PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 27th September, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMNT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
NON-INTERFERENCE WITH PROCESSIONS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to remind Hon. Members that
when the bells are ringing before the commencement of business and after adjournment of the Houses certain corridors are cordoned off to avoid interference with the processions you are therefore requested to cooperate with police officers manning those corridors.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. MASHONGANYIKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise to add my voice to this motion that was moved by Hon. Kwaramba and seconded by Hon. Musabayana. I would also like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this important debate.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate His Excellency the President Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa for winning the 2018 harmonised elections which were free, fair and credible…
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. The hon. Member is reading from a prepared speech. This is not her maiden speech. The rule says she must only refer to notes, not regurgitation which she is doing. So she is out of order, may she be directed accordingly.
*HON. MASHONGANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I want to
congratulate my President Cde. Mnangagwa for winning the 2018 elections that were peaceful as compared to all the other years that elections were held. I have never witnessed such elections since 1980 that were as peaceful as the ones held in 2018. In my constituency we had peaceful and fair elections. There was no intimidation at all during voting in Bindura/Shamva constituency.
Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the issues that the President highlighted. I was actually surprised when he took it upon himself to go and visit the cholera victims in Glen View. We want to thank him for such a gesture. We realised that the President has the people at heart. That is why he decided to go and see what was happening so he could address the issue. I also want to thank the Minister of Health and Child Care for expressing deep concern on the cholera outbreak and his will to assist people who greatly need the assistance during this pandemic. Let me say to the Hon Members in this House that cholera is a terrible disease which can lead to one’s death in a short space of time. So as Hon. Members we need to prevent cholera in our constituencies, especially here in Harare because the population is very high.
Let me hasten to say that on the issue of agriculture we were thinking that as women, we applaud the appointment of our Minister because he is a farmer at heart. As women, we would like him to give preference to the widows and single women heading households in terms of land allocation. We are proposing that the Minister should relook at the issue of land distribution and the size of land so that all of us as Zimbabweans can get pieces of land. Once we become greedy and grab land, we leave a lot of people living in poverty and we will not have done much in trying to develop our nation. We all know that for our country to develop it is because of the land that we have and that is where our livelihood comes from.
Then on the issue of gender, Section 17 of the Constitution provides for gender balance. We also want to thank the President for remembering us as women. He uplifted the women fraternity and appointed a number of women in Cabinet, although the number has decreased to 35%. There were more women in the Eight Parliament. So, we are requesting the President to continue with his work of uplifting the women. We also want to thank the President, Cde Mnangagwa, for appointing a woman Minister, Hon. Cde Muchinguri to be the Minister of Defence, a Ministry which is key in our Cabinet. I realised that since independence the Ministry of Defence always had male Ministers. Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I do not remember the Presidential
Speech talking of appointment of Ministers. Can you confine yourself to the speech that was delivered to Parliament by His Excellency and debate on the issues he highlighted?
*HON. MASHONGANYIKA: I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I
want to conclude my debate by talking about the issue of our own currency which the President talked about. We want to thank the President for his vision on the fact that Zimbabwe should have its own currency and it is an issue that we need to address. For example, the people in rural areas are struggling to get cash. They cannot even get cash from the banks. So, we want to thank the President for what he has done and for his vision on the issue of having a currency. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.
I also want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for being elected to the position of Speaker of the National Assembly for the second term. We also want to thank Hon. Gezi for being elected to the position of Deputy Speaker. With these few words, I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to debate.
*HON. CHIPATO: I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate in this august House. Firstly, I want to congratulate the President for winning the election resoundingly. Secondly, I want to thank him for encouraging us as Zimbabweans to be strong and brave. He said that our wealth is in the land and as Zimbabweans if we are to engage in farming, we will not experience poverty. We want to thank him for command farming. Most people in the rural areas are grateful for this programme and they are happy sending their produce to the Grain Marketing Board. It shows that he is a leader with a vision and he wants his people not to wallow in poverty.
We want to thank him for companies that are opening up because he said that Zimbabwe is open for business. He realised that it will be difficult to govern a country where there is poverty. What we really appreciate on what he did was that when he was appointed President there were transport problems and there was no more railway network.
We noticed that he has decided to resuscitate National Railways of Zimbabwe. He maintains his position that Zimbabwe is open for business.
We also saw him in Mutare where he opened up an oil factory which created jobs for a number of children. Most people lost their lives in road accidents travelling to South Africa to go and get cooking oil but he opened the factory and now cooking oil shortages are a thing of the past.
He did not end there – because there was a shortage of soft drinks and Zimbabweans love drinks, he opened up the Pepsi plant. Thousands of Zimbabweans managed to get jobs there. We want to thank Cde Mnangagwa because he knows the challenges that Zimbabweans are facing. We want to thank him as women as well. I have never seen such a good President and who has done so well. He opened the Women’s Bank and the onus is on us to go and get loans from the bank that will give us a sense of livelihood.
I come from Masvingo and the women there are grateful because they actually appreciate what he has done and they see him as a visionary leader. He also mentioned the issue of Parliament in his speech during the Official Opening of Parliament. He showed the whole world that he knows what he is doing as a leader. He went to those areas where cholera is to go and have first hand information on his own. I have never seen such a leader in my life before. He is a person who is approachable and can engage with different people. For those who want to be intelligent and have wisdom, they should copy from President
Mnangagwa. I thank you.
*HON. CHIKWAMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to debate on the motion that was raised by Hon Kwaramba and seconded by Hon. Musabayana. I want to thank them for that motion and also to congratulate the President for winning the election. His speech reflected that he is a visionary leader and he said that the first thing that he is going to work on was to ensure that the Zimbabwean economy improves. His vision is to develop the nation economically. He further mentioned a lot regarding the importance of agriculture and that agriculture is part of the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economic success. He committed to further supporting farmers noting that agriculture is the industry that will help develop Zimbabwe.
Mr. Speaker, we come from different constituencies and Command Agriculture Programme farming inputs are already being given out to the people. This shows that the President has a long term vision and commitment to develop the country through agriculture development.
In his speech, he also mentioned about his intention to inject
US$500 million foreign currency to ease cash speculation and ensure easy access to cash by the general citizenry in banks. That will give impetus to economic recovery given that money will accessibly circulate in the economy.
The President advised us as Members of Parliament that there are a number of Bills which shall be brought to this House. Of special note, are the Local Government and Rural District Council Bill and the one on Judges. We were advised to ensure that the laws which were mentioned are aligned to the Constitution. Once laws are aligned, as a representative of Gutu East, I understand that will assist the Rural District Council to have a clear mandate and decisional authority in their councils as a result of devolution. It will also help communities in our various constituencies because those at grassroots will be able to get development support at their respective levels.
The President also mentioned the issue of infrastructural investments such as construction of roads, schools and clinics. He reiterated that we need to build more of these. I also look forward to seeing the clinic in my rural constituency being upgraded too. This indicates the commitment by the Government to improve the lives of people through equitable access to health. Under education, he noted that he is working on improving the system by tasking researchers to work on improving our education system. It is pertinent to state that in the ten months that the President led the country, many schools now are connected to global platforms through wifi networks. People in rural areas can now access a lot of information through the internet. We want to thank him for that and considering what he has promised, he will further achieve it.
We have roads in our areas that need attention. In my constituency, a road which links to Hon. Chinotimba’s constituency in Buhera to Bikita around Madhuku needs to be maintained. We are looking forward to the construction of roads from Gonye to Kurai as well. Therefore, we would want to communicate and also travel to those areas on good roads.
The President also advised that he would get machines to capacitate hospitals to deal with certain diseases which are currently not being treated in Zimbabwe and some other countries. He had the vision to have these diseases treatable in Zimbabwe and anticipates other countries to also visit for medical treatment. This is possible if new machines are brought into our health delivery system.
HON. NYASHANU: Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to contribute to the motion moved by Hon. Kwaramba and seconded by Hon. Musabayana. Mr. Speaker Sir and Hon. Members of Parliament, let me begin by congratulating all Members of Parliament in this august House for making it to the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. Let me also congratulate the great leader of our time Cde Emmerson Dambudzo
Mnangagwa on his victory that bestowed him the presidency of the
Republic of Zimbabwe. May the good Lord bless him and his family.
I will not forget the people of Buhera Central who spent hours on queues under the ravaging sun to cast their vote in electing me as their Member of Parliament. Accordingly, I will commit myself to uphold the trust they have bestowed on me. I am so excited that I am in this House and that I have been able to connect with many Members of Parliament from across our country. I am hopeful I will learn a lot during the period of five years.
Mr. Speaker Sir, during the induction seminar of the Ninth Parliament which took place on Monday and Tuesday this week, I witnessed with excitement the positive manner in which our Hon. Members of Parliament exchanged views and ideas. That alone showed me how rich our country is in human capital. It is possible and true that as a united force we can take our country to another level. Elections came and they are now behind us. The people of Zimbabwe have voted and now they are expecting to see a change. I cannot agree any better with all the speakers who have spoken before me, that Parliament is a revered institution in that in the House of Parliament lays the hope of every progressive Zimbabwean. We are therefore called to duty to deliver a better future for our people and to bequeath a prosperous nation to our children.
In his State of the Nation Address speech, President Emmerson
Mnangagwa spoke of his commitment to economic development. He
said that will be done in line with our national aspirations and this is indeed a critical turning point for our country and, the subject in which every Zimbabwean pins their hopes. I salute the President for prioritising economic development because it holds the key to the progress of our nation.
In one of his famous speeches, the late former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan said, “…development is not about quantity but the quality of life lived by our people…” and in his inaugural speech in January 1949, former United States of America
President Harry Truman had this to say, ‘More than half the people in the world are living in conditions approaching misery. Their food is inadequate and they are victims of disease. Their poverty is a handicap and a threat to them and more prosperous areas.’
For the first time in history, humanity possess the knowledge and the skill to relieve the suffering of these people. I believe we should make available the benefits of our store of technical knowledge in order to help them realise their aspiration for a better life. What we envisage is a programme of development based on the concepts of fair dealing. Greater production is the key to prosperity and peace and the key to greater production is a wider and more vigorous application of more scientific and technical knowledge.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is common knowledge that over the last four decades, our people have been oriented to a receivership mentality. I want to humbly submit in this House that we, as the leadership of this nation in this new dispensation, must begin to orient our people to a self - sustenance and ultimately replace the donor dependency syndrome. This syndrome has alienated our society to realms of impotence and has taken away the creative and hard working spirit which is enshrined in ubuntu philosophy. To restore the dignity of our people which is the dignity of our founding fathers, we must act with speed to correct this vice.
I am thrilled by the President’s speech when he talks about the need to drive a high performance culture within all public entities. I implore that this culture be cultivated across all corners of our society. The President’s mantra that Zimbabwe is open for business is a clarion call for progress. The question is what does Zimbabwe want at this point. The answer is just simple - Zimbabwe needs capital, Zimbabwe needs efficient labour and Zimbabwe needs productivity. As Parliament, we must do our best to open the Zimbabwean space for business. To attract capital, we need to act with speed to repeal certain labour laws which are rigid and retrogressive. This will create a good condition for investment and rapid modernisation and industrialisation of our economy which can then create jobs for our young people.
It should not be business as usual, but we want to see a radical paradigm shift in the work ethics of those in public and private offices. Achieving a per capita income of $3 500 by 2030 is only possible if everyone takes responsibility to commit to the dignity of hard work and in this Parliament, we must work to enforce that. I want to challenge this House to be able to come up with development models that are consistent with our situation. China, for example, was able to move 300 million people out of poverty in 30 years. Something no other country has done in the history of the world and we need to learn from this case study.
Mr. Speaker Sir, my heart bleeds to learn that more than 90% of our health care budget is funded by American and European tax payers. This confirms that as a country, we are sitting on a time bomb in as far as our health care sector is concerned. These statistics should inform this House that we have a huge gap to fill in the sustainable development agenda and that this House has a responsibility to ensure that Zimbabwe is able to fund its own health care system. We cannot sit in this House and watch as if all is in order when our kingdom is in this burning state. I want to remind this House that because of the growing financial challenges in most parts of the world, it is not surprising to wake up in the morning and only to be told that there is no single medicine in all our health care facilities.
During his inaugural speech, our President spoke of developing a market based economy. This is quite encouraging because markets should be our hope and not aid. In her book, Dead Aid, Dr. Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian national, revealed that aid had failed many African countries in a big way. Our Governments have been too reluctant for too long, thinking that aid income is permanent income. An elected government has the duty to deliver public goods like health care, education, security and infrastructure to all its citizens. I want to implore this House to expeditiously look at ways of creating a sustainable health care system in Zimbabwe. Presenting at a world economic forum, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda spoke of the need of African countries to concentrate on the markets as opposed to aid. He said that markets are neutral and aid is political. This is what we need to take note of as Parliamentarians.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is estimated that 60% of our total populations are youth. Youth employment is a central policy challenge in many countries. Our labour markets have failed to absorb these young people into the formal sector because of the low growth rates in our economic front. Access to finance remains a stumbling block to the entrepreneurial spirits of our youth. The President has taken decisive steps to help these vulnerable groups of our society by introducing the Empower Bank which will help our young people to become masters of their own destiny.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in the month of June 1990, I was in this sacred House to give a speech as a child parliamentarian on the plight of children, particularly rural children. As I stand here today, 28 years later, the living conditions of rural youths have not changed much. I am hopeful that the youth will take up the challenge to use these bank facilities at their disposal and develop self help projects in their communities.
It is no doubt in my mind that women too have lagged behind in the development matrix of our country. We must applaud President
Mnangagwa for heeding to the call. The Women’s Bank will go a long way in emancipating our women. Mr. Speaker Sir, as we set up such banking facilities for the vulnerable groups, let us take conginsance of the errand behaviour of our people in the banking sector. There are elements in the banking sector with high appetite for profiteering, who charge abnormal rates to unsuspecting banking public. How can the banking sector make $200 million profit in an economy where small businesses are closing every day? Banks should be cashing from a growing industry and not to cash from a collapsing industry. Most of the banks in the country are practicing money lending and there is no commercial banking activity, yet they call themselves commercial banks.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Paul Freemen and Ford, 1998 page 43, define banking as the lending of money obtained from depositors. The two authors tried to draw a line between money lending and banking, defining the latter as lending one’s own capital. Is it true that these banks are lending their own capital? The House needs to obtain an explanation.
For those in industry, they can agree with me that banks have caused more harm than good to this economy. The highly celebrated indigenisation programme has been reversed by banks. From the time of dollarisation to date, thousands of small businesses have been closed with properties attached, auctioned and children sent to the streets. This has been the trend in the last 10 years and local newspapers can affirm my assertion. I challenge this House to find ways of protecting innocent borrowing public from these unscrupulous bankers.
Mr. Speaker Sir, although our country prides on high literacy rate, I implore this House to continuously look at ways of improving our education system and infrastructure in order for the country to remain competitive on the global arena. The state of our schools is deplorable and in some cases young people are walking a distance of 3km to 5km to the nearest school and the school facilities are a sad story.
Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to announce in this House that there are cases of cholera in Buhera Central and so far three people have died. I am pleased to mention that Government has reacted promptly and that there is a team working on the ground. I would like to thank the
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for fulfilling his promises. When he visited Buhera he promised that Marovanyati Dam would be completed before the end of 2018 and now the dam is almost 80% complete. Buhera is a dry land and receives subnormal rainfall yearly. The facility will go a long way in establishing sustainable livelihood through small holding farming programmes for our people.
During the same visit, the President also promised that the long awaited Murambinda-Birchenough Road would begin to be tarred and as I speak, work is at an advanced stage. When completed, this road, coupled with the rural electrification programme, our community will be transformed. The people of Buhera are grateful. I thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. MATARANYIKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you very much
for affording me the opportunity to deliver my speech in response to the motion proposed by Hon. Kwaramba, seconded by Hon. Musabayana. Allow me Sir, to take the opportunity to congratulate President E. D. Mnangagwa for the well deserved victory in the just ended harmonised elections – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – To my fellow Members of the House, let me say, Congratulations, makorokoto, amhlophe for making it into this august House. I look forward to having a fruitful five-year term working side by side with you.
Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate you too Mr.
Speaker and your Deputy for your election into that lofty seat.
Makorokoto, amhlophe. Looking at the legislative agenda set by the President for this Ninth Parliament, it is apparent that there is a lot of work ahead of us. We have to work around the clock to ensure we deliver and thus, give the necessary impetus to the economic agenda that will see Zimbabwe achieve its vision of a middle-income economy by 2030. We need to be on the driving seat Honourables if we are to conquer this mammoth task ahead of us. Mr. Speaker Sir, some of the Bills on the agenda identify with challenges that my constituency is facing. Take the Consumer Protection Bill for example, consumers in my constituency like anywhere else, need to be protected from unfair trade practices by certain unscrupulous business people and Government agencies. For example, right now, GMB is refusing to set a maize collection depot in the Nzvimbe area of my constituency citing bad roads yet this is the most productive area for maize in the constituency.
Allegations reaching me are that some of the private buyers of maize visiting the area are agencies of some staff members at GMB Rusape and are taking advantage of the desperate farmers to offer sicky prices for their maize. I therefore, implore the Government to investigate this matter and bring to book the perpetrators. At the same time, council must prioritise the maintenance of the roads to this agricultural strategic area of my constituency. Mr. Speaker Sir, the need to increase investment in education and health infrastructure as envisaged by the President is a welcome development. I have in my constituency, children that walk a total of 30 km a day in search of education. Under the circumstance, it does not require rocket science to figure out that children exposed to such a tough learning environment cannot produce good results. The system is condemning these children to a continuous cycle of poverty. This cannot be allowed to continue Sir. In that regard, I am proposing that the envisaged Child Justice Bill must have a provision that clearly express that no child must walk more than 10km a day in search of education. Otherwise, provisions of Section 27, 75 and 81 of the Constitution remain a pipe dream for these children.
There are also a number of wards in my constituency that do not have clinics. This results in patients having to walk up to 40km in search of medical assistance. This Mr. Speaker Sir, makes a mockery of the right to receive health care and medical assistance as enshrined in the Constitution. It is my hope that the State will take the necessary legislative and other measures to achieve the progressive realisation of this right Sir. Another issue of major concern to me Mr. Speaker Sir is that people from the rural areas, that is the villages have lagged behind in terms of the development, especially if you compare them with their counterparts in the resettlement areas. The major difference between the two is availability of water. Water is the major factor lacking in the rural areas. Madam Speaker Maam, without an all year round source of water, it is difficult to carry out any meaningful farming. I therefore, urge the Government to speed up the construction of dams in the rural areas so that the rural folk can also engage in agricultural projects throughout the year. The current practice that is dependent on seasonal rains is both not sustainable and archaic. We need to boost production levels by these farmers and this is one way to do that. In the same vein and linked to the above point, I would like to propose to this august House that in order to help uplift the lives of the rural people, let us deliberately come up with an affirmative policy that favours the rural constituencies in as far as the Constituency Development Fund is concerned. I am therefore, proposing that the allocation of CDF should favour rural constituencies on a ratio of 3:1 to urban constituencies.
In other words, the rural constituencies should get three times the funding given to urban constituencies. This proposition is driven by the realisation that urban constituencies have by far more social amenities than rural constituencies. People in the urban areas have closer proximity to facilities like clinics, hospitals, schools, colleges, stadia et cetera. They also have electricity, piped water, better roads, transport and many other advantages over the rural folk. To give the same amount of CDF to both the rural and urban constituencies is a clear travesty of justice. We need to raise the standard of living of our...
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. What
is your point of order?
HON. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, with due respect, we are all equal as Members of Parliament. I think for the Hon. Member to talk about rural constituencies getting more than the urban, I think is divisive. He might as well say that they must even be paid more money in terms of the salary and the package. I think we know of the economic situation and it is best that it does not divide our people. I think we are united and I do not think there is any constituency that is superior to the other. We might as well say that those who got more votes must also get more money. I do not think we want to go there Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order
Hon. Member.
HON. MATARANYIKA: Madam Speaker, that is why I said we should have an affirmative action. Anyway, once again, thank you Madam Speaker Maam for the opportunity to address this august House and thanking the President for such an instructive legislative agenda.
Thank you so much – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
*HON. ZEMURA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –[HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
*HON. ZEMURA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me
this opportunity to debate on the motion. I want to thank the mover of the motion, Hon. Kwaramba and Hon. Musabayana who is the seconder. I want to congratulate the President of the nation Cde. Mnangagwa for his resounding victory in the just ended election and I want to congratulate all Members in this House for winning the election. I also want to applaud Zimbabwe for the peaceful environment that was there before the elections. It was a period where campaigning took place peacefully and it reflected that we were working together as a united people. However, after the elections, my sympathies lie with victims of the violence that occurred thereafter.
We have come here as children of Zimbabwe and we want peace in this nation and we should remain peaceful. The President is always saying, “the voice of the people is the voice of God”. Let us listen and take those words into consideration. There is a lot that is behind those words. So, we should act as children of God. There are others who behave as if they came here on their own, forgetting that they are here because of people’s votes. So we need to respect the people’s vote.
The President in his speech mentioned agriculture, and Zimbabwe is known for its good agriculture. We are all here and no one is experiencing hunger because of the farming activities that we do in this country. There is a lot of wheat, there is maize and there is cotton and if our country develops, all of us are going to develop. We cannot sit here in a poor Parliament. So, we want to support the President and engage in farming so that we can develop our country develop. We want to thank those who are engaged in farming – whether you have joined Command Agriculture or not, we want to applaud you because that is leading the country to recovery.
My sympathies lie with those who have not yet acquired land and I am hoping that when the downsizing of farms is done, those without farms will be able to get them. We also want to thank the President for mentioning the issue of value addition. Zimbabwe has a lot of agricultural produce that needs value addition in order to fetch more prices. For example, our maize can bring a lot of products. The cotton can also produce a lot of products.
We also need to look at our minerals. We do not want our minerals as what His Excellency the President said, that he is going to look for machinery to assist those who are engaged in mining. There are a lot of artisanal miners who use traditional methods of mining. So, if the machinery is brought in, it will alleviate their poverty. Our nation has a lot of minerals even in Uzumba where I come from, there is a lot that is underground but, because of lack of machinery, people are only able to harness a little of those natural resources. If this works out, we will have gold, platinum and other minerals because they are there in abundance in Zimbabwe.
I also want to mention what His Excellency said concerning tourism. He said he wanted to ensure that the tourism industry expands.
There is no province without any tourism. There are tourism projects in every province but if they are not developed, nothing will happen. If they are developed, we will have more tourists like what happened with our Victoria Falls airport which was face lifted. So, we want different areas to have facelifts so that they can attract tourists. We want to acknowledge the fact that the President mentioned it.
I also want to look at the legislation that he talked about. He mentioned a lot of Bills. The Bill that I like most is the Customary Law and Local Courts Bill. That Bill will enable us to do quite a lot of things. The current Bill seems to be discriminatory in favour of men.
So, that Bill will actually uplift us as women and children. The
President mentioned other Bills - the Child Justice Bill and the Marriages Bill. In Zimbabwe we are concerned by people who are marrying children and once that Marriages Bill comes into play, it will assist in ensuring that our children are not married off whilst they are still young. We also have churches that brainwash the children and they get married at tender ages. If these Bills are brought to Parliament, they will improve the lives of other people. We see children who are 14 years being married or 15 year old girls being married. If you look at the age of the person who has married that child, it is a person who is far older and who wants to use and abuse that child. It is taking a child and enslaving her.
So, we want those laws to come into play. We want them to come into Parliament and be debated so that we come up with good laws in order to avoid children being married at a tender age.
There is another Bill known as the Traditional Leaders’ Bill and the Rural Councils Bills. These are some of the Bills that we need to interrogate when they come into this august House. We need to scrutinise them and see how we can address the issue because our wealth is in the hands of councils and chiefs in our different communities. That will improve our livelihood.
I want to thank the President for his speech which is good and it encourages us as the legislators and for being such a visionary leader.
As MPs, we should appreciate this. I thank you.
HON. MUSANHI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to congratulate our President, Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa for winning resoundingly in the elections – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – that I think was the most democratic election held in this country. I would also like to congratulate the Speaker and his panel for winning resoundingly as well, though I was a bit shamed on the inauguration and swearing in of our Speaker. As Hon. Members, I think it is up to us to behave as Hon. Members.
It is important that as Hon. Members, we have got a lot of work that we are tasked to do by His Excellency, a lot of legislation that we need to line up with our Constitution. I think we need to take our business very seriously as we have been given the trust by the people who voted us to come to this Parliament. Hon. Members, I must remind you that it is very important that when voters look at us and our contribution here, it gives the picture that they have got someone representing them here.
We need to be united, both sides of the House so that we can be able to achieve what our President said. In order for us to achieve the goal that we are tasked for 2030, we need to be united and work together. We need to move together as Parliament and be able to deliver. Madam Speaker, the people of Bindura voted in their numbers and I do not want to be an embarrassing figure when I come here to represent them. I want to represent them so that they can see that they voted for someone who is coming to contribute in this House.
Our President touched on the issue of foreign currency, which I think is very important for our economy in order for industry to start moving. I think that if that intervention that was promised by our President in his address to this House is provided for, we will go a long way in supporting our industry. Our President mentioned quite a number of pieces of legislation that need to be brought to this House so that we can discuss about them and be able to move forward as a nation. I would like to think that as parliamentarians, we are supposed to talk together and be able to come up with a figure that we think is reasonable for our Constituency Development Fund. That figure will be able to sustain our constituencies.
Our President also touched on the issue of …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. May
the Hon. Member be heard in silence.
HON. MUSANHI: Our President also touched on the issue of agriculture, mining and – [AN HON. MEMBER: Engineering.] – yes engineering, you like it. We need to look at these strategic ministries so that they can be supported in this House and we can heckle but heckle constructively, not like touts at Mbare. We are Hon. Members and we should show the difference between the touts at Mbare and ourselves.
Madam Speaker, in Bindura we have no sign of cholera. We have done everything possible for our people. We have made water available in every ward. Our people and our schools access clean water. We have put up projects in line with the new curriculum of our education so that people can have projects and learn from those projects they are doing at school. Even when they leave school, they will be able to carry the projects from home. In Bindura, Madam Speaker, we are moving forward with development and alleviating poverty from our constituents. The only thing that is a thorn in flesh in Bindura is the Matepatepa Road that links Mt. Darwin. Whenever I think of that road, I fail to come up with a solution to it. I would like to thank you very much Madam Speaker for giving me time to express myself. I thank you.
HON. KABOZO: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this
opportunity to express myself. Firstly, I congratulate His Excellency for a resounding win and to all Members of Parliament who have made it into this august House. I also thank the people of Mt. Darwin South for voting me into this office. In His speech, His Excellency, Cde. E.D Mnangagwa promised that the multicurrency system will remain functional until the economy is stable…
Hon. Mataranyika having passed between the Chair and the Hon.
Member speaking.
HON. MADZIMURE: Madam Speaker, the Hon. Member who has just sat down had passed between you and the Hon. Member speaking.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. Point of order noted. May the Hon. Member go back?
HON. KABOZO: In his speech, on the opening of the Ninth
Parliament, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa promised that the multi-currency system will remain functional until the economy is stable. He also promised to support small scale miners to boost production. I thank the President for his astute leadership. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. ZHEMU: I rise to add my voice to the motion which was moved by Hon. Kwaramba and seconded by Hon. Musabayana to thank the President for the State of the Nation Address which he gave. Let me start by congratulating our President, His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for winning resoundingly on the 30th July, 2018 elections. I would not have done justice by not commending the President for opening a unique democratic space which has afforded us all to be in this august House today. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, Can
the Hon Member be heard in silence.
HON. ZHEMU: In his speech, the President spoke of Command
Agriculture, which to me is a success considering that agriculture achievements through Command Agriculture will lessen the burden which the country has always been grappling with. We have noted in the past that in times of droughts, the nation was burdened by importing food for the whole nation but with the efforts that we have already seen through Command Agriculture, it is commendable that Command
Agriculture continues. Currently, as a nation, we are a net importer but with the achievements of Command Agriculture that will see the nation correcting the Balance of Trade which is already not in our favour. My constituency Muzarabani, is an area in region 5 of the natural regions of the country which receives normal to below normal rainfall year-in and year-out. Now with the efforts of command agriculture, I think we stand to be the most beneficiaries of this intervention because we will stand good chances of having food all the time even when we do not have enough money to import because our silos are full as a result of this Command Agriculture intervention.
The President also spoke of the industrialisation of our economy, rehabilitation of infrastructure and modernising of our economy.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Member. What
is your point of order?
HON. S. BANDA: Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is reading
his speech.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
The Hon. Member is new in this House, so he is allowed to read.
HON. ZHEMU: I was saying that the President spoke of
industrialisation of the economy, rehabilitation of infrastructure and modernising the economy. The vision will help to improve the competitiveness of our goods and services on the international market. Currently, our goods are inferior because we are a labour intensive economy which accounts for most of the costs that our industries are incurring.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. I think
Hon. Deputy Minister Mutodi must understand the rules of this Parliament. He could not simply just walk before the Speaker without paying respect. He must move out, come back and bow before the Speaker.
Hon. Deputy Minister Mutodi having walked to his seat without bowing to the Speaker
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your point of order has been
noted. Please may you comply?
Hon. Deputy Minister Mutodi walked out of the Chamber
HON. MADZIMURE: On a point of order Madam Speaker, the Hon. Member was asked by the Chair to go back and bow but he then walked out on you. This is total disrespect of the Chair.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! May we proceed? HON. ZHEMU: I was speaking about what the President said concerning modernisation of the economy. Where I come from – Muzarabani is a known cotton growing area and we stand to benefit much through the modernisation of our economy where we expect some investors to come to Muzarabani to do value addition of cotton. We also see opportunities in this drive of the President to modernise the economy because we can now have industries or firms that can come to invest in oil expressing and this will lessen the burden of our local shops who normally travel to big cities to look for oil. The drive will empower our local people to start some businesses whereby they can rebrand and thereby add to the local content of our goods in the economy. The value chain from cotton is actually impressive.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order! I have been trying to follow the debate but my mind is refusing from a conscience point of view. Hon Mutodi must comply you said and in complying, it means he must come in and bow down. The precedence that you are setting in him not doing that totally renders this institution useless.
The Chief Whip must be implored to go and find him to come back because he is in contempt as you speak. We cannot allow people to be above the rules of Parliament. I know that he is new. I know that you are new but you must stamp your authority because I will equally do the same again without bowing. What does that make this House? The President said this is a sacred institution which has rules which must be followed.
My mind is not at peace sitting in this august House allowing somebody who has been told to comply and does not comply. I think we must have order and we must respect this institution or else Madam
Speaker, you too will not be respected by everyone here –[HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear]-.
[Hon. Mutodi entered the Chamber and bowed to the Chair]
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: On a point of order. I want to associate myself with the Hon. Member who just left the podium speaking about the need to respect this House without discrimination. It does not matter whether you were once pictured holding a cup written “I am the Boss” or not. When someone walks into this House, they have to be obedient to the rules of this House without exception. Hon. Mutodi should not try to come and advertise his proximity to the centre of power. He should not do that because the centre of power is not resident in Parliament. The centre of power is resident somewhere else at Munhumutapa Building. But when he walks in here he has to obey. I am sure the band is nowhere near here. This is not a singing platform where Hon. Mutodi can come in and start singing his failed songs. I thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you are out of
order. Please, can you sit down?
HON. ZHEMU: I was speaking about the modernisation of the economy and the benefits that accrues therewith. I was speaking of the opportunities that will be created through integration of cotton production in Muzarabani with expressing of oil and other products that can be produced. We will realise opportunities in cattle ranching and abattoirs opening their doors in Muzarabani. All that will culminate in job creation and also promotion of the local content which will reduce imports in the country.
The President also mentioned at length about mining. Yesterday when I was reading The Herald at the front page, it was inscribed
“Muzarabani Oil Imports Confirmed”. To that, I would want to commend the President for his speech to intensify on mining. Let me hasten to say at this juncture that even God himself has confirmed the presidency of Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. I will quote what the Bible says; 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 says “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, call unto me and leave their sinful ways, I will heal their land”. This is actually significance or sign that God has started to heal this land as a result of Cde Mnangagwa’s presidency.
Whilst the President champions his mantra that Zimbabwe is open for business, let me also compliment his mantra by saying Muzarabani is also open for business. I thank you.
*HON. MUSAKWA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I
would like to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Kwaramba on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I would like to commend the mature and sobering speech given by His Excellency, by supporting the issue he raised regarding the need, and his vision to reform parastatals and state enterprises.
It is my submission that this is very important for the growth of our economy. Madam Speaker, our parastatals require urgent re-orientation so that they do not continue to become a drain on the fiscus. This is very important in reducing Government expenditure. I further want to commend the President on his Address regarding the issue of industrialisation and need for import substitution as that will help in reducing the current account deficit of the economy.
In his speech, he went on to raise the issue of plans to invest in establishment of innovation and research centers which will add to the success of the industrialisation thrust adopted by the Government. He mentioned the issue of renewable energy too. That is of much interest to me as it will help my constituency whose economy is partly driven by lithium which is mined in the area. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. SIKHALA: Hwavaa, hwavaa.
*HON. SAIZI: Thank you Madam Speaker, my name is Tapera Saizi from Muzarabani Constituency in Mashonaland Central. Let me begin by congratulating our President Hon.. E. D. Mnangagwa for his resounding victory in the just ended election. I also want to congratulate
ZANU PF party for winning the two-thirds majority in this august House.
Madam Speaker, in his speech in this House, he highlighted the plans for Government to focus on infrastructural development in this country. He particularly mentioned roads and buildings among others. In that regard, I want to say as Muzarabani, we appreciate this idea and may I state that we have already started repeating the promised fruits. St. Albert’s Road is already under construction and we already have internet facilities at St. Albert’s. It is the hope held by the people of Muzarabani that the road from St. Albert’s to Dotito would also be tarred. It is also the wish of people of Muzarabani that all people who were resettled in farms there get clean drinking water. Currently they are getting the water from rivers and dams but if possible, the Government should drill boreholes in these areas to improve access to clean water in the constituency as that is very necessary for their health.
It is another desire of the Muzarabani Constituency that they get assistance in building schools. Some of the infrastructure they are using as school classrooms are structures previously used as sheds and tobacco bans. These structures are not fit for such use by school children. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My name is
Tendai Nyabani from Rushinga Constituency. If you do not mention Rushinga in the history of the liberation struggle, you will not have spoken about Zimbabwe yet. Firstly, I want to congratulate His Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa for his resounding victory in the just ended election. Secondly, I want to further congratulate the Speaker of the National Assembly and his Deputy for being elected the Presiding Officers of this House. I also thank the new dispensation because had it not been for its efforts, some of us might not have been in this House. The President believes in leadership for the people and by the people and that is what has led us to get where we are now.
Madam Speaker, may I congratulate all Members of Parliament in this House for their win during the 2018 elections. In that, I applaud the President for upholding the rights of the people of Zimbabwe and it is my sincere hope that we will follow in his footsteps in respecting the different views of the different Hon. Members in this august House as they shall be debating.
The President has a visionary nature. He noted that his vision is to achieve an individual per capita income index of US$3 500 by 2030. The President articulated measures to achieve that and one of the measures is to facilitate the creation of more jobs for the people. I further want to support his decision to commit Government to build more schools and hospitals in the country. This is important because what is broadly prevailing in most parts of the country is a sad story. If such facilities were already in place, we could not have suffered from the outbreak of cholera the way it has happened at the moment. Be that as it may, it is evident that the President is concerned about the health of the people.
It is unfortunate that many schools at the moment do not have adequate human resources while some children are still travelling for long distances to the nearest schools. I want to thank the President for speaking about education and if he continues to deal with these issues, many challenges against our development will be alleviated.
I want to thank the Rushinga people for choosing me to bring forward their concerns. Let me further raise the issue of information technology mobile broadband. When we come to this House, you see people on their mobile phones and it is not that we want to play around with our mobile phones but it is just that we have broadband network here and we do not have the same facility in some of our constituencies.
The President highlighted the issue of mobile and road network infrastructure in all areas in the country and if that happens, most Hon.
Members will no longer be using their mobile phones in this august House. I want to thank him for that.
I also want to thank the President on the issue of agriculture. The President accedes to the fact that agriculture is the backbone of our economy. In that view, he reiterated that our land will be utilised for the greater benefit of our economy and I want to thank him for that. This will ensure that each and every individual is able to get food. I also want to applaud the President on the issue of availability of clean water to ensure that there is no cholera outbreak. It may sound like a broken record, but we want to thank the people who voted us to be in this House in order to address the challenges that people are facing in our different constituencies and not to come here to fight our own battles. That will not alleviate the poverty in our different constituencies. I want to thank you for this opportunity.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON.
MUTODI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The owner of the motion is
the one who adjourns the debate.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. The Hon. Member who is moving for the adjournment of debates did not attend this sitting. He is just in this House for five minutes but he wants to disrupt the business that was going well and he has no right to move a motion to adjourn the House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- He has not been here. He is just here for five minutes just to come and adjourn business.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. HON. KWARAMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MLISWA: I do not know - in terms of the procedures of Parliament, when you have a Government Minister; I thought they are the ones who are supposed to move and not any Member of Parliament. I think it is important for us to follow the rules. I do not know. I remain guided by you Madam Speaker, but Hon. Mutodi stood up as a Minister and no one questions that. Yes, I think it is the Minister who has to do that – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The mover of the motion will
adjourn the debate and the Minister will adjourn the House.
HON. KWARAMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MUSABAYANA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 2nd October, 2018.
On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF
INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING
SERVICES (HON. MUTODI), the House adjourned at Eleven
Minutes past Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 2nd October, 2018.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
HON. MLISWA: Good afternoon Mr. Speaker Sir. In your
absentia yesterday, I did say to the sitting Chair that we appreciated the move that you took to move us from Pandhari to the HICC. I think you really behaved like a true headmaster whereby if your students cry you respond to them. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.
On a second note, it is quite disappointing that Ministers and
Deputy Ministers are not here, in this new dispensation. Even at Pandhari and HICC workshops, they were not there. His Excellency went to the UN with one Minister, the Minister of Finance unlike before where they would all go. What good reason do they have not to be here?
How can we continue like this? This is the first meeting where they
must answer questions and they are not here. Section 107 of the Constitution is very clear pertaining to that. We have started on a very low note against the will of the President as incinuated in the SONA that he gave to us. The SONA report is based on the Ministers implementing and they are not here, who will implement? It is very sad. – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. The Ministers are coming. I spoke to them and they all indicated that they are coming. I think we can proceed. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - I am sure they should be here. I can only speak for the Cabinet Ministers; I did not speak to the Deputy Ministers.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I think it is important to take note that whatever we do, we move according to time.
The business of Parliament started at 1415 hours, whilst the Hon.
Minister put it that they are on their way coming, they do not organise programmes of Parliament neither do they plan what they anticipate but we stick to what we have according to our Standing Rules and Orders and the Constitution of Zimbabwe. It is a problem if we have a situation whereby we would have ministers dictating time as to how we start programmes of Parliament that we wait for them while they are on their way. Probably, it is the new character of the new dispensation – we do not know. – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear.] - So, just for the record Mr. Speaker Sir, let this thing be done today and it must be sealed and never happen in this House, ever. We have on record 40 ministers here. Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Provincial Affairs Ministers but we hardly have 20 in this House. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, if you can make the ruling as the best Speaker and as our headmaster for the good of Parliament. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, the two Hon. Members, Hon
Mliswa and Hon. Mutseyami, before I respond to your points of order please know that the nickname of the Hon. Speaker can be pronounced only outside this House. If you repeat it, I shall charge you for contempt of the Chair.
The messages from the two points of order on privilege are loud and clear. It is expected of the leader of Government business in the House and the Chief Government Whip to make sure that the Hon.
Ministers comply as requested, and in terms of the Constitution and Standing Orders. Just to nip it in the bud, I will raise the issue tomorrow when we meet the Hon. Ministers. I hope they will attend 100% and discuss the implications of such failure to abide by the Constitution and
Standing Orders. Furthermore, I shall write to His Excellency, the President, so that it is on record that when we started – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear.] – members on my right are not happy about that - we belong to the same party. That which is right must be applauded accordingly. – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear.] -
Order, this is not my request but it is the dictate of the Constitution and Standing Orders which all of us in this House must abide by. More so, Section 119 of the Constitution says “we all here must protect the
Constitution regardless of .”
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. GONESE: On a point of order Mr Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Do not disturb the flow of the proceedings.
HON. GONESE: It is a fundamental issue Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: How fundamental in terms of what Standing Order?
HON. GONESE: It is in terms of both the Constitution and our
Standing Orders Mr. Speaker. In terms of the Constitution, Section 104 (3) which provides for the appointment of Ministers, the provisions are clear. Today is question time and the point which I want to raise goes to root and it is so fundamental that I feel it is important for me to raise it at this point-in-time. The reason being that in terms of Section 104 (3) the President can appoint up to five Ministers who are not Members of the Senate or of the National Assembly. As it stands, the President has appointed six Ministers and that is on record Mr. Speaker. – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear.] – He has appointed six and I think two of them are in this august House. I see Hon. July Moyo who is neither a Member of the Senate nor the National Assembly and Hon. Professor
Amon Murwira who is also neither a Member of the Senate nor the National Assembly.
I am now raising this point Mr. Speaker because unlike the previous Constitution, which gave the Executive up to 90 days or three months to regularise the appointments, the current Constitution does not have a similar provision. As a result, only a maximum of five can be appointed from outside Parliament. I am aware Mr. Speaker that indications have been made that Hon. Obert Mpofu is going to step down but until that happens, the fact still remains that we have got six who are not Members of the Legislature. That is unconstitutional and I would like the Hon. Leader of this august House to tell us why the Executive continues to violate provisions of the Constitution which are written in very simple English.
In terms of the Electoral Act Mr. Speaker, if a vacancy has been declared, there are certain provisions which have got to be followed. To start with, that vacancy must be gazetted and after it has been gazetted, the political party concerned must then submit the name of a substitute. Of those provisions – those steps have not been taken. As such, the
Hon. Cain Mathema who was appointed as the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs is not currently in that position, together with the other ministers, in terms of the provisions of the Constitution. Since those steps have not been followed, it is fundamental Mr. Speaker, for the leader of the House to tell us why the Government wants to violate the Constitution and does not want to abide by the provisions.
As this Institution Mr. Speaker, we have already alluded to Section 119 which obliges us to protect the Constitution. It obliges us to ensure that provisions of the Constitution and Good Governance are upheld. In light of the submissions that I have made, it is my respectful submission that the Executive is not properly constituted. We have got an excess in terms of the ministers who have been appointed from outside Parliament and that has got to be regularised. One of those ministers must forthwith be told to step down so that we comply with the provisions of the
Constitution. – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear.] -
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you very
much Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon Gonese for his concerns –
[HON. ZWIZWAI: Hauna kudya here?]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Zwizwai, can you withdraw that
statement. It is derogatory.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: I withdraw my statement which stated – have
you not eaten? - [Laughter.] -
HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to thank Hon. Gonese for his point of privilege that he raised and his concerns which are well acknowledged. What I want to say is that the current administration is committed to constitutionalism and in no way are they going to willfully violate the Constitution. His concerns were taken note of and are being corrected. I thank you.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM CABINET MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Ministers who have asked for
leave of absence are as follows:
- Sen. Mutsvangwa;
- Prof Mavima;
- S. Moyo;
- J. Mhlanga;
- Prof M. Ncube.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: What about the ruling?
THE HON. SPEAKER: I beg your pardon and please take your seats. Thank you for advising the Chair. The ruling is that the matter will be brought to the attention of His Excellency the President, to expedite the process which the Leader of Government Business has indicated. In this particular case from public knowledge, I think the affected individual is Hon. Mathema who is not in the House. – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Do not rule on the Speaker’s ruling. Thank you.
Hon. Nduna having stood up to ask a question – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. NDUNA: I need your protection Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! The case of Hon. Nduna and a
few others, their matters are in court and the due process of court has not been completed to pronounce otherwise. So, in this case Hon. Nduna can ask a question and be here in Parliament – [HON MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] -
*HON. NDUNA (Speaking)… Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is
directed to the Leader of the House, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Which measures does the Government have concerning children whose mothers are in prison? Is there any plan in place to ensure that children are separated from their parents so that they also do not serve the sentences their parents are serving, given that they have to stay with their parents in prison?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chibaya, if you are not satisfied
with my ruling, you have avenues to channel that ruling, so let us have order and go straight to the question please.
*HON. NDUNA: What measures does Government have in place
to ensure that children born under prison conditions whose parents are serving prison sentences, are separated from the serving mothers to ensure that they do not serve the sentences their mothers are serving?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I
want to thank Hon. Nduna for asking that question regarding children who are born in prison or who are with their mothers serving sentences in prison. As part of improvement of our justice system, we are trying to abide by what we call best practices. When a child is born, what is best for that child is to be with their mother because the mother is better placed to look after them. Among the measures we have in place, whilst in prison, the mother is able to get the necessary assistance to bring up their child. The reason is that, if the children are separated from the mothers, they will not be able to get the maternal love that is necessary for their growth.
*HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, we witnessed that there was an open prison system at Conmara. Can there be a policy to ensure that such policy is propagated in our prisons to ensure that mothers can bring up their children while serving their sentences?
HON. ZIYAMBI: I want to advise that those are the measures Government is looking into to ensure that such mothers are taken to open prisons. Once funds are available, we will make sure that we have more open prisons and that is what we have considered to implement.
Thank you.
*HON. KARENYI: Mr. Speaker, I implore the Minister to give us evidence where the open prison system is functional in the country? I was once at Mutare Remand Prison in 2012 and those children had no such facilities. Those children lived together with their mothers and they are not given any supplementary foods or any other special day care services. Therefore Hon. Minister, please give us examples of jails with such facilities. I thank you.
* HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. When this
question was first posed, I said in order to provide the best for the children whose mothers are serving prison sentences, the best person placed to look after the children is the mother. Our Government policy is that children with mothers in prisons should be with their mothers because they are better placed there. The policy position taken by Cabinet is that Government should establish more open prisons to ensure that the mothers or women with children are taken to those facilities such as open prisons. Our hope is that mothers with their children are able to be with their children and also that children are looked after very well. When the amnesty was previously extended, we ensured that all mothers were released. Therefore, the rights of women in prisons are upheld as part of our policy and we hope that will actually improve their way of living in prisons. I thank you.
HON. PARADZA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is
directed to Hon. Rtd. Air Chief Marshall Shiri who is the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Are there any Government measures to ensure that farmers in rural areas are able to engage in some scale of commercial farming also get command agriculture inputs?
*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER,
CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. RTD. AIR
CHIEF MARSHALL SHIRI): Yes. All farmers can get inputs through the Command Agriculture Programme. Despite the fact that they are in rural areas or in commercial farms, if they apply and are eligible they will be assisted with the inputs that they require.
*HON. PARADZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, but is it known by the officers who are at the provinces and district because they are refusing to give rural farmers inputs?
HON. RTD. AIR CHIEF MARSHALL SHIRI: Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. Yes, it is a known fact by our officers. We have several farmers from rural areas who have joined the Command Agriculture Scheme and I want to request Hon. Members in this House to also raise awareness in their different constituencies to ensure they have the knowledge. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. SHIRICHENA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture and Water. Do you have any plans to implement the Charora, Chamakudo and Inyala Irrigation Schemes which have been long pegged to utilise waters from Mundi/Mataga Dam to help the Mberegwa South people who are starving? I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Members, you are reminded to ask questions on policy, not a specific programme.
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Hon. July Moyo. I want to know the Government policy vis a vis the current developments in local authorities where the commissions that were put in place during the climax of the previous Government when they appointed debt collectors in local authorities whose role and duty is for them to follow up residents who owe council and are asked to deposit the rates into the debt collector’s company. Is that lawful and what is the locus stadi of the debt collectors who are terrorising residents in local authorities at the present moment?
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker. I would like to have more information on this question and be given specific roles or specific situations where these debt collectors are. I have not been able to know the role of debt collectors as a policy of Government. Thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. SIKHALA: Hon. Minister, I think it is common cause that you know the Government engaged a debt collection company called Well Cash Debt Collectors. These have been doing the job through the commissions. It is very true. It is a debt collection company that… THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, address the Chair.
HON. SIKHALA: It is a debt collection company which we understand whose directors are the former Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing, Saviour Kasukuwere and the former First Lady, which is currently doing the debt collection in local authorities, especially in Chitungwiza, Harare, Gweru and all other local authorities. If the Minister does not know, that it means that he is sleeping on the job – [Laughter.]
HON. J. MOYO: I am sure the Hon. Member knows that the
Minister is not sleeping on the job, but he can say what he wants. Mr. Speaker, I will go and check. I do not know of any Government policy regarding Government appointing debt collectors. Debt collectors might be appointed – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order!
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, I do not know any Government policy where Government appoints debt collectors for Chitungwiza, Harare or for any other local authority. If he has specific appointed debt collectors by local authorities, I am asking for him to submit to me specific names so that we can investigate. Thank you – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, what was the name of the company.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, the name of the debt collection company is Well Cash Debt Collection Company. It is all over all local authorities throughout Zimbabwe. I can bring him primary evidence tomorrow if he wants – [Laughter.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Now the company is known, I suggest the Hon. Minister follows that company and comes to the House and makes a Ministerial Statement – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjection.] - Hon. Members, please sit down. Knowing the
Hon. Minister as I do, he will expeditiously come up with that
Ministerial Statement.
HON. MLISWA: My question is directed to the Minister of
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Hon. July Moyo. In view of the cholera outbreak and that the President said that the main cause of cholera was the sewers and the drainages in the local authorities, what corrective measures is the Ministry going to take to ensure that that is done? – [HON. ZWIZWAI: Inaudible interjection.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Hon. Members, you have just gone through an induction workshop and one of the issues raised in terms of the rules of procedure is orderliness and if you do not respect your Standing Orders then you shall be judged accordingly. Hon.
