that we have human capital and the country can develop. That is why you hear people talking of Zimbabweans being learned. People from Zimbabwe are known to be learned and have special professions because of the education that they get here. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 21st October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON.
NDUNA, the House adjourned at Six Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
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
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM HON. MINISTERS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have got a list of Ministers who send in their apologies, who are attending some business in Manicaland. Hon. Dr. Nzenza – Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. Mavima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. Dr. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. Matiza, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Hon. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Hon. Marapira, Minister of State in Vice President Mohadi’s office.
We only have two Ministers in the House at the moment. We have Hon. Minister Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Hon. Minister Murwira, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. We just hope that we are going to get more Ministers.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. P. MPOFU: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. How far has the Ministry gone with the process of transforming the university curricular to become Education 5.0 compliant?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Madam President. I wish to thank Hon. Sen. Mpofu for that question. Education 5.0 compliant means our education is geared towards producing goods and services which is for the industrialisation and modernisation of this nation because we say no nation can develop faster than the development of its education. To this end, we have asked Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, first of all to make sure that all degrees in this country have got minimum bodies of knowledge. They must tell us, for every degree what skills the students will learn and what knowledge they would acquire. These bodies of knowledge have now been approved by the Council for Higher Education. You would remember that we delayed the opening of First Years, this year. We did not have a March intake. We are actually having an intake now because we were preparing all degrees to make sure that these degrees have got minimum bodies of knowledge.
What is also important in terms of how far we have gone is that we have transformed universities and we would know from yesterday’s newspaper that the University of Zimbabwe has introduced a whole host of new programmes. In other words, 80% of the programmes that are being offered at the University of Zimbabwe are new. Just as an example, the Medical School or the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, now will not only produce doctors, which it has always done. It will also produce pharmacists who can make drugs; not the ones who can just sell; who can make drugs. It will also produce bio-medical engineers who are able to make assistive devices of medical devices and as you know this country does not even make clutches – madondoro chaiwo. So we believe that this will then make it possible for this nation to be able to use this education to cater for its own people becaue education must be equal to development, not educating a person who comes from school after we have finished all our sheep and goats, then they say what can I do. We hope when they were in school, they were doing something and we are not finished yet. We are still doing it; we have to keep focused and humble but this is what we have done so far in terms of transformation.
I think you might have also seen that the capabilities that we now have, for example at Chinhoyi University of Technology, is an example of how far we have gone. Tomorrow we are at Harare Institute of Technology and you will be able to see how far we have gone. We are inaugurating a new innovation hub that we built just in one year. Buildings used to take years for them to be complete but we are now using even the apprentices to do the work. They are actually the ones who are building that, which basically means we are training people in skills. They are very young people who are building there. This is how far we have gone with the transformation but there is still a lot of work which basically we need to keep focused on and keep humble. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. My question is on the graduation of students who have completed their education at universities. How are they going to graduate as we are facing this pandemic?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Madam President. I wish to thank the Hon. Senator for such a very important question. We are carrying on with graduations but in a very different way. We are limiting the number of students that come for the actual physical graduation. All of them are graduating but we are making sure that most of the students are on a virtual platform, just like we are right now. Because the graduation is a legal process, all of them will be online while His Excellency the President who is the Chancellor of State universities is legally conferring them with their degrees. So, we are having very minimal numbers that are physically present. We already started it at Chinhoyi last week and it was successful. We keep on refining our technique and we believe that through this way we are able to live with the pandemic and still be able to carry out our activities in the new normal. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. DUBE: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development. Hon. Minister, what is the Government’s plan for re-engaging STEM programmes so as to promote learning of sciences in secondary schools, especially in rural areas?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Madam President. I wish to thank the Hon. Senator for such a very important question. We have never disengaged from STEM. We are doing STEM in a very big way. The only issue is that we have re-organised the way we offer our education into the Education 5.0 Model and in terms of capacitating our students in the rural areas in the areas of science technology, engineering and mathematics, we have now taken a different format. For the first time, we are increasing the number of STEM teachers because we believe that it is the teachers who will then teach the students. What we have done is, in the past only Hillside Teachers College, Belvedere Teachers College and Mutare Teachers College were teaching science teachers but what we did was to make sure that we increase the number of science teachers. What did we do then? We made sure that Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic is now teaching science teachers. They are in their third intake now and they are taking 120 at a time; with Mkoba Teachers College it is the same, Masvingo Teachers College, it is the same. Also this year, we started with Marymount Teachers College. It means we have increased the number of teachers colleges that produce science teachers.
In the old approach that the Ministry used to use, it was giving students money to go and do science subjects but a simple question is, being taught by who because we have a shortage of science teachers. It is always a learning curve. So, after learning that the model was not addressing the real problem, we started training science teachers. We expect that by 2024 or 2022, we would have trained in excess of 5500 science teachers that will then go and teach students in the secondary schools. By that, we are increasing access to science education because science education is not increased by giving people money but by training teachers in science so that they can teach science. This is the approach that we have taken to make sure that every student to the best of our ability has access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for the purpose of modernising and industrialising this country by taking new degrees at our universities and also diplomas at polytechnics within the Education 5.0 Heritage Framework. I thank you.
HON. SEN. GUMPO: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. In the past, there was a noticeable number of students in agriculture on attachment in the fields but of late, it seems to be quiet. What has happened?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. Madam President and I wish to thank the Hon. Senator for the question about agriculture education. We are refocusing our education so that it becomes practical. We should not talk about crops only. We should talk about them and grow them at the same time. We should not talk about cattle only. We should talk about cattle and grow them. We should not talk about chickens. We should talk about them and grow the chickens as well.
We are aware that our Education 3.0 design was mainly about teaching, research and workshops, which means there was no time that was taken memorising things rather than being in the field. Our new design of education will increase the number of students who will touch the soil, plant in the soil, touch cattle dung and grow cattle. We expect that the new design as we go forward will make people love soil, love production and love livestock. Like I was saying, our capabilities for example if you go today to Chinhoyi University of Technology, we have started with a dairy project of 65 cows that we bought during COVID and 50 of them are already in calf, which means we are starting a dairy call there for our students and we expect them to be able to be practical.
We are starting a complete beef industry where we are producing pedigree bull semen for farmers to make sure that production happens across and that the students are participating in that. The students are doing very well. If you go to Chinhoyi – I am using that example because we graduated last week, you will see that they have 300 hectares of wheat in the fields. This is what we are expecting as we go forward. If you go to the University of Zimbabwe today, that farm this year produced 2000 tonnes of soya beans, 3500 tonnes of maize and also they have got about 40 hectares of onions in the fields – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] - which basically is telling about the refocus of our people to a real education. A real education is not seen by what you say, it is seen by food, industries, work and jobs. So we believe that as we go forward, you will see more students in the field. You will see them touching the soil, loving water and loving plants.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: I would want the Minister to probably inform this House and the nation what is actually being done to agriculture because it forms part of our economic revival. The issue is before the 5.0 which the Minister is referring to, we used to have colleges like Chibero, Gwebi, Mlezu which produced practical agriculture. The problem at the moment is our students when they are recruited into these tertiary institutions, lack the practical component, which is the attachment because we do not have farmers who can absorb all these. What is the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education doing to equip. That is where the problem is, the 5.0, yes, we need it - but we were producing practical people before the 3.0.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you very much Madam President. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Mavetera for that very good question. Agricultural colleges are the ones that transformed themselves from 5.0 to 3.0 because they were practical, they were doing 5.0. Madam President, 5.0 is just a framework of understanding. Before agricultural colleges were very practical and you know that they were a preserve of the few in the past because some people were doing productive education while we were doing the education of remembering.
For now, it is about rediscovering, so our agricultural colleges and faculties of agriculture at universities are going 5.0 and the agricultural colleges have to revert to 5.0 because they were now on 3.0. That is why they were no longer going to the field. So, 5.0 was the one which was being practiced by those colleges that they must go back to that. Madam Speaker, 5.0 can sound very nice and sophisticated but it is a very simple concept - it basically means ‘use your mind and your hands at the same time’. If you use your mind and direct your hands to do the right thing, you are likely to have a developed country. In actual fact, development is predictable when people are not just using their mind but they are using their hands too in combination.
My issue is that those colleges which were producing graduates that were practical where practicing education 5.0 but they had reverted back to 3.0. Now, we are taking them back to 5.0. I hope this explains this seemingly difficult situation. Education 5.0 just means education that produces goods and services not education to speak in English because people can do things when they are speaking in Brazilian, Shona, Ndebele, Venda and so forth. Education is not good English, education is thinking and practicing for production, industrialisation and modernisation of our own country. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: If I may remind our Hon. Senators that we have to observe social distancing, especially Hon. Senators on my left. Please if you cannot fit in the Chamber, you can go up to the galleries. We have enough space at the galleries. Can we please correct that. Thank you.
*HON. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development, Hon. Mudyiwa. What is Government’s plan for the future so that we get solar energy to enable us to engage in agriculture and revamp our industries.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Madam President, I want to thank the Hon. Senator for her pertinent question, especially during this time when we are still faced with the problem of electricity. As a Ministry, we are encouraging people to use clean energy which is solar energy. The plan that we have as a Ministry, I think you are aware that we launched the National Renewable Energy Policy in March which was launched by the President. This policy is encouraging people to go renewable so that we do not rely on electricity which is generated from Kariba and Hwange but that we should use solar because we have a lot of sunshine in Zimbabwe. In that policy, there are incentives for solar products like solar panels, lithium batteries and all the things that are used when you are coming up with solar. The prices should be low and that they should be duty free. That is the plan we have with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development so that all solar products should enter the country duty free so that the prices can be affordable to each and everyone who want to put solar energy in their homes. As a Ministry we do not have money to engage in those projects but we are encouraging investors, those who have their money that they should do it on their premises as companies. Those who have buildings like ECONET, they are generating their own energy from solar. Those who have excess, we encourage them to sell the excess to ZESA, especially in the afternoon like this because if you have generated a lot of electricity through solar, you can sell them to ZESA and then ZESA will sell to the public which means you buy electricity at a low price.
So we are really encouraging people that they should have solar plants and those who have fields, if they can engage in solar farms, we are encouraging that. They should approach our Ministry and we can help them on how to do it. Even industries who are able to farm solar, they are encouraged to do that. When they face any challenges, they can approach our Ministry and we can help them on how to do it.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President. I want to thank the Minister for her encouragement of people engaging in solar energy but my question is, you are saying people should approach your Ministry. All the people cannot travel to come to your Ministry because of the challenges that we are facing. Are there any plans to ensure that people are be educated like in the rural areas, when you go there and make awareness campaigns for people to know how to go about it when they want to engage in solar projects?
*HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Madam President. We have offices in all the provinces. They can approach them and be taught how to do it. Here in Harare, they can approach the Ministry. We have a department in our Ministry which is called Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy. That is the department which looks at that. Sometimes they hold workshops with NGOs. We are doing that with people who are involved in the solar harvesting.
We have Rural Electrification Agency. They are also involved in electricity generation. They do not only generate electricity from solar but they also have bio-digesters which they use to generate energy for domestic use. REA has offices all over the country in provinces and districts. People can go there and enquire on how these work. Therefore it does not mean that people are limited to coming to our offices in Harare only. Our officers in these provinces can help them.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think the question was more do you have any plans to have officers or teams that go around the country teaching people than them going to your offices.
HON. MUDYIWA: We do not have teams that go around teaching people as yet. So as I said, we have workshops that are held in provinces and we have NGOs that we are working with us on the issue of electricity generation through solar. Unfortunately we do not have the funding for teams to go around teaching people, but if there are groups of people who feel the need to be taught, they can approach our Ministry and arrangements can be made for them to come and be taught. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Thank you Madam President. I want to ask ion that a few days ago, we were told that electricity was being generated at Kariba and Hwange. We want to know whether it is still continuing or we are waiting for the rains.
*HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Madam President. I think this is a different question. In Kariba we received more rains. The level was up to the extent that by this time last year, we were about 17% but this year, we have 30% water. So we have increased our generation in Kariba but we are channeling the electricity at peak hours, evening and morning and in the afternoon we will be using Hwange which is generating electricity. However, we also have a challenge because our machines are obsolete and always breakdown. So in Kariba we are just generating electricity. So we are just praying for a good season so that we will be able to continue generating electricity.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Madam President. My question to the Minister is we have heard about this issue of promotion of solar use within the general populace and we have been promised that we will soon have duty free for all the accessories but it has taken so long. Can the Minister tell this august House what the bottlenecks are which are making it difficult for them to give duty free to solar gadgets because just a lithium battery and probably a charger is not enough. Right now it is actually more expensive to have solar than before we started to introduce that.
HON. MUDYIWA: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. It is very true that we are still having challenges on implementing that policy of importing all the components of setting up a solar plant duty free.
The issue of duty is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. So we are liaising with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. There are issues where some equipment that is used for generating solar is also used for something else. So there is need to really verify that this is being imported for solar only and not for anything else. So I think that is where the problem is, but we have been liaising with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development so that ZIMRA can implement that. What I know for sure is that some solar panels and the lithium batteries are usually meant for solar generation. So those are exempted from duty but for some of the other equipment, there is an issue of verifying whether they are really for solar use.
That is where the challenge is. We submitted our presentations to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. Probably sooner or later it would have been rectified.
HON. SEN. DR. B. MPOFU: My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. Why are Diasporas not getting I.Ds, from the countries where they are through the Embassy?
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): To be perfectly honest, I was not aware that they cannot apply for their I.Ds. What I know for a fact is that foreign embassies used to have what they would call a bag which would bring the letters and everything else on a regular basis and people who wanted I.D.s and passports would send in their applications through that bag and at some point that had been discontinued due to economic challenges but I think the Minister of Foreign Affairs would be able to answer that but we are in the process of trying to resuscitate that so that we can assist our Diasporas. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Did you hear that Hon. Senator?
HON. SEN. DR. B. MPOFU: Yes Madam President. Thank you.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam President for the opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. Why is it that police officers especially those working from the rural areas are not given transport to use in their line of duty? Most of them are found using their own means or at times using bicycles to look for criminals and at times they end up finding those criminals gone. So, why can they not even get bicycles or even motor bikes from the Government? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Hon. President. Let me start by thanking the Hon. Senator for such a pertinent question. My sincere apologies – I am still taking my Ndebele lessons. I am not there yet but I will get there. It is indeed a challenge but as you would appreciate, let me start from a little bit back. As you would appreciate, in this new dispensation, we started by embarking on a transitional stabilisation programme which was meant to stabilise the economy. That meant we had to start by ensuring that there is fiscal discipline in our Government. We had to spend only that which we had and not what we did not have and not what we did not have which has now resulted in surplus. Why I am I saying this – it meant we could not invest in vehicles and bicycles as we would have wanted.
I am sure you will understand where we are coming from as a nation. Our economy and the challenge that we have faced, I am glad to say that now that the economy has stabilized, we can start moving forward. As police, we have challenges in as far as vehicles are concerned but I am glad that Cabinet made a decision and Ministry of Finance is seized with that matter to try and assist our police to avail vehicles and motorcycles. I hope I managed to answer the question. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. What plans do you have in terms of our police road traffic? They do not have ablution blocks and in this challenge of the COVID pandemic, they will be stationed at one place. What plans do you have to resolve the issue of ablution facilities at roadblocks?
*THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): Thank you Madam President. Let me thank the Hon. Senator for her question because she has a caring heart for what we can do for the police. Firstly, it is a challenge. This pandemic has befallen us when we were unaware and that is why we had to put up a lot of roadblocks in trying to curb the movement of people. Normally we do not have so many roadblocks but it came around because of the pandemic.
We saw it fit that we should have more roadblocks because of the pandemic but we try by all means that they should have shifts so that they have time to go and relieve themselves. Some of the roadblocks are near the police stations like the one in Marlborough and in other cases some people have opened their homes but it is not a permanent thing that we have so many roadblocks. I think I have managed to answer your question.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MATHUPULA: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation. Hon. Minister, what policy is there which can assist us to generate revenue from the Arts sectors in the country to boost our economy? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND RECREATION (HON. COVENTRY): Thank you Madam President. My device is being connected – thank you Madam President for your patience. I thank the Hon. Member for that question. Right now, there is no direct policy for the arts to generate actual revenue. It is all being very informal. So, what we are working on at the moment is putting together principles that I will take to His Excellency and Cabinet to put in for an Arts Bill that will allow us to legally be able to support the arts and create cultural industries and to be able to give them the proper recognition in terms of what value they add. Right now there are investigations and the CCIs already add about 6% to our GDP but it is informal and there is no correct database for us to gather that information, it is just being done through investigations through the Ministry. Once we have the legislation that will allow us to put into place the right data collection in terms of simple things when we have tourists who cross the border, what they buy and what they are spending as soon as they buy anything from our CCIs, it could be tabulated so that we can show the revenue that is driven by our CCIs. Thank you Madam President.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. What plans do you have looking at the welfare of our police officers because you find a policeman living at a rented house from which the home owner’s child is involved in drugs and they are not able to prosecute the perpetrator for fear of being send out of the house.
*THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. KAZEMBE): I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question which is very pertinent. Yes, what she said is very true. I also travelled around looking at the way our police officers are living; even those who live in camps, some of them are not good at all. I think when I started, I said we all know that our economy- when the New Dispensation was ushered in, our economy was not in a good state, it was really bad. This means that what was needed was fiscal discipline which was done by Hon. Mthuli Ncube so that we start doing everything and concentrate on widening our target.
However, now our economy, seems to be stabilising. From henceforth, I think it is a thing of the past because we are not looking at our police renting lodgings in the local suburbs because they cannot prosecute criminals who are giving them accommodation or food. Our President is aware of the challenges. It is not only the police but all the civil servants, even the teachers; that is why he started by putting in place a Ministry headed by Hon. Garwe which is looking at the construction of housing. Recently, he came with a plan of constructing houses for the Government employees, starting with police and soldiers. What was also agreed is that we should have a stop gap measure so that the police and the army get homes. Plans are there for coming up with fabricated houses but we want to engage into uprising buildings so that we use small space which can accommodate a lot of people. So Cabinet has welcomed that and it is in motion right now. We think that our workers, the police and the army will be allocated homes very soon. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. I was happy when the Hon. Minister was saying our economy is now stable. What I want to know is that; we have talked about homes but the police are having challenges – the rains are upon us, they do not have transport.
HON. KAZEMBE: Thank you Mr. President Sir. Yes, I had responded to a question similar to that. The question was, people are taking time to get to crime spots and there is a challenge of transport in order to get there. However, because our economy is now stable, things are getting better. The Cabinet has agreed that Hon. Mthuli Ncube should start buying vehicles for the police little by little. Other vehicles have already been purchased but these plans are in place. We have been given a target of 500 and we are looking around for the funds. Funding is needed in a lot of areas; we have COVID 19, we are now in the rain season and we need the inputs. Plans are there so that our police officers will not be exposed to the rainfall. I thank you.
HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you very much …
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order. Those Hon. Senators who have their gadgets, when you stand up to ask a question, switch on your gadgets and speak into it so that those who are following this Session online can also follow whatever you are discussing.
HON. SEN. DENGA: Thank you very much Hon. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Hon. Kirsty Coventry. We are hearing that there was money which was donated for clubs by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the money was not properly accounted for. What is the Ministry doing about that issue?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND RECREATION (HON. COVENTRY): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I thank the Hon. Senator for his question. The Sport and Recreation Commission has been hearing of these allegations and they are looking into it. However, as the Hon. Senators and Mr. President Sir, you know that the Government is not allowed to interfere with any potential monies that come from FIFA. That being said, we will ask FIFA to just confirm whether or not these monies were sent and for what use that money was sent for to ZIFA.
As far as I am aware, there was money sent by FIFA to ZIFA in order to resume the game of football and help in terms of testing players. Since that resumption is still under consideration, that money has not been released to the clubs as yet. I thank the Hon. Senator for the question and will follow up and hopefully be able to come back with some more information. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MATHUPULA: Thank you very Much President of Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. Hon. Minister, in provinces like Matebeleland North where there is plenty of methane gas deposits, what policy or plan is in place for the harnessing of methane gas to generate energy and how far are we?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for such a pertinent question. Yes, there are some programmes to generate energy from coalbed methane but the problem is that we are still at the exploration stage which is under the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, exploration to determine how much methane we have underground. There are plans towards that to use coalbed methane for the generation of electricity. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 62.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
CONTRIBUTIONS BY FOREIGN OWNED BUSINESSES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY
- HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain to the House how many foreign owned businesses are contributing to the economic development of this country and to state the measures being taken by the Ministry to ensure that these operators deposit their monies into local banks.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi for the question. Zimbabwe is an open country in terms of investors, therefore businesses that are owned by both foreigners and locals are free to invest in our country. Generally, the laws guiding operation of businesses are similar for both locals and foreign investors. Foreign investors, like domestic investors make immense contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), export earnings, employment creation, skills development and technology transfer and taxes to Government and the fiscus. All businesses, foreign or domestic owners are expected to operate within Zimbabwean laws. Naturally, foreign investors have freedom to
repatriate proceeds of their investment activities.
Regarding banking of proceeds, we have the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act [Chapter 24:24]. It promotes the use and suppresses the abuse of the local financial services system and requires that all businesses operating in the country ought to have a bank account with local banks. This is enforced by the Central Bank (RBZ) and other security institutions including Financial Combat Institutions. Similarly, both foreign and local businesses are required to adhere to the anti-money-laundering (AML) and combating of financial (CFT) terrorism standards and guidelines.
PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY
- HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to appraise the House on initiatives being taken by the Ministry to promote gender equality.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Hon. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi for the question. Mr. President, a comprehensive response would ideally come from the Minister responsible for Women’s Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
However, as Treasury, we promote and support implementation of gender sensitive programmes and projects through gender budgeting. Treasury also supports gender empowerment initiatives through capitalisation of various institutions which support women, youth and medium and small scale enterprises such as the Women Development Fund, Community Development Fund, Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank, SMEDCO and Empower bank.
In addition, Treasury encourages private sector financiers such as banks to also prioritise gender sensitive programmes and projects. I thank you.
PUBLIC SENSITISATION ON BENEFITS OF USING MONO CURRENCY SYSTEM
- HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain to the House on measures being taken by the Ministry to sensitise the public on the benefits of mono-currency system and to further state endeavours put in place to curb the use of multiple pricing regimes by some business operators.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. NCUBE): Mr. President Sir, in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, there is a dedicated Communications Unit (though recently established and still being capacitated), which publicises policy pronouncements by the Ministry to the public, thereby creating awareness.
The unit carries out roadshows, organises meetings with the public and also takes advantage of many ICT platforms, including Twitter, social media channels to promote Government policies.
With regards to the use of the mono-currency and curbing use of multiple pricing regimes by some business operators, the policy position is that the local currency remains an official exchange regime. The use of free funds was however introduced in the face of the Covid 19 pandemic to allow supply of goods and services under the difficult environment.
We have set up a toll free number at RBZ so that anyone can make a call to report any deviation from policy that seeks to promote mono-pricing or unitary pricing. Also, we have come up with a new rule in terms based on moral suasion that whenever a corporate is awarded foreign currency at the auction, they ought to sign an undertaking that whenever they sell goods arising from production activities due to the award of that foreign currency from the auction, they will price their goods at the prevailing inter-bank or auction rate. The Central Bank working with the Police and the Financial Intelligence Unit, conduct and try to enforce the rules around making sure that everyone sticks to the mono-pricing system as opposed to practicing multiple pricing systems. We know it is not an easy area to police and to enforce but we encourage the public to come forward and report such people or businesses to the Police - as well as make use of the toll free number supplied by the Central Bank. I thank you Mr. President.
POSITION ON RE-DOLLARISATION
- HON. SEN. S. MPOFU asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain Government’s position on re-dollarisation which appears to be market led, considering the fast depreciation of the value of the Zimbabwe dollar against other currencies.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. President. I thank Hon. Sen. Mpofu for the question. I suspect this question was posed when our domestic currency was still depreciating and has since been overtaken by events. Of course, I never had the opportunity to come much earlier to explain this question. We are aware of what is going on. We took action when the Zimbabwe dollar was depreciating. We have introduced the Dutch auction system, which allows you to express your wish in terms of the exchange rate at which we wish to buy foreign currency. So there is a range of exchange rates. What we publish every week is the average of the exchange rate at which transactions are done. This system has really worked well in stabilizing the exchange rate in narrowing the gap between the official exchange rate and the power rate. This has the impact of stabilizing prices overall. This is what has happened Mr. President Sir. The question has been overtaken by events but we are pleased with this situation that has emerged. I thank you.
POLICY ON ENHANCING DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILISATION
- HON. SEN. TONGOGARA asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain the Government policy on enhancing domestic resource mobilization through beneficiation of the country’s natural resources.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Our strategy Hon. President on resource mobilization is multi-faceted. First of all is the sourcing of financial resources from the public through the normal taxation system. That is the first way to do it in a very direct way. We have done a lot in the last two years in terms of fine tuning the tax system. You will be aware that we did introduce for both corporates and individuals the IMTT tax, the 2% tax. I think that is what everyone calls it. Everyone knows what you mean when you say 2% tax. That has been very helpful in mobilising domestic resources.
The second approach is to enhance the productivity and the value chains in various sectors; in the mining sector and the manufacturing sector. So we have been promoting these sectors to make sure that there is sufficient beneficiation taking place in the mining sector. What we are finding is that corporates that are in the platinum space, for example, have all been told that they ought to build refineries and they have been doing that. We did impose a 15% penalty tax for not doing so. They have complied and we are very pleased with the results so far. This has resulted in us obviously moving up the value chain, enabling us to harness more resources from taxing these minerals.
I can give an example of a company like Zimplats. Of course, we know it as a company that produces platinum but actually it produces palladium, which has a higher price than platinum. It also produces iridium which has even a much higher price than palladium and platinum. So, in terms of revenues you find that these two additional minerals contribute quite a bit to its revenue but for us to know how much they are producing and the value of these minerals, this only took place because they were able to do some processing and some beneficiation to the level of the what they produce like black flour; that is what it really feels like. They are small particles. It is only that sense that we are able to tell what is in that mart because we have done some beneficiation.
Then we are able to raise enough resources from taxing each mineral on an ad valorem approach as opposed to a quantity approach. We use value of each of the components of that mart as opposed to just the volume. That is what we are doing. This really we want to push right across all the sectors because beneficiation does not only improve productivity, creates jobs and generate revenue for the GDP growth for the country. It also generates direct revenue for Treasury. So, this we are promoting. I thank you.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 62.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT FOR THE LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President Sir, I wish to thank Hon. Senators although they were very few who contributed to the debate of that very important committee, the Liaison and Coordinating Committee; the reason being that the report was quite thick. Unfortunately, administration did not post that huge report on our Ipads. However, I am hoping that in the near future, Hon. Members will be able to have sight of that report but I want to thank my seconder Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera and a few other Hon. Senators. With those few words Mr. President, I move that the report
That this House takes note of the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON DOMESTICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, I wish to wind up the debate and again thank very much the many Hon. Senators who contributed to that very important report. I hope that the domestication of the convention on people with disabilities is going to be looked into very soon. We hope that as soon as we come back, the Act which has been outstanding, as indicated since 2013 will be in place. I now move that the report be adopted:
That this House takes note of the motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Motion put and agreed.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) AND GENDER DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENQUIRY INTO PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE AND PORTABLE WATER
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development on the enquiry into people’s access to clean, safe and potable water.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Mr. President. I support the motion which was brought by the Hon. Senator regarding the provision of clean water. It is a concerning issue, particularly the issue that was raised by the Hon. Senator who said that for the disabled, it is really difficult for them to go and fetch water. It is quite difficult and sometimes you wonder how they live. My point is that all the water points that are no longer productive like dams, there is need for them to be resuscitated and refurbished so that they provide water. This pose risk to people because we know that people fetch water where wild animals also drink from.
Mr. President, at times we farm on river banks and this ends up leading to drying of water points. Some people go to fetch their water from such places and this poses a risk to human beings. In towns there is shortage of water whereby residents only get access to water once per week, from daybreak to evening. Some people face different afflictions, at times you live with a disabled person then you wonder where such people would get water and how they are going to fetch that water and how they are going to carry the bucket of water if they are disabled. So, I am saying that water points that have siltation need to be scooped so that people have access to water. At times people let that water out of dams so that they do fishing activities. Water is crucial, it is critical. My desire is that Government should address the challenge of shortage of water in rural areas even in urban centres.
This means that some people travel for about 10 kilometres to fetch water. In some rural areas, some people are forced to travel these long distances. At times it might be a woman who is also expected to perform household chores of cooking, washing and making sure that some people bath, yet you discover that the men are found not to be active with some household chores. Boreholes that are not working need to be fixed because they might not be a budget for sinking new boreholes. However the existing boreholes need to be fixed so that people have access to water. Water is critical to human beings. When God created man he also created water which means that water is important and no one can live without water. Without water, then your life will be difficult. I believe that there is need that dams and boreholes get fixed.
Mr. President, if you go to high density areas you will find some women fetching water at these boreholes around 12 midnight. For example in ZIMRE Park, you will discover that you will find many cars by the borehole, you will end up wondering how a woman would fetch water under such a situation. At times men fetch water and sell that water using different vehicles. Women are facing challenges of water shortages. At times we end up fearing for our daughters who risk being raped. At times we are forced to fetch water at 2200 hours and this exposes them to risk. My desire is that there should be enough water. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate. As I wind up this important motion, I want to start by thanking the office of the President of the Senate and office of the Clerk of Parliament for having availed resources for the Committees to undertake a fact finding visit and coming up with a report. We know resources are very difficult to find nowadays but the Senate President and her offices found it essential that we go out and come up with this report.
I also want to thank those who participated in gathering the information and I also want to say I am grateful to the seconder of this motion, Hon. Sen. Mpofu. Mr. President and all Members of the Senate, for me it would be a very painful experience if we have such an important report, as I said it was an eye opener, then we sit on it, Government sits on it and nothing happens. Every year we say water, water without taking action. That would be a very painful experience. I hope something will be done about the situation of water in our country.
So having said that, Mr. President, allow me to move for the adoption of this report. Thank you.
Motion with leave adopted.
MOTION
DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN UNDER CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Fourth order read: Adjourned debate on the need to alleviate challenges associated with the early discharge of youths from child care facilities.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for according me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Tongogara. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for this important motion in the Senate.
Mr. President, we believe that these children who are in institutions come from different backgrounds. When they reach 18 years, they are no longer eligible to be in those institutions. What I want to say, Mr. President, as Zimbabwe, we have vocational training centres. I urge that those vocational training centres be capacitated so that when these children reach 18, they are not kept in those institutions but they should be sent to vocational training centres dotted around our country. When they are there, they will be able to learn to use their hands.
Our vocational training centres are helping a lot of young people. They are teaching them a lot of skills for them to have a bright future so that when they come from there, they will not go into the streets. These children who are coming from all over the country, some of them are orphans, some have parents but they live in the streets. So I urge the Government that they should capacitate the vocational training centres so that these children will be trained skillfully and also in those institutions , where orphanages are being kept, I encourage that they should not just keep them. They should train them whilst they are there because one day I came and I saw the First Lady. She had children from the streets and she was training them to plant trees and doing gardening so that they will do it when they leave the streets. They will not go back into the streets. With these few words, Mr. President, I support the motion which was raised by Hon. Tongogara because it is a very important one to us as Zimbabweans.
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank all the Hon. Members that contributed to this motion because all of us are aware when you are talking about children’s lives, the children are the future leaders. So I want to say that we have heard all the Hon. Members debating on the challenges that the children are facing when they leave the institutions.
So everything that was debated which can help these children when they leave the institutions should be taken note of. Wherever they will be resettled, they should be able to look after themselves so that they will not remain in the streets. We saw our First Lady trying to help these children but this should not be just a thing for one person but all of us should be united and work together because if we do that, it means our streets will only be reserved for cars, not for these children.
Finally, I was looking forward to seeing that when we have motions like this which touch on the nation, Ministers who deal with specific issues are supposed to be in here listening to our debates as the Senate, as parents who have children in the streets. It might not be my biological child but in Shona we say a child belongs to the community. So I am urging that Ministers should look at the motions which come to Senate, then they would come and support us. It would really help us in alleviating the challenges that we are facing so that our children will be helped.
Mr. President, I want to say that I know that our Government has done a lot and it cannot do everything, but if it looks for sponsors who are willing to take care of these children, I am referring to stakeholders who will come and take up the issue, helping each other, our First Lady and the stakeholders, you will find that our children will be looked after properly and our country will not have street children. Thank you Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the motion that this House –
MINDFUL that children under Child Care Facilities are discharged from such Institutions upon attainment of 18 years of age,
ALSO MINDFUL that the United Nations Guidelines and Zimbabwe’s National Residential Child Care Standards 6, recommends for a Discharge Plan for each child before leaving the Child Care Facility,
CONCERNED at the inadequacy of follow up programmes by the Department of Social Welfare in monitoring the discharged youths as a way of preventing them from aimlessly roaming the streets.
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon Government to partner with other stakeholders and private sector to alleviate the challenges associated with such decisions.
Motion with leave adopted.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. President. With leave of the House, I move that Orders of the Day, No. 5 and 6 be stood over until the rest of the Orders have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2018
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2018.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. NCUBE): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 22nd October, 2020
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2019
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2019.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. NCUBE): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 22nd October, 2020
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. NCUBE), the Senate adjourned at Quarter Past Four o’clock p.m. until Thursday, 22nd October, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 8th October 2020
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
CHANGES TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House of the changes to membership of committees whereby Hon. E. Mutodi has moved from the Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development to the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development.
HON. TOGAREPI: I rise on a matter of privilege. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to share my observation for the past sittings that we have been in Parliament as Members of the august House. I have observed convergence in the way we conduct business. It has been heart warming to see Members of Parliament, despite our diversity, discussing pertinent issues that are very important to the generality of our people with honour and dignity. This has been very important and I hope that this new found maturity in terms of behaviour prevails and we continue to work together in our diversity for the good of our country. It is my request that we take a cue from our leadership in this country, in particular our President who works daily and tirelessly for the betterment of the people of Zimbabwe. While we differ in many ways, I have seen from both sides of the House, people now beginning to concentrate on constructive debate supporting the issues that come to the House for deliberations. I think it is very critical that we maintain that and it is good for us as Whips to see Members concentrating to do business of the day not things that divide us. I think going forward, we will see all Members of Parliament working judiciously for the good of our people. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Togarepi, although you were a bit hesitant about qualifying the nature of the diversity. Impute it to mean political diversity – [HON. CHIKWINYA: Inaudible interjection.] – Zuva risati radoka, wakutangisa Hon. Chikwinya. Haunyare. - [Laughter.] -
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to say a few words to this House. I want to ask how the children are going to do about the issue of going to school. Right now, looking at Harare where I come from, children wake up as early as 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. to prepare to go to school. They are going to wait for the buses which ferry people who go to work. Sometimes it depends with the organiser at the bus terminus that he or she gives school children opportunity to board first or not. Sometimes they end up punishing and shoving each other to get into the bus. When they finish school at 1 p.m. they wait for the buses that ferry people who come from work for them to get the opportunity to board a bus. What can we do as august House since this issue of buses was once talked about and it was said that buses will be availed to ferry school children. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. That is a very important observation and I am hoping that you will follow it up next on question time so that you can fully debate your observation on the ground.
HON. MASANGO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise on a point of privilege. The 10th October is the World Day Against the Death Penalty. This is commemorated annually to highlight the plight of those who have been denied the most essential human right of all, the right to life. This commemoration is on Saturday. Taking into consideration the events of the past weeks; whereby every woman, every mother is commiserating with Tapiwa Makore’s mother, it is not a secret that Tapiwa was murdered because one of the perpetrators was seen on our national television explaining how he did it. The way the gruesome murder was executed leaves every mother in tears. On 18th February, in this House, Hon. D. Sibanda moved a motion on the abolition of the death penalty. It was debated and we are yet to reach a consensus. Today, as a country, we are dumbfounded by the killing of Tapiwa Makore. So how are we as legislators going to encourage the commemoration of the World Day Against the Death Penalty while there is this heavy shadow hanging over us Mr. Speaker sir? My prayer as a woman is for justice to prevail and not justice which keeps these murderers in prison vachidya mari yenyika. Vakauraya Tapiwa Makore must also be executed. They did not value his life, so why should we value theirs? Tapiwa had a right to life but some people thought otherwise. Do we commemorate the World Day Against the Death Penalty or not Mr. Speaker Sir? I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Masango, I think together with Hon. Members - you have to insist that the Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does inform the House on the measures that are being taken by the Executive to ensure that the death penalty is abolished. I think you are aware of the fact that the Head of State and Government, His Excellency Cde. E. D Mnangagwa is averse to the death penalty. So you will need to move as Parliamentarians to ensure that the law is amended accordingly.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, the point of privilege raised by the Hon. Member is actually to ask us as Zimbabweans to reflect on our position over the death penalty. How can we commemorate this day on the death penalty with this shadow of murder hanging over us? This is not only on the death of Tapiwa Makore but of the other man in Rusape and the other young boy in Mashonaland West. She is saying we must actually call for the death penalty to be enforced because these murderers do not deserve a life after taking other people’s lives. So, your response I do not think it speaks to what she is concerned about. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. Come up with your position as the House accordingly.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr Speaker, I move that Orders of the Day, No. 1 to 23 be stood over until Order of the Day, No. 24 has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ALL-INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES CATERING FOR THE NEEDS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Mr. Speaker, I move the motion standing in my name that;
NOTING that Zimbabwe ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013;
ALSO NOTING that Section 83 of the Constitution exhorts the State to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities realise their full mental and physical potential;
CONCERNED that persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised in socio-economic development initiatives, including disbursement of the Covid 19 Lockdown cushioning grants for vulnerable groups and e-learning facilities during the lockdown;
ALSO CONCERNED that the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] of 1992 has been overtaken by events and no longer adequately caters for the rights of persons with disabilities;
NOW THEREFORE, calls upon:
- a) the Government to craft all-inclusive development policies which cater for the needs of persons with disability, amongst other groups;
- b) the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to urgently provide specific grants and e-learning packages for persons with disabilities respectively by 31st July, 2020; and
- c) the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to present a Bill to Parliament which aligns the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] to the Constitution and domesticates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 31stDecember 2020.
HON. E. NCUBE: I second.
HON. JOSIAH SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is worth acknowledging that the Government of Zimbabwe came up with the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe Amendment, Number 20 [2013] which among other good sections promulgated SectionS 22 and 83 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Since then, some achievements have been made to ameliorate the needs of persons with disabilities. However, more still needs to be done in terms of buttressing inclusivity and empowerment.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Government of Zimbabwe is called upon to craft all inclusive development policies that promote the needs of persons with disabilities. These policies should start with the availability of disaggregated data in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – which data can be aggregated to provide information that facilitates positive responses to the needs of persons with disabilities. As of now, there is inadequate data on the statistics of persons with disabilities all the way from village level to Ministry.
In schools, where inclusive education has been pronounced Mr. Speaker Sir, for quite some years now, a number of school buildings including toilets still remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities. During pre-visits to monitor the state of preparedness for schools towards re-opening after this COVID-19 pandemic, it was observed that the template that was used as an assessment tool did not reflect anything on preparedness of schools to receive and manage health issues of the disabled learners.
Government should also come up with clear policies on the allocation of resources to persons with disabilities. Good examples are the allocation of agricultural land, residential and commercial stands and even employment opportunities in the Government sector like teaching. There should be specific ratios that reflect how sensitive we are to the needs of persons with disabilities.
At this juncture Mr. Speaker Sir, it is also important to state that the number of Hon. Members in our Parliament who are directly responsible for persons with disabilities is too small to mention. Efforts should also be made to ensure that there is rehabilitation of persons with disabilities within their own communities and social environment. This promotes inclusivity at local level and a sense of belonging, thereby eliminating the stigma that some people associate with disability. Persons with disabilities in schools and communities should receive education on deadly diseases like HIV and AIDS and also sexual reproductive health rights so that they contribute effectively to the development of our nation.
Section 5 (b) (ii) of the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17.01.1992] seek to enable disabled persons to, as far as possible lead independent lives. In 2019, the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development made the following observations among others. That there were no disability grants and social protection; there was lack of access to revolving funds or loan facilities and lack of equal support and opportunities in entrepreneurship. It is against this background that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should provide specific grants to persons with disabilities. Mr. Speaker Sir, the present scenario therefore promotes the charity model where persons with disabilities are viewed as people who survive through begging and receiving food handouts from wellwishers. Given the relevant grants, persons with disabilities are empowered. Section 5, 1(b) Article of the 1992 Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] which is still in use today states that to “encourage and put into operation schemes and projects for employment or generation of income by disabled persons who are unable to secure employment elsewhere”.
If a disabled person gets something like RTGS 300 per month, that will not be enough to empower the individual like one who gets a grand. That can ensure the realisation of the full potential of the disabled recipient, thus given the requisite grants; persons with disabilities can effectively participate in agriculture SMEs, sport and education and hence contribute towards vision 2030.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the effects of COVID-19 did not spare persons with disabilities who in actually fact were the most affected. The closure of schools in particular implied the end of effective learning for learners with disabilities while some learners had E-learning facilities. Those with disabilities could not afford those expensive gadgets that are user friendly to their nature of disability. Now that schools are reopening in phases, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should include E-learning devices in the package of learning materials for learners with disabilities to cover up for the lost time during the lockdown. Coupled with this challenge is the absence of a standard sign language and assistive devices.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in their 2019 recommendations the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development stated that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should, as a matter of urgency, bring to this Parliament the Disabled Persons Bill which has been in draft form since 2019.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should align the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and domesticate the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities. It is now 7 years since the birth of the Zimbabwean Constitution and yet the disability legislation of 1992 has not yet been aligned to the Constitution. Thus the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17:01] of 1992 is now obsolete because it is no longer in tandem with the Zimbabwe Constitution of 2013 and the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 2007. Therefore, the Act does not reflect advancement in human rights for the past 13 years. The Disabled Persons Act has been promoting the charity model of looking at disability instead of the current human rights approach as reflected in Section 22 and 83 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the CRPD of 2007.
Mr. Speaker Sir, although policy makers realised the need to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013 and as a crucial step towards advancement of human rights, the convention has not yet been domesticated. Section 11(c) of the Disabled Persons Act requires that Zimbabwe should give effect to the needs of persons with disabilities under any convention, treaty or agreement. Section 34 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that the State must ensure that all international conventions, treaties and agreements to which Zimbabwe is a part are incorporated into domestic law. Section 327(II) (a and b) of same Constitution says an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority (a) Does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament. (b) Does not form part of the law of Zimbabwe unless it has been incorporated into the law through an Act of Parliament. It is mandatory then that Zimbabwe domesticates the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities to ensure that the human rights approach to disability is in line with international best practices. So, I submit Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. E. NCUBE: Thank Mr. President for giving this opportunity to contribute a few words to this motion on disability which has been moved by Hon. J. Sithole. I think in this country, we have many disabled people and they are disabled in different ways. We are facing a challenge of COVID-19 and disabled people are facing a very difficult time. During the first 21 days of lockdown, noone was able to move even the able bodied ones could not leave their homes. The people who were affected most are the disabled people. They could not find food from anywhere. We were expecting that the Ministry of Public Service would first consider the people with disability because these people are not able to help themselves at all. The Ministry was not able to do that.
The small to medium enterprises sector were being considered more than the disabled people. This is something which surprised us and we are not happy because we are not following the laws which we agreed in the country and other countries, the conventional laws. The able bodied benefited first compared to the disabled, we were expecting and we are still expecting that these people must be given help by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare like what was happening in the past so that they can have money to buy basic needs like mealie-meal, soap and pay school fees for their children.
There is another issue that came out a few weeks ago where these people were taken as useless people. This happened in Masvingo at TM shop when an albino person said I cannot use sanitizers because of my condition and he or she was told you are not able to buy – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – It is a disability which these people have but they must be treated like everyone else. Their skin is sensitive. She wanted to go into the shop and was told to sanitise her hands to be able to get into the shop but she refused to sanitise because her skin is sensitive. So she was refused entry into the shop.
Such behaviour is bad in our country that we deny a person their right to buy things to support his/her family because of the disability because their skin is different from others. We condemn such behaviour in this country. We wish that people who do these things could be given a certain penalty because this is bad and this person is like that because of God not by will.
Still on the issue of the disabled people, most of them were now coming from the streets but now because of COVID, there are now many disabled people in the streets which is bad for their health. We are fighting for good health for these disabled people but we are doing nothing. So I plead that the disabled people should be given help by the Government as compared to other people. They must be the first people to be given help by the Government whilst the able bodied come last because disabled people cannot help themselves.
There is another issue of the disabled people. Right now when we go to Public Hearings, we see that a disabled person is willing to attend the hearings so that they can air their views but because they do not have transport from point A to B, the person ends up staying at home and the person will not be able to air his/her thoughts. Government must consider and analyse these issues. Yes, we know that in the past when food was distributed through the Public Service, here and there, they were given but a lot of the food was for the underprivileged. For many months, these underprivileged were not getting any food. So how are they living? These issues must be resolved by our Government. Thank you.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion on the challenges faced by the disabled people. The time when the country is having challenges is the time when we must be doing everything possible to help a person who is disabled and the underprivileged. We must have time to reflect on the disabled people. As an Hon. Member and all Hon. Members in this House to think that because today you are walking with your two legs, have your two hands and eyes, is assurance that you are going to die the same way only means you are not thinking clearly because disability can come any day. You can be disabled any day.
We must live knowing that the laws which we must follow as Parliament, Government and areas where we stay, the laws which promote the rights of the disabled must be implemented properly because tomorrow you might end up being disabled. I heard the one who raised the motion saying that nowadays because of COVID-19, we have done what we can to prevent people from contracting COVID-19. We must also look closely at all the ways we are using to prevent, how we have catered for the disabled people with their different disabilities. We are a country which is known worldwide in protecting the disabled people.
We have experts in this country like Jairos Jiri who stood to protect the disabled people by giving them shelter, food and as the Zimbabwean family, we must look at how we can raise the expertise which was left behind by Jairos Jiri. There are places which have people with disabilities. How can these facilities be improved because those who normally give food and other things to the disabled cannot go to Kapota or Jairos Jiri in Bulawayo because they were also affected by COVID-19 in terms of sourcing for funding to help the disabled. So, right now these places were the disabled people are being looked after must be looked into.
Looking at the issue of COVID-19, I am hurt – to hear that in Masvingo there was an Albino who was denied entry into a shop. All of us know that COVID-19 made us to wash our hands or use sanitisers to protect ourselves but I think those from Ministry of Health must help us to look at the suitability of the medicines or if they will have an effect on the Albinos. They should be able to tell us which medicines have effects and which ones do not have so that they can be protected from this disease because this disease does not select. It affects everyone. Even the disabled people can contract COVID-19, but looking at their health first so that we do not disturb their health whilst we are trying to protect them.
Schools are opening and there are schoolchildren who are disabled in different ways. Their skin is sensitive, walking to school and other things, but right now we have heard that boarding buses to schools is difficult for the able bodied. What about those who are surviving with disability? Are they going to be able to handle the pressure in getting into buses? We must have a plan to solve this issue. When we are fighting with a problem that is within the country – we should do it accordingly, accommodating the disabled.
We are the representatives of the people; we have the responsibility to explain to people within our constituencies that when a country is faced with a problem like a cyclone, right now we are getting into the rain season; the disabled people will be facing money problems. Even if the able bodied face a problem – this will be too high for the disabled. I encourage Members of Parliament to have a programme to educate the constituents about the disabled and how best we can help them to get whatever they want during the time of need.
When we experienced the cyclone, many disabled around the country were affected. When we get into a difficult situation, we must do the proper thing. I also wish that we support the laws and conventions that have been brought into this House. When we pass such laws in this country, the disabled people will be able to live well. I wish that as Parliament we should do everything possible at a fast pace. Most of us here are able bodied but tomorrow, you can be involved in an accident and end up being disabled. If you delay to make a law, you are delaying your help. Even when you are grown old, you may not be able to help yourself. It is another sign of being disabled. We must craft laws looking at all these things, considering that this affects everyone else.
When the Minister of Finance comes with the Budget, we must ensure that social welfare receives enough money, focusing on disabled people. We must take care of the disabled because these are the people who have got the right to be taken care of by us. Disability can occur any time, despite the fact that some people are born disabled. We must have rights to be protected properly.
In conclusion, we have the opportunity which Jairos Jiri exhibited. He was a hero who dedicated his life to work for the disabled although he was not disabled. This means that as Zimbabweans, we managed to get an example from him. In our constituencies, we must have a number of those who are disabled and what can we do for them; what Government has done for them and what the NGOs have done. They must live a decent life because they are Zimbabweans, just like us. They have rights just like us, they are only different in that they are not as fit as we are. We must be able to help them in all ways. I thank you.
*HON. MPARIWA: May I take this opportunity to thank Hon. Sithole who is a member of the Public Service and Labour Committee. I am also a member of that Committee.
The Committee saw it fit after realising that there are a lot of treaties that are discussed in this Hon. House but often, people tend to overlook the needs of the disabled. There is nothing like people living with disability – it should be people with disability because if you say people ‘living’; it is as if you apply for it but you do not apply for this. It is God’s will, sometimes you are born like that.
Hon. Speaker, I find it so disturbing that in 2013 when this convention was supposed to be ratified, after doing everything – I wish that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should bring the amendment of that Bill from 1992. I once brought it here when I was Minister of Social Welfare. There was a lot that was presented including the speaker who raised this motion.
I have three points that I want to raise. If you look at Section 83 of the Constitution – it enables us to make laws to give enough rights to the disabled. The 2013 Convention enables us to give an opportunity to address the rights of the disabled in various Government ministries; be it in the Ministry of Youth. In this country, there are 10% of people with disabilities. What it means is that it is the duty of the legislators here to find out where they are, what they are doing, how they live and what can be done for them. Just like what we do when we campaign to be elected into office. It is important as representatives of the people to talk to these people so that we get to know their needs. Next week we will be going out as Members of Parliament with the Budget Portfolio Committee and Expanded SDGs. We should be able to get their views. They should tell us what they feel about the previous Ministry and the previous Budget. They should look at what is happening in all the ministries.
There is also the fact that there are disabled women and the Ministry should assist all those people. If you look at it, people are born of women and sometimes some are born of a disabled woman. They need assistive devices and equipment such wheelchairs and gadgets to use for eyesight or hearing aids. If I take off my spectacles, I will not be able to see properly and that is a kind of disability. How many people are there in our constituencies that are not able to read their Bibles? When we grew up there was United Omnibuses and they were dedicated for the disabled. Right now how may commuter omnibuses have facilities for the disabled? The ratification is in tandem with the Constitution. You should not prescribe to them what should happen but they should be assisted in all aspects of life. If we talk of wheelchairs we should provide for them. How many disabled do we see on the streets begging, sometimes with bad wheelchairs because they are poor. All Government ministries and departments should coordinate and work together to address this issue.
I turn on to discrimination. All the disabled persons are discriminated. Sometimes parents or couples would divorce and cite the problem being from the other couple’s background. The blame game would go on. Let us remember that as each day goes we are going towards our death or disability. How many got disabled because of vehicle accidents. When we address issues of the disabled let us remember that it is not only the needs of those people but you can also find yourself in that situation tomorrow.
I will now turn to buildings and infrastructure. In the past, buildings would be constructed with facilities that cater for the disabled, but these days you would hardly find such facilities with ramps. They struggle to get into buildings, be it in banks or Government’s offices. They struggle because the facilities are not user friendly to them. We should not only look at the Ministry of Labour, let us look at all the ministries and departments because they can assist in one way or the other. There should be coordination in order to assist those people.
Let me now look at the hospital facilities. The disabled people suffer a lot in hospitals more than those that are able bodied. Our hospitals should take the disabled people as people with rights to a good livelihood and should be given priority. It is so embarrassing and shocking that disabled people also join the queues as if it is business as usual in hospitals. Let us remember that it is not all of us with equal needs. We are not the same. When someone is disabled, they need assistance. When it comes to allocation of land, we would also want to know how many disabled people benefited - be it in residential stands, how many benefited.
Mr. Speaker, we want to hear on the reports on empowerment of such people. This issue touches me because my father had a stroke and stayed in the wheelchair for seven years. We prepared a friendly environment for him. As you know Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, I am a Member of that Committee and havea passion for that, and that we be able to adopt this motion, supported by the Committee of Social Welfare. This is the Committee that caters for the needs of the less privileged and the needy. It also takes care of the workers. I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity.
HON. MADHUKU: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the discussion. I support all the other speakers who have gone before me and what they have said about people living with disabilities. I implore this House and society at large to take note that disability is not a curse and that all of us have a potential to be like those living with disabilities. We can be involved in accidents and many various disasters in our lives. So the people living with disabilities are just like us. I want to address the issue of needs of those living with disabilities. It is true to say that by their nature those living with disabilities have more needs than the able-bodied. They live a very expensive life, more than all of us seated here. Even when it comes to their education, it is also very expensive and some because of mobility challenges also have very expensive assistive devices. They need rams and special facilities. In fact they need user friendly facilities which suit their nature.
It was very painful one of these fine days in the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education whereby we invited parents of children with disabilities. We literally had a mother who cried before us because of the challenges she is facing in taking care of her child with autism. This mother is a professional woman who has gone to school and has so many degrees but has forgone work so that she can be home to take care of her autistic child. I am addressing the issue of the needs of those living with disabilities. They need special care and this is very expensive. If we take a situation whereby a mother is no longer going to work so she can be fulltime at home to take care of her autistic child, it means that family remuneration from the mother is zero. Maybe they will be waiting for one salary if the father is going to work or no salary at all.