Zwizwai, withdraw your statement – [Laughter.] HON. ZWIZWAI: I withdraw Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker. We are aware that cholera is caused by a number of underlying reasons, one of which is sewerage. In all our local authorities, the sewerage systems have collapsed because the pipes are too old. Some of them are over 60 years. In Harare, where the epicentre of the cholera outbreak, you know that over five thousand kilometres of sewerage pipes, most of it has over lived its life. What Government has done in the short term is to give an injection of $6.7 million so that the local authority can attend to bursting pipes. They are bursting and they are laid in the same trench as your water systems. So when they burst, they obviously affect the water that is within the same neighbourhood as the sewerage pipes. Government has further given to the City of Harare because the other line consequence of which causes cholera is the solid waste management system; Government has given the local authority, Harare especially, a directive to look after the Pomona dumpsite so that they can repair it. Your sewerage system, your water system, your solid waste management system, your refuse collection and in some cases your storm water drainage system which is associated with your roads maintenance; all these, we are very aware that the maintenance has been delayed and Government has now said we need to set up a committee to make sure that we mobilise resources to invest in all our local authorities so that we can upgrade your sewerage, your water, your storm water drainage systems and give equipment to local authorities so that they can collect refuse timeously. At the same time, making sure that dump sites of solid waste management system are upgraded so that that we can deal with this medieval disease in the manner that Government wants it to do.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my supplementary question is, is the Minister aware that just giving Harare City is not enough. Can the Minister please respond to the issue of the master plans? Are the local authorities complying with the master plans because there have been developments that happened but there is no infrastructure that has been built to augment those developments. Despite trying to repair the old ones, there are no new ones that support the extended housing developments. The master plan is quite critical, can the Minister respond on whether local authorities are adhering to the master plans.
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, we are aware that in the Harare
Metropolitan area, there are four local authorities. There is the Harare
City Council, Chitungwiza Municipality, Epworth Town Board and Ruwa Town Board. In order to make sure that these are mainstreamed and they work together, Government, having set up this committee is working with all those local authorities so that we can create an organisation that will look after the water and sewerage across the board so that there are no silos. Harare, for instance, provides water to Chitungwiza, Epworth, Ruwa and Norton, so to create an organisation that can look at water across the board, this is what other municipalities and other metropolitan cities have done. We are definitely talking to the city councils and we have brought them together so that we can look at these and analyse how we can deal with it.
Coming to the master plan, Greater Harare combination master plan, unfortunately that has not been promulgated as yet. There has been a lot of work that has been done in order to complete it.
Meanwhile, we are fully aware that conurbations have been built outside Harare municipal boundaries, outside Chitungwiza municipal boundaries outside Epworth and outside Ruwa. These are in Goromonzi, in some cases these are in Manyame and in another case, this is in Zvimba Rural District Council areas. Just as you find in other cities, in Bulawayo, there are, 16 conurbations that have been built which are outside the city limits of Bulawayo. These are in Mguza because Mguza Rural District Council almost rounds Bulawayo. In other areas like Gweru, Masvingo, there are situations which are similar and we are using both the Rural District Councils Act as well as the Urban Councils Act which requires that Municipalities or Rural District Councils cooperate where such a thing has arisen. Some of them have signed memoranda so that they can cooperate to give services to these outlying conurbations that have come up where there is no sewerage and water.
Yes, master plans are the solution but we cannot wait until master plans are done. We have to intervene now to give water and sewerage to those conurbations in the short term. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. ZWIZWAI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is no debate that has arisen.
HON. ZWIZWAI: Honourable veZANU avo vakagara pamakumbo emunhu...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. I have not recognised you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order. Can the Hon.
Member be heard?
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
supplementary question to the Minister of Local Government is that, Minister, we have seen running battles between the vendors and the
police ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Honourable Speaker, you were advised you do not address the Hon. Minister.
HON. MADZIMURE: Honourable Speaker, we have seen police and the vendors being engaged in running battles whilst the police are moving the vendors outside Harare to what they called designated places as a way of mitigating against cholera. Where they are being pushed to, there are no toilets. Even the surface is not even hardened. There is no water, there is nothing. Why would the Ministry think that it is important to push people from another area where it assumes there are no ablution facilities to another area where there is absolutely nothing?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister; I am sure you see the interconnection.
HON. J. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am sure the Hon. Member is aware that the maintenance of the public in a municipality and in a local authority is the responsibility of the City Council. It is the responsibility of the municipal council. That is why city councils have municipal police. Those municipal police work with the national police to maintain public order. It is not a Ministry’s decision to make sure that you move people from one area to the other. It is a decision that is taken by the local authority but the local authority is aware that it is also administering public health and other statutes of the country under a Ministry. So, when they work with ZRP, it is in order to cooperate in order to deal with a situation that will have arisen.
The situation that we have right now requires that we decongest the CBD areas and while we want niceties, but the decongestion of the CBD areas has become an imperative if we are not going to have further outbreaks. These have been agreed to by the Municipality and the responsible Ministries. The Municipality and the responsible Ministries are making sure that yes, we can suffer temporal setbacks and discomforts, but the intention of Government and the Municipality is to build nice shopping areas outside the CBD areas. So, the designated places that have been planned by the City near Coca-Cola or near the Sports Centre are to decongest the City. It is not meant to punish or discourage people from doing business but it is meant to make sure that public health is maintained in Harare. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. SEWERA: Hon. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport and infrastructural Development. Murehwa West Constituency is concerned about people who perished in a kombi accident. My question is what is the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development doing about commuter omnibuses that are traveling on our roads without certificates of fitness? Does the Ministry have any measures to curb the corruption that is happening at the VID where people are paying $150 in order to get licences? I thank you. *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. ENG. MATIZA):
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Sewera for that question. The issue that he has raised is that he is concerned about safety on our roads. As a Ministry, we have taken quite a number of measures to look into the issues of safety. Firstly, we have put in a transports management system in departments such as VID, CVR and other departments to ensure that we guarantee safety to our commuters and also to curb corruption. If we put in a management system that is computerised, it actually blocks human intervention and that curbs corruption.
On the issue of intervention, we have plans to ensure that the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council is given authority to take action against drivers who are reckless and other measures. So, we have started implementing those measures. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. In his opening
remarks, Hon. Sewera spoke of the six people who died in the unfortunate kombi incident. May the Hon. Minister explain the procedure under which the victims may claim from the road accident compensation fund?
*HON. ENG. MATIZA: I want to thank the Hon. Member for
the question. May the Hon. Member put his question in writing so that I can give him a comprehensive response? I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. The question relates to policy Hon. Minister.
*HON. ENG. MATIZA: Hon. Speaker, in the event of such accidents, we request the owners of those commuter omnibuses – [HON.
MUTSEYAMI: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mutseyami, I do not expect that from you. Can you withdraw your statement?
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I need to
withdraw the statement that the Minister did not know that it was a policy question. Then when he came to respond, I thought probably he would say things that he does not know because he did not know that the question was policy. So, I withdraw.
*HON. ENG. MATIZA: Mr. Speaker that is an issue that is being addressed by the Ministry. We are in the process of addressing those issues. These are the processes whereby compensation can be requested.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
supplementary question is to the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development. I need clarification because last time, we talked about these commuter omnibuses that the drivers are young and do not have licenses. So, what have you done to ensure that the drivers are licensed and are above the required age. In terms of how far the Ministry has gone on converting the Highway Code to various vernacular languages to enable those who do not know English to get the licences as well. Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (HON. ENG. MATIZA):
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Hon. Member for the question. We are looking at the issue of drivers who drive without licences, especially for commuter omnibuses and some who are travelling with fake licences.
The process that we are working on is a high level one – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker Sir… THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. ENG. MATIZA: When I say high level, I mean an advanced one. As I said before, we have a transport management system and we are computerising the system beginning from the provisional licence to getting the drivers’ licence. It will be very difficult for one to travel with a fake licence. So, these are some of the measures we are taking Mr. Speaker. I also mentioned that all stakeholders will work together, these include the police, Vehicle Inspection Unit (VID) and the Transport Safety Council of Zimbabwe, which I said should be given powers to monitor under-aged drivers. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, there was the issue of translating the Highway Code into vernacular.
*HON. ENG. MATIZA: Translating the Highway Code into
vernacular languages is one of the things under consideration – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. There are two issues that arise here. You need to accept where the Hon. Minister in a Ministry is following due process and that must be given opportunity to be implemented. However, the fundamental question asked initially related to the fund and perhaps the Hon. Minister would need to go into that one and come back with a Ministerial Statement after you have consulted, because it is a very important aspect where there are accidents.
+HON. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me
this opportunity to speak in this august House. I request to speak in my mother-language for the benefit of the people in Nkayi. My question is directed to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Mr. Speaker Sir, at present we have old people. My question is on the elderly who are no longer able to work for themselves, those who are 70 years old and above. Their life is difficult in this country in terms of sourcing food. As of late…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, ask a question.
HON. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is, what
policy is there in place so that the elderly people can live a better life since we are experiencing drought and for them to access food, those who are 70 years old and above countrywide.
An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon. Member Speaking.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Hon Ndebele, can you leave the
House.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. NZENZA): Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir. Sekai Nzenza, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social
Welfare…
The Hon. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, having addressing the Gallery.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, please address the Chair.
HON. DR. NZENZA: Thank you for your question. We do
vulnerability assessment, which include the most vulnerable in our society. Among them are the elderly. We are now carrying out a review to ensure that service delivery to our elderly is getting there. Thank you.
*HON. MLAMBO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to ask a supplementary question. Those people who are experiencing challenges in the rural areas are there, when are they going to be assisted because they are actually struggling as we speak?
*HON. DR. NZENZA: Mr. Speaker Sir, we have systems which
are available at National, Provincial, District and right down to the village level and the data will help us to see how many people need assistance, the elderly, the sick and those living with disability. Through those systems, social workers who are present there will be able to assist with people who are in need of assistance. That is what my Ministry is doing.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: My question to the Minister is - in constituencies where we come from, there are others who need assistance such as the elderly and those living with disability. They were being denied social support because of their affiliation to the MDC.
So, I want to find if we will be able to get assistance for our members of
MDC who are elderly and vulnerable since there is a new dispensation.
I thank you.
* HON. DR. NZENZA: I thank the member for that question. I heard his question clearly and I have heard about this issue. – [HON. MEMBERS: hear, hear] - I have not finished explaining. This issue is being published in the media but as a new Minister, I do not have evidence to that effect. However, let me say that our policy as Zimbabwe is that a person should not be denied food or inputs because of their political affilliation. Everyone has the right to get the same resources that everyone else is getting.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, please sit down. Just to assist, if there are such cases that are documented, I think it is fair that they are brought to the attention of the Hon. Minister so that we do not simply make allegations. Let us bring those people to the Hon. Minister so the Minister can deal with the matter properly. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear hear] –
*HON. MUSANHI: My question is directed to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. Two weeks ago, ZBC broadcasted the plight of an 11 year old child in Chipinge. It was said no one was able to look after that child. He had sores on his hands and feet. What is Government policy on such issues?
*THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. NZENZA): I thank the Member for
the question. Within the Ministry of Social Welfare, we have the Social Protection Unit that is there to identify vulnerable children like the child that you have mentioned. This child must be known by the village head who should take the issue up to the social workers in the area. However, since it was broadcast on television it means that child can be identified and assisted.
HON. B. DUBE: On a point of order Mr Speaker Sir, Hon Nduna is threatening us with violence in this corner. I do not know if we are still safe in this House. We are not safe anymore, he is threatening us.
There he is, he is actually threatening us. – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. Can you switch off your microphone?
HON. MAVENYENGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, My
supplementary question is to Hon. Nzenza. I wanted to seek clarification on the issue of vulnerable children. We see that there are other children loitering in the streets known as street kids and they are found in different towns such as Masvingo and other urban areas. What is Government policy on that and what measures are you putting in place to ensure that they are safe and they will not be run down by cars as they beg for money along the streets?
*HON. DR. NZENZA: Thank you for the question Mr. Speaker
Sir. The issue that he has raised on street kids is a challenge for the nation at large. We are doing an assessment or a feasibility study to see how these children can be assisted. We are also consulting our stakeholders on how we can get those children off the streets and take them out of the dangers in which they are operating.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order. Question time is not done – some Ministers have left and they do not even have the courtesy to approach the Chair that they may be excused. Some Ministers have left yet there is only a few minutes to go. They came here late and they do not even have the courtesy to approach the Chair. This is unacceptable. They come here late and some of them are not here. We cannot have a culture like this Mr. Speaker Sir. They are disrespectful of the Chair.
They do not even respect Parliament and they do not even respect the Chair. You are the leader of this House – if they do not respect you how do they respect us? They absolutely have no respect for us. This is unacceptable in the new dispensation.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chief Whip, can you identify the Ministers who have left? I thank you.
HON. HAMAUSWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare concerning the issue of vulnerability. We have cases whereby some kids whose parents are not known but are being kept under children’s homes but are having problems in acquiring identity documents. In Zimbabwe, can we refer from the Ministry kids to children’s homes then later on deny those kids identity cards? Can the Hon. Minister give us clarification on that one? HON. DR. NZENZA: Thank you very much Hon. Minister for
that question – [Laughter.] - I apologise if I have given him the title that is not his, I apologise. We have already started an assessment of residential homes. We are doing a review and every child has a right to an identity. The issue that is being raised has led to an ongoing review of all the centres. We shall be completing a review of all these homes within the next 100 days. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I do appreciate the concerns of the Hon.
Members. You must also take into account that some Ministers have just joined the Executive and it is only fair that they indicate that they need to go through the books. The question of handover can be perennial because there are certain number of policies that the new Ministers must go through. Allow them to have the due process of going through those processes.
I am sure as from next week or so, there should be some difference because I hope they will have acclimatised themselves with the systems in the particular ministries.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is a vehicle registration number AAV 4597, a greenish Pajero blocking other vehicles. May the owner please remove that vehicle.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
SITUATION ON OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Hon. Speaker Sir, I have the honour to present to you today the current situation regarding cholera. An outbreak of cholera was declared in Harare on the 6th of September 2018. Due to exponential increase in cases within Harare and beyond, coupled with high numberS of community and institutional deaths, the outbreak was elevated to a national disaster level by His Excellency. As of the 26th of September 2018, more than 10 000 persons have been presented to the screening and treatment centres. 6 645 suspected cases have been reported, of which 96 of them tested positive for vibrio cholerae and 49 have died to date.
I must also make special mention of the fact that 21% of the cases and a similar proportion of the deaths recorded to date are children below the age of five, the youngest patient being eight months old. We realise that this is a unique outbreak from those experiences in that there has been high levels of resistance to the commonly available antibiotics - high fatalities despite the outbreaks being predominantly urban and in that it is happening in the same areas that are heavily affected by typhoid. That raises the possibilities of dual infections. For these reasons, plans for vaccination for both cholera and typhoid are at an advanced stage with the cholera vaccine expected in the country today.
A number of responsive activities are ongoing simultaneously at both national and sub-national levels. Within the City of Harare, two cholera treatment centres situated in Glenview and Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital, a cholera treatment unit at Budiriro and a screening unit set up at Harare Central Hospital. Surveillance has been intensified in Harare and nation-wide to pick cases early for effective treatment at the static clinics and the established cholera treatment centres.
All provinces and city health departments are on high alert. They have activated their rapid response teams and therefore have been reporting the cases. I must hasten to say that immediately on realising that we have this outbreak, we activated a prompt emergency response plan. The determinants of the outbreak are being addressed in the affected suburbs throughout and all of the determinants. One of the determinants is availability of water to the affected suburbs and especially targeting schools for safe drinking water through restoring municipal supplies, supporting installation of water tanks and trucking, water quality testing for the main water works reservoirs and community points, fixing of sewers and burst pipes. Provision of mobile toilets in the key hot spots of Glenview and Budiriro has been effected. Community mobilisation and school hygiene promotion, distribution of non-food items, aqua tablets, buckets with taps for drinking water, water containers with taps for hand washing, protective clothing and detergents for toilet cleaners, shovels and wheel barrows for solid waste management to affected and potential high risk communities and organising of cleaning up campaigns. The planning for the emergency vaccination for cholera followed by typhoid is very relevant at this stage.
Let me indicate that from mid August 2008, if you all remember that period to July 2009, an un-precedented outbreak of cholera was reported in Zimbabwe. By the end of the outbreak, 98 592 and 4 288 deaths were recorded. Multiple factors interacted to make the outbreak widespread and devastating. Many are still un-addressed in 2018. By the end of the outbreak, 79% of the total recorded cases had been reported in Mashonaland West, Harare, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces with Harare accounting for around 20% of the total cases. I have a list here with all the figures; I can make this available for the benefit of all hon. members.
As I indicated, the total number of deaths is now at 49 and the number of cases who have come through the clinics is at 6 645. Most cases came from Glenview 8 and Budiriro 1 and Budiriro 2. A 25 year old woman who was brought in collapsed and died on the same day, the 5th of September. A sample from the woman was positive for vibrio cholerae, ogawa.
All the patients have typical cholera symptoms like excessive vomiting and diarrhoea with ricy watery stools and dehydration. During the night of the 5th of September, more patients were admitted. By early morning of the 6th of September, 2018 – 52 suspected cholera cases had been admitted. On the 6th of September, 11 cases were confirmed to be positive of vibrio cholerae. 39 stool samples were taken for culture and sensitivity. Of these 39 samples, 17 were confirmed to be positive for vibrio cholerae type ogawa species.
Contaminated water sources and shallow wells including boreholes and wells are suspected to be the source of the outbreak. Sewerage was flowing on the ground all over the affected areas due to the blocked and damaged sewer pipes. On the 6th of September, the outbreak of cholera was declared in Harare and His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde E.D. Mnangagwa declared cholera as a state of disaster in line with Sub section 1, Section 27 of the Civil Protection Act on the 12th of September, he managed to visit the epicenter, which is Glenview and Budiriro area accompanied by his two Vice Presidents.
Her Excellency, the First Lady Amai Mnangagwa also visited the centre.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me give you the coordination and the interventions that have taken place. This is very vital for the members to know that there has been action which has been going on. A District Health Executive meeting was convened in Glenview to strategise on the response. Weekly meetings of the inter-agency coordinating committee on Health have been held since the outbreak was confirmed. Following this meeting, Thematic Committees were formed and these include case management, wash, health and hygiene promotion, surveillance, laboratory and logistics.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry met with the City of Harare team and partners. I have to emphasise that there has been a very good working relationship between the Ministry and the City of Harare officials. On 12th September a Cabinet Committee on Preparedness was reactivated.
Let me also now indicate the case management. We have had pediatricians attending to the cases of cholera treatment at the centres which I mentioned. We have about 60 volunteers who have been deployed to support cholera treatment centres in Budiriro and Glenview. We have had 7 200 door to door visits and interpersonal communication at health facilities have been conducted. An interactive SMS base demand driven cholera hub which enables subscribers to ask questions and receive cholera messages has reached more than 75 000 to date.
There have been public service announcements, talks and discussions on cholera and these continue to be aired on ZBC television. Our health promotion unit and UNICEF are currently developing tools for rapid assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices. Our partners, I have to indicate Madam Speaker, have been taking part in the promotion and their response has been fantastic and these include
Higher Life, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and UNICEF.
UNICEF has mobilised four partners for the epicentre and case spread.
OXFAM is working in Glenview and Budiriro. OXFAM has distributed
5 000 buckets, soap, jerrycans, aqua tablets and so on. Higher Life Foundation supporting with NFI in community mobilisation in liaison with OXFAM. Higher Life comes out of Econet Wireless.
Let me go to the final pages of my report. The request for vaccines to the WHO has been made in order to protect over a million people in Harare and beyond as a first emergency measure and we have been provided with 500 000 doses which as I said are arriving today. It will be relevant for me to also advise you on the logistics. We have received two cholera central reference complete kits which are for cholera testing and very relevant. The global and regional WHO, UNICEF and CDC officers have arrived in the country and are supporting the vaccination teams. Arrangements are in process for additional supplies to arrive in the next couple of days.
Naturally, there are some challenges which I have to advice the House. Municipal water supply is sometimes interrupted during sewer repairs and the communities spend hours without clean water, and no mobile water tanks are in place to supply water to some of these residents. There is a low supply of aqua tablets and accessibility of household bleach and water guard. I am glad to report however, Madam Speaker that we have managed to get further supplies today from the Chinese Embassy of these particular products. There are so many other organisations and corporates who have come forward and have been giving a lot of assistance. The partners have conducted communication and social mobilisation activities and medium monitoring continues to be held.
Finally, I must point out that this is the first time that Zimbabwe is using oral cholera vaccine. Therefore, external support is required for them to be able to guide us. That is why WHO has come in and we are very grateful for that immediate response from them. Madam Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I am sorry. My sincere apologies but these are things that happen when you start.
We are all learning.
Recommendations, priority follow-up actions and the coordination mechanisms at national; we will continue doing so developing and reviewing our systems. I think with that, we should be able to strengthen our water sanitation and hygiene for the long term. I have to finally indicate that what we have put in place is just a temporary measure. What is being talked about by my colleague, putting the water systems, boreholes and so forth are temporary measures. We need to have long term solutions and I am glad to hear that the Ministry of Local Government is working on that. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MADZIMURE: Can the Minister explain whether it was on his advice that after they had declared cholera as an emergency, they went on to hold a public meeting during the visit of the President to the affected area. Was it on his advice that such a big gathering be held and also politicising the meeting. Secondly Minister, the evidence from Glenview is that the person who used to ferry water from one of the boreholes – it has been found out that borehole was contaminated and has since been decommissioned. Are you in the process of making sure that all the boreholes that are in Harare are inspected and those that are found not to be suitable are decommissioned. Thirdly, do you intend to maintain the boreholes to make sure that they remain safe?
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order – [AN HON. MEMBER:
Section ipi?] – 68 (d). My point of order is after so many lives were lost. I think it will be proper to observe a minute of silence for even the young child who was eight months. I was touched and I think it is important – [AN HON. MEMBER: Ko vakapfurwa nemasoja?] – You can do that on another day I am just being sincere – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, I was moved by the fact that even an eight months old child was lost. It is about being hearty and it is my own feeling at this point in time and you equally have a right to your own feelings. I thought to just observe that from a humane point of view, it was a national disaster. That would be my submission Madam
Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, I appreciate
what you have said but the call on a minute of silence will be done by the Presiding Officer. Thank you.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon.
Speaker, 49 deaths due to cholera is unacceptably high. To me it points to one thing, ill-preparedness and lack of contemplation by the Health sector – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
So, it is my view – I do not want to talk about politics because the people who died are not known to which political party they belong. Those that died and those that are still afflicted are Zimbabweans, therefore it is important that we look at this problem from a
Zimbabwean point of view rather than from a political point of view. Madam Speaker, it points to ill-preparedness and lack of contemplation within the health sector, it does not matter whether it is the municipality or Central Government but it speaks to lack of preparedness and lack of contemplation.
Why am I saying lack of preparedness and contemplation – it is because the situation is in Harare and it is quite clear that at any time there can be this kind of an outbreak. Therefore if the health sector had been prepared and had contemplated, we could have avoided the 49 deaths. Now my question of clarification from the Hon. Minister is what is it that they are doing to ensure that we are more prepared and more contemplating on such outbreaks coming out?
Secondly, I know that it might sound a bit personal and I have also struggled on whether to ask this question or not, but what I know is that at some point this question shall be asked. Nonetheless, I have decided that I should just proceed and ask that question. The Hon. Minister spoke about development partners coming in to try and assist in the fight against cholera but there has been a lot of information and rumours coming on the ground, speaking to lack of confidence in the current
Minister of Health because of some questions pertaining to his medical or non-medical qualifications. I would love Madam Speaker, if the Hon. Minister can clear the air on whether indeed the qualifications that he has projected himself to possess, he has them or he does not have them.
Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would
like to add my voice to seek clarity on the presentation that was done by the Hon. Minister of Health. We are really sorry for the deaths that have occurred in our nation. However, I want to ask if they have already concluded or confined the cholera to mere bursting of pipes in those areas. We normally have cholera in the rainy season but this is happening in the dry season.
Why I am saying that Madam Speaker is, this incident happened again in 2008, whether it is by coincidence, we had just had general elections and it was a disputed elections. This time again, we had an election which is disputed and now we have cholera. Could that not be biological attack by some of those political parties that would have lost – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, I think we need to extend our investigations beyond just the bursting of sewer pipes. We need to investigate this cholera epidemic deeper.
HON. MADZIMURE: On a point of order. Madam Speaker, what
the Hon. Member has said is a serious accusation. He is saying that there was a biological attack by the opposition, meaning the opposition poisoned the water, can he withdraw or he substantiates his claims. It is terrible.
HON. DR. LABODE: Madam Speaker, the disease control in
Zimbabwe has a system which is called weakly rapid response system, it is a surveillance system – [HON. MEMBERS: Through you Madam
Speaker, he must withdraw his statement.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Musabayana was asking
a question to the Hon. Minister, let the Hon. Minister to respond to it. –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
HON. MADZIMURE: Madam Speaker, the Hon. Members said
that because of the disputed elections in 2008 and 2009, it happened and it has happened again this time around. So he said that political party that is disputing the election results could have launched a biological attack on the people – that is unacceptable and not for the Hon. Minister to respond to. It is for you to rule on the matter – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
I do not think that Hon. Musabayana pointed a finger at any political party. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order!
HON. DR. LABODE: Madam Speaker ma’am, I said earlier that the health system in Zimbabwe …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member,
did I recognise you? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Ooh yes, you may proceed. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
HON. DR. LABODE: Madam Speaker ma’am, I said that the
health system in Zimbabwe has what is called, the weekly rapid response system – surveillance system. What does this system do?
Every week, every health facility reports on certain diseases which we are observing and cholera is one of them. So if you have been observing four diarrheas in Glenview and suddenly you have ten, then immediately you should think cholera or typhoid. These reports are made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and not to the City Council. The Ministry of Health and Child Care should be able to send a team and say there is a problem in Glenview. When they get to Glenview, they then identify what is called, the index case – the originator of the problem. Like I heard the borehole and encircle by putting a cap on it and actually contain it. We should not have gone to these thousands of people had the system been working. It is either the system is no longer working or something is wrong Hon. Minister, maybe you should respond. I thank you.
HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Madam Speaker, my
clarification from the Hon. Minister pertains to the response from well wishers who have donated in cash and kind. On the distribution part, I know that the epicenter of the cholera and typhoid outbreak is Glenview and Budiriro but as he alluded in his statement, there are also outbreaks in Epworth, Chitungwiza and Norton who interact or come into contact with people from Harare.
I happen to be one of the Coordinating Committee members where we found that there is a problem on the distribution part of these things from well wishers. Hence I want a comment from the Hon. Minister.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE [HON.
- O. MOYO]: Madam Speaker ma’am, let me start with the question
of the presidential visit. It is the prerogative of His Excellency and his Vice Presidents to familiarise themselves with any epidemic that they would declared. It is only reasonable that has to be done and naturally, if we had not seen him participating there, we would have been very concerned.
Let me also hasten to say Hon. Members, there is not going to be any blame game in this particular exercise. – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] – In terms of who started it, we as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, are looking at this and we treat everyone equally. So the availability of His Excellency the President was through his concern to ensure that each and every citizen especially from the epicenter was being well looked after hence there was selectivity.
The next item is the issue of the contaminated boreholes. The Environmental Health officers and technicians in my ministry have all been instructed to go and inspect and ensure that no one – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – they are all instructed to ensure
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members, may you kindly lower your voices. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
HON. DR. O. MOYO: Madam Speaker ma’am, the relevant
officers in my ministry have been instructed to ensure that all the boreholes from where people are getting water are clean and not contaminated. As you realise, the boreholes that were identified as being contaminated in the area – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order what is your
Point of Order?
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Madam Speaker, the issue
that we are discussing in this august House is of deep concern as a lot of people have lost their lives and others are sick. What started off in Harare has also spread to other cities and towns so as the Hon. Minister is speaking, there is a lot of noise coming from the back yet we are discussing issues that concern peoples’ lives.
We will not understand Madam Speaker because there is an Hon. Member who said some painful words in here and probably he is the one who harbored such intentions since people from Glenview and Budiriro are not from their party. My submission is that probably they were disappointed by the number of votes which came out from those areas.
My plea is that Madam Speaker, all of us should not politicize this issue.
We say this because they are important issues that arouse people’s emotions because they affect their health. What Hon. Musabayana did is very painful because people look forward to us coming up with solutions that ensure that their lives are well looked after. They took more than four days to go to the affected area and so, we should address these issues more promptly regardless of the area from which they come from.
I thank you.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your point of order is noted and
members from both sides should avoid politicizing the issue.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Madam Speaker, I am quietly seated
here but the leader of MDC 99 is throwing some insults concerning the absence of some of my team members. I do not know why he is insulting me. I want him to withdraw.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Madam Speaker, let me start with the contentious issue of the biological attack accusations. Madam Speaker, we have no record to-date of any biological attack on Zimbabwe. If it has to come, we shall advise you. Now that it has been mentioned, we can always investigate but as of now, I do not have evidence to that effect.
Madam Speaker, I was talking about the contamination of the boreholes and before, that I emphasized the fact that we are talking about a very serious issue here. I literary landed into cholera and lucky enough I was coming from a cholera endemic area Chitungwiza, where there has always been cases of cholera and where we have put systems to deal with it. We immediately took a drastic action and it had to be a drastic action considering what had happened in 2008. We had to avoid the catastrophe of 2008 and we said there should never be a death as a result of cholera, not even a single one should be allowed to die. Once it happens like that, it means there is no alertness in the system and there is no preparedness in the system. These are the issues we are working on as a Ministry.
The boreholes issue - immediately the boreholes were surveyed and the contaminated boreholes were immediately barred that nobody was allowed to use them after that. The people in the area however wanted to have alternative clean water. Water is very essential especially in the treatment of cholera. One; it creates a situation in which you will avoid further new cases and number two; continuous rehydration is necessary as part of preventing deaths on the part of those already attacked. Water is lost through vomiting and diarrhoea. Therefore, it means that we have to replace the lost water.
The next issue - forty-nine deaths, I agree is totally unacceptable and that is why we have come in and said we must put all the mechanisms in place to make sure that there will never be a cholera outbreak again. This is why the Minister of Local Government has indicated that we need to look at our water and sanitation systems and ensure that everything is done appropriately. That includes replacement of the pipes and checking of leakages on the whole system in Harare from Morton Jeffery Water Works into the whole of Harare including Chitungwiza. All the areas must be looked at for us to avoid that.
Having done that, we have also implored that since cholera is spreading country wide, that programme of rehabilitation and replacement of water, sanitation and hygiene systems must be country - wide. It is the generally acceptable principle because it will be pointless as a Ministry of Health to carry on treating instead of preventing. So we are going by the prevention route. Prevention being the installation of new water and sanitation pipes and ensuring that pipes work.
On our preparedness as a Ministry, I have just indicated that our partners have come in. Partners, Madam Speaker, have come in a big way contrary to what has been reported in here. They have come in a big way and we cannot deny and say that they have refused. They have come and given us a lot of support and they continue to give us a lot of support. UNICEF has come in, MSF has come in and we have worked with these organisations before. Their levels of commitment have remained very high and therefore, the development partners are working with us all the way.
Madam Speaker, the weekly rapid response system is what we are definitely utilising as a Ministry and that enables us to check on whatever is happening countrywide. We can be able to get the information through the Provincial Medical Directors coming into our system at head office and ensuring that our system is well covered. So as I have indicated earlier on, the level of alertness is very high and this alertness is as a result of the number of reports which are coming through the weekly rapid response system.
The issue of distribution of donated products was also raised. Initially, Harare as the epicentre had the concentration of distribution of products such as sanitisers, aqua tablets and other products but now that we have more donor partners coming through, we are in a situation where we are now housing everything at our warehouse at Natpharm here in Southerton. From there, Natpharm has a distribution system. That is where they are going to be distributing the products from. They will start trickling in and then eventually we shall see more products arriving at most of the centres. Likewise, borehole systems are part of the products which we have been assured of. The Chinese Government initially allowed for the drilling of two boreholes in Glenview and Budiriro and another three in Chitungwiza area. However, this morning they came to my office and they have offered to drill a total of 500 boreholes. So this will be country wide.
So, the amount of assistance that we are getting from our partners is massive. We have the capability to continue mobilising for more and we want each and every Hon. Member in here to also play their part, not to just leave it to us as individuals, but to also be able to educate the public within their constituencies to be able to seek for assistance within their constituencies as long as we are advised and going through the relevant channels.
I must hasten to point out that when it comes to money, all funds have to be collected through the Minister of Health and Child Care for accountability so that we do not get any pilferages. I think Madam
Speaker, those are the main issues which I had to answer.
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to first of all thank you very much for indulging me and allowing me to ask the Minister this question. This is a very important issue as has been stated by everyone and it actually concerns the lives of people.
Madam Speaker, the Minister spoke about fast, prompt and rapid response. I would like to find out - is this accessible to the people? My reason for saying this is because I would like to present to the Minister a live situation in Bulawayo. We have a place called Burombo Flats. Burombo Flats houses over 1000 people mostly elderly people looking after orphans. Burombo Flats has got burst pipes with running raw sewer, sometimes running through the houses.
Madam Speaker, this situation has prevailed for over two weeks and there are people showing symptoms of running tummies and vomiting. They have sought help and people come maybe from the Ministry and council, look at this place and go away. The last advice that they were given is they were told to clean up the raw sewer. Now, the Minister spoke about wheelbarrows, gloves and shovels and these old people have not been issued with these tools. Why also should the residents clean these on their own? We are talking about old people and they are saying, “mtanami akeliyesikhulumela, bathi batisikline sikline njani. Do we need to wait until the people of Burombo die?
It is a high density area and so we are talking of a time bomb. We are talking of 49 people that have died. How many more people do we need to die? So, I would like to implore the Minister to treat this as a matter of urgency. Can you please render some aid to the people of
Burombo Flats by as early as tomorrow? Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: On a point of privilege Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, as a matter of privilege, I think I have got a right to receive an answer from the Hon. Minister once I have raised particular questions.
Now, you might know, Hon. Speaker, as others know that I have been an integral member of the Health Committee in the last Parliament - very well connected in the health sector and therefore, some of the whispers I will be talking about here will be coming from development partners. Development partners are actually contributing close to 90%, if not over 90% of our total budgetary requirements in the health sector. Therefore, if there are fears that are coming from those development partners, it seizes to be a matter of a personal nature to the Hon. Minister. It becomes a matter of national interest and if it is a matter of national interest, it is incumbent upon the Hon. Minister to clear the air.
I have indicated, Hon. Speaker, that whispers are coming out that development partners are saying they do not trust this Hon. Minister because of his alleged fake qualifications –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- So this is an issue of national interest if development partners are going to shy away from bringing money into the health sector just because of a single individual. It seizes to be a personal matter but becomes a national matter. So, it is only in this House that this Hon. Minister can clear the air. Does he posses the qualifications that he purports to have or he does not? I think we need then to create confidence in the health sector. The Hon. Minister should clear that issue or else we are going nowhere.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam
Speaker, allow me to respond to the Hon. Member. First of all, he is out of order because the Minister is presenting a Ministerial Statement on cholera. Secondly, according to Section 104 of the Constitution,
Ministers are appointed by the President.
HON. SIKHALA: Madam Speaker, I have got a point of order against this Minister. The point of order Madam Speaker, is that the tenacity with which the Leader of the House is trying to defend his colleague is that he is also under qualified. He is not registered with the
Law Society, so we know he is also a masquerader –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are out of order Hon.
Sikhala. Please, sit down.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Madam Speaker, I think the Hon. Member should withdraw his statement or else I will invoke the Standing Rules and Orders so that he can be charged –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Madam Speaker, he has alleged that I am not registered. Can investigations be done and if the Member is found to be at fault, he should be charged. I think this is an honourable House, you should not come with disparaging remarks which you have not researched like what the Honourable Member is doing. He should do his research first and come and present facts into the House rather than hearsay. I said, according to Section 104, he is a learned colleague, he should be well vested with the Constitution. The appointing authority is the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and nowhere is it written that qualifications are a prerogative of being appointed a minister. We should not digrace the Minister when he is giving a Ministerial Statement concerning cholera to digrace and speak about qualifications.
I move that the House do now adjourn Madam Speaker – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Minister, the Chair will study the matter and make a ruling later.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. I move that the House do now adjourn – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It has been moved that the House do now adjourn and you cannot further debate the motion but we can debate the motion on whether to adjourn the House or not. The debate we now have is on whether to adjourn the House or not.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Madam Speaker, I want to debate that motion of adjournment – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
–
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order. Hon. Members, may you sit down? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. In view of the fact that the Minister came with a Ministerial Statement to inform about the cholera outbreak, if the House will confine itself to those national if the House will confine itself to those national issues about cholera, I am prepared to withdraw my motion but I urge Members because the Minister also has some work to do and we also have a lot of work to do – to concentrate on cholera issues and not personal issues. I thank you. I then withdraw the motion to adjourn the House.
HON. SIKHALA: Madam Speaker, with the indulgence of the
Chair, I agree with the Leader of Government Business that this is a very serious and important motion to our nation to which if he could have been offended by my remarks, I apologise and withdraw.
HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am also
happy that the Hon. Leader of Government Business in the House has acknowledged the serious nature of the matter that we are discussing. The issue of cholera is like we are in a firefighting process. So, we cannot abandon it in the middle of the firefighting.
Concerning what the Minister of Health and Child Care has said, I would want to add and say that, yes the President has declared this issue an emergency but, we do not see on the ground that it is really being treated as an emergency issue. So, starting from this House, we do not even have the sanitisers but we are just coming here, we are shaking hands and there is no indication that we are dealing with a threatening disease. Then again, buses that are coming from those areas affected by cholera, they are not being sprayed with disinfectants and how can we say we are in an emergency issue?
Again on the issue of development partners, and also the response on what the Government is doing, there is no budget and how can we really say we are responding – how are we responding. He talked about accessing the funds through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, what kind of funds are we accessing? Who is supposed to access those funds?
Then, can we really say we are serious? We also do not see an interMinisterial Committee responding to the issue. This is why we have now issues whereby some are accusing the local authorities because this is an issue which calls for inter-Ministerial approach so that all issues that are related to the cholera are dealt with.
I have been to schools, we do not have sanitisers in shops and we do not have dettol in shops. We expect in this declaration of emergency that also the Minister would urge the Government to remove duty on those things that we are not able to produce here. We are not able to produce dettol and this is an opportunity for us who are coming from our constituencies and we know that it is difficult to get a sanitiser. What kind of a nation are we when we are not able to produce a sanitiser and when we do not have dettol? Then, we come here and start politicising cholera. Can that be acceptable Minister?
Madam Speaker, I think that I should conclude by saying, we need a comprehensive response even though the Minister said that this is a short term response, we need to know when they say they decommissioned boreholes – is it enough? Is it the right thing to do to decommission the boreholes or they have another way of treating the water. If they decommission the boreholes, what will then happen to those people who were using that borehole as their sole source of water?
So, we need a comprehensive response to this problem, otherwise we will come here and we just sing. I also appeal that we need to have a commission to find out what is happening. We had a Commission on the shootings that happened on 1 August and why can we not have a Commission to deal with what is happening so that we have the real issues dealt with. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I
wanted to say, Zimbabweans are still travelling from point A to point B all over the country and there is a possibility that they will still spread the disease. So, I wanted to find out Hon. Minister, what measures are you putting in place taking cognisant of those who are in the deep remote areas who do not have access to the media because they do not have radios, no newspapers and so forth. What measures are you putting in place to make sure that sensitisation is reaching those people? Thank you very much.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. First of
all to the voice of reason, the Parliament, I want to thank both sides for finally putting national issues first. I think you have exhibited a great deal of maturity and nationalism. As the voice of reason, I want to thank you and to say keep up with that spirit.
Secondly, the issue at hand in terms of my clarity is that the Minister must really tell us whether it is more of a sanitation issue where people do not have clean water. Sewers are not there and are not well done because we will be rushing to the aspect of health when really the source is the infrastructure. I think that it is important for us to seek clarity on that. No matter how much awareness we do, but if we do not improve on the standard of life on the way our people live, especially in the high density areas where they are congested, the facilities are not there and ablutions are not there.
There is an Hon. Member of Parliament who brought the issue to say, while we chase the vendors around, they are not the problem. There is no proper infrastructure for the vendors to go out there and sell their products. They have never refused and by you taking them off the streets and wherever you are taking them, is the environment conducive for them to be trading. I have given an example of the Norton Constituency where there is fish farming and the fish industry thrives – there, there is no fish market and people sell fish but the issue now is, by us removing vendors Hon. Members, what alternative employment do we have for them.
We must be true and we must be human – no one here has the alternative employment for the vendors. If you do have, stand up and tell me and I will get all my constituents to where you are so that you can give them jobs. The issue is unemployment too. So, these are the causes of these diseases that we are talking about. Where there is unemployment, there is poverty and where there is poverty, the conditions are intolerable. So, we must be honesty when we sit in here and not politic at the end of the day. The Minister can get all the aid from the United Nations, from Russia and planes coming with medication but the sewers have not been repaired. You have not dealt with cholera. We cannot be a country which is reactionary all the time and firefighting but we must be long term thinking and come up with sustainable solutions so that these diseases do not haunt us anymore because they are archaic, they are intolerable and they insult us as people. How can Zimbabwe today after 38 years, be having typhoid and cholera? It is a shame on our country and on our system and our system must react proactively and come up with a concerted effort which will surely ensure that these matters do not rise again Madam Speaker, to conclude, we can boG down the Minister of Health and Child Care here, he is not the problem. Cholera keeps on coming every year, the medication and all the provisions are there. Let us go on the source and work on the infrastructure of the country so that it is habitable. The vendors who are selling air time, what do they have to do with typhoid? We are targeting the wrong people. The Government must start working. Thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My point of
clarification from the Hon. Minister is that the Minister spoke of vaccination, may he enlighten the House the target of vaccination - is it children, everyone or within the centres which have been affected like Glenview and Budiriro or it is a nationwide programme.
Secondly Madam Speaker, the Executive acted in their wisdom or lack of it that vendors were part of the problem and they ordered them away from the centres from which they were conducting business. It is being disputed by the majority Members of Parliament here but at least, the Executive gave an order. Why can the Executive not order local authorities to remove solid waste situated in every corner of streets in our communities – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – As an order, it simply requires fuel, dump trucks, and front-end loaders which the councils have. We must start by doing the low-hanging fruits which is going to ensure that we have a sustainable programme. I agree with the plans laid out by the Local Government Minister of infrastructural rehabilitation. However, let us do things which can be done tomorrow. The City Councils of Harare, Kwekwe or Bulawayo must remove solid waste currently situated in our communities.
The third issue Madam Speaker is that the Hon. Minister spoke of boreholes. In my understanding, the drilling of boreholes by the Chinese Government, the 500 boreholes which he mentioned – boreholes were cited again as part of the problem which caused the spread of cholera. Now we are trying to multiply the number of boreholes, which means multiplying the risk of cholera from these boreholes. However, I have no problem with the boreholes but I suggest that the boreholes being drilled be equipped with chlorine cartridges and filtration systems so that from the borehole, the water enters the chlorine cartridge first before being accessible for drinking. The issue of having boreholes which are tapping directly from the water bodies into people’s cups is the one which is transmitting the disease at the rate at which the Minister spoke about. Therefore, I seek the indulgence of the Minister to look into these initiatives. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I speak from
the Chegutu West Constituents’ point of view, from the experience of
2018, where four people died because of cholera, in the early part of
- Madam Speaker Ma’am, what caused those four deaths is the same reason which caused the 400 deaths in Chegutu West Constituency in 2008 as alluded to by the Hon. Minister.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, what obtained in 2008, has not changed; it is the same issue that caused cholera in 2018, ten years later. This is because of the dilapidated, deplorable and disused state of the water and sewer infrastructure. When interrogated, the UN Aid and USAID, UNICEF, Red Cross and all other cooperating partners during the time that we were having meetings to ameliorate and alleviate the plight of those people in 2018 when four deaths occurred; Madam Speaker
Ma’am, they alluded to the fact that if a State of Disaster was declared in the nation, they were going to virement some of the money that is being channeled to Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in order to rehabilitate this infrastructure that I am talking about. Madam Speaker Ma’am, I am happy now that a State of Emergency has been proclaimed by His Excellency. It is no longer time for those cooperating partners, donors and friends in the health sector to pretend and hide behind the finger. It is my clarion call therefore, that this money that they were alluding to and these contingency measures which they said were going to be kicked in only in the event that this was declared a State of Disaster, be kicked in now.
I was a member of your Committee at the African Caribbean and
Pacific – European Union (ACP-EU Madam Speaker Ma’am. In that delegation, the people who own the European Development Fund (EDF) alluded to the same fact, that only if a State of Emergency was declared, they were able to lend to the private sector of any nation, including
Zimbabwe, part of the €200 million in order that we distant ourselves from this disease. Madam Speaker Ma’am, it is my hope and fervent view that the Hon. Minister Dr. Moyo, takes up this challenge and go to these people who have given their word and ask them to virement some of that money. I am aware of €22 million or US$ 22 million that has been sitting in the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) that can only be ignited and put into play only when a State of Emergency has been declared.
The circumstances which caused the cholera epidemic in 2008 have not changed in Chegutu West Constituency. There are 50 000 people who depend on 33 boreholes. There is no portable drinking water in Chegutu. They produce 10 mega litres, what reaches the enduser is 3 mega –litres against the consumption of 22 mega-litres that is required. You can only deal with this scourge by employing part of that
€200 million EDF and part of that €22 million channeled through the CDC.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, it is also my hope that the State of Emergency continues to be declared until the scourge of the dilapidated infrastructure is…
HON. CHIBAYA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Hon.
Musanhi is now turning this House into a bedroom. He is sleeping here.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are out of order, please
may you sit down.
HON. NDUNA: As I conclude Madam Speaker Ma’am, I request
that this State of Emergency sticks and stays in place if it is the one that is going to make the cooperating partners to get attracted to us in terms of infrastructure development. It should stay in place until the entire infrastructure, water and sewer systems are rehabilitated, resuscitated, maintained and completely laid. Madam Speaker Ma’am, it is my clarion call and I hope it finds favour in the Executive through the Hon. Minister here so that we get the money required to alleviate the plight of the unsuspecting innocent masses, in particular, Chegutu West Constituency and Zimbabwe in general.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. SIKHALA: Madam Speaker, we have got a humble request. There are only three Members who are standing to ask questions. It would be important and prudent that all of us complete our questions so that the Minister will wrap up. I think it was better that way especially myself. My question was very short to the Minister concerning the water situation in Chitungwiza. He came during the outbreak of cholera in Chitungwiza and that was his first port of call. He held a meeting with all stakeholders and important citizens of Chitungwiza...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not a point of order!
HON. SIKHALA: It was a point of order but...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is not a point of order!
HON. SIKHALA: There are only three members who just want to
ask very short questions and not long ones so that the Minister will wrap up, unless if you will give us another opportunity to open questions to the Minister again?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you Hon. Sikhala, I will
allow you to ask but be short and to the point.
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question to
the Minister is that you came to Chitungwiza during the initial stages of the outbreak of cholera. You held a meeting at Chitungwiza
Municipality with all the Councilors and all other important stakeholders in Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza is not an area where you need education on, because you have been the Chief Executive of Chitungwiza Central
Hospital for almost 15 years and you understand the situation in
Chitungwiza on the ground, on how it is standing at the present moment.
When you came to Chitungwiza in your new jacket not as Chief Executive of Chitungwiza Central Hospital, but as a Minister, you promised...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Sikhala. I said
short and to the point. Ask your question. – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] -
HON. SIKHALA: My question to the Minister is that the Minister knows that water supply in Chitungwiza only comes once a week for 8 hours. When he came during the period of cholera, he promised Chitungwiza that there will be an increase of water supply. How far have you gone with the promise that you left in Chgitungwiza that there will an increase of water supply? That is my question.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I have two short
questions to the Minister. He mentioned that they are planning to vaccinate Harare residents and Harare is house to 2 million people including the visitors. If we calculate the cost of vaccine vials for the cholera vibrio pathogen, calculate the cost of vaccinations that the team is going to use, is it not prudent to repair the burst pipes and sewers compared to pouring money into a vaccination programme which will only temporarily protect the people?
Secondly, we have had cholera for a month and one would expect that people should have died may be the first week, thereafter our nurses must have been able to curb the disease with experience and with drugs.
We were told that there was drug resistant strain, hence the pathogen was not responding to the drug. You have since told us that there was a better drug which was on offer. Why are people still dying if nurses and the drugs are there? Are they failing to cope with a simple disease? –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members!
*HON. NZUMA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I am Saul Nzuma
from Buhera West Constituency. We want to recognise the visionary leadership of our President Cde. Mnangagwa. – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] -
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please ask your question.
*HON. NZUMA: I say that because we see the vision that our
Hon. Minister O. Moyo has. We realise that as he was heading Chitungwiza he did a good job and there is development. We also saw the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs giving us information yesterday. It is a good programme and the country will be doing well. I also thank the Minister of Transport that even where I come from Buhera West; there is a Murambinda/Birchenough road which is near completion. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] -
I want to thank our Ministers for the good work that they are doing. I cannot sit down before I appreciate the good work that has been done by the appointed Ministers. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] -
HON. TSUNGA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I am happy that
this time around I am recognised. Mine are direct questions. Given the various measures enunciated by the Hon. Minister in regard to dealing with the cholera menace, I have got very specific questions. Firstly, are there any indications as to whether Harare and indeed other parts affected by cholera will be declared cholera free? Secondly Madam Speaker, what measures are in place to ensure that those areas not presently impacted or affected by cholera are not affected in the short, medium and long term? Finally Madam Speaker, we may require assurances from the Hon. Minister as the responsible authority that this menace will not recur in the future. Thank you very much.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Madam Speaker, let me start by answering the question from the Hon. Member from Bulawayo. That is a very sad state of affairs which he described. I want to point out that I take this matter very seriously and I am also realising that we are all taking this matter very seriously. I want it recorded in each and everyone of us that there should never be any deaths as a result of cholera or typhoid. That has to be our motto. There should never be any death as a result of cholera specifically.