I am appealing to this House and our Government to take this issue seriously. Besides what I have said, their health requirements are also very expensive. My colleagues have talked about lotions for those with albinism, they are very expensive. Therefore, Government has to give more to this group of people.
Let me also address the issue of discrimination which my other colleagues have also talked about. What we need is attitude change in all of us starting from this House, attitude change going to employers, the education system and all citizens. Why I am saying so is because I have witnessed that even at schools when it comes to recruitment of learners, those given first preference are the able-bodied. Schools tend to avoid or shy away from recruiting those with disabilities. I think the general thinking is that they will heap problems on them or heap pressure on their resources because they have to cater for their needs. So, there is a lot of discrimination at the recruitment process in schools. Not only that, even at homes we have heard several cases whereby those children with disabilities are hidden from the public maybe because some parents think it is a curse or they will be discriminated against when they go out. We have to change holistically our attitudes towards those with disabilities starting from the home to the schools, wherever as I have already alluded to. On jobs also, I think it is true to say that where there is an option of recruiting somebody who is able-bodied, employers may tend to recruit the able-bodied first which is not proper. We need attitude change in the homes, schools and with employers.
My colleagues have also talked about the transport system which is not friendly to those living with disabilities. Many a time we push around even those with clutches. We do not give them first preference but I have noticed that even when we go to some supermarkets they tend to give preference to the 65 year olds and over, the so-called old generation but those with disabilities who need more of this assistance more than us are not recognised. So, as a country, starting from this Parliament, we need to ensure that we give them the space which they need and offer them social, economic and even political assistance. Mr. Speaker Sir, I think it is good to say that we appreciate what the Government is doing in terms of social services to those living with disabilities but like what my colleagues have already said, I think this is not enough. We need to see first preference being given to those living with disabilities before these social services can be rendered to all of us.
I was just thinking aloud that government is also giving the much talked about pfumvudza to those who are able to dig the ground, but what about this group which needs more than us? Have we done enough and have we also given them those packages we are giving to those who have dug the holes? I implore this august House to come up with legislation which takes good care of those living with disabilities because like I have said before, all of us here have a potential to be in a worse scenario than those we are seeing living with disability. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this debate.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. I have stood up to also add my voice to this debate looking at the plight of those living with disability. Looking at my constituency Rushinga, I made an analysis of how many are disabled and they came up to 40 that need wheel chairs. I tried to buy the wheel chairs but each one costs $6000 and I am still paying for those wheel chairs. I think this law was long overdue; we should have debated this issue long back because these people live very pitiful lives. When they board buses they are asked to pay yet they are not getting any money at the end of the month and they do not get any food. So, my thinking as a representative of the people is that those living with disability should get some allowance and food assistance from Social Welfare. They should get free transport if it is public transport. If they are children who are disabled, they should have free access to transport especially on buses – Government should pay for them. Their children should attend Government schools for free, some of these things are done on paper but do not happen in reality. On paper, it is written that they are supposed to be assisted yet on the ground you will find that they are struggling. So I think that Government should further make findings and see to it that those living with disabilities get help
Looking at my constituency in Rushinga, I see a lot of people living with disability – some were born like that, others it is due to landmines that were left behind during the liberation struggle. Sometimes disability comes from nowhere, therefore such people may have families and may be bread winners but they are no longer able to fend for their families. I think that Government should intervene; the Department of Social Welfare should have statistics on their needs and the kind of assistance that they require so that they may lead better lives because if they continue to struggle, even if they try to make families, their families will also suffer and poverty becomes perpetual. At times people living with disabilities are not employed, they are discriminated against when it comes to employment but that is not to mean that they are not able to do anything.
I urge that there be legislation to ensure that companies also employ such people so that they are able to fend for their families. When it comes to vacancies, when we look at office bearers be it here in Parliament; let us try to find out how many people living with disabilities are here. Sometimes there is a lot of discrimination people feel that they are not able to do anything. Personally, I feel that this debate was long overdue because people out there who are living with disabilities are facing a lot of challenges. We should be able to come up with binding resolutions to assist those living with disabilities. With these words, I pray that God’s mercy be upon us so that we come up with resolutions to assist people living with disabilities. I thank you.
*HON. PETER MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to thank the Hon. Member for tabling this debate. When you look carefully at local authorities countrywide, how many local authorities are able to facilitate for people living with disabilities who may be blind, et cetera that have been given access to residential stands or accommodation? I think we should come up with legislation to compel local authorities to set aside 15% for those living with disabilities even in fuel queues. The 15% to local authorities should be dedicated to those living with disabilities in terms of allocation of residential stands or houses.
In fuel queues, there should not be debate on the fact that they are supposed to get fuel and then go. When you look at my constituency in Southerton and Rugare, there are a lot of people living with disabilities. For example, I had a serious problem with Mrs. Maphosa or mai Wilson for the past two weeks. Her rentals were continuously being hiked as a way of forcing her out. So she bought 10 000 bricks and wants assistance to build two rooms. I have written to local authorities and other construction companies to assist her as a lot of people come to the Hon. Member of Parliament at all times to seek assistance. I am not able to assist them because I am also poor.
When the police arrest people living with disabilities – they do not even consider and care about what the law says when dealing with such people. Government should have clear legislation on dealing with people living with disabilities, be they at service stations or wherever. They are supposed to apportion land dedicated for service stations and meant for those living with disabilities. In this country, Government also has a lot of mines. Why is it so difficult for Government to dedicate a mine to people living with disabilities so that they may benefit from their Government in that way?
If we ratified the Convention as Zimbabwe, why are we failing to fulfill that when we are endowed with various resources including minerals? This should be fulfilled and people living with disabilities should be allocated working space in farms where there are double allocations. Those farms should be confiscated and be reallocated to those living with disabilities. If we are able to assist in programmes such as Pfumvudza, where we assist able bodied people in Command Agriculture, can we fail to dedicate such resources to people living with disabilities?
I also urge Government to dedicate a Ministry that is solely for people living with disabilities and not have a desk within another Ministry – this should not happen because it is not helpful. Currently, as Members of Parliament, we were advised to write down the names of those living with disabilities but to date, they have not received any form of assistance. Those who may have benefited are very fortunate. Some people were maimed during the liberation struggle, some of us have five or so relatives who went to war and others are not even known. Maybe those living in urban areas maybe benefiting but those living in rural areas are not. So Government should ensure that such a law is implemented with immediate effect.
During the Cyclone Idai catastrophy, some of these people were wiped away by the floods and lost all their property…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Order, order Hon. Members, you are supposed to maintain a social distance of a metre apart please. You may proceed Hon. Member.
*HON. PETER MOYO: Some of the issues have already been raised by my predecessors. I also would like to add that indeed they spoke what I wanted to say but I would like to reiterate that I also share the same that that law should be passed immediately and those issues should be addressed immediately especially in local authorities. I suggest 15% should be legislated and local authorities must be accountable so that they tell us how many people are living with disabilities and have they been allocated stands or houses? I thank you.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Public Service and Labour Committee members who brought up the motion that is being debated. Most of the time we think that people living with disabilities should only be people who survive on handouts. We know that they are a lot of people like Somandhla Ndebele or Mujaji and there is also this musician who sings with Sulumani Chimbetu. They are successful because they were being assisted by some people. If Government dedicates some resources to such people, they will succeed. One of the speakers said people living with disabilities may be 15% of the population.
If we say 15%, that is a huge number which means they are supposed to get help. If it is Local Government, they are supposed to get their 20% allocation because they are not able to go and join the waiting list to get those houses or join queues to get access to water. This becomes very hard for them. I really appreciate that there are a lot of those conventions that we ratified but as a country, we are not considering those conventions, so we should consider them in order to assist such people.
One of the things that surprises me is that we may talk about people living with disabilities but here as Parliament, our Hansard is not printed in Braille form, which means the blind may not be able to read our debates.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): I need to keep on reminding Hon. Member, we need to maintain social distance. I am addressing you Hon. Dzuma please.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I was talking about the Braille language and that the Hansard should also publish a publication in Braille form to cater for visually impaired people. I remember when I was the Chairperson of the Public Service Committee, our witnesses were visually impaired, so they were supposed to take oath and they objected because they said they were supposed to read on their own. That is when I realised that indeed as Parliament, we must have documents in Braille form.
I remember sometime I saw a pregnant woman on television. That woman was carrying a very deformed baby so she was advised to terminate the pregnancy. When she gave birth she was advised not to breast feed the child so that the child dies but she refused. The baby was very deformed, the nostrils were wide open, the baby could not feed because the mouth was deformed, it fed using a teaspoon and also her limps needed surgery. We do not have a law to address that and to date, that child is suffering together with the mother. No one is offering to assist, not even doctors offered to assist that child. I think such conventions should be domesticated and implemented. I have a teaching background. With reference to radio lessons, there are some children who are deaf so they were not benefitting from radio lessons because they are deaf but they are supposed to sit for examinations just like the able bodied students.
In countries like Malawi and Kenya, when a child is born with albinism, they are killed for ritual purposes because there is a belief that such children bring wealth. I am grateful for the fact that in our country we do not do such things. I also heard about buildings that are friendly to the disabled community. When I was a teacher, I used to see some children coming to school on wheel chairs and they would find it difficult to get into classrooms but I am glad that some classrooms now have ramps but not all schools have such facilities. I think a law must be made that all schools should cater for needy children.
When it comes to the money that they earn from the Social Welfare, they are given very little money. Such people should be given money enough to sustain themselves because they are not supposed to live on begging. As you can see, I am also putting on spectacles, it means I am living with disability so someone invented these spectacles to enable me to read. If there was no one who had invented that, it means it was going to be difficult for me. There are so many of us here living with disabilities. Let us not think that disability is something which is very unusual.
Where you are in one way or another, you may have disabilities and you should know that you are living with disability. We must be merciful on such people and let us push for the implementation and assistance for such people. As we speak right now, there is this command programme and people accessing inputs are able bodied people yet those living with disabilities continue to beg and struggle. So, we are saying such people should get access to inputs so that they sustain their own lives. I thank you.
HON. SVUURE: I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing me to add my voice on this profound motion that has been put forward by Hon. Sithole, the motion on the disabled persons. I would like to first bring it forward to our attention as a House that we are naturally all in one way or another, vulnerable but the level of vulnerability for the disabled is a lot higher and I would like to urge society to be cognisant of the fact that this vulnerability for the disabled is higher. So society must always be aware of this fact.
If we get to be aware of this fact, that the level of vulnerability for the disabled is higher, we must then be biased towards this group of people even in service provision. In every sector of the society when we provide services, we must be biased towards this group. You find that even in food distribution that the Minister of Social Welfare does, in some places, able bodied people go well ahead of the disabled to get those food hampers or provisions and leave out the disabled.
Even the people that are given the responsibility to register such beneficiaries, it is amazing that sometimes they register an abled bodied first and then write or register the disabled at the very end and in some cases leave them out. This is something that I would like to urge society to always be cognisant of. I would also want to urge society in this manner that sometimes you hear people bragging about their wealth saying I have this type of car or house, yet if you look closely at that person or such persons, you do not hear not even a single day where they have done anything for the disabled in their society, even in the villages that they come from.
You then find that kind or level of wealth amounts to nothing if you are not sensitive to the needs of the disabled that are in your society or even in your family that you come from. You will find that there is no one in our midst that does not have a disabled person(s) but you do not hear of any occasion where they donate a single thing to such society or members of that particular family.
Disabled persons are so vulnerable in a way that where an able-bodied person budgets for himself or herself, disabled people budget for double that much. If it is travelling, they will have to find transport fare for themselves and also for the person that would have to help them push the wheelchair. When they travel, they usually have to travel in twos because they will not be able to help themselves. So the budgets are always double because of the second person that will have to assist them in whatever they would have come to do or gone out to do.
I would also want to look at even the COVID-19 pandemic that we are going through. You find that disabled people are more vulnerable in the sense that some of the COVID-19 prevention regulations are more difficult for the disabled. Social distancing for example, where one person has to stand a metre or two metres apart from the other; this person in some cases will always have to have some person with them to assist them in whatever they will be doing. That makes them a lot more vulnerable. These are some of the things we also must be aware of.
I would like to talk of the facilities; the offices and buildings. This point has been mentioned but I want to emphasise this that I think it should be mandatory that every public building should be user friendly for the disabled. Every building design or plan should not be approved unless it has a provision for the disabled because half the time, the disabled are not able to get to the offices that they really would have wanted to get to because there is no provision for them to get to such offices. In some offices, you find that the way is user friendly in getting into the offices but one thing that I have found is that many offices or buildings forget about the ablution facilities. Many buildings forget that aspect. Yes, the means to get into the office might be there but the ablution facilities therein are not user friendly for the disabled. These are some of the things that we must consider when we do our building designs as it were.
Even the transport models, when we were growing up, those that are of my age; you would see then that the buses that were there had a special place just behind the driver’s seat which was specifically reserved for the disabled people but if you look at the buses that we have these days, I am not sure where they think the disabled person will sit with their wheelchair. So I would like to urge that the designs, be it public transport, kombis, buses or whatever mode of transport it may be, it should provide for the disabled.
Transport means is so difficult for the able-bodied even now so you must then consider what more for the disabled if it is so difficult to get into a ZUPCO bus for an able-bodied person? What more for a disabled? The pushing and shoving that we see people engaging into get embark on a bus is disheartening. So we must be considerate and consider our designs when we design these things.
The other thing that I would want to quickly touch on is representation in decision making forums. We must also make sure that the disabled people in our midst are also involved at the core of decision-making centres or forums. It must be deliberate because sometimes if you expose them to an equal scenario, you find that the able-bodied person goes ahead of them. So there must be a deliberate decision that we must come up with that in every high office or decision-making forum. We must have a representation for the disabled people.
Half the time you find that in so many boards, I am not sure how many boards have been made deliberately in a way that provides for the disabled. In institutions like Parliament or institutions like schools, heads of schools, there must be a deliberate lineage towards the disabled. I will tell you of two schools in my constituency; Zaka Secondary and one called Chinyaradza Secondary School, the heads for those two schools are both blind heads. I will tell you that those two schools are amongst the highest scoring in Zaka district. What this goes to show is what an able bodied person can do, a disabled person can also do. We must not look down upon the disabled like one Hon. Member mentioned earlier on that disability is not anyone’s fault. Disabled people are equal in every aspect to the able-bodied. We must not look down upon the disabled in our midst.
The other thing that I want to touch on is the stigmatisation. This is one of the bad things that we see happening amongst the disabled. Disability is not anyone’s fault. For those that read the word of God, there is one time that people met with Jesus and there was a disabled person that was sitting there. They approached Jesus and asked him if it was the disabled man’s fault or his parents’ that he was disabled. Jesus told them that it was neither his parents’ fault nor his own fault but God allowed it so that his power would be manifest through this person. When we look at the disabled people, we must not always put blame on them or anyone; sometimes God just allowed it so that his glory is manifest amongst the living.
Stigmatisation is one of the things that really is profound in society. I will tell you of this one couple. I was distributing rice to the disabled in my constituency, then someone asked me if I was aware that at this particular home, there is a disabled child. This is a family that I had known for years but I had not known that they had a disabled child in their house. They never talk about him and they do not carry him outside or take him anywhere in t public. I struggled to approach them to ask if indeed they had a disabled child. That is a thing that they never want a society to know. I had to give their neighbour – who knew that they had a disabled child so that he would pass on this parcel to them. So stigmatisation is not only in the distant society but it can also be in the same family that we come from. This is one thing that we must fight as a society.
I would like to end by urging us that we social leaders in the various spheres of life that we come from. It must start with us as Hon. Members of Parliament in the societies that we come from. If we are seen by society taking care of the disabled in our own society or community, then the outside world will then begin to appreciate the importance of taking care of the disabled in our midst. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. PHULU: I have a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order is in the form of moving for the amendment of the motion.
HON. TSUNGA: I second.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Are you contributing? I did not recognise you.
HON. PHULU: I am not contributing; it is a point of order.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I had not recognised you, I had recognised Hon. Tekeshe.
HON. PHULU: I am sorry about that Hon. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Alright, you can go ahead.
HON. PHULU: If the mover of the motion looks at the motion, point Number 2 of the motion says; that they would like the Government to pass a Bill by the 31st of July 2020. I think before we continue debating, we may be debating a motion which is actually redundant. I move that that part of the motion be amended to read 31st December 2020 or some other date that the House thinks is appropriate.
That is one way of doing it. The other way is according to Standing Order Number 68; I moved a motion that was seconded.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: That is not a privilege Hon.
HON. PHULU: But it is there in the Standing Orders. It is a motion without notice
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: It is a motion with notice.
HON. PHULU: No, Mr. Speaker. The motion that I made is that during a debate, a member can move for an amendment of a motion. All that is required is that it be seconded then the House can vote on it.
Mr. Speaker, there is no other way of amending a motion....
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: There is no need for us to do that. The point that you are making does not apply.
HON. PHULU: May I be allowed to make a written submission before you make a ruling.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have already made a ruling. It does not apply.
HON. PHULU: How is it going to be amended?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have already made a ruling. The Hon. Member must go to Papers Office.
HON. PHULU: That will not be a valid amendment Mr. Speaker. That will not be an amendment. An amendment must be made in the House or in Committee.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What you are talking about is an amendment which is not relating to what you have raised.
HON. PHULU: Mr. Speaker, it is an amendment of the question before the House.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please I have made a ruling and you cannot challenge the ruling.
HON. PHULU: Previously Mr. Speaker, Members have been allowed to make written submissions. I do not agree. An amendment by the Papers Office is not an amendment. It is not valid.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: It is a correction that you are going to make, that is not an amendment.
HON. PHULU: It is not a correction. It is an amendment to the motion. How can we be debating a redundant motion? The question is already before the House. Papers Office has not power to amend what we are debating. Only the House or the Committee if we are in Committee can do so.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I have already made a ruling and I cannot entertain your argument.
HON. PHULU: My submission is that I be given an opportunity to make a written submission. It has been done for other Members. We have seen other Members being given that opportunity to make submissions so that a ruling by Mr. Speaker can be made later.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Unfortunately, I have made a ruling and I cannot withdraw my ruling. I have ruled that the correction can be made through Papers Office.
HON. PHULU: Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in the Standing Orders which says that.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member we are not debating here.
HON. PHULU: Mr. Speaker, you cannot dismiss me without pointing where I am wrong.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you approach the Chair?
Hon. Phulu approached the Chair.
HON. PHULU: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to add my voice on the debate. Mr. Speaker Sir, the disabilities vary. There is nothing that they can do in life. I think that the Government should take the responsibility of those who are disabled from birth because other parents carry disabled children on their backs until they turn 30 years. Those children need pampers and the Government is doing nothing. There is need for wheelchairs because mothers cannot carry their children on their backs up until they turn 30 years. The Government should cater for them instead. During the colonial rule of Ian Smith, people thought there were no disabled people because they were kept well and taken care of, but these days the disabled are abandoned and left gallivanting around the country in different places. How can the Government abandon people?
Names of all the disabled persons were written down and those who are blind were also written down but nothing has been provided for them. In my constituency, I have not seen any assistance coming for the disabled but I hear people saying they are going to donate something. The previous speaker said that we are very good at drafting things but no implementation. The problem is that we do not take any action. We were supposed to have specific schools to take care of the disabled. It looks like a punishment to parents for giving birth to disabled children. If we go to Jairos Jiri, they are made to pay school fees just like the able bodied. It is Government’s responsibility to pay their school fees. Parents should just visit their children at boarding schools where they are taken care of. In our culture it is not allowed to remove the pregnancy of a disabled child because of their disability. Government should take its responsibility to look after the disabled children and assist mothers who never tried to kill their disabled children. There is not even a single disabled person who has been given a residential stand. They are even told to join waiting list. People do not want disabled tenants. We expect councils to assist them by giving them residential stands. We want laws that cater for disabled persons and that whenever there is allocation of land, a certain percentage should be allocated to the disabled them. There are very intelligent disabled children who cannot afford to go to school because their parents are poor or because the Government cannot pay for the children. If we are to ask the Ministers in this House, they will say they have the law but nothing is happening and no food is being given to people.
We are very good at writing down things but there is no implementation of the things. I kindly ask you Mr. Speaker Sir that if there is a law to assist the disabled, as MPs we should take it upon ourselves to be our responsibility to assist these people. People are having challenges of accessing medication, school fees and mobility. As an MP you will end up assisting. Our call is that Government should take that responsibility and assist them. I thank you.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I have a few points to present on the motion. Let me say disability is not a want. No one under this world wants to be disabled. As such, I want to believe if there are disabled persons, it is the Government’s responsibility to look after them. I want to suggest just a few points that the Government should assist disabled persons with school fees and the type of schools which suit disabled persons. If they need wheel chairs, they should be assisted with wheel chairs. Government must also assist by giving food and also some form of allowances. The allowances should cater for day to day needs and they should include clothes and the general hygiene of a person and Government should take care of that. We should not segregate disabled persons. We should learn to love them and not look down upon them. I want to also ask Government to give disabled people space. There are some disabled people who are very intelligent and can do special projects on their own. So, if Government can identify such kind of people and help them do their own projects that can be a good thing for disabled persons. Let us make laws which promote disabled persons and we must enforce. I want to suggest that from birth, Government must have files for disabled people and follow up how the people are surviving and getting enough of everything. If there are some exercises that need to be done, are they being done, because there are some disabled people out there who do not even know where to go with a disabled person because Government does not reach out to see what is happening to disabled persons out in the rural areas.
I was happy that Hon. Tekeshe was talking about assisting disabled persons. The manager in his shop is a disabled person in a wheel chair and he has been working with him for years. So, he talks from what he is experiencing. Let us assist as communities these disabled persons as much as we can. If Government does not come in, I want to believe that we form some associations in our communities where we can assist these disabled persons. Thank you very much.
+HON. MHLANGU: Since most of the points have been said already, I will just add a few points pertaining to the motion moved by Hon. Sithole from the Public Service and Social Welfare Committee. I would like to commend Government for the BEAM programme that is enabling people living with disabilities to access their BEAM allocation any time. Although their allocation sometimes will not be adequate because many schools complain that the money is not disbursed on time. I would like to appeal to institutions like NSSA when they allocate residential stands they should consider people living with disabilities because they tend to lose out most of the times. They also miss out on opportunities of getting houses just like how everyone else benefits. I would like to appeal that when they allocate, they should dedicate a quota or certain percentage to people living with disabilities. Right now during Covid-19 times that we are living in, most people living with disabilities survive on vending. For those living in rented houses, they are expected to pay at the end of every month. They face eviction because they are not able to pay their rent on time. We will end up seeing them on the streets just like the visually impaired. I appeal to Government to look for accommodation for the visually impaired because we realise that even young children are found on the streets begging trying to raise money for rent. They do not have any other source of livelihood. My colleagues also spoke at length on the fact that when it comes to budgeting, they should be represented by people who are also living with disabilities instead of being represented by able bodied people because they do not really know their needs. They would not really know where they need additions so I appeal that they should come and present their proposals to the Public Service and Social Welfare Committee when it comes to budget time so that they present their needs in person. Looking at Parliament there are very few proportional representative members who represent people with disabilities. We only have one female Hon. Member. Government should ensure that in the constitution, more seats are reserved for people living with disabilities so that they get five or six seats so that they assist each other in making these representations. That way they can effectively communicate their needs instead of being represented by one Hon. Member. Some of us are not able to adequately represent them because we fall short in knowing their needs. Most of the points have been raised Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you.
HON. TSUNGA: Mr. Speaker Sir, may I also contribute to this very important debate relating to people with disabilities. I think it is very important because it impacts on virtually all of us as Members of Parliament because we come from communities where there are a lot of people with disabilities. A lot of issues have been raised and discussed but I must also re-emphasise on some of the issues that have been raised and discussed but I must also add a few issues or re-emphasize others.
Firstly Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of housing is a nightmare for people with disabilities. A good many of the people with disabilities do not own houses of their own and local authorities, as somebody has already indicated, must take affirmative action to ensure that there is a deliberate attempt to make available housing stands for people with disabilities at concessionary rates – that is the first item. Related to that, in fact I must give an example, in Mutasa South Constituency that I represent. There is a gentleman who has been on the council waiting list for ages on end and has not received any joy from the local authority in Mutasa Rural District Council. This gentleman by the name Michael Mutike has been on the waiting list for over a decade and there is no mercy. Nobody seems to be listening to him and I think that if appropriate legislation were passed to ensure that local authorities necessarily reserve a quota of housing units or housing stands for people with disabilities the problem may be resolved.
Secondly Mr. Speaker Sir, is the issue of sustainable safe livelihood activities for people with disabilities. A good many of them are beggars, they rely on hand–outs and are always asking for help. Those who use public transport, it is common knowledge or common sight to see the blind singing and asking for freebies; i.e. money, food and groceries. The same applies to most of our urban centres. At street corners, there are also a lot of people with disabilities begging for food, clothing and other items that sustain their lives.
I think what needs to happen now is for Government departments and ministries to set aside a quota of employment opportunities for people with disabilities so that they are guaranteed of employment upon graduation at institutions of higher learning or at vocational training centres. Also, there must be deliberate effort to provide start-up finance for people with disabilities. So, our financial institutions must be compelled through legislation or other rules and regulations to ensure that people with disabilities have access to capital so that they can be able to start, expand or diversify some of their income generating activities.
We also notice Mr. Speaker Sir, that a lot of public buildings are not so designed as to enable people with disabilities to access some offices or social services. For instance, you find a lot of buildings without ramps so that people with disabilities can be able to move around with relative ease to be able to access social services i.e. schools, clinics and such other services.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we have also noticed that in some communities – people with disabilities are sacrificed for ritual purposes. I think that there must be relevant legislation to ensure that such social and tradition practices are halted. Special schools is another area – education, it does not appear like Government has deliberately focused on ensuring that special schools are adequately resourced because these schools are where children with special needs like disabilities such as hearing impairment, visual, mental or physical attend. There is not much assistance coming from Government to ensure that the teachers at these schools are adequately motivated to be able to work with these children. Also, the schools do not get preferential treatment in terms of the provision of per capita grants so that they are able to operate.
Again, if there is going to be legislation in this regard, it is going to be most helpful for special schools. For example in Mutare, Mutasa South Constituency, we are looking at schools as the National Rehabilitation Centre and also Chengetai Special School. This school by and large is financed by ZIMCARE Trust and I think that such organisations that have deliberate focus on special education require a lot of help and resources.
Finally Mr. Speaker Sir, social safety nets, I think that Government needs to establish a special fund for people living with disabilities. I do not know if I may call it a disability benefit so that people with disabilities are guaranteed of a monthly income that should be able to contribute to the welfare of the disabled and their families. In the absence of reasonable and adequate monthly financing as a benefit accruing to people with disabilities we will continue to have the number of beggars on our streets increasing.
Otherwise Mr. Speaker Sir, this is a very important motion that needs to be supported and we must all be seen to be engaged so that at the end of the day, all said and done, people with disabilities are at least on equal footing with their so-called, able-bodied counterparts. I thank you.
*HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I stand to add my voice to what Hon. Sithole was discussing about people with disabilities. Firstly, I would like to thank the Government for the work that they are doing in looking after people living with disabilities.
Secondly, I would like to thank the President of the country who saw it fit to ensure that people with disabilities are well looked after and live better lives and also having an adviser in his office, Cde. Malinga. It shows that Government is dedicated to ensuring that these people have better lives. I also heard the previous speaker saying Smith looked after people living with disabilities very well. I grew up during the colonial era and never witnessed any of that. Instead, we saw Jairos Jiri taking care of African people living with disabilities. Even missionaries at places like Morgenster that is where we got people who could not speak even Kapota it was for missionaries. Right now I would like to thank the Government because of places like Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, it shows that the Government has disabled people at heart. They are people who were involved in accidents and were permanently injured; since 1980 there was a worker’s compensation fund and to date in Bulawayo we have a place called NSSA Rehabilitation and these people who will be living with disability as a result of car accidents are compensated.
The First Lady is going around the country giving disabled people wheel chairs and this shows that our Government has the heart of disabled people at heart. On education the Government included what is called inclusive education meaning when teachers are trained they must be able to teach a child who cannot see or speak this shows that the Government has people at heart. During the Smith Regime we did not have such a thing. I would like to thank the Government for the efforts they are doing to support people with disability.
HON. TEKESHE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): What is your point of order?
*HON. TEKESHE: My point of order is that I want to correct the Hon. Member debating; she said I said that Smith was assisting black disabled people. No, I did not say that, I said that in Smith’s time we never saw disabled white people in streets because Smith was taking good care of them. I never said Smith was looking after black people I said he was taking good care of white disabled people. Can the Hon. Member be guided?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Point taken Hon. Member.
*HON. NYAMUDEZA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate, the issue that is being discussed here is a very important one. I would like to thank Jairos Jiri for what he has done; he is a hero though he was not declared a national hero. When it comes to the issue of disability people are disabled in different forms, they are those who cannot walk those who are visual impaired, the deaf and dump and the albinos. The albinos are not talked about much but they are disabled because they cannot see things that are far away, they cannot do hard labour and they cannot stay in the sun for long.
Government should have statistics of all the disabled people in our country and support these people. The fact that we are not caring for the disabled, we are losing talents that these disabled people have. We have a person called Masimba Kuchera an economist but he is blind. We are very thankful the father took him to school no matter his condition. He is someone who can contribute to the Government of this land and we are able to see progress. We expect people to help him but we see people looking down upon him. Villages must have statistics of people who are disabled.
I hear an Hon. Member saying that she sometimes help disabled people, I was urging this august House to continue to help the disabled and one we will say we help two or three disabled people. Disabled children come to us to tell us their problem. The disabled girl child has quite a challenge in choosing a husband she can only accept those that came to him even if they are not her choice because she will be saying if I lose this one who else will approach me. Another point is if disabled people go to school this will ease their way of living because they can find something to do.
People shun away the albinos but the albinos are very clever and very intelligent, an example is the Late Prof. Makumbe he was a professor and he helped a lot of children who lived with albinism. As a Government it is our wish they put funding to assist the disabled. The most important thing is for us to know the names of all children living with albinism. I thank you very much.
HON. PHULU: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I would like to contribute to this debate on disability. I would like to say that I second the motion that has been moved by the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Welfare – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible Interjections.]
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, less noise in the House.
HON. PHULU: Mr. Speaker Sir, Zimbabwe has ratified the convention on people with disabilities the UN convention. In fact as we speak the African Union has also passed a protocol on people with disabilities the UN convention. In fact as we speak, the African Union has also passed a protocol on people with disabilities, which I think Zimbabwe is yet to ratify. I think as we debate this motion, it is important to also take this opportunity to implore the Government to ratify this important African Instrument. The African Instrument, over and above the other standard setting instruments on disability, will give us an opportunity to look at certain things which are pertinent to people with disabilities from an African point of view.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the debate also asks the Government to craft appropriate policies for dealing with people living with disabilities and I would like to support that. However, I also want to say, it is difficult for those policies to be crafted in the air and the manner in which the motion has been crafted also deals with that. The third motion calls for the alignment of the Act, our very own Act, the Disabled Persons Act [Chapter 17.01]. If you look at the Disabled Persons Act, it is very basic and deficient. All it does is provides for a board to determine issues to do with people living with disabilities. It creates a director, provides for the functions of the board and provides for reports to be made to the board. It has no substance in terms of social welfare. If you compare it with the Old People’s Act and the Act dealing with social welfare, which specifically provides for various groups of persons to be provided with social welfare – in as far as the Disabled people are concerned, there is no such provision.
So, the Act is very sketchy. I acknowledge that it creates offences for discrimination, yes, it says that no one must be denied access to public premises, services, amenities, access to employment simply on the basis of being disabled but it is very lacking in terms of providing for their social welfare and other things. So, we need an Act that is more proactive rather than that simply says, do not discriminate, we need to go further and provide various things for them. In fact, I suggest that as soon as we domesticate our international obligations – we have seen the Government moving to domesticate quite a number of our international instruments and I think it is quite a pity that the instruments to do with the people living with disabilities have not been at the top of the agenda in terms of ratification. The moment we ratify them, we immediately create an Act of Parliament which is based on these international instruments. I see that the motion captured that quite succinctly but I think the omission is that it would be good at the same time as we try to craft an amendment to this Act to do it via the domestication of one of these international instruments so that we have a comprehensive Act that is quite proactive and deals with a lot of these issues. I will not go into them in detail.
I would like to say that the COVID-19 situation that we are experiencing is actually a good example of how, as we pass our legislation, we did not pay particular attention to the disabled because the situation affects them differently. A lot of those who debated before me have covered this situation regarding the schools. I think last week in the Question and Answer Session, we dealt with the issue of how it is necessary to have special amenities and special aides, books and so on in order to cater for the disabled children. To have special equipment to cater for them even as they experience this e-learning and various modes of communication that they have been instituted by the situation of COVID-19.
The other complaint – I was called by a constituent of mine, Mr. Jemwa from Nkulumane. He was complaining that, Nkulumane is one of the suburbs which had a housing scheme sometime back and took in a lot of disabled people. So, you will find that it is one of the constituencies’ per capita which has the highest number of disabled people. One of the challenges that they have been facing, which has been mentioned by some of the Hon. Members is; when it comes to social welfare and other issues, we tend to prioritise – of course we do prioritise the elderly and I am a chief proponent of prioritising the elderly. However, in the least of the people who are prioritised to receive social welfare, whether it is, mealie meal or rice, I think the disabled come at number six or they are not there at all. I once went on the ground and found that the disabled come right at the bottom and sometimes they are omitted from the list. It points to a policy which does not recognise the amount of discomfort and challenges that disabled people face.
This motion, if it is passed and certainly if the Government acts on the recommendations in this motion, it will see all policies having to automatically take into account issues of the disabled in each and every policy that is passed. It will compel the Government at every level to actually make sure that in their reasoning, they have a quota for the disabled. It will ensure that even in our Governance structures – maybe the reason why the Ministry of Social Welfare does not pay particular attention to the disabled is perhaps that on that board or Committee at the province or wherever, I can bet that there is no disabled person and we get a situation where they are being overlooked. Mr. Speaker Sir, I thought that I should just add my voice briefly to this issue because it is an issue that touches everyone, Hon. Members and all our constituents.
By way of closing, I would like to say that certainly, this motion is in line with the opposition’s Smart Policy which supports a disability grant accessed according to established extent and severity of the disability. It also supports that a grant be paid directly to the disabled, to those affected or to the institutions caring for them or any other nominee whom they may appoint who is collecting or administering this grant on their behalf. Certainly, as opposition, we also support –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Hon. Member, this motion does not require you to talk about parties.
HON. PHULU: No, Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not talking about the party –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: No, no, there is no need for you to talk about opposition.
HON. PHULU: No, Mr. Speaker, it is an official term of Parliament, there is Government and opposition. I am standing on a motion that has been moved by a Committee imploring the Government to implement it and I am also saying; as the other side of the aisle, we are lending our support to the motion. I think it is important. Opposition simply means the other side of the aisle; I am not talking about parties. Certainly, one of the issues that we support Mr. Speaker Sir, is the issue of – and this is not in the motion but I am sure, as the policies unfold it will be considered. It is to give incentives to the private sector whenever they employ a disabled person and whenever they extent a lending hand to a disabled person. We should see some form of incentive from the Government, either capacitating them giving some sort of fund or tax incentives because there is no way we can do this without support from the private sector or civic society. So we would want to see Government incentivising those who come out and support in all its aspects of the agenda to ensure that we prioritise the disabled persons in our country and obviously have representation in all our bodies.
Finally, Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to say that our Constitution in Section 22 advances a right to all disabled persons. It protects them from discrimination, entitles them to protection by the State and support by everyone in the country, and certainly this motion is in line with Section 22 of the Constitution. I implore the House to vote in favour of this favour to the extent that it ensures that there is alignment of the Disabled Persons Act, to the extent that it calls all of us to ratify, adopt and domesticate all the relevant international regional instruments relating to disability, to the extent that it calls upon every single policy of Government to take into account issues to do with disabilities and certainly I hope that because there are dates mentioned. I think these are the three proposals.
The last one talks about I think 31st December, 2020 and second one talks about 30 July, 2020 which obviously has passed. I have been assured by the Chair that that will be attended to and an appropriate amendment will be made which reflects the urgency of this matter. I would like to implore both sides of the House, I do not think there is a single member who would stand and say they are not in support of this kind of motion. It is one of those motions that everyone in the House will unanimously lend their wait. I would like to see the Member who will stand up and say this motion must be thrown out and I certainly think every Member here is in support of such an important motion. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. KWARAMBA: Mr. Speaker Sir, this woman has been standing up for quite a long time and you have not recognised her. Please, it is unfair.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have not seen her, sorry Hon. I was using a list which I have here. It is only these two that I have called who are not on the list. Her name is not here.
*HON. KACHEPA: I want to add a few words on people living with disabilities. Mr. Speaker Sir, disability is something which is found in every family. There is no family which can say we do not have a disabled person in a family.
Firstly, even when you grow old you end up being disabled and will not be able to walk. I plead that the Government analyse and budget like CDF, we are travelling in every constituency. If we take disability like the border lines like in my constituency, there are many people who are disabled. Their legs were amputated because of landmines. Some of them do not have legs and are crawling like babies. I appeal to Government so that we work together to help those people
On social welfare, there are many problems which we are facing at our rural homes. There are some people who are disabled but social welfare has said the disabled person must bring a witness to witness that this person is disabled. I am appealing to Government to talk with Social Welfare to help people. The Minister of Finance has said he has a lot of money which is being given to Ministry of Social Welfare but when we look at our district, people who are benefitting are very few. I am pleading Mr. Speaker so that every person benefits because some of them are not able to go to areas where registration is being done.
They must also be given wheelchairs so that these can be distributed to disabled persons to make it easy for people to move from one place to another in our constituencies, wards and districts. Being disabled, there are some other people who are locked in houses. Some people feel burdened to handle the issue of disability. Those people are not able to farm or move from one place to another so they must be a law that there is a follow up on a disabled person to see how this person is living.
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleading, especially we as Members of Parliament that if possible we can ask everyone to ask each and everyone but these people can be asked in the streets. I am pleading with everyone to have a heart to help. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Let me commend the Hon. Members who thought of this important discussion and motion, Hon. Sithole who moved it and seconded by Hon. Ncube. Let me also say that I am the advisor for the National Council of the Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe in the entire country. For it is of interest for me that this was brought to Parliament for debate.
First of all let us look at Section 83 of the Constitution which states that “the State must take appropriate measures within the limits of the resources available to it”. That is where the problem is, “within the limits of resources available to it”. Being disabled is not a choice and how do you limit resources. Munhu akaberekwa nehurema asi moti mangwana tofanira kuvabetsera kana mari iripo. That needs to be changed. That was supposed to read “the State must take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities realise their full mental and physical potential, including measures which will...”.
So we have got to revisit this and this is not only on this Section but many others “resources permitting”. Also, resources permitting, we now give the Executive the excuse to say but the resources are not there. Disability is a lifetime, it is not an event. It is a lifetime scenario that has been bestowed on you by the Almighty in his own ways. We also have got to look at Section 83 (i) to enable them to become self sufficient. Where in the Budget have we budgeted for them to be self sufficient? The first thing that I want to say which all Hon. Members will agree with is that we as a people, have been very insensitive to the disabled people in the same way we have been insensitive to the war veterans or freedom fighters. We have not prioritised things which are critical. I have not seen us passing a Budget for the disabled so that they are self sufficient.
We know that some of them cannot even get to areas where Government programmes are being carried out because of their disability. What measures have you put in place to make sure that they get there or to make sure that they get what belongs to them without it being a favour, but being an entitlement because of the condition that they are in?
We also have to look at Section 83 (b), to enable them to live with their families and participate in social, creative or recreational activities. Let us do a poll and come up with the number of families with disabled people who are implementing this. If anything, they are actually neglected because most of us are able bodied. We have never understood how one who is disabled functions.
Despite the adage that inability does not mean disability; we like to use – disability is not inability. Despite being what we like to say as a people to console them, it is never implemented. In the first place, why do we say disability is not inability, instead of saying inability is what they are? Even in using the word disability, we are already discriminating and the problem starts there. Hon. Paradza who is a renowned editor and writer would certainly agree with me that there is stigmatisation there already. We already have divided them that they live with disability but we should make them able-bodied instead of saying the inability that they live with ndiko kugona kwacho.
We then go to protect them from all forms of exploitation and abuse. We are guilty as charged as MPs because when we are going to elections as politicians, we look for them because we want their votes. There is nobody who has two, three or five votes. We all vote once. Where the abuse and exploitation comes is there is 10-15% in population from a demographic point of view. How many of those are in the corridors of power?
Hon. Togarepi is here, he belongs to the ruling party; Hon. Thokozani Khupe who is in here belongs to the opposition – what measures have you taken within your party Constitution to ensure that there is that love, compassion and sensitivity? I am saying this because charity begins at home. Let us not expect the Constitution to be a sacred document before the people who are affiliate will have not done that. It is critical that political parties are able to accommodate the disabled in the corridors of power.
How many political parties have got disabled people in leadership? In this very same august House, how many disabled people are chairing Committees or are in the influence of power? We are seen wanting and that is the reason why I say on behalf of this nation as a national Member of Parliament, I would like to apologise to the disabled community that we have been insensitive. Moving forward, we must be serious in the things that we say to the people. People are able to write their names down – some who cannot get benefits - even civil servants themselves are busy including them on the list of beneficiaries yet they do not benefit. What measure is being taken by the Minister of Social Welfare to ensure that what belong to Caesar goes to Caesar? How many people are not able to attend a function that are disabled, but still love ZANU PF, MDC –T, NDONGA or any other party? A t-shirt has never been taken to them but they are expected to vote for them. A t-shirt is something else; what about the food which is meant for them?
In this whole COVID 19, what I have seen and credit goes to the First Lady – for giving hampers to students who are disabled. The First Lady has done that from a charitable organisation. What is the Government doing now to augment the efforts of what the First Lady is doing through her heart? What about those mothers and fathers who are disabled or a family that has children or rather a whole family that has disabled people? How then do we say they are catered for? We have seen in terms of abuse how as a people we have even gone as far as raping people who are disabled.
There must be a law put in place first of all for you if you abuse a person who is disabled – it must not be less than ten years and then we go to the crime committed to protect them. They feel they have nowhere to go as a result of that. The 10-15% which we all know is what they constitute from a demographic point of view - is that reflective of Government, Parliament, Parastatals or the Boards that they sit on that represent everyone? It is not. There must be a law which makes sure that – if Hon. Members can go and pass a law about Proportional Representation coming to Parliament and the youth. What about the disabled? Why have we not brought it up?
The freedom fighters that fought for the struggle are not even catered for in the Constitution and yet they brought us freedom but there is not provision to accommodate them but we are busy putting people who ultimately are able to do things themselves. How can we talk about 50-50 nemunhu ari disabled?
Hon. Members, how many times do we go for elections and we have people who are disabled also campaigning? Is that fair - yet we are pushing for Proportional Representation – that is why in God’s name I am against those pushing for Proportional Representation when the disabled are not given a piece of the cake and I debate against that because they cannot campaign like we do. If we decide not to accommodate them; it is ungodly. God is for everyone and being for everyone, even us who are able- bodied must be able to move an agenda which ensures that there is fair play.
The Constitution talks about doing things in a just manner. If you hear our prayer, you must do things in a just manner. Are we doing things in a just manner when we are leaving a certain group out because they are not able and because they are not represented here? If I look at this House here, besides Hon. R. Ndlovu who is disabled, I do not see many who are disabled yet there are 270 Members of Parliament. Out of 270 Members of Parliament, they are represented by one person. May you think to yourself now Mr. Speaker Sir and colleague Members? Is that fair? What have we done to be able to move that? Political parties have got people who are disabled. Why are we not accommodating them? Why are we not having a Ministry for the disabled? We have a Ministry representing the youths, women and war veterans but we have no Ministry representing the disabled.
Some of the disabled people are war veterans and being war veterans means that whether you like it or not, because of who they are and their condition - they went to war able bodied and they came back disabled. If one is given their benefit of being a war veteran, it does not stop them from being given another benefit of being disabled. In the budget, we must pass that. It is only fair. It is only right because they are not able to do what we can do at the end of the day. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is important that this House takes this issue seriously. It cannot be a circus anymore. It cannot be politicking anymore but action is needed after this. That is why I am grateful to these Members of Parliament, Hon. Sithole and Hon. Ncube for having moved this because it was long overdue.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Zimbabwe was held in high esteem in 1992, for it was the first country to come up with the Disabled Act. Maybe you did not know Members of Parliament but that is the truth. We were the first country to come up with the Disabled Act in 1992. We were the shining light of the world in terms of the disabled but where are we today? From 1992 to date, what have we done? There is supposed to be a Director General in charge of the disabled in the Act who will be able to respond to these issues but he is not there. The ruling party I know has the position of the disabled and I think Hon. Joshua Malinga is responsible for that. There is no reason why he cannot be appointed to be Minister to look after them because when he is in that position, he is representing the disabled people; not the party.
The infrastructure that we talk about which is supposed to accommodate disabled people is not there even in this Parliament. We are constantly fixing, “tinokiya kiya kana zvave kune ma disabled people, yet vanhu.” The toilets that we go into and the male toilets, you say to yourself if anybody was disabled, how will they be accommodated? I have not been to the ladies toilets but I am hoping that one of them will speak about the condition and the infrastructure in there. To me, the basic needs of a person being the building, the toilets where they are supposed to go to is not there. The public amenities do not accommodate them. They are totally negative towards the person that they are and so forth. This Act has been talked about many times. let it be amended, let it be changed and rightfully so, it has been overtaken by events. From 1992 to now, there is not much that has happened.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Hon. Mliswa, you are left with five minutes.
HON. T. MLISWA: To give them access to medical, psychological and functional treatment, that again is not being done. I have decided to zero in on the Constitution because you cannot argue with it. It is a sacred document of the country and that motion talks to non-compliance of the Constitution by the Executive but for as long as there is somebody who is not disabled and we expect them to move the agenda, we are lying to ourselves. The National Council for the Disabled Association of Zimbabwe was critical in choosing who should be representing them from a disabled point of view but now because of politics they are no longer there. We then create factional groups so that we are able to pick who we want on political thing rather than representation yet they were the first; the National Council for the Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe led by Mai Chireya. We were the first to be able to put names forward to represent the disabled but now it has been infiltrated and more organisations are being set up for the purpose of self aggrandisement instead of national interests.
To provide special facilities for their education - which schools beside Jairos Jiri? The only name that we know of a disabled institution is Jairos Jiri. I went to St Faith in Rusape, there was a Jairos Jiri school there. It is the only institution that I know of, that I have seen physically that accommodated people who were disabled. Jairos Jiri, may his soul rest in peace and that is why he is a national hero because he stood for them and he fought for them but today there is no Jairos Jiri to be able to stand for them.
To provide State funded education and training where they need it – how many are on Presidential scholarships who are disabled? It is State funded. May we take stock of all the institutions pertaining to compliance, whether they are complying or not. There are certain things that you do from a Godly point of view. We are a Christian nation not a cruel nation. We have love, we have compassion. It is important for this to happen. From the Government programmes in terms of land reform, what percentage of the disabled has benefited? On indigenisation, how many have benefited? The Government policies have always been broad based but it is the individual who make it individual based. The land reform was broad based, so is indigenisation but in that whole scheme of things, how many? In procurement, how many disabled people are benefiting.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in closing, I want to make it very clear that as a nation and our role as Parliamentarians is to protect this Constitution according to Section 119 of the Constitution and to uphold the provisions of this Constitution; we have failed. The nation has every right to take this Parliament to court because we have not done what we are supposed to do. Because people are quiet and they do not say much, it does not mean they do not understand and they do not need to be helped.
Members of Parliament, may we also move forward in our CDF, ask for a budget for the disabled people in our constituencies. It is important that we have such a facility for them so that we help. Inputs scheme, may they equally benefit on every programme. I want Mr. Speaker Sir to thank the movers of this motion for this touching and sad development which we have watched over the years and have done nothing about it. It is my prayer that, may we now wake up and deal with this once and for all. We do not have much time left. Let us be known to be a Parliament which deliberated and helped the disabled.
Finally, as the National Patron for the National Council of Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe, I approached the Speaker to have Members who are keen to lobby for them. If there are any Members who are keen to lobby for them, may you get in touch with the Clerk of Parliament. They will come and tell you their concerns, what they want so that we equally are able to do that. We have got a Committee for Corruption and many others, it is important that those with a passion and those who see the meaning of it come forward so that we work together.
Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to debate on this noble worthwhile motion. May the Members of Parliament, Hon. Sithole and Hon. Ncube be blessed for it takes a good man and a good woman to be able to come up with such a motion which really touches on people’s lives especially those who are disabled? I thank you.
*HON. KARUMAZONDO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me start by saying people living with disabilities and those who get disabled when they have grown up or those who get disabled as a result of accidents, for example where I come from Maramba-Pfungwe, I have seen many families with disabled people. There is a family with two boys who are disabled. The one was born disabled but the other one became disabled when he was growing up.
Mr. Speaker, these people are taken care of by people who are not their biological parents, they are being taken care of by relatives. Mr. Speaker Sir, some of the places where the disabled want to visit like hospitals and so on ramps must be put. I saw that there is a problem for the kids to use ablution facilities. The other problem is for them to sleep in the house. These disabled children are facing a lot of problems. The problems they are facing are also affecting people who are taking care of them.
Mr. Speaker, we must look closely at the areas where these disabled people stay. I want to thank the radio stations that came forward and broadcasted this issue. We managed to get help from the people of Zimbabwe through Ecocash. I managed to get a place for these two boys from Mutinhima to learn at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre through the help of Social Welfare. Right now, these kids are showing great signs of improvements. They feel happy and they are now very open. You can discuss a lot of things with them.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I saw a great change on these kids when they went to Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre. I advocate that these schools for the disabled people be built in every district so that the disabled people would be helped nearer not for them to travel long distances to get help. I also met other disabled kids at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre. There are some other kids who are talented in doing different works. Some are doing sewing, some farming and others are doing different activities. They are doing these activities very well compared to the able- bodied.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleading with the Government so that these kids learn things which will help them when they go to the areas they come from. They should be given capital to start different projects so that they are able to survive in the society.
Mr. Speaker Sir, still at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, I want to thank Government for what it has done at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre. It is a place where the disabled are looked after and being taught different jobs. In Africa we must be ranked at least at number five because of the infrastructure being put in that area. I am pleading to the Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Social Welfare Department to be able to renovate this area. This area was built with a lot of expertise. I saw many people who are disabled and the workers at that place treat them very well. They feel they have parents because they are cared for like their own children. I want to thank Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre for the for the job well done in taking care of the disabled kids. I am encouraging the Government to look into other areas that need to be renovated and match the good status of the disabled people.
These boys are doing well at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre but right now, they have closed the school because of Covid-19. Mr. Speaker Sir, even the family which is taking care of these kids is testifying that they are seeing great change from these kids. Now they have wheelchairs and their lives have changed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am saying disabled people are people who are like us and I am encouraging the Government and all the people of Zimbabwe to treat the disabled well. You do not know about tomorrow, you might end up being disabled. We must treat them properly so that they can survive and leave very well.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate. I thank you.
*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: I would like to thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion by Hon. Sithole seconded by Hon. Huni. When we are looking at disability, we see that it is the non-functionality of our body parts. When someone is disabled they also wish to live a normal life but God knows that which he would have done. People did not choose themselves to be what they are.
I am from ZANU PF, the ruling party. In our party, we have positions occupied by those who are disabled from the cell structures going up to politburo and that shows that Government has the disabled at heart. We would like to thank our Government for the things that are happening in different parts of the country, the help that is being rendered to the disabled. We heard in this House another speaker mentioning that the First Lady has gone around the country helping those who are disabled. We are very happy and grateful for such an act, but we hear that for Members of Parliament in this House, there is only one who is disabled.
It is my wish that we increase the number or we create a committee that focuses on the disabled only because there are a lot of things that are being left out. If we look at schools, yes the Government is doing a lot of building in an effort to help those who are disabled, so they are able to do as others do. It was my wish that schools that have disabled children are monitored to see that disabled children have all the necessities.
I went to one of the schools. I saw a family of five including the parents that are living with disability. For them to get wheelchairs, it was very difficult. So if such scenarios are looked at and there are people who deal with that, it is easy for them to get assistance and their living is never difficult.
We also want to look at our hospitals. Yes, our hospitals were built with the disabled in mind but they must build more. It is my prayer that those with disabilities are given preferential treatment. We saw that the HIV and AIDS pandemic was given funding by the Government to help those affected. If we have not done the same to the disabled, what it means is we would not have considered that these people need help from us. Disability comes at any time.
We are also looking at those who live with albinism. I went to one of the places in Gutu where they were celebrating the lives of those who live with albinism. The truth is that if you look at it closely, you will see that there are a lot of them in the country. So if we look closely like what those in Gutu have done, we should come up with days where we give medication to these people as well as respect. That way we would have helped the country to have all people equal. Yes, they might not be the same as others but in their hearts, they just want to be like others.
It is my wish that the Government increases on that which they are doing so that we have all the necessities especially to the children because they cannot say exactly what they want because some of the mothers lock the children inside their homes because to them maybe it is shameful. So if we have people who monitor how many people are there in the communities, no children would be locked up with no one looking after them. Even their upbringing will not be difficult.
This commission will look closely into this issue and see to it that these disabled people get the necessary assistance. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 13th October, 2020.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill [H. B. 84, 2019].
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the House reverts to Order Number 8 on today’s Order Paper.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2018
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year ended 2018.
Question again proposed.
*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I rise to support the issue of national peace and reconciliation which was talked by our leader, Vice President Hon. K. D. Mohadi. Looking at unity, it means it is a very important event for the country. Our Government has put this Commission to help the country to survive in a peaceful manner. Peace is very important in the country. In our country, for example in Matabeleland, there was Gukurahundi, there was killing of people, misunderstanding between the different languages and the Government saw it fit that we form a Commission which is going to deal with these issues and encourage peace.
This helps the country because it helps those who faced the problem of conflicts. Those who faced the problem of not understanding what really happened, who speak but not knowing what really transpired, Government took it and was able to put a Commission which is going to scrutinise and analyse how people are going to live together and how they are going to solve these problems.
Therefore, I want to thank this Commission which was built by the Government to analyse and scrutinise how people live especially those who had conflicts. Conflicts are different. We have got organisations like NGOs – I encourage them to deal with the issue of resolving conflicts in a way that encourages peace in the country without looking at political parties as to how they are formed and their structures, but they must focus on how people can unite.
If we look at the other areas, we see that supporting the issue of unity among people is difficult because there is no analysis of how the programme of encouraging people to unite well. That is why you see most of the time there is conflicts between political parties. It is the manner people stay in different areas in terms of cultures and languages. Unity of people means everything including politics. We must know that from politics, we are relatives whether we are from which party, we are related. If we are not looking at unity, and about families which we are living with, it means we will remain divided. Therefore, I want to thank the Government for forming the Peace and Reconciliation Commission. That is why I said I want to add on what was said by our Vice President Hon. K. D. Mohadi about Peace and Reconciliation.
HON. MUNETSI: Thank you for recognising me to add my voice on this debate. I always analyse words when something topical is being discussed and I was looking at the word National Peace and Reconciliation. I was looking at the word National and I thought we are a nation and we must live as one. Being a nation means we are together as brothers and sisters. We share common views and common values and to be diverse is something else that would bring an issue like peace and reconciliation. The word peace, as I looked at it – we all love peace, peace at home, in the country, at work and peace everywhere. Peace in the country and as a nation means we must live at peace.
The word reconciliation as I looked at it, we need to reconcile even though it is difficult. People do not like to reconcile but I want to emulate one thing that the President His Excellency has done. He has tried as much as possible to reconcile Zimbabweans to be one. People liken the issue of peace and reconciliation to the Gukurahundi issue. Yes, I remember the President going to Bulawayo to meet chiefs and other people there and he was discussing about reconciliation to come together so that the past becomes the past - bygones be bygones and then we focus on the future.
That was a correct move to try to bring people together. His Excellency, the President Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa has also made an effort to consider whites in the country. He has done a lot to try to reconcile with them so that they stay in Zimbabwe at peace. What else would you like if a man of virtue and stature is trying to bring people together? I want to think that the President went ahead as well and asked all parties which participated in elections to come together and have a common view about Zimbabwe so that each one’s views is brought to the table, looked at, discussed and map a way forward.
The President has been able to do that and we have POLAD and discussions are being done. The President has taken time to listen to every bit and piece of information that is brought to him. He has a listening ear to everyone. That is peace, he likes to reconcile with everyone in this country. His Excellency has said, my door is open 247 to anyone who has issues to come to my office without any barriers and let us discuss and talk. That is reconciliation, no matter from which party you come from – whether you are from ZUM, ZAT or whatever party, you name it. You can form your own party today and our President is waiting to reconcile with you.
Personally in my constituency, I have learnt this from the President, I reconcile with members of the opposition. When I get rice I give them, when we get fertilizers and seed, they are given, that is reconciliation. I have leant that from the President, I go to their funerals, I share certain things in common, that is a lesson I have leant from the President. So reconciliation should be for all. We must have focus, oneness, togetherness and forwardness. I thank you.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I stood up to support the Report which has been tabled. The issue of reconciliation, I noted that there are those who are put in leadership positions - for people to accept or receive well what the appointed board will be proposing or saying, I request that these people be people of a decent background and well accepted in society. When I say they should be acceptable to society, I mean that most of those who debated alluded to the fact that for reconciliation to take place and be well received, the appointed leadership should be non-partisan, someone who is neutral and willing to focus only on nation building. Those people should behave in such a way that they will be well received by the community because of their honesty and display of knowledge and understanding on issues to do with reconciliation as well as displaying their experience in reconciling such and other issues in the past. They should be qualified, experienced and knowledgeable whilst their character and behaviour should be well accepted in society. They should be opinion leaders whose views and opinion in the communities are well respected such that if they say ‘peace,’ people will be able to believe them.
If someone who is partisan is chosen to do this work, if that person tries to preach peace, someone will please his party first, but if it is someone who is accepted in society to be someone who is neutral to both sides, he is easily accepted with his message. Even if they bring their report here, it will be well accepted. I am also asking that they are given all the powers so that when they are working, they do not get hindrance from other people. When they are given this task, with the support of the President, when they go out to do their work, when they come back, let not their work be diluted by individuals who want their work to come out otherwise. They should be given power to do their work as they see fit, because violence has only but negative results. If we are not careful, we will end up like Rwanda where people of the same origin fought against each other, the only difference being that others were Hutus and others Tutsis. If we do not have love and forgiveness, we might have a similar situation. This Report that has been brought here, which was debated in here is alright but we keep on emphasizing that all the time people who are chosen into this Commission are not doing so because they are not from a particular party because that will be a very big problem.
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to add my voice to the debate on National Reconciliation Commission Report. This Report shows the commitment by the State to create a people with a common livelihood, vision and destiny. It shows that it is important that as Zimbabwean people, we are one. This Report seeks to address even issues to do with the registration of children who came out of a conflict era. It shows serious commitment by the State to make sure that these people are given special treatment for their registration and are assisted to live normal lives like everybody else. We must applaud the President and his team for coming up with a great initiative such as this one which brings people together.
You will find that in this Report, it is dealing with how the board is supposed to be constituted, their mandate and the areas they must look at. All of these emphasise the importance of oneness and the ubuntu of our country and the ubuntu nature of our being. I want to applaud this Report as well-written and as something that really captures the thinking and the psyche of us as a nation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
*HON. GANDAWA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity for me to contribute a few words to this report that we are debating. What I see is that the main theme of this report is the issue of building Zimbabwe together and in love, that is what is meant by peace and reconciliation. Just taking a few words from the former President of this country, he said, ‘peace begins me, peace begin with you; peace begins with all of us’. The issue that was being discussed was reconciliation of those who would have had an argument.
Now reading the report, I would like to thank the President of this country and the Commission that gave this report. Progress of all the countries in the world is possible when people are working together. The violence that we see in other countries does not yield anything. My wish as a Zimbabwean is see peace prevailing everywhere. We should shun violence and love each other. Those are my few words Madam Speaker. Thank you very much.
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 13th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Sixteen Minutes past Six o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 13th October, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 7th October 2020
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
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: The following Hon. Ministers have tendered their leave of absence:
Hon. Vice President Chiwenga, Minister of Health and Child Care;
Hon. Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage;
Hon. S. B. Moyo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
Hon. Mathema, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;
Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans;
Hon. Muswere, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services;
Hon. July Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works;
Hon. Madiro, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage;
Hon. E. Moyo, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;
Hon. M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services;
Hon. Chombo, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works;
Hon. Matiza, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development is on leave; and
Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: In terms of Section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act, [Chapter 2:13], the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), notified the Clerk of Parliament that the following persons, nominated by the MDC-T party to fill the vacancies that occurred among the Party-List Members of the National Assembly, following the recall of the incumbent Members by the MDC-T party on the grounds that they had ceased to be members of that party, have been appointed as Party-List Members with effect from 2nd October, 2020:
- Thokozani Khupe, Bulawayo Province;
- Sipho Mokone,Matabeleland South Province;
- Lindani Moyo, Harare Province;
- Memory Munochinzwa, Masvingo Province;
- Winfielda Yvonne Musarurwa, Harare Province;
- January Sawuke, Mashonaland Central Province; and
- Lwazi Sibanda, Matabeleland North Province.
Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the Third Schedule of the Constitution. I, therefore, call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the Oath of a Member of Parliament.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN
HON. THOKOZANI KHUPE, HON. SIPHO MOKONE, HON. LINDANI MOYO, HON. MEMORY MUNOCHINZWA, HON. WINFIELDA YVONNE MUSARURWA, HON. JANUARY SAWUKE AND HON. LWAZI SIBANDA subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the Law and took their seats – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
UNCLAIMED 2020 CDF FUNDS
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, it has been brought to my attention that although we are now in the third quota of our Ninth Session, only 68 members have applied for the 2020 Constitutional Development Fund (CDF). Statistics show that 142 members have not applied for the year 2020; 67 Hon. Members did not apply for the 2019 allocations and 20 did not apply for the 2018 allocation.
I am aware that the money is not the right amount but surely it can be put to good use in the constituencies that you represent especially now during COVID-19, the period when schools and clinics are in need of PPEs, sanitiSers, extra chairs and desks. I urge all Hon. Members who have not applied for their CDF allocation to do so as a matter of urgency. May I request the Whips to assist in following up on the Hon. Members of their political parties. Are there any Notices of Motions?
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker! Thank you Hon. Speaker, good afternoon. Hon. Speaker, when we budgeted for the CDF and I want to indulge you on the point of the CDF,we budgeted in USD$ and it was being paid in RTGs and with the devaluing of our local currency against the USD$, I propose that the amount be converted at the prevailing bank auction rate so that at least we can do meaningful developments in our constituencies.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I thought you were going to be bold enough to castigate your fellow members who have not accessed that money at the material time. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – That is the first thing. On one hand, you say our welfare is not being taken care of, there are delays in disbursements and so on, when there are so many of you who have not even bothered to have applied – 142 is a huge number – [HON. CHIKWINYA: It speaks of something also!] – Order! If it speaks of something, why was this not raised at the material time?
The responsibility is yours to make the adjustments accordingly – [HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order!] – Order! I am still speaking please take your seat. You must be procedural. At the material time, if there were issues around this CDF as Hon. Chikwinya has raised then it was up to you to deal with the adjustments through your proposals but no proposals came forward.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
THE HON. SPEAKER: Questions without notice, Hon. P. Moyo, are you there?
HON. P. MOYO: Sorry Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not ready yet, I am still preparing my gadget is not working.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Ministers in the front you are too close to each other, please there is a lot of space the other side.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. What measures does the Government have in place to ensure that rural hospitals have medical doctors?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, Government policy is that we want doctors to be available at every medical institutions starting from the referral hospitals such as Parirenyatwa, Harare and Mpilo hospitals. We have specialists that are being trained and are already present at those hospitals. Most of the hospitals do have medical doctors but we are increasing the number of medical doctors including those who have specialized in areas such as the surgeons or physicians are available, that is Government policy.
What we also want is that we do not want these doctors to be concentrated at district hospitals but we want them to visit clinics at different times to assist those with poor in any way possible. We want village health care to be accessed by those who cannot access medical centers that are far away where they cannot travel due to lack of transport or ill health. We will also have medical personnel who we will train to be able to assist in the medical field in a professional way. I thank you.
*HON. TOGAREPI: The Minister has explained but my issue is on the issue of rural health centres. There is what is called a catchment area, they are so many nurses but the doctors are not available and people end up travelling long distances when they experience challenges. I am saying that at these rural health centres when will the Minister avail these medical doctors?
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is our point of order?
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order really is the other day I said members of Parliament must understand Government policy and the Minister must respond to Government policy and its implementation. Here is a policy and the question is why are there not there, not to tell us they are coming or we are educating them. So, it is critically that when Ministers are here they must know the policy which we all know but how far have they gone in the implementation of policy. That is what we expect of them and that is why the Minister must respond not tell us how many are being trained. No, there is a hospital already in the rural area and people are dying. In terms of your policy what are you doing to alleviate the problems of people dying not to tell us that doctors are coming yet people are dying. Those who die do not come back.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That was the import of the supplementary question from Hon. Togarepi.
HON. MANGWIRO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, the question was specific to rural health centres which are referring to clinics. So, we need to understand that at these clinics there are no beds, there are just clinics whereby one is treated and goes home. If the nurses fail to assist that person they then refer the case to the district hospital where there is a hospital that is why you find medical doctors. Rural health centres are just clinics for example in Madamombe where they are nurses who are there to administer intravenous medication and people go home. So, the doctors are only found from district hospitals. At the clinics they are doctors known as the DMOs, they do not stay at the clinics all the time but they are summoned to come to the clinic or they receive referrals from the clinics in that area. I thank you.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, Hon. T. Mliswa has explained that the issue of the health centre was an example. The original questioner indicated that there are several health centres in a district when can we get the doctors to take care of these rural hospitals with their satellites rural health centres?
*HON. MANGWIRO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir that is what I am explaining that district hospitals have a number of clinics, the clinics is what he is referring to as the rural health centre, from the clinic we go to village health centre. At rural health centres, there are no doctors, the doctors is resident at the district hospital where he is able to use the medical equipment that is available. At the clinic you will not find some of this equipment, that is why patients can only go and access their medication for hypertension and diabetes. They are no admission beds at clinics. At clinics such as Tsholotsho, there are no admission facilities – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister. The question is - are the doctors there? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, allow the Minister to answer.
* HON. DR. MANGWIRO: Mr. Speaker, most districts do have what are known as DMOs with junior doctors who then can visit rural health centres. If there is a clinic – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, you have made your point. You can ask a supplementary question.
*HON. DR. MANGWIRO: I am requesting that you listen to me. The medical doctors are not resident at the clinics. They visit from the district hospital. If there is a clinic, the doctor does not reside at the clinic and in each health centre, there are PCEs. Specialist health doctors are found at provincial level. I want to repeat that district hospitals are the ones that serve the different clinics and doctors’ take turns to visit the clinics if there are people needing the doctor’s attention. The doctor is not resident at the clinic but comes occasionally. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My supplementary question arises from the original answer by the Minister. Hon. Speaker, the Hon. Minister outlined a plan to increase medical doctors in pursuit of achieving health towards rural health centres. Can the Hon. Minister confirm to us the circulars that we have seen where junior medical doctors are going to be recruited through the military system?
*HON. DR. MANGWIRO: What he is talking about that there are junior doctors who will be recruited through the army is false. What was said was that the junior doctors who were there last year did not complete their courses. There is another group that did not complete so for them to be availed jobs through Government, there are no vacancies but for those willing, they can go through the army, police or prisons. Whoever does not want or is not willing to go there can wait until next year January if there is a vacancy so that the person can be employed through the Ministry of Health. So it is not mandatory but what we are saying is that there are vacancies in the army, police or prison service. The Ministry of Health is overwhelmed because students did not complete at the same time. So no one is being forced. Whoever wants to wait until January if there is space can do so and then they can go? If vacancies arise in April, then they can be absorbed.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Minister is in view of the fact that our Constitution provides that everyone must have access to basic health care. Does the Government not have any plans to ensure that even in these rural health centres we have medical doctors who are stationed there to ensure that the people in the rural areas can have this access to basic health care through the provision and through the situation where doctors are also available to attend to them instead of a situation where they have to service several or up to ten health centres as he has indicated.
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: I want to thank the Hon. Member for a wonderful suggestion. What that will entail means us upgrading rural health centres or clinics into hospitals where they will be place and space for the doctors to operate from. Doctors need to operate and manage certain diseases. With time, definitely we would want people to move as little a distance as possible so it will mean upgrading the rural health centres into proper hospitals.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question to the Minister is health is a right to everyone and so is education. There are satellite schools but there is a teacher at a satellite school which falls under the District Education Officer, which equally falls under the Provincial Education Officer. In health, it is the same. Why is it that the satellite clinics are not getting doctors there to attend to patients because of the distance? The reason why the satellite clinics are there is proximity and the inability of the rural people to get to the clinic. So it is a service that they expect. Why are they not getting to those satellite clinics?
HON. DR. MANGWIRO: I like the passion the Hon. Member has but I really want to make it clear that clinics are not hospitals. Once we upgrade them, we will have doctors stationed there. Like I said, we are even going to go further and have village health care centres in villages which will reduce even the 5 km walk. If it is a clinic, it is meant to have nurses continuously but doctors will be visiting on appointment.
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: May I start by congratulating Dr. Khupe on the occasion of her swearing in as a Member of Parliament and Leader of Opposition – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, Hear.] I also want to congratulate other MPs who have been sworn in today on the same note.
My question is directed to the Minister of Energy but I want to give a small background to my question. The background to my question is that ....
THE HON. SPEAKER: We normally do not encourage backgrounds. Just go to your question.
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: Hon. Minister, in view of the fact that most REA projects in rural areas have been rendered stranded assets because of the vandalisation of transformers and theft of transformers, what is the Ministry’s policy towards switch to off grid renewable projects which will avoid the vandalisation of these gadgets?
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. ZHEMU): It is acknowledgeable that there is vandalism of electrical infrastructure. Yes, I appreciate that if we move on to other sources like renewable sources of energy, the vandalism can be reduced but at the same time, we are having solar systems that are being installed. All the same, there is still a requirement for the power that is being generated from the solar plants to be evacuated into the grid, especially to the existing grid –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order!
HON. ZHEMU: What it entails is that we still have to have some mechanisms despite the use of renewable sources of energy. There is still need for the infrastructure to be protected. Let me indicate here Mr. Speaker Sir, there is total sabotage that is happening, especially with electrical infrastructure. The kind of vandalism that is happening is not just natural but I suspect it is happening for the purposes of reducing the economic activity in the country and I think it is deliberate –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order!
HON. ZHEMU: As a Ministry, currently ZESA holding is working on a system to procure some technology that will be used to send some alerts whenever there is vandalism that will be happening with the electrical infrastructure –[HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa you can ask a supplementary question –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: I think my question has not been answered. I asked about....
HON. T. MOYO: On a point of order. I want to encourage Hon. Members on your left to behave as Hon. Members –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members on your left should behave honourably, instead of trying to reduce our Ministers here –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, the Hon. Member who is saying kusanyara; ndicharegera kukunyarai ndokuburitsai iyezvino.
HON. DR. MASAKADA: With your indulgence, I do not think my question has been addressed. The Minister has been emphasising on vandalisation which was the background to my question, but he was thin on the policy of rolling out renewable energy projects in the sector. May I crave your indulgence so that he addresses the question of renewable energy policy....
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is the accent of your question?
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: Can the Minister highlight to us the renewable energy policy that is being pursued by the Ministry to avoid projects which are prone to vandalism in the electrification sector?
HON. ZHEMU: Let me thank the Hon. Member for giving the correct context of his question because I think there were two questions that were intertwined. The question of vandalism of the electrical infrastructure – I do not think that can be addressed by use of renewable sources of energy because like l indicated, even if we pursue renewable sources of energy - for instance installation of solar systems, there is still need for evacuation of power from the plant onto the grid until it reaches to the consumers. I think that one is straightforward.
On the renewable sources of energy, the Government of Zimbabwe has adopted a policy - I think you are very much aware that on the 20th of March 2020, His Excellency launched the national Renewable energy policy. This is to the effect that there is promotion of green energy as we are moving away from fossil sources of energy like a use of coal. The National Renewable Energy policy is promoting the use of renewable sources of energy like I have indicated – solar, wind and hydro electricity schemes are being promoted. Let me speak to the issue of solar energy. In terms of solar energy, the Government has said those that are importing solar equipment, their solar equipment is not tobe taxed when the equipment is being brought into the country. That is a way by which the Government is promoting the use of solar energy in the country. What the nation wants to hear from the Minister of Energy speaking is there is a policy that promotes the use of renewable sources of energy, for instance the use of solar energy in the country where there is duty free promotion when you are importing the equipment for use. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Hon. Minister, the country requires at least 3500mgw. In terms of solar energy how much do we have to augment?
HON. ZHEMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would want to thank the Hon. Member for asking such a pertinent question. The question seems to be very specific in terms of figures, but let me attempt to respond to it. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is true that the current power that is being generated is in deficit of what the country requires. To that end, there is promotion for use of solar energy in the country. Yes, not much has come through on to the grid currently. I think we have not more than five investors that have done investments in solar energy on commercial bases. Currently, what is being put onto the grid is a total 6mgw from the solar investors. We call them independent power producers. They are only doing a total of 6mgw currently. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I would want to seek clarity from the Minister of Energy and Power Development in relation to the conjunction you have with the Minister of Industry in terms of revoking the copper trade licenses in view of the fact that they are the ones giving appetite to vandalism of the existing copper power infrastructure. To what extend have you gone in terms of revoking the licenses of the copper trade which we do not have mines for and which we do not produce, which is only produced from vandalism of your infrastructure.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Nduna, that question was asked and the Hon. Deputy Minister answered accordingly. Please check your Hansard.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I thought I was going to be first on your list but it looks like I am on just on complete questions.
THE HON. SPEAKER: We are on supplementary, please take your seat. Your name is here for a substantive question.
HON. KARUMAZONDO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. What is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce doing on import substitution with regards to fertilizer?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Government is capacitating Sable Chemicals so that they can retool and produce fertilizer that is more affordable and available to our farmers. That is the programme that the Government is doing. I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: What is government doing to promote organic fertiliser to supplement the importation of fertiliser?
HON. ZIYAMBI: It is a part of a whole package. What we have been doing as Government is to encourage our institutions of higher learning to collaborate with industry so that we can have a cheaper, affordable and good quality product. So, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology: Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement are working together in many areas to ensure that we come up with products that will be affordable and afford our farmers to have high yields. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: My question is directed to the Minister of Tourism. In relation to road infrastructure development in the tourism industry, what is Government policy as it relates to those tourism players who have got either their chalets or tourism facilities in the area of your jurisdiction?
THE HON. SPEAKER: I do not understand the question. Are these roads leading to chalets or what?
HON. NDUNA: We have people that have leases in the tourism camps or in areas which are under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. What is Government policy in terms of those players developing the roads that they are using to their camps? Am I clear Mr. Speaker? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question that he has asked. We are aware that we have infrastructure gaps to fill especially road infrastructure that he is highlighting. We have discussed these and they are captured in our Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy which involves quite a number of institutions within Government, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, DDF as well as local authorities. All these have been engaged with a view of making sure that they assist in making sure the roads are passable. With regards to National Parks, it does not get direct support from the fiscus. They rely mostly on their revenue collections from gate takings and also from partners who make donations. They are gradually rehabilitating road infrastructure, for instance we will be commissioning one within the Hwange National Park. So with that specifically, it is a matter of availability of resources. Suffice to say that with other roads, we are working closely with other institutions like I have highlighted, to chip in and make sure that these roads are rehabilitated. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. Would it be possible to make it mandatory for the operators in the National Parks to have as a first mandatory input to first and foremost rehabilitate, reconstruct, maintain and rejuvenate the roads that they use to their places of placement? Would it be possible for you to have that in the document of the lease agreement so that we try and deal with the backlog of road infrastructure development.
HON. M. NDLOVU: I want to believe this remains the responsibility of Government. If the user or lease holder has the resources to rehabilitate, that will be encouraged but I do not think it should be made mandatory for a lease holder to be involved in road infrastructure. We will encourage that at all times, resources permitting on their side. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My supplementary question arises from the need to put up infrastructure in National Parks and do business as long as there is balance in promoting SDG No. 15. How are you balancing the two Hon. Minister?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you clarify your SDG No. 15?
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, I thought the Minister is aware of the SDGs that are ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am asking you to do that.
HON. CHIKWINYA: SDG No 15 is about life on land and the promotion of ecosystems. I thought the Minister is aware of that.
HON. M. NDLOVU: When I indicated, I had not understood him I wanted to know if the question is requesting for a link between conservation and roads. I am not getting what it is that he is asking, if he could clarify his question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Kindly clarify your question in terms of the original question.
HON. CHIKWINYA: There is development that is happening in the National Parks with regards to erection of lodges and resource centres in National Parks and you are putting up roads, thereby disturbing the ecosystem. As you promote business, what are you doing to preserve the ecosystem as per SDG No 15?
HON. M. NDLOVU: By and large, our road network in National Parks remains gravel road. We do not put tar to try and make it accessible for tourists but at the same time, try and make it as close to being natural as much as possible.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in whose jurisdiction is the Administrator of the Prisons Act. In relation to Section 50 (5) (d) of the Constitution which provides that, ‘Any person who is detained including a sentenced prisoner has the right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity, including the opportunity for physical exercise and the provision at the State expense, of adequate accommodation, ablution facilities, personal hygiene, nutrition, appropriate reading material and medical treatment;’
My question therefore is - what is Government doing to make sure that the provisions of the Constitution in relation to the conditions in our prisons at the present moment are achieved and delivered? What is the Government policy in making sure that our prisons are up to standard and not converted into concentration camps where there are no proper facilities?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is true that we have a constitutional obligation to ensure that we provide adequate facilities for our prisoners, a Constitution that came into place in 2013 and it is also true that over the years, we have had an expansion in our population with a proportionate increase in the number of prisoners in our prisons that have not been increasing.
So as Government, we started on several measures to ensure that we reduce our prison population. Firstly, we are on a drive to ensure that we identify land and build new modern prisons. Secondly, we also introduced other measures to ensure that we do not send everyone to prison like the community service. Even the pre-trial diversion programme for young offenders who are in contact with the law; the main thrust that we are having is, we want to build new prison facilities. Funds permitting, we would have started it a long time ago but we are trying as much as possible to identify other partners who can partner with us to ensure that we improve the facilities in our prisons. I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: You are an idiot!
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Sikhala, can you withdraw your statement?
HON. SIKHALA: I withdraw Mr. Speaker Sir but he called me a jailbird. Can he also withdraw that word? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - I am angry and angered by statements from other people – he called me a jailbird. Withdraw that statement!
THE HON. SPEAKER: Who actually said that? Was it the Hon. Minister?
HON. SIKHALA: It was Hon. Togarepi who said that. So can he also withdraw that statement?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Togarepi, if you said that, please withdraw the statement.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I looked at his passion and just wanted to know. I asked him a question, ‘Are you a jailbird?’
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you withdraw?
HON. TOGAREPI: I withdraw.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order! Can we hear the question please? Hon. Sikhala, please switch on the microphone.
HON. SIKHALA: My supplementary Mr. Speaker Sir is on the conditions. Mr. Speaker Sir, Section 86 of our Constitution gives limited and unlimited rights in terms of the citizens of our country. My question to the Hon. Minister is; in light of Section 86 (3) (b) and (c) where it says that, ‘the right to human dignity is an unlimited right put together with the right not to be tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’, - these are unlimited rights. What is Government policy vis-à-vis the assault, torture and also the mass naked searches of prisoners by prison authorities?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question and want to preface my response by saying Mr. Speaker, our Constitution now recognises prisons and correctional services. In other words, we emphasize that even though you were in contact with the law, once you come to our prisons – we will start a rehabilitation programme of our offenders so that we bring out a different person from the one who got into prison.
Having said that, there is no deliberate policy to ensure that we hold our prisoners in an undignified manner. I indicated earlier on that we have a problem of overcrowding which is not of our own making but is because of events that have happened and that I explained. On the question of searching Mr. Speaker Sir, the Hon. Member is aware that we have had incidents of prisoners who may smuggle dangerous items into prison. It is something that is unavoidable to ensure that those who are entering prison will not harm innocent prisoners who are there, if we had another way, that would ensure that our prisoners are searched in a dignified manner as they enter. I believe that our prison officers explain fully and do it in a dignified manner because we have to do it. I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: My question Mr. Speaker is not answered. My question to the Hon. Minister is that, inmates in prisons are being assaulted by prison guards and in light of the provisions of Section 86 (3), what is the Government doing to stop inhuman and degrading treatment and torture that is happening on daily basis in our prisons and also what I am asking him is that inmates who are already detained and in prison are asked every week on a particular day and they will be around 500 to be undressed, naked and they search them. What is the Government policy in the 21st Century where people are still exposed to such inhuman and degrading treatment where people enmasse will be naked and all their body parts including their private parts will be open for everyone to see and say we are searching them? What is Government policy to end that inhuman and degrading treatment and also the assault of prison inmates by prison guards?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I had partially answered the question to say that our prison is more for rehabilitation. You do not rehabilitate somebody if you are injuring their dignity. If there is a process whereby prisoners are being humiliated and being harassed, I think it is something that can be investigated with a view of correcting it because our – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – thrust now is we no longer want somebody who comes from prison to be despised by society kuti aaa uyo ibhanditi that word we no longer want it. We want somebody who comes out of prison to be integrated into society and to be one of us. So, if that is happening, it is something that can be investigated but our thrust now is to have a prison and correctional services that will bring out somebody who would have been rehabilitated and be able to be integrated and not commit any other crime. I thank.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. What has Government done in practical terms in order to realise this paradigm shift from prison to correctional services? I ask this question in light of the fact that in our prisons for example in relation to ablution facilities, there has been no change. We still have a situation where those facilities have not been adjusted and nothing has been done, they are still being flushed from outside and people are still relieving themselves whilst in those cells. So, in terms of human dignity, it appears that there has been no practical change even in relation to remand prisoners when they come to court. I believe that they should be allowed to wear their own clothes but we are still finding them coming to court dressed in prison garb. So, I want the Hon. Minister to outline in real terms what they have actually done as opposed to just paying lip service and just regurgitate what is in the Constitution.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, can the Hon. Minister be heard in silence.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In terms of prison infrastructure, I have partly answered that to say that our desire within the prisons and correctional services is to ensure that we build modern prisons. The prisons that we have admittedly were built a long time ago and they do not satisfy the standards that are expected as of now. I have indicated that we have taken other measures to ensure that we decongest the existing prisons, at the same time trying to secure land and funding to build other prisons.
Mr. Speaker, you also realise that we also brought about the concept of open prison. We are also in the process of trying to set up an open prison for women because they need a space that is freer than the male counterparts when they are in prison. So, we are trying our best within the limited resources that we have whilst pushing Government to ensure that we improve our infrastructure. I thank you.
HON. SIKHALA: There is a question asked which the Minister did not answer. It is very important if the Minister could answer Hon. Gonese’s question where he said why people on remand and unconvicted prisoners are being forced to wear prison garb whilst Section 63 of the Prison Act does not allow or authorise that? That is a very important question.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Indeed there is a distinction between unconvicted and convicted prisoners and unconvicted prisoners can go to court wearing their own clothes. If incidences like that are happening, perhaps what I can say is I will have to discuss with them to find out circumstances why what is provided for by the Prisons Act is not being followed. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Minister will follow up the issues accordingly as agreed.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ certainly has gone on. From a foreign direct investment point of view, which is on the ground; besides the MOUs and the reengagement process, how far have you gone and is it working?
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. RTD. LT. GEN. DR. S. B. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking the question particularly on the quantification of FDI into Zimbabwe and secondly the success or otherwise of the reengagement process. Let me start by the second part. Mr. Speaker Sir, the reengagement process is a process and it is not an event and it lays the responsibility of engagement to all of us not necessarily the Minister of Foreign Affairs alone but even all the Hon. Members who are here in this House – [AN HON. MEMBER: Ko, Johana Mamombe, where is she?] - Let me say that the reengagement process which has been on for some time has seen quite a lot of success particularly within Europe and even within the Americas, and I have always said before, we did not use to have any conversations with even the Americans but now we have got conversations and in these conversations, we are identifying areas of interest and we still have certain areas of divergence. In overall assessment, I would say the re-engagement process is on course to success.
The second part of the question which is the qualification of the FDI, yes, there have been quite a lot of interest on Zimbabwe from China, Russia, India and even the western countries, different countries. You can actually see the trade which is now developing even between the USA and Zimbabwe through mechanisation support of the agricultural sector. Now, we are also seeing quite a lot of diasporians coming through proposing and offering to come into the agricultural sector so that they can participate in the horticulture recovery and the overall agriculture recovery plan.
The rest of the sectors are key. Just today, I was in an India – Zimbabwe Investment Conference which clearly solidified the interest of investors and not only investors but trade so that the balance of trade between India and Zimbabwe is in the surplus. I can say that there has been, without specifically coming up with quantifications in numbers, a significant progress as regards the investments and the FDI particularly in different parts of the country.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am grateful for the Minister’s response. Minister, you are correct in saying that the re-engagement process the Americans are bringing their equipment here but Zimbabwe is not taking anything to America. How can it be a successful re-engagement process when the sanctions are still hard? Recently, the Minister of State Security was on sanctions in the Second Republic which is seemingly non- reformist and democratic and again, the aspect that you seem to be forgetting is the traditional allies like China which was the look east policy. What is it that we so seek from the Americans to continuously try to re-engage them but they are constantly showing us the other side of the arm? More money is being spent on that. Public relations have been invested into re-engaging but nothing comes through.
In terms of the figures, Hon. Minister, I think with the indulgence of the Speaker, it will be important for you to come up with the breakdown in terms of figures to see the success of the foreign direct investment broken down to see how much has America, India or China invested so that we understand because currently, it is like we are on our own. The Minister of Finance is troubled, there is no foreign currency yet we see MOUs being signed every day. Is there a possibility of you bringing down a statement of the FDI that have come in so that we understand and equally why go to America when they are not opening for us and are still hitting us with sanctions?
HON. S. B. MOYO: Again, I would like to thank the Hon. Member for that further inquisitive position which he has. Mr. Speaker Sir, our engagement and re-engagement programme did not; in fact in full, we call it Re-affirmation, Engagement and Re-engagement Programme meaning that our old friends who have stood by this country for many years like China, even India and Russia and other middle eastern countries can and we re-affirm their positions and ensure that we continue, not only continue but enhance our cooperation between those nations and Zimbabwe.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in the international trade dimension, even when we deal with China, there is always what they call a country risk profile. Nationally, they look at what exactly you have. You have this tag which is called sanctions over you and therefore the risk profile of Zimbabwe goes up. Therefore the cost of money goes up. Now, it is in the interest of Zimbabwe to be a family of nations in terms of trade and investments in the rest of the world. So, it is critical that whilst we have had serious tensions between the West and ourselves, it has been critical that we had to diffuse these particular tensions.
Yes, with the USA as I said, there are areas of convergence and divergence. We have even said that we want access, to be part of the AGOA in the USA market. This process is a process which we are asking and I have said can these outdated sanctions go. All that are the interests of this country and I am sure that it is the interest of each and every one of us in this country. As I said, it is a process Mr. Speaker Sir and that process does not take a day, it takes quite a lot of building a paradigm which brings in a number of convergence areas so that countries can agree and proceed on that basis. So I think we have not abandoned our friends but we still want to make more friends.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, there was a request that perhaps you could favour the House with a breakdown of FDI as a result of the engagement and re-engagement process so that the House is accordingly informed.
HON. S. B. MOYO: My apology, I had not responded specifically to the issue of data in as far as the level of the FDI which has come into the country as a result of engagement and I undertake that can be done, Mr. Speaker. Let me just indicate because the interest was so much on the western investments into the country. Let me even indicate at this onset stage that, not that it is not coming, I believe that it is coming because already - [HON. SIKHALA: Inaudible interjections.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, ignore him.
HON. S. B. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. You are aware already that there is a Batoka energy project which was awarded to China Power and Jeena Electric Company which is a US company. That is a project which is ongoing and underway. I can obviously elucidate a number of other issues on investment portfolios which different countries can do. I can do that as I present the paper.
THE HON. SPEAKER: In view of the requested Ministerial Statement, we shall not entertain further supplementary questions -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Once the Hon. Minister makes his statement, you will then come in to seek further clarification on his statement.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Point of order Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You have no point of order on my ruling.
HON CHIKWINYA: So that the supplementary...
THE HON. SPEAKER: No. He will clarify, the Hon. Minister
HON. SIKHALA: We would like to know when he will bring the Ministerial Statement because it must not be delayed so that you will not keep your Members of Parliament hanging.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Do not take over when I am still there. I had not finished addressing the response of the Hon. Minister. The Hon. Minister will give us a comprehensive statement as soon as possible - if not next week, most likely on Thursday.
+HON. MATHE: My question is directed to the Minister responsible for water. What plans have been put in place with regards to putting up boreholes in order to meet WHO guidelines that state that there should be water in schools to ensure that school children wash their hands in this era of COVID 19?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): My understanding is that the Hon. Member wants to know what Government is doing in terms of provision of water throughout our schools in view of the opening and in light of the COVID pandemic.
The majority of our schools either are Council or Government owned and we have structures within our Rural Council Authorities whereby they have to ensure that they liaise with the relevant departments – DDF or ZINWA to identify those schools and ensure that there is provision of water at each and every school. My response would be in the areas where she comes from; she can liaise with the Rural District Council so that they can liaise with the relevant Government departments to ensure that water provision is brought to schools.
+HON. MATHE: The Minister responsible for this is not available and the Leader of the House has not answered my question. ZINWA, RDCs and all structures are in place. WHO guidelines require that there be water at every school during this COVID 19 era. My question is what has the Ministry put in place to ensure that this guideline is met, because there is no water at the schools?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I think the Hon. Member has pointed out the specific issue relating to water provision in schools. I will request the Minister to come with a Ministerial Statement so that we can then discuss and clarifications will be made to Hon. Members regarding the opening of schools, the adherence to WHO standards and other related matters. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Please may you go ahead and ask the responsible Minister to come with a Ministerial Statement.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
HON. MAYIHLOME: Madam Speaker, I move that Questions Without Notice time be extended.
HON. MATHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Members. We are extending our time with fifteen minutes.
*HON. NYABANI: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. What measures has the Government put in place in order to address the issue of hunger, because farmers are farming but the selling price of grain is not appealing?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Nyabani did not investigate on whether the farmers are happy or not happy with the prices. This year we were informed that farmers were happy with the pricing. For maize there was an increase in the price twice and even the wheat farmers actually requested that the GMB depots be opened for 24 hours to enable them to take their wheat to GMB. I do not think he did his research well but what is being done right now is that the Minister of Agriculture is putting in place measures to end hunger through the Pfumvudza project. He is encouraging our small farmers to be part of the project and if they all take up this project, we will have 1.8 million tonnes. Since the Metrological Department has told us that there is a lot of rain this season, this will enable us to be food secure and also have food to feed ourselves and our livestock. Thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: The import of Hon. Nyabani’s question is that farmers are crying out that they are underpaid, therefore it is leading them to be discouraged from producing maize and wheat. When Government pegged the producer price for maize, they also put a US dollar to it. It is US$200 something per tonne, if I am not mistaken - the Minister may correct me. Why are you not paying that US dollar price converted to the prevailing auction rate of that particular day?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank Madam Speaker. Government never pegged a price of maize.
HON. CHIKWINYA: It did.
HON. ZIYAMBI: What we did is, we worked out a price on a cost of production basis and we put a mark-up plus an incentive. That is what we did and – [HON. CHIKWINYA: Inaudible interjection.] – Madam Speaker, if he can indulge me to answer.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, why are you doing that? Please order!
HON. ZIYAMBI: Madam Speaker, what we did is, we worked out a cost build up model and we put a mark-up plus an incentive and then came up with a price. We went further, like I said, midway to review that particular price and we increased it with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to say, let us incetivise our farmers. My second response; was we had a very good response from farmers when we did that and I went on, because I thought the question was speaking about farmers in general, their satisfaction and I said we even did that for wheat. We did a cost build-up plus a markup plus an incentive and our wheat is actually comparable with prices around the region. We are actually paying far much better than what is obtaining in the region and our farmers as we speak requested our GMB depots to be opened 24 hours so that they can deliver their produce.
So we are endeavouring every time to ensure that we review our prices so that we do not disadvantage our farmers. We will continuously do that using our own currency, of which we are very happy that the measures we have put in place have stabilised our currency. So there is no need really for us to be worried about using the United States dollar or what. We are stabilising our currency and ensuring that we continuously review our prices with a view of ensuring that our farmers are incentivised. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
POSITION REGARDING INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND WENT ON TO MASQUERADE AS HONOURABLE MEMBERS
- HON. B. DUBE asked the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House the Government policy position regarding individuals who lost parliamentary elections and then went on to masquerade as Honourable Members as has been the case in some parts of the country such as Chiwundura Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. The Hon. Member is a learned colleague who knows the Constitution very well and he knows that for you to be a Member of Parliament, you must be elected in terms of Section 124 of the Constitution and once you are sworn in you become an Honourable Member.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, are you connected?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Yes, I think so. Yes, I think I am connected now. Madam Speaker, I was saying the Hon. Member wanted to enquire whether somebody can be called an Hon. Member of Parliament without being elected and my response is; the Hon. Member is a very learned colleague, a very prominent lawyer in Gweru who knows that for you to be a Member of Parliament you go through an election process.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members! Order please.
HON. ZIYAMBI: You go through an election process. We were very fortunate today that we witnessed a swearing in ceremony and after that swearing in, those comrades become Honourable Members of Parliament. So the procedure that is provided for in the Constitution and the Electoral Act is the procedure that results in you earning the title ‘Hon. Member of Parliament.’
HON. B. DUBE: The procedure for being a Member is understood as explained by the Minister, but my worry is what is Government doing because as a matter of fact, those people are going even on public occasions and allowing themselves to be introduced as such in the presence of DAs, PAs and provincial ministers. My point is - it tarnishes the image of the Government per se and those people are not answerable and accountable to you, but they would have misrepresented. What is the Government doing or after knowing, like now that we have asked a specific question relating to Chiwundura, what is Government doing to either penalise or punish those people who masquerade and mislead the public to that effect?
Madam Speaker, it is very important because it has even affected the discharge of some functions in communities, including even the writing of the COVID -19 benefits where some of these people were actually saying people must bring their names to his office for purposes of taking them as an MP to the relevant place. I just want Hon. Ziyambi to clarify to us so that next time when we meet those people we will be able to hold them and make them accountable because I believe it is a serious issue. Government must actually make a clear pronouncement disassociating itself because the majority of them will be pretending as if they are getting authority from their political party.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Government can only intervene if somebody makes a misrepresentation of an official nature. I say so because in our parliamentary system or in our governance system, we also have shadow ministers and nobody has questioned or even taken action, but when that particular person starts exercising executive authority then it becomes a problem. So my question is where somebody masquerades and then officially does something as if they were a Member of Parliament, then that borders on misrepresentation and it becomes criminal. In our parties we have shadow people who do certain things because of the nature of our political organisations. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 1 to 35 be stood over until Order of the Day No. 36 has been disposed of. Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
FORESTRY AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 19, 2019]
Thirty Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Forestry Amendment Bill [H.B. 19, 2019].
Question again proposed.
HON. MUNETSI:
1.0 Introduction
Following the gazetting of the Forest Amendment Bill (H.B. 16, 2019) the Portfolio Committee on Environment and Tourism resolved to conduct public hearings on the Bill. This is in keeping with provisions of Section 141 (2) of the Constitution, which makes it mandatory for Parliament to consult members of the public before considering Bills and passing them. The Committee held consultations with members of the public who made submissions to the Committee on the said
Bill.
2.0 Methodology
The Committee held a half day workshop to unpack the Forestry Amendment Bill on Saturday, 25 January 2020. Power point presentations were given by the Forest Commission followed by the
Sustainable Afforestation Association delineating all the clauses to help Members understand the Bill before taking it out to the public. In order to cover much ground, the Committee was split into two teams; one covering Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Manicaland while the other one covered Midlands, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo and Harare. The views of the public were gathered during the public hearings. Every clause was interrogated by the public to bring out their views on the proposed legislation.
3.0 Objectives of the Public Hearings
The following were the objectives of the public hearings;
- i) To afford members of the public an opportunity to submit their views on the proposed legislation.
- ii) To enable the Committee to obtain public opinion and to receive information the Committee might not have.
iii) To produce reports based on the submissions from the members of the public and Committee Members’ views with the appropriate recommendations.
4.0 Submissions on the Forest Amendment
4.1 Clause 1 Short Title
There was no objection raised on the short title of the Bill and it was adopted as it was in all public hearings.
4.2 Clause 2 Amendment of section 5 of Cap. 19:05
While, it is plausible to align the Forest Act to the principles of gender balance as provided for under section 17 of the Constitution, the public observed that competence based gender balance should be prioritised. The Bill needs to include an important skill set on the composition of the Board; a person recognised for his/her ability or experience in human resources management.
4.3 Clause 3 Amendment of section 8 of Cap. 19:05
Diverging views came from the submissions made by the public on the additional duty of the Commission to issue orders. Some submitted that this duty should be carried out by EMA alone whilst the majority were of the view that the forestry officers should issue out orders subject to the approval of the Provincial Manager of the Forestry Commission.
4.4 Clause 4 Amendment of section 27 of Cap. 19:05 and, 4.5 Clause 5 Amendment of section 27A of Cap. 19:05
The promotion of gender balance when appointing the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission and the deputy as well as the other members of staff was welcomed by the general public. However, the public recommended emphatically that gender balance should be promoted without compromising on competence. Further to that, the public suggested that promotion of gender balance should not start at recruitment level but from training institutions.
4.6 Clause 6 Amendment of section 66 of Cap. 19:05
There was no dispute raised regarding the insertion of a new clause (d) in relation to the control or prohibition of “the development of forest conservation and demarcation programmes” after section 66 (2) (c).
4.4.7 Clause 7 Amendment of section 68 of Cap. 19:05
The decentralisation of the dispute resolution mechanism was endorsed by the public. However, the major issue raised on this clause relates to the absence of specific time frames for the appeal process. The public suggested that an appeal must be finalised within two days because fire waits for no man. Once an appeal is lodged, it effectively allows the appellant to avoid correcting the fireguard until the appeal is adjudicated.
4.8 Clause 8 New Section substituted for of section 69 of Cap. 19:05
The decentralisation of the issuance of orders in relation to fireguards as well as the criminalisation of any failure to comply with the orders was also endorsed by the public. Nonetheless, the public complained that the penalties for failing to comply with an order and when considering the extent of danger posed by the size of the land and vegetation are not deterrent enough. The public suggested that the levels of penalties stipulated in the Bill in both instances should be minimum not maximum sentences.
4.9 Clause 9 Amendment of section 70 of Cap. 19:05
There was no objection raised on this clause regarding the insertion of a new sub-section (2) on section 70 of the Forest Act. The Public was in agreement that all fires that are started whether dangerous or not should carry a sentence as provided for in section 78(2) of the principal act.
4.10 Clause 10 Amendment of section 72 of Cap. 19:05
The insertion of a new sub-section (2) on section 72 of the Forest Act relating to criminalising the carelessness or negligence of either an employee or employer to control fires and the burning of vegetation was also not objected to by the public. However, the public suggested that the Bill should specify the minimum precautions and responsibilities an employer should effect before requiring an employee to use fire for operation. The public pointed out that the clause may be open to abuse by arresting authorities where the evidence is based on unconfirmed reports.
4.11 Clause 11 Amendment of section 75 of Cap. 19:05
The first issue raised by the public on an amendment on subsection (2) was that the proposal seems to weaken the Bill because the actual value of forest resources destroyed are not really taken into considerations except the property and lives lost by fire. The public suggested that the clause should provide for the calculation of the approximate value of forest resources lost.
The second issue raised was on amendment on subsection (5) where the penalty of failing to extinguish a fire was deemed not deterrent enough. The public questioned why cattle hustling carries a sentence of between 9 and 15 years imprisonment whilst fires that destroy cattle and property have a maximum of 5 years imprisonment. The public suggested a minimum of level 10 fines and a more deterrent jail term of not less than 9 years.
The public appreciated the widening of stakeholders that would be working with forest officers to include traditional leaders among others. Forest and environmental officers who operate from district offices only may not be in a position to handle all disputes and effectively follow up on them. Nevertheless, the public urged the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry to broaden the scope of fires to include communal lands where a lot of damage takes place with fires getting out of control and destroying considerable land and resources.
4.12 Clause 12 Amendment of section 78 of Cap. 19:05
The public suggested that subsections (2) and (3) relating to the imprisonment periods on the damage caused by fire should be doubled in both instances to show the seriousness of conserving our biodiversity.
The insertion of a new subsection (4) was received by the public but they bemoaned the lack of compensation to the property owner in the case of destroyed property and lives caused by fire outbreaks. The public proposed an amendment to section 78 of the principal act by the insertion of two categories of charges; the one focusing on civil charges with a compensation mechanism and the other one providing for criminal liability.
4.13 Clause 13 Amendment of section 81 of Cap. 19:05
The public proposed a more deterrent fine schedule of not less than level 10 and not less than 6 months imprisonment for “offences relating to smoking or negligent use of matches”.
4.14 Clause 14 Amendment of section 86 of Cap. 19:05
The public hinted that the search powers given to forest officers are not specific and may be open to abuse. The public submitted that the powers conferred to forest officers should also be given to the local communities and traditional leaders, in particular, as custodians of all-natural resources in their respective areas.
4.15 Clause 15 Amendment of section 89 of Cap. 19:05
The public applauded the Government for a provision of a clause that ensured a multi-disciplinary approach to the management of veld fires by giving the Minister power to consult relevant Ministers when making regulations. The giving of precedence to the Forest Act, over other laws on matters relating to the management and control of veld fires was accepted by the public. The public opined that a multi-disciplinary approach and precedence of the act allowed synchronisation of laws and improvement on forest resources monitoring.
On the other hand, in subsection 89(3), the public suggested that in order to avoid establishment of illegal settlements in forest areas, there is need for the Minister when making regulations to be explicit by specifying the purpose for which occupancy in forest areas may be permitted, for example, only for forestry related purpose, and not for building homes or engaging in agriculture or other non-forestry activities.
4.16 Clause 16 Amendment of (second) Schedule to Cap. 19:05
The public embraced the clause and was confident that it allowed for speedy and logical conclusion of many forest offenses and set examples to would-be offenders. However, the Forest officer's duty should be specified where applicable. For court proceedings, it was suggested that Forestry Commission appoints an environmental lawyer to represent the state.
5.0 Committee Observations
5.1 Guiding Principles
The Committee observed the absence of guiding principles in the text of the Bill. Experience over time and in many different jurisdictions have shown that legislation is better focused when it has guiding principles. Certain core standards imbedded in the Forest Act should guide many forest concerns such as the development of biodiversity and ecological integrity of gazetted forest areas, exotic plantations, aesthetic functions and values of forests and woodlands, urban tree resources and wood forest products.
Non-timber forest resources, value addition to forest produce, forest conservation and sustainable management, role of trees and forests in climate change, dynamic forest laws that creates obligations to society for sustainable use, management and protection of forest resources.
Efficient, well-motivated and coordinated forest resources institutions at all levels, mainstreaming forestry in other sectors’ policies and activities and participation of multiple stakeholders in forest management and multilateral agreements on forests and their use.
5.2 Forest Levy
The Committee observed the need for a forest levy pursuant to the application of the “polluter pays principle”. The Committee proposes the establishment of a forest levy under the Forest Act. The levy targets any person or class of persons whose activities impact on the forest resource. This levy would be ploughed back in the conservation and management of the forest resource to achieve sustainable forest management. However, the Bill should provide for the legitimate target for the levy and any possible exemptions thereof.
6.0 Recommendations
The Committee recommends as follows;
- i)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry should include guiding principles in the text of the Bill.
- ii)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must ensure that the Bill includes a person recognised for his/her ability or experience in human resources management on the composition of the Board.
iii) The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must ensure that the Bill provides for a competence based gender balance recruitment on the Commission’s employees.
- iv)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must consider the upward revision of the penalties that are stated in the Bill in all instances.
- v)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must include a clause that outlines specific time frames for the appeal process.
- vi)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must include a clause in the Bill stating the minimum precautions and responsibilities an employer should effect before requiring an employee to use fire for operation.
vii) The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must include a clause to provide for the calculation of an approximate value of forest resources lost during a veld fire.
viii) The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry must also include a clause that on civil and criminal liability.
- ix)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry specify the limits to the search powers given to forest officers to avoid abuse of this power.
- x)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry should specify the purpose for which occupancy in forest areas may be permitted when making regulations.
- xi)The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry to establish a forest levy under the Forest Act that should be deducted from persons who use forest resources for commercial use.
Conclusion
The major challenges highlighted by the public were on enforcement and application of the forest law. The Committee implores the Ministry, through the Forestry Commission, to enforce the law for the sole reason of the conservation and protection of forest resources. The recommendations proffered above could assist the current Bill in achieving its stated objectives and the Committee will bring up the amendments during Committee Stage.
HON. TOGAREPI: There are things that took my attention, mainly gender balance. The observations made by people they interviewed were very important and very reasonable that whenever we come up with boards for our institutions, they should be very sensitive to gender balance and I think that must be included. The Hon. Minister must take cognizance of that when he/she comes up with a board.
The other issue that I found very good and in tandem with our efforts on devolution was the decentralisation of offices. It is critical whenever there are issues that are related to offences and must be dealt with locally. In many instances, because they take long to deal with the challenge that is affecting the environment can then be perpetuated because there has not been a resolution. So having a local process or structure that can deal with these issues will ensure that even the destruction of vegetation or natural environment is quickly dealt with and the environment can be protected. This will go well with our efforts and Government’s efforts to promote local activities in the name of devolution.
The other thing that also caught my eye was related to deterrent fines. Surely, when you look at the example that was given wherein if somebody steals a cow is incarcerated for 15 years just for a cow and when you look at the value of destroyed forestry. I think that people do not even want to think about how many trees? How old are those trees? How can we recover them? Even the benefits that we get from forests cannot be measured because they are much more than the value of a cow. I think that it is critical that the Hon. Minister and Government ensure that there are deterrent fines to stop people from wanton destruction of forestry is critical and very important.