Let me then hasten to indicate that we are serious about this. I will personally fly to Bulawayo on Friday and pay a visit to Burombo and make sure that things are in order in Bulawayo – [AN HON. MEMBER:
Why would you fly to Bulawayo?] – Whether by road or what as long as I get there. I will make sure that I get there and rectify the problem.
That is the issue. My Ministry is geared towards ensuring that there is fast, prompt response mechanism in place on a continuous basis. That is what you are going to be seeing on a continuous basis with regards to any problem that is related to health. I want you Madam Speaker, to note that the Ministry of Health and Child Care will now be running on a different concept altogether; the concept of taking appropriate action at the right time, immediately because it is a Ministry which deals with people’s lives.
The other Hon. Member was talking about availability of sanitisers. Yes, sanitisers will eventually get to each and every constituency. Like I indicated, at the moment, we were concentrating on Harare because that was the epicentre of the cholera. It does not mean that we were not looking after the typhoid issue. We are also looking after the typhoid issue starting with Gweru. There was also typhoid here in Harare. So, those two are being looked at concurrently without any distinction.
The issue of sanitisers which was specifically requested for or asked by the Member, accessing of those sanitisers will start to happen as soon as our Natpharm starts its distribution mechanism. There is a distribution pattern which they follow and we felt that it will be best if everything that is donated is housed and warehoused at Natpharm. They have the logistics of getting to each and every provincial hospital. Likewise, I take note that the Clerk of Parliament is also requesting for that type of assistance.
You indicated about the correct handshaking. I think it is vital that we all use our fists, no open hand – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, I want to really say we all agree that cholera is here. I have addressed a lot of people from various walks of life and political parties, and we have said we forget about how we are going to be looking at the configuration of our palms. This is not a matter of looking at our political palm configuration, it is a matter of saving our lives. Whether I lift my hand, it does not mean that I belong to a certain party or if you open it you belong to a certain party. Let us forget about that please.
The seriousness you have shown today, I am really impressed.
This gives encouragement to the members of staff in the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well that the Parliamentarians are taking this matter very seriously. You must realise that there are a lot of health workers who have been sacrificing their lives handling these sick people and we must appreciate what they are doing. We really have to – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
The current situation requires that we all work as one. The issue of duties on dettol and things like that is something we can also look at. However, I am not just looking at it as a temporary measure but I also want to look at it as a permanent measure. We must be able to ensure that we empower our local pharmaceutical companies, make raw materials available for them, empower the Datlabs and CAPS of this country to be able to produce all the supplies that are relevant. We would not be looking at other countries if we had our own supplies.
Madam Speaker, we want to create a five star health system in
Zimbabwe accessible to all socially disadvantaged and anyone who can afford – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – We want a situation where we will not be going to Singapore for treatment or whatever. We want a situation where Zimbabwe shall be clean again, so we have to do the right things.
On the issue of decommissioning boreholes, contaminated boreholes have to be decommissioned because they were the source of the problems. Anyone sensible would move in line with that. They would ensure that you go and de-commission that particular borehole which is causing the problem. We do not have adequate drugs at the moment.
Let me move to the issue of having a commission on cholera. I do not think at this stage it is really necessary. The commission must be the whole nation. Each and every citizen has to be the commissioner of ensuring that there would be no cholera again in Zimbabwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – We have to start with personal hygiene; it starts with us. Avoid littering, make sure that the area that you live around is clean and making sure that our litter is collected. That is why the Ministry of Local Government comes and plays a major role in ensuring that we come up with a final solution. The definitive solution for eradicating this medieval disease is ensuring that we have a properly functioning water and sewage system. The current system, let me advise you - let me advise you – we have two pipes running in parallel. One is carrying raw sewage and the other one is carrying clean water. As soon as the one which is carrying the raw sewage bursts, it pushes the one which is carrying the clean water and the clean water pipe end up being contaminated and that ends up in our bodies. We end up consuming faecal material which is the main cause of the cholera. We just have to ensure that we put in place a proper functioning water and sanitation system. That is the solution.
We have to come up with sustainable solutions and this is the time to do it. There should never be a time when Parliament will have to meet again and start debating about cholera in Zimbabwe. We have to get rid of cholera once and for all. I am glad that everyone is singing the same tune because that is what we have to do. I implore you Hon.
Members to keep supporting us. Keep supporting us because with your support, we will be able to get all the relevant support from the international community.
I must point out and hasten to say while the President of Zimbabwe and the Minister of Finance and Economic Development are in the United States; they continue to plead for more assistance. I am advised that there is quite a lot of assistance which is coming through and our local partners, WHO, UNICEF and the bin in my office; on a continuous basis, we are working on the project to ensure that we get enough assistance.
How are we going to start with the issue of vaccines, how are we going to give the vaccines? Naturally, according to the principles of epidemiology, where there is an epidemic you start by ensuring that the area which is registered as the epicenter is the one where treatment commences. So, we are going to commence the treatment in the epicentre area which happens to be Harare, encumbering Chitungwiza. Those areas will be covered and the vaccines can be administered to anyone from the age of one going upwards. There is no selection. That is going to be done. The teams are in place and working. We are going to be having assistance from the World Health Organisation.
Before I was Minister, I worked with all these organisations. I have worked with United Nations and I have managed to get the support and that support is coming. Once we think that the support is not coming, we will be advising you but it is a natural response which is coming from the World Health Organisation.
The state of emergency to stay - yes, it would be nice for the state of emergency to stay until we are able to collect enough financial support to put in place sustainable solutions. However, it will have to be on a phased basis. We might have to look at the areas where we would have completely eradicated the problem and then release that area. So, it will be on area by area basis. I will not rush to immediately call for an uplifting of the state of emergency. That would be highly irresponsible.
We have had meetings with councillors with regards to water availability in Chitungwiza. They have indicated that they will look at it positively but unfortunately, the City of Harare itself is also facing a major challenge with regards to availability of water from Morton Jeffrey. That is why we had then opted to increase the number of boreholes in Chitungwiza as a stop gap measure. This is just a stop gap measure. We are going to sink those boreholes in accordance with the laid down protocols which do not allow boreholes to be sunk within a certain distance from a sewer system. There will have to be a proper survey of those areas where those boreholes are going to be sunk.
The mainstay is that eventually while this is a stop gap measure, each and every household in Zimbabwe should have free running clean tap water. Boreholes are a stop gap measure to stop our population and citizenry from going to collect water in the contaminated areas at the contaminated boreholes at the moment so that we stop the disease. There are also bowsers which are going to be made available to all the areas just as a stop gap measure. We are in a stop gap measure mode and we will end up with the ideal, the definitive and the absolute solution eventually as more assistance comes in.
The other Hon. Member asked whether it was prudent to vaccinate and why not utilise the funds towards infrastructure. Yes, you might say that but unfortunately, these vaccines are coming through World Health Organisation, our partners and we are not paying anything for those vaccines. Naturally, if we were going to be paying for them; yes, we would come up with a design whereby we will be able to do a balancing act but lucky enough at this stage these are vaccines coming in and there is no cost to us.
A drug resistant pattern that you talked about, I indicated that I landed into cholera coming from an endemic cholera area, Chitungwiza where we had set up systems and had managed to contain cholera. If we go to Chitungwiza now, you will find that the system that we put in place, if there is an incident of cholera it is immediately captured. That is the system which I personally had to go through the townships in
Glenview and Budiriro and encouraged the health workers to also adopt. The system allowed for the setting up of the treatment centres and then we identified the first line drugs that are normally used. These are ciprofloxacin and cafetriozine. The pathogens were resistant to these drugs and then we had to go for the second line antibiotic which is azithromycin. We are using azithromycin now. This is what the pathogens are sensitive to. We have a number of patients who are in wards at Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital. How we will know when we are going to declare the cholera as having gone now depends on the number of cases that are arriving.
We started with over a thousand suspected cases arising and then the number of deaths was also increasing. Higher numbers of cholera cases suspected arising, more deaths arising. Therefore, at this stage I want to advise the House that because of the stop gap measure interventions that were put in place, we have already picked. On the graph, we started with the increase in deaths and the cases; the platooning of the cases and the deaths and now we are declining. There is good progress. We are managing and containing the problem as a result of the stop gap measures.
I do not want to say that we are succeeding and managing to contain the problem as a result of our stop gap measures while we are ensuring that we have the final solution to the problem.
So, Madam Speaker, we want a clean Zimbabwe, we want a Zimbabwe where drugs are available. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - I want to also indicate that we have had two companies that we approached and solicited for support. There is a company which is going to collect all the garbage in the epicentre. The other areas – we will negotiate with them and be able to bring them forward so that they can also be able to collect garbage there. The other company which has also come forward will be ensuring that they assist us with the construction of toilet facilities for the benefit of the vendors. So, all those plans are being put in place.
We have a mantra which I would like all the Hon. Members here present to be able to utilise as part of the awareness and education. It is extremely vital that we all recite it on a continual basis to our constituencies. Education and awareness must be allowed without fear or favour. That is one of the major solutions for us to be able to overcome this disease. ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’, Zimbabwe shall be clean again.
I think I have answered most of the questions. Thank you Madam
Speaker.
On the motion of THE HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI),
the House adjourned at Two Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 25th September, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKERS GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I recognise the presence of Hon. Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini S. C., Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and his Staff in the Speaker’s Gallery. You are most welcome – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
INVITATION TO A BREAKFAST MEETING
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the Women Alliance of Business Association in Zimbabwe (WABAZ) is inviting all Women Parliamentarians to a breakfast meeting on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 at 0730 hours at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. The bus will leave Parliament building at 0715 hours.
You are requested to confirm your attendance with the Zimbabwe
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Secretary in Room 181, Parliament Building or on extension 2110.
INDUCTION SEMINAR FOR HON. MINISTERS AND DEPUTY
MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: All Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on parliamentary business to be held on - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order!
Order! Order. Hon member can you take your sit properly? All Hon.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on Parliamentary Business to be held on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Building starting at 0830 hours.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you. Mr. Speaker Sir, I move the motion standing in my name that a respectful address be presented to the
President of Zimbabwe as follows:-
We the Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe, desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer our respectful thanks for the speech, which you have been pleased to address to Parliament.
HON. MUSABAYANA: I second.
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me this opportunity to debate the State of the Nation Address by the
President. May I also take this opportunity to congratulate His
Excellency the President for emerging victorious in the 2018 Presidential Elections that were a departure from the violence that previously characterised our elections before his ascendance - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The free, fair and credible elections will go a long way in restoring long lost international confidence. Congratulation, makorokoto, amhlophe!
Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to also congratulate all of us for making it to this Ninth Parliament. Let us all remember that it is the people who gave us the mandate hence we should work tirelessly as servant leaders, to steal from his Excellency’s words.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President, in his speech alluded to the incident of violence that occurred on 1st August, 2018 and being the peaceful man he is, he has set up a seven member commission of enquiry consisting of eminent persons who were sworn in on Wednesday 19th September 2018. These people are going to investigate, report and make recommendations so as to put closure and finality to the matter.
HON. BITI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is not making a maiden speech. She is not allowed to read, she is reading.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, she can read her speech because she is moving a motion. Thank you, carry on.
HON. KWARAMBA: Mr. Speaker Sir, as highlighted in his speech concerning the need to revisit all MOUs signed with other governments which are lying idle, I totally support that these be revisited urgently so as to ensure that as a country, we benefit from the reengagement efforts as we are part of the global community and will hence benefit from these agreements. This, I believe, is the first step towards micro-economic stability, creation of fiscal space and access to foreign currency. Without this, our efforts to put the economy ahead of politics will not bear fruits.
I also agree with his Excellency that the multi-currency system be continued with until all economic fundamentals are positive as the rushed return to the Zimbabwean dollar will result in its being eroded in value, so long as the negative economic fundamentals are not rectified. It is also of paramount importance to some foreign exchange facilities that will cover our imports, like the $500 million sourced through the RBZ. Building 3-6 months of import cover will go a long way in covering our imports and eliminate shortages in the economy.
Mr Speaker Sir, His Excellency is advocating for the prudent use of public resources, responsiveness, accountability as well as timely, impartial and equitable delivery of goods and services to our people.
Truly, there has to be a paradigm shift from what we used to experience in the First Republic. I will take this opportunity as a legislator to throw my weight behind His Excellency in his fight to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and bottlenecks. His Excellency made the clarion call to State Enterprises to start being profitable. Heads should roll in these parastatals and it should be emphasised that their duty is to help Government raise funds and not vice-versa. They should deliver and not continue to drain the fiscus. They should justify their existence. Corrupt practices should be nipped in the bud if parastatals are to add value to the economy. Tough and stringent measures have to be put in place to deal with parastatal heads that do not produce results. Such behaviour by parastatal heads is tantamount to throwing spanners in the work of His Excellency, the President. His efforts and ours will not bear fruit when we have saboteurs in the systems that go unpunished.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also commend His Excellency for his efforts towards creating a business friendly environment. Efforts to market Brand Zimbabwe should be made in tandem with the ease of doing business and ensuring that our licensing requirements are not too stringent as this cultivates corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, agriculture being the mainstay of our economy, the President has restructured the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. He is encouraging the use of our water bodies throughout the country. The Ministry of Tourism has been given fishlings for example in Tokwe-Mukorsi. Funds have been set aside to construct major dams e.g. Kunzvi dam in Mashonaland East. Through Command Agriculture, farmers are being issued with inputs. I would like to commend the President for providing inputs for this season timely. Farmers are being encouraged to harvest water and where there are dams, irrigation is being encouraged. Command livestock and command fisheries have been introduced to help resuscitate our economy. Thank you President Mnangangwa for introducing command. You have improved the livelihoods of our people. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - We have noted an increase in the production of maize, wheat and cotton and small grains in areas which do not receive enough rainfall. Also, what is very pleasing is that payment after delivery of maize to the GMB only takes three days. There will not be hunger again in Zimbabwe. Arrangements have already been made to counter the Elnino phenomenon by the Minister of Lands, Cde Perrance Shiri. May I also commend efforts to modernise and mechanise our agriculture. This will go a long way in improving agricultural profitability and this will feed into agro based industry along the various agro-value chains as propounded by the His Excellency.
The President also talked about devolution, where power is going to be devolved to local communities. These communities know what they want, hence they are going to work in their provinces to take charge of resources found in their areas. For example, in Mashonaland West we have a tomato factory in Norton. In Mutoko there is black granite therefore the onus is on provinces to work on their diverse economic activities to increase their GDP.
His Excellency has promised modern education and health infrastructure. We have seen the purchase of dialysis machines and the introduction of free dialysis in our major hospitals. Dialysis costs were out of reach for many kidney patients hence we would like to say thank you, to our caring President. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - My wish is to have these machines in all provinces to ease pressure. May I take this opportunity to thank the First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa for complimenting His Excellency’s work by spearheading cervical cancer awareness and treatment. Most of our women were dying from cancer but they are now being diagnosed and treated before the cancer reaches alarming levels. Amai should be commended for sourcing machines through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President touched on Bills that should be debated in this House which are supposed to be aligned to the
Constitution. I would like to comment on the Mandatory Sentence for
Rape and Sexual Abuse Bill which shall be considered by this Parliament. Rape on its own is murder, hence I would like to suggest that a stiffer sentence like life sentence be considered. I think by the time this Bill comes to this august House, Hon. Members will debate seriously and make proper recommendations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President lamented the current outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in some parts of the country. People continue to die. It is pleasing to note that the private sector has come in to assist the Government with various amounts of money so as to curb this menace. His Excellency has visited the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage. On his visit, he promised one affected Form 3 student educational assistance until he finishes his education. Thank you my President for putting health issues first.
Lastly, we have noticed wanton increase of prices of goods in shops which has reached alarming levels. You wake up to find the prices of basic goods gone up. It is my fervent hope that the Consumer Protection Bill be quickly put in place to protect consumers from unfair trade practices.
Let me conclude by calling all legislators across the political divide to unite and work towards building Zimbabwe, and uniting behind His Excellency in his efforts to restore the pride of our nation –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – United we stand! Divided we fall! I thank you.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to start by thanking our heroes of the First Chimurenga and First Umvukela who fought hard for this nation to be where it is today. Today, we enjoy our independence because of the hard work that they did. Allow me to thank the heroes of the Second Chimurenga who were led by the ZANLA and ZIPRA forces who worked so hard to shape this nation to be where it is today. I look at it as an incarnation of the spirits of the First Chimurenga that was passed on to the heroes of the Second Chimurenga.
I also feel honoured to second the motion raised by Hon. Kwaramba who was responding to the State of the Nation Address delivered by His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa who is the first President of the Second Republic – [HON MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] - As an analyst, when I looked at the President’s speech, there is one single compelling issue that he touched on and this issue really touched my heart; his strategic vision of targeting per capita income of $3500 by year 2030. This vision will raise this economy into a middle income economy. When our nation gets into a middle income class, its means the welfare of our society, people and rural communities will also be upgraded.
The President did not only highlight where he wants to take this nation which is the promised land. He also did point out to at important roadblocks and detours that need to be removed, lest our…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon Member holding a chair, no
more chairs inside. There should be one line so that there is free passage there. Hon. Members sitting on my right, can you please stand up and have one line there.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I was saying our
President has shown that he is really a strategist by showing us that, not only does he have a strategic intent of landing this nation into the promised land but he highlighted all the possible challenges that we may face as we cross into the promised land which are issues to do with the opportunities that we have as a nation or the enablers that we have. These opportunities are trapped in our minds which need to be exploited efficiently and effectively. These opportunities are in the agricultural sector, the tourism sector and the human capital resource. Not only that, we also have the social capital of relationships that have been created through the engagement and re-engagement.
Mr. Speaker Sir, these roadblocks need to be dealt with for us to be able to get to the Promised Land, and in order to increase productivity in this nation for us to be able to raise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this nation, we need to take these roadblocks and detours seriously, so that pathways are created into our economy for us to be able to maximise output from resources.
The roadblocks manifest as poor infrastructure in terms of our roads, poor infrastructure in terms of water and sanitation and our Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems or infrastructure which is lagging very far behind the global standards.
We also have challenges that His Excellency the President highlighted. These manifest as red-tape in the operation of government, inefficient bureaucracy and poor work ethics among others. These are likely seen in the public sector and this can militate against the ease of doing business.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that the President is talking passionately about Zimbabwe being open for business. We cannot be a nation open for business unless and until issues of competitiveness are dealt with. Mr. Speaker Sir, these issues are critical because we cannot be competitive on the international market unless our products are properly priced. These issues further boil down to products quality and cost of production.
We also have laws that are archaic and these laws makes it very difficult to achieve the required ease of doing business in our nation and with other foreign nations.
The President also highlighted the issue of corruption, lack of constitutionalism and the culture of unjustified profiteering which has become a culture among our citizens.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he starts with food security and shelter as the basic requirements for a human being to live comfortably. Our President also looks at that when he talked about the issue of water borne diseases which have affected people. The diseases include typhoid and cholera. Therefore, the issue of access to clean water has to be dealt with. This is also enshrined in our Constitution that requires that every citizen has access to clean potable water. Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 also alludes to that.
Our President showed that he is a responsible citizen and good leader by assenting to the Public Health Act to ensure that these issues are dealt with once and for all and within a sustainable framework. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the new dispensation because it ensured that most citizens have access to clean potable water. The dispensation has availed drilling rigs in every province. These will go a long way in ensuring that we have access to clean potable water especially in rural communities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this issue of access to clean water is very important to our citizens….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Order, Hon. Member, just refer to your notes.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The issue of
clean potable water is very critical especially to our rural communities and also to our unsung heroes of the Third Chimurenga who are the A2 and A1 farmers. Most of these people do not have access to clean potable water. For example in Hwedza alone, we are looking at more than 84 villages without access to boreholes and clean potable water. We also have schools which number beyond 30, without clean potable water. Mr. Speaker Sir, not only do we have to use these boreholes for drinking water, but they also go a long way in improving infrastructure for our irrigation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the President for the new dispensation because in this new dispensation, he has introduced Command Agriculture in tobacco. Command Agriculture in tobacco has actually moved the level of production of tobacco in this country to a higher level. The level has surpassed the 1999 level which has never been achieved during the time white commercial farmers were still farming in this land. Command tobacco has actually vindicated the Land Reform Programme because it has shown that if our farmers are given enough financial support, they can surpass the production levels that were achieved during the time the white commercial farmers were still very active in our farms.
Another roadblock that was highlighted by the President is the issue of accelerating ICTs infrastructure development. ICT infrastructure is one of the key enablers of development. Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at nations like Singapore and Rwanda, they are now shining examples of economic development. This is so because they have harnessed ICTs as a strategy for development. They are not just using ICTs as a tool for development alone but they are also using it as a strategy for development. This year Rwanda is actually hosting the Smart Africa Forum and in that they are focusing on issues to do with ICTs.
In terms of access to ICTs, we are ranked lowly. We are on number 133 out of 175 countries and this is a bad index position. Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, we need as a nation to focus and deploy resources into the ICT sector. I also suggest that we increase the ICT envelop when we do our National Budget so that our ICT industry develops. ICTs go a long way in improving employment levels in our country and we can also use it for the efficient running of our country. That is possible if we introduce e-governance and paperless offices in all our government departments.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of ICTs is also important in our rural communities. If we look at constituencies like Hwedza North, we only have three cellular network base stations and most of the wards do not have access to broadband and cellular networks. That isolates such wards from the rest of the world. As we get integrated into the global arena or market, the challenge that we have in terms of the ICT platforms we are operating on, is that we are behind and we will not be able to compete. Therefore, we need to focus on this area.
The President also highlighted the issue of Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill. It is sad Mr. Speaker, that this Bill is still outstanding because in the Eighth Parliament we enjoyed a number of lunches and allowances trying to work on this Bill. I do not know what happened because we never saw its life in the Eight Parliament, but I am glad the President has highlighted it because this is a very important Bill.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the world over, over $600 billion was lost through cyber crimes in 2017 alone. That is a scary figure and we do not want that to affect our nation. We also have cyber crimes that are now crippling certain nations. We know that Ukraine’s energy sector was hacked and when it was hacked there were serious challenges in that country which almost brought anarchy to the nation. So, issues to do with cyber crimes and cyber security Bills should be treated with the urgency that they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, we also need to look at issues to do with corruption. The world over we are losing more than $2 trillion that is to say in 2017 alone the world lost $2 trillion due to corruption. This shows that corruption is a serious bottleneck, is a serious roadblock that we need to deal with. The issue of corruption needs to be treated with the urgency that it deserves. At the moment, Zimbabwe is ranked 159 out of 190 economies in terms of corruption perception index.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this is bad and we are viewed in bad light in terms of being a lucrative investment destination. We know what happens with corruption. The issue of corruption is that it is actually an inhibitor to foreign direct investment. Corruption will increase the cost of investment because in the process of trying to invest in a nation, you have to grease some people’s hands or pockets and in the process a lot of money is lost that will affect even the return of your investment.
The other challenge with corruption is that there is no guarantee that if you are involved in a corrupt deal or you pay the greasing fee, you will be able to consummate the deal. So, for us to support the
President’s mantra that we are open for business, we have to deal with the issue of corruption, but when we deal with the issue of corruption, Mr. Speaker Sir, we need to ensure that there is a framework that is in place, a framework, policies or laws that ensure that all those people who are found guilty are actually taken to jail. I am glad the President has set up or committed judges that are focused on dealing with corruption. I believe there are three courts in Bulawayo and also five courts in Zimbabwe that will be dealing with corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when we are looking at the issue of corruption, I think our police force needs to be trained on how to handle or investigate issues of corruption because if the police are not trained or do not have the capacity or the competence to deal with matters of corruption, it will be very difficult to prove some of the cases before the courts of law. This is why we see some of these people going scot free even after being charged or are alleged to be corrupt.
Mr. Speaker Sir, finally, I want to thank the President for talking about or addressing the currency issue that has been challenging our nation for a long time. I believe he addressed it in the right context that the challenge that we have is not to do with the bond note and it is not to do with the currency that you are using. The challenges that we have in this economy are underlying fundamental issues to do with productivity, issues to do with the way we do business in this country. I think we need to refocus on issues of productivity because if you are productive as a nation, we will be able to create surpluses even within our own communities. If every community creates a surplus, it means we will be able to create a surplus in our nation and when we have surpluses, we will be able to export to other nations.
We also need to deal with the culture in this country; the culture of this love for imported goods.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member can you wind up, your
time is up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We need to learn to buy Zimbabwe. If as a nation we learn to buy Zimbabwe, to focus on learning to buy our locally produced goods, then it will reduce our demand for foreign goods. If we deal with that issue then…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! I said wind up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker, as I wind up, allow me to thank our President, President Emmerson Mnangagwa for delivering a resounding victory to ZANU-PF as a party. Mr. Speaker, it was not easy with a free and fair election to have two thirds majority in Parliament –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. MUSABAYANA: So, I would like to thank our President for his hard work. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to support what was said by the mover and the seconder of the motion. Let me start by thanking our President for the speech that he gave in Parliament. What he said is reflective of a good President. In Africa as a whole, we have Presidents who speak, but the way our President spoke, was a reflection that he is a person with wisdom and has the views that are good that will push the country forward.
We want to thank him for delivering such good speech. If someone starts his speech by thanking the opposition and then later on his own party, appreciating the calmness and the free and fair atmosphere or environment in which elections were held, what do we say of such a President? So, I also want to thank the nation for the peace and tranquility that prevailed during elections. I am sure everyone will agree with me that we used to have elections marred by violence, but the recently held elections were elections whereby the opposition did not have any convincing evidence in court – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- because they were also appreciating the peaceful environment that prevailed during the elections.
I hope that as Zimbabweans, we will be able to maintain such an environment and other countries can learn from us. The peaceful environment during elections brought in a lot of tourism. After the elections, the number of tourists increased compared to other periods before the elections. I want to thank him for the peaceful environment that prevailed during elections. I know there are some who do not appreciate and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that is there but the
President reiterated that there was peace and tranquillity after elections. The President also talked about demonstrations that occurred after elections where six people lost their lives.
Mr. Speaker, we are not happy and do not like such a situation whereby people entice the youths who do not have jobs to go and demonstrate just for them to get into power. The issue of Kenya that wanted to take place in Zimbabwe is not a good thing, especially after the elections. I was not happy about it because the way we had won the elections was outstanding but you find people using the youth to go into the streets to and demonstrate. We should go and inform our supporters of the results after the elections – if we lose, we should tell them we have lost and not entice them to go and demonstrate in the streets. We are here as representatives of the people....
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member, please do not dwell much on that issue because there is a Commission that was set up to look into that. Let the Commission do its work and do its investigations. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is what I wanted to talk about, the setting up of the Commission. We want to thank the President who put in place a Commission to investigate the post election violence.
The President also talked about the issue of health. He said that our country needs to have good health facilities and we realised that all areas – yesterday I was talking to the leaders of Harare and I told them they are now adhering to what should happen in Zimbabwe. I told them that our country cannot be a country of selling tomatoes. When the President talked about removing informal traders, people say that there are no jobs and they do not look at the issue of health. We want the health issue to be dealt with. As Parliamentarians, I urge us to be united so that the country or Harare where we reside when we come from our different constituencies remains clean. When we were travelling from different areas to come to Parliament, it will take us three hours. We want to thank the President and we support him that health should be there. We want to thank those that are cleaning the city, especially the Opposition, they have tried to clean up the city. They should continue doing the good work and ensure that Harare does not become a tomato market. We do not want that.
On the issue of corruption Mr. Speaker, corruption has become a cancer. Corruption should be brought to an end. Corruption – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Please listen and lower your voices. May you whisper? Hon. Zwizwai, just control yourself a bit. Thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Corruption Mr. Speaker, everyone is involved in corruption. Most of us are engaged in corruption in one way or the other. Some people just want to talk about individuals engaging in corruption but they do not look at themselves. Corruption is not only defrauding but corruption is also evident if someone says that the vendors or informal traders should continue to sell their wares from the streets. That is corruption because we are saying it is not healthy but we want them to stay there, that is corruption. We want to stress that such corruption should end. Corruption again comes in the sense that when someone is speaking very sensibly and doing good work, you will hear people making noise, like I am doing, that is corruption. Corruption is not only involved where there is money but also where one is saying a lot of sense and people are booing him. There is corruption that is evident in demonstration, there is corruption that comes through fraudulent activities. Even the demonstrations that happened when the President was delivering his Speech and MPs walked out, that in itself is corruption – [Laughter.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Chinotimba, we do not want jokes in this House. May you please stick to the speech, not to be cracking jokes as you debate. Let us respect this House.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am talking about corruption and people may think that I am joking but as I am saying, you once said that when we come to Parliament to discuss business, we should not fear. So, I am talking of corruption and where it comes from.
The President also talked about Bills that when we come to this august House, the Ministers should push the Bills so that we pass them. We want the Bills to come through and for them to be passed especially on the issue of devolution so that development can take place in the provinces. In my area, there is a lot of hunger and poverty but we have a lot of resources. The President emphasised that these Bills should be brought to Parliament for developmental purposes and he said that we should not look at partisan politics but work together as Members of Parliament from either party. That is an issue that people in this House should understand.
Elections have come and they have gone and what we want now is to push the agenda in terms of development four our country. What is it that has made our country remain so backward? Let us work together and articulate issues to end these economic challenges as one and not to behave like we do not know what we are doing. So, these are the words that I want to add that the President of Zimbabwe Hon. Emmerson
Mnangagwa is a President given by God. We have not seen such a
President before - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, we want to thank the President for his bravery and we want to thank all of you who voted for the President. Some of us might not have voted for him but many of us voted for him. Romans 13 says that, the king or the leader of a nation is chosen by God. He is anointed by God. Even if people can complain and say a lot, as long as God has put him there, no one has the powers to remove him. So, I want to thank you with these words that God will protect the life of our President, Cde. Mnangagwa who has gone out to tell the world that they should come and work in Zimbabwe since Zimbabwe is open for business. Let us thank him that he is a President of the people who was voted for by the people – whether you like it or not, he is going to be the President for five years. I thank you.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me
this opportunity. Let me thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Kwaramba for coming up with such a noble motion. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for a resounding victory on the 30th of July, 2018. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for coming for a second term – you are a repository of knowledge. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
I also want to congratulate the rest of the Hon. Members here present for coming to this august House and I take this opportunity to thank the people of Chikomba Central who actually voted me to come for a second term in this august House. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to mention about Chikomba Central that as a constituency, we have a relationship that is sui generis – it is specific and special in its own way. The idea of us as parliamentarians to fulfill the desires and the wishes of our people cannot be over-emphasised. I want to say to this august House that the 2018 elections has gone and we now need to build Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker Sir, the idea of us here in Africa, I wanted to say, we have one problem whereby if we run a race, it is given that there is a winner and a loser. In most cases, you will find that there is a spirit of denial and individualism whereby if someone wins, it is a taboo that there is no handshake to say, here you have won. I am saying let us embrace this spirit as Africans to say, whenever one succeeds, let us congratulate that person. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is prevalent even within the intra-party politics where we talk of the primaries – this spirit is quite prevalent there and also inter-party politics whenever we come to the general election. This affirms an assertion by one of the renowned authors, Jean Wilkes that “as long as leaders worry about who sits at the head table, they have little time for the people they are called to serve”. We do not see opportunities for services while our eyes are fixed on competition.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa talked about prioritisation of economic development in order to eradicate poverty by 2030. According to Mahatma Ghandi, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”. The issue of corruption has become cancerous as alluded to by a number of speakers who have deliberated on that aspect and it is my humble plea that as the law makers, let us come up with a punitive measure or legislation to nip this in the bud once and for all for a better Zimbabwe, for ourselves and for posterity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also highlighted a number of pertinent Bills to be tabled in this august House and from your wise counsel, the onus is on us the parliamentarians to execute with speed in ensuring that these Bills become law. Inter alia, the Bills to be tabled in the House, there is the Rural District Councils Bill which gives greater autonomy to the rural councils as enshrined in the supreme law, the
Constitution and this is long overdue Mr. Speaker Sir. There is also the
Traditional Leaders’ Act which has to be amended in accordance with the Constitution so as to bring about the provincial council element and this is a welcome Bill. This will be anchored by the Public Finance Management Act which has to be amended in order to avail resources to these Bills in order for them to become law.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this comes under the purview of one of the most important Committees, which is the Finance and Economic
Development Committee and it is buttressed in Section 18 (2) of the
Constitution which states that, “the State and agencies of the State and Government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that all local communities have equitable access to resources to promote their development”. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is peremptory and it is a must. So, the funds have to be availed in order to fulfill these obligations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also touched on the need to act in the national interest and preach the gospel of peace, love, harmony and unity and hard honest. This is well articulated in our preamble of the supreme Constitution which talks of ‘… to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honest, and the dignity of hard work’ and this will also uphold ubunthu/hunhu as enunciated by His Excellency, history will judge us harshly should we renege on the sacrosanct duty to uplift the livelihoods of our people. Verily, to underpin this statement by His Excellency Mr. Speaker Sir, it is incumbent upon us as
Parliamentarians to know when to exit. This also applies to every leader Mr. Speaker Sir. I might not be popular or famous in this regard, but it is very important and imperative for leaders to know the time to exit office. As mandated in our Constitution, the President is actually mandated to have two five-year terms, making it 10 years in office.
With your indulgence Mr. Speaker Sir, once again, it is my humble request to say, let it be the time as parliamentarians to start thinking seriously about this notion, to say why can we not serve two terms as parliamentarians so that as the President exits, we also exit and allow new minds to come into effect and serve our people – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is common within us that we
want to die in office but at the end of the day, we do these things for the future generation. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to conclude – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May you lower your voices
Hon. Members. Thank you.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to conclude by quoting
one of the letters or one of the prophets in the Bible by the name Paul, when he was speaking to the Corinthians, 1Corinthians 1:10. It reads, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you will be perfect, united in mind and thought.” Surely, this is the gist of the speech of His Excellency, that there be unity in this august House for the betterment of the people of Zimbabwe in general and to embrace a modus vivendi, which is a lifestyle of the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can the Hon.
Member be heard in silence please.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, let me thank the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Adv. Jacob Mudenda for listening to Members of Parliament in terms of the change of venue today. I think it is important for us to thank him because certainly the situation was not conducive yesterday. As a result, we made an appeal to him and he responded to it in a manner which is befitting for Members of Parliament. So, if you can extend my thanks to him on behalf of all Members of Parliament, I am sure they agree.
Secondly Mr. Speaker, let me thank the people of Norton Constituency who have exhibited a great mind of independence. With the politics of this country which is so polarised, you would not think that an independent Member of Parliament would garner so many votes amounting to16 850 and 7 850 MDC Alliance, well done and then ZANU PF, 4 250, well done. I say this because it is unprecedented that a constituency would give such support to one who does not belong to a party but mainly because of the progress that they want to see for themselves. It is a lesson to many political parties in this country that the people’s welfare, concerns and development initiatives are the core for them and not the power in the political parties.
I am hoping that lessons are drawn from Norton Constituency. I am sure they have been drawn because before that, the opposition MDC had claimed that their victory was a result of their support. However, they were proven wrong in this election. Equally for the ruling party, lessons must be leant that when you expel people without – [Laughter.] – real reasons, you also suffer immensely. The ruling party paid dearly for the factional fights and the opposition paid dearly for not telling people to register and to vote. I am sure now they will participate in every by-election so that they practice because you cannot win a final without being in a semi-final.
It is important that I also commend the people of Zimbabwe across the political divide for the elections of 2018, which I think spoke a lot about the young people who participated immensely in determining their future. It is not a secret that the young people of this country, because of unemployment and suffering decided to now exercise their right. The most important thing is for the leaders of this country to be cognisant of the fact that the numbers will grow if nothing is done to respond to the needs of the young people. All they want at the end of the day are jobs and a better life and whoever offers them that is the person that they will support.
It is important to also congratulate, first of all, Advocate Chamisa – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I congratulate him as a brother in that he participated in an election and did extremely well although he lost – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - It is important that I reiterate the fact that it is a first time ever in this country where a young person takes part in an election and garners so many votes. If I were him, I would use that as a foundation to start working towards 2023. I think it is important that he is commended for that and the MDC
Alliance for coming in their numbers to be able to do that – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can you listen to the Hon. Member.
HON. MLISWA: They must also be commended in that, they did well in penetrating the ZANU PF strongholds, which illustrates a free and fair election in that ZANU PF strongholds were never touched but the MDC Alliance managed to penetrate and get a lot of votes. I wish they had taken heed of what I said to them before, that you start this game earlier than late. I think all politicians must know that you need to work the moment that you are in office.
However, it is also important to commend ZANU PF for the urban votes that they got; I think in Harare Province, they got a lot of votes. The pre-election environment, whether you like it or not, was extremely peaceful, there is no way that you can take part in an election if the conditions are not conducive.
I think all parties are to blame for their failure because there were impositions, there were factional fights which I hope they can go back to the drawing board and all learn from that. I am talking about all parties across the board. If you look at the margins which were there, clearly, it was because they had put the wrong candidate, they imposed the wrong candidates and because of the factions in the MDC-T, they had the Thokozani Khupe issue which affected them. Again, ZANU PF had become a gamatox issue and had the G40 issue and so forth. I think I am the most qualified to talk about that because I am not in any of the political parties. So, I am sure it is important for Members of Parliament to also learn from me because I benefitted immensely from the faction fights of MDC and ZANU-PF. Like I said, I always await the primary elections when people are disgruntled and I cast my net and catch the biggest breams ever in town. They must continue fighting so that the independent candidates remain live.
I say this in view of the post election situation. Certainly it is something which is unfortunate for the country and I think it is best that the decision that His Excellency Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken in appointing a Commission of Inquiry certainly helps us to get to a logical conclusion of this. Those bodies lost, whether we like it or not, certainly do not do us any good as a country and I think it is important that lessons are learnt in terms of statements which some of us politicians make before elections. I think we must think of the people first. We must not be reckless in what we say because people’s lives are important. Those lives that are gone will not come back and I think it is important for us to introspect the cause of that. I think it is also important that the Government takes a certain position to ensure that the deceased’s families ...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, I think the Hon. Speaker cautioned Hon. Chinotimba when he wanted to dwell so much on that issue because there is a Commission of Inquiry that was instituted.
HON. MLISWA: I remain guided by you Mr. Speaker. Let me
go to the issues that the President spoke about and also to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. Emmerson. Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for the victory. I do not think there will be any other ZANU-PF leader who will be as democratic as him. I think ZANU-PF has a lot to learn from Emmerson Mnangagwa. He was so democratic that he was prepared to even lose the election and there is no way that ever before since 1980, we had an election so close. I think it is also important for this House sitting here to ensure that institutions that run elections – it is up to us in this House to make sure that they do what we want at the end of day. I think we have an opportunity in this House to ensure that if we are not happy with ZEC, we are able to debate and change whatever laws we need to change so that ZEC becomes a better animal in terms of running elections. So, the onus also lies upon us Members of Parliament. I hope we will not be asleep and wait for elections to happen then talk about ZEC when elections have happened. This is the time to talk about ZEC.
This is the time to correct what ZEC did not do which was proper.
I want to also talk about the new dispensation administration that the President has shown. Never did I ever think that Government would have so many young people, unknown politicians who are now in office. It talks about the new dispensation. We had a situation where Ministers would be recycled left, right and centre. We had Ministers like Obert Mpofu who was the obedient son to the former President Mugabe.
Today, he is no more because the President wants to move forward.
That talks a lot about what he intends to do. You had die-hards like Patrick Chinamasa who certainly were die-hards in their own way but they are no more in the party. I always say this to my colleagues in ZANU-PF; I am talking about the Government and not the party. They are no longer in Government and the party is not the Government, we must understand that. We must understand exactly the role of the President in trying to send a message clearly to all Zimbabweans – even to the young people that there is room for you to be able to understand the new course he is shaping.
The aspect of corruption remains an issue. I look forward to the day the President will arrest Ministers while they are in office. Arresting Ministers out of office does not mean anything. We want Ministers while they are in office, when they are corrupt to be investigated and be suspended. Corruption can no longer be a situation where we talk about it and we do nothing about it. We have commission of enquiries put up and the mere fact that the President has got the Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Committee (ZACC) and then appoints his own committee to investigate corruption only shows that ZACC is corrupt and is not fit to investigate. Otherwise why would he then have another parallel investigating arm when ZACC is there? The likes of Goodson Nguni are not credible to be able to be running such institutions. We have people like former Attorney General Gula Ndebele, Justice Chinhengo who we just had who are able to understand the law, look at the case and be able to do that. The credibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission is the one that will talk to people whether the President is serious about corruption or not.
Also, there are other Ministers who came back into power yet there are institutions like NSSA – Hon. Mupfumira having allegations on corruption. To me, we need to be very clear. If the board chairperson of an institution which a Minister appoints is corrupt and the Minister does not report that they are corrupt, the Minister cannot be exonerated but must also be arrested because he/she appointed the board. We cannot separate the board and the Minister. So we are basically playing games. Any Minister who is sleeping on duty and appoints a board which is implicit and does not do its job, the Minister is responsible for appointing the board and as such, is the first to be accused and the board becomes the second accused. This is what we want to see. We cannot be playing games and having to protect people because of who they are. When you look at NSSA, the pensioners have suffered immensely in this country yet there are so many deals which are happening with NSSA.
There is also the issue of the land barons, some of whom are in this House. In Norton, we have Hon. Cuthbert Mupame who is implicated in the Kingsdale issue. We have Hon. Cde. Killer Zivhu, who is implicated in the Galloway issue. I speak about this with a heavy heart because these people have made people of Norton suffer. The cholera that we talk about today is a result of land barons who have gone and built more stands without complying with the master plan. Every town has got a master plan and if you look at it you give people land who are the land barons to build but they do not build any infrastructure to augment the new houses which are being built. That cholera which is there is a result of the land barons who have been given land and not only that, but they are the same land barons who were sponsoring the G40, but I see them in this House again.
At times I wonder what really happened to the party. Where are the eyes of the party? They created so much division in the country. They were the ones supporting the former first lady but today I see them here. I wonder - where was the ZANU-PF vetting system in terms of elections to stop these criminals from coming here? When another faction comes, you know where it is coming from. You failed to stop them at the end of the day. The reason why I talk about the factions is because they have played a part in this economy not taking off. The only thing that the ruling party did in the Eighth Session was to just fight and fight. There was no progress at the end of the day.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you be
reminded that you need to wind up your debate.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I talk about the aspect of corruption because it is an issue and it is quite sad that some of the issues to do with the Land Commission was set up by the President to look into the land barons. But, I then asked myself – how will the Land Commission be able to investigate other Members of Parliament when they are also part of that investigation? It says a lot about what we need to do. I also talk...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Member, it is not
parliamentary language to call other Hon. Members in this House that they are criminals. Do you have evidence? Maybe you need to change that language because he is also an Hon Member in this House. I thank you. You may continue.
HON. MLISWA: Sorry, I say this because I have written and they are part of the investigation of what is going on in the Land
Commission. So there is evidence that I have written to the authorities in this country and Hon. Cuthbert Mpame was brought before the courts as a result of the Kingsdale issue. So that evidence is there. I would not talk about something which has not gone before the courts and so forth. They are being investigated with the Land Commission. My question is - how fair will the investigations be now that they are Members of Parliament? This is an issue of corruption that I am talking about that at times we need to be very clear in terms of that.
I also want to talk about the issue of bureaucracy in Government. The President was very clear and I think that the Government has not changed its ways of doing things. The President is much ahead of
Government. You can see that there is so much bureaucracy still in
Government. It seems that people still have the DNA of the former President Robert Mugabe in terms of how they work and all that, yet the new President is very clear about how he wants things to perform. The onus is on the new administration, the Ministers - to appoint people around them who will be able to align themselves to the vision of the President which he has shown by appointing them. We are hoping that there will be a truly new dispensation because for as long as Government is not performing - Government institutions have got to perform he mentioned that.
The ZRP are trained to investigate; Homicide section can do armed robber cases, CID can do frauds but we never hear of ZRP arresting anybody for corruption. We hear of ZACC arresting people for corruption. ZACC does not have the capacity that ZRP has. ZRP has stations around and they have a training centre, but you wonder what these institutions are doing in terms of ensuring that they are up to a lot of things. It says a lot again in terms of how the training goes in terms of the crime which is there. Hon. Musabayana spoke about the cyber crime which is highly sophisticated. As a result, we also need to find people who are able to deal with white collar crime and I do not know how far we have gone in terms of introducing that.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Command Agriculture has done well and I do not think there is any better person than the Hon. Sen. Chief Air Marshall Shiri to be able to run that. He is a farmer himself. He is a military person and being a military person, he needs that discipline which was lacking in the Ministry of Agriculture for things to be done and already we have got results which are there. I believe that in the appointment of Hon. Sen. Shiri from an agricultural point of view, this is probably one of the best appointments which have been made. I have no doubt that results will be produced for a man who is well trained.
In terms of the country’s resources of lithium and coal bed methane, it is a bit unfortunate that some of our resources that we have seem to be taken away by people who are not Zimbabweans. I wonder that the indigenisation and empowerment seems to have been forgotten but the locals need to benefit. What is in it for Zimbabwe at the end of the day? We cannot be excited by people who come in to get our resources yet our people continue to suffer. There must be a local content or percentage for the people in these areas so that they benefit. Finally in terms of devolution, I think it is the way to go and I am hoping that it certainly complies with the Constitution in terms of the requirements. We had Provincial Councils elections which were held and devolution will talk a lot about how provinces will grow from an economic point of view.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity and equally congratulate all Members of Parliament across the political divide, to say let us work for the country and I am hoping that you do
not stick to the whipping system but if you are whipped, you must let me know; I will be able to support you. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! If there is any Hon.
Member who has misplaced his or her keys, can you please kindly go to the Clerk’s office.
HON. MUDARIKWA: First of all Mr. Speaker Sir, let me convey to you fraternal greetings from the heroic people of Uzumba Constituency and to you Mr. Speaker Sir, I say victory remains in the pocket of the people of Uzumba Constituency.
Let me begin by thanking His Excellency, Cde Mnangagwa for introducing peace in Zimbabwe. John 14 verse 27 says “When Jesus Christ was about to depart, he said I leave to you peace and I give peace unto you”. This is what Cde Mnangagwa has done to the people of Zimbabwe. He has brought peace and he also brought very peaceful elections. Peace is always associated with having enough food. When you are hungry or even when you are sleeping you do a lot of snoring because there is no peace in hunger.
The command agriculture has brought enough food for the people of Zimbabwe. We have small grains and artificial insemination for goats and sheep – so food is available. When there is a lot of food there is also peace. I also want to thank everybody who participated in the just ended 30 July election. Before and after the elections there was peace. Those who lost the elections, yes they can complain but you must always learn from your mistakes and those who believe in magic can come to our constituency and I will show them where they can get a medicinal formular of winning elections using some traditional medicine so that you can continue winning the way I won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way ZANU PF won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way His
Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa won resoundingly in Uzumba
Constituency – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
We are a product of the revolution and ZANU PF is the general manager of the revolution which Hon. Mnangagwa as the Commanderin-Chief of the revolution. It is only proper, fit and suitable for the people of Zimbabwe to salute our Commander-in-Chief through our vote. We voted resoundingly and this victory will continue until donkeys start having horns.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for coming back and being elected as our Speaker. We have the headmaster Hon. Adv Mudenda. He is the right man for the job. You are also the very right person for the job because the people of Buhera North accepted you and we have also accepted you to be part of the Speaker’s Panel. What is only left for us is to celebrate and dance for these positions because it is part of our tradition that whenever there is victory people must celebrate. Even in the Bible, it is written that whenever there is anything that is there we must celebrate. So, celebration is part of our culture and it is also part of our religious culture. So the two things must co-exist.
Uzumba Constituency had a great blessing by His Excellency when he was the Vice President. He opened Hombiro Clinic for us. This is a clinic which is part of the community work done by the people of Uzumba. They provided the bricks and cement. We are our own liberators. We will fight our own wars against hunger, ignorance, poverty and disease. The construction of Hombiro Clinic was there and is there forever to set out in the battle lines against hunger, poverty, ignorance and disease.
The victory of Hon. Mnangagwa is the victory of everybody because it brought peace to Zimbabwe. It brought development.
Everybody is coming to Zimbabwe as his mantra is ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ but when we talk of Zimbabwe is open for business, we must also be having our own business so that when time for elections comes, we are not professional beggars. We must be able to provide some money from our pockets not to be begging every day. Investors can come when we as legislators are business people and involved in one way or the other in the form of business.
As legislators, we must never admire poverty. Poverty is the name of the people and we must continue to fight against it but how do we fight against poverty when as legislators we are not involved in any form of business at any given time. We must start now to have a Business Advisory Council or Panel at Parliament where we can invite people from the private sector to assist Hon. Members to be business. Educate them on how they can start their own business because time will come when the people will give you their back.
When you lose elections, we do not want you to die. It is so sorrowful when you meet somebody who has lost elections, it is as if somebody has lost a wife and kids but he has just lost an election. He is so depressed and some end up in hospitals or some go to the apostolic churches. This must come to an end and it happens like that because we will be poor. We must never admire poverty.
The other thing Mr. Speaker Sir, this august House must provide laws which must ban the securitisation of accommodation as part of security for any business because when that business collapses, the family loses their accommodation. Interest rates which are being charged by banks are out of this world and unacceptable. They have destroyed everybody left, right and centre, and that is why you see that there are a lot of adverts for houses on sale day-in day-out.
Also as Hon. Members, we must not fear to borrow. We must continue borrowing but borrowing at fair rates not the current rates.