The other issue that I also found very important from the report and observation by the Committee relates to having a Forestry Levy. I think that if this levy is deployed correctly, it will assist with reforestation, bringing back where people have cut and where veld fires have destroyed – with the levy, we can plant new trees; protect forests by putting up fire guards et cetera. If the money that comes from the Forestry Levy can be used and deployed to protect the forests, it will be very critical and maybe employing people in those areas where veld fires and other forms of destruction can come in. We employ those people and use the levies to pay inspectors, extension officers and also to educate the communities to appreciate the importance of forestry - it is critical. So this levy will be very important.
The other issue that I also felt would be important was that we need to have local communities be in charge of their forests. The first thing is to educate these people to understand and appreciate the value of natural resources around them. It could be fauna or flora – the local communities must take ownership and say, ‘Nobody must burn grass, vegetation and small animals in those areas need to be protected.’ When people appreciate the value of vegetation, they would want to protect it and policing of adherence to the law will not be very difficult because members of those communities will find reasons to ensure that those who are going against the law are prosecuted.
In this country, you need to travel to countries that have big deserts and you get to value our resources in terms of forestry – you will value it. When you get to desert countries where they cannot even grow crops and there is no rain because vegetation promotes rainfall precipitation. So, if we take time to educate our people – I saw in one of the recommendations that they said, ‘For us to appreciate or bring in both of our genders into this, we also need to start from school.’ I also want us to go back to primary schools and educate our children to understand the value of the vegetation around them. They should not just cut down trees, destroy grass or burn areas around them because if they do that, we run the risk of becoming a desert.
We all know the consequences of climate change as we are already victims now in this country and many countries around us because of climate change induced by some of these activities where people destroy vegetation. There is no rain and we get catastrophic weather conditions that destroy our people, infrastructure, environment and crops. We can avoid all this if we conserve our vegetation but the best way to do this is to educate our people and where we then get those who are intransigent - there should be deterrent fines. Fines should not be that low but should be deterrent enough so that people go to jail and rot there. There should also be a way of calculating the value of the trees that have been destroyed. Then we say, this is what you owe the people of Zimbabwean land and let us make you pay either by going to jail or paying a fine. There should be a relationship between these fines and the loss caused by anyone’s deeds.
Mr. Speaker Sir it is therefore, very important that the ministry comes up with a clear structure from national level to the lowest level of our society – a clear structure in terms of conservation and prosecution of anyone. There is no small fire, there should not be a small fire because a person starts with that small fire and ends up destroying the whole district because people are careless. So, there should be structure understood and through this effort – I think that now we will have an opportunity to protect our environment and vegetation.
Mr. Speaker, this is my contribution and I see all this happening as we approach the rainy season. I will tell you that in my constituency, you see hills and mountains all burning and the person responsible goes scot-free because of the ignorance that we have maybe as a community, we do not know that this is a crime. We need to do something to educate our people to protect our environment. Somebody is just coming from a beerhall, he is smoking a cigarette and he throws that away and it will burn the whole community. People have lost lives when people try to do funny things like hunting using fire, destroying vegetation, destroying the habitats for animals and destroying other people’s assets in the process. If we educate our people and if this Act provides for education of communities, it will lessen the dangers of people destroying our environment.
So it is my plea that in amending this, we ensure that this is an opportunity to tighten the screws around those who have the behaviour of destroying our environment and our forestry in particular. We need to have a very strong and deterrent law that will ensure that our environment is safe. I thank you.
HON. MAYIHLOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to highlight a few points that were probably touched by the last speaker. It is very pleasing to note that at least the Act is going to be amended to bring it up to date with the current demands or requirement of the new time that we are living in Mr. Speaker Sir. It brings in a of lot issues, particularly on the penalties or the criminalization of activities and so forth. It highlights very little on the benefits that the nation should really gain from forests.
The first thing that I really want to bring out to your attention Mr. Speaker Sir is the issue of having forest that are of commercial value. We have so many trees in this country, millions or billions of them and some are probably of no commercial value. Where I come from in Umuzingwane, we have trees that are of no use to the community and it is not clear in this Act what the Forestry Act intends to do with those trees that are toxic to the environment, those that do not add commercial value to the environment and what they can do to reforest those areas with trees of a commercial value.
The second issue that I want to emphasise is the issue of benefits to the local communities. Currently trees of the forest - those that are controlled by the Forestry Commission are being seen as belonging to the Government and some institutions out there. The local populations do not identify with the tree because there is nothing that they are benefiting from it. The only thing they know about trees is when they get arrested for chopping down trees for firewood. We need the Act to provide for benefits that are touchable just like the Campfire project where the local populations were managing these forests on their own.
If these are commercial plantations, it becomes easier for the local population to really benefit. I will also want to implore for policies that will be crafted, just like what the Forestry Commission is doing in the Eastern Highlands, we bring new exotic trees to all parts of the country so that they benefit.
The other issue that I wanted to highlight is the issue of conflict between forestry, mining and agriculture, particularly between forestry and mining. We have seen the conflict between mining and agriculture. What the small scale miners or informal mining does to land that is actually under agriculture. What measures are there to ensure that the new Forestry Act will synchronize or harmonize with the Mines and Minerals Act to ensure that the conflict is minimized? When the illegal or unregistered miners go into an area, they just wreak havoc and they are nameless, they are not easy to identify. What they leave is a trail of destruction. So we need to make sure that as a country we make sure that our laws are harmonized and that we do not have laws that are not aligned and not in unison. My contribution ends here to emphasize that the local communities must benefit from those forests, just like the Campfire - then we will see a difference in the management of the trees. I thank you.
*HON. DUTIRO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice. I want to thank the inclusion of women in this Bill. Women are the ones that go and look for firewood, so it is important to include them. We are also looking forward that the Minister will look at the background of the woman who is going to be appointed to the board, to be a person with a rural background who knows and has used cow dung for cooking; who knows how the smoke of cow dung hurts in the eyes, not those women who stay in towns and when they visit their rural homes carry with thems gas stoves to go and use there. We need a woman with a rural background who understands rural life.
In Zimbabwe, 60% of people use firewood and this means the majority of people in the rural areas use firewood. So, the issue of firewood is a very important issue. If possible, women must be 70% in the board of the Forestry Commission, not just saying we must have 50:50 whilst the women are the ones who carry the burden of looking for firewood in the rural areas. We are advocating that the board add more women. The issue of forestry is very important. The greater part of the country is under wildlife and forestry. This means forestry and wildlife take a greater percent age which is around 33%. It is a very important thing that we must be able to manage as a country.
In the Bill, I do not see clearly the power that is being given to headmen and chiefs to control forestry in the areas they lead. Chiefs and village headmen are ladhering very well to Government policies but they should guide people in areas where there is enough forestry. We want the Bill to give power to the village heads, headmen and chiefs.
If we look at the laws being set, our people do not understand much or have enough knowledge on how the forests must be protected. We must give power to the village heads, headmen and chiefs to protect forests and the environment. For example, we said that two million must own mines and people managed to get into mining because village heads, headmen and chiefs were suppotive. So we appeal for more power to the headmen, village heads and chiefs, not to give people punishment without educating them. Let us educate them first and then we give more power to the rural leadership.
Many people have offer letters for their farms; say A1 or A2 but forestry commissioners must go to the rural areas and farms to observe if there are fire guards. If you have not put fire guards from this certain date to another date you should be punished for that. So the Bill must clarify all these things, like what we do when we are cutting down cotton and tobaccoplants. Fireguards must have timeframes, so we are able to identify cell phone farmers who are not utilising their farms. We must put timeframes within which fireguards must be constructed.
We are talking here about the issue of fire which is destroying the forestry and environment killing the wildlife. Most of the time the fines which have been alluded to, there are many contributing factors which cause fire. Sometimes the fire can start through an accident, thus throwing out ashes, starting a fire in order to catch wild animals and so on. Right now, guinea fowls and hares are kept at homes, so there is no reason why a person should start a fire for purposes of hunting. We must look at all those projects so that we end the deforestation which is destroying our environment. As Members of Parliament, we must encourage people to venture into projects like chicken raring and other projects to prevent the issue of veld fires.
Looking at the issue of ZESA, are there any areas in which they are doing the rural electrification? We have put more laws on the rural people that if they cut trees they are going to be punished but ZESA does not have the capacity to give people enough electricity even in towns. What about rural areas where there are elderly people in the rural areas? It is something which is difficult. So Minister, you must scrutinise this Bill and specify that if someone is in town, for example using water rationing, you are given minimum water for what you are using. It must also apply in the rural areas that minimum firewood to be used is this amount. At the end of the day we will end up filling our jails with people because 60% of the people in the rural areas use firewood. This must be analysed so that we have a minimum stack of firewood used within a family.
We also used talked about the issue of the Forestry Commission. Those people must be sent to school so that they understand how fires start, analyse the causes of different fires and what happened (forensics) because most of the time we see that there is a fire but do not know how the fire started. It will end up being an issue of pushing one another but we must have enough evidence and understand everything. The law can be there but we may end up not getting a culprit because we do not have an analyst who understands.
We also have the Global Fund and Paris Agreement to assist Third World countries. We are not seeing the Global Fund assisting our people in the rural areas. If it is tree planting happening in schools and in our areas, the fund is none-existant. It is only talked about in the newspapers and radios but we are not seeing any tangible projects. According to the Paris Agreement, there is something which is tangible. This must be looked at closely.
Right now we have got tobacco farmers, their money is being deducted in US$ but up to now, there is nothing which has gone to the Forestry Commission. This issue started about four or five years ago. Tobacco farmers right pay money so that the Forestry Commission uses to replant the trees that they have cut down whilst curing tobacco. The Forestry Commission who are the owners of the money begs for it from those who are withholding the funds of the country, so it is difficult to do reforestation. I thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Looking at the Bill, many people who are affected by this issue are those who live in the rural areas and the rural leadership. They should be given the responsibility of taking care of the forests. Looking at Mbire, Muzarabani and Rushinga, they do not know about electricity; they use firewood. Their houses are built with pole and dagga. In whatever they do, they use the forests. I see it fit that these people must be educated about the use of firewood rather than imposing stiffer laws. Even on the issue of fire, sometimes children go to their neighbours to look for fire. I am advising the Government to put the laws of planting trees before coming up with stiffer penalties. Government must go to areas where there are veld fires and teach people so that they understand because some of them will end up being arrested but not knowing what crime they committed because some of the people will be cutting down trees to get poles for good use.
It is important to educate people so that they can understand the law and the Government should give people and give them some seeds to plant so that we can have enough trees and if they need poles and firewood they will have enough. Right now, I encourage Government to help people to understand the law and not give them stiffer penalties. In my view, before Government puts stiffer penalties, it is important to educate people because they will end up being arrested without understanding the law. Before this is made law, the issue must be put in newspapers and then talk to different leaders so that they understand everything.
Government must channel funds towards the reafforestation programme so that there are enough trees. Government should educate people about the importance of planting trees and keeping the environment, especially in rural areas. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to debate on the forestry issue. I think that we should have more women on the board because it will benefit us. Women are the ones who go and look for firewood. They are the ones who cause deforestation because they will be looking for firewood to use when preparing meals for their families. Having them in the board will assist in ensuring that the issues are addressed.
For those who are in engaged in timber plantation, the Minister of Environment should ensure that a certain fee is paid to enable development in the country. I once travelled by air to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls; I noticed that it is a challenge because there is no vegetation and you will be in a totally different world without oxygen. When deforestation occurs, it is a challenge for us as human beings. I say so because if the ZRP has poly cons that assist people at Morris Depot; why can the Minister of Environment not have watch keepers under the Ministry and give them motorbikes to ensure that at the windbreaks or where there are fire guards, they can go and monitor and also see that there is no deforestation. These watch keepers should be given wages in order to perform their work effectively.
This reminds me of other countries such as Sudan where we took case studies during our schooling – like the Gezira Scheme. Desert areas do not have vegetation – I think vegetation and trees are important for us. The commemoration of tree planting hat we have on the first week of December, look at how the traditional leaders and different sectors of the country are observing and commemorating the day. We need to take up the challenge and have this maybe three or four times a year; first week of the first quarter; first week of the second quarter; first week of the third quarter and also the first week of the fourth quarter. If this happens three times a year, it will assist in reafforestation and it will be thrice as much of planted trees unlike having it once a year.
During the armed struggle, it was the use of trees that enabled us to hide and seek refuge from the enemy. You needed to hide somewhere. Even with those who came with airforce, we were able to hide under trees and they would think it is a tree and yet it was a person hiding under a tree. Without the trees, a lot of bombing would have happened and we would not have attained independence. We used to maneuver our way through the trees. I remember if cows…..
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Hon. Dzuma, we want you to debate in line with the Bill on veld fires destroying vegetation that is being debated.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for your guidance. What I am saying is that for those who start the veld fires, the fines should be deterrent because if not, they will continue starting these veld fires, so the fines need to be increased. I think I have come to the end of my debate. Thank you.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Most of the things I wanted to say have already been said. However, I heard most people say that women are the culprits in terms of causing deforestation. So, my request is that as the Bill is written, they should understand that the women look for firewood as a source of fuel. In other areas where we come from, there are areas that have experienced deforestation. As what is done with the animals, there is a quota that is done. I am hoping that in rural areas, as women, you will also give us a quota. It is not all women who can afford to buy gas because of financial challenges. Even if they have access to electricity, it is expensive. So, our request is that you assist us on this matter and that the Bill may assist.
Furthermore, in this Bill, our request as women is that we erect granaries to put our maize and our request is that we do not have money to construct proper granaries. The Bill should look at how it can assist us in this regard. Fence is also expensive for us to fence our gardens so we request that you look into the matter and try and assist us. In our culture, we also access medicines from vegetation. If we have experts in medicinal pharmacies, they know how they get these medicines but in our cultural context, we know how to get those medicines. We also want the Bill to address the issue of how people can access those medicines without being arrested.
In conclusion, yes as women a lot was said about us but if there are forests close to our homesteads, our safety is also at risk because our security is compromised. My request is that you give us a quota. I thank you.
HON. A. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Bill. Indeed they say that forests are the lifeline of life; any life on earth. First, I would like to observe that the objectives that this Bill seeks to achieve constitute key pillars upon which the environment, food production and many aspects of rural livelihoods do rest.
I would like to acknowledge first, a very important point that has been raised by Hon. Gen. Rtd Mayihlome that as we debate this Bill, it is very critical that we look at the balance. The competition that is happening for instance when rural communities are trying to sustain their livelihoods; there is competition to gather forests food resources. It could be insects, fruits or anything and most important is the issue of energy in the rural areas. We cannot escape as other Hon. Members have said that wood and forests remain unfortunately the key source of energy for our rural communities. That as it may, it does not mean that we should therefore look aside and say this is how our livelihoods are like. It means we therefore have to be innovative and say how do we try to bring balance between this need to survive and the need to fulfill a key Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating hunger. How do we balance it with this other SDG of trying to save the environment and take corrective action in terms of climate change?
What therefore comes to mind as we debate this Bill in that regard Mr. Speaker Sir, is the fact that there is need for a very well thought out integration between our pieces of legislation. For instance, how do we integrate the issue of energy, our energy strategy, our energy production, particularly for rural services and the restoration and expansion of our forests? What is the link for instance between the strategy of the Rural Electrification Programme and our forests strategy; our re-aforestation strategy? There should be a close link and it is important that we take opportunities like this debate on this Bill to reflect on those kind of things.
The second point is that the last Hon. Member who came just before me here, did touch on a very important point and this important point has to do with the resource that we get from our forests. Mr. Speaker Sir, I have observed a lot of people very excited when they talk of visiting a Chinese herbal shop. They go there with a lot of promise psychologically because they say I am going to the Chinese shop but I am sure these herbs come from a forest somewhere in China. What this underlies is that there is a close link, we have our education 5.0 now, it is the issue of research and innovation. How do we relate that innovation for instance to the survival of our forests? How do we relate that so that there is commitment in our universities on skills and effort being put in researching the kind of resources and their uses that we find in abundance in our forest? I am sure that to date, if we count the number of research projects that are there, they are most likely to be more on apples and guavas than on mazhumu and matamba. We should begin in this context Hon. Speaker to say, is it now time that our universities should help to save our forests through commitment to research? I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. MASENDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to add my voice to the motion raised. Where I stay, people survive on tobacco farming so they are cutting down trees and causing massive deforestation. If this continues to prevail in the next five years, there will not be any trees. What pains most is that people are cutting down trees and no effort is made for reforestation. The companies that fund tobacco farming are responsible for encouraging people to grow tobacco but they are not giving people coal to cure their tobacco, hence the cutting down of trees to cure tobacco. The Government should put in place legislation that binds the contractors to ensure that if a person is given a hectare to farm, they should avail the necessary coal for curing tobacco. They should avail the tools of trade needed for tobacco farming.
I live 250 kilometres away from Harare. On my way to Harare, all the forests were destroyed by fire. It is not only the forests that are affected but even households, grains, inputs and so forth are destroyed because of these fires. I think we need to come up with legislation that is deterrent enough to ensure that people do not start veld fires. If a person is aware of the deterrent sentences, it will prevent him or her from destroying our forests.
In conclusion Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the traditional leaders, village heads, MPs and Councillors need to work as a united force to raise awareness in communities because we might end up with our country being a desert. With these few words, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. CHIKUKWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. CHIKWINYA, the House adjourned at Six Minutes past Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
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
SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: “In terms of section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act, [Chapter 2:13] the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), notified the Clerk of Parliament that the following persons, nominated by the MDC-T party to fill the vacancies that occurred among the party-list members of the Senate, following the recall of the incumbent Senators by the MDC-T party on the grounds that they had ceased to be members of that party, have been appointed as Senate party-list members with effect from 2nd October, 2020:
- Ndlovu Dorothy Molly, of Bulawayo Metropolitan;
- Phugeni Kalpani of Bulawayo Province;
- Moyo Getrude of Manicaland Province;
- Moyo Tamani of Bulawayo Province;
- Denga Piniel of Mashonaland East Province;
- Ndlovu Chief of Matebeleland North Province;
- Khumalo Nomalanga of Matebeleland South Province; and
- Chisorochengwe Teti of Midlands Province.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN
HON. SEN. D. M. NDLOVU; HON. SEN. KALPANI PHUNGENI; HON. SEN. GETRUDE MOYO; HON. SEN. PINIEL DENGA; HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU, HON. SEN. NOMALANGA KHUMALO; HON. SEN. TETI CHISOROCHENGWE subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the Law and took their seats. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I would want to welcome the newly sworn in Members of the Senate. This is where you have come, the Senate. Join us, we welcome you. Thank you – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day, on today’s Order Paper have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEARS 2018/2019
Third and Fourth Orders read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Reports of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the Years 2018/2019.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to debate this very important motion that was brought to the House by the Hon. Vice President Hon. K. C. Mohadi. Let me recognise and appreciate the lively debate from both sides of the House. Surely, this is the beginning of more good things to come in this Senate. I say to the Hon. Senators that debated this motion, well done, you have shown great maturity and the desire for peace – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]
Madam President, on the motion itself, I would like to thank the Vice President and the entire leadership of Government for embarking on a journey that everybody was waiting for - that of peace and reconciliation. I would like to commend the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for appointing this Commission that has proved that they can make things happen.
Madam President, I know the second republic will walk the talk in bringing the people of Zimbabwe together in order for meaningful development to take place. United we stand, divided we fall. Madam President, I would like to thank President E. D. Mnangagwa for taking the bull by its horns and showing that he is a leader by being involved in person with this initiative of peace and reconciliation. Where there is peace, there is development but where people are fighting there is room for disaster. Let us all unite under the leadership and build the country Zimbabwe that we all want, in Ndebele Madam President we say impetu ingena ngenxeba meaning when we are divided our enemies take advantage and fuel disharmony – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – My contribution would not be complete if I do not finish with this quote from this important man, one of our national heroes, the late Vice President Cde. J. L. Nkomo, ‘peace begins with me, peace begins with you and peace begins with all of us’. Madam President I thank you – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]
*HON. SEN TSOMONDO: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity to support the issue which was raised by our Vice President, Hon. Mohadi. I also want to thank our President E. D. Mnangagwa who got an opportunity to go to Matebeleland and discuss about this issue. That gesture of going to Matabeleland and meeting the elders shows that he is a humble man and I thank him for doing that. Madam President the bible says if someone wrongs you, you have to forgive. As human beings, we sin but God forgives us. So, if there are things that we have wronged each other as children of Zimbabwe, what stops us from forgiving each other Madam President?
As Zimbabweans, we should guard our country so that we have peace Madam President. Father and mother fight in the house, they can spend two days not talking to each other, but on the third day you see them asking each other for forgiveness because they are aware that if we continue being angry to each other, it does not bring peace to their house.
Madam President, we are talking about peace. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country but as we are speaking right now, we are speaking in support of the dialogue that took place in Bulawayo, so that people know that we have peace in Zimbabwe. If you get into Harare Madam President, you see that we have a lot of foreigners who are engaging in business activities, but in their countries they have opportunities to do businesses. The reason they cannot do business freely in their countries is because there is no peace. They are here in Zimbabwe because of our President who preaches about peace everyday so they find it befitting that they should go to Zimbabwe where there is peace. I have travelled outside the country and I remember someone asking me where I was coming from, I said I come from Zimbabwe and they said they liked Zimbabwe. People were saying that country is a peaceful country; they are yearning to be Zimbabweans.
Madam President, I am really thankful to the President for being a father because he took the responsibility to go to Bulawayo. Madam President, emotions were high there but that fire was put down by the President because he took it upon himself and he engaged the elders there. He went and engaged the elders there which calmed down the storm that had risen there.
Madam President I am also happy because in this House, both sides we are united and we supported and thanked the President. I thank the President for what he did. I want to thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity. Thank you.
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: Thursday, 9th October, 2020.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT FOR THE LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to support the motion that was brought by Hon. Sen. Muzenda. Let me thank Hon. Sen. Muzenda that she brought a very important motion especially for us parliamentarians. We would like to thank the Administration of Parliament, the work that they are doing is very important. They know where we are failing or where there is progress.
Allow me Madam President to say in our Committees there are challenges where LCC has to play a vital role. Some of these Committees have quite a number of people, but other Committees have few people. It is being caused by these Committees being funded by NGOs or civic groups in the work that they do. It is nice and actually attracts a lot of MPs to these Committees because they are funded by these NGOs. When we are having Committee workshops, a lot of people want to attend these workshops. We need to resolve this that so that other Committees do not suffer because people are running towards those funded by NGOs. People in these Committees should not be frustrated and demoralised but should have equal opportunities and work.
I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Muzenda because it helps us as parliamentarians to fix our weaknesses. As Senators, we should have the knowledge on discussions to do with the budget. What I saw as a problem as senators is that in many instances, when the budget is presented by the Minister of Finance, Senators will be on a break in their rural areas and what is given to them are documents for them to debate but it is important for them to be present. I think it is important that we attend such budget sessions so that we contribute meaningfully during debate. We are not getting that opportunity as Senators. In these Committees, we have work plans that are done by Committees after we have agreed and we approve but some of those goals that we set in these work plans are the same as goals set in the National Assembly. We look forward to a situation where if goals are the same, the Administration should look closely at these work plans so that they should move together.
We have observed that Chairpersons of these Committees do not want visits or public hearings and it is a disadvantage to the other Committees. We pray that the Administration of Parliament will help us in that area so that we are able to work well and we look forward to LCC. We will also see to it that when we move motions, we will be very happy to have Ministers responding to our motions. Most of the motions are adopted in this House without Ministers responding. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON DOMESTICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEES ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) AND GENDER DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENQUIRY INTO PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE AND PORTABLE WATER
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development on the enquiry into people’s access to clean, safe and portable water.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MKWEBU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate on the motion moved by Hon. Khupe who went to make an assessment on the availability of clean water. We thank these three Committees for the great job done. We need to make a follow up and make sure that we see if work has been done. Therefore it is the role of this House to make sure that the Minister responsible for water sees to it that all the people in all the different districts who are encountering challenges with regards to getting clean water are assisted.
These three Committees had a job to make sure that they approach all the areas but however, they only managed to reach out to a few areas. The whole of Zimbabwe is encountering clean water challenges, not only looking at clean drinking water. Quite a number of boreholes have dried up. Dams have dried up, even in farms which is where quite a number of people are looking forward to getting surplus food, there is no water for irrigation nor drinking water.
A number of areas in the rural areas and in towns continue to suffer the same challenge of getting clean water. Most people in the rural areas are praying for rains so that they get water for consumption purposes. A case in point is in Gwanda town and Gwanda rural. Most of the places in this town do not have water and also the surrounding farming areas.
Since this Committee was looking forward to making sure that the disabled get water just like everyone else, it is very difficult right now because boreholes have run out of water. We really have a challenge because the engine that we use to pump water in Matabeleland is no longer functional, which leaves us in dire need of clean water. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity so that I add a few words on this motion which was brought in by Hon. Sen. Khupe.
Mr. President, when we talk about water, if affects both flora and fauna. There is need for water everywhere within our country. People as well as their livestock and wildlife are suffering at the moment. They are moving all over looking for the precious element, the water that is no more found. You will find that the rivers that used to have water, rivers such as the Limpopo, which in history as perennial rivers which would not go dry, right now have no water.
When we talk about dams, you will find that most of our dams are now below capacity. They do not have sufficient water for their people as they used to do. Also, if we take into consideration the boreholes that we have, they have gone dry. The water table itself has gone too low in such a way that it can no longer sustain our people. There is a cry for water all over. Even the birds in the air do not have sufficient water. They go to homes in towns seeking for the precious water to drink only just because where they used to get water there is no more water.
The element of getting clean water; everyone will just go for water not even considering if that water is clean. Our women now walk long distances trying to fetch water to drink and sometimes when they go to the boreholes, they get two or three buckets and the boreholes is empty. It does not have sufficient water. Mr. President, we are in a dire situation, not of our making, but maybe let me say God’s wishes because no one controls this water. Therefore in future, there is need for us to harness as much water as we can get so that this becomes a problem of the past.
Mr. President, the dams that I have been talking about, most of them have silted now and can no longer store water fro long. There is need for the silt to be removed in those dams so that whenever rains come, they should have more water. There is also need for drilling more boreholes in towns and in the communal areas. These boreholes need to be deep enough so that maybe they can reach underground water.
Mr. President, there is also need for deepening the existing boreholes so that we can harness some more water. The animals, especially wild animals, there is conflict between the people and the wild animals because they also need water to drink and there is nowhere else where they can get enough water to drink, so they end up going near people. We have had reports of elephants killing people just because they will be fighting for the water.
Mr. President, I urge us all because this is the way for us to assist. Everybody should make an effort to assist one another in order for each and everyone to get sufficient water. Once more Mr. President, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to say these few words. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. GWESHE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this debate. We left Parliament to Chivhu. When we arrived we noticed that there was a lot of confusion, they were not even prepared to receive us. It was clear from the look of things that the PA and ZINWA officials do not work well together. The time we arrived there was no one to receive us and we got different statements as to why they were not there when we arrived. In other areas we were shown chemicals which they use to purify water but in Chivhu the chemicals were there but we were not able to talk to anyone.
In Masvingo, we had a high turnover of people. People had a lot of grievances, especially on shortage of water. There was also tension between people in the cooperatives and other residents in the locations because they believed that they were the main cause of shortage of water. They thought that water was sufficient for those people in the old locations but the cooperatives were not included. They took us to the dam and we saw that the levels of water was low to cater for the whole of Masvingo.
We proceeded to Mwenezi and again there was a high turnover of people, including chiefs. We were told the same problem of shortage of water. They spoke with one voice and did not blame anyone. We thought they were going to blame us for the shortage of chemicals since we are their voices but that was not case. We then came back here and visited Lack Chivero. We encouraged them to maintain the area around the dam because it is a reservoir and should be secured. They even started cutting grass whilst we were there.
However, I was disturbed one day when I saw women washing at a burst pipe in the location. They did their laundry because water is hardly available. I represent Chitungwiza and Harare and it is disturbing to notice that people are facing such challenges in towns. I propose that boreholes be drilled in their numbers to ease this problem of water crisis. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN UNDER CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to alleviate challenges associated to the early discharge of youths from child care facilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. MOHADI, the Senate adjourned at Eight Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 6th October 2020
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
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM MR. B. NCUBE OF THE ZIMBABWE PEOPLE’S REVOLUTIONARY ARMY (ZIPRA) VETERANS, MR. M. DHLIWAYO OF ZIMBABWE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ASSOCIATION, AND MR. NDANISO MPANDE
THE HON. SPEAKER: On 22nd September 2020, Parliament received a petition from Mr. B. Ncube of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) Veterans of 45 Moffat Avenue, Hillside, Bulawayo. The petitioner beseeched Parliament to amend the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act to include non-combatant cadres who were stationed at other transit camps other than Zambia and Mozambique. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services.
On 21st September 2020, Parliament also received a petition from Mr. M. Dhliwayo of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association of 26B, Seke Road, Hatfield, Harare, requesting Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the escalating violence and anarchy perpetrated by machete wielding gangs which are threatening the sustainability and livelihood of artisanal and small-scale miners. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committees on Mines and Mining Development and Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services.
On 30th September 2020, Parliament further received a petition from Mr. Ndaniso Mpande of 12 Lawley Street, Gwanda requesting Parliament to come up with a Bill which accords Matabeleland region status of an independent territory. The petition was deemed inadmissible and the petitioner was notified accordingly.
INVITATION TO A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I also have to inform the House that there will be a Roman Catholic Church service tomorrow, Wednesday, 7th October 2020, at 1230 hours in the Senate Chamber. All catholic and non-catholic members are invited.”
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like the Hon. Members to know that their welfare issues will be dealt with tomorrow. I would also like to commend the Speaker for having allowed some of us in Kariba to air out our concerns on the welfare. Hon. Members, let me say that it is not the fault of the Speaker but at times it is our fault. We get whipped to a point where you do not even talk about your welfare. We met with other Members of Parliament so that we could come up with a very detailed list of your concerns so that it is not known to be an agenda driven by anybody else. Sadly, Members of the ruling party did not attend. I do not know whether you are immune to the welfare situation that some of us are facing.
I am the last person to stand before this House before the Speaker to talk about our welfare because I am quite ok, I am blessed, but it is the office of the Member of Parliament which I think is important to respect more than anything else. So it is also equally important that when dealing with issues of welfare of Members of Parliament, may party politics not come in. The Head of Parliament is the Speaker. You are paid by Parliament where you are accountable to the people because you represent the people. May we not be misguided as adults and not be told to come and discuss pertinent issues which affect your very own families.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for having listened to us and once again I must concede to the fact that we have ourselves to blame. We pass the budget, we do everything but we seem not to look after ourselves. Mr. Speaker has got his own package which he negotiates on his own. We also must be able to be diligent in negotiating our packages through a formal process which we all know when the budget is being passed. So, I would like you to know that he has given us time tomorrow to air the concerns of the Members of Parliament whether MDC, independent or ZANU-PF, we remain the same. I have committed myself to stand up for the rightful things of this country and standing up for your welfare is only proper, for we must represent people without any compromise. I thank you. [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, perhaps some Members were mesmerised by your articulation of the issue but let it be as it may the meeting will take place tomorrow and it will represent everybody. We have invited the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to be present so that we deal with issues concretely in his presence and then we map the way forward accordingly.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that today’s ....
THE HON. SPEAKER: Before you continue, I do not see any sanitizer here. What is happening? You cannot proceed without sanitizing that phone.
HON. TOGAREPI: I always carry some sanitizer with me. I move that Orders of the day1 to 9 be stood over until Order number 10 has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF HON. PATRICK CHIDAKWA
HON. TOGAREPI: I move the motion in my name: That this House expresses its profound sorrow on the sudden and untimely death on Saturday, 12th September 2020 of the Hon. Patrick Chidakwa, the Members of Parliament for Marondera East Constituency.
Places on record its appreciation of the services which the late Hon. Member rendered to Parliament and the nation and
Resolves that its deepest sympathy be conveyed to the Chidakwa family, relatives and the entire Marondera East Constituency.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
*HON. TOGAREPI: I stand here with very much pain through the loss of our Hon, Member Hon. Chidakwa. Hon. Chidakwa as we all in this House know was a person who was very dedicated to his work, a person who had been here for a long time and wanted to contribute constructively for the progression of our country. Hon. Chidakwa was a person who never wanted to argue with any other person but in most instances, he wanted to get wisdom and was concerned with ensuring that Zimbabwe moves forward. People of Marondera East Constituency lost a man because he was committed to his work. We in this august House also lost a Member who was well-versed in his field, especially local government. He was an expert in terms of local government and as we engaged him every time, his commitment and hope was that Zimbabwe will develop, especially local authorities. He also urged Members to be committed to serving the people so that our country could develop.
Hon. Chidakwa is a person whom I worked with in Government and I never heard him argue or having misunderstandings with anyone. However, what I saw in him was a man who was committed and did not hate anyone. He was patriotic. He would always speak constructive words and help you to learn from him. So, as Members of Parliament, I urge us to learn something from Hon. Chidakwa. You can succeed in your business or your work as a good person working well with others. The constituents whom we represent think that when we come here our aim is to take forward their request. Those people who nominated us want to hear our voices as we contribute to national development and peace in the nation. You find that if we do not have such best practices, we end up engaging in activities and behaviours that our constituents do not look forward to. Hon. Chidakwa was someone who was even willing to assist other Members of Parliament in the knowledge of their roles. He was committed to working as a team. He never used to abscond Parliament or Committees because he knew that he represented the people who wanted to see him working for them. I am sure you are aware that death creeps in and gives no notice; it has taken our colleague who was working well.
As a nation and as Parliament, we need to continue working hard to ensure that we build our nation so that our image is positive as was reflected by Hon. Chidakwa through his life. I hope that all of us, as we learn from this, we will be committed to our work so that Parliament and our nation can succeed. With these few words, I want to say to Hon. Chidakwa’s family, you lost a father figure and the nation lost a committed cadre. As Parliament, we also lost a colleague who was a hard worker. May his soul rest in peace and may the family be consoled and comforted during this moment of bereavement. We hope that his replacement will reflect the same characteristic and personality as that of Hon. Chidakwa. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Before I call upon the seconder of this motion, there has been a request by the Hon. Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to table a notice of motion. I shall allow that before the seconder of the motion by Hon. Togarepi – [HON. CHIKWINYA: Parliament starts at Quarter past Two o’clock, Hon. Minister where were you?] – I had been informed in advance that she will excuse herself from Cabinet. That is what she has done, everything is in order.
The Hon. Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Hon. S. Nyoni) having given notice to table a motion on 8th of October for the House to take note of the Annual Reports of the Gender Commission for the years, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order concerns the motion that has been moved by Hon. Minister Nyoni. The Constitution in terms of the seven institutions built to promote democracy in our country has a clear provision that they must provide annual reports. She is bringing us…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Please use the parliamentary nomenclature, the Hon. Minister and not ‘she.’
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Sikhala.
HON. SIKHALA: So Mr. Speaker Sir, we cannot be taken for granted for us to consider things that should have been considered during its material time. These reports are out of time. What she should have done to respect this Parliament was for her to come and seek condonation that there are reports which have been deferred from 2015, which I beg Parliament to consider from the Gender Commission. What she has done is for her to simply take Parliament for granted to say, ‘I am coming here to table the reports,’ without seeking the indulgence of this House to say, we did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution.’ Parliament is here as an institution to uphold the Constitution. We can never ever allow the Executive to come and violate the Constitution left, right and centre. In terms of the separation of powers, the three arms of Government are equal and our role and duty is for us to hold the Executive to account to be accountable in their actions. Hon. Minister, I am holding you accountable [Laughter.] – for derelict of duty on what we have been expecting from your office. These reports are delayed and we are expecting you to seek the indulgence of this Hon. House for us to consider your deferred reports. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. CHIKWINYA: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, I have got ears that listen very carefully. Hon. Sikhala, you cannot hold the Hon. Minister by yourself to account. It is the House; that part I will not accept because you are being pugilistic. Thank you. Hon. Minister, I think it is in order that you seek condonation from the House for the delay – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. S. NYONI): My apologies Mr. Speaker Sir, I thought I would do the seeking of the condonation on the day if they allow me. I want to apologise to the House and seek condonation and ask that I table the so mentioned report to Parliament.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister you have sought for condonation then we will allow you to table the motion – [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjection.] – Order Hon. Chikwinya.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I am just exercising what I learnt from the workshop.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Usapinde panyanga usati wasvika. The Hon. Minister has sought condonation for the delay in submitting the motion in terms of Section 3 (23) of the Constitution.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I respect your ruling but I am at pains in trying to understand the procedure that you are following here. Firstly, why I am at pains understanding what we are doing is; if she had not come to table the report in retrospect all of them, was Parliament going to keep quiet? What is the procedure for Parliament to ensure that reports are tabled timeously? The Hon. Minister came of her own volition and there is no procedure in our Standing Rules and Orders that says when you are late, you seek condonation to present something that you are supposed to present to Parliament. So, I am actually at pains to say if we debate here and we say we do not want that report to be presented, is that constitutional? The need to present the report that we are seeking from Parliament, what is the question that we are debating because the reports are supposed to be presented, so, I am at pains to find out unless if Parliament had written to the Minister to say reports are late. We want you to come and explain why the reports are late, then I would appreciate. The pain of not appreciating what you are doing is if Parliament votes to say Minister, do not bring the report, is that correct? I stand guided Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister, I did not expect that response from you. Section 323 says, “Every Commission must submit to Parliament through the responsible Minister, an annual report describing full its operations and activities. The report being submitted not later than the end of March in the year following the year to which the report relates”. It is a constitutional mandate – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – We cannot circumvent that, the Constitution has not been followed. Hon. Minister, you are being misdirected here. We will proceed and it is your responsibility...
HON. ZIYAMBI: What if I table the report?
THE HON. SPEAKER: You will be guilty of contempt – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order. Hon. Minister you cannot address the Chair whilst seated. That is number 1, and in terms of Section 107(II) of the Constitution, again the Vice President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers are answerable to Parliament on Committee work and we cannot, if there has been some dereliction of duty, we have to seek condonation. It is the Constitution and if my ruling is not acceptable, please go to the Constitutional Court.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My contribution is that it actually gives Parliament an opportunity to interact with not only the Minister before us today but the Executive at large. There are a number of Commission reports that are behind their time. Perhaps it is an opportunity for you Hon. Minister as you are going to be presenting your report, if we are going to give you the condonation. We are not fighting with the Executive but we actually want to understand the reason why Commissions are failing to produce in this session and time. We are about to approach our budget session, and if it an issue of incapacitation due to lack of budgetary support, we want is to actually understand why these independent Commissions for that matter are not playing their part and being able to report to Parliament in time. Is it an issue of the Minister not demanding the reports in time? So, perhaps as we are going to deposit the reports in our pigeon holes, we would actually want to see the event as they speak to those reports so that at least we understand whether it is the Executive which was given the report in 2015 and sat on it and they are trying to bring it today or the Commission could not produce a report in 2015 and they are now producing it only in 2020.
So, it is not a matter of fighting and when we are following these procedures, we simply want to put back what we agreed as Zimbabweans in the Constitution and we had put our wisdom together when we agreed to the extent that these reports must be produced only three months into a year because the recommendations in those reports need parliamentary response, so that at least those Commissions play their expected roles in the communities in time. So, this is my point Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister when you hear us saying you must seek condonation, we are simply trying to create an opportunity for us to understand each other so that next time we have reports in time. For example, before the Finance Commission is a motion for condonation by the Ministry of Finance where they seek condonation on the Finance Bill, the whole debate is about understanding why we are failing to come to Parliament in time and this is what we expect the Executive to come and bring to Parliament so that at least we understand each other and we respond to issues in time. As I sit down, remember during the Cyclone Idai, we were lambasted by the communities for failing to respond in time. We debated the Cyclone Idai report six months after what happened in Chimanimani, we cannot be seen to be doing the same with even such reports by the Gender Commission. We are in a month whereby we are celebrating breast cancer and we are going to be going towards the month of the 16 days against gender based violence. We must be seen to be working in time with our communities. So, Hon. Minister, do not see us as if we are fighting you. We are simply making sure that we do our things in time as we respond to our communities as part of our duties. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The reason why we now have the Gender Commission was out of the outcry that was coming out of the women especially; how they were being treated unfairly. The purpose of the Commission being expected to produce reports was to enable us to evaluate the performance of the Commission itself and also the impact of the Commission to the lives of the people, especially the women who celebrated when the Gender Commission was established. So, the timeous submission of reports is so important that whatever the issues that might come out of that report that needs urgent response –
HON. TOGAREPI: My point of order, is with all due respect, I think the issue here is not about whether the report came early or late. Those debates that we are now doing should be done when the report has either been accepted or not then we debate the value of it being early or late. – [HON. T. MLISWA: But at this juncture, I think the issue is do we give the condonation or not? She is seeking condonation and it has not been given yet.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Members your comments should be brief. We need to go to the substance of whether we condone or not, that is the request from the Hon. Minister. Can you wind up?
HON. MADZIMURE: Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to underline the fact that it is important to produce reports on time. This is not the only report. We are going to see Ministers coming to seek condonation. I was just underlining the fact that a report which is produced on time will allow us to interrogate it and even the Commission before it even changes because sometimes you find a report that comes after the Commission that was responsible has since left office and that does not help us.
THE HON. SPEAKER: On that one, a record is a record; whether there is a new Commission or not, a record still stands.
HON. T. MLISWA: Section 119 of the Constitution talks about protecting the Constitution and good governance. Section 112 talks about Parliament having power to ensure that provisions of the Constitution are upheld. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is twofold. I also put blame on the Portfolio Committees of Parliament. They are the ones that are also responsible for ensuring that Ministers comply. In her seeking condonation, I would say because of that too, we must also take a proper review of the Chairpersons of these Committees. They are not performing according to task.
As a result, we are found wanting and what happened today is Parliament exercising its due diligence to ensure that things are done properly; that is the Committees not working should do their work. They need to make sure that Ministers do notbecome a bit reluctant to do what they have to do. Committees must wake up and Parliament must review the Chairpersons so that this does not happen again. Moving forward, the Leader of Government Business here Mr. Speaker, may take this as a lesson to implore this to all other Ministers to seek condonation immediately or else I will be moving a motion to hold them in contempt.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I think Hon. Mliswa you have pointed out one other very important aspect; it is not only the Executive who must account. Parliament itself through its Committees, relevant Committees for that matter must hold the individual ministries to account where such reports have passed much of the preceding year. So that observation is quite correct and the observation you make is also in terms of Section 167 (2) of the Constitution where we may endanger Parliament to be scrutinised by the Constitutional Court for failing to act in terms of Section 119 of the Constitution. From the debate, I want to understand that the Hon. Minister seeking condonation is accepted with those observations by the Hon. Members who have spoken – [HON> MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – May I now request the Minister to table the motion accordingly.
THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. S. NYONI): Let me start by thanking the Hon. Members for a very informative and educative debate. It is taken well and with my apologies. Hon. Speaker, I also want to thank the House for giving my Ministry the condonation.
Debate on motion on condolences on the Death of Hon. P. Chidakwa resumed.
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Togarepi for raising the motion for us to mourn our dearly departed colleague, Hon. Chidakwa who was the Member of Parliament for Marondera East. Hon. Speaker, I want first to address Hon. Members in this august House including you as the head of this House; my deepest condolences. This Ninth Parliament has lost a number of Hon. Members which has not been the case before. That is why I said I would want to pass my deepest condolences to the House. I knew Hon. Chidakwa and he once sat opposite me. I asked the Hon. Member who was seated next to me because I never thought he was a Hon. Member of Parliament. He saw me pointing to him and when I went out and sat by the dining hall, he asked me to approach him. He asked me if I knew him and he told me who he was.
Since that time, he became known to me and I began to communicate with him. He was a very quiet, soft spoken and humble person. I even teased at him because of his softness and humble nature how he managed to say the slogan. I accused him of rigging and he said that no, the elections were free and fair. I want to say that the family and the constituency has lost a cadre and we as Members of Parliament need to comfort them because they lost a representative and we lost a loved one. The vacuum can never be filled by anyone. We know that replacements can be found but whoever is going to fill his shoes might not have the character that Hon. Chidakwa. We need to mourn with those who are bereaved because when all of us are in mourning, we expect our friends and relatives to come and share the grief with us.
Hon. Chidakwa was a good man. I do not think anyone can ever say I had misunderstandings with him. We are talking about what each and every one of us knew about him. The interaction that we had with him was positive. I would like to say to the Chidakwa family and the Marondera East family, it is not the end of the world, but God takes those whom he wants at a time that we cannot determine.
At the time Hon. Chidakwa met his death, we were all shocked. People started showing us pictures and told us that he had just passed away. As I stand here Hon. Speaker, I can be gone tomorrow morning because heaven has its own agenda. My challenge to all of us here is that had it been you today who had passed away; had you been Hon. Chidakwa, MP for Marondera East – what would people say at your funeral? That is why it is important for us to understand when we talk of dignity and integrity. We need to know how we behave in our interactions. Some people end up with so many enemies and conflicts but that was not the case with Hon. Chidakwa. That is why I felt compelled to second this motion because he was someone that I communicated and worked with.
It is not a joke Hon. Speaker – since 2018, we are left with a few years to 2023 as Parliament. To the Chidakwa family and Marondera East Constituency, we mourn Hon. Chidakwa as a family and we will try by all means to continue with the work. May his dear departed soul rest in peace. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to support the motion that was raised by Hon. Togarepi and seconded by Hon. Mpariwa in mourning Hon. Chidakwa. I am from Mashonaland East and most of the time I travelled with Hon. Chidakwa to Parliament. We used to sit in this House to discuss. We went together to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls for pre-budget. Our pigeon holes were next to each other - [HON. SIKHALA: That is not possible, you name is Dzuma and his was Chidakwa.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Sikhala, may you respect the solemnity of the motion please.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My surname is Dzuma and his was Chidakwa. That is why I said our pigeon holes were next to each other.
Hon. Chidakwa left us dumbfounded and pained. I remember when I once talked to him when he was still alive how I wish what we discussed at Bulawayo pre-budget – we are only here for five years and if we consider the time that we spend in the Constituency, it is equivalent to ten years. I was saying that our five years should be made ten years and should be pensionable. Look at the number of MPs who are passing away without any pension because there is a ten year cap for a person to be able to get a pension. Mr. Speaker Sir, ten years is too much. I think that should be reduced to five years. In the event of death like what has happened to Hon. Chidakwa, the family that is left behind can also have a source of income.
We discussed this in Bulawayo and the Minister of Finance responded to it but I realised that it was not put on record. My request is that we should go back to our areas with a pension after five years. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: For that policy to be changed, it is within your jurisdiction. If the policy is not acceptable to members in this august House, you have the mandate to interrogate that policy and to ensure that you change the policy to suit what you want as you have raised.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my condolences to the Chidakwa family, my condolences to you the Speaker of the National House of Assembly and Members of Parliament of one of our colleagues. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to lament that we do not really know each other as Members of Parliament outside Parliament and it is quite unfortunate. There is a tendency for on to procrastinate and think that at some point I will know a certain Member of Parliament in the course of our work and our tenure, but I have seen that most of the ones that you think you probably want to know better and more, the time never comes. The next thing, one is not with us. This can only be achieved through interactive activities, sport being one of them…
THE HON. SPEAKER: I think we have a technical hitch. You need to be linked up so that the rest of the Members can follow your debate.
HON. T. MLISWA: It is through activities such as sport, dinners and social events that can get us to know each other. We meet in Parliament and I must say that some of the Members, I personally do not know their names. That is the truth. Only when somebody is no more then you hear about them, which is sad. It is important that we encourage more social events whether we have a quarterly dinner where we just meet. Not only that, those who are married bring their spouses with them so that we know each other. It is only when a death happens that you then know and ubuntu which we really live by does not talk well of us without knowing who the partner to this one is only when one dies and so forth. These are some of the issues we must also deal with.
The other issue which I think is important Mr. Speaker Sir is that I knew Hon. Chidakwa from a personal point of view through his brother Simba who was at Peter House. We played rugby and we did sport together. He is not one of those who comes from a background which is not well to do. They are a good family with their wealth and is the one who represented people in earnest. Unfortunately, he was not able to project himself in the House. Hon. Members, may I remind you that you have a right to give a maiden speech to this Parliament. It does not have to be the Speaker saying speak. You can do a maiden speech to just thank your constituents, say what you want to say.
I can see most of the Members of Parliament who are not with us today never had that opportunity and never did it. It is important that we know more about you and people know about you through the maiden speech. At times we go to funerals and it is sad that people say that he never said anything. May we seize on this opportunity and I challenge all Members of Parliament to have a go at it so that at least you thank your communities and constituents where you have come from. For a very long time we tend to procrastinate and say I will have a thank you party for the constituents but that never happens. I have always said that before I do it in the physical, I will use my mouth to say thank you. It is a gift that God has given us and amongst our whole ubuntu it is well accepted, it is well received by just saying those remarks.
Hon. Dzuma articulately and eloquently spoke about the pension. You equally responded in a very sober and accurate manner and said the ball is in your hands. Hon. Members, the time has got to arrive where we see the picture of a better Zimbabwe through MPs who are well remunerated, not yourself but the institution of Parliament, the Members of Parliament, where conditions are better from a health care point of view, it is important. That can only happen when we sit in this House and be able to pass a budget on health which makes us certain that if anything happens to me, I am okay. The first thing - I am trying to come up with a state of art hospital in Norton where I have said if anything happens to me in Norton, will I go to Harare to be treated or in Norton. I equally challenge you to fight for the facilities in your own constituencies. We are lucky, we can come to Harare, we can go to West End, what about the people in the constituency who cannot afford it? The onus is equally on us to have state of the art health centres. There is nothing as great as you being sick and being treated, or if then God has his ways, you do die in an institution which is within your constituency. It makes it easy.
With COVID, it did not help Mr. Speaker because we could not go and pay our respect in the manner that we are used to. I am hoping that the memorial which would be held, hoping that the COVID situation would have improved, we are all there to be able to support each other. Other Members died when they did not get their cars. Mr. Speaker Sir, I must say this from my heart to other Members that you are certainly considerate in many ways. In being considerate, it is my humble submission that we find ways of giving people cars which were meant for them even if they die. At times people go and take loans to be able to use the car that they are using in anticipation of a vehicle from Parliament which then will not come.
Now, the family is left with that burden and they cannot go anywhere. May Parliament ensure that what belongs to Caesar is given to Caesar when time comes so that we do not burden these families? They will always hate this institution. They will look at us and say look at them. When we go and campaign, we use our resources. There is no party or anyone who gives resources. We leave our families poor but when we die, they are even poorer. They then develop a very nasty negative attitude on this institution that a look at my husband, he worked for the people, I cooked for him but I am in a worse off situations. It is important that we also plan for the life of others after death especially the families, the mothers and the children who are left behind from an education point of view. Mr. Speaker Sir, we are getting to a point where we are half way or over half way of our tenure and if we count how many Members of Parliament have passed on you would probably think it is a race. You do not know who is next. For me at times you see me being who I am – this institution is great. I do what I do because of this institution. You are loving people and you are forgiving people. The little time we have in this world if at all I have wronged you from today, I am sorry. Say to the other person, may we love each other and may we do things for who we are. I said a lot to the mothers the other day, being African I am trying to find something to say sorry to, whether it is a chicken or so because I know what it means. I said I am finding something, a way to get there. Kukwira gomo hupoterera pachivanhu. Kana ndirikuenda kunemadzimambo kana kunana sekuru ndezvimwe. So, yes may we just love each other and smile at each other. May we stand for each other for the only time that we spend is with us only not even with our families. Look at the time we spend driving to Parliament and living in hotels without our families. You go to the constituencies and only have a weekend with the family. So we spend more time together and because of that may we be one family. That is my prayer to God that we may see each other as one family and may we respect and forgive each other for anything.
Hon. Chidakwa was somebody – Mr. Speaker, I lamented the day I wish it was a football match where there is substitution but in Parliament there is no substitution. The day he actually heckled you caught him red handed and you told him to leave. I do not know if you remember. That was the only time he spoke. If it was a football match, I would have said may I go so he could continue playing. I wish for that. I went outside and he said aah ko imimi vamwe vacho hamubatwe sei. Nhasi ndabatwa, pandaedza kutaura ndabva ndabatwa and I said Hon. Chidakwa, it happens and at least you said something. Unfortunately Hansard did not record the heckling but I remember that time and Hon. Speaker, you were on duty also; heckling after the Chief Whip had told him and he was kicked out. That was the only time he ever really was out there.
May his soul rest in peace, a great man indeed! May the constituency of Marondera East find solace in knowing that he was a quiet man and once again Hon. Members, let us talk in this Parliament and let us share. Those who have not spoken, say something. Thank your constituency and your families because it is very important. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
+HON. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to talk about how I feel on the loss of one of the Hon Members, Cde. Chidakwa. As I am representing the Nkayi South community and the entire Zimbabwe, I am saddened by the loss of Hon. Chidakwa, his family and Zimbabwe as a whole following his loss. Hon. Chidakwa was one of the Members who talked about uniting people all the time.
Some of the things I cherish about him during his life time, firstly I noted that he was not feeling well even though I was not his doctor. I did not have time to talk to his doctor but I noticed that he was that kind of person who did not want to talk about things that would hurt others. Even if we were talking to him, he was that kind of person who showed love to everyone and he was humble.
There is one thing I like about the late Hon. Member. Hon. Chidakwa was always present in Parliament. Even if he was not feeling well he always came to Parliament. He could come and fulfil his promises he made when he took oath. He could be seen talking to everyone and this clearly shows that he was a Member of Parliament representing his community and Zimbabwe as a whole. He was a good friend to everyone in Parliament. When talking to him, you could easily tell he was doing a lot in his constituency. He was representing his community well.
He used to be friends with women Parliamentarians and I was one of his best friends. He used to talk to everyone despite political affiliation. Hon. Chidakwa used to share sweets with everyone. I can talk about this because everyone remembers how he used to buy sweets and share with everyone. We were seen waiting for him by the door side because we knew he would bring some sweets for us. He could bring an envelope full of sweets for everyone. He was handsome and everyone knows that – that is the truth. Hon. Chidakwa has gone and there is no other Hon. who can buy some sweets especially to us women. The small things you have shows how you relate with other people and your background. Are you a stingy person or are you a humble person so that you can share with your communities. Even if you become a Minister, are you going to share what you have? Some of the small things start with sharing sweets.
The first time I heard that he had gone, I got confused. It might have been caused by the fact that we are not used to some of the surnames, so I ended up asking Hon. O. Sibanda to send me his picture. That is when I realised it was Hon. Chidakwa. I was touched, I cried because he was a man who was humble and showed love to everyone.
I and him used to do some funny things here in the House. We used to sit on the Ministers benches where we are not supposed to be and the Chief Whip would give us a warning about sitting in that area. We used to make fun out of that. I am trying to show that Hon. Chidakwa was so kind to everyone. He was someone who showed love to almost everyone here in Parliament. When we are talking about some important issues especially the laws of Zimbabwe, we can do much because we are always showing that we understand each other when we are in this House. I wish when everyone takes oath here in Parliament they to love one another and fulfill their promises. They are supposed to be sharing everything they have, whether big or small; they need to be sharing as Hon. Members. We are not supposed to be in Parliament fighting with each other but to work together.
As a woman, I am saddened by the loss of Hon. Chidakwa because I still remember that I used to work hand in hand with him. We were always having fun and doing funny things in the House. I feel sorry for Hon. Chidakwa’s family especially the children, how they are surviving and so on. I know that if you are no longer coming to Parliament you face so many challenges like hunger. When someone spends a lot of time without coming to Parliament, you can see that some of them are not well in terms of their health. After adjourning the Parliament Session, you could see that the first day when we came here, everyone would be having a lot of energy, looking fresh, loving each other and willing to work together as Members of Parliament since we are getting enough to feed our families and the communities who voted for us.
I can say more about what others have already said on the late Hon. Chidakwa. However, when we are here in Parliament, we should know how many children we have and what challenges we face. When you are a Member of Parliament, you need to be respected and taken care of especially on the first day. If someone dies on the first day, what will happen? I am heart-broken on what is happening in the late Hon. Chidakwa’s family, especially looking at the life of his widow. She used to be looked after but as I am talking now, she is alone and no one is taking care of her and the whole family. With these words, I think I have said a lot about the late Hon. Chidakwa. Everyone worked very well with Hon. Chidakwa and loved him because he was always humble to everyone. I cannot even remember day when he interpreted wrongly one of the Hon. Members; he loved by every Member of Parliament in the House. We have learnt a lot about the way he did his things, especially in Parliament and the way he was worked in Committees which he represented. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
++HON. GWANETSA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to add my voice on the motion raised by the Chief Whip of the ruling party on the death of our friend. He was a hero, a respected hero, very humble and peaceful man. He was a respected person. We are mourning with Hon. Chidakwa’s family and his constituency, which is Marondera East and his province, Mashonaland East. He was someone who always came and represented his constituency, so we are in mourning.
I want to add my voice on the motion. Ten years for one to be eligible for pension are too many. As Parliament, it is important to analyse these issues and recommend that if a person comes to Parliament representing people, his/her family must be beneficiaries. Hon Chidakwa was a respectable person and all of us must follow suite. We must also be respectable.
I stood up to honour of our fellow Members of Parliament who went to be with the Lord. I believe that the people of Marondera East will elect a respectable person and humble person to represent them. With these few words, I want to thank all who spoke about our friend, and hero, Hon. Chidakwa. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to pass my condolences to the Chidakwa family. Hon. Chidakwa was in the same Committee with me, the Budget and Finance. We managed to travel on a number of occasions together. All the calls that Hon. Chidakwa received were basically to do with his constituency. You would hear him saying makadii henyu cement yazouya here, ndichaona kana ndadzoka ndikawana macoupons ndogozotakura cement. He was actually funding the constituency.
What is sad about that is Hon. Chidakwa did not get his parliamentary vehicle. It is certain that he is not going to get that vehicle. If you look at how much he spent on his constituency and how much he used his vehicle that he bought using his own money, how it depreciated during that particular time; it is sad to know there is no compensation. He performed his duties as a Member of Parliament; he did all what the constituency would expect him to do. So, Mr. Speaker, it is sad that as one gets into this House as a Member of Parliament, he or she does not know the full benefits for a Member of Parliament, even the family does not know. The family did not even know he was supposed to get his vehicle in August 2018. This is the normal procedure with all other Parliaments. The moment Members of Parliament are sworn in, their benefits are spelt out and if they are to get vehicles, they all get their vehicles without any hustle. Hon. Chidakwa passed on and his family will not get anything. It is not fair Mr. Speaker. How does this Parliament response to this problem.
The Budget and Finance Committee was privileged to be around Kwekwe during that particular weekend when Hon. Chidakwa was buried in Gokwe. So, as a Committee, we then resolved that people attend the burial. Imagine there were only two other Members of Parliament who were there, Hon. Chikomba who is also from Gokwe and Hon. Hungwe. They were the only other Hon. Members apart from the Committee Members who attended the funeral and I think this was very unfair and it is not good.
Parliament itself should have made arrangements that Members of Parliament go and attend that funeral. What impression were we going to leave to the family if the Budget and Finance Committee had not gone there. It is really pathetic. As much as we would want to debate in this House, we must also have cared about our colleague. I implore the Chief Whips to ensure that whenever this happens, there must coordination of events and do what Parliament is expected to do.
The family must be briefed what they must expect from Parliament in such events. Yes, people say being a Member of Parliament is not a full time job but I tell you, if you were an accountant in an accounting firm and you are elected as Member of Parliament; they will not be able to retain you as their accountant. That is impossible. You will have to leave your job, so you will be a Member of Parliament full time. Look at the activities that we are expected to do in our constituencies; events that we are expected to attend as Members of Parliament.
So, Mr. Speaker Sir, as we debate such motions, Parliament itself must take note of the concerns being raised by Members of Parliament and the Executive too must also look at Parliament as an equal partner, it is important.
On the conditions of service, because you will have left everything else to serve your country, the issue of pension becomes paramount and it becomes very, very important. Why is it important? It is the reason why we have intra-party politics violence. You come to this House, you do not want to resign because the day you resign, you become so poor. If there are conditions that are favourable for a person who would have served his country, it also becomes easy to pass on the button and expect other people to come. This is not an unreasonable expectation of anybody who would have served this country at this particular level.
In Nigeria, they always ask each other, if a police officer ill-treats a Member of Parliament, what they normally say is unombova number ani, asking the police officer, because you are harassing me, what number are you in the presidential list. A Member of Parliament is around number 7 or 8, if I am not mistaken in Zimbabwe but look at the conditions of a Member of Parliament. It is so evident when a Member of Parliament passes on, his family all of a sudden is forgotten and they are left with nothing.
I think it is important that this is seriously considered because we all know it is a fact that we will all die, we do not know when as the Roman Catholics say, we do not know where and how this will happen but we will eventually die. It is written that we will die; we must also look at what will happen thereafter. So, I think it is very important that it must be very clear what happens when a Member of Parliament dies? What happens because of some unforeseen circumstances during his or her term as a parliamentarian, he or she ceases to be a Member of Parliament? If he is given a vehicle, duty issues must be very clear and explained to a Member of Parliament. It is just good for a Member of Parliament to know his or her full entitlements so that when time comes, we know exactly and the family is also told in written form that this is what you expect to get from Parliament and then they can follow up those things.
I say to Hon. Chidakwa, he did his best for his constituency. I would always hear him responding to the people in the constituency – okay this car has so many bags, it will leave so many bags at this particular school and so many bags at that particular police post. It is his cement, using his own vehicle but when he dies, the family does not know what it is entitled to.
Finally the issue of healthcare itself; Hon. Chidakwa eventually died in South Africa and this is a serious indictment. When we fall sick, we must be sure of our hospitals that I am going to get the best care that I should. South Africa has even university hospitals. In Zimbabwe right now, we do not have a single university hospital. It is where our professors and students can learn and introduce different treatment systems or medicine regimes that they can use. If we do not have that, then we are not developing as a country. We are also exporting a lot of money for healthcare.
The moment Hon. Chidakwa felt sick, he should have said in Marondera the top hospital that I have nearest my constituency is this one and the family would have taken him there. They might be a shortage of some sort of equipment necessary and then one is referred to one of our top hospitals in Zimbabwe. I think it is important as we debate that we also take stock of what we already have, what we have done right and what we have not done well. On the health sector, we must make sure that we improve on it so that whoever falls sick is rushed to a local hospital.
To Hon. Chidakwa, I hope you have managed to travel well and you are in the safe hands of the Almighty God. We are all travelling the same oute; it is only that we have not yet got to our destination but one day or the other, we will meet with you where you are. Probably you will be in a position to even welcome us. Thank you.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to say a few words on the late Hon. P. Chidakwa. My relationship with Hon. Chidakwa dates back to the period 2013 to 2018 when he was the Chairperson of Marondera Rural District Council and I was the mayor of the City of Kadoma. We were both in the presidiums of our respective associations. He was in the RDCZ and I was in the presidium of UCAZ. He was a passionate man when it comes to development. He was a peace loving man.
From our interaction, when it came to development, he was never political. He would look at both and I can see that trait of a leader in him continued when he was elected Member of Parliament for Marondera East Constituency. The loss of Hon. Chidakwa is not only a loss to his family but also to the people of Marondera East and the nation of Zimbabwe as a whole. I encourage my fellow Hon. Members to be apolitical when it comes to issues of development and take after Hon. P. Chidakwa.
We also interacted in the Portfolio Committee of Local Government and Public Works. That passion of development continued in the way he contributed in the Committee. Here in Parliament, he always asked questions pertaining to service delivery which is really commendable and the gap is going to be felt in the Committee as well as in this august House. I say to the family of Hon. P. Chidakwa, may the Lord comfort them and to my fellow Hon. Members, may the Lord continue to comfort you as well because Hon. Chidakwa has left a void which I think will be difficult to fill. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
RECOMMITTAL TO COMMITTEE STAGE
ZIMBABWE MEDIA COMMISSION BILL [H. B. 8, 2019]
First order read: Recommittal to Committee: Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill [H. B. 8, 2019].
House in Committee.
On Clause 28:
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that we withdraw Clause 28. We will bring another Bill to deal with those issues.
Motion put and agreed to.
Clause 21 now Clause 29, put and agreed to.
First and Second Schedules put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
SECOND READING
FORESTRY AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 19, 2019].
Second Order read: Second reading: Forest Amendment Bill [H. B 19, 2019].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Allow me to present the Second Reading speech on the Forest Amendment Bill [H. B. 19, 2019].
Hon. Speaker Sir, environmental rights, such as in the sense of an inalienable right of the people to a wholesome and safe environment, first achieved statutory recognition in the Environment Management Act of 2001. That right was later enshrined in section 73 of our Constitution which merits quotation in full:
‘(1) Every person has the right –
(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well being; and
(b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that –
(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation.
(ii) promote conservation; and
(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promotion economic and social development.
(2) The State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it to achieve the progressive realisation of the rights set out in this section’
Mr. Speaker, when we think about a healthy environment, few of us can imagine such a thing without thinking about forests as part of that environment. The current Forest Act, as supplemented by other laws and regulations, for instance the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] provides for a fairly good framework in the management of forests. Nonetheless, Zimbabwe’s wooded areas continue to suffer environmental degradation through veld fires, the burning of vegetation and illegal tree cutting. Uncontrolled burning can result in the loss of lives and property while uncontrolled destruction of trees and other vegetation can result in the loss of livelihoods.
With regard to veld fires, these are a hazard to the environment in that by destroying flora and fauna they have an impact on biodiversity with consequences even for the fertility of our soils. All our efforts at agricultural revival will, if veld fires are not properly controlled, come to naught through the reversal of the hard earned gains achieved by our people over the years.
With regard to illegal tree cutting, Mr. Speaker Sir, its magnitude is now such that deforestation and forest degradation have reached unprecedented levels. With as estimated aggregate national deforestation rate of 330 000 hectares per annum, legislative measures need to be put in place to prevent further deforestation and forest degradation. Tree cutting and burning on a wide scale exacerbate climate change and global warming by in the first place releasing tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere and in the second place preventing the precipitation needed for rainfall to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Legislative measures for the management and control of forest fires and the burning of other vegetation are mainly provided for under the Forest Act [Chapter 19:05] with supportive provisions being located in the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27]. Offences range from burning of vegetation by land holders to incidental burning by other persons, while maximum penalties range from three months to five years of custodial sentences with fines ranging from a maximum of $100 to $700 respectively. These are upper limits that leave room for the courts of law to pass higher sentences. As Members can judge for themselves, these sanctions are no longer deterrent enough.
Further, the Forest Act does not comprehensively anticipate the possible consequences of veld fires such as death and loss of property. Police and the courts need to be guided as to what aggravating factors should be taken into account when deciding whether to charge and punish offenders with stiffer charges and penalties. It is beyond question, Mr. Speaker Sir that the weakness of the sentencing framework under the Forest Act contributes to the current unsustainable depletion of natural resource resulting in environmental degradation. At the end of my speech, Mr. Speaker Sir, I append a table depicting fire incidences between 2009 and 2018. I will not read the table but urge Hon. Members to read it when it is published in the Hansard.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (2018 2020) recognises the need to effectively manage the environment by targeting the following-
- Protection, restoration and promotion of sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems;
- Sustainable management of forests;
- Fighting the veld fire scourge;
- Combating desertification; as well as
- Halting and reversing land degradation and loss of bio-diversity.
The Ministry of Environment Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry is mandated to put in place measures to ensure that these aspirations are achieved.
With this in mind, Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has looked at ways of improving the Forestry Act and their efforts are embodied in the Bill before you. In the light of what I have said about the inadequate sentencing framework, the Bill before you introduced mandatory sentences to deter would be offenders and give the courts scope to consider aggravating features of offences when sentencing offenders.
The Bill, Mr. Speaker Sir, also provides a regulatory framework that promotes an inter-disciplinary approach to sustainable fire management and control. This Bill does away with some of the archaic provisions of the forest laws, plugs in the gaps and updates and aligns forest laws to the Constitution, a long overdue exercise. To these ends the Bill will, if passed, introduce a multi-sectoral and decentralised approach to fire management.
Ø Introduce a multi-sectoral and decentralisation approach to fire management that includes local authorities, AREX officials, the transport sector, gender structure and traditional leaders, among others.
Ø Enhance the regulatory responsibilities of the Forestry Commission through decentralisation.
Ø It will advance gender equality in line with the Constitution by requiring equal gender representations on the Forestry Commission as well as inclusion of persons holding recognised qualification or demonstrable knowledge in forestry, environmental planning and management, finance and management, business and administration, ecology and legal expertise.
The Memorandum to the Bill helpfully sets forth all the most conspicuous features of the proposed legislation and I will not rehearse them for you except to draw your attention to three clauses of the Bill in particular, which illustrate the point about the decentralisation of the regulatory functions of the Forestry Commission.
Section 68 of the Act currently provides that all disputes between land owners or occupiers regarding the sufficiency of land cleared for the creation of fireguards are referred to the Secretary responsible for environment. Clause 6 of the Bill seeks to decentralise the dispute resolution mechanism to forestry officers who should work with environmental officers.
In terms of Section 69 of the Act as it presently stands where vegetation on any land is such that the prescribed boundary fireguard of 18 metres width is not sufficient to protecting adjacent properties from risk of fire, the Minister may in addition to other measures issue an order to increase the size of the fireguard. In recognition of the high risk posed by veld fires and the need for immediate action, Clause 7 of the Bill seeks to decentralise such authority to forest and environmental officers. The Office of the Minister will become an appeal authority. Clause 7 further seeks to criminalise any failure to comply with the orders.
In line with Section 4 of the Act which establishes the Commission as a body corporate, Clause 15 of the Bill seeks to enlarge on the Commission’s power to institute and maintain civil proceedings in courts of law on behalf of the Commission to recover its revenues from fees and other sources.
In conclusion, I urge Hon. Members to pass this Bill to protect and enhance the rights of our people to a healthy and wholesome environment, now and for future generation. I so submit Mr. Speaker Sir, and I move that the Bill be now read a second time. I thank you.
Hon. Biti having expressed the zeal to debate on the Bill virtually
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Hon. Speaker Sir, I am advised that the Acting Chair is not in the House. So, I am not so sure, I seek your indulgence that we adjourn debate until the Committee Report is presented and then we can debate.
HON. BITI: It is already adjourned, so I will come once the Committee has presented its report Hon. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): In fact, that is procedural and thank you very much for your understanding Hon. Biti.
HON. BITI: And good afternoon to you Sir?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Good afternoon to you Hon. Biti.
HON. BITI: God Bless you Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You too, thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, Nos. 3 to 29 be stood over until Order of of the Day, No. 30 has been disposed of. Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF HON. SEN. AIR CHIEF MARSHALL RTD. PERRANCE SHIRI
Thirtieth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the death of Hon. Sen. for Mashonaland Central Province, Air Chief Marshall Rtd. Perrance Shiri.
Question again proposed.
HON. A. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this important opportunity to make a contribution in remembrance of one of the iconic sons of our country. At a personal level, I am not one who can claim to have personal knowledge or any close personal interaction with Hon. Shiri, but what I know and what I would like to say is that I knew him as one of the icons of the liberation struggle.
In many ways, this gives us an opportunity through him to reflect on the role of very special people of this country. These special people were just very ordinary. They were our brothers, sisters, uncles, relatives in many other ways but in their ordinariness they chose to be extra ordinary because they took up a very extra ordinary task to say, I am going to lay down my life so that my people and my country can be free. As the Bible tells us Mr. Speaker Sir, no other love can anyone show than that a brother should lay down his life for his brother. It is only certain therefore that we should remember Hon. Shiri, not just as one person but a collection of values, a collection of commitments which we should all emulate as Zimbabweans, values relating to the love for one’s country, values to be able to commit and sacrifice for one’s country and values of hard work. Mr. Speaker Sir, when the good Lord called the Hon. Member, in my constituency we had launched a massive and significant irrigation scheme of 1080 ha. I am sure it is going to be the biggest in the Midlands Province at its completion. That was because there was a man at the helm of our agrarian revolution who was committed to the President’s vision of helping to realise Vision 2030 of making this country a middle income country.
It is therefore with sadness that when the news came even in the constituency, I remember that very weekend we had meetings of the committee responsible at the irrigation scheme and no one could believe it. People felt that fate had robbed them, not only of the hero they knew from the liberation struggle but from the hero they had now in the agrarian revolution and indeed because of the strong foundation he laid which still promises to fulfill and to help fulfill our 2030 Vision, whose very critical component would be the eradication of hunger and the establishment of food security in our country. Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to say may his soul rest in peace. May his family find grace and solace in the knowledge that this was a soldier who fought his battles well. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The untimely death of Rtd. Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri was indeed a shocking event. The passing on of Hon. Shiri who was then the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement left an irreparable loss, not only to his family but also to the people of Zimbabwe as a whole. Mr. Speaker Sir, death robbed us of a true revolutionary fighter, valiant hero and one of Zimbabwe’s esteemed military commanders. People make history. Rtd. Chief Air Marshall Perrance Shiri was among the revolutionary people of Zimbabwe as they made their history of the liberation of Zimbabwe from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism. He indeed played a pivotal role. Mr. Speaker Sir, as people make history, work creates the future. A scientific analysis of the late Hon. Shiri’s modus operandi signifies that he believed in hard work. Work at the end of the day is the fundamental force that drives the progress of human society.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I will turn to the book, ‘The Governance of China’, a book which was written by the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jin Ping and it says; “To achieve our goals and create a bright future we must rely closely on the people, always act in their interests and work in an industrious, honest and creative way. We often say, ‘empty talk harms the country, while hard work makes it flourish’. This means we must first get down to work. That quotation Mr. Speaker Sir, from President Xi Jin Pin summarises the character and work ethic of Hon. Shiri.
May I, Mr. Speaker Sir, take this opportunity to thank Hon. Themba Mliswa for moving this motion. In conveying my utmost condolences and sympathies to the Shiri family, I do hope that the lessons derived from Hon. Shiri’s life will continue to shine as a bright revolutionary star for all to see and emulate. Mr. Speaker Sir, the name of the late Rtd. Chief Air Marshall Perrance Shiri shall indeed live forever. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you for affording me the opportunity to talk about the death of Hon. Shiri. Cde. Shiri was a person who was easy to approach and you would think that tomorrow you could see him. We worked with him especially myself. I worked with him with my constituents in Rushinga. He was my Senator. Even right now, I just imagine that if I go to his office I will see him but unfortunately he is no more. He was someone who was easy to work with and was easy to approach. He was someone who was good at moulding people and encouraging development. The work he has done and the fruits brought by his hard work are something tangible. These things will remain the same forever. His name and his works will forever be cherished because it is a sign that he was good at working with other people and working for the country’s development.
Looking at the issue of agriculture, it was successful and if you go to many farms, you see there is wheat. If you walk into rural areas like Rushinga, it is an area which had water problems and people used to travel 90kms to go to Ruya or Mazowe river to fetch water. As Minister of Agriculture and Water, he managed to end this problem for the people of Rushinga. People of Rushinga are the ones who will suffer much loss because he managed to bring them out of this perennial water problem since 1980. People of Rushinga are in pain because of the death of Cde. Shiri. Rushinga is an area where war was fought for a long time and this area was ignored by the old dispensation. However, through the leadership of Cde. Shiri, Rushinga is now better. People are now able to bath.
Rushinga is a big constituency though it does not have many people. People spend a lot of time sleeping at boreholes and water sources but through Cde Shiri, he managed to intervene and end the water problems. People are now able to sleep in their houses and do irrigation. They installed solar powered gadgets whereas we used to survive on eating dry okra. We did not know that in summer we could eat fresh vegetables from the garden. Right now people in Rushinga are grateful for the job done by Cde Shiri. We also have tap water in Rushinga just as any other places in Zimbabwe. Cde Shiri dealt with the places that were lagging behind in development; places like Rushinga. Rushinga is an area where the war of liberation was fought since the 1960s to 1980. It was war throughout. We had a short period of peace and in 1987, the war of Matsanga began. Cde. Shiri had keen interest for areas which were lagging behind because of the war – the border areas are the areas he focused much on. For example, Mbire, Rushinga, Muzarabani, Mutoko, and Mudzi are the areas he looked at so that the people’s lives could be improved greatly.
Looking at people like myself, if there had not been war in Rushinga, maybe I could have been a professor but I did not manage to be one. Cde Shiri managed to go to the liberation struggle to liberate our country and also liberated us from issues of hunger so that there is food abundance in Zimbabwe. We are saying God, it is well you took him but he left a deep wound in our hearts. Therefore Cde Shiri, rest in peace. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. I would also like to add my voice to the motion which is currently under debate; the motion regarding the late Air Chief Marshall Perrance Shiri. I think I was one of the very fortunate people to have met him one on one just after independence. Hon. Sen. Shiri was on his way from Joko, Mutoko to Chiredzi with my uncle Patrick Chengetaivatema who happened to be his detachment commander, one of his DCs in Tete province. When they were on their way, they came via our home and Patrick said tonodya kwavatete. Then they came and two huge trucks stopped at our home and my mother ran away to hide. I also ran and hid in the kitchen. Then when we heard the voice of sekuru Patrick saying panavanhu here pano I recognised the voice then I went out to meet them. He said where is your mom and I told him she was in hiding as she thought the soldiers were back and he assured us there were no more soldiers because the war was over. Then my mother came out and cooked for them and we all ate.
He was a very humble and cheerful man. On their way back, they passed through again and they left us some goodies. At some stage in history, we then met again several times on different occasions. He remained very humble until the time of his death. I then met him at Watershed College where his son Titus happened to be in the same class with my first born son and the son of the late Gen Armstrong Gunda. He said what do you want here and I told him my son was also there. Then he said you actually grew to be a father of a child who is of school going age. He still remembered me as a small boy and I told him I had grown to be a father. He was very caring and he would go to Watershed and my son would say daddy do not bother coming, Titus’s dad came and left us enough money and groceries. That was the man. By so doing, he taught us a lesson that when you visit your child and you had something, you would give all the children. The other time I met him and he said do not bother going to Watershed, Gunda has already gone and he will take care of the boys. He was very fatherly and very caring. There was no problem that you would take to him and he would not solve. He always took his time to listen and he would say you know with
You, hushamwari hwedu hunobva kure kubva kumadzisekuru edu nemadzibaba edu. He loved history and he would say iwe Chinamhora neni Mangwende we have always been friends from way back in the years and the friendship does not end. So, let me say, Moyo, Mangwende rest in peace from Chinamhora for the last time. I thank you.
*HON. DZUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to debate and testify on the good deeds by our late Hon. Sen. Perrance Shiri. We remember him for the great job that he did of fighting for our total independence. I say that because I am one of the liberation war fighters who joined the struggle outside the country together with the late Hon. Minister. He went to join the liberation struggle before us and we followed in 1976. This means that there is a gap of two to four years between the time he left and when we joined. This means that they are the founders of the liberation struggle.
He showed bravery and we followed suit. I remember that we spoke the language of those whom we trained with outside the country like Tanzania where we both went whilst Hon. Shiri was a Commander at that time. When we wanted to say good morning, we would say, habari za asubuhi, which is Swahili. Good afternoon, we say habari za mchana mzuri, good evening, habari za jioni, it is all Swahili. As we were marching with Hon. Perrance Shiri, they would say ‘go suwa, which means putting your legs together, go upande, separating the legs. They would say, right turn is called upande wa kulia, left turn is called upande wa kushoto and about turn is called kuhusu upande, forward march is call mbele tembeya. It is the language that we spoke whilst we were outside the country with the late Hon. Shiri as we were being trained by those who did not speak or know Shona, Ndebele or our other languages.
I remember the late Hon. Shiri when the economy was hard hit by hard times. He was the Commander of the Air Force and he travelled to the rural areas by foot so that he could restore order. I thank the late Hon. Shiri and I remember him. During the recent period on the programme of maguta, he made sure that the nation thrives and maximise production. I remember him arriving in Buhera District at Maneta under Hon. Nyashanu, he visited Tangwena and the irrigation schemes where Hon. Mutomba presides. He also visited the Constituency of Hon. Dzuma around Marovanyati area and other areas and developed those dams so that they could be put to use as can be witnessed today. He also alleviated the plight of domestic water shortages for villagers and came up with a $5.4 million facility at the Murambinda Water Plant which is one of the projects which have neared completion and if possible, the President of the country will officially open it in the near future. The tunnels and pipes have already been put in place and all the people now look forward to receiving taped water through the work that was tirelessly done by the late Hon. Shiri. We cannot have a replacement for Hon. Shiri, it will be very difficult and we grieve every day and night and ask God why this has to happen.
We pray that such people who were given an opportunity to work by our President, His Excellency, Hon. Mnangagwa live long in order to finish their mission for a while rather than to have them stolen in our midst. It is God’s time and we cannot dispute. All of us wait for our own time which we do not know now and if we knew, we would store drums of fuel so that we can run away but it is something which comes to us unaware.
When we heard about his passing on, it was a shocker and we even thought it was the usual lies spread on the social media and we could not comprehend the news. Whilst we were here in Parliament we would approach him and lean towards him, speaking to him as he was very humble and would talk to everyone without any condition. If he could not answer your concerns there and then, he would ask you to come to his offices at Ngungunyana Building at KG 6. When I arrived at KG6 to speak to him, the secretaries told us that he had travelled to the countryside as there had been a problem of an illness there. They did not tell me the truth that he was also not well and I went back. The following morning that is when I heard about his illness and subsequent passing on. It was so touching and painful to hear such news. So, I say to the late Hon. Shiri, the work that you did, we are testifying in this House that you did well and we witnessed it and were satisfied as a nation. We left the foreign land and came back home together, we say to you, rest in peace, we are with you, you did a great job and we are satisfied with the irrigation schemes. Most countries are doing well because of irrigation programmes, like Sudan which is a desert but for survival, they have the Gezira Scheme which we can all testify to be a strategy which is making other countries thrive. So, we have also taken heed of such schemes so that we survive on these irrigation schemes pioneered by the late Hon. Shiri under the blessings of the President of the country. I will not continue to waste others’ time to contribute to this debate; I will let them add on to my voice. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. BUSHU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My gadget is experiencing network problems. However, I want to thank you for the opportunity that you have given me to add my voice on the life of Hon. Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri who passed on. I first heard about this man when I was still a young man when he was the Commander of the Tete Province. They would say that our Commander was a brave man who was a hero and full of prowess. In our home area, there were 14 people who went for the liberation struggle but we sang the liberation war songs. A lot of people had come from the Bushu area and we did not know that there was a battle at Tembwe and six have gone there.
Hon. Shiri ensured that at least one person remained from each family as others went for the war. Others died during that time but Hon. Shiri lived for some years whilst fighting for the liberation struggle. Saturday to Tuesday, when he was suspected to have contracted COVID 19, he was gone, such a good, brave and strong man. It really affected us and we were greatly saddened in Mashonaland Central because he had become our leader in the Politburo. He was our leader in the Senate. He was a Minister whom we were proud of, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Honestly speaking, in terms of leadership, he had learnt a lot from the time of the liberation struggle until he retired as Air Chief Marshal and became the representative of an area as a Senator. When you get to know that he presided over a number of people, you would not think that he was such a brave cadre.
He had a strong deep voice and that would help us to understand the type of man he was but he was very humble. You would be surprised that with the popularity that he had, when you meet him, you would be shocked. I remember that as a leader in Mashonaland Central, when there was a lot of conflict, Hon. Shiri would intervene and iron out the differences to solve the conflict. He was soft spoken and spoke a lot of wise words.
An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon. Member speaking.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MUTOMBA): Order. You cannot pass between the Chair and the Hon. Member speaking. Can you go back the way you have come from?
HON. BUSHU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I will proceed by saying that when there was conflict in Mashonaland Central, Hon. Shiri would come to resolve it. People would see light and the conflict would be resolved. They respected him. I also want to say, we were so proud of him. As the Minister who came from Mashonaland Central, the whole nation can witness that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement was doing well and he was doing a good job. People witnessed the irrigation schemes that he promoted and implemented. Even the input schemes, fertilizers and seed were availed on time. He was a good leader and planner. I want to say that as a family from Mashonaland Central, Shamva South in particular, it was a great loss for us because he used to come and assist us as MPs. He used to come and give food hampers to the vulnerable families. He provided maize and rice to the communities and he used to come down to the local level and sit under a tree talking to the people of the community. Sometimes when we hold meetings, we always think that he would come and join us because each time he attended a meeting, people would rise up in honour of him. So, we want to say to the Shiri family, we grieve together in this loss as well as the nation. I want to say to this gallant soldier, rest in peace and we hope that God and our ancestral spirits will be with him. I thank you.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Sixteen Minutes Past Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 6th October, 2020.
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 CHURCH SERVICE
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the Senate that there will be a Roman Catholic Church Service, tomorrow, Wednesday, 7th October, 2020 at 1230 hours in the Senate Chamber. All Catholics and non-Catholic members are invited.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over, until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2018
Third Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion that this House takes note of the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, 2018.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Madam President. I would like to thank Vice President Mohadi for bringing this motion to the House, the motion on peace and reconciliation. People should be able to live in peace and harmony, even in the homes or in the country. Diaharmony is destructive; no home was built where there is no peace. So, in this instance, for us to rebuild our country, we need to move forward in peace and do not dwell in what happened long back. If we keep on reminding each other of what happened long back, we will not heal those who were wounded. It is very painful what happened in the past but we cannot turn back the clock; it has already happened. We would like to thank our leaders for going to Matabeleland to establish peace with people in Matabeleland. Peace yields progress, so let us move on as a people. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. RWAMBIWA: Thank you Madam President. I feel delighted when we talk about peace. It helps us to forgive each other. We can take this subject of forgiveness lightly but this is the route of peace. Even in our religion, we are urged to forgive because without forgiveness, we cannot move forward. God forgives us on a daily basis and we are also encouraged to do the same. Even in our families, we should forgive each other. We should forgive our spouses and children because without forgiveness, a home cannot stand. If we cannot forgive in our homes, how can we forgive outside our homes? This motion is important for everyone and cuts across the political divide. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice and views to this motion on peace and reconciliation which was brought here by the Vice President.. This is a Christian nation and this motion affects every Zimbabwean because if there is no peace and reconciliation, then God will not be on our side. I also thank His Excellency President, E. D. Mnangagwa, who saw it fit to create such a commission. This Commission hinders the devil who was taking advantage of the situation which brings tension among people, especially the Gukurahundi issue. The devil was taking advantage of this situation yet this happened a long time ago and we cannot change what happened except to accept it and forgive each other. Since we now have peace and reconciliation, the devil will not be able to cause us to fight each other. This Peace and Reconciliation Commission is not limited to Matabeleland but it is a national commission. Therefore, I would like to urge the people of Zimbabwe to forgive each other in spirit. If you do not want to forgive, it will be between you and God because God also said all of you have sinned but he forgave us and we became his children again. Therefore we should accept each other and forgive each other so that we will start to experience change; God intervenes in our situations. This is a Christian nation.
This is a crucial motion which, looking at this situation, even young people were being used, some of whom do not have institutional memory or historical facts concerning that issue. These are young people who have been saying a lot of things but now it is history because we now have a commission which is aimed at bringing peace and reconciliation to the nation. God has intervened in this situation.
After forgiving each other, you will discover that we will begin to work together as a nation. Even other nations would appreciate the relationship that is among the people of Zimbabwe because there will be peace and forgiveness will prevail among all tribes that are found in Zimbabwe. We will be speaking the same language even if we do not involve other countries but these other countries have their own issues and they forgive each other. However, they expect us to keep grudges against our fellow nationals. These are the few words that I wanted to express. I would also say that I am happy because I understand that peace is important. Forgiveness is important; it brings joy to individuals and the nation. I would like to thank you Madam President for allowing me to air my views. I appreciate our President, His Excellency, I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: May all other Hon. Senators who are not debating please put your gadgets on mute.
**HON. SEN. NYATHI: Thank you Madam President for giving me the opportunity to say a few words. It is important that there be peace and forgiveness. This allows people to live in harmony. What I would like to say is that in this Senate, we should speak one language and in unity, we are the most senior House between the Houses of Parliament. When we discuss, let us talk about educating our children who are still growing so that they understand what it means to forgive each other and what it means to have peace. It is important that if I sin against someone, I should tell that person that what I have done is wrong. I cannot send someone to seek for forgiveness but I must go as an individual to express my remorse so that I may be forgiven. This is the lesson that we need to teach our children so that things move along well and that our country would have peace.
Young children are so observant. They observe and know a lot of things. When we were growing up, we did not have technology yet nowadays even at ECD when you tell the child something, they ask you why. When we were growing up, we could not ask such questions but would just do what we were told. Children should know and understand because whatever we say, we need to implement such things so that our children will practice those things. Even at church, the first thing that we are taught is that forgiveness is important. We know that God forgives us. Even as we express ourselves, God needs to forgive us. With these few words, I would like to thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Madam President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2019
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion that this House takes note of the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2019.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT FOR THE LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Madam President, thank you very much. Before I wind up the motion on the Presidential address, I wish to thank sincerely, the following Hon. Senators who contributed to the motion;
Hon Sen. Chirongoma, Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi, Hon. Sen. S. Mpofu, Hon. Sen. A Dube, Hon. Sen. Maluleke, Hon. Sen. M. R. Dube, Hon. Sen. Shumba and Hon. Sen. Mathuthu, Hon. Sen. Hungwe, Hon. Sen. Matiiriram, Hon. Sen. Tsomondo, Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo, Hon. Sen. Khupe, Hon. Sen. Tongogara, Hon. Sen. Mohadi, Hon. Sen. Gumpo. Mr President, if by any chance I left any other, my apologies.
Mr. President, there were very important issues which were raised in the Presidential Address but not even one Minister came to address the Senate. This is very worrying and disturbing. May I appeal again through you Mr. President, because we have talked about that also when it relates to the Question Time? We hope that in the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament there may be an improvement of the attendance of our Ministers. With those few words, I move that the motion be adopted:
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 address to Parliament.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON DOMESTICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Question again proposed.
**HON. SEN. HOHADI: I want to add a few words on this motion. I am looking at the disabled people. They need clean water because we cannot talk about water and people living aside the disabled ones. We have to know that a person who is disabled and a person who is not disabled are just the same. We have to respect each other’s right because being disabled does not mean you are not supposed to be respected. They are just like us.
There is need for them to access clean water. These people are very important in our lives and families. When we are talking about water we are talking about life. Where there is no water there is no life. We are not talking about water alone, we are talking about clean water and vegetation. When we are talking about vegetation, the disabled people also need health, vegetation because that is also important in their lives. We are living with disabled people in our families and communities. There is need for these people to be seen going to schools. In some families the disabled people are not allowed to be seen walking freely - they are always put in closed houses. If they are children they are not allowed to be seen playing freely with others.
As Members of Parliament, we need to urge our communities to respect these peoples’ rights. Those family members who have disabled people do not allow them to go to schools. They do not respect their rights but to tell you the truth, they are just like any other person. They are very important in the family or community. Some other jobs will be done by the disabled people. They need to be taken care of.
+HON. SEN. CHIEF NTABENI: Thank you Mr. President. I am one person who supported Hon. Khupe who brought this motion to the House. We went around inspecting sources of water and we discovered that the water that is being consumed in towns is not clean. This is a matter of concern because people are consuming dirty water. The water level is now very low. Even our livestock is drinking dirty water. Our women wake up early in the morning going to the boreholes at around 6.00 a.m. Those who get water and those who do not then face the same fate. Livestock also come so that the livestock get water from these water points.
I am becoming emotional, Mr. President, but let me end here. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: For the record, we are debating Order of the Day, Number 7 that is on Human Rights Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. When we talk about disabled people, particularly looking at access to clean drinking water, then this is quite a concerning issue because disabled people face a lot of challenges. When a disabled person does not have a child who fetches water for them, then how can they fetch water? So it is important that those who are disabled have tapped or piped water.
In urban areas, water is brought by bowsers. These bowsers are not sensitive to disability issues and disabled people
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: The debate is on Order Number 8 which is on disabilities. You may debate later when we come to Number 8. You may take your seat Hon. Senator.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) AND GENDER DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENQUIRY INTO PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE AND PORTABLE WATER
Eight Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goals and Gender Development on the enquiry into people’s access to clean, safe and portable water.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you President of the Senate. This issue, the issue of water, is quite a touching issue. There is no water in urban areas. People receive water that is brought in bowsers at times. Sometimes people queue from the morning until evening. I do not know how this issue can be addressed because we need to prioritise this issue as Hon. Senators. You will discover that when people converge on bowsers, at times there is rowdy behaviour. Sometimes boreholes are vandalised and people end up not getting water. Even in rural areas there is no water. So I do not know how this issue can be addressed. Even our dams have silted, some are drying up. So we need to desilt our dams and scoop them so that when the rain season comes, then our dams can receive a substantial amount of water.
People need water because water is crucial, water is life. No one can live without water. So my request is that Government should make sure that Government provides dams and boreholes. More boreholes should be sunk for the benefit of the people. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity so that I can add a few words on this motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Khupe which is a very important motion for the country of Zimbabwe. I also thank the Committees which travelled with SDGs, Gender Commission and Human Rights assessing the issue of safe water to the Zimbabweans in towns and rural areas.
Mr. President, this motion is a very important motion because it is on the issue of water and we all know that water is life. Mr. President, without water, there is nothing which can move properly. Every person needs clean water. When we travelled during the Eighth Parliament, we also faced the issue of water because lack of clean water causes a lot of different problems which cause lack of peace in the families. We have child headed families, when there is no water at the family there will be problems. We expect these children to grow up well because they are the future leaders and future parents but they will end up facing many problems especially in rural areas including even the towns.
May the Government intervene, Mr. President, so that water can be availed in all areas in the country. It is unfortunate that the Committees only travelled in towns. Even in rural areas it is difficult. We have clinics where mothers are waiting to deliver. There are disabled people who cannot walk or touch anything who are in these areas. Without water, there is nothing which is proper because we know that where there is a woman, there must be water. We also have child headed families, when these kids reach home they find out that there is no water and they end up travelling long distances to fetch water and end up indulging in bad activities.
We also have the elderly who do not have kids to send to fetch water. It will be difficult for them to get water. I appeal to the Government to intervene on the issue of water so that the country moves well because water is important, water is life. I want to thank these Committees who went around and managed to see the situation on the ground. I wish the Committee would have managed to travel to all the ten provinces because all these regions are faced with water challenges. There are some areas which fall under Region 4 and 5 where there is little rainfall and people end up going to streams to fetch water in unprotected wells.
There are many things which flow into these streams. These people dig these unprotected wells to fetch water and they end up facing many problems and diseases. We also have councils which do not have enough water – they rely on water from the dams and these dams do not have good holding capacity because of siltation. Therefore, there is need for de-siltation of dams. I support this motion and I support this report. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. President. I just want to add my voice on the Report of the Thematic Committee on SDGs. Honestly, on SDGS, we should really expect Zimbabwe which is a modern, fairly, well educated society to be moving towards supply of something as simple as water. My experience - we went as far as Mwenezi. We met people in the community. It was surprising to find that people move for kilometres to fetch water. People were said to be preparing to go and fetch water in this day and age of WhatsApp. It is important that our institutions work such that we work professionally to ensure that we supply the relevant needs to a community and the first and foremost need, wherever people settle, there must be water. They have to dig a well or something and that well must be well treated.
It is unfortunate that even here in Harare, you will be shocked that if you take water in a container, within a week, you will see green algae and we simply think it is something that will pass. I think the whole world has stopped people from praying when COVID-19 came, not because they want or they are above God, but they are trying to organise themselves to fight COVID. Why can we not organise ourselves as Zimbabweans to ensure that some of these supplies are done professionally with the real effort that Government and other institutions help each other to deliver? To find a clinic that has been built with zero water – the toilet is there but with no water. It is a shame on us. We are simply building something and say people should solve it themselves without anything.
We must learn to be leaders who ensure that when we talk, we talk the truth and when we discuss, we discuss something that will end up happening. It is unfortunate that this country has been divided to them against us. There is always some argument that you belong there but I think what is critical is for all of us to work together. While we pray, we need to get together and ensure that we go into our standards and norms and ensure that we also get into a culture of ensuring that we protect our wells. I think we have a saying in Shona that we do not want someone who urinates in a wle– ukanzi uritsotsi, ukanzi hauna kunaka unonzi urinhundira mutsime. We do not want people who spoil everything that we want because tsime is everywhere where everyone goes to drink.
So, we must make sure that everyone has something to do. I think there is one area which we are not looking at Mr. President that there is a minimum cost to water. Everyone needs a certain amount of water. As a country, I think initially we used to have it but I think there are certain communities that will not get any water at all in a day. There is a minimum that we should deliver as a Government and as a municipality and any organisation in any institution, there must be a standard tap where other people who are not able to get water can go and fetch clean water.
Today, we mainly have boreholes. Even here in town, we have boreholes which belongs to NGOs and they are not properly maintained. We go into rural areas, they are not properly maintained. We are also not doing much Mr. President to educate our communities that once a borehole or a well is built, it is for them. They must also learn to collect something that will maintain those boreholes. We are only a community amongst ourselves.
The life of dependency on anyone else must die and we must work hard as a community to ensure that as communities, we have different communities and different resources, we cannot be beaten by Israel which does better farming in a dessert whereas we have land. We had several droughts but we must organise ourselves to ensure that we at least meet 80% of the expected SDG on water.
I want to ask our Ministers also to be more diligent especially the Minister of Water to ensure that the supply and the extraction of water is well protected and well managed. What we lack I think is management of our institutions which is very weak and we need to work on it. Politicians might not be so correct but institutions must be managed and it is only institutions that we work on that will ensure that we deliver each SDG and mainly the water aspect. I thank you Mr. President.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. The motion that was brought to the House by Hon. Sen. Khupe is quite touching. For everyone to live and to have a dissent livelihood, it is important for them to have water. Even wild animals need water. Animals like tortoise cannot live without water. This is quite touching because even when dams dry, wild animals also suffer. At the end of the day, you discover that most of these wild animals are suffering and we need to understand that water is like gold. It is precious. In Bulawayo, I live next to a river and this river is now becoming a dumping site where people throw away dead dogs, even those who abort dump fetuses on this river. We use have no choice we use that water for washing and consumption. There is nothing that we can do about that because this water at times is dirty. At times we find a donor intervening but you discover that councilors are selling land where there are boreholes that were sunk by donors. You will find long queues at these boreholes, which means people are in dire need of water. People are now chasing each other away at boreholes if they notice that you do not come from that locality; they now give each other boundaries to fetch water. Even if bowsers come, they will scramble for water and some come from faraway places. Some will be beaten by criminals on their way from fetching water. I do not know how we can address this as a capable Government.
We need to come up with a position because it does not help when a donor sinks a borehole then the council sells that land to someone. People are really suffering; some even approached me as their senator, expressing concern over that issue of councilors selling land where a borehole is sunk. I ended up telling them that I will engage the councilors so that they explain why they did that. When I met the councilors, they said they bought the borehole yet we all know that the borehole was sunk by donors. It is not right that people suffer yet NGOs would have intervened. I do not know what should be done. Right now there are areas which we identified where boreholes are supposed to be sunk. The rain season is by the corner, so we need to work together so that enough boreholes are sunk. We need to identify space in different localities so that water is available in different localities for people not to walk long distances in search of water, for example Nketa and other locations. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the motion on challenges faced by people in the rural areas, especially the vulnerable groups like those in prisons. Mr. President, even here in Harare, looking at Chikurubi female maximum prison, there is a challenge of water. This water challenge is affecting prison officers and the inmates. When the water comes they scramble for it and seeing a senior prison officer in the same queue with inmates and other junior officers is a shameful thing. Therefore, there is competition for water because water is life, we cannot live without it.
When it comes to inmates, they live in their numbers, women for that matter. Women need more water than men and there will be older women who cannot compete with the young ones. There are also young women with babies because there are babies being born there. They need to wash napkins, bath and all those things but water is scarce, it becomes a problem Mr. President. Chikurubi is not a good place because there is no water to use and there is also a challenge of hunger. They also do not have vegetables because there is no water.
There is need to sink boreholes, one for officers, one for inmates and the other for the workers who work in the fields so that they have enough food in order for us to fulfill the SDG - Right to Food. I think we should focus on them a little bit because it is a human right. It is abuse for someone not to have access to water. It is futile if we do not drill boreholes. We once discussed about it in our Committee on Human Rights on how we can have boreholes drilled at Chikurubi, especially looking at women. It is a challenge for men too because it is human rights abuse. It is in our Constitution that we should have access to clean, safe and portable water. That is not what is happening at Chikurubi. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 46TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HELD IN NAMIBIA
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 46th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in the Swakopmund Entertainment Centre, Swakopmund, Namibia from 10th to 17th December, 2019.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
MOTION
DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN UNDER CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to alleviate challenges associated with the early discharge of youths from child care facilities.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion which was presented by Hon. Sen. Tongogara. She carefully looked and saw that it is good to have children looked after even after they reach 18 years. I do not think there is anyone who ever thought about it. We see a lot of children, especially in this COVID 19 pandemic, where the street kids were rounded up from the streets and taken to shelter homes. This is because people realised that children are in trouble. However, my question is what happens after that. Are they going to get aged in those shelter homes? Hon. Tongogara realised that there is an issue which needs to be solved. If a child is send away from the shelter home where he or she was comfortable in what will happen? Where would they go? Some of them do not have families. Some youths have relatives but the relatives do not care about them. That is how they ended up in those shelter homes. It is because no one is willing to look after them. So, when they leave those shelter homes, how do they eke out a living?
I looked at it carefully and realised that we did not handle this issue properly. As we live, we know that we look after children in our homes and includes boys. When they are mature, they come and tell us that they want to get married. When they get married, they do not remain in that home. We look for a place for them to stay with their family. In our culture we say “kupegesa” where we give a person a home because they realised that married men cannot continue to stay in the parents home. What happens is that they start by constructing a house. The mother would go and look for an aunt. The aunt would give them kitchen utensils for them to start their home. When I looked at that, I realised that in our Shona culture we do that but now we have taken these children and we have looked after them. When they turn 18 we just say go and look after yourselves. Where do they stay? What do they eat?
We have been outwitted by the older generation because they realised that. When someone has not harvested anything from the fields, they would give them food. When someone is above 18, we do not even look at where they will go because we have not given them a house or a stand. We should look at the issue closely that when they are past 18 years, we give them a home. Without that, if we tell them to go, they will go into the streets because they do not know where to start from. This should be really looked into. It was proper that there be a place where they go and stay. Even if they are given stands, they do not have the material to build a house. We should give them stands and construct even cabins so that they can go and start from somewhere.
When children leave those shelter homes, it is not a good thing. This motion is very good. We really urge our Government to investigate this issue. When these children reach 18 years, they should be given places to go so that they will be able to fend for themselves. With these few words, I want to thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA seconded by HON. SEN. MKHWEBU, the Senate adjourned at Nineteen Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 1st October, 2020
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Schools have opened for examination classes so far but teachers have not gone to school to teach and take care of these students. With COVID-19 still raging on, we risk our children contracting COVID-19. So what is Government doing to ensure that teachers go back to school as soon as possible.
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): The Government has taken a decision to reopen schools especially for examination classes, that is Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 who have already resumed classes starting on the 14th September for ZIMSEC. Before reopening of schools, a lot of consultation was done by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with all stakeholders. This is still on going to make sure we do everything to protect our children and teachers. Government set aside a budget of plus US$600 million to procure all PPEs to make sure our schools are disinfected and our children and teachers are safe from COVID-19 pandemic. The issue of our teachers’ welfare is very important to Government. Thus no effort is being left out to make sure the ongoing negotiations bring all our teachers back to school to ensure our children are not disadvantaged anymore considering they have not been in school since March 2020 when COVID-19 lockdown measures were put into effect.
+HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: What is Government’s policy in relation to vandals who are destroying agricultural equipment? What measures are being put in place to make sure that the culprits are brought to book?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Makumbe for his question. The question so asked falls under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Indeed, there are people who are stealing and vandalising electricity cables and irrigation equipment and as a result this contributes to low levels of agricultural production. Government is quite seized with the matter as it has laws that are deterrent enough to curb this vice. In the past vandalism of electricity cables carried a lighter sentence as thieves would pay the fines and get away with it.
Government reviewed and imposed a custodial sentence on all vandalism of ZESA infrastructure. Vandalism to ZESA property carries a 30 year jail sentence. Government through the police is making sure that all the developments on the farms are protected so that we maximize on our yields.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. What plans does the Government have to prevent the cholera outbreak as many households have no supply of water for a long time especially cities like Bulawayo?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): I would like to say issues of supply of water to our cities and rural folks is very important to the Second Republic. A lot of work has been done and there is work still to be done. Since the advent of COVID-19 there has been a significant amount of budget which has been put aside to make sure that a number of boreholes are drilled in the urban areas and in the rural areas.
In Bulawayo, there is a big project going on there to make sure that piped water gets to the suburbs where we have this serious problem of water borne disease. This is an issue which ZINWA and DDF are seized with as they are drilling boreholes. In addition, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has also come on board to drill more boreholes. This is an issue which we have to fight as a Government because the health of our people is very critical. As we get closer to the rains, it is important to make sure that there is good supply of water. In some places where there are no boreholes there is bulk water supply which is going on in those areas. We will continue working hard despite the challenges which we have as a country in terms of resources. I thank you.
*HON SEN. CHIMBUDZI: How far has Government gone in implementing the Education 5.0 Programme?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON PROF MURWIRA): The main purpose of Education 5.0 is that education must not be theory only but must be seen through its fruits. Education must be seen through the revival of industries. Education must be seen through provision of services. Many countries with learned people have manufactured different things. Since the launch of Education 5.0 which replaced the education system that we inherited from the colonial era which promoted people to learn to read and write but not learning about the country and how you can use the natural resources for the benefit of the people around you. we decided that we must add two things which we call innovation and industrialisation. Our education is now teaching and learning, research, working with people, innovation and establishment of industrial hubs. That is what we call Education 5.0.
How have we gone with this programme; when we started this programme in December 2017, it seemed like we were giving lip service only that we are building innovation hubs. This year we witnessed some progress and it was very successful. This education must be in the forefront in fending for the country. We saw universities manufacturing sanitizers and we had many sanitizers at hospitals. The sanitizers were manufactured by Great Zimbabwe, Mutare Polytechnic, NUST, HIT, MSU and Bindura universities.
Another measure of success is seeing things changing. They also manufactured face masks. Right now they are manufacturing swabs used for COVID testing; they are also manufacturing drips which we used to import from other countries. The drips are 99.9% water and salt, we used to get these drips from other countries. On agriculture, we saw that this country was buying bull semen from other countries. Our Chinhoyi University started to produce bull semen. Right now we are able to preserve the bull semen and this has been brought about by education 5.0.
We are now building industrial parks, if you watch the television tomorrow at 1100hrs to 1200 hrs, you will see the opening of an industrial park at Chinhoyi University and their innovation hub, and this shows it is moving forward. It is in the process of finalizing the manufacturing of a ventilator, the machine used to breathe when people are being operated. Our people are genius; they only need to be given an opportunity to use their talents and minds. If we do not give them the opportunity, we will not discover their full potential. Under education 5.0, we gave them the opportunity.