What surprises me is that many people are scared to borrow for a business but they have borrowed a wife because they have not finished paying their lobola. So, why are you scared of borrowing for your business when you have a wife whom you have not finished paying lobola for. Even the wife is also scared of borrowing yet she is part and parcel of this credit arrangement which is not coming to an end. It gives us a challenge as leaders. If we are leaders and we are not in the forefront of economic development, then what are we? We are not leaders we are parasites. It is a situation that must be addressed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank Hon. Mnangangwa for providing education. Uzumba Constituency has 28 primary and 28 secondary schools. We have no primary school which has no secondary school. We have one vocational training centre. Our desire now is to have a vocational training centre in every ward. Government has invested a lot in education but we are not reaping the fruits of our investment in education. Vocational training centres are there now to provide relevant
skills.
The value chain in agriculture must include everything, that is processing of food such as maize meal, maheu, brewing of beer using the agriculture value chain because our youths, Mr. Speaker Sir, have gone to the dogs because of musombodhiya. There is a lot of alcohol and substance abuse that is taking place in this country. It must be corrected.
Time is not on our side.
The ease of doing business as enunciated by His Excellency must come to a reality because the current situation is; I had some investors from Yugoslavia who came to Murewa and they were basically required to pay 48 statutory fees before they could start their business. The fees were to council, ZESA, EM, licence for VID and ZBC for every room even if there is nobody sleeping in that room you still have to pay. That is unacceptable. Saloon licence. They wanted to keep animals and National Parks wants a licence. They have to protect with firearms and had to pay for firearms certificate, a lot of things that they have to pay. That is unacceptable in business. In the mining sector there are also about 40 licence fees that we have to pay.
Mr. Speaker Sir, yes when the Mines and Minerals Bill comes to
Parliament, we must also amend the Precious Minerals Act because the Precious Minerals Act does not allow me to just hold a piece of gold. They will say no, it is illegal. How does it become illegal when it is in my field? Some people picked up a big piece of gold while digging a grave and were scared to pick it up because there were some police people there who wanted to arrest them. This is unacceptable. We must create a situation - because gold is a result of the Munhumutapa
Kingdom. Munhumutapa Kingdom became popular from here to China, India, Egypt up to Capetown because they were producing gold. We are the descendants of Munhumutapa and must benefit from the gold that is here in Zimbabwe. So, ease of doing business is very important for us.
The victory of Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa was basically there to fulfill the desires, ambitions of Operation Restore Legacy. This is the victory that has changed and transformed the lives of the people of
Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, yes anytime when you say anything, there are those people who say what they want but the Bible teaches you to pardon them because they do not know what they say – [Laughter.] –
I appeal to you Mr. Speaker Sir, that the august House should ban the importation of vegetables because people from my constituency use their own money and resources to produce their own vegetables but when they come to Mbare, they start to compete with vegetables imported from South Africa. This is unfair. We cannot develop when certain sections of our country remain poor. Poverty now is like the Priest in the rural areas. We must arrest that poverty through agriculture production. Production of vegetables in communal lands is critical. It also provides for a nutritional base.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased the Deputy Minister of Health is here. fortification of food is now there through a statutory instrument but in rural areas it is not there. They must also create a statutory instrument that introduces bio-fortification of food in rural areas so that the nutritional level that assists in the development of the intellectual level of a particular individual is put in place. Those who do not understand what I am saying, we can discuss this outside and I will share with you my vision of biofortification.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, Uzumba Constituency went through a sad moment. We lost Douglas Vambe, the man who beat those drums for jerusarema and he beat drums for the news. We lost him and he was buried in Uzumba Constituency. We are having a memorial service for him which will run for the whole weekend. We will beat drums to salute his contribution in our cultural development – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Uzumba Constituency is never left behind, in terms of music. We have Jah Prayzah, he is from Uzumba, where we have kutonga kwaro gamba, which is music synonymous with Operation Restore Legacy; he is a product of Uzumba. We also have Andy Muridzo, who is an upcoming artiste but moreso, we have got Cde Murehwa, his name is Zvichakutambudzai Gawaza, the man who sang sendekera mukoma Chakanyuka, zvinogumbura kwazvo. This music was like the vanguard of all the music during the times of our revolution.
Mr. Speaker Sir, revolution is a product of people with a clear mind; a clear vision of people who know what they want but with a clear vision you want a leader like Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa, who has a clear vision; who has a direction; who knows where he wants to take the people of Zimbabwe. Our President His Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa is our Joshua, he is now taking us into the land of milk and honey – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Mr. Speaker, I can see that your light is on but for the interest of time and that of Hon. Members who are here who have not debated, let me thank everybody in this august House. Those who were listening; those who were sleeping were not snoring. At least I was heard in silence and those that were laughing I did not hear your laughter from here, I only saw your smiles and white teeth. Whatever you say, I appreciate, you gave me the energy; the zeal to go forward and continue to consolidate our revolution. All the people who are going to speak after me must realise that we are now in Zimbabwe; a second Republic ready to deliver to the people of Zimbabwe.
Let me salute you Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. May God bless you abundantly? Thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: My name is Hon. Tererai Moyo from Gokwe-
Chireya Constituency. I will make a few remarks, especially on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. Firstly, may I take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency and ZANU PF for winning the elections resoundingly – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
I also want to start by applauding the President for a well thought out, well researched, rich and insightful speech that he delivered last week. He talked about Zimbabwe becoming a middle income country by 2030. What that means is that we are considering things like per capita consumption and income per capita. These are two different things, as an educationist, I will try to explain on how you calculate income per capita. Income per capita simply means you are dividing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the total population, and then you will get income per capita. That means it is envisaged that by 2030, per capita income will be 3 500. So for us to realise that goal, we are in it together as Zimbabweans; speaking the same language as Zimbabwe. It means we need to mechanise our agriculture. We also need to modernise our industries.
Now, how do we mechanise our agriculture, I will refer to my
Constituency, Gokwe-Chireya, we have engaged Cotton Company of Zimbabwe. At the moment we have already started tillage programmes where they are tilling land for our farmers for free. That is in line with the vision of His Excellency the President Hon. E. D Mnangagwa.
I will also comment on the dream of my President of per capita consumption. Per capita consumption, you are looking at the value of consumables in a country. You calculate the value of all consumables and divide that by the total population, then you come up with per capita consumption. So, we are saying by 2030, Zimbabwe will be a middle income country.
I will talk about his vision in his domestic policy. In that statement, he was specific on his domestic and foreign policies. I will touch on his foreign policy ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ engagement and re-engagement. I became a victim of Zimbabwe’s isolation in 2014 when I got a place and I went to the University of Leads to do a PhD. I could have become a beneficiary of Commonwealth Scholarships but when you consider all Zimbabweans, even now they are not eligible to apply for Commonwealth Scholarships. So, the stance that has been taken by our President Hon. Mnangagwa, I really want to applaud him and it is highly commendable. Zimbabwe, as soon as we are re-admitted into the Commonwealth Club, it means Zimbabwe is eligible for those scholarships.
I will move on to the issue of clean water in Gokwe-Chireya, may I commend the New Dispensation for purchasing what we call rigs.
These rigs are machines which can drill up to 1 000 litres underground.
As I speak, the rigs are in all provinces in Zimbabwe. In the Midlands
Province, we have witnessed boreholes that have been drilled in GokweKauyuni in Chireya. I think chiefs and schools are going to be beneficiaries of these boreholes that are going to be drilled in my constituency. To also realise the dreams of our President, issues of education and health are also important and indispensable. We are making efforts as a constituency to ensure that we have modernised our schools in terms of provision of electricity.
In this case our major thrust is on provision of solar power, especially to rural schools where we are in partnership with members of our Constituency Development Committee to ensure that we have electrified schools and clinics. That will be very important, especially in ensuring that there is quality education. With those remarks, Mr.
Speaker Sir, I thank you.
HON. MGUNI: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. KWARAMBA: I second.
Motion put agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
On the motion of HON. MGUNI, seconded by HON.
KWARAMBA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 25th September, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKERS GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I recognise the presence of Hon. Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini S. C., Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and his Staff in the Speaker’s Gallery. You are most welcome – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
INVITATION TO A BREAKFAST MEETING
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the Women Alliance of Business Association in Zimbabwe (WABAZ) is inviting all Women Parliamentarians to a breakfast meeting on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 at 0730 hours at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. The bus will leave Parliament building at 0715 hours.
You are requested to confirm your attendance with the Zimbabwe
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Secretary in Room 181, Parliament Building or on extension 2110.
INDUCTION SEMINAR FOR HON. MINISTERS AND DEPUTY
MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: All Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on parliamentary business to be held on - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order!
Order! Order. Hon member can you take your sit properly? All Hon.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on Parliamentary Business to be held on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Building starting at 0830 hours.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you. Mr. Speaker Sir, I move the motion standing in my name that a respectful address be presented to the
President of Zimbabwe as follows:-
We the Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe, desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer our respectful thanks for the speech, which you have been pleased to address to Parliament.
HON. MUSABAYANA: I second.
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me this opportunity to debate the State of the Nation Address by the
President. May I also take this opportunity to congratulate His
Excellency the President for emerging victorious in the 2018 Presidential Elections that were a departure from the violence that previously characterised our elections before his ascendance - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The free, fair and credible elections will go a long way in restoring long lost international confidence. Congratulation, makorokoto, amhlophe!
Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to also congratulate all of us for making it to this Ninth Parliament. Let us all remember that it is the people who gave us the mandate hence we should work tirelessly as servant leaders, to steal from his Excellency’s words.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President, in his speech alluded to the incident of violence that occurred on 1st August, 2018 and being the peaceful man he is, he has set up a seven member commission of enquiry consisting of eminent persons who were sworn in on Wednesday 19th September 2018. These people are going to investigate, report and make recommendations so as to put closure and finality to the matter.
HON. BITI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is not making a maiden speech. She is not allowed to read, she is reading.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, she can read her speech because she is moving a motion. Thank you, carry on.
HON. KWARAMBA: Mr. Speaker Sir, as highlighted in his speech concerning the need to revisit all MOUs signed with other governments which are lying idle, I totally support that these be revisited urgently so as to ensure that as a country, we benefit from the reengagement efforts as we are part of the global community and will hence benefit from these agreements. This, I believe, is the first step towards micro-economic stability, creation of fiscal space and access to foreign currency. Without this, our efforts to put the economy ahead of politics will not bear fruits.
I also agree with his Excellency that the multi-currency system be continued with until all economic fundamentals are positive as the rushed return to the Zimbabwean dollar will result in its being eroded in value, so long as the negative economic fundamentals are not rectified. It is also of paramount importance to some foreign exchange facilities that will cover our imports, like the $500 million sourced through the RBZ. Building 3-6 months of import cover will go a long way in covering our imports and eliminate shortages in the economy.
Mr Speaker Sir, His Excellency is advocating for the prudent use of public resources, responsiveness, accountability as well as timely, impartial and equitable delivery of goods and services to our people.
Truly, there has to be a paradigm shift from what we used to experience in the First Republic. I will take this opportunity as a legislator to throw my weight behind His Excellency in his fight to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and bottlenecks. His Excellency made the clarion call to State Enterprises to start being profitable. Heads should roll in these parastatals and it should be emphasised that their duty is to help Government raise funds and not vice-versa. They should deliver and not continue to drain the fiscus. They should justify their existence. Corrupt practices should be nipped in the bud if parastatals are to add value to the economy. Tough and stringent measures have to be put in place to deal with parastatal heads that do not produce results. Such behaviour by parastatal heads is tantamount to throwing spanners in the work of His Excellency, the President. His efforts and ours will not bear fruit when we have saboteurs in the systems that go unpunished.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also commend His Excellency for his efforts towards creating a business friendly environment. Efforts to market Brand Zimbabwe should be made in tandem with the ease of doing business and ensuring that our licensing requirements are not too stringent as this cultivates corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, agriculture being the mainstay of our economy, the President has restructured the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. He is encouraging the use of our water bodies throughout the country. The Ministry of Tourism has been given fishlings for example in Tokwe-Mukorsi. Funds have been set aside to construct major dams e.g. Kunzvi dam in Mashonaland East. Through Command Agriculture, farmers are being issued with inputs. I would like to commend the President for providing inputs for this season timely. Farmers are being encouraged to harvest water and where there are dams, irrigation is being encouraged. Command livestock and command fisheries have been introduced to help resuscitate our economy. Thank you President Mnangangwa for introducing command. You have improved the livelihoods of our people. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - We have noted an increase in the production of maize, wheat and cotton and small grains in areas which do not receive enough rainfall. Also, what is very pleasing is that payment after delivery of maize to the GMB only takes three days. There will not be hunger again in Zimbabwe. Arrangements have already been made to counter the Elnino phenomenon by the Minister of Lands, Cde Perrance Shiri. May I also commend efforts to modernise and mechanise our agriculture. This will go a long way in improving agricultural profitability and this will feed into agro based industry along the various agro-value chains as propounded by the His Excellency.
The President also talked about devolution, where power is going to be devolved to local communities. These communities know what they want, hence they are going to work in their provinces to take charge of resources found in their areas. For example, in Mashonaland West we have a tomato factory in Norton. In Mutoko there is black granite therefore the onus is on provinces to work on their diverse economic activities to increase their GDP.
His Excellency has promised modern education and health infrastructure. We have seen the purchase of dialysis machines and the introduction of free dialysis in our major hospitals. Dialysis costs were out of reach for many kidney patients hence we would like to say thank you, to our caring President. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - My wish is to have these machines in all provinces to ease pressure. May I take this opportunity to thank the First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa for complimenting His Excellency’s work by spearheading cervical cancer awareness and treatment. Most of our women were dying from cancer but they are now being diagnosed and treated before the cancer reaches alarming levels. Amai should be commended for sourcing machines through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President touched on Bills that should be debated in this House which are supposed to be aligned to the
Constitution. I would like to comment on the Mandatory Sentence for
Rape and Sexual Abuse Bill which shall be considered by this Parliament. Rape on its own is murder, hence I would like to suggest that a stiffer sentence like life sentence be considered. I think by the time this Bill comes to this august House, Hon. Members will debate seriously and make proper recommendations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President lamented the current outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in some parts of the country. People continue to die. It is pleasing to note that the private sector has come in to assist the Government with various amounts of money so as to curb this menace. His Excellency has visited the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage. On his visit, he promised one affected Form 3 student educational assistance until he finishes his education. Thank you my President for putting health issues first.
Lastly, we have noticed wanton increase of prices of goods in shops which has reached alarming levels. You wake up to find the prices of basic goods gone up. It is my fervent hope that the Consumer Protection Bill be quickly put in place to protect consumers from unfair trade practices.
Let me conclude by calling all legislators across the political divide to unite and work towards building Zimbabwe, and uniting behind His Excellency in his efforts to restore the pride of our nation –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – United we stand! Divided we fall! I thank you.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to start by thanking our heroes of the First Chimurenga and First Umvukela who fought hard for this nation to be where it is today. Today, we enjoy our independence because of the hard work that they did. Allow me to thank the heroes of the Second Chimurenga who were led by the ZANLA and ZIPRA forces who worked so hard to shape this nation to be where it is today. I look at it as an incarnation of the spirits of the First Chimurenga that was passed on to the heroes of the Second Chimurenga.
I also feel honoured to second the motion raised by Hon. Kwaramba who was responding to the State of the Nation Address delivered by His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa who is the first President of the Second Republic – [HON MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] - As an analyst, when I looked at the President’s speech, there is one single compelling issue that he touched on and this issue really touched my heart; his strategic vision of targeting per capita income of $3500 by year 2030. This vision will raise this economy into a middle income economy. When our nation gets into a middle income class, its means the welfare of our society, people and rural communities will also be upgraded.
The President did not only highlight where he wants to take this nation which is the promised land. He also did point out to at important roadblocks and detours that need to be removed, lest our…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon Member holding a chair, no
more chairs inside. There should be one line so that there is free passage there. Hon. Members sitting on my right, can you please stand up and have one line there.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I was saying our
President has shown that he is really a strategist by showing us that, not only does he have a strategic intent of landing this nation into the promised land but he highlighted all the possible challenges that we may face as we cross into the promised land which are issues to do with the opportunities that we have as a nation or the enablers that we have. These opportunities are trapped in our minds which need to be exploited efficiently and effectively. These opportunities are in the agricultural sector, the tourism sector and the human capital resource. Not only that, we also have the social capital of relationships that have been created through the engagement and re-engagement.
Mr. Speaker Sir, these roadblocks need to be dealt with for us to be able to get to the Promised Land, and in order to increase productivity in this nation for us to be able to raise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this nation, we need to take these roadblocks and detours seriously, so that pathways are created into our economy for us to be able to maximise output from resources.
The roadblocks manifest as poor infrastructure in terms of our roads, poor infrastructure in terms of water and sanitation and our Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems or infrastructure which is lagging very far behind the global standards.
We also have challenges that His Excellency the President highlighted. These manifest as red-tape in the operation of government, inefficient bureaucracy and poor work ethics among others. These are likely seen in the public sector and this can militate against the ease of doing business.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that the President is talking passionately about Zimbabwe being open for business. We cannot be a nation open for business unless and until issues of competitiveness are dealt with. Mr. Speaker Sir, these issues are critical because we cannot be competitive on the international market unless our products are properly priced. These issues further boil down to products quality and cost of production.
We also have laws that are archaic and these laws makes it very difficult to achieve the required ease of doing business in our nation and with other foreign nations.
The President also highlighted the issue of corruption, lack of constitutionalism and the culture of unjustified profiteering which has become a culture among our citizens.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he starts with food security and shelter as the basic requirements for a human being to live comfortably. Our President also looks at that when he talked about the issue of water borne diseases which have affected people. The diseases include typhoid and cholera. Therefore, the issue of access to clean water has to be dealt with. This is also enshrined in our Constitution that requires that every citizen has access to clean potable water. Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 also alludes to that.
Our President showed that he is a responsible citizen and good leader by assenting to the Public Health Act to ensure that these issues are dealt with once and for all and within a sustainable framework. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the new dispensation because it ensured that most citizens have access to clean potable water. The dispensation has availed drilling rigs in every province. These will go a long way in ensuring that we have access to clean potable water especially in rural communities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this issue of access to clean water is very important to our citizens….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Order, Hon. Member, just refer to your notes.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The issue of
clean potable water is very critical especially to our rural communities and also to our unsung heroes of the Third Chimurenga who are the A2 and A1 farmers. Most of these people do not have access to clean potable water. For example in Hwedza alone, we are looking at more than 84 villages without access to boreholes and clean potable water. We also have schools which number beyond 30, without clean potable water. Mr. Speaker Sir, not only do we have to use these boreholes for drinking water, but they also go a long way in improving infrastructure for our irrigation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the President for the new dispensation because in this new dispensation, he has introduced Command Agriculture in tobacco. Command Agriculture in tobacco has actually moved the level of production of tobacco in this country to a higher level. The level has surpassed the 1999 level which has never been achieved during the time white commercial farmers were still farming in this land. Command tobacco has actually vindicated the Land Reform Programme because it has shown that if our farmers are given enough financial support, they can surpass the production levels that were achieved during the time the white commercial farmers were still very active in our farms.
Another roadblock that was highlighted by the President is the issue of accelerating ICTs infrastructure development. ICT infrastructure is one of the key enablers of development. Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at nations like Singapore and Rwanda, they are now shining examples of economic development. This is so because they have harnessed ICTs as a strategy for development. They are not just using ICTs as a tool for development alone but they are also using it as a strategy for development. This year Rwanda is actually hosting the Smart Africa Forum and in that they are focusing on issues to do with ICTs.
In terms of access to ICTs, we are ranked lowly. We are on number 133 out of 175 countries and this is a bad index position. Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, we need as a nation to focus and deploy resources into the ICT sector. I also suggest that we increase the ICT envelop when we do our National Budget so that our ICT industry develops. ICTs go a long way in improving employment levels in our country and we can also use it for the efficient running of our country. That is possible if we introduce e-governance and paperless offices in all our government departments.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of ICTs is also important in our rural communities. If we look at constituencies like Hwedza North, we only have three cellular network base stations and most of the wards do not have access to broadband and cellular networks. That isolates such wards from the rest of the world. As we get integrated into the global arena or market, the challenge that we have in terms of the ICT platforms we are operating on, is that we are behind and we will not be able to compete. Therefore, we need to focus on this area.
The President also highlighted the issue of Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill. It is sad Mr. Speaker, that this Bill is still outstanding because in the Eighth Parliament we enjoyed a number of lunches and allowances trying to work on this Bill. I do not know what happened because we never saw its life in the Eight Parliament, but I am glad the President has highlighted it because this is a very important Bill.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the world over, over $600 billion was lost through cyber crimes in 2017 alone. That is a scary figure and we do not want that to affect our nation. We also have cyber crimes that are now crippling certain nations. We know that Ukraine’s energy sector was hacked and when it was hacked there were serious challenges in that country which almost brought anarchy to the nation. So, issues to do with cyber crimes and cyber security Bills should be treated with the urgency that they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, we also need to look at issues to do with corruption. The world over we are losing more than $2 trillion that is to say in 2017 alone the world lost $2 trillion due to corruption. This shows that corruption is a serious bottleneck, is a serious roadblock that we need to deal with. The issue of corruption needs to be treated with the urgency that it deserves. At the moment, Zimbabwe is ranked 159 out of 190 economies in terms of corruption perception index.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this is bad and we are viewed in bad light in terms of being a lucrative investment destination. We know what happens with corruption. The issue of corruption is that it is actually an inhibitor to foreign direct investment. Corruption will increase the cost of investment because in the process of trying to invest in a nation, you have to grease some people’s hands or pockets and in the process a lot of money is lost that will affect even the return of your investment.
The other challenge with corruption is that there is no guarantee that if you are involved in a corrupt deal or you pay the greasing fee, you will be able to consummate the deal. So, for us to support the
President’s mantra that we are open for business, we have to deal with the issue of corruption, but when we deal with the issue of corruption, Mr. Speaker Sir, we need to ensure that there is a framework that is in place, a framework, policies or laws that ensure that all those people who are found guilty are actually taken to jail. I am glad the President has set up or committed judges that are focused on dealing with corruption. I believe there are three courts in Bulawayo and also five courts in Zimbabwe that will be dealing with corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when we are looking at the issue of corruption, I think our police force needs to be trained on how to handle or investigate issues of corruption because if the police are not trained or do not have the capacity or the competence to deal with matters of corruption, it will be very difficult to prove some of the cases before the courts of law. This is why we see some of these people going scot free even after being charged or are alleged to be corrupt.
Mr. Speaker Sir, finally, I want to thank the President for talking about or addressing the currency issue that has been challenging our nation for a long time. I believe he addressed it in the right context that the challenge that we have is not to do with the bond note and it is not to do with the currency that you are using. The challenges that we have in this economy are underlying fundamental issues to do with productivity, issues to do with the way we do business in this country. I think we need to refocus on issues of productivity because if you are productive as a nation, we will be able to create surpluses even within our own communities. If every community creates a surplus, it means we will be able to create a surplus in our nation and when we have surpluses, we will be able to export to other nations.
We also need to deal with the culture in this country; the culture of this love for imported goods.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member can you wind up, your
time is up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We need to learn to buy Zimbabwe. If as a nation we learn to buy Zimbabwe, to focus on learning to buy our locally produced goods, then it will reduce our demand for foreign goods. If we deal with that issue then…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! I said wind up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker, as I wind up, allow me to thank our President, President Emmerson Mnangagwa for delivering a resounding victory to ZANU-PF as a party. Mr. Speaker, it was not easy with a free and fair election to have two thirds majority in Parliament –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. MUSABAYANA: So, I would like to thank our President for his hard work. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to support what was said by the mover and the seconder of the motion. Let me start by thanking our President for the speech that he gave in Parliament. What he said is reflective of a good President. In Africa as a whole, we have Presidents who speak, but the way our President spoke, was a reflection that he is a person with wisdom and has the views that are good that will push the country forward.
We want to thank him for delivering such good speech. If someone starts his speech by thanking the opposition and then later on his own party, appreciating the calmness and the free and fair atmosphere or environment in which elections were held, what do we say of such a President? So, I also want to thank the nation for the peace and tranquility that prevailed during elections. I am sure everyone will agree with me that we used to have elections marred by violence, but the recently held elections were elections whereby the opposition did not have any convincing evidence in court – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- because they were also appreciating the peaceful environment that prevailed during the elections.
I hope that as Zimbabweans, we will be able to maintain such an environment and other countries can learn from us. The peaceful environment during elections brought in a lot of tourism. After the elections, the number of tourists increased compared to other periods before the elections. I want to thank him for the peaceful environment that prevailed during elections. I know there are some who do not appreciate and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that is there but the
President reiterated that there was peace and tranquillity after elections. The President also talked about demonstrations that occurred after elections where six people lost their lives.
Mr. Speaker, we are not happy and do not like such a situation whereby people entice the youths who do not have jobs to go and demonstrate just for them to get into power. The issue of Kenya that wanted to take place in Zimbabwe is not a good thing, especially after the elections. I was not happy about it because the way we had won the elections was outstanding but you find people using the youth to go into the streets to and demonstrate. We should go and inform our supporters of the results after the elections – if we lose, we should tell them we have lost and not entice them to go and demonstrate in the streets. We are here as representatives of the people....
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member, please do not dwell much on that issue because there is a Commission that was set up to look into that. Let the Commission do its work and do its investigations. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is what I wanted to talk about, the setting up of the Commission. We want to thank the President who put in place a Commission to investigate the post election violence.
The President also talked about the issue of health. He said that our country needs to have good health facilities and we realised that all areas – yesterday I was talking to the leaders of Harare and I told them they are now adhering to what should happen in Zimbabwe. I told them that our country cannot be a country of selling tomatoes. When the President talked about removing informal traders, people say that there are no jobs and they do not look at the issue of health. We want the health issue to be dealt with. As Parliamentarians, I urge us to be united so that the country or Harare where we reside when we come from our different constituencies remains clean. When we were travelling from different areas to come to Parliament, it will take us three hours. We want to thank the President and we support him that health should be there. We want to thank those that are cleaning the city, especially the Opposition, they have tried to clean up the city. They should continue doing the good work and ensure that Harare does not become a tomato market. We do not want that.
On the issue of corruption Mr. Speaker, corruption has become a cancer. Corruption should be brought to an end. Corruption – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Please listen and lower your voices. May you whisper? Hon. Zwizwai, just control yourself a bit. Thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Corruption Mr. Speaker, everyone is involved in corruption. Most of us are engaged in corruption in one way or the other. Some people just want to talk about individuals engaging in corruption but they do not look at themselves. Corruption is not only defrauding but corruption is also evident if someone says that the vendors or informal traders should continue to sell their wares from the streets. That is corruption because we are saying it is not healthy but we want them to stay there, that is corruption. We want to stress that such corruption should end. Corruption again comes in the sense that when someone is speaking very sensibly and doing good work, you will hear people making noise, like I am doing, that is corruption. Corruption is not only involved where there is money but also where one is saying a lot of sense and people are booing him. There is corruption that is evident in demonstration, there is corruption that comes through fraudulent activities. Even the demonstrations that happened when the President was delivering his Speech and MPs walked out, that in itself is corruption – [Laughter.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Chinotimba, we do not want jokes in this House. May you please stick to the speech, not to be cracking jokes as you debate. Let us respect this House.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am talking about corruption and people may think that I am joking but as I am saying, you once said that when we come to Parliament to discuss business, we should not fear. So, I am talking of corruption and where it comes from.
The President also talked about Bills that when we come to this august House, the Ministers should push the Bills so that we pass them. We want the Bills to come through and for them to be passed especially on the issue of devolution so that development can take place in the provinces. In my area, there is a lot of hunger and poverty but we have a lot of resources. The President emphasised that these Bills should be brought to Parliament for developmental purposes and he said that we should not look at partisan politics but work together as Members of Parliament from either party. That is an issue that people in this House should understand.
Elections have come and they have gone and what we want now is to push the agenda in terms of development four our country. What is it that has made our country remain so backward? Let us work together and articulate issues to end these economic challenges as one and not to behave like we do not know what we are doing. So, these are the words that I want to add that the President of Zimbabwe Hon. Emmerson
Mnangagwa is a President given by God. We have not seen such a
President before - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, we want to thank the President for his bravery and we want to thank all of you who voted for the President. Some of us might not have voted for him but many of us voted for him. Romans 13 says that, the king or the leader of a nation is chosen by God. He is anointed by God. Even if people can complain and say a lot, as long as God has put him there, no one has the powers to remove him. So, I want to thank you with these words that God will protect the life of our President, Cde. Mnangagwa who has gone out to tell the world that they should come and work in Zimbabwe since Zimbabwe is open for business. Let us thank him that he is a President of the people who was voted for by the people – whether you like it or not, he is going to be the President for five years. I thank you.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me
this opportunity. Let me thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Kwaramba for coming up with such a noble motion. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for a resounding victory on the 30th of July, 2018. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for coming for a second term – you are a repository of knowledge. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
I also want to congratulate the rest of the Hon. Members here present for coming to this august House and I take this opportunity to thank the people of Chikomba Central who actually voted me to come for a second term in this august House. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to mention about Chikomba Central that as a constituency, we have a relationship that is sui generis – it is specific and special in its own way. The idea of us as parliamentarians to fulfill the desires and the wishes of our people cannot be over-emphasised. I want to say to this august House that the 2018 elections has gone and we now need to build Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker Sir, the idea of us here in Africa, I wanted to say, we have one problem whereby if we run a race, it is given that there is a winner and a loser. In most cases, you will find that there is a spirit of denial and individualism whereby if someone wins, it is a taboo that there is no handshake to say, here you have won. I am saying let us embrace this spirit as Africans to say, whenever one succeeds, let us congratulate that person. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is prevalent even within the intra-party politics where we talk of the primaries – this spirit is quite prevalent there and also inter-party politics whenever we come to the general election. This affirms an assertion by one of the renowned authors, Jean Wilkes that “as long as leaders worry about who sits at the head table, they have little time for the people they are called to serve”. We do not see opportunities for services while our eyes are fixed on competition.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa talked about prioritisation of economic development in order to eradicate poverty by 2030. According to Mahatma Ghandi, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”. The issue of corruption has become cancerous as alluded to by a number of speakers who have deliberated on that aspect and it is my humble plea that as the law makers, let us come up with a punitive measure or legislation to nip this in the bud once and for all for a better Zimbabwe, for ourselves and for posterity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also highlighted a number of pertinent Bills to be tabled in this august House and from your wise counsel, the onus is on us the parliamentarians to execute with speed in ensuring that these Bills become law. Inter alia, the Bills to be tabled in the House, there is the Rural District Councils Bill which gives greater autonomy to the rural councils as enshrined in the supreme law, the
Constitution and this is long overdue Mr. Speaker Sir. There is also the
Traditional Leaders’ Act which has to be amended in accordance with the Constitution so as to bring about the provincial council element and this is a welcome Bill. This will be anchored by the Public Finance Management Act which has to be amended in order to avail resources to these Bills in order for them to become law.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this comes under the purview of one of the most important Committees, which is the Finance and Economic
Development Committee and it is buttressed in Section 18 (2) of the
Constitution which states that, “the State and agencies of the State and Government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that all local communities have equitable access to resources to promote their development”. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is peremptory and it is a must. So, the funds have to be availed in order to fulfill these obligations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also touched on the need to act in the national interest and preach the gospel of peace, love, harmony and unity and hard honest. This is well articulated in our preamble of the supreme Constitution which talks of ‘… to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honest, and the dignity of hard work’ and this will also uphold ubunthu/hunhu as enunciated by His Excellency, history will judge us harshly should we renege on the sacrosanct duty to uplift the livelihoods of our people. Verily, to underpin this statement by His Excellency Mr. Speaker Sir, it is incumbent upon us as
Parliamentarians to know when to exit. This also applies to every leader Mr. Speaker Sir. I might not be popular or famous in this regard, but it is very important and imperative for leaders to know the time to exit office. As mandated in our Constitution, the President is actually mandated to have two five-year terms, making it 10 years in office.
With your indulgence Mr. Speaker Sir, once again, it is my humble request to say, let it be the time as parliamentarians to start thinking seriously about this notion, to say why can we not serve two terms as parliamentarians so that as the President exits, we also exit and allow new minds to come into effect and serve our people – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is common within us that we
want to die in office but at the end of the day, we do these things for the future generation. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to conclude – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May you lower your voices
Hon. Members. Thank you.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to conclude by quoting
one of the letters or one of the prophets in the Bible by the name Paul, when he was speaking to the Corinthians, 1Corinthians 1:10. It reads, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you will be perfect, united in mind and thought.” Surely, this is the gist of the speech of His Excellency, that there be unity in this august House for the betterment of the people of Zimbabwe in general and to embrace a modus vivendi, which is a lifestyle of the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can the Hon.
Member be heard in silence please.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, let me thank the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Adv. Jacob Mudenda for listening to Members of Parliament in terms of the change of venue today. I think it is important for us to thank him because certainly the situation was not conducive yesterday. As a result, we made an appeal to him and he responded to it in a manner which is befitting for Members of Parliament. So, if you can extend my thanks to him on behalf of all Members of Parliament, I am sure they agree.
Secondly Mr. Speaker, let me thank the people of Norton Constituency who have exhibited a great mind of independence. With the politics of this country which is so polarised, you would not think that an independent Member of Parliament would garner so many votes amounting to16 850 and 7 850 MDC Alliance, well done and then ZANU PF, 4 250, well done. I say this because it is unprecedented that a constituency would give such support to one who does not belong to a party but mainly because of the progress that they want to see for themselves. It is a lesson to many political parties in this country that the people’s welfare, concerns and development initiatives are the core for them and not the power in the political parties.
I am hoping that lessons are drawn from Norton Constituency. I am sure they have been drawn because before that, the opposition MDC had claimed that their victory was a result of their support. However, they were proven wrong in this election. Equally for the ruling party, lessons must be leant that when you expel people without – [Laughter.] – real reasons, you also suffer immensely. The ruling party paid dearly for the factional fights and the opposition paid dearly for not telling people to register and to vote. I am sure now they will participate in every by-election so that they practice because you cannot win a final without being in a semi-final.
It is important that I also commend the people of Zimbabwe across the political divide for the elections of 2018, which I think spoke a lot about the young people who participated immensely in determining their future. It is not a secret that the young people of this country, because of unemployment and suffering decided to now exercise their right. The most important thing is for the leaders of this country to be cognisant of the fact that the numbers will grow if nothing is done to respond to the needs of the young people. All they want at the end of the day are jobs and a better life and whoever offers them that is the person that they will support.
It is important to also congratulate, first of all, Advocate Chamisa – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I congratulate him as a brother in that he participated in an election and did extremely well although he lost – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - It is important that I reiterate the fact that it is a first time ever in this country where a young person takes part in an election and garners so many votes. If I were him, I would use that as a foundation to start working towards 2023. I think it is important that he is commended for that and the MDC
Alliance for coming in their numbers to be able to do that – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can you listen to the Hon. Member.
HON. MLISWA: They must also be commended in that, they did well in penetrating the ZANU PF strongholds, which illustrates a free and fair election in that ZANU PF strongholds were never touched but the MDC Alliance managed to penetrate and get a lot of votes. I wish they had taken heed of what I said to them before, that you start this game earlier than late. I think all politicians must know that you need to work the moment that you are in office.
However, it is also important to commend ZANU PF for the urban votes that they got; I think in Harare Province, they got a lot of votes. The pre-election environment, whether you like it or not, was extremely peaceful, there is no way that you can take part in an election if the conditions are not conducive.
I think all parties are to blame for their failure because there were impositions, there were factional fights which I hope they can go back to the drawing board and all learn from that. I am talking about all parties across the board. If you look at the margins which were there, clearly, it was because they had put the wrong candidate, they imposed the wrong candidates and because of the factions in the MDC-T, they had the Thokozani Khupe issue which affected them. Again, ZANU PF had become a gamatox issue and had the G40 issue and so forth. I think I am the most qualified to talk about that because I am not in any of the political parties. So, I am sure it is important for Members of Parliament to also learn from me because I benefitted immensely from the faction fights of MDC and ZANU-PF. Like I said, I always await the primary elections when people are disgruntled and I cast my net and catch the biggest breams ever in town. They must continue fighting so that the independent candidates remain live.
I say this in view of the post election situation. Certainly it is something which is unfortunate for the country and I think it is best that the decision that His Excellency Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken in appointing a Commission of Inquiry certainly helps us to get to a logical conclusion of this. Those bodies lost, whether we like it or not, certainly do not do us any good as a country and I think it is important that lessons are learnt in terms of statements which some of us politicians make before elections. I think we must think of the people first. We must not be reckless in what we say because people’s lives are important. Those lives that are gone will not come back and I think it is important for us to introspect the cause of that. I think it is also important that the Government takes a certain position to ensure that the deceased’s families ...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, I think the Hon. Speaker cautioned Hon. Chinotimba when he wanted to dwell so much on that issue because there is a Commission of Inquiry that was instituted.
HON. MLISWA: I remain guided by you Mr. Speaker. Let me
go to the issues that the President spoke about and also to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. Emmerson. Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for the victory. I do not think there will be any other ZANU-PF leader who will be as democratic as him. I think ZANU-PF has a lot to learn from Emmerson Mnangagwa. He was so democratic that he was prepared to even lose the election and there is no way that ever before since 1980, we had an election so close. I think it is also important for this House sitting here to ensure that institutions that run elections – it is up to us in this House to make sure that they do what we want at the end of day. I think we have an opportunity in this House to ensure that if we are not happy with ZEC, we are able to debate and change whatever laws we need to change so that ZEC becomes a better animal in terms of running elections. So, the onus also lies upon us Members of Parliament. I hope we will not be asleep and wait for elections to happen then talk about ZEC when elections have happened. This is the time to talk about ZEC.
This is the time to correct what ZEC did not do which was proper.
I want to also talk about the new dispensation administration that the President has shown. Never did I ever think that Government would have so many young people, unknown politicians who are now in office. It talks about the new dispensation. We had a situation where Ministers would be recycled left, right and centre. We had Ministers like Obert Mpofu who was the obedient son to the former President Mugabe.
Today, he is no more because the President wants to move forward.
That talks a lot about what he intends to do. You had die-hards like Patrick Chinamasa who certainly were die-hards in their own way but they are no more in the party. I always say this to my colleagues in ZANU-PF; I am talking about the Government and not the party. They are no longer in Government and the party is not the Government, we must understand that. We must understand exactly the role of the President in trying to send a message clearly to all Zimbabweans – even to the young people that there is room for you to be able to understand the new course he is shaping.
The aspect of corruption remains an issue. I look forward to the day the President will arrest Ministers while they are in office. Arresting Ministers out of office does not mean anything. We want Ministers while they are in office, when they are corrupt to be investigated and be suspended. Corruption can no longer be a situation where we talk about it and we do nothing about it. We have commission of enquiries put up and the mere fact that the President has got the Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Committee (ZACC) and then appoints his own committee to investigate corruption only shows that ZACC is corrupt and is not fit to investigate. Otherwise why would he then have another parallel investigating arm when ZACC is there? The likes of Goodson Nguni are not credible to be able to be running such institutions. We have people like former Attorney General Gula Ndebele, Justice Chinhengo who we just had who are able to understand the law, look at the case and be able to do that. The credibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission is the one that will talk to people whether the President is serious about corruption or not.
Also, there are other Ministers who came back into power yet there are institutions like NSSA – Hon. Mupfumira having allegations on corruption. To me, we need to be very clear. If the board chairperson of an institution which a Minister appoints is corrupt and the Minister does not report that they are corrupt, the Minister cannot be exonerated but must also be arrested because he/she appointed the board. We cannot separate the board and the Minister. So we are basically playing games. Any Minister who is sleeping on duty and appoints a board which is implicit and does not do its job, the Minister is responsible for appointing the board and as such, is the first to be accused and the board becomes the second accused. This is what we want to see. We cannot be playing games and having to protect people because of who they are. When you look at NSSA, the pensioners have suffered immensely in this country yet there are so many deals which are happening with NSSA.
There is also the issue of the land barons, some of whom are in this House. In Norton, we have Hon. Cuthbert Mupame who is implicated in the Kingsdale issue. We have Hon. Cde. Killer Zivhu, who is implicated in the Galloway issue. I speak about this with a heavy heart because these people have made people of Norton suffer. The cholera that we talk about today is a result of land barons who have gone and built more stands without complying with the master plan. Every town has got a master plan and if you look at it you give people land who are the land barons to build but they do not build any infrastructure to augment the new houses which are being built. That cholera which is there is a result of the land barons who have been given land and not only that, but they are the same land barons who were sponsoring the G40, but I see them in this House again.
At times I wonder what really happened to the party. Where are the eyes of the party? They created so much division in the country. They were the ones supporting the former first lady but today I see them here. I wonder - where was the ZANU-PF vetting system in terms of elections to stop these criminals from coming here? When another faction comes, you know where it is coming from. You failed to stop them at the end of the day. The reason why I talk about the factions is because they have played a part in this economy not taking off. The only thing that the ruling party did in the Eighth Session was to just fight and fight. There was no progress at the end of the day.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you be
reminded that you need to wind up your debate.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I talk about the aspect of corruption because it is an issue and it is quite sad that some of the issues to do with the Land Commission was set up by the President to look into the land barons. But, I then asked myself – how will the Land Commission be able to investigate other Members of Parliament when they are also part of that investigation? It says a lot about what we need to do. I also talk...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Member, it is not
parliamentary language to call other Hon. Members in this House that they are criminals. Do you have evidence? Maybe you need to change that language because he is also an Hon Member in this House. I thank you. You may continue.
HON. MLISWA: Sorry, I say this because I have written and they are part of the investigation of what is going on in the Land
Commission. So there is evidence that I have written to the authorities in this country and Hon. Cuthbert Mpame was brought before the courts as a result of the Kingsdale issue. So that evidence is there. I would not talk about something which has not gone before the courts and so forth. They are being investigated with the Land Commission. My question is - how fair will the investigations be now that they are Members of Parliament? This is an issue of corruption that I am talking about that at times we need to be very clear in terms of that.
I also want to talk about the issue of bureaucracy in Government. The President was very clear and I think that the Government has not changed its ways of doing things. The President is much ahead of
Government. You can see that there is so much bureaucracy still in
Government. It seems that people still have the DNA of the former President Robert Mugabe in terms of how they work and all that, yet the new President is very clear about how he wants things to perform. The onus is on the new administration, the Ministers - to appoint people around them who will be able to align themselves to the vision of the President which he has shown by appointing them. We are hoping that there will be a truly new dispensation because for as long as Government is not performing - Government institutions have got to perform he mentioned that.
The ZRP are trained to investigate; Homicide section can do armed robber cases, CID can do frauds but we never hear of ZRP arresting anybody for corruption. We hear of ZACC arresting people for corruption. ZACC does not have the capacity that ZRP has. ZRP has stations around and they have a training centre, but you wonder what these institutions are doing in terms of ensuring that they are up to a lot of things. It says a lot again in terms of how the training goes in terms of the crime which is there. Hon. Musabayana spoke about the cyber crime which is highly sophisticated. As a result, we also need to find people who are able to deal with white collar crime and I do not know how far we have gone in terms of introducing that.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Command Agriculture has done well and I do not think there is any better person than the Hon. Sen. Chief Air Marshall Shiri to be able to run that. He is a farmer himself. He is a military person and being a military person, he needs that discipline which was lacking in the Ministry of Agriculture for things to be done and already we have got results which are there. I believe that in the appointment of Hon. Sen. Shiri from an agricultural point of view, this is probably one of the best appointments which have been made. I have no doubt that results will be produced for a man who is well trained.
In terms of the country’s resources of lithium and coal bed methane, it is a bit unfortunate that some of our resources that we have seem to be taken away by people who are not Zimbabweans. I wonder that the indigenisation and empowerment seems to have been forgotten but the locals need to benefit. What is in it for Zimbabwe at the end of the day? We cannot be excited by people who come in to get our resources yet our people continue to suffer. There must be a local content or percentage for the people in these areas so that they benefit. Finally in terms of devolution, I think it is the way to go and I am hoping that it certainly complies with the Constitution in terms of the requirements. We had Provincial Councils elections which were held and devolution will talk a lot about how provinces will grow from an economic point of view.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity and equally congratulate all Members of Parliament across the political divide, to say let us work for the country and I am hoping that you do
not stick to the whipping system but if you are whipped, you must let me know; I will be able to support you. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! If there is any Hon.
Member who has misplaced his or her keys, can you please kindly go to the Clerk’s office.
HON. MUDARIKWA: First of all Mr. Speaker Sir, let me convey to you fraternal greetings from the heroic people of Uzumba Constituency and to you Mr. Speaker Sir, I say victory remains in the pocket of the people of Uzumba Constituency.
Let me begin by thanking His Excellency, Cde Mnangagwa for introducing peace in Zimbabwe. John 14 verse 27 says “When Jesus Christ was about to depart, he said I leave to you peace and I give peace unto you”. This is what Cde Mnangagwa has done to the people of Zimbabwe. He has brought peace and he also brought very peaceful elections. Peace is always associated with having enough food. When you are hungry or even when you are sleeping you do a lot of snoring because there is no peace in hunger.
The command agriculture has brought enough food for the people of Zimbabwe. We have small grains and artificial insemination for goats and sheep – so food is available. When there is a lot of food there is also peace. I also want to thank everybody who participated in the just ended 30 July election. Before and after the elections there was peace. Those who lost the elections, yes they can complain but you must always learn from your mistakes and those who believe in magic can come to our constituency and I will show them where they can get a medicinal formular of winning elections using some traditional medicine so that you can continue winning the way I won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way ZANU PF won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way His
Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa won resoundingly in Uzumba
Constituency – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
We are a product of the revolution and ZANU PF is the general manager of the revolution which Hon. Mnangagwa as the Commanderin-Chief of the revolution. It is only proper, fit and suitable for the people of Zimbabwe to salute our Commander-in-Chief through our vote. We voted resoundingly and this victory will continue until donkeys start having horns.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for coming back and being elected as our Speaker. We have the headmaster Hon. Adv Mudenda. He is the right man for the job. You are also the very right person for the job because the people of Buhera North accepted you and we have also accepted you to be part of the Speaker’s Panel. What is only left for us is to celebrate and dance for these positions because it is part of our tradition that whenever there is victory people must celebrate. Even in the Bible, it is written that whenever there is anything that is there we must celebrate. So, celebration is part of our culture and it is also part of our religious culture. So the two things must co-exist.
Uzumba Constituency had a great blessing by His Excellency when he was the Vice President. He opened Hombiro Clinic for us. This is a clinic which is part of the community work done by the people of Uzumba. They provided the bricks and cement. We are our own liberators. We will fight our own wars against hunger, ignorance, poverty and disease. The construction of Hombiro Clinic was there and is there forever to set out in the battle lines against hunger, poverty, ignorance and disease.
The victory of Hon. Mnangagwa is the victory of everybody because it brought peace to Zimbabwe. It brought development.
Everybody is coming to Zimbabwe as his mantra is ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ but when we talk of Zimbabwe is open for business, we must also be having our own business so that when time for elections comes, we are not professional beggars. We must be able to provide some money from our pockets not to be begging every day. Investors can come when we as legislators are business people and involved in one way or the other in the form of business.
As legislators, we must never admire poverty. Poverty is the name of the people and we must continue to fight against it but how do we fight against poverty when as legislators we are not involved in any form of business at any given time. We must start now to have a Business Advisory Council or Panel at Parliament where we can invite people from the private sector to assist Hon. Members to be business. Educate them on how they can start their own business because time will come when the people will give you their back.
When you lose elections, we do not want you to die. It is so sorrowful when you meet somebody who has lost elections, it is as if somebody has lost a wife and kids but he has just lost an election. He is so depressed and some end up in hospitals or some go to the apostolic churches. This must come to an end and it happens like that because we will be poor. We must never admire poverty.
The other thing Mr. Speaker Sir, this august House must provide laws which must ban the securitisation of accommodation as part of security for any business because when that business collapses, the family loses their accommodation. Interest rates which are being charged by banks are out of this world and unacceptable. They have destroyed everybody left, right and centre, and that is why you see that there are a lot of adverts for houses on sale day-in day-out.
Also as Hon. Members, we must not fear to borrow. We must continue borrowing but borrowing at fair rates not the current rates.
What surprises me is that many people are scared to borrow for a business but they have borrowed a wife because they have not finished paying their lobola. So, why are you scared of borrowing for your business when you have a wife whom you have not finished paying lobola for. Even the wife is also scared of borrowing yet she is part and parcel of this credit arrangement which is not coming to an end. It gives us a challenge as leaders. If we are leaders and we are not in the forefront of economic development, then what are we? We are not leaders we are parasites. It is a situation that must be addressed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank Hon. Mnangangwa for providing education. Uzumba Constituency has 28 primary and 28 secondary schools. We have no primary school which has no secondary school. We have one vocational training centre. Our desire now is to have a vocational training centre in every ward. Government has invested a lot in education but we are not reaping the fruits of our investment in education. Vocational training centres are there now to provide relevant
skills.
The value chain in agriculture must include everything, that is processing of food such as maize meal, maheu, brewing of beer using the agriculture value chain because our youths, Mr. Speaker Sir, have gone to the dogs because of musombodhiya. There is a lot of alcohol and substance abuse that is taking place in this country. It must be corrected.
Time is not on our side.
The ease of doing business as enunciated by His Excellency must come to a reality because the current situation is; I had some investors from Yugoslavia who came to Murewa and they were basically required to pay 48 statutory fees before they could start their business. The fees were to council, ZESA, EM, licence for VID and ZBC for every room even if there is nobody sleeping in that room you still have to pay. That is unacceptable. Saloon licence. They wanted to keep animals and National Parks wants a licence. They have to protect with firearms and had to pay for firearms certificate, a lot of things that they have to pay. That is unacceptable in business. In the mining sector there are also about 40 licence fees that we have to pay.