At Great Zimbabwe University they built a factory that produces clothes for doctors. We used to buy all these things, but because of education 5.0 we are now a country which is focusing on manufacturing. If a country does not manufacture its own things, it shows that the education offered in that country is not helpful. Education 5.0 is now at the manufacturing stage, if we put that in to practice, this will help our country. People who train for nursing are seen by treating people after completion , if they train in law, we see them in courts and if they train as soldiers, we see them defending the country.
If a person is being trained for something, we must see that being taken into practice for the benefit of the country and this is what we are doing. I have given an example of what we have done, we have built many innovation centres and we are going to see a graduation centre in every area. We will do this gradually but we are going to witness the results.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to ask my question. Let me say I do not know which Ministry is responsible because the question I am going to ask is very important but it is covering two ministries. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. Minister, we have heard that there are post graduate students who are specializing, who have been prohibited from visiting State or Government hospitals - effectively saying for the time being that is so, as long as they have been expelled. What is the Ministry of Health doing knowing that these cadres are central to the service delivery in central hospitals? I am sure the Minister knows the role played by them; they actually are between consultants and the junior doctors. The students who are training provide more than 60% of the training. Can the Minister tell us what was the rationale and what he is going to do as it is going to affect service delivery for the patients and also training for future doctors?
Whilst I am on that Madam President, we also heard that there is a circular which said of the current 230 medical students who are graduating this year, the Ministry of Health is not going to recruit anyone and all of them are going to be given to the Ministry of Defence. My question is; the Ministry of Health - these are junior doctors who are going to be after they finish their rotation, they will have to go to Government institutions outside; is the Minister oblivious of that fact, or what arrangements are they going to have, to make sure we are not going to get a gap where we will not have doctors going to the rural clinics because the whole crop has been given, allow me to use that word, to the Ministry of Defence.
Finally, we are forcing all doctors who are graduating this year, 230 of them to join the army. It means if you do not join the army, you are not going to be employed by the Government. It means every doctor has to join, whether you like it or not, you are going to join the army. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Madam President and Hon. Mavetera for the interlinked questions. I will tackle the last one first. The circular you are purporting to, I do not know where it came from. Yesterday, I was speaking to the Health Services Board, those are the ones who are supposed to be giving out that circular, and we will get more details from them. As of now, we spoke to the Secretary, he was oblivious of where that letter came from. So, we will get a detailed and clarified position from him because it is not the Ministry of Health that deploys those cadres, it is the Health Services Board.
Secondly, the one about post graduates, these are students under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and I think they can give a clearer position as to really what is happening because the Ministry of Health receives these students they will be working in hospitals but these things are handled by the universities, not by Ministry of Health. All we want is when they have finished we deploy them. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Minister is here, he can clarify issues because he is the one handling such an issue. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): It is very important that as an education system, we provide people that save people. There was communication that your students are no longer working in hospitals. Therefore, they are now not having any access to the hospital anymore because they are making demands that the Ministry of Health cannot meet. To that extent, the Ministry of Health had to withdraw their hospital service. To that extent, once the students do not have access to the hospital because of reason that it is the students themselves who withdrew their training; the University Senate has no choice except to suspend those programmes.
It is the issue of students who withdrew their studentship by not doing the duties that they were supposed to do and the Ministry of Health had no choice except to bar them from access to hospitals because the Ministry of Health can only have students as long as they are doing what they are supposed to do. They told us that your people are no longer going to hospitals. The university had no choice but to suspend – I am using the word suspend the programme until such a time that the issue of access to hospital has been solved.
It therefore came to a point whereby when those services where withdrawn and the programme was suspended, the students are writing their letters of apology on their own volition to say they had made a mistake and they should not have done what they did. We are now considering the whole thing. It has to go back to Senate and Ministry of Health. The main issue which we are talking about here is discipline and when disciplinary processes are taking place, it is very important that the nation rise behind discipline. It is very difficult to have a rogue doctor, soldier or scientist. All our people must know that they are serving people. I will give you an example – there was a picture that I saw where a mother worked for her children. She was pounding stones and making sure that her children went to school. When the children were now scientists or whatever, they were then asked; who is the greatest woman in your life? They mentioned somebody who is not their mother. They mentioned someone in America.
This country uses a lot of resources to train its people and it wishes that those people bring back the services to the people. When they withdraw their services, we cannot force them but disciplinary processes have to take place. This is what happened and the students also realised that what they did was bad. It is important for them to know that what they did was bad. It is important that the university does not contribute to unrests that happen within the health system. The university must be a place where people are trusted and are disciplined.
Hon. President, what is happening now is a process where we have to find out when they want to go back to school without compromising on principle no matter you are an engineer, aircraft engineer or what. You must have discipline and we are going to enforce this within the higher education system. I am happy that the students realise the gravity of the matter and they are retracting from those actions and we expect that to bring everything to normalcy. Our job is not to punish students but to train them though they have to be present. If they are not there, we close the classroom. I thank you.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: I hope I do not seem to be targeting or attacking the Minister. The issues that I raised are issues of national importance and the health of the nation.
Would both Ministers think the decision because I have said these doctors are responsible for serving patients that are referred to central hospitals for internal medicines, obstetrics and gynaecology are attended to by these doctors and they also train the junior doctors. Is the response proportional to what has happened? This is where the issue is. I am privy to what the issues were but I am not here to say what they were but one of the most important issues which actually triggered this because they are on the forefront because of the role they play in the health delivery system; is the issue of protective clothing (PPEs) – safe environment.
Is the Minister of Health saying that he had to chase student doctors who are more exposed; is that why they came out? Chasing doctors because they want a safe environment and sacrifice the health of all the patients who are now being referred to - Are you just sending your university students to Government hospitals with are poorly resourced to the extent that your students are exposed and you give a green light to say they cannot because that was the fundamental issue? I will not go into the other; I am talking about things which affect the nation...
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, Hon. Sen. Mavetera, you asked a question which has been responded to. You requested for a supplementary question. May you ask the supplementary question? If you want to debate on this important motion on health, you can raise a motion and then you can debate. Today’s session is for questions without notice. Ask your supplementary question.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: My apologies if I diverted because it is emotional, it is the health of the nation and I am sure I will be understood from that point. My question is on the response given by the Ministry of Health. Is it proportional or worth it to chase away doctors who are actually holding part of the central hospitals where patients from all over the country are being treated and also suffocating the training which is happening to junior doctors and undergraduate doctors.
The other one is related to the Minister of Higher Education whose Ministry is said to be the custodian of those students. Is it their policy to expose their students to environments which are not safe and if they raise this, they are actually stopped from attending classes and forced to apologise. You cannot apologise for PPEs Mr. President. I thank you.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: The question that has been asked by Hon. Sen. Mavetera is very important. When people are not at work, that question of saying they are serving people or not does not arise. If they are not there, they are not there. It is the students themselves who withdrew themselves. The result of it is that they were not there. The result of the Ministry’s being proportional or not proportional does not arise because the students were not there at work. So when they are not there, they are not there. If they are there we can talk about issues. It is not the policy of the Ministry of Higher Education to expose its students to danger but that is not solved by vitriol and shouting. It is solved by sitting down and taking the PPEs to the students. It is a culture of discussion that we have to nurture amongst our people not the culture of beating. Sometimes when people beat, they forget that beating is not good because when you beat people, they cry and when they cry, they are not paying attention. They are paying attention to the pain that you caused. I am hoping that I am saying that we should have a culture at universities of discussion. Discuss your issues. Do not threaten people by over emphasising your importance. We know you are important, that is why we are training. We do not want to put you in danger. The issue here has to be taken in its context. If you are not there, you are not there. You cannot say get back, you have two thousand people, because you are not listening to me, no. You are not there. If you are not there ,I can close the door because you are not there. The issue is this is encouraging proper airing of views. That is why I am saying I am also happy that the students, after explanation, because they withdraw without question. When they apologised, we really welcomed them because it is making us come back to the issues of discussion. We do not want to endanger our students. If they think it is too dangerous and they withdraw, they cannot expect us to keep the class going because there is no one to teach.
So it goes back to the issue that we need to discuss. This nation has to allow discussion not flexing of muscles because it is not good on any part by anyone. You cannot flex your muscles and then claim victory because the system has to respond. You are not there. So the system has to respond and everybody is using the regulations that are available in order to normalise the situation. We are very happy and pleased that the students have realised that it is wrong but we have not been forced by anyone. In actual fact, we never talked to anyone. The university never talked to anyone. They were just told that there is nobody in class. So how can you go and teach an empty class, you will suspend the programme. This issue is not an emotional issue at all. It is a factual issue. If a doctor is not there, they are not there. The fact that they say I am not there but I am very important, your importance is seen by your presence. If you are absent, then your importance is not seen. It is very important as citizens of this country that we know this country belongs to us all and there is nobody that just demands and the other one is just providing, another one just demanding and the other one is providing. We work, we produce, we share and everybody in the education system has to remember that the country is looking up to them for good behaviour and ways of solving problems. Not this thing of threats, withdrawals and so forth and over inflated ego, either on the part of me as a Minister or on the student and an officer. It is about discussion. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. President and thank you Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera. The CEO of the concerned hospital was asked and NatPharm was checked with and they said they provided PPEs but PPEs have no takers particularly on that section. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Leader of the House. My question is in line with the opening of schools for ‘O’ and ‘A’ level students that are going to have their examinations. Parents are worried because the students have been staying home for many months because of the COVID-19. We understand there were online lessons and radio lessons but only a few were able to access these services. Are school children going to be able to write their examinations properly? I thank you Mr. President.
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Tsitsi Muzenda for her question. We are in a very difficult time. There are no countries that were prepared for the coming of COVID-19 was coming. It is something which came to us not knowing how we are going to deal with it. It is something which has affected many things including economy but we have reached a negotiation level looking at the issue of the people’s health and the issue of school going children. We know the pain people are having. We know that most people in Zimbabwe go out to work to feed the family. The rules that were put in place because of COVID-19 were not just put because the President wanted to but we looked at what other countries are doing and listening to what the World Health Organisation is doing and giving us time to prepare as the disease is already in the country. All these things affected a lot of things. Schools were closed since March but children were supposed to be at school. She spoke about the issue of education that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education tried their level best for online classes and radio lessons and those that are able to do one – on - one lessons who have parents or brothers and sisters who teach them at home. We know that the issue of digitalisation is another thing which has not reached rural areas and the issue of Wi-Fi is not something which reached everyone. We agreed that there is the issue that creates imbalance. Equality is very important so that we can see that both rural and urban kids have got all the things needed. The Government’s future plans are that every child should have access to everything and be able to be online. It is difficult. We now understand how difficult it is, these are not normal times. Therefore, we are trying by all means to do what we can do although things are difficult. It is not the same as other years that school children have gone to school for all three terms but we can be out of this problem working together with our kids. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF NTABENI: My question goes to the Leader of the House. Are you aware of the fact that things are not well at Customs and I feel they are tarnishing the image of the country?
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): I want to thank Senator Chief Ntabeni who is passionate about the issue of corruption. That is corruption before us because once someone sends goods, the recipient is supposed to get those with the correct duty being paid. That is corruption Senator Ntabeni and other Senators. We are saying let us fight corruption as a nation and as leaders. Wherever we are, when we see such things happening we want to applaud our President for setting up ZACC which is assisted by whistleblowers who report any acts of corruption taking place in order to bring these corrupt individuals to book as it affects our nation.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NYANGAZONKE-NDIWENI: Hon. Leader of the House, we are starting to witness accidents along our major highways whereby fences have been removed that protect our livestock. A case in point is a tollgate that is along Bulawayo-Harare Road, what is your Ministry doing to conscientise the farmers that are resettled along the highways in terms of safety to the motorists and when are we likely to have these repairs?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): I think that is a very particular question which requires the Ministry to actually put it in writing to give you exactly what the implementation activities which are happening are. It is a very serious concern and will lead us to lose lives. In protecting our population, we want to make sure that we do not lose any lives through fences which are being taken out and issues of livestock running into the roads. I suggest to the Hon. Senator to put it in writing so that he gets a full comprehensive report.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: First, I would want to congratulate Hon. Masuku, the Minister of Agriculture. Minister, may you inform us on Government policy concerning people who are engaged in building without Government approval, especially in A1 resettlements. More people are settling there building their homes. There are so many of them which destroy our land. Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. MASUKU): That question is now the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment. We are only focusing on farming, agriculture, water and resettlement. I want to thank Chief Charumbira for that important question. When we were planning for resettlement under different schemes such as A1, people were given land that had pastures but now in some of the area there are corrupt people as homes are being built on such land.
The Government is disturbed by such happenings. What we have done is to send people to disseminate information to stop these corrupt tendencies. Those have built on such areas and the people who avail that land are both guilty. We are also looking at the matter of engaging the District Lands Committee so that we put emphasis on the issue of just building anywhere, that it is not progressive in our nation at all. My request was for all of us in this august to assist us with such a challenge. The pastures are important. We wanted this to be well-planned and to engage in productive farming that will uplift the nation. If you come across such individuals, it is important to bring the information so that we work together and address the matter to avoid such tendencies.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Minister, we thank you for your response but your Ministry says if they apprehend those people who engage in illegal dealings concerning the land, your employees do not want to cooperate.
HON. MASUKU: I want to thank the Chief for clarifying the question. The past two weeks when we heard rumours that our employees in the provinces were doing all these activities we immediately relocated them. Those who were in Masvingo were sent to Midlands and those who were in Midlands were sent elsewhere. We thought this would be brought to an end. We have noticed that the gravity of this issue is more than what we expected. It is an issue that we need to address as a united force. When we leave this House, you should report to us so that we can address the matter because we have departments that are there solely to deal with such matters. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MATHUPULA-KHUMALO: Last week we asked a question regarding the deaths of elephants. ZIMPARKS has since released a statement that these elephants are dying from a bacterial disease which has got a high mortality rate, both in elephants and livestock. ZIMPARKS is saying cattle, goats and even chickens are at a high risk of death. Now the communities around the parks are asking if there are any ways that are being looked into to protect their livestock since the infection can also pose a threat to cattle in areas like Tsholotsho which are around the parks.
*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON DR. MASUKA): The question that was raised by the Senator is good but it seems to touch on a lot ministries. We deal with cattle, domestic animals and soil. When you refer to elephants, that is not within our jurisdiction. We also read from the media and we are also disturbed by the death of so many elephants. What I know is that at Gonarezhou, Chizarira, Hwange and Chirisa there are wild animals that have foot and mouth and then they spread to cattle. If these wild animals mix with cattle this foot and mouth can then be passed on to the cattle.
We want to put a fence and we want to look for vaccines for our cattle. I will ask the Leader of the House to continue and explain to us on the issue of dying elephants and where we are as of now. I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): I think Hon. Dr. Masuka has already responded to the question fully because the way we value our wild animals especially elephants is the same way we value other animals. Government policy is such that we want to protect our heritage. The protection of wildlife is done by the Ministry of Environment and they look into such matters through ZimParks and other organisations. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: I want to thank the two Ministers for the responses. The Minister of Agriculture said his jurisdiction is only with cattle – what are you saying concerning cattle? So many cattle were lost due to January diseases in Gutu, Zaka and other areas. Individuals lost up to 30 cattle per household. The Veterinary Department tried hard but they failed. They were not successful. For those who lost their cattle, there are plans for restocking because people lost their wealth and some had used their pension funds to buy cattle but now they do not have anything. I thank you.
*HON. DR MASUKA: I want to thank the supplementary question on the way cattle have died. Just a few days ago, I was in Mhondoro and I witnessed that their kraals were closed because of this disease known as January disease which affects cattle. What it means is that we have failed because of two reasons. When we say that things have changed in terms of dip tanks, we are saying we only have 4000 in the whole country. Out of those, only 2700 have water and are functional. So it is difficult to take cattle to the dip tanks. You need three months to get water for the dip tanks whereas before it was just three weeks.
Our intention is to put boreholes at every dip tank so that women can also have vegetable gardens there. Currently, we are in the process of buying teak grease to service one million households. Before the end of the month, we want to give them 1kg each so that they can apply on their cattle before the rain season commences. Those are the measures that the Government has put in place to protect cattle from January disease.
We also want to resuscitate and rehabilitate the dip tanks to ensure cattle dipping. For those who have lost their cattle, what can they do? During the past two weeks, people from Gutu got 97 bulls under the Presidential Programme to assist those who lost cattle. What we want as we proceed is that we should know that the cattle we have are different from the ones that were there long ago. Ours should be treated as cattle business whereby we feed them more like a feed stock. Livestock has become a business and that is what we want. We can only do that if we unite. That is the other measure that the Government has put in place.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 62.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
POLICY ON SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
- SEN. TONGOGARA asked the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to explain to the House the Government policy regarding the spreading of false information by social media.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA): Mr. President, I want to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for the question. I will begin by defining fake news which is a term that has come to mean different things to different people. In specific terms, fake news is those news stories that are false in which the story is fabricated, with no verifiable facts, sources or quotes.
Sometimes those stories may be propaganda that is intentionally designed to mislead the reader, or may be designed as ‘clickbait’ - written for economic incentives in which the writer profits on the number of people who click on the story.
In recent years, fake news stories have proliferated via social media, in part because they are so easily and quickly shared online. Some fake news exist within a larger ecosystem of misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is mistakenly or inadvertently created or spread in which the intent is not to deceive but happens due to error on the part of the writer. On the other hand, disinformation is false information that is deliberately created and spread in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth through falsehoods.
Whilst traditional media in the form of newspapers and broadcasting stations seek to share accurate information, there are instances when media houses have erroneously published fake news. Media laws, especially the Freedom of Information Act, driven by a desire to guarantee freedom of expression which is provided for in Section 61 and 62 of the Constitution, seeks to give the benefit of the doubt to the publishing media house and as such, provides for retraction and correction of any falsehoods peddled in the course of giving out news.
Should a media house refuse to retract or correct a falsehood, the law can be invoked by the offended party in the form of demanding a retraction or even suing for damages so incurred as a result of the fake news. The responsibility lies with the offended party to furnish the courts with the necessary evidence. In situations in which such fake news affect the State, it can institute legal action against the offender. Such reprieve can equally be sought in the case of misinformation.
With the proliferation of new media or simply social media in which every citizen can originate and share news on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, there is a rise in fake news. This is because governance of the internet is a problem for most states and governments because of an information overload that flows online and the difficulties associated with pinning down online evidence to the case against an offender. In addition, social media players (citizen journalists) have no professional ethics to guide them and at times because of distance in which information can be shared from far-away places, users at times have a sense of being untouchable as domestic laws may have no jurisdiction in foreign lands.
Whilst globally there has been an exponential increase in the proliferation of fake news owing to the almost ungovernable nature of social media, recent events in the country speak to a well coordinated attack on the image of the country. Zimbabwe has in recent months experienced a systematic and well coordinated attack on the leadership including the President, First Family, Government and the country. Twitter, Facebook and some online news agencies have deliberately peddled misinformation about Zimbabwe with a deliberate intention of making the country ungovernable, create a negative and gloomy picture of the country and its leadership, all aimed at pushing a regime change agenda. Sources of such misinformation include citizens within Zimbabwe and abroad as well as foreign media houses and journalists that have their own agenda against the country.
In recent months, there was an attempt to smear the country through an online movement that used the hashtag Zimbabweanlivesmatter’ that gained momentum globally riding mainly on fake news which sought to portray Zimbabwe as a pariah State which violates human rights. There was also an attempt to incite Zimbabweans to protect and institute an unconstitutional change of Government. Thanks to the maturity of Zimbabweans, the effort failed to gain traction and collapsed as citizens refused to be misled by the detractors.
The Second Republic under the visionary leadership of President E. D. Mnangagwa has nothing to hide and as such, carried out legal reform in the media sector aimed at aligning laws to the Constitution as well as match best practices in providing a conducive and enabling environment to the media. The aim is to create a vibrant media in Zimbabwe in which plurality and diversity are welcome. This saw the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) being repealed and succeeded by the Freedom of Information Act as well as the Zimbabwe Media Commission and the Protection of Personal Information Bill that are currently at various stages of enactment into law. Despite these efforts by Government, there has been a rampant and mischievous abuse of the Government’s efforts to improve the media environment.
The object of Government information dissemination is to marshal the country to prosperity, targeting a middle income economy by 2030. To that end, it seeks an informed nation and an informed international community to create a narrative that inspires national development. To the contrary, fake news distorts the narrative and as such, Government does not condone the peddling of fake news. However, Government’s response to fake news is to a great extent affected by the same issues that affect or militate against effective internet governance at the global level. To mitigate debilitating effects of fake news, Government is implementing the following strategies:
- Proactive disclosure/setting the national agenda.
The Ministry has made considerable success in setting the agenda and propagating the true Zimbabwean narrative through mainstream media as well as on the social media platforms that are mainly used by purveyors of fake news. On mainstream media, the Ministry regularly dishes out information on national issues, including the post Cabinet media briefing, regular statements as well as gathering and disseminating news and information. On the digital front, the official Ministry Twitter Handle (@inforMinZW) and Facebook page (Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services) are pro-active in setting the true narrative obtaining in the country giving indications to genuine media on important issues affecting the nation. Through consistent monitoring of the cyber space, it has become possible to counteract negative unsubstantiated news, in the meantime providing official platforms that provide factual and verified information pertaining to the country. In addition to this, the Ministry has established an online news platform that operates in the mould of the now defunct Zimbabwe Information Services by way of gathering news from the districts. Short and precise articles are aggregated on a daily basis and uploaded on the site, Zimreport.
Furthermore, the Ministry is working on a comprehensive cyber and digital communications strategy. The strategy will deploy digital initiatives to ensure that Zimbabwe is made more visible online propagating the true Zimbabwe narrative in real time.
- The Cyber Bill
Government is working on a Cyber Bill, a law which seeks not only to criminalise the peddling of fake news but also aims at ensuring that perpetrators of falsehoods on social media can be made to account, giving the courts to impose the punitive sanctions when it is appropriate. This is a common practice worldwide as exemplified by the Patriot and Logan laws of the USA. The Bill is at an advanced stage and the hope is that this will act as an adequate deterrent to would be offenders.
However, it is important to admit that pinning the offenders is not a walk in the park as most of them hide behind fake accounts and trolls which are difficult to unmask. In this regard, the most effective way to counter fake news remains that of setting the national agenda through correct and true information so as to flood the cyber space and suffocate the fake news.
- Campaign against fake news
The Ministry regularly publishes information and education on its platforms on the negative effects of peddling fake news as well as to help citizens on how to identify fake news. The intention is to encourage responsible use of social media by citizens as well as to equip them with the skills and abilities to identify fake news and hopefully discourage them from sharing such. I thank you and also Hon. Sen. Tongogara for that very good question.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 62.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 6 be stood over until Orders of the Day Numbers 7 to 12 have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZMBABWE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF KOREA ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANE): I move the motion in my name that: WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the and the Government of Korea on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed in 2010 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 16 of the Agreement provides for entry into force, duration and termination;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): Mr. President Sir, I move the motion in my name that:
WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an International Treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Czech Republic on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed on the 13th of September, 1999 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 12 of the Agreement provides for entry into force, duration and termination;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): Mr. President Sir, I move the motion in my name that:
WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Kingdom of Sweden on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed on the 6th of October, 1997 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 10 of the Agreement provides for entry into force, duration and termination;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Mr. President, I rise to support what the Minister has brought but I am begging him that tomorrow, especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he always comes most of the time with old programmes. It is 23 years now from 1987 to date and in terms of law, this ratification would already have lapsed. All those agreements would be lapsed by now. The time is too long. Maybe the purposes of the agreements during that period are now different from the purposes of this year. What made me to support is that it is an investment and has a good future. We support it because there is the issue of investment in the document but in situations like this, you must explain why it took us 23 years. Why were we hesitating to ratify the law? It is good to tell us why this agreement on investment, which is good law, was taking time? Why was it taking time for us to have investment? We are supporting it but it took too long. Let us ratify the agreements while they are still current.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira for his vision. It is true these ratifications must have been done long back but that time, the country had its own different vision about the issue of relations with other countries, the issue of disagreements between Zimbabwe and other countries. Zimbabwe was being labelled as a country which was not working together with other countries through sanctions and what other countries have said about Zimbabwe.
However, the President, His Excellency E.D. Mngangagwa started the new dispensation, he did a very good thing and had a vision. His vision was to renew the friendship with other countries. He saw it fit that Zimbabwe cannot be a country which can survive on its own as if it is on an island, not having relations with other countries. It is not possible concerning the state of the economy around the whole world. He dedicated himself to the manifesto which he used during campaign since he resumed the presidency to renew the friendship and relations with all the countries, and the ties which had been cut with those countries and rejoin international groupings.
As the President of the country, a visionary and someone who foresees the future, Hon. E.D. Mnangagwa is the one who foresees the plans of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its relations with other countries. He also gives us the work to renew the relations and bridging the gaps which were there with other countries. In doing so, that is when we as Zimbabwe are not trustworthy. We had signed an agreement in terms of the economy but Zimbabwe did not return the signed document. So they said what type of relations do you want to build when you are not trustworthy?
So your vision Chief Charumbira is a good vision. Some of the things which were there when the documents were created cannot be around during this era but it was seen that it was important. For us to renew the relations, we must be able to fulfill our previous promises so that we can be able to support and work together with other countries so that we show ourselves as a country which stands by its words. That is why we see it fit to fulfill these documents so that our relations will be okay. We want to thank you for your vision; it is a very good vision. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to try and give an answer to the issue raised by the President of the Chiefs Council, Senator Chief Charumbira. I thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENT
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): I move the motion standing in my name that;
WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an International Treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed on the 16th of June, 2018 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 19 of the Agreement provides for entry into force, amendments duration and termination;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. MUSABAYANA): I move the
motion standing in my name that:
WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed on the 18th of February, 2000 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 12 of the Agreement provides for entry into force;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. DR. MUSABAYANA): I move the motion standing in my name that:
WHEREAS Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an international treaty which has been concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS the Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of the United States of America on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed on the 20th of January, 1999 on behalf of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
AND WHEREAS Article 19 of the Agreement provides for entry into force and termination;
NOW, THEREFORE, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE), the Senate adjourned at Twenty Six minutes past Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 6th October, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 1st October, 2020
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
VACANCIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have one announcement Hon. Members. Today Thursday, 1st October, 2020, Parliament was notified by the Movement for Democratic Change, Tsvangirai Party (MDC-T) that the following Members of Parliament had ceased to be Members of the MDC T Party and therefore no longer represent the interest of the Party in Parliament with effect from 1st October, 2020. The first one is
- Hon. E. Murai, Highfield East Constituency;
- Hon. W. Chikombo, Glen Norah Constituency;
- Hon. E. Kureva, Epworth Constituency;
- Hon. D. Sibanda, PR Bulawayo Province;
- Hon. C. Matewu, Marondera Central Constituency;
- Hon. L. Karenyi-Kore, PR Manicaland Province;
- Hon. C. Chinanzvavana, PR Mashonaland West Province;
- Hon. S. Matsunga, Mufakose Constituency;
- Hon. P. D. Sibanda, Binga North Constituency; and
- Hon. U. Tarusenga, St Mary’s Constituency.
Section 129 (1k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that, “the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a Member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, as the case may be, has declared that the Member has ceased to belong to it;...”
Pursuant to the above, I do hereby inform the House that vacancies have arisen in the constituencies stated above by the operation of the law. The necessary administrative measures will be taken to inform His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the existence of the vacancies, in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act, as amended.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for those announcements. I hope the Hon. Members of Parliament will realise the only safe person in this House is me as an independent. The axe can fall on any of them - either side.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member can you withdraw that statement because you have nothing to do with it.
HON. T. MLISWA: I withdraw Mr. Speaker Sir.
Hon. T. Mliswa having stood to give notice of motion.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have listened very carefully to your motion. Unfortunately all Ministers cannot be all Ministers. So your motion is defective and therefore needs to be improved upon so that it is specific. I hope you get my observation.
HON. T. MLISWA: May you repeat your observation Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: When you say all Ministers who have not been present, they are unknown to this House. So in terms of our Hansard record, you cannot move a motion about unknown personalities. So that needs to be improved so that it is more specific.
HON. T. MLISWA: Sir with the consultations, I thought the terms of reference would then have those listed Ministers.
THE HON. SPEAKER: They are unknown in terms of that motion. So the motion cannot stand.
HON. T. MLISWA: I will therefore amend accordingly.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education has a Ministerial Statement which was requested by this august House. May I now call upon the Hon. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Matema to give his Ministerial Statement.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS FOR THE 2020 EXAMINATIONS
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. PROF. MATEMA): Mr. Speaker Sir, as the nation is now aware Government made the decision to reopen schools for the 2020 examinations.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. I have been following you for a long time because I dream to be a Speaker one day. Were you not supposed to suspend the Orders of today?
THE HON. SPEAKER: No.
HON. MUSHORIWA: I have a point of order.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, yesterday during the Question and Answer session when there were questions that had been posed to the Minister, the Chair made a ruling that the Hon. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should actually be in attendance when the Hon. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education was going to be presenting his Ministerial Statement. This is because there were questions that cut across and are best answered by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. That was the ruling by the Chair yesterday and I thought I should actually bring that to your attention.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I hope your tablet did record properly what I said. What I said; was the Hon. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare will have to interface with the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education so that issues relating to employment are covered in the Ministerial Statement. That is what I said. Check your Hansard. I did not say that he must be here present – [HON. NDEBELE: It could have been nice anyway if he could be here.] - Hon. Ndebele, may you withdraw that statement.
HON. NDEBELE: I withdraw Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: May the Hon. Minister continue.
HON. MATHEMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. As the nation is now aware, Government made the decision to re-open schools for the 2020 examination classes on 14th September, 2020 for schools writing Cambridge examinations and on 28th September, 2020 for schools writing Zimsec examinations. The decision was made following the expert assessment of the improving situation with respect to the national efforts to combat Covid 19. May I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa for leading the national efforts with foresight, courage and determination.
May I also commend Hon. Members for your contribution in the fight against this deadly pandemic as well as the education sector which has also made a significant contribution. We are all aware that almost all countries went into lockdown in various valiant efforts to eradicate the Coronavirus pandemic. Nations have gradually started to ease restrictions. It is true that no nation can remain in lockdown forever. While we are witnessing some improvement in COVID 19 pandemic situation in Zimbabwe, I would like to hasten to add that the situation of low risk does not mean no risk. We all need to maintain utmost vigilance in order to protect each other. We remain most conscious that we need to do everything possible as a nation to protect our leaders, teachers and school communities.
As you are no doubt aware Hon. Members, schools offering Cambridge and Zimsec examinations re-opened for the 2020 examination classes on 14th September, 2020 and 28th September, 2020 respectively. Prior to the re-opening, Government and the Ministry made sure that safe and secure an environment as possible was created in the schools. Among the measures undertaken include the following:
- The development and distribution of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which clearly guide the school management, learners and school parents assemblies on the dos and don’ts with respect to efforts to combat the Coronavirus;
- The development and distribution of the Secretary’s Circular Number 10 of 2020 which articulates the SOPs, as well as key inputs and processes that must obtain at each school on a daily basis;
iii. Procurement by Government of Personal Protective Equipment for 8500 schools out of 9625 schools. Those supported are Government schools, council schools and not for profit mission schools;
- The setting up of social distance markers at each school covering all areas where learners gather;
- The training of all teachers before they can begin teaching and learning. This was done in collaboration with the Minister of Health and Child Care. Training was interrupted by the lockdown but it went through;
- The training of all learners on the first day at school so that they appreciate how they should conduct themselves in the new norm;
vii. The setting up at each school of temporary holding bays for learners who fall sick; and
viii. The deployment of information, education and communication materials on COVID 19 among others.
Mr. Speaker Sir, any school that has some essential PPEs outstanding was required to defer opening until all the essentials were in place. As you are also aware, the re-opening of schools is not a subject that has received 100% consensus, either here in Zimbabwe or globally but for any nation to wait for a perfect situation when the virus is completely eradicated may mean waiting forever. We are learning and we will establish the accurate figures when all learners return to school. Some of our learners have since fallen pregnant, while others have joined various economic activities during the period of the lockdown.
Studies have shown that the longer the learners stay out of school, the more the chances that a significant number will be lost to education. From a few experiences of the past two days, even among those who returned to school, a significant number have lost some of the education gains that they had achieved. Such regression has the danger of exacerbating should the learners continue to miss school for too long a period.
Attendance on the opening day for the schools offering Cambridge examinations was high for both teachers and learners. The situation for the re-opening of schools on Monday, 28th September, 2020 was characterised by a high turnout for learners and a low turnout for teachers. The situation improved slightly on the second day and we are hoping that teachers will return to work while any grievances that they may have get addressed through the right channels. We understand some teachers have cited incapacitation but a teacher cannot have received his or her salary and be unable to report to work even on the first day. Where will be the rationale for Government to continue paying an employee who is giving no service at all? I would like to urge teachers to reflect and ensure that we find each other. Currently, there are over 20 000 qualified teachers who are looking for work and hundreds of thousands of learners who are looking for teachers. Government may have no alternative other than to ensure that the learners are supported with teachers so that they are ready for examinations whose dates have now been determined, that is the first of December 2020 to the 26th January 2021.
In conclusion, I recognise that while education is a key foundation for the lives of our children, our first responsibility is to save life and we therefore, all need to work together to ensure that we protect our children, teachers and communities from this Coronavirus. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Firstly, let me thank the Minister for responding to the request of a Ministerial Statement and I hope it gives us more time to engage on the subject matter.
Hon. Speaker, I hope I am allowed to express myself in this manner. I am disappointed in the Ministerial Statement on the basis that yesterday during Question Time and with your guidance, I had indicated to the Hon. Minister that teachers in our constituencies are not reporting for work. They have shared with us their various grievances which relate to labour matters and in particular incapacitation to report for work.
I seek clarification on the basis that the Hon. Minister’s Statement does not give the measure which the Ministry is doing to address labour matters raised by the teachers for them to go back to work. The Minister has alluded to the fact that the turnout of students was high but that of teachers was low. So what are they doing to make sure that students who are bound to sit for exams starting on one December are fully capacitated with learning material and teachers for them to be able to write exams?
The Hon. Minister highlighted in his Statement that procurement of COVID-19 material is a responsibility of Government. Certainly, there is no material for personal protective equipment towards COVID that has been supplied by Government. I would seek clarification by the Hon. Minister, where to be directed as Members of Parliament for us to go and verify where they have supplied such equipment.
The Ministerial Statement speaks to the training of teachers on how to manage pupils to the extent that it was a realisation by Government that the new phenomena arising from the exposure of COVID-19 required special skills which are not inherent in the teaching practice for them to manage the discipline of children. Therefore teachers were supposed to be trained. In his Statement the Hon. Minister alludes to the fact that this training was disturbed by COVID. So, it means by opening these schools with teachers not having been fully trained, we have exposed both teachers and learning pupils. What is it that the Ministry will do for them to equip the teachers and capacitate them on how to handle students’ discipline at schools?
The setting up of satellite camps at schools to hold students who would have fallen sick, my understanding of this is that if a child falls sick, they are isolated into a booth camp awaiting further treatment at a professional medical institution. I speak for Mbizo Constituency, there is no such school with even a basic tent. I would want the Minister to clarify how this provision is going to be rolled out in our constituencies. I speak so with the requisition from the Minister to say as Hon. Members are going back to their constituencies this weekend, go to this office and that office of Government and ascertain whether what the Ministry intends to do is happening in our constituency.
It is disheartening again, that the Minister speaks of 25 000 qualified teachers who are out of employment who are being held as standby unit to replace teachers who have gone on strike with regards to labour matters. We cannot capitalise on unemployment which we are supposed to provide to our qualified personnel whom we have invested in as a threat for existing teachers who have raised their issues within the confines of the labour law and the Public Services Act.
I would want to understand Hon. Speaker, the measures which are going to be taken by the Ministry to bring normalcy to the teaching fraternity as we prepare our students for examinations since us as parents have fully paid our schools fees. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to seek clarity on three issues from the Minister on his Ministerial Statement. Firstly, I want to know the bone of contention that the teachers bring to the table. What is it that they seek to have from the Minister before they restore their labour?
The second issue relates to wages, in particular monitory incentives. As a country, we are hamstrung but we are endowed with ubiquitous amounts of land. Is it possible for the Minister, through the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, to engage the Minister of Agriculture after the downsizing of the land? This will enable us to try and ameliorate, have an antidote on the issue of wages that would be termed to be equitant with a view to augment, complement and also to make sure that we increase some incentives towards the teachers using the land as non-monitory incentives.
The third one, …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Before you go to the third one, you have created confusion in the second one. Are you suggesting that teachers should be given pieces of land or you are suggesting that some people be employed to create wealth from that land so that there is contribution to the fiscus. It is not clear.
HON. NDUNA: I seek that the land, in the downsizing process or after the downsizing, be given however small as a non-monitory incentive to the teachers so that they can from that land have their own subsistence over and above their salaries in orde to augment, complement and to also increase their net worth in terms of economic networth.
As you know, we have more than 60 minerals in this country, of which only ten have been exploited. It is my view Mr. Speaker Sir, as I request to have clarity on mineral in particular claims held for speculative purposes. I am alive to the fact that the Mines and Minerals Act is going to come to this House. Is it possible for the Minister to have a tete-a-tete so that as a non-monitory incentive, there is apportioning of those claims, however small, to teachers and to schools that they belong to so that they can be production on those claims that can also increase the pace and the networth of the teachers to also go towards Vision 2030, open up for middle income economy Mr. Speaker Sir. I rest my case.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I do not know how the Minister will answer but please can we put forward questions of clarification on the statement.
HON. MUTAMBISI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to seek clarity on one issue. The Minister in his Ministerial Statement indicated that the Ministry has deferred the opening of schools without required PPEs. How long is this going to take? Did you give them a timeframe?
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is since we already have pupils who are writing Cambridge and ZIMSEC examinations already attending school; have you tested those who have gone to school and if that has been done, what has been the effect because we have to do things scientifically. Do you have proof to say for those that have opened, we have tested them and this is the number that tested positive and this is the number that tested negative?
Regarding the conditions of service for the teachers, before the onset of the pandemic, teachers had complains and they wanted the Ministry to address the grievances. So, during the total lockdown, did the Minister take time to consider the plight of teachers? If so, what were the measures that he took? If there were any consultations, what were they saying?
On the schools that are not ready, we want to know if they provided every school with either funds or the PPEs for him to then say they are not ready. The other issue is the continuous threatening of teachers but by having a reserve unit, do you think this is going to help our children when they are about to write examinations? Is it prudent to engage new teachers? Does he really care about the welfare of our children? Those are my questions that I would want the Minister to answer. Thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Hon. Chair for the Ministerial Statement. Mine is more to do with the practicability of what the Minister has said in view of the time. Mr. Speaker, we are in October and teachers have not gone to work. The examinations date has already been put that is end of November. So effectively, we have two months because if they are going to start writing the examinations on the 1st December, we cannot count December. How practical is it that if teachers do not go to work anytime soon as and when they start going to work, they will be able to complete the remaining parts of the syllabus, prepare the children in two months for examinations and make them right by 1st December? Is there no consideration of moving forward the examination date because everyday lost is eating into the children preparatory time?
We talk about reserve teachers. Is it practicable and practical to employ them, deploy them, get them to schools, prepare the kids and check on where the syllabus, schemes of work had ended within the next two months if assuming that they start going to work today? How, practical is this? The Minister having been a teacher, I really want to understand the thinking behind that.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me join my other colleagues in thanking the Minister for coming in to make the Ministerial Statement. Unlike my other colleagues, let me thank the Minister for a very candid and honest assessment of the situation that currently prevails in schools. I think it is from that candid and honest statement that now as a country we have decided that we will allow other students to write examinations, particularly those that are writing under Cambridge, the Minister has said to this House it went well with Cambridge. We know why it went well, because we are talking about kids that are coming from up market school; we are talking about kids that are coming from rich families and we are talking about kids that have been learning throughout. What is the implication of the decision that we have now made as a country to say in the same country, you are making a choice that other kids will proceed and write examinations in different circumstances to the local examination that we have, which is our ZIMSEC.
Are we not creating a situation where every parent now aspires for their child to write Cambridge? In other words, in one stroke of what we have done, we have completely destroyed the confidence and the trust in ZIMSEC. Perhaps you can explain how the decision that we have made now will impact on the local examination system.
The second one raised but just to buttress it, the issue of deferment of opening of those schools who do not necessarily have the PPEs or have water. One big example is those schools in your rural communities and Bulawayo as a city. We know that Bulawayo has a water crisis and most of the schools do not have water. What does that mean in terms of them writing the same examination on 5th December, 2020? My Hon. colleague who has just finished raised that question. If we are deferring for others and we are not changing when the examinations are going to take place, what does that mean?
Are we going to have different examinations for those that have not been deferred, that can write on 5th December a separate set of examination for those that have had deferment? Thirdly, the majority of schools, the Hon. Minister would agree with me, are in Mataabeleland South. We know that the Ministry had come up with the radio programme, which was the teaching programme. However, we know Matabeleland South has no connectivity, so kids did not access the radio programme because those in Matabeleland South have to use the South African system, trying to listen to the radio. Again what will happen, we are now going to say those that are in other provinces that could access radio programmes are lumped together with those that are not well connected. Again, it is the issue of how we are going to give the examination, given the fact that the kids had separate access to issues.
There is the issue of approval of school fees and this particularly relates to Trust Schools. Perhaps the Minster could explain the legal quandary that parents are facing. Given the fact that Trust Schools have a Board of Trustees and that is the Board that determines what happens in that school. They may have Parents Teachers Associations, but that SDC is subordinate to the Board of Trustees. Therefore, we are having situations which if the Trust determines how much is going to be paid, that is it. How does that operate with the provision that is in Education Act? How should they deal with? Again, the issue of schools fees, there are reports of kids that are being asked not to attend schools and therefore will not be able to write examination because they have not paid schools and levies. Others are required to pay those levies in US dollars.
Lastly, the issue around the teachers, the question has been raised but I would want to raise it again. Given that I am Chair to the Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, we met with Unions and the Unions are indicating that there has not been conversation between yourselves and the Unions. Where is the problem? Is there a challenge in organising a meeting where you merely have a conversation with people that are working in your Ministry, before you talk to the issue around the reserve. The fact that the kids have gone to school and like you admit Hon. Minister, the teachers are not there. What is happening with supervision of schools? Are we not going to have a lot of drag issues taking place; pregnancies that you are talking about because at the moment parents have taken kids to school, there are no teacher, there is no supervision, they have paid school fees but nothing is going on.
Finally, is there any way we can try and move the date for these examinations? If we have failed, that failure in phase one, should we even try to deal with the other phases that are coming? Should we not be saying to ourselves, let us put our energies in phase one and then see what we will do next year and see how we can deal with issues of the syllabi in the next year. I just think that we are biting too much with all the calculations that are associated with the current situation that we are dealing with. Thank you Minister through the Hon. Speaker.
HON. MARKAHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his presentation. I just want to start on a couple of practical issues. My first concern is that he mentioned on the PPEs….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Markaham, when you appear, next you must be properly dressed in terms of our manner in the House.
HON. MARKAHAM; I understand Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please apologise.
HON. MARKAHAM: I apologise. Mr. Speaker, on PPEs, there has been the matter of issuing of thermometers which is fundamental in taking of temperature in the schools, are they there? Also on the issue of books, most of the schools we have four/five kids sharing a book. This is not conducive to social distancing, which is of major worry. My final point which I would like to bring is the issue of school fees. Would the Minister clarify full school fees are paid despite the fact that in a lot of schools, the teachers are not yet attending and the term is not a full term? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Members for the questions that have been put forward to me. Yes, Hon. Chikwinya, most teachers have not reported to work as we expected them and this question has been raised by most of the Hon. Members, which is something to do with the remuneration, that is why the teachers have decided not to come to work. The issues have to do with their salaries, their conditions and that responsibility belongs to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare but that does not mean that Government does not know that teachers indeed want salary increment and better working conditions. Both the Ministry of Public Service as well as Public Service Commission are aware of that. As Minister responsible for Primary and Secondary Education, I am aware that this is what teachers have requested for. Indeed, they are into Trade Unions; about 10 Teacher Trade Unions exist. I would not, Madam Speaker go into detail because the relevant Ministry is there. That issue is being handled by the relevant authorities, both the Ministry and Public Service Commission. They are handling that issue with the Trade Unions. Indeed, the National Joint Tripartite Meetings are taking place. So I would not want to go much into that, but as the Minister responsible for Primary and Secondary Education, I am aware that this is what teachers have requested for. Indeed, they have a right to go on strike because after all, they are into trade unions. We have around 10 teacher trade unions in Zimbabwe. So that issue, I would not want to go into detail because the relevant Ministry is handling that.
We are interfacing with them. I am part of the team - in a way, and we are very much aware as a Ministry that indeed teachers have made these requests. As for PPEs, let us remember that the 28th was only on Monday. I am still monitoring the situation to find out exactly what is happening. I was in Masvingo, Mwenezi and Chivi and all the schools that I visited have the PPEs for the teachers. The Deputy Minister was out there as well, right across the country and other officials. Where there is a lack...
HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Earlier in the day the Chair said that the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education was supposed to interface with the Minister of Public Servicer for him to come and answer the question. Right now the Hon. Minister is taking this House for granted and taking Zimbabwe whose kids are not getting teachers. He had the obligation to interface and come. He knew that the question of the remuneration of teachers was paramount and for him to dither and defer answering this question Madam Speaker, is contempt, in my view of this august House.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Indeed, I am interfacing with the Minister. A detailed statement Madam Speaker...
HON. NDEBELE: On a point of order Madam Speaker. You certainly have to make a decision, a ruling on what the Hon. Member has just raised. It is very important that you do so, instead of just saying Minister go ahead.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Hon. Member was asking why the Minister did not interface with the Minister of Public Service – is that not so Hon. Member?
HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes, the question Hon. Speaker is simple. We expect answers from the Hon. Minister because part of the reason why the Chair said yesterday that the Hon. Minister should interface was to come here today with the answers. For him to come here and say the Ministry of Public Service is doing this and that they are interfacing - we want answers. We want to be told what is happening and how we are going to solve the problem because right now Madam Speaker...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are saying it to yourself that the Minister has said we are interfacing.
HON. MUSHORIWA: No, that is not the question. Yesterday the Chair made a ruling and asked the Hon. Minister to interface so that when he comes here, he will have the answers. Now he cannot come here...
HON. MUSHORIWA: Let us give the Minister the chance to respond to that.
HON. MUSHORIWA: No, he is failing to answer the question about the remuneration of teachers.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let us give the Minister the chance to respond as to that.
HON. MUSHORIWA: He is failing to answer the question about the remuneration of teachers.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let us give the Minister the chance to respond to why he did not interface with the Minister of Public Service.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Thank you Madam Speaker. I am actually in the middle of interfacing with the Minister.
Hon. Madzimure having stood to make a point of order
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am not taking your point of order Hon. Madzimure. Order, the Hon. Minister proceed.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Madam Speaker, I am actually in the middle of interfacing with the Minister responsible and the Minister is indicating that he is working on the issue and will give the necessary response to this august House. –[AN HON. MEMBER: Hapana, hapana]- That is what I am saying Madam Speaker that the Minister is working something to report back to this august House.
HON. NDEBELE: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Ministerial statements by their nature must give us an insight into what is in the mind of Government but with some flimsy statements nothing is happening and then this country is in the hands of dangerous men and women.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Ndebele, on that matter I think you can also ask the responsible Minister who is the Minister of Public Service and Labour.
HON. NDEBELE: This is what was visited yesterday and the Hon. Speaker in his wisdom said the two gentlemen must interface so that he comes with a fully fledged statement and this is taking us for granted.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): We are interfacing and the Minister responsible is preparing a full report for this august House.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I will not allow you to do that. Please let us give the Minister the chance to respond.
HON. MUSHORIWA: With all due respect, let the two Ministers come to this House, because it does not help the situation - the teachers and the country. Let the two Ministers come because he is not ready.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mushoriwa, please give the Minister the chance to respond. May the Minister proceed?
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Madam Speaker, as the august House knows that the schools have only just been opened, so as to the details since Monday and the next week I can give a full report of what has transpired but that does not mean that I am not on the ground and I am not aware of what is taking place. As for learners, when they go to school, the school heads are there and they manage the situation and not all teachers are actually on strike. Some teachers are not on strike and that has to be accepted by the Hon. Members.
As for the 20 000 teachers that I have mentioned, as the Minister responsible for Primary and Secondary Education, I have to make sure that I find ways and means that learners go to school. This is not the norm only in the education sector, the learners have to go to school. I have to find ways and means of inviting other people to come and assist us. –[Inaudible interjection]- I am saying when learners are at school, I have to find ways and means of bringing people to come and teach learners in school. That is the norm in every sector of the .
Hon. Nduna is asking about the issue on remuneration of teachers again on the issues of land and mines. I thank Hon. Nduna and I will pass on that message to Hon. Prof. Mavima as to the possibilities of teachers receiving land or mines. I will pass on that message to the responsible Minister.
The question by Hon. Madzimure about PPEs as to how long it will take to defer. The Corona virus is not only in Zimbabwe - it is a new ailment all over the world. We work to fight it according to what we see on the ground as days go by. So we will do the best we can – who knows, we may end up closing schools again because of how serious it has become. We will work according to what we see on the ground. As for the PPEs, we can rest assure you that those will be made available. There is another Hon. Member who was asking whether we have had any cases of infection. We did not have cases in June and up to today we do not have infections as yet.
HON. CHIKWINYA: How many have you tested?
HON. MATHEMA: Yes we have, we are doing that.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, please address the Chair.
HON. MATHEMA: Yes, up to now we have not had any infections at all. So it is not as if we are doing it for the first time.
HON. CHIKWINYA: How many?
HON. MATHEMA: We are testing every day, Hon. Speaker –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mushoriwa, please.
HON. MATHEMA: Unless if the Hon. Member has a case in point, let him bring that case to us as well, but we are making sure that every child and every teacher is protected.
Then Hon. Gabbuza – the practicability of time. We have what is also called in schools the Performance Led Address Programme. The Performance Led Address Programme was created deliberately for these circumstances that those who are already teachers anyway must be assisted to make sure that each child actually proceeds as is normal, but if again the ailment or the disease becomes worse than what it is, Government will work accordingly and stop children from going to school. As of this moment like in all other countries, we are moving ahead, schools are open.
Hon. Misihairabwi wanted to find out on the issue of Cambridge and ZIMSEC examinations. Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe has the two systems, both Cambridge and ZIMSEC examinations. This is not something new; it is not something that I have created myself. It has always been there. Cambridge and ZIMSEC examinations are there and we all know the differences. I was not given this job to come and erase one of the two. So we will continue with the two systems and we will do the best we can to make sure that every child who is lagging behind will be assisted to pass. So that is the answer I can give to Hon. Misihairabwi with regard to that. I know sometimes there are people saying we are creating two nations, but these are two systems that have been in existence for years and years.
HON. CHIKWINYA: You are not answering her question. Are we not killing ZIMSEC?
HON. MATHEMA: Madam Speaker, I do not see why we should be killing ZIMSEC at all when the two systems have been running parallel.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, please may you respond to the original question not what they are asking now.
HON. MATHEMA: The other thing that the Hon. Member asked - yes we are aware. Our systems are such that indeed Covid-19 caught us unaware, unprepared in many ways especially when it comes to radio and television lessons, but the Hon. House can be assured that indeed the Ministry is working near UZ to make sure that radio and television lessons are accessed by children all over the country and indeed they are working with the Ministry responsible for ICT so that we have online learning right across the country. How long it will take for us as a country to make sure that we have necessary infrastructure for all our schools, I cannot answer that question but we are working on it so that every child has access to online learning.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. I think the Hon. Minister did not understand me. I gave him an example that in areas like Matabeleland South it does not matter what he does with ICT or with any other Minister because those children have not been able to access the radio programmes. So what is going to happen when you have a situation in which one part of our children did not access, the others did and you are giving the same examination? That is my question. My question was not whether they are doing anything. My question is - how are we going to deal with this two tier system that we have created?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I think the Minister will respond to that.
HON. MATHEMA: Madam Speaker, as a Ministry, we will do everything we can to make sure every child writes examinations in this country when the time comes.
HON. CHIKWINYA: What is everything?
HON. MATHEMA: Everything that I am saying. The teachers must be ready, the children must be at school. We will make sure that it happens before examinations are handled.
Sorry Madam Speaker, I did not understand what Hon. Markham was saying. I just could not understand his tone. Thank you very much Madam Speaker.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, I advise you to ask other questions if you feel you were not quite responded to.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I was the first person...
HON. NDUNA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna, please take your seat.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I am on the floor.
HON. NDUNA: I just wanted to say Madam Speaker, that Hon. Markham be given an opportunity so that he is clear.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you, I will do that.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I was the first person to be given the floor and I asked quite a number of issues of which some of them were not answered, but however I want an honest answer from the Hon. Minister. In his response with regards to renumeration, he deferred to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and they said they are an interface. Does the current system we have work where the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is just a mere administrator of the education system yet the employer is the Public Service sector? Does that system work?
These Ministers Hon. Speaker, are not consumers of the education system in our country. Therefore, they have got no patriotic approach with care to our children. Their children are in UK and in America. This is why they cannot show any care. So does the system whereby our civil servants, with regards to Ministers having their children in UK and in Europe, does it work to have his child to be in Europe when he is administering over our children in this country? Is it not the root cause of our problems? I thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chikwinya, on your last question, I think it was fair for you to ask the Minister on what he presented, not to ask him if he cares because his children are in UK or America. I will overrule that one.