Mr. Speaker Sir, yes when the Mines and Minerals Bill comes to
Parliament, we must also amend the Precious Minerals Act because the Precious Minerals Act does not allow me to just hold a piece of gold. They will say no, it is illegal. How does it become illegal when it is in my field? Some people picked up a big piece of gold while digging a grave and were scared to pick it up because there were some police people there who wanted to arrest them. This is unacceptable. We must create a situation - because gold is a result of the Munhumutapa
Kingdom. Munhumutapa Kingdom became popular from here to China, India, Egypt up to Capetown because they were producing gold. We are the descendants of Munhumutapa and must benefit from the gold that is here in Zimbabwe. So, ease of doing business is very important for us.
The victory of Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa was basically there to fulfill the desires, ambitions of Operation Restore Legacy. This is the victory that has changed and transformed the lives of the people of
Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, yes anytime when you say anything, there are those people who say what they want but the Bible teaches you to pardon them because they do not know what they say – [Laughter.] –
I appeal to you Mr. Speaker Sir, that the august House should ban the importation of vegetables because people from my constituency use their own money and resources to produce their own vegetables but when they come to Mbare, they start to compete with vegetables imported from South Africa. This is unfair. We cannot develop when certain sections of our country remain poor. Poverty now is like the Priest in the rural areas. We must arrest that poverty through agriculture production. Production of vegetables in communal lands is critical. It also provides for a nutritional base.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased the Deputy Minister of Health is here. fortification of food is now there through a statutory instrument but in rural areas it is not there. They must also create a statutory instrument that introduces bio-fortification of food in rural areas so that the nutritional level that assists in the development of the intellectual level of a particular individual is put in place. Those who do not understand what I am saying, we can discuss this outside and I will share with you my vision of biofortification.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, Uzumba Constituency went through a sad moment. We lost Douglas Vambe, the man who beat those drums for jerusarema and he beat drums for the news. We lost him and he was buried in Uzumba Constituency. We are having a memorial service for him which will run for the whole weekend. We will beat drums to salute his contribution in our cultural development – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Uzumba Constituency is never left behind, in terms of music. We have Jah Prayzah, he is from Uzumba, where we have kutonga kwaro gamba, which is music synonymous with Operation Restore Legacy; he is a product of Uzumba. We also have Andy Muridzo, who is an upcoming artiste but moreso, we have got Cde Murehwa, his name is Zvichakutambudzai Gawaza, the man who sang sendekera mukoma Chakanyuka, zvinogumbura kwazvo. This music was like the vanguard of all the music during the times of our revolution.
Mr. Speaker Sir, revolution is a product of people with a clear mind; a clear vision of people who know what they want but with a clear vision you want a leader like Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa, who has a clear vision; who has a direction; who knows where he wants to take the people of Zimbabwe. Our President His Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa is our Joshua, he is now taking us into the land of milk and honey – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Mr. Speaker, I can see that your light is on but for the interest of time and that of Hon. Members who are here who have not debated, let me thank everybody in this august House. Those who were listening; those who were sleeping were not snoring. At least I was heard in silence and those that were laughing I did not hear your laughter from here, I only saw your smiles and white teeth. Whatever you say, I appreciate, you gave me the energy; the zeal to go forward and continue to consolidate our revolution. All the people who are going to speak after me must realise that we are now in Zimbabwe; a second Republic ready to deliver to the people of Zimbabwe.
Let me salute you Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. May God bless you abundantly? Thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: My name is Hon. Tererai Moyo from Gokwe-
Chireya Constituency. I will make a few remarks, especially on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. Firstly, may I take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency and ZANU PF for winning the elections resoundingly – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
I also want to start by applauding the President for a well thought out, well researched, rich and insightful speech that he delivered last week. He talked about Zimbabwe becoming a middle income country by 2030. What that means is that we are considering things like per capita consumption and income per capita. These are two different things, as an educationist, I will try to explain on how you calculate income per capita. Income per capita simply means you are dividing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the total population, and then you will get income per capita. That means it is envisaged that by 2030, per capita income will be 3 500. So for us to realise that goal, we are in it together as Zimbabweans; speaking the same language as Zimbabwe. It means we need to mechanise our agriculture. We also need to modernise our industries.
Now, how do we mechanise our agriculture, I will refer to my
Constituency, Gokwe-Chireya, we have engaged Cotton Company of Zimbabwe. At the moment we have already started tillage programmes where they are tilling land for our farmers for free. That is in line with the vision of His Excellency the President Hon. E. D Mnangagwa.
I will also comment on the dream of my President of per capita consumption. Per capita consumption, you are looking at the value of consumables in a country. You calculate the value of all consumables and divide that by the total population, then you come up with per capita consumption. So, we are saying by 2030, Zimbabwe will be a middle income country.
I will talk about his vision in his domestic policy. In that statement, he was specific on his domestic and foreign policies. I will touch on his foreign policy ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ engagement and re-engagement. I became a victim of Zimbabwe’s isolation in 2014 when I got a place and I went to the University of Leads to do a PhD. I could have become a beneficiary of Commonwealth Scholarships but when you consider all Zimbabweans, even now they are not eligible to apply for Commonwealth Scholarships. So, the stance that has been taken by our President Hon. Mnangagwa, I really want to applaud him and it is highly commendable. Zimbabwe, as soon as we are re-admitted into the Commonwealth Club, it means Zimbabwe is eligible for those scholarships.
I will move on to the issue of clean water in Gokwe-Chireya, may I commend the New Dispensation for purchasing what we call rigs.
These rigs are machines which can drill up to 1 000 litres underground.
As I speak, the rigs are in all provinces in Zimbabwe. In the Midlands
Province, we have witnessed boreholes that have been drilled in GokweKauyuni in Chireya. I think chiefs and schools are going to be beneficiaries of these boreholes that are going to be drilled in my constituency. To also realise the dreams of our President, issues of education and health are also important and indispensable. We are making efforts as a constituency to ensure that we have modernised our schools in terms of provision of electricity.
In this case our major thrust is on provision of solar power, especially to rural schools where we are in partnership with members of our Constituency Development Committee to ensure that we have electrified schools and clinics. That will be very important, especially in ensuring that there is quality education. With those remarks, Mr.
Speaker Sir, I thank you.
HON. MGUNI: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. KWARAMBA: I second.
Motion put agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
On the motion of HON. MGUNI, seconded by HON.
KWARAMBA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 25th September, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKERS GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I recognise the presence of Hon. Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini S. C., Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and his Staff in the Speaker’s Gallery. You are most welcome – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
INVITATION TO A BREAKFAST MEETING
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the Women Alliance of Business Association in Zimbabwe (WABAZ) is inviting all Women Parliamentarians to a breakfast meeting on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 at 0730 hours at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. The bus will leave Parliament building at 0715 hours.
You are requested to confirm your attendance with the Zimbabwe
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Secretary in Room 181, Parliament Building or on extension 2110.
INDUCTION SEMINAR FOR HON. MINISTERS AND DEPUTY
MINISTERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: All Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on parliamentary business to be held on - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order!
Order! Order. Hon member can you take your sit properly? All Hon.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers are invited to an induction seminar on Parliamentary Business to be held on Thursday, 27th September, 2018 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Building starting at 0830 hours.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you. Mr. Speaker Sir, I move the motion standing in my name that a respectful address be presented to the
President of Zimbabwe as follows:-
We the Members of Parliament of Zimbabwe, desire to express our loyalty to Zimbabwe and beg leave to offer our respectful thanks for the speech, which you have been pleased to address to Parliament.
HON. MUSABAYANA: I second.
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me this opportunity to debate the State of the Nation Address by the
President. May I also take this opportunity to congratulate His
Excellency the President for emerging victorious in the 2018 Presidential Elections that were a departure from the violence that previously characterised our elections before his ascendance - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The free, fair and credible elections will go a long way in restoring long lost international confidence. Congratulation, makorokoto, amhlophe!
Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to also congratulate all of us for making it to this Ninth Parliament. Let us all remember that it is the people who gave us the mandate hence we should work tirelessly as servant leaders, to steal from his Excellency’s words.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President, in his speech alluded to the incident of violence that occurred on 1st August, 2018 and being the peaceful man he is, he has set up a seven member commission of enquiry consisting of eminent persons who were sworn in on Wednesday 19th September 2018. These people are going to investigate, report and make recommendations so as to put closure and finality to the matter.
HON. BITI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is not making a maiden speech. She is not allowed to read, she is reading.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, she can read her speech because she is moving a motion. Thank you, carry on.
HON. KWARAMBA: Mr. Speaker Sir, as highlighted in his speech concerning the need to revisit all MOUs signed with other governments which are lying idle, I totally support that these be revisited urgently so as to ensure that as a country, we benefit from the reengagement efforts as we are part of the global community and will hence benefit from these agreements. This, I believe, is the first step towards micro-economic stability, creation of fiscal space and access to foreign currency. Without this, our efforts to put the economy ahead of politics will not bear fruits.
I also agree with his Excellency that the multi-currency system be continued with until all economic fundamentals are positive as the rushed return to the Zimbabwean dollar will result in its being eroded in value, so long as the negative economic fundamentals are not rectified. It is also of paramount importance to some foreign exchange facilities that will cover our imports, like the $500 million sourced through the RBZ. Building 3-6 months of import cover will go a long way in covering our imports and eliminate shortages in the economy.
Mr Speaker Sir, His Excellency is advocating for the prudent use of public resources, responsiveness, accountability as well as timely, impartial and equitable delivery of goods and services to our people.
Truly, there has to be a paradigm shift from what we used to experience in the First Republic. I will take this opportunity as a legislator to throw my weight behind His Excellency in his fight to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and bottlenecks. His Excellency made the clarion call to State Enterprises to start being profitable. Heads should roll in these parastatals and it should be emphasised that their duty is to help Government raise funds and not vice-versa. They should deliver and not continue to drain the fiscus. They should justify their existence. Corrupt practices should be nipped in the bud if parastatals are to add value to the economy. Tough and stringent measures have to be put in place to deal with parastatal heads that do not produce results. Such behaviour by parastatal heads is tantamount to throwing spanners in the work of His Excellency, the President. His efforts and ours will not bear fruit when we have saboteurs in the systems that go unpunished.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me also commend His Excellency for his efforts towards creating a business friendly environment. Efforts to market Brand Zimbabwe should be made in tandem with the ease of doing business and ensuring that our licensing requirements are not too stringent as this cultivates corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, agriculture being the mainstay of our economy, the President has restructured the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. He is encouraging the use of our water bodies throughout the country. The Ministry of Tourism has been given fishlings for example in Tokwe-Mukorsi. Funds have been set aside to construct major dams e.g. Kunzvi dam in Mashonaland East. Through Command Agriculture, farmers are being issued with inputs. I would like to commend the President for providing inputs for this season timely. Farmers are being encouraged to harvest water and where there are dams, irrigation is being encouraged. Command livestock and command fisheries have been introduced to help resuscitate our economy. Thank you President Mnangangwa for introducing command. You have improved the livelihoods of our people. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - We have noted an increase in the production of maize, wheat and cotton and small grains in areas which do not receive enough rainfall. Also, what is very pleasing is that payment after delivery of maize to the GMB only takes three days. There will not be hunger again in Zimbabwe. Arrangements have already been made to counter the Elnino phenomenon by the Minister of Lands, Cde Perrance Shiri. May I also commend efforts to modernise and mechanise our agriculture. This will go a long way in improving agricultural profitability and this will feed into agro based industry along the various agro-value chains as propounded by the His Excellency.
The President also talked about devolution, where power is going to be devolved to local communities. These communities know what they want, hence they are going to work in their provinces to take charge of resources found in their areas. For example, in Mashonaland West we have a tomato factory in Norton. In Mutoko there is black granite therefore the onus is on provinces to work on their diverse economic activities to increase their GDP.
His Excellency has promised modern education and health infrastructure. We have seen the purchase of dialysis machines and the introduction of free dialysis in our major hospitals. Dialysis costs were out of reach for many kidney patients hence we would like to say thank you, to our caring President. - [HON. MEMBERS; hear, hear.] - My wish is to have these machines in all provinces to ease pressure. May I take this opportunity to thank the First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa for complimenting His Excellency’s work by spearheading cervical cancer awareness and treatment. Most of our women were dying from cancer but they are now being diagnosed and treated before the cancer reaches alarming levels. Amai should be commended for sourcing machines through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President touched on Bills that should be debated in this House which are supposed to be aligned to the
Constitution. I would like to comment on the Mandatory Sentence for
Rape and Sexual Abuse Bill which shall be considered by this Parliament. Rape on its own is murder, hence I would like to suggest that a stiffer sentence like life sentence be considered. I think by the time this Bill comes to this august House, Hon. Members will debate seriously and make proper recommendations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the President lamented the current outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in some parts of the country. People continue to die. It is pleasing to note that the private sector has come in to assist the Government with various amounts of money so as to curb this menace. His Excellency has visited the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage. On his visit, he promised one affected Form 3 student educational assistance until he finishes his education. Thank you my President for putting health issues first.
Lastly, we have noticed wanton increase of prices of goods in shops which has reached alarming levels. You wake up to find the prices of basic goods gone up. It is my fervent hope that the Consumer Protection Bill be quickly put in place to protect consumers from unfair trade practices.
Let me conclude by calling all legislators across the political divide to unite and work towards building Zimbabwe, and uniting behind His Excellency in his efforts to restore the pride of our nation –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – United we stand! Divided we fall! I thank you.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to start by thanking our heroes of the First Chimurenga and First Umvukela who fought hard for this nation to be where it is today. Today, we enjoy our independence because of the hard work that they did. Allow me to thank the heroes of the Second Chimurenga who were led by the ZANLA and ZIPRA forces who worked so hard to shape this nation to be where it is today. I look at it as an incarnation of the spirits of the First Chimurenga that was passed on to the heroes of the Second Chimurenga.
I also feel honoured to second the motion raised by Hon. Kwaramba who was responding to the State of the Nation Address delivered by His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa who is the first President of the Second Republic – [HON MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] - As an analyst, when I looked at the President’s speech, there is one single compelling issue that he touched on and this issue really touched my heart; his strategic vision of targeting per capita income of $3500 by year 2030. This vision will raise this economy into a middle income economy. When our nation gets into a middle income class, its means the welfare of our society, people and rural communities will also be upgraded.
The President did not only highlight where he wants to take this nation which is the promised land. He also did point out to at important roadblocks and detours that need to be removed, lest our…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon Member holding a chair, no
more chairs inside. There should be one line so that there is free passage there. Hon. Members sitting on my right, can you please stand up and have one line there.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I was saying our
President has shown that he is really a strategist by showing us that, not only does he have a strategic intent of landing this nation into the promised land but he highlighted all the possible challenges that we may face as we cross into the promised land which are issues to do with the opportunities that we have as a nation or the enablers that we have. These opportunities are trapped in our minds which need to be exploited efficiently and effectively. These opportunities are in the agricultural sector, the tourism sector and the human capital resource. Not only that, we also have the social capital of relationships that have been created through the engagement and re-engagement.
Mr. Speaker Sir, these roadblocks need to be dealt with for us to be able to get to the Promised Land, and in order to increase productivity in this nation for us to be able to raise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this nation, we need to take these roadblocks and detours seriously, so that pathways are created into our economy for us to be able to maximise output from resources.
The roadblocks manifest as poor infrastructure in terms of our roads, poor infrastructure in terms of water and sanitation and our Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems or infrastructure which is lagging very far behind the global standards.
We also have challenges that His Excellency the President highlighted. These manifest as red-tape in the operation of government, inefficient bureaucracy and poor work ethics among others. These are likely seen in the public sector and this can militate against the ease of doing business.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that the President is talking passionately about Zimbabwe being open for business. We cannot be a nation open for business unless and until issues of competitiveness are dealt with. Mr. Speaker Sir, these issues are critical because we cannot be competitive on the international market unless our products are properly priced. These issues further boil down to products quality and cost of production.
We also have laws that are archaic and these laws makes it very difficult to achieve the required ease of doing business in our nation and with other foreign nations.
The President also highlighted the issue of corruption, lack of constitutionalism and the culture of unjustified profiteering which has become a culture among our citizens.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he starts with food security and shelter as the basic requirements for a human being to live comfortably. Our President also looks at that when he talked about the issue of water borne diseases which have affected people. The diseases include typhoid and cholera. Therefore, the issue of access to clean water has to be dealt with. This is also enshrined in our Constitution that requires that every citizen has access to clean potable water. Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 also alludes to that.
Our President showed that he is a responsible citizen and good leader by assenting to the Public Health Act to ensure that these issues are dealt with once and for all and within a sustainable framework. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the new dispensation because it ensured that most citizens have access to clean potable water. The dispensation has availed drilling rigs in every province. These will go a long way in ensuring that we have access to clean potable water especially in rural communities.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this issue of access to clean water is very important to our citizens….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Order, Hon. Member, just refer to your notes.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The issue of
clean potable water is very critical especially to our rural communities and also to our unsung heroes of the Third Chimurenga who are the A2 and A1 farmers. Most of these people do not have access to clean potable water. For example in Hwedza alone, we are looking at more than 84 villages without access to boreholes and clean potable water. We also have schools which number beyond 30, without clean potable water. Mr. Speaker Sir, not only do we have to use these boreholes for drinking water, but they also go a long way in improving infrastructure for our irrigation.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to thank the President for the new dispensation because in this new dispensation, he has introduced Command Agriculture in tobacco. Command Agriculture in tobacco has actually moved the level of production of tobacco in this country to a higher level. The level has surpassed the 1999 level which has never been achieved during the time white commercial farmers were still farming in this land. Command tobacco has actually vindicated the Land Reform Programme because it has shown that if our farmers are given enough financial support, they can surpass the production levels that were achieved during the time the white commercial farmers were still very active in our farms.
Another roadblock that was highlighted by the President is the issue of accelerating ICTs infrastructure development. ICT infrastructure is one of the key enablers of development. Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at nations like Singapore and Rwanda, they are now shining examples of economic development. This is so because they have harnessed ICTs as a strategy for development. They are not just using ICTs as a tool for development alone but they are also using it as a strategy for development. This year Rwanda is actually hosting the Smart Africa Forum and in that they are focusing on issues to do with ICTs.
In terms of access to ICTs, we are ranked lowly. We are on number 133 out of 175 countries and this is a bad index position. Therefore Mr. Speaker Sir, we need as a nation to focus and deploy resources into the ICT sector. I also suggest that we increase the ICT envelop when we do our National Budget so that our ICT industry develops. ICTs go a long way in improving employment levels in our country and we can also use it for the efficient running of our country. That is possible if we introduce e-governance and paperless offices in all our government departments.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of ICTs is also important in our rural communities. If we look at constituencies like Hwedza North, we only have three cellular network base stations and most of the wards do not have access to broadband and cellular networks. That isolates such wards from the rest of the world. As we get integrated into the global arena or market, the challenge that we have in terms of the ICT platforms we are operating on, is that we are behind and we will not be able to compete. Therefore, we need to focus on this area.
The President also highlighted the issue of Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill. It is sad Mr. Speaker, that this Bill is still outstanding because in the Eighth Parliament we enjoyed a number of lunches and allowances trying to work on this Bill. I do not know what happened because we never saw its life in the Eight Parliament, but I am glad the President has highlighted it because this is a very important Bill.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the world over, over $600 billion was lost through cyber crimes in 2017 alone. That is a scary figure and we do not want that to affect our nation. We also have cyber crimes that are now crippling certain nations. We know that Ukraine’s energy sector was hacked and when it was hacked there were serious challenges in that country which almost brought anarchy to the nation. So, issues to do with cyber crimes and cyber security Bills should be treated with the urgency that they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, we also need to look at issues to do with corruption. The world over we are losing more than $2 trillion that is to say in 2017 alone the world lost $2 trillion due to corruption. This shows that corruption is a serious bottleneck, is a serious roadblock that we need to deal with. The issue of corruption needs to be treated with the urgency that it deserves. At the moment, Zimbabwe is ranked 159 out of 190 economies in terms of corruption perception index.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this is bad and we are viewed in bad light in terms of being a lucrative investment destination. We know what happens with corruption. The issue of corruption is that it is actually an inhibitor to foreign direct investment. Corruption will increase the cost of investment because in the process of trying to invest in a nation, you have to grease some people’s hands or pockets and in the process a lot of money is lost that will affect even the return of your investment.
The other challenge with corruption is that there is no guarantee that if you are involved in a corrupt deal or you pay the greasing fee, you will be able to consummate the deal. So, for us to support the
President’s mantra that we are open for business, we have to deal with the issue of corruption, but when we deal with the issue of corruption, Mr. Speaker Sir, we need to ensure that there is a framework that is in place, a framework, policies or laws that ensure that all those people who are found guilty are actually taken to jail. I am glad the President has set up or committed judges that are focused on dealing with corruption. I believe there are three courts in Bulawayo and also five courts in Zimbabwe that will be dealing with corruption.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when we are looking at the issue of corruption, I think our police force needs to be trained on how to handle or investigate issues of corruption because if the police are not trained or do not have the capacity or the competence to deal with matters of corruption, it will be very difficult to prove some of the cases before the courts of law. This is why we see some of these people going scot free even after being charged or are alleged to be corrupt.
Mr. Speaker Sir, finally, I want to thank the President for talking about or addressing the currency issue that has been challenging our nation for a long time. I believe he addressed it in the right context that the challenge that we have is not to do with the bond note and it is not to do with the currency that you are using. The challenges that we have in this economy are underlying fundamental issues to do with productivity, issues to do with the way we do business in this country. I think we need to refocus on issues of productivity because if you are productive as a nation, we will be able to create surpluses even within our own communities. If every community creates a surplus, it means we will be able to create a surplus in our nation and when we have surpluses, we will be able to export to other nations.
We also need to deal with the culture in this country; the culture of this love for imported goods.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member can you wind up, your
time is up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We need to learn to buy Zimbabwe. If as a nation we learn to buy Zimbabwe, to focus on learning to buy our locally produced goods, then it will reduce our demand for foreign goods. If we deal with that issue then…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! I said wind up.
HON. MUSABAYANA: Mr. Speaker, as I wind up, allow me to thank our President, President Emmerson Mnangagwa for delivering a resounding victory to ZANU-PF as a party. Mr. Speaker, it was not easy with a free and fair election to have two thirds majority in Parliament –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. MUSABAYANA: So, I would like to thank our President for his hard work. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to support what was said by the mover and the seconder of the motion. Let me start by thanking our President for the speech that he gave in Parliament. What he said is reflective of a good President. In Africa as a whole, we have Presidents who speak, but the way our President spoke, was a reflection that he is a person with wisdom and has the views that are good that will push the country forward.
We want to thank him for delivering such good speech. If someone starts his speech by thanking the opposition and then later on his own party, appreciating the calmness and the free and fair atmosphere or environment in which elections were held, what do we say of such a President? So, I also want to thank the nation for the peace and tranquility that prevailed during elections. I am sure everyone will agree with me that we used to have elections marred by violence, but the recently held elections were elections whereby the opposition did not have any convincing evidence in court – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- because they were also appreciating the peaceful environment that prevailed during the elections.
I hope that as Zimbabweans, we will be able to maintain such an environment and other countries can learn from us. The peaceful environment during elections brought in a lot of tourism. After the elections, the number of tourists increased compared to other periods before the elections. I want to thank him for the peaceful environment that prevailed during elections. I know there are some who do not appreciate and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that is there but the
President reiterated that there was peace and tranquillity after elections. The President also talked about demonstrations that occurred after elections where six people lost their lives.
Mr. Speaker, we are not happy and do not like such a situation whereby people entice the youths who do not have jobs to go and demonstrate just for them to get into power. The issue of Kenya that wanted to take place in Zimbabwe is not a good thing, especially after the elections. I was not happy about it because the way we had won the elections was outstanding but you find people using the youth to go into the streets to and demonstrate. We should go and inform our supporters of the results after the elections – if we lose, we should tell them we have lost and not entice them to go and demonstrate in the streets. We are here as representatives of the people....
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member, please do not dwell much on that issue because there is a Commission that was set up to look into that. Let the Commission do its work and do its investigations. I thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is what I wanted to talk about, the setting up of the Commission. We want to thank the President who put in place a Commission to investigate the post election violence.
The President also talked about the issue of health. He said that our country needs to have good health facilities and we realised that all areas – yesterday I was talking to the leaders of Harare and I told them they are now adhering to what should happen in Zimbabwe. I told them that our country cannot be a country of selling tomatoes. When the President talked about removing informal traders, people say that there are no jobs and they do not look at the issue of health. We want the health issue to be dealt with. As Parliamentarians, I urge us to be united so that the country or Harare where we reside when we come from our different constituencies remains clean. When we were travelling from different areas to come to Parliament, it will take us three hours. We want to thank the President and we support him that health should be there. We want to thank those that are cleaning the city, especially the Opposition, they have tried to clean up the city. They should continue doing the good work and ensure that Harare does not become a tomato market. We do not want that.
On the issue of corruption Mr. Speaker, corruption has become a cancer. Corruption should be brought to an end. Corruption – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Please listen and lower your voices. May you whisper? Hon. Zwizwai, just control yourself a bit. Thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Corruption Mr. Speaker, everyone is involved in corruption. Most of us are engaged in corruption in one way or the other. Some people just want to talk about individuals engaging in corruption but they do not look at themselves. Corruption is not only defrauding but corruption is also evident if someone says that the vendors or informal traders should continue to sell their wares from the streets. That is corruption because we are saying it is not healthy but we want them to stay there, that is corruption. We want to stress that such corruption should end. Corruption again comes in the sense that when someone is speaking very sensibly and doing good work, you will hear people making noise, like I am doing, that is corruption. Corruption is not only involved where there is money but also where one is saying a lot of sense and people are booing him. There is corruption that is evident in demonstration, there is corruption that comes through fraudulent activities. Even the demonstrations that happened when the President was delivering his Speech and MPs walked out, that in itself is corruption – [Laughter.] –
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Chinotimba, we do not want jokes in this House. May you please stick to the speech, not to be cracking jokes as you debate. Let us respect this House.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am talking about corruption and people may think that I am joking but as I am saying, you once said that when we come to Parliament to discuss business, we should not fear. So, I am talking of corruption and where it comes from.
The President also talked about Bills that when we come to this august House, the Ministers should push the Bills so that we pass them. We want the Bills to come through and for them to be passed especially on the issue of devolution so that development can take place in the provinces. In my area, there is a lot of hunger and poverty but we have a lot of resources. The President emphasised that these Bills should be brought to Parliament for developmental purposes and he said that we should not look at partisan politics but work together as Members of Parliament from either party. That is an issue that people in this House should understand.
Elections have come and they have gone and what we want now is to push the agenda in terms of development four our country. What is it that has made our country remain so backward? Let us work together and articulate issues to end these economic challenges as one and not to behave like we do not know what we are doing. So, these are the words that I want to add that the President of Zimbabwe Hon. Emmerson
Mnangagwa is a President given by God. We have not seen such a
President before - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, we want to thank the President for his bravery and we want to thank all of you who voted for the President. Some of us might not have voted for him but many of us voted for him. Romans 13 says that, the king or the leader of a nation is chosen by God. He is anointed by God. Even if people can complain and say a lot, as long as God has put him there, no one has the powers to remove him. So, I want to thank you with these words that God will protect the life of our President, Cde. Mnangagwa who has gone out to tell the world that they should come and work in Zimbabwe since Zimbabwe is open for business. Let us thank him that he is a President of the people who was voted for by the people – whether you like it or not, he is going to be the President for five years. I thank you.
HON. MHONA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me
this opportunity. Let me thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Kwaramba for coming up with such a noble motion. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa for a resounding victory on the 30th of July, 2018. Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for coming for a second term – you are a repository of knowledge. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
I also want to congratulate the rest of the Hon. Members here present for coming to this august House and I take this opportunity to thank the people of Chikomba Central who actually voted me to come for a second term in this august House. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to mention about Chikomba Central that as a constituency, we have a relationship that is sui generis – it is specific and special in its own way. The idea of us as parliamentarians to fulfill the desires and the wishes of our people cannot be over-emphasised. I want to say to this august House that the 2018 elections has gone and we now need to build Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker Sir, the idea of us here in Africa, I wanted to say, we have one problem whereby if we run a race, it is given that there is a winner and a loser. In most cases, you will find that there is a spirit of denial and individualism whereby if someone wins, it is a taboo that there is no handshake to say, here you have won. I am saying let us embrace this spirit as Africans to say, whenever one succeeds, let us congratulate that person. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is prevalent even within the intra-party politics where we talk of the primaries – this spirit is quite prevalent there and also inter-party politics whenever we come to the general election. This affirms an assertion by one of the renowned authors, Jean Wilkes that “as long as leaders worry about who sits at the head table, they have little time for the people they are called to serve”. We do not see opportunities for services while our eyes are fixed on competition.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa talked about prioritisation of economic development in order to eradicate poverty by 2030. According to Mahatma Ghandi, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”. The issue of corruption has become cancerous as alluded to by a number of speakers who have deliberated on that aspect and it is my humble plea that as the law makers, let us come up with a punitive measure or legislation to nip this in the bud once and for all for a better Zimbabwe, for ourselves and for posterity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also highlighted a number of pertinent Bills to be tabled in this august House and from your wise counsel, the onus is on us the parliamentarians to execute with speed in ensuring that these Bills become law. Inter alia, the Bills to be tabled in the House, there is the Rural District Councils Bill which gives greater autonomy to the rural councils as enshrined in the supreme law, the
Constitution and this is long overdue Mr. Speaker Sir. There is also the
Traditional Leaders’ Act which has to be amended in accordance with the Constitution so as to bring about the provincial council element and this is a welcome Bill. This will be anchored by the Public Finance Management Act which has to be amended in order to avail resources to these Bills in order for them to become law.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this comes under the purview of one of the most important Committees, which is the Finance and Economic
Development Committee and it is buttressed in Section 18 (2) of the
Constitution which states that, “the State and agencies of the State and Government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that all local communities have equitable access to resources to promote their development”. Mr. Speaker Sir, this is peremptory and it is a must. So, the funds have to be availed in order to fulfill these obligations.
Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency also touched on the need to act in the national interest and preach the gospel of peace, love, harmony and unity and hard honest. This is well articulated in our preamble of the supreme Constitution which talks of ‘… to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honest, and the dignity of hard work’ and this will also uphold ubunthu/hunhu as enunciated by His Excellency, history will judge us harshly should we renege on the sacrosanct duty to uplift the livelihoods of our people. Verily, to underpin this statement by His Excellency Mr. Speaker Sir, it is incumbent upon us as
Parliamentarians to know when to exit. This also applies to every leader Mr. Speaker Sir. I might not be popular or famous in this regard, but it is very important and imperative for leaders to know the time to exit office. As mandated in our Constitution, the President is actually mandated to have two five-year terms, making it 10 years in office.
With your indulgence Mr. Speaker Sir, once again, it is my humble request to say, let it be the time as parliamentarians to start thinking seriously about this notion, to say why can we not serve two terms as parliamentarians so that as the President exits, we also exit and allow new minds to come into effect and serve our people – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is common within us that we
want to die in office but at the end of the day, we do these things for the future generation. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to conclude – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May you lower your voices
Hon. Members. Thank you.
HON. MHONA: Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to conclude by quoting
one of the letters or one of the prophets in the Bible by the name Paul, when he was speaking to the Corinthians, 1Corinthians 1:10. It reads, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you will be perfect, united in mind and thought.” Surely, this is the gist of the speech of His Excellency, that there be unity in this august House for the betterment of the people of Zimbabwe in general and to embrace a modus vivendi, which is a lifestyle of the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can the Hon.
Member be heard in silence please.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, let me thank the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Adv. Jacob Mudenda for listening to Members of Parliament in terms of the change of venue today. I think it is important for us to thank him because certainly the situation was not conducive yesterday. As a result, we made an appeal to him and he responded to it in a manner which is befitting for Members of Parliament. So, if you can extend my thanks to him on behalf of all Members of Parliament, I am sure they agree.
Secondly Mr. Speaker, let me thank the people of Norton Constituency who have exhibited a great mind of independence. With the politics of this country which is so polarised, you would not think that an independent Member of Parliament would garner so many votes amounting to16 850 and 7 850 MDC Alliance, well done and then ZANU PF, 4 250, well done. I say this because it is unprecedented that a constituency would give such support to one who does not belong to a party but mainly because of the progress that they want to see for themselves. It is a lesson to many political parties in this country that the people’s welfare, concerns and development initiatives are the core for them and not the power in the political parties.
I am hoping that lessons are drawn from Norton Constituency. I am sure they have been drawn because before that, the opposition MDC had claimed that their victory was a result of their support. However, they were proven wrong in this election. Equally for the ruling party, lessons must be leant that when you expel people without – [Laughter.] – real reasons, you also suffer immensely. The ruling party paid dearly for the factional fights and the opposition paid dearly for not telling people to register and to vote. I am sure now they will participate in every by-election so that they practice because you cannot win a final without being in a semi-final.
It is important that I also commend the people of Zimbabwe across the political divide for the elections of 2018, which I think spoke a lot about the young people who participated immensely in determining their future. It is not a secret that the young people of this country, because of unemployment and suffering decided to now exercise their right. The most important thing is for the leaders of this country to be cognisant of the fact that the numbers will grow if nothing is done to respond to the needs of the young people. All they want at the end of the day are jobs and a better life and whoever offers them that is the person that they will support.
It is important to also congratulate, first of all, Advocate Chamisa – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I congratulate him as a brother in that he participated in an election and did extremely well although he lost – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - It is important that I reiterate the fact that it is a first time ever in this country where a young person takes part in an election and garners so many votes. If I were him, I would use that as a foundation to start working towards 2023. I think it is important that he is commended for that and the MDC
Alliance for coming in their numbers to be able to do that – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, can you listen to the Hon. Member.
HON. MLISWA: They must also be commended in that, they did well in penetrating the ZANU PF strongholds, which illustrates a free and fair election in that ZANU PF strongholds were never touched but the MDC Alliance managed to penetrate and get a lot of votes. I wish they had taken heed of what I said to them before, that you start this game earlier than late. I think all politicians must know that you need to work the moment that you are in office.
However, it is also important to commend ZANU PF for the urban votes that they got; I think in Harare Province, they got a lot of votes. The pre-election environment, whether you like it or not, was extremely peaceful, there is no way that you can take part in an election if the conditions are not conducive.
I think all parties are to blame for their failure because there were impositions, there were factional fights which I hope they can go back to the drawing board and all learn from that. I am talking about all parties across the board. If you look at the margins which were there, clearly, it was because they had put the wrong candidate, they imposed the wrong candidates and because of the factions in the MDC-T, they had the Thokozani Khupe issue which affected them. Again, ZANU PF had become a gamatox issue and had the G40 issue and so forth. I think I am the most qualified to talk about that because I am not in any of the political parties. So, I am sure it is important for Members of Parliament to also learn from me because I benefitted immensely from the faction fights of MDC and ZANU-PF. Like I said, I always await the primary elections when people are disgruntled and I cast my net and catch the biggest breams ever in town. They must continue fighting so that the independent candidates remain live.
I say this in view of the post election situation. Certainly it is something which is unfortunate for the country and I think it is best that the decision that His Excellency Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken in appointing a Commission of Inquiry certainly helps us to get to a logical conclusion of this. Those bodies lost, whether we like it or not, certainly do not do us any good as a country and I think it is important that lessons are learnt in terms of statements which some of us politicians make before elections. I think we must think of the people first. We must not be reckless in what we say because people’s lives are important. Those lives that are gone will not come back and I think it is important for us to introspect the cause of that. I think it is also important that the Government takes a certain position to ensure that the deceased’s families ...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, I think the Hon. Speaker cautioned Hon. Chinotimba when he wanted to dwell so much on that issue because there is a Commission of Inquiry that was instituted.
HON. MLISWA: I remain guided by you Mr. Speaker. Let me
go to the issues that the President spoke about and also to congratulate His Excellency, Cde. Emmerson. Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for the victory. I do not think there will be any other ZANU-PF leader who will be as democratic as him. I think ZANU-PF has a lot to learn from Emmerson Mnangagwa. He was so democratic that he was prepared to even lose the election and there is no way that ever before since 1980, we had an election so close. I think it is also important for this House sitting here to ensure that institutions that run elections – it is up to us in this House to make sure that they do what we want at the end of day. I think we have an opportunity in this House to ensure that if we are not happy with ZEC, we are able to debate and change whatever laws we need to change so that ZEC becomes a better animal in terms of running elections. So, the onus also lies upon us Members of Parliament. I hope we will not be asleep and wait for elections to happen then talk about ZEC when elections have happened. This is the time to talk about ZEC.
This is the time to correct what ZEC did not do which was proper.
I want to also talk about the new dispensation administration that the President has shown. Never did I ever think that Government would have so many young people, unknown politicians who are now in office. It talks about the new dispensation. We had a situation where Ministers would be recycled left, right and centre. We had Ministers like Obert Mpofu who was the obedient son to the former President Mugabe.
Today, he is no more because the President wants to move forward.
That talks a lot about what he intends to do. You had die-hards like Patrick Chinamasa who certainly were die-hards in their own way but they are no more in the party. I always say this to my colleagues in ZANU-PF; I am talking about the Government and not the party. They are no longer in Government and the party is not the Government, we must understand that. We must understand exactly the role of the President in trying to send a message clearly to all Zimbabweans – even to the young people that there is room for you to be able to understand the new course he is shaping.
The aspect of corruption remains an issue. I look forward to the day the President will arrest Ministers while they are in office. Arresting Ministers out of office does not mean anything. We want Ministers while they are in office, when they are corrupt to be investigated and be suspended. Corruption can no longer be a situation where we talk about it and we do nothing about it. We have commission of enquiries put up and the mere fact that the President has got the Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Committee (ZACC) and then appoints his own committee to investigate corruption only shows that ZACC is corrupt and is not fit to investigate. Otherwise why would he then have another parallel investigating arm when ZACC is there? The likes of Goodson Nguni are not credible to be able to be running such institutions. We have people like former Attorney General Gula Ndebele, Justice Chinhengo who we just had who are able to understand the law, look at the case and be able to do that. The credibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission is the one that will talk to people whether the President is serious about corruption or not.
Also, there are other Ministers who came back into power yet there are institutions like NSSA – Hon. Mupfumira having allegations on corruption. To me, we need to be very clear. If the board chairperson of an institution which a Minister appoints is corrupt and the Minister does not report that they are corrupt, the Minister cannot be exonerated but must also be arrested because he/she appointed the board. We cannot separate the board and the Minister. So we are basically playing games. Any Minister who is sleeping on duty and appoints a board which is implicit and does not do its job, the Minister is responsible for appointing the board and as such, is the first to be accused and the board becomes the second accused. This is what we want to see. We cannot be playing games and having to protect people because of who they are. When you look at NSSA, the pensioners have suffered immensely in this country yet there are so many deals which are happening with NSSA.
There is also the issue of the land barons, some of whom are in this House. In Norton, we have Hon. Cuthbert Mupame who is implicated in the Kingsdale issue. We have Hon. Cde. Killer Zivhu, who is implicated in the Galloway issue. I speak about this with a heavy heart because these people have made people of Norton suffer. The cholera that we talk about today is a result of land barons who have gone and built more stands without complying with the master plan. Every town has got a master plan and if you look at it you give people land who are the land barons to build but they do not build any infrastructure to augment the new houses which are being built. That cholera which is there is a result of the land barons who have been given land and not only that, but they are the same land barons who were sponsoring the G40, but I see them in this House again.
At times I wonder what really happened to the party. Where are the eyes of the party? They created so much division in the country. They were the ones supporting the former first lady but today I see them here. I wonder - where was the ZANU-PF vetting system in terms of elections to stop these criminals from coming here? When another faction comes, you know where it is coming from. You failed to stop them at the end of the day. The reason why I talk about the factions is because they have played a part in this economy not taking off. The only thing that the ruling party did in the Eighth Session was to just fight and fight. There was no progress at the end of the day.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you be
reminded that you need to wind up your debate.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I talk about the aspect of corruption because it is an issue and it is quite sad that some of the issues to do with the Land Commission was set up by the President to look into the land barons. But, I then asked myself – how will the Land Commission be able to investigate other Members of Parliament when they are also part of that investigation? It says a lot about what we need to do. I also talk...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry Hon. Member, it is not
parliamentary language to call other Hon. Members in this House that they are criminals. Do you have evidence? Maybe you need to change that language because he is also an Hon Member in this House. I thank you. You may continue.
HON. MLISWA: Sorry, I say this because I have written and they are part of the investigation of what is going on in the Land
Commission. So there is evidence that I have written to the authorities in this country and Hon. Cuthbert Mpame was brought before the courts as a result of the Kingsdale issue. So that evidence is there. I would not talk about something which has not gone before the courts and so forth. They are being investigated with the Land Commission. My question is - how fair will the investigations be now that they are Members of Parliament? This is an issue of corruption that I am talking about that at times we need to be very clear in terms of that.
I also want to talk about the issue of bureaucracy in Government. The President was very clear and I think that the Government has not changed its ways of doing things. The President is much ahead of
Government. You can see that there is so much bureaucracy still in
Government. It seems that people still have the DNA of the former President Robert Mugabe in terms of how they work and all that, yet the new President is very clear about how he wants things to perform. The onus is on the new administration, the Ministers - to appoint people around them who will be able to align themselves to the vision of the President which he has shown by appointing them. We are hoping that there will be a truly new dispensation because for as long as Government is not performing - Government institutions have got to perform he mentioned that.
The ZRP are trained to investigate; Homicide section can do armed robber cases, CID can do frauds but we never hear of ZRP arresting anybody for corruption. We hear of ZACC arresting people for corruption. ZACC does not have the capacity that ZRP has. ZRP has stations around and they have a training centre, but you wonder what these institutions are doing in terms of ensuring that they are up to a lot of things. It says a lot again in terms of how the training goes in terms of the crime which is there. Hon. Musabayana spoke about the cyber crime which is highly sophisticated. As a result, we also need to find people who are able to deal with white collar crime and I do not know how far we have gone in terms of introducing that.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Command Agriculture has done well and I do not think there is any better person than the Hon. Sen. Chief Air Marshall Shiri to be able to run that. He is a farmer himself. He is a military person and being a military person, he needs that discipline which was lacking in the Ministry of Agriculture for things to be done and already we have got results which are there. I believe that in the appointment of Hon. Sen. Shiri from an agricultural point of view, this is probably one of the best appointments which have been made. I have no doubt that results will be produced for a man who is well trained.
In terms of the country’s resources of lithium and coal bed methane, it is a bit unfortunate that some of our resources that we have seem to be taken away by people who are not Zimbabweans. I wonder that the indigenisation and empowerment seems to have been forgotten but the locals need to benefit. What is in it for Zimbabwe at the end of the day? We cannot be excited by people who come in to get our resources yet our people continue to suffer. There must be a local content or percentage for the people in these areas so that they benefit. Finally in terms of devolution, I think it is the way to go and I am hoping that it certainly complies with the Constitution in terms of the requirements. We had Provincial Councils elections which were held and devolution will talk a lot about how provinces will grow from an economic point of view.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity and equally congratulate all Members of Parliament across the political divide, to say let us work for the country and I am hoping that you do
not stick to the whipping system but if you are whipped, you must let me know; I will be able to support you. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! If there is any Hon.
Member who has misplaced his or her keys, can you please kindly go to the Clerk’s office.
HON. MUDARIKWA: First of all Mr. Speaker Sir, let me convey to you fraternal greetings from the heroic people of Uzumba Constituency and to you Mr. Speaker Sir, I say victory remains in the pocket of the people of Uzumba Constituency.
Let me begin by thanking His Excellency, Cde Mnangagwa for introducing peace in Zimbabwe. John 14 verse 27 says “When Jesus Christ was about to depart, he said I leave to you peace and I give peace unto you”. This is what Cde Mnangagwa has done to the people of Zimbabwe. He has brought peace and he also brought very peaceful elections. Peace is always associated with having enough food. When you are hungry or even when you are sleeping you do a lot of snoring because there is no peace in hunger.
The command agriculture has brought enough food for the people of Zimbabwe. We have small grains and artificial insemination for goats and sheep – so food is available. When there is a lot of food there is also peace. I also want to thank everybody who participated in the just ended 30 July election. Before and after the elections there was peace. Those who lost the elections, yes they can complain but you must always learn from your mistakes and those who believe in magic can come to our constituency and I will show them where they can get a medicinal formular of winning elections using some traditional medicine so that you can continue winning the way I won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way ZANU PF won in Uzumba Constituency, as the way His
Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa won resoundingly in Uzumba
Constituency – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
We are a product of the revolution and ZANU PF is the general manager of the revolution which Hon. Mnangagwa as the Commanderin-Chief of the revolution. It is only proper, fit and suitable for the people of Zimbabwe to salute our Commander-in-Chief through our vote. We voted resoundingly and this victory will continue until donkeys start having horns.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank you for coming back and being elected as our Speaker. We have the headmaster Hon. Adv Mudenda. He is the right man for the job. You are also the very right person for the job because the people of Buhera North accepted you and we have also accepted you to be part of the Speaker’s Panel. What is only left for us is to celebrate and dance for these positions because it is part of our tradition that whenever there is victory people must celebrate. Even in the Bible, it is written that whenever there is anything that is there we must celebrate. So, celebration is part of our culture and it is also part of our religious culture. So the two things must co-exist.
Uzumba Constituency had a great blessing by His Excellency when he was the Vice President. He opened Hombiro Clinic for us. This is a clinic which is part of the community work done by the people of Uzumba. They provided the bricks and cement. We are our own liberators. We will fight our own wars against hunger, ignorance, poverty and disease. The construction of Hombiro Clinic was there and is there forever to set out in the battle lines against hunger, poverty, ignorance and disease.
The victory of Hon. Mnangagwa is the victory of everybody because it brought peace to Zimbabwe. It brought development.
Everybody is coming to Zimbabwe as his mantra is ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ but when we talk of Zimbabwe is open for business, we must also be having our own business so that when time for elections comes, we are not professional beggars. We must be able to provide some money from our pockets not to be begging every day. Investors can come when we as legislators are business people and involved in one way or the other in the form of business.
As legislators, we must never admire poverty. Poverty is the name of the people and we must continue to fight against it but how do we fight against poverty when as legislators we are not involved in any form of business at any given time. We must start now to have a Business Advisory Council or Panel at Parliament where we can invite people from the private sector to assist Hon. Members to be business. Educate them on how they can start their own business because time will come when the people will give you their back.
When you lose elections, we do not want you to die. It is so sorrowful when you meet somebody who has lost elections, it is as if somebody has lost a wife and kids but he has just lost an election. He is so depressed and some end up in hospitals or some go to the apostolic churches. This must come to an end and it happens like that because we will be poor. We must never admire poverty.
The other thing Mr. Speaker Sir, this august House must provide laws which must ban the securitisation of accommodation as part of security for any business because when that business collapses, the family loses their accommodation. Interest rates which are being charged by banks are out of this world and unacceptable. They have destroyed everybody left, right and centre, and that is why you see that there are a lot of adverts for houses on sale day-in day-out.
Also as Hon. Members, we must not fear to borrow. We must continue borrowing but borrowing at fair rates not the current rates.
What surprises me is that many people are scared to borrow for a business but they have borrowed a wife because they have not finished paying their lobola. So, why are you scared of borrowing for your business when you have a wife whom you have not finished paying lobola for. Even the wife is also scared of borrowing yet she is part and parcel of this credit arrangement which is not coming to an end. It gives us a challenge as leaders. If we are leaders and we are not in the forefront of economic development, then what are we? We are not leaders we are parasites. It is a situation that must be addressed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank Hon. Mnangangwa for providing education. Uzumba Constituency has 28 primary and 28 secondary schools. We have no primary school which has no secondary school. We have one vocational training centre. Our desire now is to have a vocational training centre in every ward. Government has invested a lot in education but we are not reaping the fruits of our investment in education. Vocational training centres are there now to provide relevant
skills.
The value chain in agriculture must include everything, that is processing of food such as maize meal, maheu, brewing of beer using the agriculture value chain because our youths, Mr. Speaker Sir, have gone to the dogs because of musombodhiya. There is a lot of alcohol and substance abuse that is taking place in this country. It must be corrected.
Time is not on our side.
The ease of doing business as enunciated by His Excellency must come to a reality because the current situation is; I had some investors from Yugoslavia who came to Murewa and they were basically required to pay 48 statutory fees before they could start their business. The fees were to council, ZESA, EM, licence for VID and ZBC for every room even if there is nobody sleeping in that room you still have to pay. That is unacceptable. Saloon licence. They wanted to keep animals and National Parks wants a licence. They have to protect with firearms and had to pay for firearms certificate, a lot of things that they have to pay. That is unacceptable in business. In the mining sector there are also about 40 licence fees that we have to pay.
Mr. Speaker Sir, yes when the Mines and Minerals Bill comes to
Parliament, we must also amend the Precious Minerals Act because the Precious Minerals Act does not allow me to just hold a piece of gold. They will say no, it is illegal. How does it become illegal when it is in my field? Some people picked up a big piece of gold while digging a grave and were scared to pick it up because there were some police people there who wanted to arrest them. This is unacceptable. We must create a situation - because gold is a result of the Munhumutapa
Kingdom. Munhumutapa Kingdom became popular from here to China, India, Egypt up to Capetown because they were producing gold. We are the descendants of Munhumutapa and must benefit from the gold that is here in Zimbabwe. So, ease of doing business is very important for us.
The victory of Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa was basically there to fulfill the desires, ambitions of Operation Restore Legacy. This is the victory that has changed and transformed the lives of the people of
Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, yes anytime when you say anything, there are those people who say what they want but the Bible teaches you to pardon them because they do not know what they say – [Laughter.] –
I appeal to you Mr. Speaker Sir, that the august House should ban the importation of vegetables because people from my constituency use their own money and resources to produce their own vegetables but when they come to Mbare, they start to compete with vegetables imported from South Africa. This is unfair. We cannot develop when certain sections of our country remain poor. Poverty now is like the Priest in the rural areas. We must arrest that poverty through agriculture production. Production of vegetables in communal lands is critical. It also provides for a nutritional base.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased the Deputy Minister of Health is here. fortification of food is now there through a statutory instrument but in rural areas it is not there. They must also create a statutory instrument that introduces bio-fortification of food in rural areas so that the nutritional level that assists in the development of the intellectual level of a particular individual is put in place. Those who do not understand what I am saying, we can discuss this outside and I will share with you my vision of biofortification.