HON. MATHEMA: Madam Speaker the system works. We discuss as Ministers. The Permanent Secretaries discuss. Madam Speaker, my children are here. They are learning in schools here.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Not your small house children, your original children – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. MATHEMA: Madam Speaker, I take exception to what he is saying.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Minister, please may you take a seat? Hon. Chikwinya, please may you stand up and withdraw that– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. NDUNA: Hon. Chikwinya woto withdrawa zviri very strong.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna, there is only one Chair at the moment. Hon. Chikwinya, please may you withdraw that.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Chair, I respect you and I follow instructions, but I want to understand – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No Hon. Chikwinya, I said withdraw that aspect of small house. Withdraw that please.
HON. CHIKWINYA: At least you have laughed Madam Speaker. I withdraw.
HON. DR. NYASHANU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to thank the Minister for coming to present his Ministerial Statement in the House. I have got a point of clarification that I want to seek. Minister, the situation in our rural schools is naturally an overcrowded situation, particularly ECD learners are learning in an environment where you find them overcrowded. What mitigatory measures have you put in place to ensure that these innocent children are safe as they start learning? Thank you.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Let me also join my colleagues in thanking the Minister for his presentation which was much needed and I think is rather an urgent presentation because the country and the whole community are waiting for the responses and answers from the Minister. I will begin by actually observing that there was need in the statement by the Minister to highlight also the new school calendar in terms of when the schools close and when will be the new term because we are still under Covid lockdown though there has been some relaxation. This is meant for planning purposes. In my other life, I come from the worker movement where there has to be kind of planning in terms of a parent who goes to work to look after their children and their pick up times.
As highlighted earlier on by other Members, that some teachers have not been reporting for duty and others are still not reporting for duty, my golden question is - who is then supposed to be monitoring the much needed social distancing because without that the learners will be exposed to COVID 19? This is why there had to be so long a break in terms of schools having been closed.
My last question Madam Speaker, because in my other life I come from the background of the labour movement, I really could not stop asking and probing further to say what is the Government doing to ensure that teachers are back in school. Has there not been any kind of dialogue because the Chairperson of the Committee also put this. I go further to say there are unions, there is the dialogue process and piece meal approach will not actually assist Government at the moment. From the responses that were given by the Minister to say that the Labour Minister, he is part of the taskforce; whenever it is brought for discussion, you are part of that team. He has to put his input in terms of getting the information for the colleagues to actually run with the correct thing. He has to care for unfair labour practice and strikes that will affect Government and also cause paralysis in the economic development. Thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. TEKESHE: Thank you Madam Speaker. When Parliament resumed sittings we were all tested. What we discovered is that some tested positive for COVID 19 but they did not show any symptoms for the virus, they were not sick and they made their way through into the National Assembly. What then is the Ministry doing to make sure that all the children are tested first. This is to manage the situation in case we have children who do not show the symptoms.
The other issue is the issue of schools in rural areas. We are not seeing any infrastructure development; no new schools or classroom blocks are being built. These classrooms are already congested. One class may have 40 to 50 school children. What are they going to do since we are looking at the rain season? Are they going to learn from under the trees? If no classroom blocks are built given the congestion in classrooms, how are they going to practice social distancing? Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. The following are my questions. First and foremost, is the Hon. Minister aware that generally Zimbabwe is in a way dollarised to the extent that the US$30 to US$50 that the teacher is earning is not sufficient to do or even to motivate one to go to work, notwithstanding the threat that you can actually fire them and replace them with temporary teachers. I do not foresee anybody that can actually want to go to work given such low level of income.
The second issue that I need to ask the Minister is, when you decided to re-open schools, you were aware that the schools have not been charging school fees; they have been closed. However, schools have been incurring certain expenses. The SDC workers needed to be paid, security at schools needed to be paid and the running expenses of the schools needed to be met, notwithstanding that the kids were not attending schools. My question therefore is - what has the Government done? How much has the Government done to help schools in terms of those expenses?
The other question Madam Speaker is, I represent a high density suburb. Most of the schools in Dzivaresekwa, whether you look at Grade 7, O’ Level and A’ Level, the number of kids are actually too many. I have done a research Hon. Minister …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please ask your question Hon. Member.
HON. MUSHORIWA: This is the question because I want the Minister to take note. The best school that was given PPEs by the Government got 32 masks, 25 shield masks and 10 litres of sanitiser. I want you Hon. Minister to confirm to this august House to say, is this sufficient for a school that has got close to 800 kids that are about to write O’ Level and 112 that are writing A’ Level. Is it sufficient? What is it that the Government intends to do? Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, before you stand up, may I give the chance to Hon. Markham. When he asked the question earlier, you did not get him well. So please Hon. Markham, may you ask your question again?
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker for recognising me for the second time. My questions were simple and on the practical side. On the issue of PPEs, the Minister referred to everything except for thermometers. As thermometers are a fundamental tool to diagnose temperature, I do not know any school in my constituency that has been given thermometers. Secondly, the PPEs that are being given will not last more than a couple of days. My biggest concern with the Minister is - I would like a point of clarification. In most of my schools, we have four to five kids sharing one textbook. This is not conducive to social distancing. What is the Minister planning to do about those schools?
My second issue is school fees. Parents are being charged school fees for the third term. In a lot of schools, a lot of teachers are not coming to work and yet parents are paying full school fees. Secondly, the term has been cut down to three thirds of a term and yet parents are still paying full school fees. How is the Minister proposing to handle that?
Finally, the fundamental issue in any school is the teacher I urge the Minister to give us more feedback on how he is going to handle the teacher issue. Talking has been going on for too long on that issue. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Thank you Madam Speaker. With regards to school fees as it has been asked by many Hon. Members, up to now the Ministry has not yet approved any school fees increases at all. So, those schools that have increased school fees without my authority, it is illegal and action will be taken against them.
All schools in Zimbabwe can only increase school fees after the approval by the permanent secretary, that is by the Ministry. I also urge parents to participate in these decisions made by some schools. There are some school boards or some school SDCs who do not consult parents and guardians. No school fees should be increased without approval from the Permanent Secretary. If Hon. Members are aware of any school that has done that, my doors are open, let me have that school.
On the issues of schools without water; we will do everything we can Hon. Speaker. As I stand in front of the august House, ZINWA and DDF are going out. We have about 800 schools all over the country that need boreholes. The Minister of Agriculture as well as the Minister of Local Government are out there with ZINWA and DDF. I have given them the whole list of those schools that did not have water at all. So, we are working on that one as a collective effort in the Government. The relevant ministries are drilling those boreholes.
On the issue of the radio – I accept that as a Ministry we really have to make sure that no child is left behind because they have no access to radio and television. Therefore, teachers are organising a crush programme so that every child goes to attend classes; it does not matter where they are.
As for working with teachers, yes, we are working with teachers unions. However, on the issue of phases, like I have said, depending on what is on the ground, the phasing will change accordingly. It is not as if the Ministry wants to punish the learners and parents. Children are going back to school simply because at this moment in time it is proper for them to go back to school but once the conditions are so difficult that it is endangering not only the children’s lives but everybody’s life, schools will be closed. It will not be the first time that we close because there is an illness.
As for closing dates – they will be closed as normal in December and will take it from there. The days for closing schools has not changed at all. The only thing that changed is COVID 19; we did not know that there is going to be COVID 19 in Zimbabwe.
As for thermometers, Hon. Markham brought in the issue of thermometers and PPEs, like I have said, I have visited schools all over the country. Those schools had thermometers. Where there were no thermometers, I know there was an incident where a school was given armpit thermometers and it was corrected. So, we are monitoring the situation. Wherever there is a need for us to intervene, we will do that like we have always done.
On the issue of PPEs – we were given 600 million dollars by the Ministry of Finance. We are working with Natpham to distribute PPEs to all the schools. It is an ongoing project, it will never stop, it will always be there.
Every school Madam Speaker, whether the schools are open or not there are costs incurred and we work accordingly but what we do not want is for a school administration on its own to increase fees without following proper procedures. Part of the procedures is that the parents and guardians must be consulted and there must be minutes to show that at least 20% of the parents and guardians attended a meeting where fees are increased.
If there is a school that feels that because of the cost that have been incurred because school fees were not paid, let that school approach the Ministry and put it in writing where exactly I am supposed to intervene.
*HON. TEKESHE: I am sure the Hon. Minister was not taking notes of some of our questions. He did not respond to my question. I had asked that when we came to Parliament after lockdown, everyone was asked to be tested for COVID - 19. There were a number of Members of Parliament and staff who looked healthy and fit but tested positive to COVID -19. So, in schools, are the pupils going to be tested? Maybe some of them might be asymptomatic just like what happened here.
On the issue of thermometers – all those people who tested positive to COVID 19, none of them were detected by thermometer. So, are we using standard thermometers or we are just taking from those who want to have quick money.
In rural areas…
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, hon. Member! The question that you have asked whether thermometers that did not detect those people who were COVID -19 positive were of good standard cannot be directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
*HON. TEKESHE: Schools are about to be opened how are these children going to learn given that we are not seeing any infrastructural development in the rural areas. Are you going to build new schools? We know that schools were overpopulated. There were classes with 60 pupils accommodated in one classroom. How are you going to apply social distancing that we are applying if you are not building new classroom blocks?
HON. MATARANYIKA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. My question is basically centred on public transport for students. We know that in urban areas, most students use public transport to go to schools and back home. So, I would like to find out if the Ministry has put in place any system to ensure that these students are not unnecessarily exposed to COVID-19 infections and whether there is any special transport that is reserved for these students? I have seen many times, people crowded at bus termini and I would shudder to think what would happen if students are also exposed to that same situation. So, if the Minister can explain if there is any system that can be put in place to ensure safe travel of students? I thank you.
HON. PHULU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My point of clarification regards the giving of PPEs and other measures that the Ministry is taking with regards to ensuring that children go to school safely. This relates to disaggregation, for example the girl child who may needs things that are slightly different from the boys. My focus is on the disabled children. For example, when we wear masks, those who rely on leap reading are no longer able to function. When we use braille, it relies on touching. I know we are talking about the need for PPE, I think there is need for new equipment. Many disabled people that I have seen in my Constituency need gadgets like these tablets that we have of phones and laptops but with special features to enable them to function during this time.
My question will also relate to what Hon. Mataranyika has also asked which relates to their conveyance from home to school being disabled under these circumstances. Has the Ministry looked at their special needs and what does the Ministry intent to do, like way forward with regards to this kind of scenario?
*HON. NYAMUDEZA: Thank you Madam Speaker. You have just told us that ZINWA is drilling boreholes but right now there are schools without boreholes. What measures have you as a Ministry, put in place to make sure that there is availability of water in those schools?
HON. NDUNA: I just want to seek clarity on the issue of computerisation for the schools in particular, ICT gadgets for those that are in schools that are formally marginalised. They are not endowed with these information communication technology gadgets. We want to move with the times. We want to get connected, collaborated and networked in the same way that those schools that are in towns and private schools are connected.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Thank you Madam Speaker. With regards to computerisation in schools, that is an ongoing project. Madam Speaker, we are working with the Minister of ICT and indeed we are working with some of our partners who are assisting us. I agree entirely that all children must have access to computerisation. We cannot do without ICT. So, we will do the best we can to assist every child to get a computer.
With regards to schools with no water, we are also prepared to bring in bowsers to any school that needs water Madam Speaker. Bowsers are there, we have done it before. The Hon. Members are free to let us know where exactly they think there is something lacking, particularly when it comes to water. Bowsers are there to assist in schools.
On the issue of disabled children, I totally agree with the Hon. Member. The disabled children and disabled teachers must have access to buses, they must go to school. ZUPCO is the one responsible for this. There was an advertisement in one of the papers Madam Speaker, showing the bus routes that ZUPCO has advertised for both teachers and learners. I agree entirely that disabled children must also have access to this and ZUPCO is working on that one.
As for the issue of transport and learners, ZUPCO is working on that one. It does not matter whether it is urban or rural areas. If there are areas where people or Hon. Members feel there is insufficient services, let us know please, we will get in touch with ZUPCO.
As to the issue of why all schools are being opened, all children and teachers are going back to school and that exposes them to the Covid-19. Indeed it exposes them to Covid-19 pandemic but all we are asking is for everybody to follow the WHO and the Ministry of Health and Child Care protocols. It is not only the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that is easing regulations that people are being allowed to go back to work. All the sectors of the economy have been eased so it is not only just education. I plead, let us all work together and assist each other.
On the issue of learning aides for the disabled child, we really need to look at this. How long it is going to take Madam Speaker, I do not know. What the Hon. Member is saying is very critical, it is very important. No child must be disadvantaged because they are disabled, even if that child is alone in that particular school whether it is in Binga, Chimanimani or Gwanda, it does not matter. As a Ministry as well as research institutions and the industry, the manufacturing sector of this country must take a lead because the market is there. We cannot afford a situation where one child cannot go to school because they do not have the necessary gadget. Our economy as a whole must actually be geared to that. It does not matter where the child is, whether the child is alone or not. By the Constitution of this country, I have to offer education, whether the child is one or they are a million. I thank you.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (HON. S. NYONI), the House adjourned at Eight Minutes past Four O’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 6th October, 2020.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday 30th September, 2020
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. DEPUTY SPEAKER
INVITATION TO A ZIMBABWE WOMEN PARLIAMENTARY
CAUCUS HALF-DAY WORKSHOP
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. I
have to inform the House that all Hon. Members of the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus are invited to a half-day workshop for validation of the ZWPC 50/50 position paper at the Rainbow Towers on
Thursday, 1 October 2020 at 0900 hours. The bus leave will Parliament Building at 0830 hours.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SHAMU: My question Madam Speaker is...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Shamu. I am
reminding Hon. Members as well as Hon. Ministers to be connected so that you will be able to hear what is being said, I am also reminding you to be connected so that you will hear the questions. I think everyone got a tablet. So, you must be using your tablets. Thank you.
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. Can the Minister comment on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 economic recovery and stimulus package? I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Hon. Deputy Minister of
Finance and Economic Development, did you get the question?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): No, I did not hear anything.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, my point of order is in terms of the procedures of Parliament, that Ministers and Deputy Ministers who have not put notices of apologies must be read out. We would like to know why they are not here.
THE HON. DEPTUY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa for
reminding me. I received apologies from the following Honourable
Ministers; Hon. MuchingurI, Minister of Defence and War Veterans
Affairs; Hon. J. G. Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works; Hon. K. D. C. Mohadhi, Vice President and Hon. B. Matiza, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for taking that reminder and reading them out - but as you would appreciate, it is not the total complEment of the Cabinet Ministers and the Deputy Ministers.
Hon. Ziyambi is the Leader of Government Business. He is not the one who appoints Ministers and there is no point to continuously boggle him with an issue which has nothing to do with him. The appointment of the Ministers is a prerogative of the President and the Leader of Government Business is not the leader of appointing Ministers, he is the leader of Parliament business here. So we have continued Madam
Speaker, for a very long time on this. The other Ministers who are not here - they disrespect the Chair, they disrespect this House. They do not even apologise.
For a very long time we have spoken about this issue but Parliament is proving to be a toothless bulldog in all aspects. We are here to carry out our mandate according to the Constitution. We just came from a workshop where we were reminded by the Speaker of Section 119 of the Constitution, that Parliament has power. So what power do we have when we are totally disrespected like this? They do not come to respond to issues of national interest which we would have put aside and consulted our constituents. What power has Parliament got when we are constantly reminded Parliament has power and when we come here, the very same power that we have is not at all exercised by the Chair?
Chair it is about time, we are only two years before the next election. We seem to be on the wrong road in this Parliament. May we make the right turn now so that we are able to hold these people accountable? People are suffering, Members of Parliament are suffering.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you Honourable, you
are now debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am not debating. It is an issue which we plan for. We are with the people and we want to get questions from them and ask the Hon. Ministers. They are not here. The power that you always tell us we have - I have realised we do not have. It is only power written in black and white and what I will do is I will move a motion tomorrow where I am inviting the President to this House to respond to his incompetent Ministers. Where does he find them, why are they here?
So I am moving a motion tomorrow to talk about the incompetent useless Ministers who the President is loyal to but they are not loyal to the President. The problem is that you have a President who is kind, who is loyal to you instead of the other way around. The late President Mugabe had Ministers who were loyal to him and who worked for him but you are disloyal to the appointing authority who is the President. We want that debate to continue and I am moving a motion once and for all so that he knows that the dogs that he hunts with do not bite, they are useless. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you Hon. Mliswa.
You may proceed and move the motion tomorrow.
HON. CHIKWINYA: On a point of order. Thank you Madam
Speaker. In line with the Speaker’s ruling two Wednesdays ago, I move a motion standing in my name that Ministers who have not been attending Parliament for the past three weeks without reason be charged with contempt.
I am fulfilling exactly the instruction by the Speaker of Parliament. It is a motion of privilege. It does not need any notice. It is the same - like the motion which was moved for Hon. Mliswa and others. The
Speaker said a Member must rise if Ministers do not come to Parliament.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa may you please
approach the Chair.
Hon. T. Mliswa approached the Chair.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Shamu please may you come again with your question.
HON. GONESE: A point of clarification Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. Please order Honourable!
HON. GONESE: I am just seeking clarification on the issue.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Which issue?
HON. GONESE: Hon. Chikwinya raised a motion for a Privileges Committee to be set up and I just wanted us as the House to be advised on what has become of that motion, because you called him to approach the Chair but we …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I told Hon. Chikwinya that on Wednesdays …
HON. GONESE: I am now seeking for clarification as a Member of Parliament. I am also rising on a point of privilege. I am a Member of Parliament and an issue which affects all of us has been raised in my presence, that Ministers have not been coming to Parliament. Last week I raised the same issue and the Speaker indicated that the time had come for a line to be drawn in the sand that this cannot continue in perpetuity. This is the reason why I am rising on a matter of privilege also so that I as a Member of Parliament, can be apprised of what has become of that motion, that a Privileges Committee be set up so that all those errand Ministers who have not been seeking leave of absence, who have not been coming to Parliament can be dealt with once and for all.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Gonese. I
hear you.
THE HON. GONESE: So, I just wanted clarification of what has become of that motion.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I told Hon. Chikwinya that it
was ruled that on Wednesdays we must not have motions of privileges, so I advised him to move the motion tomorrow, not today – [HON. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – Hon. Mliswa, why are you disrupting the House?
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed [HON. SIKHALA: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If you continue with that
disruptive behaviour Hon. Sikhala, I am going to send you out. Sorry Hon. Shamu, may you please come again.
HON. SHAMU: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the effectiveness of the Covid 19 Economic Recovery and Stimulus package. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
AND DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you Madam
Speaker. We are all aware that when the Covid pandemic was declared a national disaster, the intervention that was done by the Government was in the form of the Economic Recovery Programme which was to the tune of $18.2 billion. On the $18.2 billion, I can give a breakdown but I think what was of critical importance there was the issue of the recovery in the agriculture sector where we allocated $6.1 billion. We also allocated $3.1 billion as working capital for industry and there was also a tourism fund of around $3 billion. Funds were also set aside for social sector services.
Now, in terms of the effectiveness, it is judged on the extent to which we managed to achieve our intended objectives. I can give you an example under the $6.1 billion package for agricultural sectors; $3.2 billion was meant for winter wheat. If we go around the country and check the extent to which we managed especially with regards to winter wheat, in terms of the expected harvest and what is on the ground at the moment, we are expecting at least 50% of our requirements to come from the winter wheat programme and that is a huge success. We have not realised that amount of wheat as a country but because of the Covid recovery package, we have realised that.
Hon. Members might also want to know that the $18.2 billion was not necessarily a disbursement of cash to all the identified sectors as mentioned, but it was in the form of guarantees that were being given by banks and Government was giving the guarantees. So, you will see that a number of companies managed to approach our banks and they managed to secure working capital which was then guaranteed by the Government. We would need to do a tally and some statistics to find out the extent to which that was used.
I go to the social sector. We also had cash transfers which were targeting the urban vulnerable and those who were in the peri-urban. Our target was to get around one million beneficiaries. I think as of now we are around 210 000. These are some of the statistics and I can assure you that we are continuing to do the registrations. It is a success as of now and we are still adding more funds to the recovery programme.
Thank you.
HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question to the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development is, I would like to understand from his presentation the social impact, he has not been very clear … THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Gandawa, please may
you start afresh.
HON. GANDAWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. The Deputy
Minister discussed about the social support that was given to people in the urban areas and peri-urban areas. We did not hear him comment on the support on social safety nets they are going to put in place as a
Ministry to support those that are staying in the rural areas. Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you Madam Speaker.
I think the relevant Minister is around. He is the one who deals specifically with those issues but I will respond, especially with regards to the allocations that were allocated on the health infrastructure. We have used I think up to around $6 billion in terms of our Covid intervention, which the part of social intervention. The social welfare again is classified under our Covid intervention, in addition to the interventions that I have mentioned for those who are staying in urban and peri-urban but in terms of the actual figures, I am sure the relevant Minister can also assist in that regard.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question to the Hon. Minister; is I would like to know whether the wheat supply of 50% is an annual requirement or their target. Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you Madam Speaker.
In terms of the hectarage that we funded, we are looking at around 45 000 hectares under wheat with an average yield of 5000 tonnes per hectare – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] - it is supposed to be 5 tonnes per hectare.
Hon. Chair, I would like to apologise for the slip of the tongue but it is supposed to be 5 tonnes per hectare. So, we say 5 tonnes per hectare times 45 000 hectares.
HON. BITI: My supplementary is to the esteemed Minister of
Finance and Economic Development. The 18, 2 billion fiscal interventions refer to social safety nets particularly people living in urban areas. You will recall that the informal sector has not been opened, so people who sell tomatoes and vegetables are not going to work. However, it is a fact and I am a Member of Parliament for an urban area that you have not disbursed any money for social safety nets for people living in the urban areas.
In papers that were filed before the courts, the Ministry of National Social Security confesses that you have only disbursed ZWL 90 million to the relevant Ministry. How much money have you disbursed to the relevant Ministry lead by Prof Mavhima? I thank you.
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you so much Madam Speaker. In
terms of the actual figures, these are operational issues and I think I would need to check the exact figure that was disbursed specifically for that purpose.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order! May I suggest that the Hon. Minister comes with a breakdown statement which we can all debate because Hon. Gandawa’s point was how has the rural folk benefited. He did not answer to that. So, a statement would be good for us to study, interrogate and ask. I therefore, propose that he comes with a breakdown of exactly where the money went to and then we can seek more clarity on that.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sure the Minister has
taken note of that.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam Speaker,
the specifics that they want, the recipient is here. Ministry of Finance and Economic Developmetn simply disburses, the other technical details, surely the Minister of Finance is not responsible. Perhaps, with your indulgence, the Minister of Social Welfare can answer that question.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order! We asked the question to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development who disburses and then we will interrogate it. Because he was failing to answer, Hon.
Minister Ziyambi is smart to bring in an academic argument to try and do the good propaganda. I know his tricks when he is seated there.
So, the Minister of Finance is responsible for disbursement and he has told us that, that is why the Hon. Speaker has told him to give us a breakdown so that we can interrogate the other Ministers once we have seen where the money is going.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa we have heard
you. The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development will bring the breakdown but at the moment, we want Hon. Mavima to respond to some of the issues –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.]- Hon. Biti, may you please behave like a learned friend.
*HON. TSUNGA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. There
is no point for the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Service to respond now because we do not know yet the amount of money disbursed to each Ministry by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. We would like to first hear the breakdown of what was given to Government departments by the Ministry of Finance and then we can interrogate and ask questions. I have given an example that people’s names were written down and promised to be given cushion allowances through their ecocash accounts since they were disrupted from their SME’s businesses. However, people are still crying that the money has not been disbursed into their accounts.
So, if you can give us a breakdown so that we understand and know what was disbursed and distributed for example the Ministry of SMEs and all other Ministries. Thank you.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. The Deputy Minister of
Finance and Economic Development will bring the breakdown - [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare. What is Government policy when it comes to distribution of food especially maize in drought stricken areas whereby the delivery does not meet the quantum of the registered beneficiaries? At the end of the day, there is now cherry picking of those who then receive the maize. What is Government’s policy position in situations like that?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Madam Speaker,
the distribution of food to food insecure households is in cycles. Typically after the harvest around April-May, we scale down because most households will have harvested something. We continue with those households that are generally food insecure, the vulnerable, the old persons, the child headed households and those living with disabilities. So typically, between May and October, our distribution will be very limited to those households. We start picking up as more and more households will have exhausted whatever harvest they would have got.
This is where we are now, we are beginning to pick up. A lot of the Hon. Members would have realised that currently we have started distributing mealie-meal in rural areas and that is because some of the maize that we had was GMO maize and we do not allow GMO maize to be distributed without being milled. So, we are busy milling 30 000 tonnes and distributing especially to those districts that were worst affected by the drought. They are about 23 such districts that we have targeted. So, there is indeed some cherry picking of areas that were most affected by the drought. We will continue to upscale and the highest number that we will feed will start around January which is the pick hunger period.
So, the reason why some areas may not have refilled is because those areas had better harvest than others. So, Madam Speaker, that is the situation. They will pick up the distribution going into November and December. Thank you.
HON. MUSAKWA: The Minister has not fully answered my
question. My question is that when limited supplies of food arrive at Ward level like in my Constituency Bikita, everyone is vulnerable, and everyone is exposed. The people who have registered themselves as social welfare - may be 1 500 people are registered in that Ward and only 200 bags come. What is the policy position as to how that maize should be distributed among the 1 500 when only 200 bags come? Are the people responsible for that allowed to break those bags and share equally amongst all the beneficiaries because they have all been satisfied to be vulnerable? What is the policy position because at the end of the day, there will be cherry picking of individuals among that whole lot. How do they then cherry pick, choose the 200 out of the 1 500? That is my question.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I concede
that I had not understood the question in the first instance. In actual fact, Madam Speaker, when we have limited supplies like that, the
Department of Social Welfare then looks at the level of vulnerability and then allocates on the basis of that. They start with more vulnerable people especially those that cannot fend for themselves, the child headed household, the elderly people. The assumption really is that during the month, we may have brought 200 in the first instance but as the month progresses as more grain comes, then the other people are covered.
We do not typically allow for the supplies to be broken because once we have done that, the household that has received may be a quarter of what they were supposed to receive and it is very vulnerable and becomes susceptible to hunger. The best way to do this is to rank on the basis of vulnerability and this is how Social Welfare distributes the supplies if they are limited. Like I said, we are beginning to scale up to where every vulnerable household should be receiving grains in the rural areas. We hope that situation where there is limited stock will be a thing of the past very soon.
HON. SIKHALA: What is your standard measurement of vulnerability because the question by Hon. Musakwa is that many people in rural areas are all vulnerable? What is your standard of assessing vulnerability of families? If you go to rural areas, for example he said his one ward, of the 200 you have selected, the same people with the same vulnerability are also in demand of food. Why do you not put a formula where the food available is shared among the vulnerable families?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. MAVIMA):Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. Hon. Sikhala wanted us to indicate how we judge vulnerability. It is highly common sense, of course. There are those families that are permanently on social welfare rolls and these are families like the elderly citizens, who are no longer able to work for themselves. There are those who are chronically ill, suffering from diseases, who cannot again fend for themselves and there are child headed families – again, who are unable to fend for themselves.
The usual social welfare programme targets these people and it is almost like a permanent arrangement where we distribute 50 kg of grain to these families but we have instances where for various reasons, families become food insecure. Incidences like Cyclone Idai for example and the two successive droughts that we have had rendered some families that are capable of working for themselves become food insecure. In such situations then we increase our rolls but we have said that for those who can work, when we have enough grain, we give them but they have to work for it. Hence, there is food for work or community assets for food, where they go and do bridges and other things in the community.
Our ideal situation is where we have enough to give to these vulnerable; the elderly, chronically ill, those with disabilities and child headed households. We would like as much as possible to maintain the standard of 50 kg per household because that will sustain them for a whole month. The other transitory food insecure households have ways in which they can cope because they are able bodied. They can work, especially where we have limited stocks, then we cannot take care of them. Like I said, in situations where we have say 300 food insecure households and only 200 bags come, we then give 200 this week and then next week we strive to bring, within that one month, to bring for the other 100. This is why every week we are reporting that we have distributed this much. Then we get to the month end and we do the tallies to see if a district or a province has received enough to cover everyone who is vulnerable in the manner that I have referred to.
Are we in an ideal situation at the moment, no, this is why Cabinet has formed a grain mobilisation Inter-Ministerial Committee which is aggressively trying to get additional grain resources into the country. thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. A very good
afternoon Sir. When you walked in everyone went quite and said oh, there is no more joy the boss has come. So I want to say a very good afternoon to you, I am happy that the Speaker is back in the House.
Welcome to the Chair.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Mliswa, there is only
one Chair and different occupants, so you respect the Chair rather than the individual. So that statement must be withdrawn, although it has some sort of embellishment.
HON. T. MLISWA: I withdraw the statement Sir. My supplementary question to the Minister of Public Service is you have named three categories of the vulnerable, elderly, child headed and also chronically ill. In our culture, we usually take care of those who are chronically ill, our grandmothers and our relatives. How do they become vulnerable when there is family support?
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Hon. Speaker, the situation that the
Hon. Member is referring to is more of an ideal situation where traditionally we have taken care of elderly people within our communities, even within the extended families, but the current situation when we say chronically ill, we may have someone who is elderly but they are also suffering from diabetes and they are debilitated to the point that they cannot work for themselves. It could be someone who is suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS and cannot work for themselves. These are the people that the Government, through its social protection programmes, has put on welfare rolls and these are supposed to get our support on a monthly basis.
Under an ideal situation, an old man who is suffering from diabetes may have grandchildren who take care of him, but there are many cases now in our communities, unfortunately, where that cultural tradition of taking care of our own no longer exists and the Government has to step in and provide for those people. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Please allow me to
politely check with the Minister what deliberate policy measures he has put in place to ensure that would be recipients of food aid are not discriminated on political lines. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. PROF. P. MAVIMA): Hon. Speaker
Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. The charge that we give to our Social Welfare Officers (we now call them Social
Development Officers) is that there should never be any needy
Zimbabwean meeting our vulnerability criteria who should be left out. The fact that during drought years – last year was a drought, the previous year was a drought year and within the same period we have been affected by Cyclone Idai and a lot of areas were devastated by that cyclone.
The fact that we have not witnessed even a single case of death due to hunger is a clear testimony that this Government is taking care of all the vulnerable people in this country. We have not had even a single case of people dying from hunger. We strive to take care of all our vulnerable and we continue to do that. In fact, there are accusations and counter accusations of discrimination on the basis of political affiliation. You will know Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members that supplementing what Government is doing is also a programme that is run by the World Food Programme and it is delivered mainly through NGOs who are subcontracted by World Food Programme.
We have from the opposite side of aisle, we have been asked to go and investigate how these NGOs are distributing food because they are sometimes said to be favouring those that are aligned to the Opposition, but I can assure you that from both ends, we have seen that food distribution has been fair. People have sometimes said they prefer to be under NGOs because in addition to grain they give us some cash or they give us pulses and other things like that. That is a different matter altogether but we have to be fair to ourselves. If we had been using other considerations than vulnerability, people would have died of hunger but they have not. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Minister of Women Affairs. Mr. Speaker Sir,
October 11, will mark the International Day of the girl child. Therefore, I would like to know the Government position which seeks to protect the rights of women and the girls in line with United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 5 on achieving the gender equality and empowering all women and girls in Zimbabwe by 2030, particularly in the context of the COVID-19. I would appreciate if we get any information on what actions your Ministry is taking so far. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY,
SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (HON.
- NYONI): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question. Women constitute 52% of our population and if you are also aware, the girl child is doing very well.
Some of our universities have more girls enrolled than boys. So the Ministry is taking a very important strong position to ensure that the girl children are empowered. We have different programmes and I am sure some of you have seen some of the programmes that we have done with students but we have our gender policy that we are going bring here very soon.
We are also having programmes that empower women. I think gender equality is not possible as long as women continue to be marginalised politically, economically and socially. We have got different funds in our Ministry and we are trying to disburse so that women are economically empowered. We have just had our SME policy passed by Cabinet and in that policy we emphasize also that whatever we do should make sure that the youth, the women and also the disabled are taken care of. That was a very pertinent question and I would like to thank the Hon. Member Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. Hon.
Minister, I revert back to the issue of the COVID-19. We have seen
some of our girls now that it is back to school – some are pregnant. What is Government position in terms of those girls to go back to school? Most of the girls are now stuck in the child marriages – is there anything which the Government is doing to make sure that they help those children who are stuck in the child marriage and to make sure that the girls who got pregnant during the lockdown are able to go back to school?
THE MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY,
SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (HON.
- NYONI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I think the Hon. Member will be aware that we have an Act also on Child Marriage and we have a strategy that we also launched last year. We are very concerned as a Ministry and she is right that with this lockdown, a lot of girls are pregnant and we are working with the Ministry of Education. We have formed Child Support Committees of women, mothers that are supporting such girls and we are encouraging them to go back to school and indeed some of them will have their uniforms now not fitting because they are bigger than before COVID-19 because of pregnancy and we are talking to schools so that they are allowed to go in their own clothes. The important thing is that the whole community needs to support such girls, the teachers need to support them and there is need for peer to peer support. We cannot do that without the children also being made to understand that being pregnant sometimes may not be totally the girl’s fault. Some girls are cornered into pregnancy.
I have got some examples Hon. Speaker, of girls whom we supported to go and write examinations and they did much better than the boys. So we need to continue to support them to go to university, colleges and also to take up jobs because having a child does not mean that you are now disabled or you cannot do much in life. So I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question –[HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Minister of
Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises
Development and Hon. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, can you sanitise? You are using the same gadget and also the
Hon. Minister’s front bench, you are too close to each other. Deputy Ministers should not be on the front bench and non Ministers. I do not need to point you out. Hon. Deputy Minister of Defence and War
Veterans and the bank benchers who are there, can you give way to Hon.
Matemadanda. Hon. Matemadanda, take the seat there. Ordinary
Members of Parliament go to the next bench –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Order! This side you are too close to each other.
HON. D. SIBANDA: On a point of clarification.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, you cannot ask two supplementary
questions.
HON. MAVETERA: Supplementary question. Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. My supplementary question is on the first question that Hon. Sibanda had asked to say, in relation to making sure that we adhere to SDG 5, what is it that you are doing concerning young women as well specific to COVID-19?
HON. S. NYONI: I think young women are very important because they are a seed. They will ensure continuity of strong women. So my Ministry is really charged with empowering young women so that they will carry on with the torch. In the Ministry, we have got a programme that says ‘Bridging generational and digital gap’ in which we are pairing young women and experienced retired women to try and make sure that they mentor the young women, but in terms of gender equality we also cannot have gender equality unless you strengthen and ensure that the young woman takes up her position. The men will not give her the position.
So in trying to mentor the young women and link them to the experienced women, you are trying to strengthen them so that they can then fight their way into society. So gender equality is not about the man giving the young women space but it is about strengthening the young women to try, create and occupy the space they want in society.
So my Ministry is working hard towards that. Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. In the
Hon. Minister’s response to the original question, she made reference to the Marriage Act but from my recollection it is still a Bill. I do not know whether it has been passed. However the substantive question which I want to make a follow up on is that we have a situation where girls have already entered into marriage when they are below the age of 18 and in view of the fact that the provision which relate to penalties or functions which can be meted out to those who would have been responsible for placing them in that situation are not yet in place, my question to the Hon. Minister is; what measures have been put in place to assist girls who find themselves in such a situation?
HON. S. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. That is a very important question. One of the programmes that we have is to also work with traditional leaders because that is where the girls, especially in rural areas are coming from. If traditional leaders are sympathetic and they understand that young girls need to be protected they usually also educate the community so that together they take corrective measures in support of the girls. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
*HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. What plans does the Government have with regards to the exchange rate of $81.44 RTGS to US$1 being used throughout the country as the official rate without different exchange rates being used in everyday transactions?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, have you got the question?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): No, I did not get the question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The question is; there is the official auction exchange rate. What policy is there to ensure that everybody complies in terms of transactions that they keep to the same exchange rate arising from the auction floors?
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Should I answer in Shona?
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are not linked.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. It is true that most businesses use the implied exchange rate which is different from the auction rate. We have a special committee which is comprised of different stakeholders like the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, the ZRP, the business community and others. From this coming week, we will be having a programme which identifies different exchange rates.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, can you speak in Shona
exclusively.
HON. CHIDUWA: From this coming week, we will be
monitoring different businesses around the country to identify offenders. We have a number of contact details where the public can communicate such unscrupulous activities. Thank you.
*HON. KARENYI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me pose my supplementary question to the Deputy Minister. Right now most chain stores use different exchange rates, for example Spar, OK and other chain stores. As a Ministry, are you going to entertain such behaviour? This has been happening for quite some time now. The Hon. Minister informed the House that they will be carrying out this exercise. However, when you leave this House Hon. Minister and go to OK, they have their own prices and if you go to Spar they have their own unique pricing. How long are you going to allow this to continue?
Those who are in informal trade also have a different pricing system.
Those who are at Roadport have their own exchange rate. This august House has enquired several times on the policy issues surrounding the black market. We need clarity on such issues. The question that we have to ask is - how come we have new bank notes at Roadport?
*HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you for such a pertinent question. Yes, it is true that it might seem as if we have delayed addressing this issue. However, we deployed people around the country so that they monitor the situation. Some were engaging shop owners. In two of the shops that you mentioned, you will discover that they are using the auction rate. However, Spar has its own rate but OK is using the auction rate. Those who are in the informal sector use a rate which they get from the variety chain stores. As Government, we are going to start with the big chain stores. Thank you.
*HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Hon. Members of
Parliament normally stay in hotels. There are different rates that are used in hotels. Some are using the auction rate but others do not. The question is; is it possible for Government to start with hotels and engage hotel owners, particularly addressing that issue?
*HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. The issue at hand
is an issue that affects all of us here. My request to members of this august House and the rest of the country is that the people who engage in black market activities are people we live with. So, let us tell our people to report such behaviour. As Government, we will continue pursuing the programme that I spoke about. The question that was asked by the Hon. Member is a question that I can respond to in the same manner that this coming week you will see with the response that Government is going to give on the ground. Thank you.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, all these questions are
directing you to do your job on this aspect. People are suffering.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Hon. Minister, perhaps
you could explain to the House what is the thinking behind not getting receipts that are foreign currency denominated. Why does it make sense that when you go into a shop, they are using an exchange rate so that they can give you a receipt in RTGs and yet this particular Government is desperate for foreign currency? Why can they not make it a law that when you pay in US dollars, your receipt is in US dollars so that when they are charged tax, they are also charged in US dollars. We do not understand why we are even having this debate around the exchange rate when we should just be getting the people in the shops to record my money in US dollars because I give them hard cash. Why are they operating like they are banks?
HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. What the Hon.
Member raised is very fundamental. Businesses are collecting revenue on behalf of the Government and they are supposed to remit the revenue in the currency of trade which then means if they trade in USD, they are supposed to issue a receipt in USD.
However, when we were doing our research, we discovered that the big shops are having a systems problem. They engaged ZIMRA and all of them were given up to this Friday, that is from next Monday they are supposed to be compliant so that if one buys in USD, they are supposed to be given a receipt in USD. If it is in local currency, then they should be given a receipt in ZWL. So, we are working on it and I am sure from Monday, we should be seeing changes. I thank you.
HON. MUSHORIWA: My supplementary emanates from the
response that the Minister said when he was asked. He said that he had actually set a Committee to ensure that there is compliance. Now, I wanted the Minister to advise us in this House, given the performance of the auction system that we have witnessed that a major chunk of the people that are applying for foreign currency on the auction system are failing to get that money. Only a smaller percentage is able to access that money. Would there be justification to then set a Committee to supervise the bulky of the people that are failing to access cheaper forex from the auction system? What is the Government doing to ensure that everybody who wants the money gets it?
HON. CHIDUWA: In terms of those who are applying for forex in the auction market, the majority are actually getting the money. We can check the statistics which are clearly showing that the majority are getting the funds. The allocations of funds are allocated according to the bid price which you submit. Those who participate in the market are not allocated funds according to the weighted auction rate.
You are allocated funds according to your bid rate, if you bid at 1:100 and then if your line of business is in the priority areas, you also get priority. So, I think if we check all our statistics, you will see that the majority are getting the funds. The 20% that we are using, the auction is self sustaining at the moment. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: This is an opportunity for us to be honest; the biggest national security threat is the inconsistency of the monetary policy. Ecocash has its own price when you are going to the shops, RTGS, Bond notes and the Nostro account which is USD has its own price and is no longer accepted. So, when you want to make a payment through the Nostro account bank to bank in USD, they are refusing. They is now a 7% which they charge for you to withdraw the cash.
How can we sustain or run an economy when all the monetary policies that we have had do not work and you still stand up in boldness and try to convince us? People are suffering every day, why did they embark on this when their framework was not in order? How would you put the cart before the horse?
HON. CHIDUWA: It is true what the Hon. Member said that we are having different rates. What the Hon. Member submitted in terms of the operations of the parallel market, it is true that we are having different rates, ecocash, RTGS etcetera but that does not make it legal. In terms of the USD; I think what is important is also for us to check what is happening in the market. We are having a lot of people who are having lots of USD balances and they are trying to get the RTGS balances. The most popular currency at the moment as we speak is the RTGS. You need to go to the market and see what is happening.
The Monetary Policy which has been mentioned; we have actually done our Monetary Policy excellently. If you check in terms of the money supply growth that is in the market, there is virtually no excess in liquidity that is in the market and because of that, we are having business looking for RTGS balances that are nowhere to be found. So, I am not sure, we may not want to say our monetary policy is a miracle monetary policy but we are on the right track. The Monetary policy supporting the fiscal policy and we know we are getting there.
HON. CHIKWINYA: My question is directed to the Minister of
Primary and Secondary Education. As we speak, students writing ‘O’
Level and ‘A’ Level examinations went back to school on Monday, but teachers did not go back to schools. In his post Cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister said teachers who are on strike will be replaced by 10 000 qualified teachers who are not yet employed. Is it Government policy not to address labour issues and substituting them with teachers who are unemployed and is that sustainable?
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Mr. Speaker Sir, the figure that was mentioned yesterday of teachers who are out there unemployed was with regard to the fact that we want our learners to go to school and we will do everything we can to make sure that learners go to school. In any case Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue is that the matter is being handled by my Hon. Colleague with regard to the challenges that we are facing because of some of the teachers who have decided not to go to work.
Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister Mathema, can I check
with you whether you got the request to make a Ministerial Statement tomorrow.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Yes I do have the request.
THE HON. SPEAKER: So, why do you not wait until you do your Ministerial Statement tomorrow?
HON. CHIKWINYA: I think the Hon. Minister had indicated that perhaps the Minister of Public Service here present may have at least an answer for now whilst the details will come in the Ministerial statement with regards to what is being done with regards to the labour issues being raised by teachers which is making them not to go to work. Perhaps the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare may give us an answer, then we get details from the Minister of Education tomorrow.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I ruled that the Minister of Public
Service must liaise with the Minister of Primary and Secondary
Education so that a comprehensive statement is given tomorrow.
HON. MAYIHLOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology and Development. What is the enrolment policy in State Universities given that some universities are science oriented? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(HON. MACHINGURA): Thank you Mr. Speaker. The enrolment
policy is guided by the requirement of each discipline in terms of qualifications. Anybody who does have them will be considered. If on the grounds of the numbers, assuming 200 people have enrolled for an engineering degree and only 180 can be taken, then the 20 can be considered for their second option. Thank you
HON. MAYIHLOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. All the three
State universities in the Matebeleland region are science oriented whereas the schools in that region do not have science laboratories. As a result we have universities like NUST who are much older than Midlands State University and they only have one-third of students enrolled at those universities. Great Zimbabwe University, far surpasses
NUST and the same applies to Lupane State University. So, what measures is Government going to take to ensure that secondary schools are upgraded in that region so that students fit into science oriented State Universities in the region? Thank you.
HON. MACHINGURA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Structure
of curriculum in State Universities as directed by Government policy and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development is addressing skills gaps in this country so that we move towards modernisation and industrialisation of the nation of Zimbabwe. So, the sister Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education I think is the one that should address the question that has been asked of what is to be done at that level so as to increase the preparedness of the students who will take up Higher and Tertiary Education.
THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA): Yes the Ministry is aware of that discrepancy of small numbers of our children in Matabeleland who take science subjects. As a Ministry Mr. Speaker Sir, we aim to make sure that all children in this country access the same subjects in their areas of schools. That is why we want to see even in those regions where we have a shortage or a small number of children who do science have the necessary number of teachers as well at the schools in those areas. Every school child in Zimbabwe has a right to access any level of education in Zimbabwe and indeed to be exposed to education to the extent that they are able to compete anywhere in Zimbabwe. So the Ministry, together with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education we are working on the issue so that we have science teachers as well in those regions that do not have enough science teachers. As a result, we will have fewer children who do science at schools. Again, it is also an issue of us as parents, from whichever part of Zimbabwe, why are our children going to school; what do we want them to go and learn? It is no longer the days when we sent our children just to go and learn to be employees. We want every child whatever level they finish at school to be able to stand on their own. That is what we are working on as a Ministry, together with my colleague in the Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education. Thank you.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Minister of National Housing and Social
Amenities. In his absence – I cannot see the leader of the House again.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You can proceed with your question, we have a co-leader of Government Business, Hon. Mutsvangwa. She will
assist.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. My
question is, what is Government doing to make sure that there is housing for people living in squalid conditions and also for those who are in need of decent accommodation, which the Government should provide?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MUTSVANGWA): Thank
you Hon. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Chinyanganya for a very good question. I was just thinking - listening to the Cabinet post briefing yesterday, Cabinet was seized with the issue of national housing. This is so, especially looking at prioritising institutional accommodation for our defence forces and our civil servants. I want to say Government is seized with a very serious issue in order to instill dignity to our people in order to empower our people so that we can actually reach Vision 2030. It is critical that we invest or recapitalise the National Housing Fund and this is precisely the decision which was taken by Cabinet yesterday, to make sure that the National Housing Fund is actually recapitalised so that we start building houses in order to at least get to where we want to get to with Vision 2030. Munhu asina imba haana chiremera. So, we want to make sure that we bring dignity to all our people. I thank you.
HON. CHINYANGANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would
like to thank the Hon. Minister for the response. We appreciate what the Government is planning to do, especially to take care of those who are working in Government. Mr. Speaker Sir, it has been almost two years now, since they came into office. They promised millions of houses but as of now, no single house has been constructed. My question is when are we going to see the project kick starting, taking into account everyone not only those in the civil service? I thank you.
HON. MUTSVANGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to
thank Hon. Chinyanganya for his supplementary question. I totally agree with him that the issue of building houses – I think in the 1980s, we had Government houses which were all sold to the sitting tenants and much effort was made to make sure that we build more houses. We have got a waiting list of almost 2 million and Government is actually moving very fast. This is why the Second Republic for the first time, separated the Ministry of National Housing which was housed in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. Now it is a standalone Ministry, that shows the seriousness and commitment which the Second Republic has to provide accommodation for our people.
HON. TSUNGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also appreciate the response given by the Hon. Minister in regard to the commitment to provide housing for our people in Zimbabwe. Sadly, however, there does not appear to be any mortgage finance available to anyone, from whatever institution in this country. I just want to get assurance from the Hon. Minster whether there is any provision for capacitating the
local financial institutions to be able to provide mortgage finance to home seekers and those who are building their own homes or renovating? Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, in terms of Standing
Order, I do not want to trinket the debate. I would rather ask for someone to extend time so that the Hon. Minister can answer the question.
HON. NDEBELE: Hon. Speaker, I rise to move that the time for Questions without Notice be extended by 15 minutes.
HON. D., SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Hon. Deputy Ministers having started walking out of the House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, where is the Chief Whip? Tell them to come back.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA) on behalf of the THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND
SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): Thank you Hon. Speaker
Sir, I would like to thank Hon. Tsunga - I thought it was a separate question and I do not know whether it was a supplementary or not.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It was supplementary to the extent that
you spoke about recapitalisation, so as the viability of mortgage finances.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA) on behalf of the THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): I understand the question
now. I want to say to this House that mortgage provision has become very difficult of late because a lot of our people are not employed. There are a lot of SMEs, people who are not employed in Government or in big companies, but people who are able to pay if provided with mortgages. So, we are aware of the fact that the mortgage services which used to be provided many years ago, our people may not fit in those areas. The Government is working with a lot of institutions to make sure that we come up with a programme which provides mortgages to those people even those who are not employed in big companies or those who are self employed if I may put it that way.
We know that there are a lot of Zimbabweans out there who are self employed and are able to pay because they are paying rents and we would rather the money they are using to pay rent, they pay towards a mortgage and towards owning their own home. This is something with the Minister of National Housing is looking into. We are aware of the fact that we need to come up with that. Thank you.
*HON. P. MOYO: I would like to pose my follow up question to the Hon. Minister. I want to find out what Government position is regarding those who construct or who build their houses without following laid down procedures and by-laws? City Councils ignore such people. However, after completing their houses, Councils demolish their houses. Is that not similar to Murambatsvina? What is Government position regarding the demolishing of fully constructed houses?
THE HON. SPEAKER: The context of the question is that the Hon. Minister has indicated to the House that Government yesterday decided to address the issue of housing but some houses are being destroyed in the same context. Could you address the issue Hon.
Minister?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND
SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): Thank you Hon. Speaker
Sir. I think the issue of land barons, especially in urban areas, the issue of people who have build homes where it is not actually allocated for building home is a serious issue which the Ministry of Local
Government and Public Works are working on and the new Minister Garwe who is the Minister of National Housing – they are working together to regularise that.
The Hon. Member posed his question in Shona. I am sorry for that.
Let me inform Hon. Moyo who asked the question as to what Government position is regarding people who built their houses illegally. I would like to clarify that Government wants to regularise...
*THE HON. SPEAKER: I urge Hon. Members and Hon.
Ministers to use proper language.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN.
MUTSVANGWA) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): I
understand Hon. Speaker. Let me thank Hon. Moyo who asked this question on what the Government position is regarding those who build their houses illegally, be it in wetlands. If they build in wetlands, this might not be safe. Government plans to regularise the building of houses so that people reside in safe places.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. What is
Government policy relating to local authorities that are seated on land they have been given for housing infrastructure development? What is Government policy relating to that in particular where there is a backlog as an example of 25 000 households, whereas the municipalities are seated on land that is enough for 50 000 infrastructures and household development? Is Government going to make sure that local authorities unlock that barrier?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HOUSING AND
SOCIAL AMENITIES (HON. GARWE): Thank you Hon. Speaker
Sir. I want to thank Hon. Nduna, but from the way he is explaining, this is a particular case which he is very much aware of. I think if he puts it in writing to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon.
July Moyo, he will get a very good and satisfactory answer. I thank you.
HON. BITI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the esteemed Minister of Energy and Power Development who in is absentia. I will direct to
THE HON. SPEAKER: The deputy is there.
HON. BITI: Oh, the deputy is there. Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. In the past few days and past few weeks, there is a significant decrease in power supply and there are massive power outages. We would like to know from the Minister, what is the cause of that when we know that water tables have improved at Kariba and we know that power generation now is around 600MW. What is the cause of that because it is affecting farmers who are in land preparation mode, farmers who are in harvesting mode if you are a wheat farmer and in business and commerce? Some of us are in commerce and we are being crippled by power shortages. I thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question which is quite pertinent at this time of the year. It is true the electricity situation has improved slightly from what it was in the year 2019, just because the water levels at Kariba had picked up a bit but not to the level that we want. I am sure that you are aware that we share the waters in the Kariba Dam with the Zambian Government, so we are generating but not to the maximum of what we should get from Kariba Dam.
Now coming to the problem of where we are having load shedding here and there, it is all because of the outages that we are experiencing without equipment at Hwange Thermal Power Station. Hwange Power Thermal Station should generate more than 500MW but at the moment, like the report that we got todayit is about 300MW because we are operating with only two units. The other three units are out and need to be repaired. The units at Hwange are old and constantly breaking down to the extent that we cannot operate all the six at one time.
I am sure you are aware that two of those machines have been down since last year, 2019 and the work of repairing them could not go ahead because of the lockdown. The engineers who are supposed to come from Italy and some from South Africa have not come to continue with the repairs. So we operate on four units from which we generate about 400MW. If one goes down again, we are left with only three where we can generate about 300MW. That is where the problem is, but we are doing our best to make sure that these units are back and we generate the much needed power. Thank you.
HON. BITI: I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for a very frank answer but Hon. Speaker Sir, it is a very dangerous and precarious position that she discloses. The disclosure that we are generating a mere 200MW from Hwange is frightening given where we are right now at this stage of our economy. It is agricultural season; it is business season. Can the Minister tell this House what measures you are putting now to ensure we have guaranteed imports that will augment the reduced output and generation from Hwange? What are you doing to secure imports either from ESKOM or from HCB Cabora Bassa because we cannot afford to be as low as 200MW when it is land preparation and when it is business because those figures are just frightening? I thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.
HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to start by correcting the Hon. Member of Parliament. I said we are generating 300MW and not 200MW from Hwange Power Station. Yes, I agree with you it is very low and it is not enough for us as a country. What we are doing, I am sure you are also aware that we have often relied on imports from ESKOM and from Cabora Bassa and EDM of Mozambique.