I want to thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, Uzumba Constituency went through a sad moment. We lost Douglas Vambe, the man who beat those drums for jerusarema and he beat drums for the news. We lost him and he was buried in Uzumba Constituency. We are having a memorial service for him which will run for the whole weekend. We will beat drums to salute his contribution in our cultural development – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Uzumba Constituency is never left behind, in terms of music. We have Jah Prayzah, he is from Uzumba, where we have kutonga kwaro gamba, which is music synonymous with Operation Restore Legacy; he is a product of Uzumba. We also have Andy Muridzo, who is an upcoming artiste but moreso, we have got Cde Murehwa, his name is Zvichakutambudzai Gawaza, the man who sang sendekera mukoma Chakanyuka, zvinogumbura kwazvo. This music was like the vanguard of all the music during the times of our revolution.
Mr. Speaker Sir, revolution is a product of people with a clear mind; a clear vision of people who know what they want but with a clear vision you want a leader like Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa, who has a clear vision; who has a direction; who knows where he wants to take the people of Zimbabwe. Our President His Excellency Hon. Mnangagwa is our Joshua, he is now taking us into the land of milk and honey – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Mr. Speaker, I can see that your light is on but for the interest of time and that of Hon. Members who are here who have not debated, let me thank everybody in this august House. Those who were listening; those who were sleeping were not snoring. At least I was heard in silence and those that were laughing I did not hear your laughter from here, I only saw your smiles and white teeth. Whatever you say, I appreciate, you gave me the energy; the zeal to go forward and continue to consolidate our revolution. All the people who are going to speak after me must realise that we are now in Zimbabwe; a second Republic ready to deliver to the people of Zimbabwe.
Let me salute you Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. May God bless you abundantly? Thank you.
HON. T. MOYO: My name is Hon. Tererai Moyo from Gokwe-
Chireya Constituency. I will make a few remarks, especially on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. Firstly, may I take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency and ZANU PF for winning the elections resoundingly – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
I also want to start by applauding the President for a well thought out, well researched, rich and insightful speech that he delivered last week. He talked about Zimbabwe becoming a middle income country by 2030. What that means is that we are considering things like per capita consumption and income per capita. These are two different things, as an educationist, I will try to explain on how you calculate income per capita. Income per capita simply means you are dividing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the total population, and then you will get income per capita. That means it is envisaged that by 2030, per capita income will be 3 500. So for us to realise that goal, we are in it together as Zimbabweans; speaking the same language as Zimbabwe. It means we need to mechanise our agriculture. We also need to modernise our industries.
Now, how do we mechanise our agriculture, I will refer to my
Constituency, Gokwe-Chireya, we have engaged Cotton Company of Zimbabwe. At the moment we have already started tillage programmes where they are tilling land for our farmers for free. That is in line with the vision of His Excellency the President Hon. E. D Mnangagwa.
I will also comment on the dream of my President of per capita consumption. Per capita consumption, you are looking at the value of consumables in a country. You calculate the value of all consumables and divide that by the total population, then you come up with per capita consumption. So, we are saying by 2030, Zimbabwe will be a middle income country.
I will talk about his vision in his domestic policy. In that statement, he was specific on his domestic and foreign policies. I will touch on his foreign policy ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ engagement and re-engagement. I became a victim of Zimbabwe’s isolation in 2014 when I got a place and I went to the University of Leads to do a PhD. I could have become a beneficiary of Commonwealth Scholarships but when you consider all Zimbabweans, even now they are not eligible to apply for Commonwealth Scholarships. So, the stance that has been taken by our President Hon. Mnangagwa, I really want to applaud him and it is highly commendable. Zimbabwe, as soon as we are re-admitted into the Commonwealth Club, it means Zimbabwe is eligible for those scholarships.
I will move on to the issue of clean water in Gokwe-Chireya, may I commend the New Dispensation for purchasing what we call rigs.
These rigs are machines which can drill up to 1 000 litres underground.
As I speak, the rigs are in all provinces in Zimbabwe. In the Midlands
Province, we have witnessed boreholes that have been drilled in GokweKauyuni in Chireya. I think chiefs and schools are going to be beneficiaries of these boreholes that are going to be drilled in my constituency. To also realise the dreams of our President, issues of education and health are also important and indispensable. We are making efforts as a constituency to ensure that we have modernised our schools in terms of provision of electricity.
In this case our major thrust is on provision of solar power, especially to rural schools where we are in partnership with members of our Constituency Development Committee to ensure that we have electrified schools and clinics. That will be very important, especially in ensuring that there is quality education. With those remarks, Mr.
Speaker Sir, I thank you.
HON. MGUNI: Mr. Speaker, I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. KWARAMBA: I second.
Motion put agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
On the motion of HON. MGUNI, seconded by HON.
KWARAMBA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p. m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President. I
want to start by congratulating you for being elected the Presiding Officer in this august House and also the election of your Deputy. We also want to thank the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe who laid out the rules and regulations which are supposed to be followed in the making of laws for the governance of Zimbabwe. He was also clearing a path for us as Members of Parliament that we should follow in making the laws which are aimed at creating, peace, order and good governance of Zimbabwe.
Madam President, one of the Bills we are supposed to be looking at is the Traditional Leaders Bill which is aimed at looking at the roles of the traditional chiefs. They should also be part of the traditional assemblies. I know we need to look deeply at these rules because it empowers the Chiefs to be able to participate in the law making process, in the development and protection of the customs and traditions of our country.
Madam President, we know that when we have set up this board, there is going to be development and progress in the country in such a way that it empowers the chiefs. When they are empowered, there will be development because we will be following the guidance of our Statutory Instruments. We are very grateful to the Government; they have recognised the importance of traditional leaders…..
Cellphones having rung.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order, order,
may I appeal to Hon. Senators to put our phones on silent or switch off.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: We want to thank the President for
urging us to craft this law on traditional leaders because it empowers our Chiefs. It shows that they are important; they are the custodians of our traditions. We believe when traditional leaders have been empowered, they will fully utilise this law. I know that Chiefs are happy and they will work hard because they feel that they are included in the law making process and that they will be part of the provincial councils, following the promulgation of this law. This is going to create good relations between the traditional leaders and their subjects because they will be afforded opportunity for discussions.
Madam President, I urge my fellow Senators that when this Bill comes into this House, let us scrutinise it carefully and let us not be partisan or look at other ways which may be divisive because this law has got far reaching consequences.
The President also talked about the SMEs which he said creates employment and livelihood for women and the youth. We all know that here in Zimbabwe, women and the youth surpass the other groups. If these two groups are empowered, there is going to be development in the country. That is why the Women’s Development Bank and the Youth Bank were established so that they participate in the developing of the country. Let us work hard in our rural areas; especially looking at this Bill. I urge my fellow members to disseminate this information to remote rural areas. This information will assist some people who may be afraid to utilise the loans because they are afraid of the unknown consequences. If we disseminate information and tell them how it is going to operate and the benefits accrued, they will utilise the monies. If we do not disseminate this information, this money which has been put aside for the public is going to be used by a few individuals who are financially empowered. We know very well that there are some people who do not want to borrow any monies because their clan or culture does not allow them to do so but encourages them to survive on their own. I am urging fellow women that let us utilise these monies. If you borrow the money and use it on a good project, when you become an affluent person, please do not look down upon your husband. Do not insult them or make them feel inferior, make them feel part and parcel of that development because such projects are not meant to be divisive but they are targeted at fighting poverty. I am very grateful to His
Excellency for such a developmental speech. Without that speech, there will be no debate in the House. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Madam President. I want to
thank you for giving me this opportunity to add a few words on this motion. First of all, allow me to congratulate our President, Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa for winning the July elections and also allow me to congratulate you and Hon. Sen. Rtd. Gen. Nyambuya for being elected President and Deputy President of this august House. I say amphlope, congratulations, makorokoto.
Going on with this debate Madam President, during the speech which was delivered by the President, he talked mostly about the agricultural sector which he mentioned that it is one of our important sectors. I cannot argue with him because you will find that without agriculture, the country cannot forge ahead. When we talk about agriculture, it is a key sector of the economy because you will find that we have to produce as a country for the people to eat. Also, if we have extras, we can export to other countries so that we gain foreign currency.
I urge all those who were given land to maximise the land and use it properly because they have to produce. As we are talking about agriculture, we also face some problems. Those farmers who are in the farms lack machinery to operate. They also lack inputs in order to produce. I am urging our Government to assist these people to get money in order to buy whatever they want so that their agricultural inputs may be sustained.
Apart from that, we are looking at the irrigation component especially for those who are in regions 4 and 5 who do not have sufficient rain. There is need for irrigation. For us to have irrigation, we are supposed to have dams. There is need for the construction of new dams as well as rehabilitating those that are not working so that we have enough water. Other than the rehabilitation of the dams, I am looking at harnessing the little water that flows into rivers to be harnessed in a way that we can maximise every little drop of water that we are given by the Almighty to irrigate our fields.
As we look at agriculture Madam President, there is need for the availability of clean water as well. Our people do not just need water – because water is life, they need clean water for their consumption and for any other use. Talking of agriculture, we are also looking at the Command Livestock which was started during the Eighth Parliament. I am urging all those who are involved in the Command Agriculture; they really know that we have got zones in this country, the green and the red with our livestock but now have a tendency of taking their livestock from the red zone to the green zone without permits. They should desist from that practice because the whole country might end up being affected by the foot and mouth disease.
Madam President, this Command Livestock programme is very
good especially for those who stay in the low rainfall areas like the Matabeleland region and other areas which I cannot mention by name. You find that cattle do very well and it may also resuscitate the CSC which used to sell most of the beef outside the country and earn foreign currency.
In the agriculture sector, you will find that we now have a problem. Our farmers used to grow soya-beans but as of now, it has gone down. It needs to be resuscitated because soya-beans play a major role. You find that it is feed for the animals like the cattle that I am talking about. It is also used for the production of our cooking oil which we need on a daily basis. So without soya-beans, we are letting ourselves down.
The President also talked about devolution and the decentralisation of power, which is a welcome gesture to all of us because our people at grass root level will have a time or a chance to participate in Government issues. They will also have a chance of making decisions about their problems that they meet in their areas. So it will help the Government a lot because what the Government will be dealing with are real issues from the people, which I think they will forge ahead.
Let me talk about gender equality. Let me first of all congratulate the women who managed to make it to this Parliament because it was not easy. They had challenges but I congratulate you for your bravery for standing and winning these elections. It is not enough Madam President. Instead of our numbers increasing as women, they have terribly gone down. We will never stop fighting for our rights as women. Definitely, you can laugh or look down upon us but we will keep on pressing this issue until we win. The SADC Protocol emphasises the 5050 representation, not only in this Parliament but even in the private sector. Wherever there is a job, we should see women rising up because they have got the qualities to rule, work et cetera.
Madam President, I was also impressed when our President said there would be a Bill which would come to this august House, which would be dealing with child marriages. I do not think this Bill will fail to sail through because women are worried about this issue. Every woman in Zimbabwe, across the political divide is worried. Our children are getting married when they are so young. The period when our children are supposed to be attending school is the period when they get married.
Madam President, this brings me to the element of education, whereby we do not have Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) at district level. This is an important issue because if ever we had these VTCs at district level, when our girl children fail to get to school, they would at least enroll at these VTCs and learn skills such as sewing, agriculture, carpentry, engineering et cetera. Some of them do not have the chance of getting there because if these VTCs are far away, they will not have the money to travel long distances or to pay for accommodation.
Madam President, I cannot finish my deliberation without mentioning anything about the cholera outbreak that we had in the country. Let me say thumps up to the Harare City. Even though they were affected by cholera, they managed to conquer it. Today, when you drive in the central business district, vending is really minimized. I also want to thank those who managed to donate and assist the Ministry of Health and Child Care in dealing with this epidemic. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart because some would just sit and say,
“hameno ikoko, asazi khonale. Ngokwe Harare.” However, there are some people who managed to pump out their monies and handouts in order to contain the cholera in Harare.
Madam President, on the health sector again, there is a problem because this cholera keeps on coming and going. There is need for us to look for alternatives on how we can combat this disease which is a problem within our country. There is need for us to have clean water.
Boreholes should be sunk in our communities, especially the rural areas. There is need for the people in the rural areas to have more clinics which are nearer to them, so that as soon as one falls sick, one has to be taken to medical facilities with immediate effect.
Let me just mention in passing a place called Malabe in Beitbridge East in the Chikwalakwala village. This village is isolated and very far from town. A certain organisation built a health centre there but it is a pity when I talk about this health centre. As I speak, nurses at that health centre do not have accommodation. They are accommodated by nearby villagers. You can imagine a nurse coming out from a hut at a nearby village to go and work for the people. We wonder whether we can ever combat this cholera if we keep on like that.
Madam President, finally let me congratulate all Hon. Members of the Senate who managed to make it to this Ninth Parliament. May the
Almighty God be with you throughout this term. “Makorokoto, amhlope.” I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MALULEKE: Thank you Madam President for
affording me the opportunity to debate the Speech given by His Excellency Hon. E.D. Mnangagwa. May I start by congratulating you for being elected as President of the Senate and to also congratulate Hon.
Nyambuya for being elected the Deputy President of Senate.
We are very grateful for what His Excellency President Mnangagwa did in opening this Parliament where he laid out the Bills which are to be passed. The Senate is made up of the elders of the nation and this has to be reflected in our debates. We are going to receive a lot of Bills which are based on the Speech given by His Excellency, which we saw on yesterday’s Order Paper. We are representing the people who elected us into power and we need to represent them well as one of the functions of Parliament. We should debate and make laws aimed at development and progress. Listening to that Speech, His Excellency talked about the development and advancement of women. Watching what was said on television, on ZTV when the news reporter talked about 57 magistrates who were sworn in and the majority were women and we see there is advancement of women. We know that in most cases we have some impediments in trying to get into these public offices. As women we have a lot of responsibilities. Looking at the area where I come from in Chiredzi, the women folk and the girl child have a lot of problems which they encounter in their day to day lives. During the Christmas holiday we have a lot of movements of people coming back home from South
Africa and a lot of young girls marry these people coming back from
South Africa regardless of how young they are. I remember the President said these children must not rush into marriage because kumhanya hakusi kusvika.
In this august Senate we are lucky because we are benefiting from the knowledge given to us by the traditional leaders who are in this Senate. We need to tap into their knowledge because they meet a lot of problems in the rural areas through these youngsters either boys or girls. What we need is to inculcate the value of appreciation of education in these youngsters so that they will have that spirit of discernment. If I am not educated I will not be able to interpret even road signs, I will just proceed on a red robot because of lack of education.
At times it may seem as if you are a drawback but you are not. I remember my time when I went to school, it was a time that society did not believe in educating girl children and because of that I was the only girl who went to school. My father was fighting the culture and normative values of our society. People were saying if you educate this girl-child, she is going to be a prostitute. My father acted awkwardly because I did not suckle on my mother’s breasts the day I was born. He believed that if he educated a girl-child she would become a prostitute. My mother responded that my girl child will prosper and she will bring me a suit jacket - it is the boy that will go come back and impregnate married women so which child is better. So, my father replied that it is the one that will bring me a suit then my mother answered him that both children should be treated the same. Let us unite and educate the community on the importance of educating girl children and the dangers of child marriages.
His Excellency also talked about agriculture, we realise that in the past two seasons, the Lord was with us and he gave us plenty of rains especially in Chiredzi because drought was anticipated and we were told to grow small grains but surprisingly, the Lord was with us. We had a bumper harvest of maize instead of the sorghum which we were used to. Through the Command Agriculture programme, we were able to get all the inputs in time. You should come and see how blessed we are in Chiredzi. Seasons are changing, I noticed in my area trees have not developed new leaves yet but here trees have developed new leaves, it is the will of God and we must be happy.
His Excellency talked about animal husbandry; yes it is known that livestock is a project that does well in the lowveld. We are glad, the Government or the President has urged this Government to take into account the livestock command agriculture and I am urging fellow women that we must not take this as a men’s thing but we should go and talk to the experts in animal husbandry so that we are also given bullocks so that we had a good breed. We should not be afraid of tackling all these objects. I am very grateful for His Excellency, he is a visionary, he is foresighted and I believe that if we are to take into account all the Bills he asked us to create into Acts of Parliament, there is going to be development especially in our rural areas. We should utilise the civil servants in our areas, interact with them so that when there is something given by the Government, we must be able to ask the district administrator, the Governor so that we work together.
Let me turn to cholera, we may say it is in Harare but it is everywhere. We had an incident where a driver came from Chipinge to Chiredzi and when he was taken to hospital, it was discovered that he had contracted cholera. Let us live a hygienic and clean life especially in areas like Chiredzi. Access to water in Chiredzi is far and wide but we need to have more boreholes so that people have access to clean water. We need more boreholes, more wells. We have women who are the main fetchers of water and they travel long distances.
Talking of distances we also need to have health institutions near us. Pregnant women go into labour during the night and will have to travel a distance of about 10km to 30 km. we also need to have health institutions nearby, especially when people fall ill at night. In some instances, these institutions are there, but with no personnel, or if staff is available, there is no medication. We are appealing to Government that more clinics are built and health services be accessed freely by the elderly. I conclude by congratulating His Excellency, the President for a job well done and I also congratulate the ones that were here before that have managed to come back again and the new ones as well, I hope we will work in harmony. I 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, 26th September, 2018 – [AN HON. SENATOR: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order Hon. Senators. I
am speaking here and someone is shouting what is that? It is good to hear what is being said. If you have something to say, I recognise you, you stand up and say whatever, everyone is free to talk.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA seconded by HON. SEN. MOHADI, the Senate adjourned at Ten Minutes past Three o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 27th September, 2018
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p. m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
NON INTERFERENCE WITH PROCESSIONS
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I wish
to remind Hon. Members that when bells are ringing before the commencement of business and after adjournment of the Houses, certain corridors are cordoned off to avoid interference with the processions. You are therefore requested to cooperate with police officers manning those corridors.
I would like to commend Hon. Ministers. We have a full complement of Ministers who are present to answer Hon. Senators’ questions.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to ask my question. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development. When is the issue of Shabani-Mashaba Mine going to be resolved because the workers that were there have not been paid their salaries, I think it is now eight years or more? Do you have a policy in place to resolve this issue?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): Thank you for the
question. I am still new in the Ministry but the few facts that I have gathered from the Minister, I understand there is something currently going on at Mashava Mine. There is dewatering that is going on, which means very soon the mines are going to be re-capacitated and the employees are going to get back their employment. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Hon.
Senators are reminded to ask policy questions.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: Before I ask my question, I want to congratulate you for being elected the Deputy President of the Senate.
We will miss your contribution to this House.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank
you.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: I certainly believe that when we are here, you will give some favours to me. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The Labour Act has not been aligned with the new Constitution. This has taken quite a long time. As you know, there have been complains with the ILO about that. We are about to go to the ILO, we are going next year, but you find that next year is just around the corner. It is not good to have the country’s name being dragged at the ILO for non-alignment of the
Labour Act to the Constitution. So when are we going to have the
Labour Act aligned to the Constitution?
Mr. President, I want to persuade the Minister to give us timelines because when I came into this august House in July, last year, I was told it was going to be done soon. Very soon is not a good answer for some of us because I have read in the newspaper that Zimbabwe is no longer going to do business as usual but doing things as quickly as possible.
We must also remember that the Labour Act is one of the instruments that drive investment. If we do not deal with the Labour Act, we are therefore driving away investors….
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
Order, order, Hon. Senator, just ask your question; do not debate.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: Yes, I have already asked the question but I just wanted to explain further so that the Minister may understand where I am coming from.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. NZENZA): Thank you Mr.
President. The Labour Act and its non-alignment is one of my key priority areas to address. I am currently in the middle of consulting all the key stakeholders including the employers and employees. I will not wait longer to bring this matter to conclusion. I have already sat down with my team and this is one of our key objectives to look at the Labour
Act and its non-alignment in the next 100 days.
HON. SEN. NCUBE: I want to congratulate you for being elected the Deputy President of the Senate. Thank you Mr. President.
My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. What is Government doing with the increasing number of students out of school in the rural areas considering that there are economic challenges, not in the rural areas only but all over the country, but looking at the rate of the US$ which is one is to two. What is the
Government doing about that?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
(HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you Hon. President and thank you Hon. Senator. I am assuming that you are asking about post O level and post A level students. One of our key policies is called inclusive education and we are saying there is no Zimbabwean brain to waste.
Accordingly, we have done a strategy for increasing the number of post O level and post A level students in the Higher and Tertiary Education system and this is what we have done.
We have introduced the student loan facility. In the student loan facility, we are saying students can access funds from banks, but here is the problem. At the banks the rates are still high but it is heartening to note that the banks have agreed to this drive. So, because of the high rate, we have asked external funders to come into the fray. In this regard, we have made an agreement with Fundi of South Africa which is working through Eduloan in Zimbabwe. On the 10th of July, 2018, we signed an agreement of US$10 million that will be released into
Zimbabwe for our students to be able to access these funds.
We also looked at the fees that are being paid at our colleges and universities particularly looking at fees during attachment. Students were being asked to pay full fees. We were asking students to pay full fees but we then looked at it and said maybe this is increasing the number of drop-outs. Our aim is to make sure that we have access to education by our students. So, we reached an agreement that these fees were reduced by 40% so that they pay 60% of what was originally being paid. That is move number 2.
Move number 3 is to make sure that our entry qualifications into universities and tertiary institutions are streamlined. This was a response to a fact that in colleges especially in polytechnics and teachers’ colleges especially in polytechnics, students were now being asked as a requirement that they need Mathematics to get in there despite whether they are doing engineering or anything. We took this policy as exclusionary and that it was increasing the number of students who might actually have 10 As and one D in Mathematics. We do not think
that, that student is dull at all.
So, we said for those subjects that do not require this Mathematics, they have to amend the regulation. We looked at 30 courses at polytechnics and we removed this requirement. We are not saying we do not like Mathematics, it must be done at O level, but if I want to do my drama, even if I have got A in Mathematics, do not ask for it and that is what we are saying. So through this, we have been able to increase the number of absorbed students in higher and tertiary institutions by 12%. This is measured. We have made projections as a matter of policy that we will increase the absorption by expanding the infrastructure and capacity at our teachers’ colleges.
Our current number is at 8 000. We are saying by 2023, there should be 40 000 students in teachers’ colleges which is an increase of 6 000. It means we have removed 6 000 people who were potentially going to be on the street. On the polytechnics, we are currently having 24 000 students in polytechnics but we are projecting that by 2023, we will be having 33 000 by increased infrastructure and capacity. We want to suck out people from the street and make them go into our institutions so that they are able to study. Our aim is inclusive education and never to waste any Zimbabwean brain that wants to study.
Crowning it all, we have worked on the Zimbabwe National Qualification Framework. This qualifications framework is a framework which recognises that there are professional trainings of artisans, higher education of universities, tertiary and vocational education for polytechnics and vocational colleges. These three systems were not interlinked at all but with the National Qualification Framework, we have looked at equivalents. For example, if you have got professional level 2, we say that is equivalent to a diploma at universities and therefore that person is allowed to cross and go into the university route or go to any route. We have done this to make our higher and tertiary education responsive to those who want to learn without putting barriers. In our country, people could not go into school not because they are dull but because we were just putting too many barriers for what God knows, but we have changed that. We believe we are going to absorb as many students that require education as possible and make sure that we attain dream 2030 of a middle income economy with skilled people. I thank you Hon. President.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. President. I start by congratulating you and Madam President for being elected Chairs. My question goes to the Leader of the House in the absence of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. What is Government policy in trying to curb the random sale of money in the streets and what is Government policy towards ensuring that the dollar and the bond are one? In the past, we have argued and we have legislated that the bond and the dollar are the same but today if you go anywhere you cannot get the dollar even when you want to use the money in your account, you are not allowed to compare it with a dollar. They will actually ask you to bring the physical dollar. I remember talking to the present President...
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order.
Hon. Senator, he is the Leader of Government business but he is not the
Minister of Finance and Economic Development. I think I announced that the Minister of Finance is here and there is no Minister representing him. So, I would urge you to wait for the Minister or his representative to come.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Mr. President, normally the
Leader of the House answers questions on behalf of all Ministers.
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Well that has
happened Hon. Senator when the Leader of Government Business was also the Vice President. So he was conversant with what was happening in those Ministries. In this instance, we have got a Leader of Government Business who is the Minister of Justice, so you agree it is not fair to ask him to respond to an issue which involves another
Minister.
HON. SEN. MUDZURI: Mr. President, without much debate on
your ruling, I want to say it is actually his business to take all answers for all Ministers. That is at law in this Parliament. Once the Leader of Government Business comes, he has to take up questions from other Ministers. If he cannot, he has to take it to the Minister so that he answers us to say, when can we get that answer.
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Sen.
Mudzuri, I have ruled. Thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. President. I have got three brief questions directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Nzenza.
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order. You ask
one question at a time.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: My question is, when is Government going to align the Disabled Persons Act with the United Nations Conventions of Persons with Disability which was signed by the Government sometime in September 2013?
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. NZENZA): Thank you for that
question. As I have just started into this role, I am currently reviewing and consulting stakeholders so that I can fully understand the Act and how we should align ourselves with international standards on disability. May I therefore ask the Hon. Senator to bear with me and I will get back to him with an answer. If he can possibly give me the time that he expects me to give him an answer.
HON. SEN. MWONZORA: Thank you very much Mr.
President. May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as Deputy President of the Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. It begins with the historical narrative that in 2013, the country adopted a new
Constitution which provided for devolution. People were elected in the
Provincial Councils but were never sworn in. This year, members of the Provincial Councils have been elected again and we have realised that they have not been sworn in. When are we going to see the implementation of devolution? When are these people going to be sworn in? When are we going to see the implementation of devolution?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you very
much Mr. President. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question which is very important as we have people who have been elected and are anxious to start work. He is right that the 2013 Constitution provides for Provincial Councils to be in place. Again, the same Constitution, my learned friend is aware of it, provides that legislation must be put into place to give effect to the Provincial Councils. Part of the work that we have to do urgently is to ensure that we bring before Parliament that legislative framework that will give effect to the work of the Provincial
Councils so that the councilors may be sworn in and the Provincial
Councils constituted. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you Mr. President.
May I also associate with those that have congratulated you and the
President of the Senate on your election. My question goes to the Minister standing in for Defence and War Veterans. What is the current policy with respect to war veterans who in fact participated in the liberation struggle but have not yet been vetted and therefore are not getting any benefits? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND WAR
VETERANS (HON. MATEMADANDA): Thank you Mr. President.
Thank you Hon. Senator. There are three or more categories of war veterans. The first category is for the detainees and restrictees, the second is for the combatants, the third is for the non-combatants and the fourth is for the war collaborators. War detainees and restrictees were being vetted from the time we started. Those that come forward even today can be vetted. That goes also for the combatants. However, for the non-combatants, the law is being aligned to include them, including the war collaborators. So, we are awaiting the alignment of laws to finalise the vetting process.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: My question goes to the Minister of Public
Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Nzenza. The Disabled Persons Act, faulty as it is at the present moment, provides for the employment of the Director of Disability Affairs. The post was advertised in March last year. Since 1992, it has never been established.
No interviews and nothing was done …
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order Hon.
Member. Ask your question.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: I wanted to find out when we can expect that position to be filled in. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. NZENZA): Thank you once again
Hon. Senator. I am unaware of the position. However, thank you for bringing it to my attention. I shall investigate and get back to you within the next seven days.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: I would want to congratulate you on your election as the Deputy President of Senate. My question goes to the Minister of Defence and War Veterans. The first part of the question has been already covered by Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira. However, I would want to go further and say, we have a lot of freedom fighters who perished during the war. They are not properly buried and we have graves in Mozambique and Zambia. What is Government policy on the proper maintenance of these graves, as well as, the proper burial of the fighters who died during the war?
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I think that
question should go the Minister of Home Affairs. It is the Ministry which is responsible for graves and these kinds of things.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. MADIRO): Thank you very much
Mr. President. I congratulate you on your election to be the Deputy President of the Senate. The question from Hon. Komichi – it is true that we have many of our gallant fighters who died during the liberation struggle who are not properly buried and are lying all over in some caves and some unknown graves. The policy of the Government is that we need to identify and have proper rehabilitation of the shrines for example, Chimoio and Freedom Camp in Zambia.
As we are today, our counterparts in Zambia are ready for us - for the Minister of Home Affairs to sign a memorandum of agreement to assist each other as sister countries for proper burial and rehabilitation of the shrine in Zambia. This goes with many other sites within the country where the Ministers of State responsible for provincial affairs are tasked to make sure that the provincial heroes acres are properly rehabilitated and those who are identified will be reburied properly. It is also the policy of Government to make sure that where the information is known, where the gallant fighters are lying without proper burial, this should be brought to the attention of the Ministry for proper burial. I thank you very much.
*HON. SEN. SHOKO: Thank you Mr. President, before I ask my question I am appealing because when the Ministers are answering, we do not know their names; it would help us if they introduce themselves because some of them are new and some are old.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: You are
raising a good point it goes for Hon. Senators as well. During these formative days can we identify ourselves so that the Ministers also know us; just as I will ask them for these beginning days for them to identify themselves. We will start with you.
*HON. SEN. SHOKO: Thank you very much Mr. President. My name is Hon. Sen. Gideon Shoko, I am the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Senator. My question is, I seek clarification from the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, what is Government policy...
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: We do
not have a Minister for Primary and Secondary Education present in this
Senate.
*HON. SEN. SHOKO: VamuRwira chii zviya?
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: He is
the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology
Development, unless he is representing the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
*HON. SEN. SHOKO: I want to ask a question. What is the
Government policy when it comes to training teachers? Do you train for the sake that they should be there or you train so that you will be able to employ them afterwards because we have them at home and we are looking after them?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
(HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Thank you very much. My name is Hon.
Prof. Amon Murwira, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. It is true we train teachers. We train teachers so that they go and further train our children. We actually want to increase the number of colleges training teachers. What is our reasoning? Our reasoning is that we should never confuse the low capacity in the economy to absorb teachers for plenty of teachers. I think statistically Zimbabwe has a shortage of teachers, but the capability of the economy to absorb them might be something else. I always say it is better to have my certificate and wait for an opportunity than an opportunity to come when I am not prepared for it.
We always say a person would say, ‘we do not have jobs’ and then I ask them which job and they will say, ‘I saw that there is an engineering job somewhere there.’ I will then say ‘are you an engineer’ and they will say ‘no.’ That person has excluded themselves from that. What we are saying is that our job is to train teachers and we will continue training them. We are hopeful; not only hopeful but we are auctioning an economy that is going to grow and is going to demand a lot of teachers. Our projections show that they will be plenty of places, they are already plenty of places for teachers but just note to finance them but we are looking at the economy. So, the policy is we will train people and we will continue training them, why? It is better to not have a job but with your qualifications. What we are also doing to the education sector just to allay your fears is that we want an education system that produces goods and services. If I have trained you as an engineer and my hope is that after you have finished you are going to do some engineering. When you finish you say ahh but now give me a job when I am expecting something from you. We knew that it was a problem of our education system, so the policy now is that all our education system must follow a cycle which we call 5.0. We shall teach, we shall research, we shall do consultancy, we shall do innovation, and we shall do industry, so these are 5 points. If we train a person with teaching, with research, with community service, with innovation, with industry this education will cause industry and will reduce the numbers of people who say give me a job. In actually fact, we as a society would say we trained you give us a job. So, on a policy level I think I have explained our education policy now but we are also saying we will continue training teachers because we do not have enough. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: On a point of order Hon.
President.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: What
is your point of order?
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: My point of order is - sorry I came a bit late; my name is Hon. Sen. Eng. Mudzuri, I am Senator for Harare. As Leader of the House I have not seen enough Ministers, I do not know how many are here? It has been a concern and we have discussed this. Now that you want us to direct questions to specific Ministers without Leader of the Government Business answering, it really needs them to be here and I do not know how many are here because we have burning questions for several Ministers who should be able to answer for themselves. When we ask questions to the Leader of Government Business, we are asking him because it is Government business we are talking about. If he cannot answer then he will refer the question to the person. We need to know how many Ministers are here and why the rest are not here so that we can have proper business of the Senate.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank
you. You came in late when I had already introduced the Ministers who are here. You must also know that the Deputy Ministers are competent enough to answer questions for their ministries. However, your point is taken that we need Ministers to answer questions – [HON.SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: How many are here?] – I have already announced the Ministers who are here and the Deputy Ministers are competent to answer questions for their ministries.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: If I ask a question on how many
Ministers, I think I deserve an answer Mr. President even if you pronounced it before I came. I am supposed to be listening to everything but I am asking a question which we think we need to confirm how many Ministers are here as a record. We want a record to know how many Ministers are here and how many are not, whether they are deputies or not.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Hon.
Senator, I urge you to come early so that you do not miss anything so I do not have to repeat to every member who comes in late but for your benefit we have got 10 Ministers present and the Leader of the House has indicated that he can respond to the question which you have asked. But I made my decision on a matter of principle because there is clearly a difference between the past Leader of Government Business and the present Leader of Government Business. So, it was on a matter of principle that I made the decision.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Mr. President. My
question was directed to the Minister of Finance initially but now I am directing another question to the Leader of Government Business on command agriculture. Can we know the Government policy on command agriculture? I understand people are getting livestock and inputs but there is no communication totally to Members of Parliament on how it is done, who is getting what and how Government is distributing these. Is it distributing on partisan basis or to all nationals. That policy needs to be properly announced so that people can go and collect those inputs.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Senator Mudzuri for the question on command agriculture policy. The simple answer is we have a policy of assisting farmers in terms of capacitating them and ensuring that they produce the national grain that we need in order to avert hunger. What we do is we have distribution channels through GMB and in each and every district, we have AREX officers who are mandated to ensure that they communicate with our farmers in their respective areas, and explain the policy of Government and how to access the inputs and this is done across the country and it is non-partisan. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: My supplementary question is
that I am a farmer and there are several farmers here who have not seen that communication in the rural areas. I am a rural farmer and I have gone to GMB, there is no one who has disseminated that information. How is this information delivered to the population in rural areas and in towns because some farmers are in town?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President and I want to thank
the Senator for the follow up question which I believe is a very specific question. The policy of Government is that we have governmental departments in every district and provinces who are supposed to disseminate this information but should the Hon. Member have difficulties in a specific area, you can bring forward the name of the area because we have designated officers who are supposed to do that job.
Then it can be followed up why they are not disseminating the information as per Government policy.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Minister, how do you intend to
demystify the belief that the Presidential inputs are supposed to be given to ZANU PF people only and if they know you are MDC you will not get them?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. I am being asked a
question based on perception and not policy. It is very difficult to deal with perceptions that people have but I have enunciated what the Government policy is and we have provisions within our Constitution. If you feel that you have been aggrieved and you are discriminated against, you have the right to Administrative Justice Act where we have procedures to follow if what is supposed to be done has not been done. What I am saying is, if you have specific incidences and areas where people are being discriminated against, the Minister of Agriculture is on record indicating that this programme is non-partisan. We have people who do not even attend political rallies who are big farmers and are benefitting. So, I believe that the issue of perception, if you have an area where you believe is populated with a certain segment of people who are being discriminated against, perhaps if you can bring forward to say this particular area, the perception is that there is discrimination and we can have a look into it with a view of correcting it because our view is we are all Zimbabweans regardless of our political affiliations. If there is a governmental programme that is on-going everyone should benefit.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Taking into consideration that in 2013 in our national Constitution, they were 16 languages which were meant to be official and they are supposed to be interpreted here in
Parliament but they have not been and we only have three languages; Shona, Ndebele and English. When will the other languages be put into use?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I want to thank
Hon. Mohadi for the question which is very important and she is very correct to say that we have 16 languages which we are supposed to translate. Indeed, the process to translate our Constitution into all our languages started sometime ago. We constituted a Committee that included linguistic experts and some legal experts in the form of retired judges to ensure that we capture the essence of the Constitution when we translate it to the vernacular languages. We started with, like she rightly said, Shona and Ndebele. We also had Chewa and Tonga but we have since finished the exercise of translating the Constitution into all the 16 languages. Funds permitting, we will be producing the Constitution in all the languages. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President. First
of all, I would like to congratulate you for being elected the Deputy President of the Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary, Science and Technology Development. Minister, we have noticed that students from your colleges are well educated but as soon as they graduate, they go out of the country instead of working in the country. What plans do you have so that you can retain these graduates, instead of them going abroad?
*THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY, SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOP EDUCATION (HON. PROF MURWIRA): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for this question. We had this problem, whereby the graduates; as soon as they graduated, would go out of the country. After educating them, the policy did not look at where they would be placed or employed. What we are now saying is once you have started on a journey, you should have a target and reason of why you are embarking on that journey.
This means whenever we are educating our people, we should have a reason why we are educating them and it is because we want to improve the manpower of the country. We have also realised that the way we are imparting knowledge onto our graduates is that we were very much interested in literacy and we managed to educate up to 96%. We have since noticed that our graduates are not very practical, they can only look at the theoretical part of their studies, yet we need people who are practical after undergoing some training.
As a result, from December, 2018, we have now taken a new policy where we said that our policy should embrace 5.5 points. Instead of concentrating on theory, there should be the practical side. We are saying there is no problem in you being theoretical but you should also be practical. That is why we have started something called ‘innovation hubs’ where we are encouraging our graduates to be practical and invent new products; new ways of doing things and we have this happening at
National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Midlands State University (MSU), Higher Institute of Technology (HIT) and many other colleges launching these innovation points at the universities. With these innovation hubs, they should be inventors and innovators. As of now, we have completed one at MSU and they need to be practical in their subjects. We will also be allowed to embark on a Third Party and this is constructing industrial hubs. These hubs will be near these colleges. In Chinhoyi, we will be given 20 hectares of land and we have industrial shelters so that when somebody has graduated, he will then go to that industrial hub and create a product which will lead to employment and improve the country’s economy.
I will give an example of soccer, you may have 11 people who are able to play soccer but if you put Peter Ndlovu at the goal post, your team will be beaten because Peter is a natural striker. So what we do not want is to misplace people, therefore we need to nurture our people from cradle to grave, which means when you train them, they should be able to put their education into practice.
In Chinhoyi, we will be looking at the bio-technologies in the next
200 to 300 years. In Harare we will be looking at auto-engineering, in Bulawayo we would advance manufacturing where they will be creating products. In Gweru, we will be looking at minerals, Lupane coal, Gwanda solar energy and Mutare forestry, in Masvingo animal husbandry, in Marondera we will have food and Bindura, we will be looking at expertise in minerals. So our motto is Agenda 2030, industrialisation using knowledge. So we would not have people who graduate just to be theoretical. We would want people who will look at a pothole on the road and find a way of closing that pothole, instead of just commenting that the pothole is deep.
Let us look at people like Strive Masiiwa, he graduated in technology and he has advanced the technological aspect of this country, hence we need such kind of people who, when they learn, it does not end up being just theory but practical. We need people who, when they have acquired that telecommunications knowledge, they put it into practice; create a product which is tangible. We feel that by the time we reach 2030 we will have created more products and more innovations. I thank you.
*HON. SEN MOEKETSI: Thank you Mr. President.
Congratulations for being elected the Deputy President of this august
House. I would like to congratulate the Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation for her elevation as a woman. We want to thank the Lord.
My question is, Minister can you appraise this House on your plans with the youths because this country is now full of youths who are just roaming in the streets as vendors. What plans do you have for them as a Ministry so that these youths will have a future?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT (HON.
SIMBANEGAVI): Thank you Mr. President and I also want to thank the Hon. Senator who asked the question. As the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, we have a lot of plans targeting youths from 15 to 35 years.
We have a lot of things that we do in our Ministry and have several departments that assist youths with their talents. Our offices are found everywhere both in the rural and urban areas. We have the Department of Youth Development where we train youths in leadership skills and personal empowerment so that they inculcate personal confidence in youths to explore themselves in terms of helping the nation. This teaches our youths that they are young but have something within to enable them to have a bright future. We do this in vocational training centres in all our provinces.
In the vocational training centres, we train the youths on various skills and there is no discrimination amongst the youths in terms of education. Anyone whether you are literate or not is welcome to go there and do whatever you can; be it carpentry, building, pottery, welding – all these are taught in the vocational training centres. In these centres, we start by awarding national certificate after one year. They acquire another certificate during the second year and another one after three years. After that, they can now proceed to higher and tertiary education to further their education at diploma level.
Our Ministry also encourages youths to utilise their talents even if it is not reading. We also do sports, we start from primary schools and advocate for children to be involved in extra curriculum activities. We encourage our youths because there are some extra curricula activities that would only be undertaken in urban areas and missionary schools. We are advocating that those activities should also be included in rural schools and youths should be proud to display their talents; be it in soccer, cricket, tennis, athletics and swimming.
We also have another Department of Employment Creation where our youth graduands from Youth Development who are now disciplined, proud of themselves and their country now proceed to the Department of Employment as they can now identify with their various skills. We encourage them to write their project proposals according to their skills so that they are eligible for Government funding. They will want to embark on businesses after acquiring their various skills.
Our Ministry also has a bank called the Empowerment Bank that was created by the Government only targeting youths and also helps those who were lagging behind in terms of doing their projects. Everyone is free to approach and join the Empowerment Bank. They have recently been visiting all the provinces identifying youths and encouraging them to open accounts in order to acquire loans through our district offices. In all the provinces, we also encourage all youths who can come together to be trained on various projects; be it art et cetera.
We go there, train them and help sell their wares. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: On a point of order Mr. President. I propose that we extend the time for Questions Without Notice by 10
minutes.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: I second.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF NHEMA: Thank you Mr. President and
may I also congratulate you for being appointed to that position. My question is, may you please elaborate Government policy regarding parastatals. How do they collaborate with parent ministries such as Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education?
I am asking because in the rural areas, are these Ministers aware of the Rural Electrification Programme (REA) and issues to do with the electrification of rural areas?
*THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
Order, order, Hon. Chief where is your question directed? They are not responsible for electrification of those areas.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF NHEMA: Regarding the Ministry of
Primary and Secondary Education, some schools in the rural areas were earmarked for electrification and some installations were made in those areas, i.e. the erection of power lines but power is yet to be connected. As we speak, there are new poles being erected in the area yet there is no electricity. When we enquire from the powers that be in the area, they direct us to REA. I am querying why you should embark on new programmes yet we have poles that were erected in 2005 lying idle and being destroyed by white ants.
*THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I
implore Hon. Senators to ask policy questions but if you have specific questions, you will need to put the question in writing so that the responsible Minister has time to research in order to give an appropriate response. The Minister of Energy and Power Development will respond to that question on why some areas had poles erected but no power was put into schools and clinics.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Thank you very much Mr.
President of the Senate for giving me the opportunity to respond.
The question which has been asked by Chief Nhema regarding rural electrification is very good and pertinent. This programme was undertaken by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). From what the Chief is saying, the infrastructure was put in place but no power was installed. Despite the fact that the areas had poles erected and there is no power, they are embarking on another programme of putting up power lines. This programme was started in 2005 and the poles are now falling down. They have been destroyed by white ants and exposed to the vagaries of the climate.
I am kindly asking the Hon. Chief to put the question in writing so that we can make a thorough investigation and give an appropriate response.
The Hon. Senator also spoke about REA and Education. These two have different ways of operating and are independent of each other. I am begging you Hon. Chief to put your question in writing and indicate the areas that you have highlighted. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. We have artisanal miners whose operations lead to the death of both people and animals. When these miners are arrested and taken to court, they are only given bail outs and they go back to their operations. Why is such crime trivialised?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you very
much Hon. Sen. Chinake for raising that question regarding artisanal miners. If I got your question correct, you are saying that we have artisanal miners who dig all over the place and do not reclaim that land. When someone dies in an accident after falling into that pit, the miner is taken to court and is asked to pay bail. It is a citizen’s right to be given the chance to pay because the courts have to assess whether the person who is being tried or who has been arrested is a suitable candidate for bail. If he is suitable, they will let him go. If he is not suitable, then he will be put on remand. If we do not give people bail, we will be oppressing the people of Zimbabwe and hence the accused is given the chance to pay bail. When they are convicted, they can then be incarcerated.
The issue we are talking about is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development who are responsible for covering up these pits which are dug up by these artisanal miners. They should implement a law which forbids digging up these pits and leaving them open without reclaiming the land.
The Constitution also talks about the rights of the arrested and the detained people. The President of Zimbabwe is on record saying that we should respect our Constitution. As a result, when an accused is
arrested, he or she should be taken to court and should not be detained for more than 48 hours. We need to follow our regulations and our Constitution. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to look at the way these artisanal miners are operating and should reclaim the land they would have dug.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: On a point of order, these artisanal miners…
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order,
that is not a point of order. I am sure you want to ask a supplementary question.
*HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I am sorry Hon. President. Yes, I would like to ask a supplementary question.
My question is that the artisanal miners are killing people and these people do not fall into the pits. I am saying that these people go out, fight and kill innocent people. When the miners are taken to court, they are put on bail whilst they are a danger to the society.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. I had not understood that he was talking about the artisanal miners murdering people. That is neither here nor there, the answer remains the same.
That accused person has not yet been convicted.
When you look at the Constitution on Section 50, when the accused is brought before the court, he or she has got constitutional rights which protect them especially when they are taken to court. One of those rights is that regardless of the case, that person should be given bail out so that they are tried when they are coming from their homes unless if they are not suitable candidates for bail.
I am emphasizing, when you are arrested and accused, you have your rights which should be respected. Please understand me; when someone has been arrested, it does not mean that they have been convicted. According to the law of the country, an accused person is innocent until proven guilty by a competent law of court. As an accused, one has rights that should be respected according to the law.
I will repeat, an accused is allowed to be given bail, call his relatives and contact his legal representatives. We are now looking at situations whereby these artisanal miners are murdering innocent people after they have done their mining. So, that is a different story. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by. THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in terms of Standing
Order No. 62.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I believe we
have questions with notice on the Order Paper. I understand that most of the Ministers have not received these questions. I request with your permission that the answers be brought to this House by the Ministers next week.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President. Let
me start by congratulating His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for winning the 30 July, Harmonised Elections. The President won resoundingly. I also want to congratulate the President of the Senate and the Deputy President of the Senate for being elected to lead this august House. I have a message for the two of you that you definitely deserve to be in those positions because you worked for the independence of this country, and even after independence, you continued working for the country. I also want to congratulate my fellow Senators.
Mr. President, may I take this opportunity to express my view on the Presidential Speech. The President touched on many issues which include the development and prosperity of our country. As lawmakers, we should make laws in order to implement those issues. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in Zimbabwe. It is important that we need to look at it and empower our farmers so that we have progress and development in the country. The President launched the Presidential Input Scheme when he was still the Vice President which led to the bumper harvest.
Mr. President, what happens in this programme is that inputs are given to farmers so that they start their programmes on time. When Command Agriculture came in, this also led to the distribution of inputs to the farmers and we are saying this programme should continue because it is a good programme. Also, Zimbabwe is developing because of agriculture using irrigation methods. Let us continue to have many irrigation schemes. We have farmers who were given land with irrigation facilities. I am urging these farmers to maintain these irrigation machineries so that they can continue enjoying bumper harvest. We are told by the weather experts that the climate may not be as friendly as it was in the past but we need to rely on irrigation for the progress of our country. We have plenty of water in our dams such as in Mashonaland West. There is Mazvikadei Dam which has plenty of water. That water should be used for irrigation purposes by A1 and A2 farmers so that we have progress and development in the country since we have an agro-based economy.
We also have other dams, for example, Tokwe-Mukorsi. These should be fully utilised and the development of irrigation schemes should be an ongoing programme. It should benefit the people who are in those areas. In Chiredzi, there is irrigation and I remember at one time when there was starvation in the country, we were saved by farmers in Chiredzi because they were using irrigation schemes. Mr. President, we need to work hard in constructing and maintaining these irrigation schemes.
The other issue raised by His Excellency, the President is mining. It is a cash cow in this country. We have had instances whereby some of these artisanal miners have perished in mine disasters such as Kadoma and Kwekwe. We need to establish mining schools in some of these mining areas so that these artisanal miners receive education on safe methods of mining. We use a derogatory term such as makorokoza but they are doing a splendid job. If they are empowered with knowledge, they will use safe methods of mining which also lead to the progress of the country. When they are mining, they will tell you that the belt of this mineral is going in that direction and they follow that belt without any technical knowledge. So, you can imagine the wonders they will do if they are given enough education so that they can mine using technology. We know that mining is in them, they are naturally gifted.
Let me turn to small and medium enterprises. These are the people who lead to the development of the country. They are very productive and have a wide range of products which they manufacture as well as the services which they offer. Our President is a visionary leader because he has made some observations that the youngsters and the women are the people who can lead to the development and prosperity of the country.
Hence he launched the Women’s Bank and a Youth Bank. Mr. President, women and youth should fully utilise these institutions and they should be spread all over the country. This will lead to the development of the country. With these few words, I 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: Tuesday, 2nd October, 2018.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR
MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN.
MAVHUNGA), the Senate adjourned at Four o’clock p.m. until
Tuesday, 2nd October, 2018.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 14th November, 2018
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: I have to inform the House that I have received the following apologies from the Ministers and Deputy
Ministers;
- Prof. Murwira – The Minister of Higher and Tertiary
Education Science and Technology Development;
- W. Chitando – The Minister of Mines and Mining
Development; and
- Madiro – The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and
Cultural Heritage;
PETITIONS RECEIVED
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on the
1st of November, 2018, Parliament of Zimbabwe received petitions from:
- Believe Guta of Number 2141, Nyandoro Drive, Kadoma, beseeching Parliament to enact a law which provides for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Youth Commission to enable institutions of Government to fulfill the requirements of Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe on youths.
The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sports and Recreation.