Now the challenge that we were experiencing is that we are still getting the imports but ZETDC have been failing to service their debts with EDM and HDB. We are trying to be up to date with ESKOM as much as we can but because of the low tariffs that we were having since March up to now which were not cost reflective, the utility has accrued quite a huge debt, almost $90 million that should be paid. So that is the challenge that we are having but we are doing our best to make sure that we keep up the good relationship with ESKOM so that we do not go down on our imports. With Mozambique, we are still importing but it is not as healthy as we are getting from ESKOM. Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I am a bit worried by the Hon. Minister’s response when she indicates that ZETDC is having challenges in terms of payments to our suppliers from outside the country. I want to find out from the Hon. Minister what they are doing to try and recover some of the debts which are owed to the ZETDC, particularly from people in positions of authority, bigwigs and so on who have owed ZETDC for quite a long time. Have any measures been put in place to try and recover monies from those bigwigs so that the debt to ESKOM can be serviced?
HON. MUDYIWA: The ZETDC debt that is owed by these people, I think we are very much aware that they have been accrued from the dollarisation era of 2009 when the United States dollar was one as to one with the Zimbabwean dollar, but because of inflation that money is no longer of much value since the Zimbabwean dollar has been devalued to a great extent.
Yes, we know there are some people who still owe the utility from as far back as that time and we have been instructing the ZETDC to come up with measures. For example, they can invite the people for a discussion so that they come up with a payment plan. Some of them have come up with payment plans and others have been switched off. They really have to run around and pay something, come up with a payment plan with ZETDC. That money has been devalued as you are very much aware, but something is being done to recover that debt.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon. Deputy Minister for your comprehensive response. You have been doing very well. I want you to take the message to the Hon. Minister that since his appointment, he has not appeared here in the House. So, can he make some effort to appear in the House and act accordingly?
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, for a very long time you have warned Ministers and Deputy Ministers to attend Parliament according to the Constitution. Therefore, they are in contempt, insubordination and misconduct. I move that the Privileges Committee be set up to investigate all those Ministers and Deputy Ministers according to the records that you have for those who have not followed due process of apologising. It is about time that Parliament with the powers it has exercises its powers. They are disrespectful. Some of them even lied and said they were coming back; they have gone. Today is Question Time when the nation looks forward to answers from the Executive. We are here disciplined in our own way. We have a lot of things to do. They are paid full time as Ministers. Members of Parliament are at all not in that fortunate position. Why are they abrogating their responsibilities? It is about time Mr. Speaker Sir, that Parliament exercises its authority through the Privileges Committee according to Standing Rules and Orders and teach a lesson to some of them. We are an independent institution. We complement the
Executive and the Judiciary. As such, I move that the Privileges
Committee be set up to investigate the names of Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers who will be seen not to have complied with the provisions of the Standing Rules and Orders and the Constitution as well. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. You are within
the Standing Rules. Follow the procedure of Standing Rules and Orders accordingly and liaise with the administration. You need to move a proper motion to that effect. Be advised by the Administration of Parliament. We cannot speak in general terms, the Ministers have got to be identified. Equally, I am disappointed. There was a whole lot of Deputy Ministers here in full attendance and they just disappeared. We cannot allow that. So, you have to follow the procedure. Hon. Mliswa, are you listening?
HON. T. MLISWA: I am listening.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You are listening to your colleague
there.
HON. T. MLISWA: He was going to second. He is a former
chief whip, he is also helping me.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I want a proper motion with correct names of the Ministers concerned, including Deputy Ministers.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I actually think that we
have got a challenge when it comes to Questions With Notice. Firstly, it is also to do with the network. Some of the Members are failing to connect, I think the network is actually a bit poor.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Where is this Member for Question Number 4? Do you know where this Member is?
HON. KARENYI: She is with the Women’s Affairs Committee.
She is attending public hearings.
THE HON. SPEAKER: She is out, so it is not quite accurate.
HON. MUSHORIWA: The major issue Mr. Speaker Sir is
actually the behaviour of the Ministers during this time. Right now, even if you check on the benches, most of the Ministers inspite of you asking them to come back, they have all gone away and it actually creates a problem for Members of Parliament. They now think that it is the new norm that Ministers tend to run away.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, it was agreed that a
motion be raised accordingly and the names of the Ministers concerned will be documented accordingly, including those who are not available to answer questions. Mr. Daniel will look into that and come up with a list. That list will be given to Hon. Mliswa who shall move a motion accordingly and get the Ministers charged for contempt. Those Members who for some unknown reason do not ask their questions will follow the new Standing Rules and Orders to expunge those questions immediately.
WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
POLICY REGARDING TREATMENT PROTOCOLS FOR VICTIMS
OF COVID-19
- HON. K. PHULU asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to appraise the House on the Government policy regarding the treatment protocols for victims of COVID-19.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. MANGWIRO):
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIOR
SERVICES (HON. PHUTI): Yesterday’s proceedings called for the
Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services to respond to fundamental issues that were raised in the Bill and the Minister is here to respond.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON.
MUSWERE): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 36 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 37 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
CYBER SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION BILL [H. B.
18, 2019]
Thirty Seventh Order read: Second Reading: Cyber Security and
Data Protection Bill [H. B. 18, 2019] Question again proposed.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Thank you Madam
Speaker. I stand to add my voice to the debate on Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill. Speaking for myself and the majority of women, we do welcome the Cyber Security Bill because it deals fundamentally with some of the abuses that women have had to face through cyber. I know that male colleagues will probably come back and say they are equally abused but I must argue that if you look at the kind of abuse that women are subjected to and the one that males are subjected to, for women it is always related to their sexuality. The abuse is sexual in nature. In some instances, of late we have actually seen it being so abusive to an extent that it actually speaks of sexual assault. There are threatening messages around ‘we will rape you’, ‘you are a prostitute’ and all sorts of things.
Madam Speaker, the biggest example that one would want to give about what happened in this country in particular, is that last Elections. The last Elections saw unprecedented levels of abuse on cyber particularly on women that either were running for office or women that held particular positions. I am sure most of us will remember the kind of abuse that Judge Chigumba was subjected to. We are not saying people should not have different political opinions and that is why we support a free democratic country. But when that freedom is freedom to abuse, then we have serious problems with it.
Madam Speaker, I have just said at the beginning of my debate that if you do a comparative analysis of the kind of abuse of the males that are in positions of authority to those of women who are in position of authority, you find that invariably, the abuse that is directed to women is always sexual in nature. It is about what is perceived to be the moral standards, the private line, it is about who she sleeps with and who she does not sleep with. So, when we look at this cyber law, one of the things that we should really concentrate on is how you protect women from this cyber abuse.
Madam Speaker, I know that yesterday, some of our colleagues raised issues around fear of the abuse of this particular Act. I spent a lot of time yesterday evening going through the cyber laws in countries which we believe or which are perceived to be democratic the USA being one. In fact, their cyber laws are much more stringent than ours, because in most instances they are dealing with issues of terrorism and therefore literally anything and everything in your life is investigated. This is why you realise that if there is any bombing in Manchester or anywhere, they would have a footprint on what this particular individual has been saying on social media, including those that have engaged with that particular individual.
When we debate these issues, let us not create an impression that in Zimbabwe we are creating some island that is outside the global issue. The issue around the abuse of social media is a global issue. The issue around fake news is a global debate and we need to be able to contextualise it within that context. On my part, I do welcome this Bill. Where I agree with my colleagues that spoke yesterday is what I feel is a mixture of a lot of things in one Bill and very confusing. I am sure the Minister will be able to respond to this. I am not clear why we did not have a separate Bill, not in drafting terms - you could still have both the issues of data protection and cyber security issues in one Bill. In terms of drafting and how it follows through, one wants to understand that these provisions are falling under data protection and you know you are done with it, and then you proceed to the issues of security so that you can put the differences. I got confused just going through it, but I am sure the Minister will be able to explain. It could be that I am naturally not a drafter and there maybe reasons why from a drafting point of view the Bill was put in.
The first point is my inability to be able to appreciate exactly what is falling under data protection and what is coming through the issue of cyber security. The one issue that I struggled with a lot is that you find in the Bill – of course, the issue of POTRAZ which I agree with many others, to say if we are dealing with issues of security - perhaps let us have a conversation around whether POTRAZ is the institution that does so. The one issue that confused me completely was the issue around data controller, data processor and data protection officer as defined in the Bill. I am not sure whether these people would then be operating within the purview of POTRAZ, or whether they themselves are separate as an institution. In some provisions, you find a provision in which they seemingly report to the authority and one assumes that the authority being referred to is POTRAZ. In one instance, it almost put up certain responsibilities that are directly linked to either data processor or data controller. For the reason that we are giving this particular office or person - what exactly does that mean? Does that mean that this person in making the decisions that are provided for in this can make their own independent decisions or those decisions have to be put through the authority?
It would have been easier for a person to understand which office one goes through. Let us assume that there has been a violation on issues of data management, do I proceed to report to the person or do I proceed to report to the authority. That again was not clear from a structural point of view.
There are certain violations that are here that I have found very interesting. Knowing what happens in marriages, we have got a court judgment by Judge Chitapi, it must have been sometime last year and it created a whole lot of debate nationally where he basically said because of the principle of privacy, even a wife or husband in a relationship, if they get or procure information from your phone illegally they have violated the constitutional principle of privacy. I have found that we have now brought that into the legislation because it is illegal and a proper violation if I am with a partner and I decide like most women are doing to use the WhatsApp function where you press in and automatically the messages come to my phone. Any conversation that you are having with somebody else will automatically read on to my phone.
The partner may not take the wife to court, but in the event of a civil partner and my messages have now been gotten by this other person, if you look at the provision that is there that could actually cause violation. If that is illegal then a whole lot of people are going to be arrested because that is what happens. You cannot say it is unlawful because you have done it without my consent. For all intents and purposes, it will be unlawful. I would want the Minister to look at some of those things and the implication that they would make. I say so because I was one of the Members of Parliament who were in Parliament at the time that we passed the Sexual Offences Bill. At that time we were quite happy about the issues of disclosure. One of the things that we were saying around HIV disclosures is that if somebody is HIV positive, surely, you should ensure that your partner knows. If you do not, then it becomes a criminal offence.
We realised over years - which is why we brought it in the Marriages Bill, where we were going against that same provision. We realised that the people that violated that principle more than anybody else were women. It will be women who are likely to know their status before the husband knows, because they are the ones that go to hospital and get tested because they are pregnant or the child is sick and they automatically test the women. I just want to go back to those provisions and look at them and say in terms of that provision, will it not create some problems where as women, we will come back and women are being arraigned every other day, knowing varume vacho nechihure chavo, this will not stop.
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: May you withdraw that. HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I withdraw. There is a
provision around whistleblower – I am very happy because I am in the African Parliamentary Network against Corruption. We have been calling around having legislation that facilitates whistleblowing. The Minister needs to explain why we want to have it in this legislation and not wait for the Whistleblowers Act so that it falls through in that particular legislation, instead of having these small little things that we are putting in. It is just a proposal to say it would make sense within the context of the Whistleblowers Act, instead of just having that provision in there. Then the provision that I am most happy with but which I am going to try and persuade the Minister to perhaps draft in a different way so that it is as effective as we would want it to be, is the provision that speaks to the issue of transmission of intimate images without consent.
Madam Speaker, the one problem that has almost turned out to be a pandemic, particularly for young women is this particular issue. What happens is what is referred to as revenge pornography. A girl is in a relationship with a man and has been shooting nude images which should not be made unlawful because you decide that you want this person to see you in your naked form. In the event that you then break up, they then use those images against you. We have seen them being used against girls that would have qualified for Miss Zimbabwe, I think we have two instances, where girls were actually disqualified because these men then put up the nude pictures out there.
This is why I think that provision should almost be dealt with or drafted in a different form ,because when you say Hon. Minister any person who unlawfully and intentionally broadcast or distributes a data message, you may be....
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Misiharabwi, you are
left with 5 minutes.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: You maybe in a danger
of not dealing with the issue that speaks to consent. I think the mischief that you want to deal with is not the distribution; the mischief is the lack of consent. So if we circulate the images but we have consented to the circulation, that should not be unlawful. If you leave it as just unlawful, you give it a wider interpretation of what constitutes unlawful - but you merely just draft it in a manner that is purely the issue of consent. If you start distributing that message without my consent or those pictures without my consent, then that is where the problem arises.
So, we will be proceeding to come up with some amendments to tighten that particular area, but one would want to congratulate the Minister for making sure that the issue of revenge pornography is in this legislation because it has been one of the biggest problem that has dehumanized, created problems for a lot of young people, irrespective of how we may feel. We know that men like theirs distributed if their organs can be celebrated but we have not seen those that have
distributed messages when their organs are nothing to talk about. It could be good if we could have that. I thank you very much.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON.
MUSWERE): Thank you Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to the contributions which have been made by Hon. Members. I will start with the contributions by Hon. Nguluvhe on the cyber security centre that they should be a balance related to the use of personnel from the security forces. That is best addressed through the establishment of the Cyber Security Committee which will have 11 experts from various Government departments which also includes the police, that is the security sector - based on their merit in terms of cyber security, ICT and telecommunications.
Clauses 5 and 6 addresses that Madam Speaker, with regards to Hon. Chikwinya, POTRAZ is better placed to deal with the housing of the Cyber Security Centre and Data Protection Authority given that telecommunications operators are an enabling factor for the data economy as they provide the infrastructure upon which the data economy is developing as a result they already fall under POTRAZ, existing regulatory domain. Also in a data economy, mobile numbers, our rather stable customer identifier which can be used to consolidate data collected from different sources about a given individual and this can be achieved through successful implementation of sim-card registration and number portability.
Since telecommunications operators play a critical role in the data economy regarding the provision of reliable identifier is used to exchange data and to limit the proliferation of false data. The telecommunications regulator is better placed to control such operations. Operators are also a relevant source of rich and valuable data, for example the smart phone location data. This kind of data constitutes what we know now as personally identifiable information which needs to be kept private, hence the regulator is already ensuring its security. In addition to that the telecommunication regulators have accumulated considerable experience in terms of data collection and consumer protection. It is also taking preventive action to promote data protection.
Telecommunications Regulators have experienced continuous marketing, monitoring and this is relevant in a data economy as they also require continuous market monitoring. The process of applying the marketing monitoring tools involves the approach to data collection, identifying data requirements and data segmentation taking into consideration market specifications. Designing collection methods deciding on the regulators framework of the collection, POTRAZ also encompasses fostering the development of wholesale markets notable evaluating the effects of practice such as long term access agreements or sharing mechanisms.
Such evaluations might be relevant in the case of access to data via data sharing mechanisms. POTRAZ has the capacity and expertise to identify areas of intervention to prevent cyber crime, promote and coordinate activities focused on improving cyber security and preventing cyber crime by all interested parties in the public and private sectors.
They also have the expertise to provide guidelines to public and private sector, interested parties on matters relating to awareness, training, enhancement, investigations, prosecution and combating cyber crime and managing the cyber security threat.
They also have expertise in the enforcement of the Act to ensure that it is enforced reasonably and with due regard to fundamental human rights and freedom. They also have expertise in terms of technical capacity and policy advice to the Minister among other things. Clause 2 deals with the same subject.
Hon. P. D. Sibanda spoke about the forwarding of messages; this is dealt with in terms of Clause 164 of the Bill. Clause 164 Part II of the Bill relates to the offences relating to electronic communications and material. The transmission of data messages inciting violence or damaged property. Any person who unlawfully by means of a computer or information system makes available, transmits, broadcasts or distributes a data message to any person, group of persons or to the public with the intention to incite such persons to commit acts of violence against any person or persons or to cause damage to any property, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years.
Section 164 (a) in relation to the sending of threatening data messages – any person who unlawfully and intentionally, by means of a computer or information system, sends any data message to any message threatening harm to the person or the person’s family or friend or damage to the property, such person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years or to both such fine and imprisonment. He also contributed to the distinction between illegal hacking and ethical hacking, that we have taken note Madam Speaker and will be amended.
Hon. Biti’s contribution related to the basic rights which will not be liquidated by this Bill as it will protect the citizenry and also ensure the technological advancement in the country in terms of technology since we are in the fourth industrial revolution. In terms of the structure of the Bill, I do not think it is necessary to unbundle the Cyber Security and Data Protection because it is closely related. Clauses 13, 17 and 23, we will look into Madam Speaker and obviously adjust accordingly.
Section 2, we have taken note of it and the points from Hon. Biti and we will also make some adjustments. With regards to Hon. Misihairabwi, she fully supports the Bill and that the Bill will be able to curb cyber crime. The Bill’s main purpose is to curb cyber crime and to ensure that the cyber security will protect the fundamental human rights of all citizens of this country. We also totally agree with Hon.
Misihairabwi in the context of cyber security and data protection.
With regards to the guidelines to the data controllers, Part 5 deals with that and the structural issues will be simplified, so that amendment will be there. The handling of the other issue which has also contributed regarding civil marriages, I think that is another area – [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjection.] –I mean I had discussed about something else; the inadmissibility and admissibility of evidence in a court of law of evidence in a court of law, that I think can be handled in another forum.
The Cyber Security Centre is an integral part of the cyber security effort of a country and it operates mainly as in an advisory role to the various actors in the cyber space. It coordinates the cyber security efforts by operating with the National Computer Incident Response Team. With regards to whistle blowing, I think there is need for uniformity; we cannot have a specific whistle blowing in the ICT sector which does not cover the entire areas.
Our priority in a digital economy is to have this legislation as it seeks to address the challenges in a data-driven economy. I think some of the abuses that Hon. Misihairabwi highlighted will come to an end if this Bill goes through and is passed. I thank you Madam Speaker. I therefore move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: Thursday, 1st October, 2020.
On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL
AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. PHUTI), the House adjourned at
Twenty Eight Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 30th September, 2020
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
INVITATION TO A ZIMBABWE WOMEN PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS HALF-DAY WORKSHOP
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform the Senate that all Hon. Members of the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus are invited to a half day workshop for the validation of the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus 50/50 Position Paper at the Rainbow Towers tomorrow, Thursday, 1st October, 2020 at 0900 hours. The bus will leave Parliament Building at 0830 hours.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MUNZVERENGWI): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 3 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 4 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2019
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion that this House takes note of the Annual Report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the year 2019, presented to Parliament in terms of Section 323 (1) of the Constitution f Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MKHWEBU: I thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity that I contribute on the report which was moved by the Hon Vice President Mohadi, on the Commission on National Peace and Reconciliation. It was the first report from the Commission to be tabled before this House, if I am not mistaken. There was a lot of talk all over the country and His Excellency saw it fit that the Vice President should move or table a report before this House on peace and reconciliation on communities around the country, particularly in the southern region of the country, that is Matabeleland.
There was a lot of debate and talk about Gukurahundi. It was immediately after Independence and it was not easy because there were a lot of struggles. What impressed me is that communities have been engaged and there has been reconciliation so that people can live peacefully in communities. It was not only the Gukurahundi issue but there are a lot of things that caused commotion in the communities. People were not living peacefully because there were differences and animosities. People killed each other over grazing pastures and boundaries. It is important that there is reconciliation.
As a result Mr. President, I saw it fit that I make a brief contribution on this matter on reconciliation. Right now, we are on a different stage of COVID-19. People are not shaking hands. When things were good, people would sit down in their communities and engage on what they wanted. With those few words, I thank you Mr. President.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWITCHING OFF OF CELLPHONES
THE HON DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to remind Hon Senators that you should put your phones on silent. Secondly, if you are going to speak, I am requesting you to switch on your gadgets so that Hon. Senators who are outside this Chamber can follow the proceedings. As you know, some of the Senators are following this session virtually.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MUNZVERENGWI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 1st October 2020.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT FOR THE LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee.
HON SEN. RAMBANEPASI: I second.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to present the Annual Report of the First Session of the 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe to this august Senate. I am going to be looking at mostly the recommendations which were suggested for that session.
You are aware that this report covers both Houses; I am just going to concentrate on issues which affect the Senate. Of the 80 Senators in the Senate, 41 were in the Eighth Parliament while 39 were new members. This represents about 48.75%, again Mr. President Sir, in terms of reference for Thematic Committees, I am aware that Hon. Senators do not usual carry their books for Standing Rules and Orders, but the Thematic Committees are subject to Standing Orders - meaning that a Thematic Committee must examine Government policies which fall under or relate to the designated theme or themes and other matters falling under the jurisdiction.
I think when We had that meeting in Bulawayo, that point was highlighted that we should know exactly what we are discussing in our different Thematic Committees. However, one hopes that the most critical issues that were not finished in this session which are alignment of laws to the 2013 Constitution and enactment of laws to improve the easy of doing business in Zimbabwe, will be looked at in the next session.
It is therefore critical to enhance the capacity of Committees; examine the complexity of Government processes. Mr. President Sir, the sector specific training, parliamentarians require having various skills to effectively hold Government to account and to ensure that effective service delivery is done. In this report, the recommendations concerning that which again Sir, I will ask you to allow me to read.
Recommendation one was that the administration of Parliament should, as a matter of urgency, facilitate sector specific training for all the CommitteeS those found wanting here and there. This will enhance the performance of members of the various Committees in their oversight mandate.
Secondly, in view of the budgetary constraints, at least nine Committees should be prioritized for benchmarking visits during the 2020 financial year.
The other recommendations were specifically looking at the Bills that were passed in the last session. There were 10 Bills which were submitted and of those 10 Bills submitted, only two were not passed during the last Session.
Cellphone rings
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Senators whose phone is ringing, I will send that person out because I have already made an announcement that I will now allow phone calls in this Senate.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President Sir, I was just saying that only 2 out of 10 ten Bills had not been passed during the session we are discussion, that is the Education Amendment Bill and also the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill which I am aware that has been done later in the term. I now want to specifically look at the recommendations on Bills,
Cellphone rings.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President Sir, I am continually being disturbed by the phone I do not know what to do but I will try to shout. On the Bills recommendation, there is need for Parliament to enhance the capacity of Committees and its members in the analysis of Bills. This is part of the strategies in the ISP of 2018 to 2023 to ensure the timely passage of Bills and this should be given high priority.
Secondly, Committees this was against emphasised to make sure that monthly, quarterly and annually we have to follow up with the relevant ministries and ensure Bills outlined by His Excellency the President in the legislative agenda during the State of the Nation Address are brought to Parliament on time.
The third recommendation, the Ministry of Justice should as a matter of urgency review the capacity in the Attorney General’s Office in respect of legislative drafting skills and ensure the capacity is enhanced. The other area covered was the Government systems enhanced here, it was felt that in order for members to be more articulate and relevant, it is being recommended that in future if it is feasible one member should only belong to one Committee.
There were also recommendations regarding the budget oversight by Committees, I have already talked to that monthly, quarterly and annually, we should be looking at that. The recommendations on the budget oversight by Committees, especially us as Thematic Committees, Portfolio Committee should religiously follow up with ministries and ensure that monthly, quarterly and annually-financial reports are submitted to Parliament within the stipulated timeframes provided for in the Public Finance Management Act.
In order for Members to be more articulate and relevant, it is recommended that in future, if it is feasible, one Member should belong only to one Committee. There were also recommendations regarding the Budget oversight by Committees, I have already talked about that. Monthly, quarterly and annually, we should be looking at that. The recommendations on the budget oversight by Committees, especially ourselves with Thematic Committees - Portfolio Committees should religiously follow up with ministries and ensure that monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports are submitted to Parliament within the stipulated timeframes provided for in the Public Finance Management Act. Maybe we do not do that because we do not even know what the timeframe is.
The second recommendation was that, Portfolio Committees should religiously scrutinise quarterly and annual financial reports and table reports in the House without fail. So, our Thematic Committees should in future do that.
Lastly, the recommendation on the Budget oversight – the Administration of Parliament should prioritise the training of Budget Analysis during the Second Session of the 9th Parliament.
President Sir, in conclusion, I wish to say that, it is expected that more reports could be tabled during the Second Session because this was lacking in the First Session. Reports should be timeously presented in both Houses. The Senate is encouraged to utilise the sitting times and avoid adjourning the business early. Committees are also urged to follow up with ministries under their purview and other public entities.
Mr. President Sir, before I sit down, I hope that whatever outstanding business which we might not have dealt with in the First Session will be expeditiously looked into in the Second Session. I thank you Mr. President Sir.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President Sir for giving me this opportunity to second the motion which has been brought forward to this august House by Hon. Sen. Muzenda. Mr. President Sir, this Report is very pertinent and I urge Members in this august House to go through the Report because it touches on the issue to do with our business as Parliamentarians. Just to echo what Hon. Muzenda has said in the Report that; we need to have more induction and training of new Members of Parliament as we have seen that about 50% of the Members who are seated in here are new and the duty to scrutinise, analyse and track Government performance and policies cannot be assumed because the dangers in such assumptions Mr. President Sir, is that we are going to shortchange the nation. Parliament’s duty is to scrutinise and appraise the performance of the Executive. If the people who are supposed to appraise are not empowered enough, then I think we will have problems. I think that was a very important point which was raised in this Report Mr. President.
During the State of the Nation Address, when the President presented his address, one of the issues which he raised was to make sure that we comply with what the Constitution mandates us to do, that is aligning laws to the 2013 Constitution. It goes without saying Mr. President that each Thematic Committee should therefore be appraised with the laws which are relevant to the area which they overlook and provide oversight and then make sure that the respective ministries are held to account and bring those Bills for alignment in time. I think this is one of the problems which we always find even the public attacking the Legislature in that we are almost seven years after the adoption of this progressive Constitution but we have done very little to align the relevant laws to the Constitution.
I think Hon. Sen. Muzenda raised the point that one of the most important points that came out of the Report is the failure of the Legislature to align was mainly due to shortage of staff in the Attorney-General’s Office. I hope with the Bills passed by Parliament to have appointment of the Attorney-General’s Deputies, I think this will help to fast track and help us to make sure that the drafting of laws is done timeously and we can be able to bring most of our statutes in alignment with supreme law of the land. I hope as the Legislature, we will also be looking at our programme of action and evaluate ourselves as we go in. I think one of the skills which we lack as the Legislature is to know how to evaluate, to provide the ongoing evaluation on our performance. We wait until at the end of the Session then we start to say, we failed to achieve this and that instead of us providing the information in time but suffice to say it does not come without training. That emphasises the need to empower our Members to be able to provide that important function. So, we really need training as Members of the Legislature.
The importance of training Mr. President – I think as we sit here in this august House, we look at the National Budget, very few of us have got skills to analyse and critique the National Budget but as we know that is the most important document if we want to put it as a document because it spells out how the Government is going to perform. This is because it allocates resources to various functions of the Government. If we are not capable of critically analysing those and miss that important stage Mr. President, it means whatever we do throughout the year, will not be very useful, we will be missing the target. As these very important weaknesses have been highlighted, I hope the relevant Administration of Parliament will see it fit to make sure that these are addressed timeously so that the next report will not highlight these again.
For those who have gone through the report, I think there was a very important section of the report which was actually appraisal of us as Members of Parliament to our attendance of our respective Committees that we choose. It is important for each one of us to be given that report and see how we have performed individually and then also see how we can improve at individual levels but suffice to say there are Members who performed very well who have got almost 80-90% attendance but there are also Members who have not performed very well.
One of the issues which has been raised – I hope the Administration of Parliament will look into it because it affects the performance of these Committees. This is membership to various Committees. I think the current scenario where members can belong to two Committees – some belong to three Committees, is very difficult for these Members to actually give attention to all those Committees. I think it is very important that we harmonise and make sure that we put all these Committees and people do not belong to Committees which actually do conflict in some of the cases because there were also reports where some Committees which were supposed to do outreach failed to do that because they would not constitute a quorum because the Members were belonging to so many Committees. When it comes to going for the outreach programmes, members would have the discretion to choose which Committees they do want to go.
Unfortunately, as we all know, some of the meetings are sponsored by outsiders and those tend to attract Members at the detriment of other Committees which are run by Parliament. That is a very important issue which we need to address and as we go on, it is a good recommendation which I think Members – I know it may not come out very positive to some Members but if we are to be honest with ourselves, we need to be giving much more effort to our Committees. With the little experience we have had because we are new to this august House; we have seen that belonging to more than one Committee has got a negative effect on our performance because if you go, you miss one – the next time you do not know what they have been doing. You will end up following without contributing positively to the discourse of the Committee.
Like I said Mr. President, I hope these areas which have been identified which impact negatively on our performance as members of the Legislature who are mandated by the Constitution to supervise and superintend on Government and Executive performance will be addressed.
With these few words, I would want to conclude by saying, training, training, training is important. If we are not trained Mr. President. Some of us may not even know the importance or gravity of the duties which are bestowed on us. We should be providing oversight but how many of the Committees are giving necessary pressures to the respective Ministry to provide reports timeously so that we can be able to do our duties. I am sure that from that report, there were some Commissions which are established by the Constitution which are supposed to give periodic reports and even Ministries which are supposed to be giving periodic reports also go for a year without giving reports. Where does it lead us to?
That scenario reveals two things that we the people who are supposed to be providing that oversight actually do not know. We are not equipped to know that it is something which is mandatory; quarterly or periodically. We should be demanding those reports because they are the ones that enable us to perform our duties. In our various Committees, we should be – from this report; learn that we need periodic information given by the respective Ministry so that we can analyse. That is the only way we can represent the country effectively. Infact, the duty of the Legislature, that is us, is much more honorous than the duties of the Executive. The Executive work under pressure and sometimes they may not be able to scrutinise what they are doing. That was the wisdom of creating these Committees? We need to be providing that backup and direction to the Executive for the betterment of the performance of our country. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important motion which has been brought by Hon Sen. Muzenda.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: May I remind Hon. Senators to wear your masks – Senator Charumbira and all of you Hon. Senators. Wear your masks properly. You should cover your nose. Treat everybody as if they have COVID including yourself. All of us have to fight this pandemic and we are leaders in this House.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 1st October, 2020.
Hon. Sen. Chief NgunguMbane having removed his mask to drink water.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I do not think you are taking me seriously.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON DOMESTICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Sixth Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on domestication of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. TIMIRE: Thank you very much Mr. President for allowing me to debate on the motion. I want to thank Sen. Muzenda with the motion which she raised about the Convention of Rights for people with disability. This convention explains well the rights of a disabled person. People are designing programmes which are for disabled people and they see how they are going to do it because they will be taking these things from a written document which explains very well. I want to thank mostly the Government because we did not have the policy for many years but now they managed to have the policy. It is not yet tabled but we are expecting that it will be tabled soon.
We are also grateful that the Disability Act of 1992 was amended and we now have the Bill. It has not come to Parliament because it is unique but it has already come to the disabled community. We have seen the Bill and we have put our input. We are waiting for it to be completed so that it will come put into law.
Mr. President, I want to stress some points on the motion raised yesterday. It was said that people who are disabled face many challenges that make them not fit properly in the society in terms of developing our country. I also look at the term disabled. What is disabled? Is it how people see me? It does not mean that. If I am explaining disability, I explain it as something which prevents me to do my day to day work. These are barriers which prevent me to perform the duties that I want to do every day. I am also a human being like everyone and have the rights like everyone has. There are no other rights which can be removed for the disabled person but it is the barriers.
I will give an example, yesterday a person with albinism wanted to buy in one big shop in Masvingo. When the person reached the supermarket she said her skin reacts to sanitizers because she is albino. The shop owners did not understand that and the person was sent away and did not manage to buy. The albino person asked for water and soap to wash her hands and they could not understand because they do not know what it means to be disabled. If you put a chemical on a skin of an albino person and you react, you are can get cancer. All of us know that if someone reacts and have cancer we know how it is going to end – death. This person did not manage to buy and she went home. Her children might have slept hungry. If she wanted to buy some sanitary pads she could not manage.
Looking at other barriers, everyone of us wants to vote but there is no one looking at our polling stations to see if they cater for disabled persons. There is no one looking at those barriers but we are talking about people who constitute about 10% of our country’s population. I did disability accessibility assessment in Zvimba, Makonde and Hurungwe while some other people worked in other provinces. In all the polling stations I managed to reach, I saw five polling stations that were accessible. Other polling stations are not accessible because they need lights as there are other people who have challenges in seeing properly. All those things were not properly done. It shows that something is lacking and that needs to be promoted and done adequately. The disabled persons have the right to vote and choose whom they want. The barrier is when I go into the voting booth, it is difficult and painful. Since 99% of our polling stations are schools.
How are the disabled children going to school? It is another barrier. It means they are lagging behind and their right to education is being violated. The Convention on the Right of Persons with Disability signed by our country in 2013 shows that all those barriers are things which make the person with disability to be removed so that the person is not able to do whatever he or she wants. If those barriers are removed, it means a disabled person can be able to access every service. They can go to school or to work. If you look at work places you will find that people with disabilities are very few. The reason is the state of our infrastructure. There are certain institutions that when you want to go to another area – I will give an example of our Parliament. If I wish to go to second floor, the lift does not stop in the second floor but I am not be able to use the stairs. My term might end and I may not be able to reach second floor. What is the state of the offices and everything, I have seen a barrier which has prevented me and it is something which is painful and difficult in our lives.
I also want to say disability is not how you see me but what makes me disabled is how you have received me. Right now, I am very happy that Parliament has employed someone who does sign language. I know that the person is around because I have seen him and I was not told by anyone but it is because I know him. When I was voted in, it is because they want to hear what I say and it was painful for the past years sitting here. The person who voted does not know what we are talking about. When you come to the rallies, he does not hear what you are saying.
When Government talks about development doing all programmes, the deaf person does not hear anything; what they are saying, meaning that the person is lagging behind on Vision 2030 because he has no proper information. Right now we have Covid 19, the Ministry had no jobs but where are the disabled people? What are their needs because there is no database? There are no statistics. We just know that there is someone who is there to distribute resources to people you do not know which is difficult and does not come out properly.
Looking at the Taskforce for COVID 19, there was no disabled person. Knowing what is really needed by the people who are disabled, no one really knows because the person who feels the pain is the one who is in that situation. It is something which is very difficult and painful that we do not have a database. So where are we? We go for the budget process, we go to Victoria Falls and when we are there, how many people are we budgeting for who are disabled - we do not know. How much resources are we putting, it does not come out properly.
Looking at our Constitution which is the supreme law of the land, it does not give us our right as it must be given to us. It is written “if the resources are available” that is when it will happen. The reason why these people rate us down is that they do not know how many people they are budgeting or doing that for. If they have a database and knowing that when you go to Parliament, that 1,5 or 2 million people is easy to do.
Mr. President, I want to say the issue of disability is painful. We see even in the laws it does not come out clearly although we have the rights. We see that the Constitution is being amended on the issue of 50/50 for women and youths, but there is nothing about disability being discussed. Not even one thing has been said but we are there as the disabled youths and women. There is a small portion on youths that is being talked about from the disabled people.
In this House, it is only myself and Hon. Sen. Khupe and every day we are asked - which one is your constituency? The whole nation - is that realistic? Is it true, the whole nation with two people representing two million people? It is not possible. We are requesting for at least one per person per province so that each province is represented. For us to be able to unite the whole country whilst everyone is running back to their constituencies is very difficult. Those who have many people, it is about three hundred something thousand when I as an individual am expected to have a constituency which covers about 1,5 to 2 million people.
We are overwhelmed even if you look at our phones, myself and Hon. Senator Khupe; they are full of messages detailing challenges being faced by the disabled people. For us to be able to fulfil all this while it is just the two of us is difficult. It must be scrutinised and looked into, so we know how best we can do it even if we can get a portion to enable development in the country.
I want to say the disabled people are people who have many talents. If you go to where they manufacture furniture at Morgenster that is the one we buy in many shops which is very beautiful. They have talents, real talents. If you give them beads they will make very beautiful African beads which can be exported, which means disabled people are a resource that helps develop the country and our economy will improve if we are given the opportunity. I always say the right of a disabled person is a right for everyone. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to contribute on this motion. When this motion was introduced in the House, I think there are very important statistics which were said but I am sure that those statistics might have escaped most of us. We missed them and as such, we might not be in a position to attach any significance to those statistics. I would want to contribute to this motion first by zeroing in on those statistics. I may not be very specific on the figure but from the presentation, we were told that about 1,4 million people in Zimbabwe are people living with disabilities.
We apologies for continuously saying people with disabilities because we should not be using that term. We should be using a better term. I think this is one of the first points where discrimination is coming in. We have never been described or referred to as the fatty, shorter or tall one but why should we continuously refer to people who are challenged as people with disability. If you look in a dictionary, disability means you cannot do anything. As such Mr. President, you have even made those people who are not challenged to ignore people who are living with different challenges because they are disabled. They cannot do anything or fight for their rights. Mr. President, I would want us to refine our terminology when we refer to these probably for it will change our attitude.
Our Constitution is very clear and I think it was crafted in such a way that it included everyone but the unfortunate bit Mr. President, is that we do not approach our Constitution and look at it in a holistic manner. Allow me to just say “tinoita sevanhu vaya vaya vanoti vanonotsvaga verse remuBhaibheri rokuti anotora chidimbu kuti ringoita zvaanoda asi akatarisa Bhaibheri rese zvaanenge achitaura zvinenge zvisingapindirane nezvaari kutaura”.
I think this is what we are doing with our Constitution. Our Constitution says we are all equal but can we ask as we sit here, are we really honest that we are all equal? The situation obtaining on the ground - does it resonate with that which the Constitution has said? I would answer it with a big NO. As such, I think we need to address the very basic things. We are all equal and we should be treated fairly.
Our Constitution has got various sections where it tries to convey that very same message that we are all equal. If you go to Section 56 (3) of the Constitution it says “every person has a right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner on such grounds as nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic, social origin, language, class, religion, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability or economic or social status”. I underline in bold disability. If we look at how we are practicing or how we are running as a country, it is important to highlight that. We look at the makeup of the legislature. Ten percentage of our population are people who are living with physical or mental or all challenges that are labelled disabled. How many Members represent that constituent? We have 210 Members of Parliament and it would be fair that at least 10% of those Members should be people living with various forms of disability. In the Lower House there are two but we have less than five who are representing 10% of the constituencies.
As we look on amendments of our Constitution, those are the issues which we should address first before we go to any other amendments. Like Hon Senator Timire said, right now we were talking about extension of the life of the proportional representation, we are actually extending that but what about the people living with disability. This is an opportunity when that Constitutional Amendment Bill comes, we should actually stand to say this is one of the additions which should be there if we are to pass that Constitution. At least we should have a target which we should achieve so that the people living with disability are reasonably represented.
She was rightly correct when she said like here in Parliament, only two people represent the whole country. Honestly, who can perform all that? It is not possible. Those are some of the issues which we need to address. As a Government we cannot be seen to be practicing a discriminatory role, because our policies are very much discriminatory. This provision was signed a long time ago but they are taking long to come in. Those are issues which should be treated with the urgency they deserve.
In Shona there is an idiom which says “seka urema wafa”. As we are seated in here, within a day or week we can be labelled as people living with disability. Those challenges which are being faced by our fellow citizens who are disabled will actually be knocking at our door. Unfortunately, we will have missed the opportunity. Let us be fair and enact laws which cater for everyone. In other words I do not think I will very far away from the truth if I say, the way we live as a nation is actually the life of the jungle which is survival of the fittest. As long as one section of the community is weak no one will talk for them. Is that the type of Zimbabwe we want? I answer to all of us is a big NO. Let us walk the talk and let us enact laws which will make us equal before God because our Constitution says we are all equal.
If you look at allocation of resources in the budget, there is money set aside for various activities like small scale farmers, but we do not set aside money to assist people living with disability and empower them so that they become self reliant. That is gross injustice which unfortunately we are looking at. We need to start lobbying the President when he chooses his Cabinet. We should have Ministry of Disability or whatever term so that we have a specific ministry looking at this important constituency. That should be the starting point, because right now it is under the Ministry of Social Welfare. I do not think that is proper. We should unite as Members of the legislature to push this very important agenda. It is worth it and it shows us that we are walking the talk, rather than what we are doing at the moment.
I can go on and on repeating the same message. Allow me to end by reminding legislators that life of people with disability matters. We should start to show that. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add one or two words on the motion that was raised by Hon Sen. Muzenda. I want to thank you Senator for your motion. I also want to thank the seconder of the motion, it is an important motion. Mr. President, I do not want to say a lot. My introduction is that as august Senate, let us come to an understanding that each province should have people with disabilities who represent them in this august Senate and we want our traditional leaders to support this issue. We should not be talking about this matter anymore. If we are to honestly look at this issue, the numbers of people who are voting are people with disability. Our request is that they should be accorded their rights. This Senate should unite, it is a matter that was supposed to be included in the Constitution -not for us to reiterate this issue now and again.
They are our relatives and children, no one was born out of the process of carrying a baby for 9 months, they were all carried for 9 months. So, my request Mr. President is probably as time moves on, what we request is that each province should have a representative of people living with disability be it in the Senate or National Assembly. These people are even more knowledgeable than us and have wisdom. Some of us when we leave this Senate, get words of wisdom from them. We have different forms of disability, one day I was watching a certain movie and there was a very strong white man, he was very obese, to an extent that it can be referred to as a disability. As that person was on the TV screen, I did not know that the day old chicks were under his chin, which is disability, we all have different disabilities.
Mr. President, this is not an issue to say a lot of words but we are saying we have our traditional leaders who are the custodians of our communities. Traditional leaders do not need anyone’s votes, you know the areas that you preside under and you know the challenges that are being faced. You know the Bills that are coming here and you are passing those laws, yet you are forgetting our fellow relatives living with disability. It is a point of concern Mr. President because these people are able to do certain things.
I have an uncle who lives in Chegutu, he has completed preparing for farming and has done what is required for the Pfumvudza project, he has done preparations for a whole hectare. He has even put manure in holes so these people are able to do a lot of things, meaning we are just the same with them, disability is not inability. Our request Mr. President to the traditional leaders, His Excellency the President and the Hon. Senators is that this matter should be addressed once and for all. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 30th September, 2020.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday 30th September, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) AND GENDER DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENQUIRY INTO PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE AND PORTABLE WATER
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development on the enquiry into people’s access to clean, safe and potable water.
*HON. SEN. RWAMBIWA: Thank you Mr. President. I am grateful for the motion that was moved by Hon. Sen. Khupe. This is an important motion. Looking at Chapter 77 of the Constitution, it provides that water is life, everyone has the right to clean water. So, it is important to look at it and have clean water. If you are not clean or putting on clean clothes, you are not seen as a normal person. Since water is life, we want everyone to use clean water. Water for our livestock and vegetation, they also require water. All those things require water.
When we look at what is around us, we realise that water is a challenge in most areas. At Mwenezi Clinic, there is a deplorable challenge of water. Even those people in rural areas have challenges in accessing clean water. As you know, water from the river that would have dried up is full of insects and other dead animals This is what is being used by the people and that water is not safe. The distance that people have to travel to get this kind of water is about 20 kilometres just to get a bucket of water. For those people with scotch-carts, it is easier but not all of us are privileged to have scotch-carts. So, you need to carry that water on your head. It is difficult for women and the girl child because we travel long distances in order to access water for everyone in the household to be able to get it. On average, a person uses 40 litres per day for cooking, bathing and drinking. Getting water is a challenge for the women and our hope is that Government will do something about it.
Where we visited, their hope is that the Government would resuscitate boreholes. Even when it comes to health facilities like clinics, everyone needs water for them to be assisted, especially the pregnant women. A woman without clean water will have her dignity destroyed. So we need boreholes in all areas. If you look at Masvingo, it is a sorry sight because in most areas, there is inadequate rainfall. If you look at areas like Mashoko and Mukaro –Zengeya, it is a sorry sight because there is no water at all in those areas. Even when the rainfall season approaches, these areas do not receive adequate rainfall. What then do we do to ensure that the people in these areas have access to clean water? That is why you see that people from those areas, when they come to urban centres, they do not want to go back to the rural areas because they would have experienced a new way of life. This is because they also consider the way of living, the difficult ways of life they would have lived in the rural areas. Some even engage in prostitution. So, let us address such issues to ensure that people have access to a good life. Mr. President, we wish everyone could get all these basics.
In urban areas where we visited around, the water that is being supplied by ZINWA is dirty and people complained that they are getting dirty water and there are water cuts and rationing which denies people access to clean water. Let us not only consider and value ourselves as we give each other clean bottled mineral water and yet the majority of people are drinking dirty water. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 1st October, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 46TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HELD IN NAMIBIA
Ninth Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 46th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE (HON. MUNZVERENGWI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 1st October, 2020.
MOTION
DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN UNDER CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Tenth Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to alleviate challenges associated with the early discharge of youths from child care facilities.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice to the motion that was raised by Hon. Sen. Tongogara and the seconder of the motion on the issue of children being looked after in orphanages. That motion is important and looks at the challenges that are being faced so that the nation can address them so that these children grow up with their rights being fulfilled.
We also realise that after 18 years, a child leaves the orphanage and it is a challenge because after attaining the age of 18, those children are told to leave the orphanage and it is not clear where they will go. So, I think it is important for the Government to come up with a solution as to how they can assist these orphans when they attain the age of 18 by empowering them and give them a source of livelihood like taking them to vocational training centres. We have a lot of those vocational training centres that are equipping the young people on different skills. A child can choose the course that she wants to do that will assist to alleviate the challenge of street children, especially the girl children because they end up getting married at a tender age. What is happening in the vocational training centres is that children are being equipped and have a source of livelihood and it avoids unnecessary loitering.
They should be accorded the opportunity to learn different skills in the vocational training centres. It will also deal with the issue of the rising crime rate because once a person has a source of livelihood; they will not embark on criminal activities. I want to thank the Hon. Senator for that motion because it leaves us with a question as to how we can assist these children in orphanages. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I would also want to add a few words on the issue that was raised by Hon. Sen. Tongogara considering children who live in orphanages or children’s homes. As a nation, I think we are not seriously taking this matter into consideration. We need to sit down and enlighten each other on the matter. In this august House, we are blessed to have our traditional leaders. We need to get wisdom from them as to why children end up in orphanages.
My mother was troubled when she moved around in Harare, Gweru and Gutu. She used to ask me if the people who are on the street do not have relatives. I would respond that I do not know and she would say what are you doing in Parliament if you are not looking into such matters. In short I can say – where has our integrity gone because if you are to seriously consider this matter, there is need to look at the root cause of the problem.
As the situation stands now, it is similar to the debate where we said we need to be aware of what these children are doing, province by province. We have written documents and statistics of children in those areas. I agree with those who spoke before me that it would be good that if they finish school, they should be given skills to ensure that they become empowered and can look after themselves. Like now, if we had foresight, probably there were some who wanted to engage in agriculture. As a Government, we could have given them probably an acre each and encouraged them to embark on farming. They would also get title deeds. I think this would assist.
I am also of the opinion that companies that are able should employ these children with skills. If the companies are approached by the Government to take a certain percentage of children from such background, it would assist and also have tax rebates for such companies.
I also think that it is important for us to carry out benchmarking visits in Africa because the challenges that we face as Africa are more or less similar. I have never been to Rwanda but I think they do not have such a challenge. We need to find out how they are addressing the challenges of orphans.
What I also think might assist us as a nation is that – if children are in these orphanages, for example in Harare; I do not know how many orphanages we have. For those who are able, is it possible that as the children grow up – because we know that some end up in the orphanages as babies; is it possible that when they start going to school from ECD, could they be other people who can commit themselves and take some of these children during holidays and live with them if they have children of the same age and keep them as their biological children during the holidays. This will assist them not to confine themselves to the children’s homes.
These are the few suggestions that I have and honestly, I think we need to consider and see how we can address this issue because it is not good at all. As a Government, we need to bring this to an end. We do not want to see such things recurring in the next ten or twenty years because if we do not address it, it will be a big challenge for the nation. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. M.R. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. I will look at the children, parents and the Government. The issue under debate is a painful issue. We see street kids begging for money and usually they will be on the middle of the road.
I would like to explain what I witnessed Mr. President. At one time I walked around sunset. I wanted to check where these street children get their food and where they sleep. I went with another Hon. Member and asked the children if they had someone who takes you to go and look after you and give you a better livelihood – some of them said they will not go because one had an experience whereby he was taken to Borrowdale. He used to work and do a lot of things and get money as well but they never wanted to buy him broncho which was what he wanted. She ran away and decided to go back to town because there was no broncho in Borrowdale.
Then there was a girl, considering the age of that child, she was only twelve years. I did not see her face but the girl said that if you remove me from the street and you take me to Glen Norah and take the boy to Kambuzuma, I cannot be separated from my boyfriend. If you want to take one of us, then you have to take both of us so that we go and live there. So it means that the 10 and 12 year olds are already husband and wife. I asked him – where is your girlfriend and he said that she had gone to see her aunt in Chitungwiza. He had beaten her for infidelity. I asked an elderly woman who was there why she was not addressing and helping the children. She was told to sit down and not say anything because she is disabled. She was told that she is the one who was using most of the money that they begged for. Sometimes the Social Welfare takes those children. The Government is trying to get these children but as they are put in those orphanages they run away. For those who are in Bindura, they say that they were adopted by their mothers’ relatives, so he ran away because the uncle had made him a herd boy. It did not auger well with him to be a herd boy since the cattle he was looking after were not his. He said living in the streets was beneficial for him because he earned some money. He said that little money was a lot to him.
Mr. President, it is a difficult issue under discussion. We want to assist these children. A child who is 10 or 12 years tells you he wants to go with his wife. We asked them - what is it that you are able to do since you call her a wife and he said that they prevent pregnancy by using condoms supplied to them by the HIV people. He was not even afraid of HIV because he uses protection no matter how drunk or how high he is; he will never forget to put on a condom. I do not know where we can start from Mr. President. You can see that some of them are taken and looked after and are given accommodation, food and clothes but because there is no bronco, they run away. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to contribute to the debate before the House. I also want to thank Sen. Tongogara for bringing such a motion in this House which is important to us as humans. As I was listening to the debate on the issue of children who after turning the age of 18 should leave the orphanages, with the discussion at hand, there are two issues. Firstly, once the children in institutions attain the age of 18 they have to leave those institutions. Secondly, we are discussing about children in the streets whom we call street children or street kids or children who will have become addicted to bronco. I want us to look at the reasons why we have children in the streets or in the orphanages.
In my opinion, there are bad things that we used to do before in our society. As we were growing up, I myself know that we never stayed as a nuclear family but we lived as extended family. We ate from the same plate and we even used to share the clothes that we wore. Every child had guardians, even in a situation where a person had lost his parents, a child would have guardians. Nowadays we have become selfish to the extent that we do not want to assist our relatives. After attaining 12 and the child is used to bronco, he will not bring sanity. It is the families as well as churches role to address this matter. What are we doing to address this matter, especially when the children lose their parents?
We also want to look at children that are in children’s homes. Most of them have been dumped and some of them are being found in toilets, the reason being that as parents we think that if a child gets pregnant that is the worst. We do not want to accept children when they face such kind of challenges. Because they want to please their parents, they end up baby dumping or they just throw them along the road for someone to pick them up. As parents, we need to assist our children. I am not saying we should encourage them to have children before marriage but unfortunate circumstances happen. When it happens, let us accept our children to ensure that they do not throw away their children.
Furthermore, the divorce rate has gone up and children end up being victims while others end up in orphanages. I am saying we need to address this issue especially those in religion. Where is the love that was there before? Where has it gone to? We have homes and big houses. Sometimes you ask yourself who lives in these houses. Next door you find there are street kids but those homes do not have any people. We will not be surprised if one day those children decide to revolt seeking social justice that they also want a decent living. We need to ask ourselves where the extended family system went to? Yes the Government can assist; the children in institutions are very few compared to children in the streets. Can we boast and say the Government should take these people into the institutions?
As individuals, we should show love. It is our duty to ensure that these children have a good upbringing. After the age of 18, the children are removed from the homes. Most of us here are parents but who has decided that once a child has attained 18 even after attaining a degree, how many of us say you can go because you have attained 18? Sometimes they even get to the point of getting married and you end up staying with them. Even if they have attained 18, we have children who are in their 20s whom we are living with, so we can stay with them.
Institutions need to be assisted because we may take them to tertiary institutions for vocational training but there is a likelihood that some of them will not get jobs. We need a broader policy to see what we can do with these children. Should they stay in those institutions and are they getting their per capita grants of children in institutions? It is something that needs to be considered because from my knowledge, the money that is given to children’s homes from the Government is very little and inadequate to look after the children. When the budget is presented, we need to consider the amount of money that is channelled towards these institutions. We need to lobby for more funds.
There is also an issue of other children under street kids category, the child sex workers. I saw them - 8, 9, 10 and 11 years old. The greatest challenge we have as women is that the women are the ones termed as sex workers as if they were doing it on their own. Such children are so many in Harare, in Hopley and Epworth. Mr. President, you become concerned and do not know what to do. You ask the child - why are you here and why are you not in school? They tell you that they are looking for money. They tell you that after 6 p.m. men come driving their vehicles and put them in a single file. They are taken to an area they are entertained. Imagine an 11 year old child if you ask them why they left home, they will tell you that my parents divorced or my parents passed away and I could not live with my aunties. This matter still comes back to us because we cannot look after the children.
We need to look at our social fabric which has now been torn into pieces. Yes, the Government can assist but initially let us look at how this was dealt with in the past. When we are talking of long ago we are looking at maybe 20 – 30 years ago. There were no street children but currently street children are full in the streets. Let us ask ourselves what we are doing. As families, are we playing our part as extended families. Nowadays, people are giving birth to very few children unlike long ago but no one would go to bed hungry. We used to stay with children and they would still go to school. Even in this august House, is there anything that we are doing in our families to ensure that our relatives do not go to children’s homes?
I thank you Mr. President for this opportunity. This is a very important issue and I think the issue of benchmarking is a good idea but I am saying in our culture, how do we address these issues. Do we not have relatives in the streets? Thank you.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 1st October, 2020.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MUNZVERENGWI), the House adjourned at Twenty Five Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.