- Blessing Chamwapuwa Kundhlande of Number 12
Millais Avenue, Romney Park, Bulawayo, beseeching Parliament to amend Section 91 (1) (b) relating to the qualifications for election as president and vice president.
The petition did not comply with the rules of procedure as
provided in Appendix D of the Standing Rules and Orders
and is therefore, inadmissable. The petitioner will be advised accordingly.
HON. NDUNA: I ask for your indulgrnce to recognise me. I have a point of order according to Section 68 of the Standing Rules and Orders. On the 9th of September, it is on record in the Hansard – it was the day when we were supposed to elect or to nominate you for election – where I was told to sit down by Hon. Sikhala, it is recorded in the Hansard. This infringes upon my rights as a Member of Parliament because on that day, I was not given an opportunity to nominate you as a result. However, I ask because Parliament has teeth and means to rebuke and chastise such errand behaviour – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON SPEAKER: Order, order! Carry on quickly.
HON. NDUNA: Parliament has teeth and means to rebuke, chastise and castigate such errand mischievous behaviour. I therefore call upon Parliament according to the Standing Rules and Orders, to have a Privileges Committee set up in order to investigate and give accordingly the rightful sanction to such errand and delinquent behaviour. I so move. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Nduna, this was not supposed to be a point of order but a point of privilege. Nonetheless, I have heard your concern. What it means is that at the material time, there was nobody on the Chair and one of the areas that are weak in our Standing Orders, is that where the Clerk of Parliament is conducting business of Parliament, he needs to be given full authority so that appropriate action can be taken.
In the instance, there was a lacuna and there is still a lacuna which I want to believe the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders will have to look into in order to close that gap.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of order…
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have recognised Hon. Nyathi.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of privilege….
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have recognised Hon. Nyathi. Can you sit down – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Order. Where a member has been recognised, another member of this Hon. House cannot just stand. You wait until we hear the other member that has been recognised ahead of yourself. So I had recognised Hon.
Nyathi.
HON. NYATHI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise on a point of order in terms of Standing 68 (d). On Tuesday, 13th November 2018, Hon. Mutseyami while debating his motion on vendors, made a misleading statement regarding the results of the 30th of July 2018 Presidential elections.
The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Togarepi subsequently raised a point of order pertaining to the said statement. The Chair duly ordered Hon. Mutseyami to withdraw the statement but he persistently refused, in total disregard of the authority of the Chair – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] - As a result…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Can you please proceed
and finish.
HON. NYATHI: As a result, other members joined in support of or against his statement and stance, thereby plunging the House into great disorder. The Chair had to adjourn the House prematurely in terms of Standing Order Number 113.
Hon. Speaker Sir, it is my averment that the conduct of the member was in breach of the rules of the House and could constitute contempt of Parliament, in terms of Standing Order Number 112 –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - I am …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Order, order – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
An Hon. Member having stood up before the Hon. Speaker recognised him.
THE HON. SPEAKER: How can you just stand up before I have done my ruling? - [AN HON. MEMBER: My apologies Mr. Speaker.] –
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Order. Hon. Nyathi, I will study the matter and make a ruling in due course – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my point of privilege concerns issues that we raise in this House over the questions that we ask Hon. Ministers.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, you make rulings that the Ministers must make ministerial statements over issues that we would have raised in this Parliament. It takes almost six weeks before the Ministers respond to our questions – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, we cannot wait ad infinitum for questions that need clarifications from our ministers. Can you make a ruling on that matter?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you.
Hon. Mutseyami having stood up to raise a point of order.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have not made my ruling Chief Whip. Can you please sit down? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
Hon. Chief Whip, you are the first to observe the rules – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Order – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – An Hon. Member displacing another on a chair.
Order, order, order! – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
Hon. Members, Hon. Members, while the cameras are good to make the public follow the proceeding, will you be collected and behave as Hon. Members.
Hon. Sikhala, I hear you. When you use the latin phrase ad infinitum, you contradict yourself in terms of the six weeks timeline you had indicated. So, I do not think the issue of non presentation of the
Ministerial Statements has been ad infinitum. We have had Ministerial Statement presented here except for the Hon. Minister of Finance who was away and his apology was tendered. As soon as he came back from his Executive business, he did tender the Ministerial Statement. I am not sure whether you had one Hon. Minister in mind.
HON. SIKHALA: The Minister of Local Government, Public
Works and National Housing has a pending Ministerial Statement since we opened this Parliament.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. Unfortunately, the
Statement was made, you might have been absent on that particular day
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. GONESE: Point of clarification on that matter. I recall Mr. Speaker, point of clarification. If my memory saves me right, there was a pertinent issue which was raised to the Hon. Minister…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Gonese, I have got the correct
information. Thank you. I am advised that at the material time when the statement was to be made, Hon. Sikhala was out of the House. The Ministerial Statement was ready well in time and he is ready to give it at the earliest opportune time. So, it is not lost. Please, let us not drag ourselves, this is Question Time, your electorate out there are waiting to hear the issues that you bring from them. So, I am not going to entertain any further points of privilege – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Hon. Gabbuza having stood up to speak
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you please sit down.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question
is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – [AN HON. MEMBER: He is not here.] – In her absence, to the Leader of the House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. The Deputy Minister is
here.
*HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. Looking at the current situation in our country, do we have adequate food for the nation? This is because people were getting a 50kg each but they were very few, now that many people are lacking food, at what percentage are you going to add to the current feeding programme? As Members of
Parliament, people are grieving because of lack of food day in day out. We were only able to give out what we had but it is now dry. I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL
WELFARE (HON. MATUKE): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Cde. Matangira for the question – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Paradza, order. In terms of our Standing Orders, you address the Hon. Members as Hon.
Members, no Comrades here.
*HON. MATUKE: Alright. I want to thank Hon. Matangira for the pertinent question which touches on the nation of Zimbabwe which is faced with a drought ahead of us because of lack of rainfall. What I want to tell Cde. Matangira – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – What I want to tell Hon. Matangira…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Hon. Deputy Minister, can you
stick to the rules.
*HON. MATUKE: A slip of the tongue Hon. Speaker and I am sorry about that. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. What I want to tell Hon. Matangira is that the Government respects the people when it comes to hunger. So, we expect that the maize silos that we have in the country is adequate enough to the extent that even if we do not receive rains, we will be able to sustain ourselves for the next two years – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – So, there is a Committee which is tasked to assess on those who will have been reported to be facing hunger and register them. It is the Government’s duty to ensure that people do not perish for lack of food. So, as a Ministry, when we finish our assessment on the level of hunger facing the people, we will be bidding for maize from the Government, adequate enough to feed those who will be faced with lack of food. So, we want you to know that we have a team which is moving around rural areas.
In addition, I also want to inform this august House that the President of Zimbabwe, Hon. Mnangagwa said that maize should not be distributed only in rural areas but also in the cities because thy are equally faced with hunger – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – So, the maize will be distributed to the people adequately.
*HON. MAJAYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister, can you tell us the composition of this Committee because in the past, most of the food was being abused by Members of ZANU PF.
*HON. MATUKE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The committee
that looks into the people that require feeding is apolitical, it is a Government committee at district level and involves several ministries as well as non-governmental organisations. They go to assess the victims otgether with the councillors and come up with the list of beneficiaries in need. Once politics comes into play and others are not receiving food, please bring that quickly to our attention as the Ministry because the President said everyone has a right to eat food when we are faced with a drought situation.
*HON. MASENDA: My question is directed to the Minister of
Agriculture and Water. Is the Minister aware that – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Can you disabuse the expression of iwe iwe. Hon. Member, can you proceed.
*HON. MASENDA: Is the Minister of Agriculture and Water aware that in our constituencies, many boreholes are not functioning.
We have a dry season, people and their livestock are having problems in accessing water in areas where there are no inland dams. May the Minister come up with a response in that regard? I thank you.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, today we are asking questions in line with Government policies and not the occurrences in our constituencies.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of order arises from the fact that there are many questions in terms of the distribution of food aid to the variables. I am suggesting that a Ministerial Statement be done in terms of who allocates and which areas are most affected as well and equally, are people supposed to pay for this maize when it gets to them. I think it will respond to a number of issues that we would like to talk about. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, since we are facing this national disaster with the late rains that have come through, it would be good that you come up with a ministerial statement and put together what the Ministry is doing to address the challenges. Is that agreed?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL
WELFARE (HON. MATUKE): It is agreed Mr. Speaker. I will
prepare a statement for that.
HON. MATHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question goes to the Minister of Agriculture. Is the Minister aware that most of the dip tanks in the rural areas are down. The communities are complaining that there are no relevant chemicals for the dip tanks, resulting in livestock not being treated. What is the Government policy in terms of resuscitating the dip tanks that are down as well as providing with chemicals wherever possible? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE,
WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON.
KARORO): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question. It is Government policy that animal health production and productivity must be enhanced. Therefore, Government has put in place a number of measures to ensure that animal health production and productivity is maintained. To ensure that is achieved, Government is making sure that the Department of Veterinary Services is well capacitated to deal with animal health, production and productivity. In terms of the dip tanks that the Hon. Member alluded to, Government is making sure everything that is required to ensure our dip tanks have the necessary chemicals are put in place – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. P. Sibanda, please can you allow the Hon. Minister to finish his response?
HON. KARORO: To demonstrate Government commitment to animal health - Government has committed resources to make sure more dip tanks are constructed around the country so as to make sure all animals get the health that is needed. I thank you.
HON. TSUNGA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. What measures are in place within the Ministry to make sure that access to health care by every citizen is achieved noting the lassez faire approach adopted by those tasked to facilitate the operationalisation of new health facilities in the outlying areas?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. That is a very pertinent question and we would like to ensure that we have as many health facilities around the country. As I have indicated before, in each and every constituency, we want to see Hon. Members and Senators coming forward giving us the guidelines as to where they would like facilities to be created. We have to move with primary health care and primary health care starts at the village level. We want to have a health post at the village level and we want to have rural health centres as the next level, followed by the district hospital level, provincial hospital and then the quaternary or tertiary institutions. We all have to work towards achieving universal health coverage which means we want each and every member of our society to be able to access free medical care.
Everybody has that right and it is entirely up to us. My Ministry together with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social
Services; we will be working towards finalisation of the National Health Insurance Scheme which will come to this august House for approval because we want to make sure that everybody has access to free medical care.
Likewise, as we create adherence health institutions, we will be making sure that each and every institution follows the laid down regulations. My Ministry has got all the regulations which state the metres that are required for each and every facility, whether it is the number of toilets, reception, everything is noted in there. We have those Statutory Instruments in place which guide us as to how we can create our clinics. Every Member of Parliament has got access to that information.
I want to point out further that access to health and affordability is a right of all Zimbabweans. We need to ensure that everybody gets the licencing done in the appropriate manner. We cannot go down on standards unfortunately. We have to follow standards. Everybody will have to comply with the laid down standards, protocols and be able to come up with a health system that is relevant.
HON. MATEWU: My supplementary question to the Minister of
Health and Child Care is that how do you talk about access to health care and primary health care when we have most medical centres and most pharmacies charging people in US$ yet everyone earns in RTGS? How can you talk about that when most people cannot even access a US$? We have many patients that are dying because they do not have the US$ required to buy the medication. I thank you.
HON. DR. O. MOYO: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for
coming up with that question because that is the topical issue at the moment – charging of medication in US$. That is unacceptable due to the shortage of foreign currency which everybody knows. We do not encourage the retail pharmacies to continue charging in US$. We are here as a Ministry to protect the public and that is exactly where we are moving to. We are making sure that the shortages that have happened will be taken care of. We are making sure that medicines will be available in our pharmacies and institutions.
It is an issue where we kindly request for a some time to be able to rectify. You will all realise that the US$ disappeared from the market. In the past, the retailers and wholesalers were able to action on their own but now they are all dependent on RBZ which has to come up with the foreign currency. There is a big shortage of foreign currency at the RBZ. I have personally made contacts with the RBZ Govenor and right now we realise that we have to control that scarce foreign currency because you will find that there are some institutions which were taking foreign currency and utilising it for their own benefit and not for the benefit of Zimbabweans.
We have decided to ensure that all those who are going against the regulations which we have stipulated on foreign currency will beheld answerable. Foreign currency, should be used strictly for the benefit of the population. We also realise that access to health and when I say access to health and the current situation, these are two things which are running parallel. The access to health is a programme which we have been running with all along and then comes this issue of the United States Dollar. Those are two different issues that we should not bundle into one. Access to health is something that we will continue with and make sure it is successful while at the same time we are rectifying this issue of shortage of United States currency with regards to shortage of medicine we are already talking to various partners to help us ensure that we get enough medicines in our warehouses. Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. You have spoken well Minister that you would want to people to equitably access the health care but we would want the people listening to be happy as a result of my supplementary question. That should also allay any accusations that may be made to Government on the premise that it failed to fulfill its promise. Since it is a target, give us some timeline regarding how long it may take for people to be able to access the health care conditions that you have just laid down so that people will not dismiss you as just performing a mere talk show. I thank you.
HON. DR. O. MOYO: I want to thank Hon. Matambanadzo for the question he has asked. The question has made us much wiser and I will also respond wisely to the question. I will be factual and not fictitious Mr. Speaker Sir. The issue of us having a national health insurance has been on the cards for around 15 years now. It originated from the National Social Security Authority debate. It was peddled for over a long time well before I even became the Minister and I heard about it. When I came in, I said I want that objective to be fulfilled and at the moment we have consultants working on the documentation to ensure that we come up with a report that speaks to all the necessary areas. The report will be send to Cabinet and end up here in Parliament.
My observation is that there are certain issues that had to be looked at first and we are already polishing-up the document as we speak so that we come up with a very good document. We are coming up with a document that will not make us take up to 15 before implementation of the programme. My plea Mr. Speaker Sir is that when the document is now in place and they come to Parliament, we quickly scrutinise it and agree so that it is implemented earlier. Let us agree today that universal health coverage is important and a necessity. It is a necessity that we all access free medical health care in the country. It is a good thing that you have responded but unfortunately at the moment, I am not in a position to commit in giving you the time lines. I will not want to be found to have misled this House and I cannot readily say it will take three (3) or six (6) months but I urge you to be patient. You will hear from us as to how far we will have gone and if it is possible Mr. Speaker Sir, we would come here and give you the milestones and indicate how far we have will reached this position unlike what used to be done in the past where something would happen ten years or fifteen years down the line.
My plea is that, please hear me out well and be patient with me. I will be honest to inform you on progress. I will come back and give you progress or the lack of it. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you had raised a point of clarification and we will have the last supplementary from Hon. P. D.
Sibanda.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would want the
Hon. Minister to clarify a certain point. When we were at the Pre-Budget
Seminar, it emerged that pharmacies were charging their products in United States dollars but today you have said it is an offence for pharmacies to charge in United States dollars. If you go to the pharmacies next door here and there, you will find out that medicines are being charged in United States dollars. We should not just come here and speak what the ordinary people want to hear and seven (7) days down the line, what have you done to ensure that pharmacies are charging people in bond notes? I thank you.
* HON. DR. O. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank you {HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.] -
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, may the Hon. Minister be heard
in silence please.
*HON. DR. O. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am grateful for your question which is also a reminder and yes, we spoke about it. We said we were going to carry out an investigation and we said that while we were in Bulawayo. What I would want to reiterate is that we are looking for ways and means to correct that anomaly.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Minister when you answer please address the Chair and do not worry about people who are distracting you. Thank you and please carry on – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] -
*HON. DR. O. MOYO: Hon. Speaker Sir, this is an issue which we are looking at. Yes we indicated when we were in Bulawayo and it has to be finalised, I totally agree. We are going to finalise the matter and I will be consulting with the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Finance. After that, we will give you the proper answer.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. With your indulgence, Hon. Speaker, may I preface my question with the following information? There is a cartel of medical drug importers in this country that are getting money, hard currency, from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to import drugs. I will give you an example of a drug that they are importing form India at 68c but those same companies, when they come here and they claim their foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, they are claiming about US$12 for the same drug that they would have imported for 68c.
I just wanted to find out from the Hon. Minister if there are any measures that Government is taking to ensure that the importation of medical drugs is vested into the National Pharmaceutical Company rather than for it to remain in the private sector which is ripping the country of foreign currency? Thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Hon. Member has come up with a very good statement and question. This is something which we are actually looking at. Investigations were also being carried out. We have looked at the supply chain, we have looked at the manufacturers, and have looked at the wholesalers and retailers. The example that he gave is something which we are investigating at the moment and we will be coming out with a conclusion in the very shortest possible time.
I totally agree that at the moment when foreign currency is very scarce, there has got to be visibility and transparency on how it is utilised and we are saying we want to empower our own NatPharm so that we can be able to create a NatPharm which is the supplier of choice for both public and private. So, we totally agree, but the other issues regarding the costs, those are issues which are under investigations.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise on a point of order of constitutionalism in that we seem to be allowing a situation where there is no compliance to the Constitution. The health issue on Section 29 of the Constitution, it is very clear in terms of what the Ministers in Government must do. The State must take all practical measures to ensure that provision of basic, accessible and adequate health services throughout Zimbabwe are in place. It is a must and I see that we are running into a situation where we are not following the
Constitution.
The Constitution again, if you go to Section 2, talks about the supremacy of the Constitution and it is important that for whatever we do, constitutionalism is there and failure for us to respect this Constitution - I am afraid to say this is a sacred sacrosanct document which guides this country and I think we are in violation of it. As such, Mr. Speaker, I want you to make a ruling on whether these Ministers are complying with the Constitution that we have.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, we are dealing with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. When you say your Ministers you are being out of order. What I can only say is, Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care, if you can take note of the provisions of the
Constitution, Section 29 and please comply accordingly. Thank you.
HON. MASANGO: My question is directed to the Minister of
Health and Child Care. What is Government’s policy on taking over the running of mission hospitals which are finding it difficult to render adequate services to people? For example, at Makonde Christian
Hospital in Mhangura, it is now providing just the basic services -
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Masango what is important is once you go into detail then you are titivating towards written questions. So, I think let us stick to the policy.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- O. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I think you have guided us so perfectly. This is an issue where I would need to get the Provincial Medical Director to go and visit the facility, report back to us and then if the Hon. Member would like, we can then report back.
THE HON. SPEAKER: While the Hon. Minister is up standing, I ruled Hon. Masango out of order when she was titivating towards specifics. The question is - what is Government policy on taking over mission hospitals.
HON. DR. O. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Government works very well with mission hospitals. We actually have a department which works strictly with the mission hospitals and there is an organisation which is working in conjunction with mission hospitals. There is absolutely no reason why if a mission hospital is failing,
Government should not be able to give assistance. So, that is our policy, we will not let that particular hospital falter. We will give as much assistance as possible. Thank you.
*HON. T. ZHOU: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in line with people who whenever they want to rehearse their drama they allege they have been abducted after they would have lost elections. What is Government’s policy and what does the law saying in regards to such people. I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Members, we are not at a picnic here – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. KABOZO: My question is directed to the Minister of Sport, Art and Recreation – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - I understand that there are so many footballers who are playing football outside the country and they have shown interest in playing for the national team but they have got a problem in acquiring passports. Is there any Government plan to make sure that they acquire passport so that they can play for our national team? – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order! Hon. Kabozo can you repeat your question please? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. KABOZO: Mr. Speaker Sir, there are so many footballers playing football outside the country and they have shown interest in playing for our national team. Is there any Government plan to make sure that they acquire their passports so that they can play for our national team – [AN HON. MEMBER: Vakaenda sei?] –
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. Maybe I can answer the question – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
When you are playing for a national team, you are supposed to hold a passport of that particular nation. These footballers or sport persons hold passports which are not Zimbabwean passports. So, when they are called for duty, they come here and they do not disclose in time that they do not hold a Zimbabwean passport. They do not give adequate time for the processing of the passport. That is the problem.
*HON. MUGIDHO: My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. With the challenges that people are facing on the road especially the disabled, what measures do you have to address the plight of people with disabilities because bus operators are complaining that these people get on the bus to try and fend for a living.
What measures do you have in place to address the plight of people living with disabilities?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE,
LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. MATUKE): Thank you
Mr. Speaker. This is a pertinent issue that needs to be addressed. The allowance they have been getting is very little. They have been getting about $15 per month. As a Ministry, we expect this House to assist when the budget is presented to ensure that we are allocated enough funds to look after people living with disabilities. I am happy that Hon.
Members of Parliament from both sides of the House have realised the importance of these issues. When the budget is presented on the 29th of November, 2018, you will assist us.
It is our hope that people with disabilities can live a life that we all live. Some cannot even send their children to school but as a Ministry, we submitted our bids. I believe that what they have been getting is very little, so let us assist each other for more allocation to be made.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: My supplementary question to the
Minister is that since this issue requires a lot of funding, what assistance are you giving especially to the leaders so that when the leaders are addressing these issues, there may be people who can communicate with those who have hearing impairment and sign language comes into play like what is happening on ZBC news – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. That question does not
arise.
*HON. KARENYI: My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. Minister, your Ministry has a policy that expecting mothers are not supposed to pay maternity user fees but when they go to the hospitals, they are made to pay. May you enlighten this House as to whether the policy exists? These expectant mothers are paying maternity user fees and they are also expected to pay for cotton wool, razor blades and other things. If the policy states that they should not pay, why are they being made to pay for these items?
*THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
- MOYO): May the Hon. Member notify my Ministry all those expecting mothers and the hospitals because the administration of the hospitals is the ones who are doing that. The policy is that all expecting mothers should not pay for anything. We said that we do not want to hear that an expecting mother who will be performing a national duty should be made to pay. I thank you.
*HON. KARENYI: My supplementary question to the Hon.
Minister is that; it is my request in this august House that you should investigate on your own. Go randomly to any given hospital to investigate this because as we moved around as a Committee of Health, that is what we were being told by the citizens of Zimbabwe.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There was no supplementary question.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
supplementary on the issue mentioned by Hon. Karenyi is that; if you visit the rural areas, you will find out that women visit the hospitals and are told not to pay. However, these women are expected to buy cotton wool, gloves or even the methylated spirit that is used on the baby. What I am saying is that, when the user fee was still applicable, the situation was better, now that it has been scrapped, they are not getting anything. My question is, Hon. Minister, what are you doing about it to help the expecting mothers? I thank you.
*HON. DR. O. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, that is what I said
earlier on. I said that for us to know what is happening, they should also assist and inform us where this is happening. I said that our policy does not permit expecting mothers to pay any user fees. No one is supposed to make them pay when they visit the hospital for the purpose of giving birth. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. Although it was not a
supplementary question from Hon. Karenyi, I think the nature of the supplementary question is begging for you Hon. Minister to make some spot-checks unannounced. Thank you.
*HON. SEWERA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. As has always been your programme each year to assist people with presidential agricultural inputs, people are waiting for those inputs. When should we expect these inputs to come since the rainy season has drawn near?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON.
KARORO): Thank you Mr. Speaker. As we speak right now, the programme is taking place at district level, people are being given inputs. However, if the Hon. Member wants us to bring statistics on how many people have benefited or those we expect to give inputs to, we can do that next week on Wednesday so that the House can be informed on how people are benefitting from this Government programme. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
+HON. M. M. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. Speaker: My question is
directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. I would like to know how long it takes to construct a 1km road. I ask this question because for five months, they have not even constructed 1km in my area. I thank you.
+THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHASI): Thank
you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I cannot answer at this juncture as to how long it will take to construct a 1km road. Maybe if he gives me the name of the road and when they started constructing it, I will find out from the engineer.
HON. SACCO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary
question to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development is; what is Government policy in terms of gravelling the rural roads now that we are faced with the rainy season where most rural roads will be inaccessible?
THE HON. SPEAKER: That supplementary question does not
arise.
HON. S. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. What is Government policy on the permit of the movement of cattle during the night?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE,
WATER, CLIMATE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON.
KARORO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Government policy is that movement of animals after 6 o’clock p.m. is prohibited. Any movement after 6 p.m. is a crime.
+HON. N. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question goes to the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Why is it that people are asked for licences yet they are not receiving any signals from ZBC?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA):
The Government policy is to make sure that all Zimbabweans, no matter where they are, receive the signal. This is the project we are on, digitalisation. Obviously, if there is no signal completely, I do not see why people should be paying these licences – [HON. MEBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Sikhala, if you want further conversation with the Hon. Minister, you can do so outside.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My point of order is that, may the question time be extended by one hour.
HON. MGUNI: I second but to 30 minutes not one hour.
HON. CHOMBO: My question is directed to the Minister of
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. What is the Government policy in protecting the people and livestock from the crocodiles that are attacking them. menace across the country?
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, TOURISM AND
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for her question. My advice is, we do not have a policy for crocodiles. However, I would advise the Member to respect each other’s environment. We have our environment. We must respect the animals wherever they are and just take care not to get into their territory. I thank you.
+HON. MKANDLA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. I would like the Minister to explain how PSMAS is operating. People are contributing towards PSMAS but when you want to buy medication for $68, you are asked to pay extra yet you are contributing about $100 per month. Where is that money going?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE,
LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. MATUKE): That is a very important question from the Hon. Member. As a Ministry, we say that is not lawful because you would have signed a contract. It is not lawful. We are saying that is not allowed and those actions borders on criminality because the members would have contributed their hard earned cash in the hope of getting services. Let me assure the House that as a Ministry we are going to look into this matter and we will report to you as soon as we have made our investigations.
HON. SIKHALA: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. We now have an overwhelming number of qualified legal practitioners from our own local institutions like Midlands State University, University of Zimbabwe and also a supplement of other qualified legal practitioners from South African universities. What is the Government policy over the phasing out of under qualified personnel who have been seconded to work in the Judiciary Services Commission and also in the National Prosecuting Authority where we have under qualified soldiers and police officers who are working as prosecutors in our courts? What is the Ministry’s policy over the issue of phasing out police officers and soldiers from our courts?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I want to thank
Hon. Sikhala for the question and indeed he is very correct. The NPA Act stipulates that all our law officers must have a degree and we are in the process of ensuring that we comply with that requirement of the NPA Act and very soon we will phase out all those who are under qualified from our establishment. I thank you.
+HON. R. MPOFU: I rise on a matter of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir. I am very sorry for this blind person to be talking to you like this. I submitted my name for a question but they are not giving me a chance to talk, maybe it is because I am blind. Hon Members must consider people like us. It is not my fault that I am blind. I have been standing for more than three hours now and I have not been given a chance.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I understand and I will give you a chance.
HON. SIKHALA: My supplementary question is that, it is after some time when the National Prosecution Act has been promulgated in this Parliament. What is the timeframe the Minister would give us that the implementation of that Act would be done?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Let me start by saying that we do not want to disturb the justice system. What we are doing is that we applied to Treasury so that we can be allocated posts and I am very happy that this year we got some posts that were allocated for prosecutors. So, progressively, as we fill in the posts, we will request that those that have been seconded should go back. We do not want to create a shortage when we have not been given posts. I acknowledge that we need to get rid of them. We have even encouraged those that are under qualified to go and upgrade their qualifications and join the Prosecution Unit since they are already there.
So, for me to give a timeframe, it is not dependent on me alone but it is also dependent on Treasury when they give us a full complement of the staff that we require. I thank you.
HON. ZENGEYA: I rise to ask a question to the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing that is it now a
Government policy to construct private property or residence by Government or State officials using taxpayers’ money?
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is not Government policy.
HON. ZENGEYA: Supplementary question. I am giving
reference to the construction of the private residence which is a multibillion dollar property which is being constructed for His Excellency,
Hon. Mnangagwa in Borrowdale off Crowhill –[HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections]-.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Member, the question does
not arise.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs and in his absence to the Leader of the House. What does the policy say concerning those people who report matters to the police informing them of an incident which is false? Secondly, what does the law say to people who say they wanted to be murdered or abducted. What does the law say?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members can you stick to policy
questions.
+HON. R. MPOFU: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. Hon. Minister what is Government policy on houses that were constructed by the Government through the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Programme. There are no sewer systems for those houses and some people who have no money cannot even construct their own sewer tanks. Some of them are now using the bush and are getting water from dams. What is Government policy regarding that because people may suffer from Cholera. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. G. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. Our policy is clear and there is definitely something that has gone wrong. There has been a lot of construction going along for a very long time that has not been certified by the local authorities because a certified local government area must have sewerage, water reticulation and in some cases, electricity supplied to the households. I am aware that in a number of places throughout the country, in a number of areas in the last few years, people have settled in uncertified accommodation and that is causing very unhygienic existence. Government policy is to look at those and see how we can upgrade so that our people are not faced with the chances of cases of outbreaks of cholera or typhoid because of unsanitary conditions they live in. I thank you.
HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
question is directed to the Minister of Industry and Commerce and since he is a White guy let me say it in English.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, can you withdraw your statement
‘he is a White guy’.
HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I withdraw. My question goes to the Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Hon. Minister, what is the Government Policy on non-performance of management of government companies and parastals. What is the policy regarding those whose performance is poor and also those who are employed in companies which are not posting good financial results from their operations? For example, Cold Storage Commission, Lancashire Steel and ZISCO Steel in which management of those companies have failed to run the companies yet the under-performing management is still holding their positions while at the same time getting all their employment benefits from those organisations such as fuel, cars, et cetera, yet the companies are virtually closed. What is the Government Policy in that regard?
THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON.
MODI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and first of all I want to tell everyone here that I am not a ‘White guy’, I am a Zimbabwean. Thank you for that.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister. Order, order Hon.
Minister. Hon. Minister, where a statement is un-parliamentary and has been withdrawn, you cannot comment on it; so proceed with your answer.
HON. MODI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I apologise for that. The first question the Hon. Member asked is about ZISCO Steel. Our Ministry is working on it and very soon we will have results on ZISCO Steel. The same applies to the Cold Storage Commission (CSC). We have an investor and we are almost in the final stage of the plan. Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
TITLE DEEDS FOR RESIDENTS OF HIGHFIELD WEST
- HON. CHIDZIVA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing when government will offer title deeds to residents of Highfields West whose houses were acquired under the rent to buy scheme.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Honourable Member for affording me the opportunity to apprise this august House on Government position as regards the home ownership policy as enunciated by Government at attainment of independence. This policy should also apply to residents of Highfields West. Prior to independence, about 99% of the total housing stock in high density areas was rented accommodation. At independence, local authorities were required to convert such houses to home ownership on rent to buy basis as follows:-
- They were to determine their housing stock to determine the maximum number of houses which could be converted to freehold tenure, either by lease with option to purchase or outright purchase.
- The council would pass a resolution to the effect that it intends to convert a particular number of houses to home ownership.
- It would proceed to submit its proposal to the Ministry indicating the following:
- The number of houses to be converted to home ownership and the areas in which they are built
- The year in which the houses were built and the cost at which they were built.
- The proposed selling price.
- The submission included and the draft purchase agreements and
- Sitting tenants would be given a period of six months within which to exercise an option to purchase or to enter into a lease with an option to purchase.
The initial selling prices on all the houses offered for sale in the high density areas would be determined according to replacement value at current building cost suitably adjusted for depreciation. The selling price should never be less than the balance of the loan outstanding. Where local authorities exist for councils to carry out evaluations on an individual or type basis, such councils will proceed to do so. Where inadequate facilities for valuations exist, councils would adhere to the principle or formula as shown in the appendices that they were given at that particular time. Where houses are offered to sitting tenants, a discount would be offered as follows - Madam Speaker, I want to emphasise this because there are still many houses that need to be sold to individuals and this information I am giving to Hon. Members of
Parliament has been passed on to our local authorities.
- 2% each year for the first five years of continuous occupation would be discounted.
- 3% each year for the next 10 years of continuous occupation would be discounted.
- 4% of each year for the next 15 years of continuous occupation would be discounted.
No deposit was required for the purchase of properties by sitting tenants and that is what we are expecting local authorities to do and I urge Hon. Members to read what I will lay before this august House so that they can go and help residents who want to purchase houses that they have been renting for so long. I thank you.
GWERU CITY COUNCIL TOWN CLERKS
- HON. CHIMINA asked the Minister of Local Government Public Works and National Housing to explain how the Ministry will deal with the two Town Clerks who are employed at Gweru City Council.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): I want to
thank the Hon. Member. One of the town clerks in question was suspended from office on 15th January, 2016. I am talking about the town clerks who were suspended from the City of Gweru. He was suspended by Mr. T. Mangami in his capacity as the Chairperson of a three member commission appointed by the then Minister of Local Government Public Works and National Housing. A disciplinary Committee was put in place by the Commission and the Committee conducted a hearing on 26th April, 2018. The Committee found Mr. Matawu guilty and recommended dismissal. The recommendation to dismiss was brought to council and subsequently to the Local Government Board for approval. The Local Government Board approved the discharge of Mr. Matawu on 3rd July, 2018.
Aggrieved by his dismissal Mr. Matawu approached both the High Court and the Labour Court. He then approached the High Court seeking for a declarator on the appointment of the Commission and the extension of office beyond the period of three months. To this end, the administrative actions taken by the Commission, including the suspension and disciplinary proceedings, were also going to nullify. On hearing the case, the High Court ordered on 15th March as follows:-
“It is hereby declared that the term of office of the Caretaker Commission appointed by the first respondent, who is in absentia, to run the affairs of the second respondent expired 90 days from 14th August, 2015, the date of the appointment and that legal tenure could not be lawfully extended by the first respondent.
The suspension of the applicant from office of the Town Clerk by the third respondent by letter dated 15 January, 2016 and the subsequent disciplinary action taken including charging the applicant with acts of misconduct and the appointment of a tribunal to try the applicant were all a nullity and void and of no legal effect.
The disciplinary proceedings presided over by Disciplinary Tribunal set up by the third, fourth and fifth respondents to hear the matter against the applicant are hereby set aside.
The first and second respondents shall bear the costs of this application jointly and severally the one, the other to be absolved”.
This was the judgment of the High Court. On receipt of the order Council set on 21st March, 2018 and resolved that management be authorised to engage Mr. Matawu for negotiation of termination…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. May
the Minister be heard in silence?
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): for
termination of his contract by mutual consent as advised by Council’s legal practitioners and this did not happen and what has now happened is that His Worship the Mayor was tasked to again renegotiate for termination of Mr. Matawu. That a Committee comprised of the Mayor, Mr. Makombe, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Shiri, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, the Chairperson of the Human Resources, the
Chairperson of the Environmental Works and Planning Committee, Consultancy and Labour, the Director of Finance.
All these constituted a Committee that was going to look into the matter. That the negotiating team’s terms of reference be as follows:-
- To conclude negotiation by mutual consent by attempting to find common ground only on the outstanding sticking issues
- To conduct the negotiations within seven working days to come up with a deed of settlement and
- To propose an alternative option for termination of employment which is less costly.
In this regard, the matter is being handles by the council through the engagement of the lawyers from the Town Clerk in question and we await the conclusion of their deliberations. I thank you.
HON. CHIMINA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Who is supposed
to be responsible for catering for those expenses and costs of those illegal activities that were done by the Commission as well as by the Minister to wrongly appoint a Commission since we read that there is an issue of cost there, as well as the double payment because the reinstatement is without loss of salary or benefit, which means for that period, Gweru City Council is paying salaries to two people in terms of the operative part of the order.
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I read the court’s decision on
who is to pay costs and that position remains.
INCORPORATION OF WOODLANDS SUBURB INTO GWERU
CITY COUNCIL
- HON. CHIMINA asked Minister of Local Government
Public Works and National Housing whether the Ministry will consider incorporating Woodlands suburbs to Gweru City Council since the suburb’s services are provided for by the said local authority.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, the housing scheme commonly known as woodlands was developed in two phases. Phase 1 of the development was done by the
Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on State land. Both pieces of land are adjacent to each other and they fall outside the Gweru municipal boundary. The provision of municipal infrastructure for both phases 1 and 2 namely water, sewer and roads was done by the respective developers largely on a parallel approach and without supervision by Gweru City Council.
This parallel development approach created a situation where houses were developed before servicing standards and specifications were fully met by the developers. This situation prevails up to now and both developers are expected to rectify snags identified in the construction and installation of the said roads, water, sewer and other services. They are still to be provided with the public lighting infrastructure notwithstanding Sewer and other services they are still to be provided with public lighting infrastructure.
Notwithstanding the fact that both phases are yet to be satisfactorily provided with services, Gweru City Council proceeded to connect and provide woodlands with both water and sewer services and is also collecting refuse. This was done for public health consideration in spite of the fact that the scheme is not under the jurisdiction of Gweru City Council.
The suburb is therefore within the boundaries of Vungu Rural
District Council which is a different constituency with its boundaries. Gweru City Council on the other hand has its own boundary and under the jurisdiction of urban constituencies.
Again, until 2023 when the Constitution allows us to change boundaries, we cannot do anything but we have directed the local authorities to work together so that we give service to those people. I thank you.
EXPANSION OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN MARONDERA CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY
- HON. MATEWU asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when the water treatment plant for Marondera Central Constituency will be expanded considering that the population has tripled since its establishment in 1975.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, the water treatment plant for Marondera Central Constituency area is soon to undergo expansion. A developmental integrated urban water management master plan has been developed. The programme is now eight months down the line and the team has submitted a bill of quantities to the African Development Bank, our cooperating partner for that project and are now awaiting release of funds for water and sewer.
In this first week of November, the water management team will undergo training to capacitate them on technical aspects needed on the ground so that we can undertake that project. I thank you –[AN HON.
MEMBER: Inaudible interjections.] -
HON. NDUNA: Thank you for your protection Madam Speaker maam. I would like to know from the Minister if there is a deliberate thrust and policy regarding all water and sewer reticulation systems, in particular where there is provision of portable drinking water, seeing that all towns - including Chegutu West have such a problem of an archaic antiquated and moribund infrastructure that is providing less than is now adequate for the present circumstances.
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, the Government policy as stated in this august House is that there has been delayed maintenance of most urban infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, you name it – and because of that, Government has undertaken, together with cooperating partners service level benchmarking for all urban local authorities and we are now extending it to all urbanised areas, business centres, rural service centres and growth points to see the extent to which we now
need to mobilise resources to undertake public works that will make sure that we upgrade our infrastructure systems.
We have been given the figures and we now know the amount that is needed and we are now processing, as I mentioned to Hon. Members in Bulawayo that the figures cannot be accommodated by our fiscus. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development and I are looking at off line means of financing this delayed maintenance which has become capitalised. We have to do that if we are going to avoid instances of typhoid and cholera that are always omnipresent because of this decaying infrastructure. The policy of Government is; let us look at it together with the local authorities and let us do something about it in our own time.
ALLOCATION OF RESIDENTIAL STANDS IN ELMSWOOD
FARM
- HON. MATEWU asked the Minister of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing when the residential stands on Elmswood Farm in Marondera Central would be allocated to individuals who have paid for them in 2014.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, let me inform this august House that Elmeswood Farm in Marondera District falls outside the gazetted boundaries of Marondera Municipality or Marondera Central Constituency.
However, let me give the answer which will benefit all Members of Parliament who are concerned about this issue. The position of the farm is that the land has still not been handed over by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to the
Ministry to facilitate handover of the farm to the Municipality of Marondera.
There is another complication on the farm in that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement had issued an A2 offer letter to one Mr. Jani on a farm identified in the year 2000 as suitable for urban expansion and peri-urban to Marondera Town. The said occupier has resisted the survey of the stands on the farm and thus the surveyor-general could not only put pegs on the farm for a portion of the land.
Furthermore, he has also taken this Ministry and the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement to court contesting the withdrawal of his offer letter. Thus in light of the above, the Municipality has failed to move people on the farm due to the complications and omissions listed above and because we are in court, we await the court ruling. I thank you.
HON. MATEWU: Madam Speaker maam, hundreds of people
paid their money and so far, you are throwing the ball between the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Local Government. Can you not deal with this issue with the Ministry of Lands to ensure that all those who paid their money when your predecessor Hon. Kasukuwere assured all the residents that they will be moving after they paid US$500, they we then asked to pay a further US$1 000. Most residents paid US$1 500. Are you going to give them their money back and when if this is not coming out as you had said to them?
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I thought that my answer was
very clear. We tried to rectify it and rectification of this matter means....
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker maam, I have got a point of order. I have just been called an idiot by Hon. Sikhala –[HON.
MEMBERS: Aaah....] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala...
HON. NDUNA: I ask you to intervene Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Sikhala, please withdraw.
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker maam, I have never been called
an idiot ever in my life. I was in the military for ten years and we had ways of dealing with such issues. I ask Madam Speaker for you to protect me before I protect myself – [HON. MEMBERS: Haaaaaaah!]
-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I hear you Hon. Nduna. Hon. Sikhala, please may you withdraw –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
HON. SIKHALA: Madam Speaker, I am actually surprised that you can make such a ruling. I have never called him an idiot. You can ask everybody who is next to me – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, you will realise that from the beginning of this session, this Hon. Member showed that he has personalities against me. Initially, he raised a point of privilege before the beginning of this session and the Hon. Speaker undressed him to say that was not in terms of the rules of Parliament. Now that he has been humiliated by the ruling of the Hon. Speaker, he comes here to manufacture and concoct a lie that I called him an idiot – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I did not say that Madam Speaker.
HON. NDUNA: I ask you to protect me Madam Speaker Ma’am.
It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the bite…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna, do you have
some witnesses – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. NDUNA: I have witnesses Madam Speaker Ma’am and they number more than 70 – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Nduna, we
will listen to the audio later and then I will make a ruling.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, I was answering the Hon. Member and my answer was; yes, we are taking remedial action. The first remedial action is to look at –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. May
the Minister be heard in silence please.
HON. J. MOYO: The first remedial action we want to take is to take back that farm and make it rural State land. That is why we went to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural
Resettlement because they have given out an offer letter and they have
to withdraw that offer letter and reverse it to State land. Once that has happened, we will now have to transform it from rural State land to urban State land. If we do that, it will give us the opportunity to do a survey for title. Only after we have done those processes will we start processing for those who have paid so that they can get title. That is why we were going through that route. Without that process, we cannot
do it.
However, whilst we were doing this, the occupier whom I have named, went to court to challenge the withdrawal of his offer letter and that tied all our hands. We have to deal with the withdrawal of the offer letter by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing cannot receive that land and the local authority cannot do anything. Those are the processes. I thank you.
BILLING INVOICES FROM CHITUNGWIZA MUNICIPALITY
- HON. G.K SITHOLE asked the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing to state measures being taken to ensure that residents receive up to date billing invoices from Chitungwiza Municipality.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO: Thank
you Madam Speaker. The municipality is in the process of implementing Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This will assist in the identification of properties not being billed and once they are identified, they will be billed. The municipality is also in the process of replacing static water meters in areas where residents are being charged on estimates and at the moment, 4 500 out of 17 000 water meters have been replaced.
The municipality is in the process of engaging the services of companies which facilitate online customer services. The process was initiated as a result of scarcity of computer stationery for the printing of statements. This will facilitate online balance enquiry and payments. The municipality has also come up with a general valuation roll, which is awaiting approval from the Valuation Board.
Noteworthy, is the fact that the municipality is reversing charges billed to residents who are not receiving its services at the moment. Some areas of land have been allocated to residents but services are not yet available in those areas. The council was charging and now it has reversed. I thank you.
PROCESS OF OBTAINING TITLE DEEDS
- HON. G. K. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state measures being taken by Chitungwiza Municipality to simplify the process of obtaining title deeds.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO: Thank
you Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, let me inform this august House and not just the Hon. Member who asked me the question because it affects all of us. Anyone who has been occupying council rented accommodation and wishes to secure their tenure should visit the council offices for guidance. Council will assess their property file for compliance at all district offices. However, they need to be guided by the following;
- If one is occupying former council core-houses, one needs to first of all fill in the ‘Conversion of rental accommodation to home ownership’ forms. Those forms are available.
- They need to clear all council dues and get a rates clearance certificate. The owner must do that.
- They should be issued with a certificate of occupation from the planning section of the municipality.
- The property should be title surveyed.
- Council will then issue a recommendation for title which would then be attached to the above mentioned documents and forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Urban State Land Department for processing of title.
Applications are processed as and when they come. Any individual who meets the outlined criteria is eligible for title. However, those occupying tied housed do not qualify. Let me say, tied houses are those houses, either owned by a separate Ministry for which they are reserving for those who they transfer from other areas to the other or it can be owned by a private company and that company will be intending to make sure that when their employees leave, those who will have joined will be given the houses. Conditions that I have outlined above apply to everyone including those who bought vacant stands and developed on their own. The process of getting title deeds is the same. I thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker. We have houses
and stands that have no title deeds that have been paid for over 25 years. Is there a timeframe to local authorities as Government policy in terms of acquisition and giving of the title deeds to the property owners?
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, there is no timeframe. The timeframe is determined first by the owner who, when they have paid for what they have paid for, must go to the council and do the following five issues that I have talked about. The second issue is the occupier is the one who seeks survey for title and pays for it. I know that many of our people have difficulties in paying for surveyors. This is where they need assistance but we do not have the money to survey title for individuals. We have done block survey titles and that is why most of them in the past have been given sectional titles. Survey titles so that you can get an individual title, you have to pay for the survey yourselves. Once that has been done, we believe that in the Ministry, we can do it quickly because there is no reason why we should keep a title that has been surveyed. I thank you.
HON. G. SITHOLE: My supplementary question is that most of the houses, occupiers have already signed contractual agreements with the Ministry of Local Government. They were on a rent to buy scheme and already paid in full the amount that was required. Why is it now there are new conditions which were not part of the previous contract? They now need to pay again when they have already paid in full for those houses.
HON. J. MOYO: I have just said, if they have paid in full, there is no need to pay some more. The local authority that has done all the five things that I have indicated and an occupier has fulfilled those, there is no need to pay more.
Questions With Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
HON. O. MGUNI: Madam Speaker, I propose that we allow the
Minister to finish answering his questions.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: I second.
REHABILITATION OF THE SEWAGE SYSTEM IN
CHITUNGWIZA
- HON. G. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when the sewage system at House Number 20870, Unit A Extension in
Chitungwiza which has been mal-functional for the past three years will be rehabilitated since it poses as a health hazard to the neighbourhood.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Madam Speaker and Hon. Members for allowing me to finish the outstanding questions because I think the Hon. Member wants them to be answered for his constituency. Madam Speaker, I have requested for answers from Chitungwiza and the problem at 20870 Unit A Extension was brought to the attention of the municipality two months back from the present day. From the date the issue was brought to the municipality’s attention, council has been closely monitoring operational condition of the sewer line to determine the cause of stoppages and take necessary action. Information gathered from the residents indicates suspected vandalism of the line downstream near the property in question. The municipality is continuing its assessment of the situation at this property and is also prioritising gathering materials such as asbestos, cement, pipes, rubber rings and collars in its attempt to repair the section of the line whenever the problem persist. However, let me assure the august House that the problem is under control and I have not only got the information from the municipality of Chitungwiza. I have asked my officers to follow up so that we do not unnecessarily disadvantage one occupier. I thank you.
REHABILITATION OF MABVUKU-TAFARA ROAD
- HON. S. BANDA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to give reasons for the poor workmanship in the rehabilitation of the Mabvuku-Tafara Road, particularly, from Mabvuku Police Station to Kamunhu Shopping Centre where tar resurfacing was done on a structurally weak base and it is already bleeding.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. However, let me inform this august House that the MabvukuTafara Road, particularly from Mabvuku Police Station to Kamunhu Shopping Centre has been satisfactory attendance. Assessment of the base was done by the engineers and was deemed suitable for use.
However, the resealed area needs attention. We have discussed with the council so that attention can be given. I thank you.
HON. MADZIMURE: Who is going to pay for the cost? Do you have a system where after every job has been completed, it is certified to have passed the standards?
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, that question needs me to go to the council to see whether there was a bond that was deposited before the person who did the job so that if something went wrong, they could use that and get the cost. I thank you.
REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR ROADS IN MT.
PLEASANT
- HON. S. BANDA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to outline the rehabilitation programme for roads in Mount Pleasant, including roads targeted for pothole repairs and resealing.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, the roads in Mount Pleasant have been included under the emergency roads and rehabilitation programme. The City of Harare has requested for funds to the tune of $3 million to cater for these roads. All public transport routes within the area are covered. Some of the roads that are covered include Pendennis, Harare Drive, the Chase and a few others in the area and the money has been made available. I thank you.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCORDING GROWTH POINT STATUS
- HON. MUNETSI asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state the requirements for a rural shopping centre to be accorded a growth point status.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, in terms of the country’s laws, there are different statutes accorded to rural shopping centres. In terms of the development hierarchy in the country, we have the following centres available in our Rural District Councils. First at the Apex level, we have a town, a growth point, a district service centre, a rural service centre and business centre. There is a criteria used to upgrade rural shopping centres and there is a laid down procedure/criteria. It must have an economic base, the ability of a centre to generate revenue base on specific economic activities can contribute to its upgrading.
- Growth Potential – If there is expansion in terms of housing, commercial stands, commercial institutions, institutions of learning, clinics, industries in a centre, it is a justification for upgrading. The distance between the rural shopping centres is considered in order to come up with the sphere of influence of each centre to avoid overshadowing each other.
- Availability of a reliable water source is considered when upgrading the rural shopping centre.
- Availability of land for expansion services, infrastructure, residential, commercial, industrial institutions, cemetery, solid and waste disposal without compromising communal areas.
Procedure
The Ministry is in the process of preparing a settlement policy which will guide and upgrade these settlements centres. The procedure will be clearly spelt out in the policy. The process is a bottom-up approach with consultations of all stakeholders being made. It starts with the community at grassroots level through their representatives and traditional leaders such as village heads. Consultations are made at district level up to provincial level with technocrats carrying out feasibility studies.
There should be a strong justification for rural shopping centres to be upgraded. The wish of the Ministry of Local Government is that all these centres should, at the end of the day, have title deeds so that we can attract investment in all our urbanised centres in the rural areas. I thank you.
STATUS OF LAND BETWEEN ST IVES AND AVALONE
- HON. DR. MATARUSE asked the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing to:
- apprise the House on the status of the land between St. Ives and Avalone, in Chinhoyi Town Council which Destiny for Africa
Network claims ownership and has been collecting contributions from
Agape Housing Cooperative since 2011; and
- state whether the Ministry could investigate alleged cases of mismanagement of funds of the housing cooperative by Destiny for Africa Network.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Let me
start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking this question.
- Destiny for Africa Network applied for land between St Ives and Avalone on the 13th March 2013.
- The allocation memo of 75 hectares was approved on the 3rd
October 2013. iii. The State Land Management section then wrote to the Department of Physical Planning, Mashonaland West Province advising them to carve off the 75 hectares.
- The piece of land was carved off and it was numbered 18080
Chinhoyi Township.
- The layout plan was prepared and approved on the 19th November 2014.
- Valuation for all the stands was done and the developer submitted their payment plan.
- The land in question is still state land and a memorandum of agreement will be signed upon payment of the requisite 10% deposit of all the stands.
- Title deeds will then be issued when the land has been fully paid for and a certificate of compliance issued for the scheme by the respective local authority.
The following conditions were given for the proposed development on the piece of land in question.
- The site shall be used for no other purpose save for high density residential development.
- No development shall commence prior to the approval of detail layout plans accompanied by a layout report by the Director of
Physical Planning in terms of Section 43 of the Regional Town and
Country Planning Act Chapter 29:12 as revised.
- Prior to the commencement of any operation:
- A development permit from Chinhoyi Municipality should be obtained before implementation of the approved layout plan.
- The council shall be furnished with an EIA report as approved by EMA.
- No stands shall be disposed, allocated before full servicing has been completed.
- Servitude over and/or under the land for public utility purpose shall be granted by the lessee and/or owner as and when required.
- No excavation or sand extraction shall be allowed on the site. Only equipment usually associated with implementation of the layout plan shall be allowed.
- Under ground water extraction shall be made with consent and permission of ZINWA.
- On the second question, I want to thank the Hon Member but that question should be directed to the relevant Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development. They are the overseers of all cooperatives. As a Ministry, we have been discussing with the Ministry concerned to make sure that cooperatives remain as cooperatives and do not turn themselves into land barons. I thank you.
ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT IN SEKE CONSTITUENCY
- HON. KASHAMBE asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state measures being taken to stop illegal settling which is mushrooming in areas such as Nyatsime, Murisa and Dema in Seke Constituency?
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): As
highlighted by the Hon. Member, it is indeed a fact that illegal developments are rampant in areas cited in the question and others where land barons, individuals, cooperatives sometimes are subdividing communal land, land reserved for schools, open spaces, under power lines, road servitudes and buffer zones. The victims are home seekers who have been fleeced of their hard earned cash because they want a roof over their head. It is for this reason that Government has appointed a Land Commission which is going all over the country to ascertain what has happened and they will be making recommendations. However the following are the measures being taken to address the problems.
- Awareness campaigns by local authority to the public. Some billboards are being put to indicate areas which are not allowed to develop. People are educated on proper procedures to develop land. For this reason we call upon all Members of Parliament to assist in the campaigns so that our people are not fleeced by those who are greedy and are getting money at all cost.
- The Ministry is in the process of crafting the Land
Developers Bill which will put punitive measures to those who carry out illegal development.
- Regular inspection and surveillance by local authorities and we have been talking to all local authorities about this issue. This morning we have discussed with over 1300 of the 1958 councillors to say you are the ones who come from the wards of this country and we want you to pass this message so that our people are saved from these greedy people.
- Issuance of prohibition and enforcement orders by local authorities. We are saying all local authorities should issue prohibition and enforcement orders so that there is no illegal settlement.
- Training of local authorities and councillors on their role and development control. I want to emphasise the Regional Town and Country Planning Act gives more powers to the local authorities for development control while it gives them powers for layout plans, those plans have to be approved by the Minister but when it comes to development control, they are the controllers and wherever I have gone, I have emphasised this so that we do not have mushrooming of illegal settlements throughout the country. I thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: My supplementary question to the Minister is to do with the land developers. We still have the essence of bringing in land developers with all the challenges that we have had for the past 20 years. Why do we not, Hon. Minister, get rid of the land developers for now? Then we move the task of developing land only to local governments or Councils throughout the country and study success of that programme since the land developers have so far failed the country dismally.
HON. J. G. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I think this supplementary question is a desirable one but we have constraints on financing. In the past, all site and services of infrastructure were done by local authorities. When we were accessing financing from developing partners from prescribed assets of pension funds and insurance funds, that dried up and we know the reasons why they dried up. Sanctions came and we could not access that money. Now individual developers who have always also been there and were not playing the major part came into fore and they had their own money and we could not refuse them. There is a fine line between a good developer and a bad one and we must encourage
housing developers who are doing very good work. I just came this morning to see one housing developer in Ruwa next to another bad housing developer but this housing developer is doing it properly. They are using their own funds and they are saying before people could occupy the area, we would put water and sewerage, roads and even provide energy saving solar energy while those who want gas, they have found a way of producing gas through waste management disposal systems that they are creating and those we must encourage. They are doing a good job but we must discourage the bad ones as you know, they are undermining our systems in fleecing the poor people who want housing.
HON. KASHAMBE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary question to the Minister is that the residents of Nyatsime falls under Manyame District but there is a fight that Chitungwiza Municipality want to take over Nyatsime yet the residents themselves have paid a deposit to Chitungwiza Municipality although there is no service being done to these residents from the same. Now they want to go to Manyame where they belong because the area falls under
Mashonaland East and they cannot go to Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza
Municipality is a failed municipality already and we cannot overload
Chitungwiza – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-. We cannot overload Chitungwiza Municipality with other responsibilities when they have already proved unable to catch-up with what they already have in their hands. We actually had an interview with the residences and they said they want to go to Manyame and, do not mind about whatever they have paid to Chitungwiza. They are prepared to start afresh under Manyame.
HON. J. G. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, there are a lot of areas which are grey areas and around all our cities and municipalities the land belongs to Rural District Councils. We have taken over 100 000 hectares of land and gave it to developers and home seekers. Out of the over 100
000 hectares, 90% of that is coming from what is presently Rural District Council areas. As I have said when I was replying to the question about Gweru, we cannot change boundaries until 2023 yet, some of those areas like Nyatsime are next to Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza should have provided for the water, sewerage and road networks connectivity but Chitungwiza itself is under pressure and I agree with him. Manyame Rural District Council is however in a worse off situation because they have not been providing urbanised services. What we are not encouraging local authorities in terms of the law both in the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act, there is a provision for different councils to cooperate in order to provide a service to the people who have been settled adjacent to those areas.
We think that should apply to Manyame and Chitungwiza relative to Nyatsime. Physically Manyame is the property rates owner and it is correct that it should be charging rates to property on their land. Manyame should be doing it but there is no harm if Manyame cooperates with Chitungwiza so that Chitungwiza can connect water and sewer pipes as well as servicing the roads so that people have proper water reticulation. We have said that cooperation should occur all over the country because we have found ourselves situated in that manner. Take for example, Caledonia is in Goromonzi yet Goromonzi has no urbanised services. It is Harare that has the urbanised services and if they cooperate, they can service those people. In Bulawayo, Ranchmore is in Umguza and Umguza does not have urbanised services but Bulawayo does. Therefore we encourage them to do the same. We can go on to Gimboki in Norton or the other one in Mutare and find out that the situation is the same. As a result, we have gone around the country encouraging this cooperation because it is both statutory and legal that councils do so. I thank you.
OPERATIONALISATION OF PROVINCIAL AND
METROPOLITAN COUNCILS
- HON. MAPHOSA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing when provincial and metropolitan councils provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe will be operationalised.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. G. MOYO): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Hon. Member is asking me when we will operationalise the Provincial and Metropolitan Councils and I assured
Hon. Members when we were in Bulawayo that we are processing the Bill and we are doing it in tandem and as I have said Chapter 17 which relates to financial provision for devolution and which governs the metropolitan and provincial councils is being processed by the Minister of Finance and we are processing Chapter 14 which is setting up the institutions. Those Bills will be appearing before this august House before the end of the year as I have promised. Thank you.
HON. MAPHOSA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to ask the Hon. Minister what will happen to those who were elected in the last elections into provincial councils. Is it water under the bridge or the Ministry is doing something about it?
HON. J. G. MOYO: I can only answer the question relative to the 2018 election. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution requires us to have an enabling Act and that is what we are processing. As we are processing this, we have not ignored the ten (10) who have been elected in all the provincial councils and not the provincial metropolitan councils. Hon.
Members peruse the Constitution, you will find out that there is an omission. We did not, in the metropolitan councils, state them as members and yet in one of the sections of the Constitution, it refers to them as if they were there. So, how it will be processed, I do not know, but what we are doing now is wherever we are going around training, and I have said we have covered all the provinces except two right now, we request provincial council members who were elected, the ten who were elected. Of course, all of you are provincial council members by the way, except those in metropolitan areas – we have requested them to come for training as we prepare.
So, we have a situation where we are progressing the enabling legislation, but we are also making sure by that the time we have finish with the legislation, those who have been elected are prepared to undertake their jobs. So, training is already taking place. We are not excluding them. I thank you.
HON. GONESE: On a point of order.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order
Hon. Member?
HON. GONESE: My point of order is that as I understood, the Hon. Minister has not responded to the question which was asked. The question was clear. It was referring to those who were elected in terms of the 2013 elections when the Constitution was already in place. We have got provincial councilors who were elected in 2013 who were never sworn into office. So, we want clarification so that the Hon. Minister informs the nation as to what is going to happen to people who participated in an election, got elected and the five years expired without those councilors being sworn into office and being allowed to take their positions to which they were elected.
I think it is important for the Executive, for the Government, to tell us what is going to happen, if anything. If it is water under the bridge, let the Minister say so, instead of ducking and diving and avoiding the question.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Gonese, I think you have
really answered yourself that the time that they were actually elected expired. So, really for the Minister now to answer because you have answered yourself that time has expired and the Minister has got nothing to say.
HON. GONESE: Hon. Speaker Sir, I think it is important for us to get a policy pronouncement from the responsible Minister. I am not the Minister. I am simply asking; let us have a proper pronouncement so that they know that this is now whatever the position is.
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I honestly cannot answer that question and the Hon. Member knows that. If the Hon. Member wants to put the question so that consultations can take place, so that I bring a comprehensive answer which is collective, I can do that, but I cannot answer that without instruction. Thank you.
REPAIR OF ROADS IN ZVIMBA NORTH CONSTITUTENCY
- HON. CHOMBO asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing when roads in Zvimba North
Constituency will be repaired.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Let me
start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. However, let me also inform this august House that the Zvimba Rural District Council is the road authority for most of the roads in Zvimba North
Constituency with the exception of the road between Banket and
Raffingora, the 11 km road which is under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. If she is asking about that particular one, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development is the responsible Minister.
However for 2018, Zvimba Rural District Council had identified roads totaling 315km to be rehabilitated in the constituency. To date 239.6km have been rehabilitated representing 75% of progress. Works are still underway to complete the remaining 75.4km by 31st December, 2018. The local authority requested all its councilors to identify roads within their wards that need rehabilitation for 2019. The Hon. Member of Parliament is therefore advised to approach Zvimba Rural District Council for clarity on the works that are being implemented in her constituency.
We also, for the purposes of the record of the Hon. Member and her constituency, attach all the roads that are being undertaken and I would not like to labour the Hon. House by detailing all of them, but I will submit the record as required.
ALLOCATION OF STANDS
- 27. HON. MUGIDHO asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to explain whether there is a reserved quota for people with disability in allocation of stands for residential purposes by councils.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker Sir, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for affording me the opportunity to appraise this august House on policy regarding allocation of stands and houses to people with disability by councils.
Firstly, Mr. Speaker Sir, it is Government policy that local authorities are required to give special consideration to disabled persons on the waiting list. However, the discretion on how to operationalise the policy is reposed with the local authorities through their housing policies whether to adopt the quota system or any other effective system since the disabled are most invaluable in terms of resource allocations.
The following are the recommendations of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe on house designs for the disabled which are an integral part of a policy and local authorities are well acquainted with these same policies:-
On housing there should be ramps. We have given sizes of the ramps and the record will show exactly what we have specified so that again, Hon. Members can take to their constituencies and inform people.
The policy also includes the sizes of kitchens and these we have given to the local authorities so that also when they are approving housing developments, they can put those. It includes what must happen in bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms. All this we have given to local authorities and I will put it for the record so that the Hon. Members will have full information in order to go and assist the people, but the operative is we have told the local authorities that it is imperative that we empathise, we look at our vulnerable groups and do something for their housing. I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Within the Ministry, do they have a monitoring mechanism to ensure that these proposals are adhered to, because if they do not, then the organisation of disabilities will not be able to ensure that is done?
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, what we do in terms of monitoring, we give model building by-laws which when they are enacted by the local authorities concerned, become legal instruments for which all of us citizens and Members of Parliament should use to monitor. We use these also so that those who are disabled can approach the councils and say you have produced a by-law, it is imperative that you follow what you have done. Otherwise, monitoring by a single
Ministry becomes very difficult and we are putting by-laws so that it becomes a public statute for all of us to help in the monitoring. I thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Hon. Minister. Just for clarity,
this aspect that you are talking about is it yet to be implemented or it is already underway because as I am talking with reference to the area that I live in, Chikanga-Dangamvura, I have never seen that programme being done to the less privileged in terms of being disabled and all that.
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, Dangamvura is a little bit an old township and gimboki is moribund. We definitely have informed local authorities and if you went to some of the local authorities nearby in Caledonia, you will see a section that has been designated for the disabled. As Minister, I went there to inspect to make sure that the conditions that are precedent which were put in these policy directives are being implemented. Yes, there is no water and things like that but at least in terms of the proper housing where I have described your bedrooms and whatever, those are being implemented.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH
NOTICE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROVINCIAL AND METROPOLITAN
COUNCILS BILL
- HON. CHAMISA asked the Minister of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing to explain
- why a Bill to make provision for the establishment of provincial and metropolitan councils has not yet been brought to Parliament and
- when the Bill will be brought before Parliament.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker Sir, let me inform this august House that the Ministry was engaged in a consultative workshop with stakeholders from the 8th to the 12th of October 2018 to deliberate on the issue. However, the drafting of the Bill is now at an advanced stage and will be submitted in Parliament before end of the year.
LIST OF GOVERNMENT HOUSES AND OCCUPANTS IN
GUNHILL AND HARARE SUBURBS
- HON. ZENGEYA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to provide a list the Government houses in Gunhill suburb in Harare and the names of the occupants.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker, the following is the list of tenants of Gunhill Villas as requested by the Hon. Member.
VILLA NUMBER | CURRENT TENANT |
14232 | B.K. Changara |
14234 | Engineer S.G. Mlilo |
14235 | L. Ngwenya |
14236 | Justice L. Makoni |
14237 | Justice A. Guvava |
14238 | Hon. S.E. Damasne |
14239 | F.A.O |
14240 | Justice F. Chatukuta |
14241 | L.M. Reza |
14244 | B Mutongowana |
14245 | Rtd Col. J Mhakayakora |
14246 | P. Mahlaba |
14247 | W. Nyamuriwa |
14251 | Comm. General P. Zimondi |
14268 | Hon. M. Chikukwa |
14270 | Dr. R. Ndhukula |
14271 | Hon. J. Hungwe |
14272 | A. A. Kunth |
14276 | L. Malaba |
14277 | J. Mathema |
HON. MGUNI: Mr. Speaker Sir, on a point of privilege, I would like to thank the Minister who has been answering these questions in a way that was so accurate, satisfactory and well researched –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - It showed that he knows exactly what he is talking about.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much Chief
Whip.
Hon. Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing may you go ahead to table the Report by the Auditor-General on the Management of Solid Waste by local authorities.
TABLING OF REPORTS
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker Sir, in terms of Section 12 (1) (b) of the audit Office Act Chapter 22:18, I lay upon the Table the Report of the Auditor-General on the Management of Solid Waste by Local authorities under the
Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
HON. SIKHALA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir. As indicated by the Minister earlier, that he was supposed to give a
Ministerial Statement over the question that I asked him some time ago. I would be very happy if he presents the Ministerial Statement now because we have been waiting for this reply for a long time.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr
Speaker Sir, I give this Ministerial Statement having been directed by the Speaker after Hon. Sikhala asked a question and there has been communication between my Ministry and Hon. Sikhala. He has provided us with a lot of information but this statement is made in order to outline what has happened, given the question that he asked.
There has been a serious outcry from our fellow Zimbabweans regarding the decision taken by councils to engage ‘debt collectors’ in collecting debs on behalf of local authorities. I will specifically acknowledge the elaborate submissions and questions brought to my attention by Hon. Sikhala.
As Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National
Housing, I have to set the record straight on Government’s position on the engagement of debt collectors by local authorities that fall under my purview.
As Government, we are relying on Section 9 (2) of the Legal
Practitioners Act which states that, ‘Subject to any other law, no person other than a registered legal practitioner who is in possession of a valid practising certificate issued to him shall –
- sue out any summons or process or commence, carry on or defend any action, suit or other proceedings in any court of civil or criminal jurisdiction in the name of any other persons; or
- for or in expectation of any fee, commission, gain or reward in any way instruct or assist any other person to sue out or threaten to sue out any summons or process or to commence, carry on or defend any action, suit or other proceedings in any court of civil or criminal jurisdiction; or
- appear, plead or act in the capacity of a legal practitioner for or on behalf of any other person in any action, suit or other proceedings in any court of civil or criminal jurisdiction. Provided that, nothing in this subsection contained shall prevent any director or officer in the sole employment of a corporation or any other member of a partnership doing any such act as is mentioned in paragraph (a) in the name of such corporation or partnership.
HON MASENDA: On a point of order, I do not think we have a quorum.
[Bells rung.]
[Quorum formed.]
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. We
have got more than the required 76 Hon. Members. We have got 81.
Hon. Minister, you can start from where you ended.
HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May the Hon. Minister be
heard in silence please.
HON. J. MOYO: I was giving the legal status of who is allowed to collect debt. These were the provisions in the Act that I was quoting. I go further and say; at the same time, there is no legal provision in the
Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) or the Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13, which supports the engagement of debt collectors by local authorities. I have not been advised of any legal framework in
Zimbabwe which regulates or authorises the operations of the so called
‘debt collectors.’
In the absence of such a legal instrument, no authority can be established to monitor their operations and conduct. This is why we have received numerous allegations of ruthlessness and unethical behaviour in their conduct of business.
My Ministry has communicated Government’s position to all local authorities that they need to use legal means in collecting their debts including engaging lawyers who are authorised to represent clients or using their own internal lawyers. A circular has been in place, being
‘Local Government Circular No. 3 of 2010,’ which directed all local authorities to desist with immediate effect from contracting debt collectors to recover unpaid levies. Local authorities need to account for why they are contravening Government directive and yet they are not supported by any statute. Someone needs to be answerable. We have investigations going on and we have communicated to our local authorities to desist from engaging debt collectors. I know that Harare City Council has since terminated their contract with the debt collectors and as for Chitungwiza Municipality, they are in the process of making sure that they abide by the Ministry’s directive and regularise this issue, considering that they have a pending contract which they will need to terminate. We continue to receive reports from all other local authorities. What remains for us is to investigate and see how the monies that were being collected were used.
We therefore urge ratepayers to honour their financial obligations with local authorities in respect of the services they enjoy. Let us all bear in mind that councils are our own local governments. If they fail to get our support, they face a demise, not only in their quest to deliver quality and continuous services but even in their establishments. We are duty bound to ensure the survival of these entities we created for our own convenience. To this end, we need to give them support. Where there are serious disagreements between rate-payers and local authorities, we as Government are there to foster constructive dialogue which will usher in a win-win solution. So, no debt collectors, but for those who were engaged, we are now investigating how the monies were used by those who were collecting it. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much Hon.
Minister. What I just want to say is that, thank you very much Hon.
Minister – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – You have been so clear and decisive on the issue. I really do not know whether Hon. Members have got grey areas that need the Minister to explain further.
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. To add to
your voice Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to thank you Hon. Minister. You have been very thorough; we want to be very honest, we are proud of you, you did very well today in answering the questions – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I promise that residents will be very happy with your Ministerial Statement today.
Where I want clarification Hon. Minister is; if you could have noticed on the documents and the data that I brought to your office, residents were depositing their money or were made to deposit their money into the private account of the debt collectors in contravention of
Section 282 of the Urban Councils Act that provides that, ‘only council account is the one which residents can deposit their money into.’ The residents’ money has been deposited into Well Cash’s private account.
How is that money going to be accounted for?
I am happy that you said you are investigating them. Would you please reassure this House that the private account will be investigated on how money was disbursed into different individual’s accounts and who those people are so that we make public the names of the people who benefited criminally from the rate payers’ money which was deposited into Well Cash’s private account Hon. Minister.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir and thank you Hon.
Minister for that statement. Hon. Speaker, it is a fact that 10% of all debt collection or the money collected by debt collectors go to the debt collectors. It was also presented here by the Hon. Minister’s predecessor that $7 million was owed by residents of Harare at some point and 10% of that was $700 000 which was supposed to accrue to Well Cash debt collectors.
However, my fervent view Hon. Minister, is that today you can make a statement that says; the accounting officers of those local authorities are Town Clerks and they are quite alive to the fact of the employment of the debt collectors. The councillors come in and go and it is not in their purview to make sure that they employ the debt collectors. I ask Hon. Minister, with the powers vested in you because you are the employer of the accounting officers, that you apply the sanctions for the Town Clerks who have been employing these debt collectors without anything supported at law or by law – that you apply the sanctions of making sure that they are dis-employed, and you apply that sanction retrospectively from the time that those debt collectors were employed if they are still employed, including those Town Clerks who are there in their places. Therefore, if you can apply the issue of dis-employing them retrospectively including in Chegutu Town Council, Hon. Minister.
HON. MADZIMURE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I also want to
thank the Minister. He is one Minister whom everybody can be proud of when he stands up. Minister, are you also going to find out whether there was a council resolution or it was a decision by the council administration considering the gravity of the matter and the fact that the law is very clear. This was almost fraud. Are you going to take action on those administrators, meaning the town clerks, the chief executives
of those towns and cities that have engaged the debt collectors out of requirements of the law.
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would
like to thank the Hon. Minister of Local Government for the job that he has done in trying to solve the issue of debt collectors. Debt collectors have caused many people to lose their houses all over Zimbabwe, including where I come from. Is it possible for the Minister to further carry out investigations and find out how many people have lost their houses through these fraudulent activities, especially the poor people. They were putting their own charges, taking the documents to courts, had them stamped and demand the entire amount once. As a result, many houses were auctioned using these fraudulent measures. May you find more into this issue? I thank you.
HON. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank all the Hon. Members who have contributed. Hon. Sikhala, I already said in my statement that we will investigate and I do not want to prejudice the investigations that we are going to take. Yes, I have been given enough documentation by Harare and Chitungwiza and we will get more documentation about what happened from other local authorities as we investigate.
Hon. Nduna, the employees proposed and I can combine it with Hon. Madzimure. In the councils where I have gleaned in, the resolutions were made by councillors as collective. We have to investigate both council and the decision making process but there are decision takers who are the collective councillors who made those resolutions.
Hon. Matambanadzo, we will investigate. We know that some people might have lost houses because of it. I want to assure the House that it will be part of the investigations. I thank you.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. MACHINGAUTA: My point of order is not long. I thank the Minister for answering the questions and I ask him to come back after carrying out his investigations and make another Ministerial Statement to inform us on the new status quo. Can he come up with directors and debt collectors that are involved in the scandalous affairs for the sake of the Members of Parliament and the people at large? I thank you.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING
(HON. J. MOYO), the House adjourned at Nine Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 7th June, 2018
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASVINGO PROVINCE
(HON. SEN. HUNGWE): Mr. President, I move that time for Questions without notice be stood over until we have quite a number of Ministers present to answer questions.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Mr. President Sir, I move that Order
of the Day No. 1, be stood over until all Orders of the Day on today’s Order Paper have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
RIGHTS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MODERN DAY
SLAVERY
HON. SEN. RTD GEN. NYAMBUYA: Mr. President, I move the
motion stand in my name that this Senate takes note of the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on Human Trafficking and
Modern Day Slavery.
HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: I second.
HON. SEN. RTD GEN. NYAMBUYA: Thank you very much
Mr. President.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 As part of its oversight role, the Thematic Committee on
Human Rights conducted an inquiry on human trafficking and modern day slavery in Zimbabwe in order to have an in-depth appreciation of the subject matter.
1.2 Human trafficking in Zimbabwe became topical in 2003 when the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched a Programme called the Southern African Counter Trafficking
Programme. Zimbabwe was identified as one of the countries in
Southern Africa that was affected by human trafficking. The recent Kuwait issue further showed that human trafficking was on the increase in the country. It is estimated that more than 200 women were trafficked to one of the Gulf countries.
1.3 Currently, statistics on this illicit activity are unavailable as human trafficking is criminal in nature. It is however estimated that between 600,000 and 2.5 million people in the world are trafficked yearly.
1.4 The difference between migration and human trafficking is not always clear. Many trafficked people are recorded as migrants, and many migrants are trafficked into countries where they have migrated to.
Migration is not an illegal act; it can be a way in which humans can develop their chances of achieving their human potential socially, economically and politically. However, human trafficking is a form of migration that many experts regard as modern slavery because it involves force, coercion and criminality.
1.5Little has been done on human trafficking in the country. Therefore, this means that the current laws and policies need to be evaluated to ensure their effectiveness in curbing trafficking in the country.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
2.1 To give an overview of the phenomenon of human trafficking in Zimbabwe;
2.2 To unearth and analyse the policies and laws with regards to human trafficking in Zimbabwe;
2.3 To evaluate enforcement efforts in line with laws and policies on human trafficking in Zimbabwe;
2.4 To find out whether the Government has policies which support victims of trafficking; and
2.5 To make appropriate recommendations in respect of possible solutions to the challenges identified.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 In order to fully appreciate the subject under consideration, the Committee invited the following stakeholders to provide both written and oral submissions:
- The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare;
- The Ministry of Home Affairs;
- International Organisation for Migration (I O M);
- Musasa project; and
- Victims of Human Trafficking.
4.0 KEY FINDINGS
4.1 History and the reasons behind Trafficking in Persons
In Africa, the trafficking of people has a long history dating back to the
Arab and Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade which witnessed 28 million
Africans being exported to the Middle East and 11 million to the West respectively. In recent times, there has been a resurgence in the sale of human cargo. For instance, since the 1980’s the human trafficking business has experienced a boom with an estimated $ 32 billion in profits a year. A dominant feature of this illicit activity is that the costs are low since the supply is massive and cheap. Furthermore, few human traffickers are arrested, prosecuted and sentenced for the crime. The worldwide ineffective criminal justice and community response of human trafficking, strengthens the process, increases abuse of trafficked persons and allows traffickers to generate financial proceeds from the crime.
4.2 Forms of human trafficking
Human trafficking takes place in many forms globally. These forms include forced labour, bonded labour, sex trafficking, labour exploitation, domestic servitude and child soldiers. In the past years, persons could be considered as being trafficked only if they had been transported into exploitative situation within the country or outside the country. The term has now been broadened to mean all criminal conduct involved in forced labour and trafficking. There are three requirements to be met before an individual can be considered to be trafficked. The first one is being moved from one location to another (for example through recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person). The second factor is that various methods should be used, (for example threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception and abuse of power). The third one is that the purpose is supposed to be for exploiting the victim.
Human trafficking is one of the greatest challenges that Zimbabwe is facing. Zimbabwe is a source, transit and a destination country for men, women and children that are exposed to various forms of exploitation. The exploitation includes sexual abuse, domestic servitude and forced labour in agriculture amongst many other forms. There is domestic and transnational trafficking in the country. Most often victims of human trafficking agree to go with traffickers based on false promises of good jobs, educational opportunities and marriage offers.
4.3 Perpetrators of human trafficking
There are several groups that operate on a global scale to traffic people. A large amount of money is gathered in the illegal trade to create influential networks around the world. These consist of many West
African Nigerian networks, Chinese Triad Societies and the Russian Mafia who manage massive trafficking empires. These are calculative syndicates that develop networks in government, corporate circles and at borders with massive amounts of money involved. This allows them to easily move victims from country to country. The perpetrators of human trafficking in Zimbabwe include people in high places who abuse their power and any other person. Perpetrators are often people with the ability to establish trust with victims they are recruiting.
4.4 Human trafficking within Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, human trafficking affects everyone, females, males and children of all ages. However, females and children are the ones who are mostly affected. Trafficking victims are forced to engage into activities such as stealing, begging, used as domestic slaves, forced labour or forced into prostitution. Young women are the ones at high risk because they can be sold to brothels or forced into prostitution. During oral evidence, it was gathered that traffickers most often promise their victims good opportunities where there are “greener pastures” during the recruitment process. This often includes jobs in big cities, countries and continents. This is because in Zimbabwe, there is a high rate of unemployment and high poverty level and therefore, people have a tendency of seeking opportunities elsewhere.
The emergence of sex tourism has led to the rise of internal trafficking. Young, unemployed women are reportedly taken to resort towns such as Victoria Falls where they are forced into prostitution. Girls are being trafficked from within and outside the cities under false pretence of employment as house maids and waitresses.
4.5 Zimbabwe as a corridor of traffickers
Zimbabwe is used as a corridor of human traffickers from countries such as Pakistan, India, DRC, Mozambique and Zambia to
South Africa. People from East Africa are transported through
Zimbabwe to South Africa.
Noteworthy is the point that human trafficking for ages seemed like a distant phenomenon to Zimbabwe and this could have probably allowed the practice to grow unnoticed.
4.6 International human trafficking of Zimbabweans
Trafficking internationally was not only taking place in Asian countries (especially China and Kuwait) but also, in the other continents though Asia has the highest cases of trafficking. According to the IOM, the number of people being trafficked worldwide, 50% of them were in Asia, 20% in Africa, 10 % in Latin America and 20% in USA. This shows that human trafficking is a global problem which needs urgent international attention.
People are trafficked through deception in most cases, for example the recent Kuwait issue, where more than 200 women from Zimbabwe went to Kuwaiti under the guise of better job opportunities. They were tricked by adverts of job vacancies in the local media. The adverts made promises of good salaries, education and air tickets. On arrival in Kuwait, their passports and cellphones were seized. The victims found themselves in domestic servitude or as concubines. The problems they faced included working long hours, beatings, sexual abuse starvation, low wages and house arrests. At times they would not get paid, the money would be sent to Zimbabwe to those who recruited them.
4.7 Factors that are leading to human trafficking in Zimbabwe
The main factor that is causing human trafficking in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular is poverty. Most of the reasons are linked to poverty directly or indirectly.
Unemployment is also credited as one of the reasons that has led to the rise of human trafficking in Zimbabwe. There are many jobless secondary and tertiary education graduates in the country in both urban and rural areas. These people become susceptible to the schemes of human traffickers in foreign lands.
4.8 Impacts of human trafficking
4.8.1 Human trafficking has negative impacts on the individual, the society and the country as a whole. The victims of human trafficking suffer in many ways including, physical, emotional, sexual, violence, deprivation, torture and at times they are forced to use substances and many other factors. It is important to highlight the fact that victims of human trafficking are the poor, the vulnerable and the disabled. They are subjected to very severe traumatic experiences repeatedly. This is the reason victims are taken to protective homes before they are integrated back into the society. The victims of trafficking often get sick and some die.
4.8.2 The Msasa Project noted that people, who would have been trafficked, have symptoms which include:
➢Post-traumatic stress disorder,
➢Anxiety,
➢Depression,
➢Suicidal thoughts,
➢Panic disorder, and
➢Substance abuse
4.8.3 Human Trafficking causes family separation and family ties are broken as the individual who is trafficked is not allowed to be in contact with his or her family members. This would result in psychological effects on both the individual and the family members.
- LEGISLATIONS, POLICY AND ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS SURROUNDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
ZIMBABWE
5.1 International instruments addressing human trafficking
Instruments of international laws that have dealt with the abolition of human trafficking began in the anti-slavery era. These were included in the provisions within the Slavery Convention of 1926 and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery of 1956. There are instruments of international law that include sections that are against the trafficking of persons. These include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the International Covenants on Civil and
Political Rights of 1966, The United Nations Convention for the
Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others of 1949, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979. These instruments laid the foundation for the contemporary conventions and efforts to eliminating trafficking.
The most recent international legislation on trafficking which was created by The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) include the main instrument namely the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. The instrument was supplemented by two protocols namely, the United Nations Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially
Women and Children (Palermo) of 2000 and the United Nations Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, which entered into force in 2003-2004.
5.2 Regional instruments that deal with human trafficking
The African charter on the rights and welfare of the child has provisions against human trafficking. The provisions mainly protect children against trafficking. The other instrument is the Protocol to the
African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women
in Africa.
African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) joined hands against human trafficking and formed the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in human beings especially women and children. The declaration was adopted in November 2006. AU and EU agreed to take measures to combat illegal migration, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings especially women and children. The declaration noted that the fundamental causes of trafficking within Africa were poverty and under development which was aggravated by economic and demographic imbalances, unequal terms of global trade, conflicts, environmental factors, poor governance, uneven impacts of globalisation and humanitarian disasters.
5.3 Legislation and policy in Zimbabwe on human trafficking Zimbabwe is credited for enacting the Trafficking in Persons Act
(Chapter 9: 25) of 2014 among other countries in the SADC region. The Act has provisions which include crime of trafficking in persons, powers of law enforcement agents, protection of and compensation of victims, forfeiture of trafficking proceeds and property, extraterritorial jurisdictions of Zimbabweans in cases of trafficking in persons, centres of victims and the establishment and functions of the anti-trafficking inter-ministerial committee.
A trafficking inter-ministerial committee was to be established, on 9 January 2015, in line with the provisions of the Act. Its purposes are to formulate national plans against trafficking, to propose and implement strategies against trafficking, promote rehabilitation of victims and to make people aware of trafficking and its impact.
6. COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
6.1 There is lack of awareness of the law for both the public and the law enforcement agencies in issues of human trafficking in the country.
6.2 The shortages of resources in the form of personnel and equipment also hinder the implementation of law to combat human trafficking. Zimbabwe has a limited budget allocation; which hinders efforts of dealing with the human trafficking cases.
6.3 General awareness campaigns on human trafficking also need resources. These are being carried out on irregular basis and there is over dependence on NGOs and inter-governmental organizations on protecting victims of human trafficking.
6.4 Lack of coordination (internal and regional) between
Government bodies, private and non-governmental organisation does not help in reducing cases of human trafficking.
6.5 Corruption is another issue that is hindering the implementation of the act in curbing human trafficking.
6.6 Another reason that is hindering enforcement of laws is inadequate witness protection measures. Victims tend to have “police phobia” and also the issue of inadequate victim protection systematically results in people who have witnessed the case to distance themselves from the case. For instance, the Committee was briefed that some of the women who were repatriated from Kuwait received messages from the people who trafficked them. Some of the messages were recorded as follows “zvaurikutiendesaku court unofungakutizvinokubatsirei?”. This depicts the inadequacies of the law in protecting the victims.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 Policies on human trafficking should encompass ways to create employment for the youths and the general populace to avoid being offered false job opportunities outside the country. The Executive also needs to stimulate macro-economic growth for creation of employment opportunities by end of July 2018. This will discourage people from notions of searching for “green or pastures” regionally and internationally.
7.2The Department of Immigration should make a deliberate effort to reduce the costs of procuring legal documentation required for immigration (passports and visas), by end of July 2018, so that they are affordable. Migrants illegally entering South Africa are at risk of rape or sexual assault by criminal gangs and smugglers operating in border areas.
7.3The Executive should establish a comprehensive witness protection programme which will not benefit just victims of trafficking but witnesses of crime by end of July 2018. Victims need to be protected to prevent them from being re-victimised by perpetrators. Protection programmes or centres should be created and disseminate information of their existence to create awareness to the public while protection is given to victims under recovery.
7.4There is need to continuously engage traditional leaders and rural community structures to raise awareness about trafficking in persons beginning July 2018. This has worked in other countries in the SADC region. The leaders should then disseminate information to the rural populace.
7.5The Executive should establish formal training and expertise is required for assisting victims of trafficking by June 2018. There is also need for a comprehensive national monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of procedures for handling cases of trafficking in persons. There is need for further capacity building, law enforcement, prosecution and settlement of the crimes.
7.6The Executive should strengthen anti-corruption efforts to ensure the integrity of officers handling trafficking in persons cases by
September 2018.
7.7The Executive should bolster cooperation and coordination with other countries especially those in the SADC region and other countries of destination by June 2018.
7.8The Executive should partner with non-governmental organisations and carry out many researches on trafficking issues. Scientific researches, collection and analysis of data should be encouraged. Support and initiating research on the impacts of human trafficking should be promoted to ensure adequate prevention, protection and assistance to trafficked persons and the prosecution of criminals..
7.9The Executive should monitor private employment agencies as part of measures to curb human trafficking by June 2018. The Executive should also craft policies which guide the process of migration by providing sufficient information so that people who wish to seek domestic work in other countries are knowledgeable and able to make sound decisions. Proper measures should also be taken to prosecute fraudulent recruitment agents.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: I have stood up to add my voice on this report which has been tabled in this House by Hon. Sen. Rtd. Gen. Nyambuya. Mr. President I do not have many words to add. A lot has been said, it is a painful thing which needs two people to help each other, the one who is doing it and the victim.
Let me give an example, I remember when my grandfather used to say that when you want to live well you should not let your eyes see far and your ears should be a little bit closed so that you do not hear a lot of noise and you will stay well. It is very true because the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. A person is told not to go there but when he gets there he finds that there is no green grass at all.
Some of the people are relatives and because they want to be given money, they traffic their relatives because of money. I am a member of the Human Rights Committee. There are people who visited our
Committee after visiting Kuwait. The girl who came into that
Committee is from my village in Nyamhunga, but in that Committee she said she comes from Marondera and that they were very poor, but she does not stay there. So, we have people like that. They want to be helped but they cannot be helped. They lie that they are living in poverty because they would have followed what is written in the newspapers.
I also listened to the radio and they were advocating that you should not be cheated by people who are outside and this girl said that when she went to Kuwait as a maid, she would start work at 5am and finish at 2am. For as long as the people in that house were still awake, she would not finish work and stood in a corner until they retired to sleep and she would also knock off and go to rest.
As alluded to by our Hon. Chairperson, this issue should be further investigated so that those who are behind this crime can be nabbed and not do it again. There are also people who are greedy to the extent that they envy the sugar they find in Kuwait yet we have our own sugar.
With these few words, I say thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: Thank you Mr. President. I
want to add my voice to the debate on this report. What we also witnessed is that as a nation, we have a problem of people who have the mentality that everything which is good comes from outside our country. There are some who have encouraged us to create our own jobs here but people are unwilling to take that up. They think that good jobs are found in South Africa, Kuwait or in Israel and elsewhere. So, that spirit should be dealt with in such a way that even in Early Childhood Development (ECD), children should be taught to appreciate their own country and they should not love to go outside of their motherland because they will be trouble there.
The second thing is that, people respond so much to advertisements which are displayed in our own Herald newspaper, Newsday and so on. Those who advertise simply collect money but do not verify whether the adverts are authentic, their main interests lies in money. There should be monitoring processes to ensure that such things do not happen. Not all things should be left to be advertised because we will witness the advertisement of cannabis or mandrax which used to be a menace in previous years and so on. With these few words, I say thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: Thank you Mr. President.
I also want to support this report which was presented by Hon. Sen.
Nyambuya on human trafficking.
Mr. President, I am one of the witnesses who travelled to Kuwait which was being referred to in the report. We went with the Speaker of
Parliament and came back with the children who had been trafficked. It is true that the stories we heard there are pathetic. Our Ambassador to Kuwait had a lot of work to do concerning those trafficked children and his work was overwhelming him. The children go there on the pretext that they would have found employment and if they decide to come back home after realising that the work they would have been called to do, like teaching or nursing would actually be a hoax as they are reduced to work as house maids.
As they were working as house maids, we heard that there are people who do not dignify the sanctity of life and yet these nations purport to work with us very well. You then hear that our children are being mistreated. There are instances where we heard that the maid is reduced to be a mistress of the employer when the wife and children go to a holiday trip. I support this report because I witnessed this. When we sign for Treaties or memorandum of understanding with other countries, we should look at some of these things which will not cause conflict with other countries. With these words Mr. President, I support this report because we witnessed it on our own.
We therefore ask that there should be a fund set aside, even whilst we have social welfare. Taking into consideration the state of our economy a while ago, our children have been going out to look for employment. Some of them intend to come back because of the new dispensation and the influx of investors into our economy. What the new dispensation is doing shows that the future of our economy is bright especially if we manage to have our elections in peace as is being encouraged on a daily basis. The President is emphasising on peace and it means our children will come back to the country and there should be a fund such that those who have been trafficked and do not have money for transport back home, they should be given. We are seeing a bright future for our country.
Whilst we were there Mr. President, we had to look for money from well-wishers to ensure that our children come back and our Government intervened, meaning that such a problem was not planned for to ensure swift reaction to such problems. I want to say, Hon.
Chairperson, you did very well on this report and we support you so that if our children ever face such a problem, the funding will be fully available. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. RTD GEN. NYAMBUYA: Thank you Mr.
President. I would like to thank the Hon. Senators who contributed, enriched and added a lot of value to this very important report which is not only topical but indeed sad. I hope the Executive is going to take it very seriously.
My prayer Mr. President is that; I hope the relevant Ministers are going to take note of the substantial recommendations which were made by the Committee. I think if they adopt most of the recommendations which were made by the report, it will go a long way to curb and reduce this very unfortunate and illicit act which is taking place. With those few words, I would like to move that the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights, Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
SEN. TAWENGWA: Mr. President I move that Order of the Day
Number 3 be stood over until we have disposed of all the other items on today’s Order Paper.
- SEN. KHUMALO: I second. Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPENT GOALS ON SDG NO. 2
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: I move the motion standing in my
name that this House takes note of the Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on S.D.G. No. 2.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: I second.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Mr. President, may I present the
Second Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on SDG No.2 that targets to end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
1. INTRODUCTION
The Sustainable Development Goals and targets, in particular Goal 2, aim to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. In recognising the importance of improving nutrition, Zimbabwe is one of the 193 countries that endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. These included a target to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, particularly undernourishment, stunting, wasting; underweight, over-weight and micronutrient deficiencies in children and anemia in women of child bearing age and also in children; as well as to halt the rising trends in overweight and obesity and reduce the burden of diet-related non communicable diseases in all age groups. In achieving this, relevant stakeholders have come up with various programmes to support the success of SDG No. 2.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Oral evidence sessions held with Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement; Zimbabwe Farmers Union
(ZFU) and Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA).
2.2 Written submissions received from; the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA), Food and Nutrition Council (FNC) and Ministry of Health and Child Care.
2.3 The Committee did not carry out fact finding visits due to lack of finances.
3. COMMITTEE FINDINGS
3.1 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
RESETTLEMENT
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. R. Chitsiko stated that the country had gone through a difficult time of drought and was therefore compelled to import grain. Drought affected areas were forecasted to be very few in the 2017/2018 season. The special three year rolling programme of command agriculture was introduced as an import substitution. The programme however started a bit late. Production was premised on assessment of land, financing, irrigation, water in reservoirs, farmer registrations, affordable fertilizer, transport for inputs, et cetera.
Private partnerships were realised to the tune of 116 million USD for funding command agriculture with Government providing securitisation, 30 million USD for Presidential input scheme and 36 million USD for cotton. A major problem was sequencing of activities due to Stop Orders whose forms should have been signed well before. 136 million USD was mobilised with 36 million being deposited to GMB in 2017 for payment to farmers who will have delivered their grain.
Several schemes are in place of up to 300 000 hectares of irrigation dedicated to grain production. 2 million metric tonnes is the target per annum. The Zimbabwe Brazil More Food Programme had irrigation equipment as its major component. 80 centre pivots were received from
Spain to service 230 000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure.
Nutrition had for years been viewed from a quantity lense. The thrust is now on a balanced diet and fortified foods. Production planning must integrate a number of crops depending on the elements those crops are expected to contribute towards a balanced diet. The inclusion of nutrition components of diets helps to mitigate wasting, stunting and obesity. An all stakeholder approach will greatly assist in the realisation of food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe.
3.2 AGRICULTURAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY (ARDA)
Mr. B. Nyabadza, the General Manager for ARDA apprised the Committee that there are 21 ARDA estates dotted around the country undertaking maize, soya beans, wheat, potatoes and livestock production to ensure food security in the country. Nine (9) of the estates are under irrigation crop, 1 focusing on sugar cane, two (2) estates are under mixed farming, six (6) estates fall under plantations, three (3) estates are under livestock production and wildlife.
ARDA is in the process of reclaiming its land that was encroached by local farmers in areas such as Chipinge, Mutasa, Masvingo and Muzarabani with assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development. In the process, ARDA has given up some of its land for purposes of resettling the farmers, for example, in the Magudu area in Masvingo Province where it ceded 6 000 hectares on a directive from the state.
The institution further supports farmers throughout-grower schemes in Chisumbanje, Antelope and Ngwezi estates. Out grower farmers benefit from the advice of agriculture extension officers employed at ARDA farms. ARDA has served as a point of reference for the value generated from partnership with private sector players in the rolling out of the Command Agriculture Programme. Five of its estates participated in the Command Agriculture Programme, namely;
Antelope, Jotsholo, Ngwezi, Rusitu and Doreen’s Pride.
The General Manager stated that the major setbacks of small grains production in the country is lack of seeds and little investment in research. There is also great need for investment in technology for processing and harvesting small grains. There is also notable deterioration in the country's position in seed production due to the closure of seed houses and the coming in of external players which compromises intellectual property rights, for instance, SEEDCO has partnered with a French investor, while Panner has partnered with American and Canadian investors. A nursery of over 80000 pecan nut seedlings have been planted at Fort Rixon in Matebeleland and will be distributed in due course. Workshops and publicity campaigns on how to grow pecan nuts and access seedlings will also be conducted by the authority to educate farmers.
3.3 ZIMBABWE FARMERS UNION (ZFU)
ZFU informed the Committee that due to the good rains received in the 2016/17 season and the availability of funding which supported agricultural production, the country’s food security situation had improved as evidenced by the realisation of an estimated 2 443 119 metric tonnes of maize and 350 000 metric tonnes for cereal. In terms of national access to food, supplies are stable with household level access improving significantly due to the introduction of multi-currencies which has restored purchasing power and also due to the fact that generally, food is accessible physically throughout the country. However, household access to food has been constrained by high levels of poverty, declining remittances, lack of liquidity, low productivity, lack of knowledge of nutritious food and inadequate employment opportunities among others.
ZFU pointed out to the Committee that findings from the World Food Programme (WFP, 2017) show that 63% of the country's population is still living below the poverty datum line while 16 % in living in extreme poverty. In terms of food utilization, challenges are compounded by wastage and stunted growth with WFP estimating that about 28% of the population are vulnerable and chronically ill. The association highlighted that the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS, 2010-11) showed that Zimbabwe is experiencing steadily increasing rates of obesity in women with 40.5% of women in urban areas being classified as obese and 22.5% of women in the rural areas also classified as being obese. Efforts are however being made to reduce nutrient deficiencies, in particular by production of nutrient dense crops such as sugar beans rich in iron, zinc, high quality protein and vitamin A.
However, lack of awareness was reported to be hindering the uptake of these improved varieties. Small grains are strategic due to the fact that they are drought tolerant and enhance nutritional status. Small grain production went up from 76 457 metric tonnes in the 2014/15 rainfall season to 288 782 metric tonnes in the 2016/17 season, with the most widely grown crop being sorghum accounting for an average of 55.4% of total area planted under small grains and pearl millet being the second most planted crop occupying an average 35.5% of the total planted area. Factors militating against the successful production of small grains include; lack of clear policy in monitoring small grain production; limited research and development of varieties; low consumer demand due to pricing and lack of technology in the area.
3.4. MINISTRY OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT
Mr. R. Chitsiko, the Permanent Secretary stated that Phase 1 has 3,
498 444 000 hectares settled 71 000 households whilst Phase 2 with 168 263 808 hectares settled 4 697 households. The fast track programme under A1 and A2 had 5 979 000 and 2 978 000 respectively over a total land area of 12, 6 million. That majority of resettlement land was allocated to families as headed by males. Only 10% were women in their own right. Noting that there are two basic settlement systems that is A1 Permit and 99 Year Lease for A2, the 99 year lease is now bankable for use as collateral by holders as confirmed by the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe through written correspondence to the Ministry.
Illegal settlements have also reduced viability of farming areas by reducing the carrying capacity of farming land forcing some farmers to scale down on production especially those specialising in livestock production. They have further caused siltation of major water bodies and some settlers are involved in mining activities in gazetted forest and farming areas. The Ministry has identified 764 A1 farms that have illegal settlers but however does not have the number of those on the farm. Some illegal settlements are a result of the Ministry’s non completion of adequate paper work and the plan is that illegal settlers be allowed to harvest and then vacate the settlements. Most challenges relating to illegal settlements were a result of allocations on either spouses and double allocations due to improper conduct by some officers who wrongfully advise the Minister and incorrect information before issuance of a Lease.
The Mining Act has supremacy over the Agricultural Act under current legislation. Agricultural land is infinite and every land which goes into the mining sector becomes a challenge. Open pits are left by miners posing challenges to livestock, soil, water and land degradation is a feature where there are mining activities. There is competition for labour in agriculture and the mining sector. Mining pays better and labour becomes more difficult especially in tobacco farming.
3.5 NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY (NBA)
The NBA is commended for promoting the use of bio-remedies which are cheaper and environmentally friendly to improve food and nutritional security in Zimbabwe although further studies on new remedies need to be conducted. Bio-remedies are meant to fulfil mineral nutrients of agricultural crops. Genetically Modified Foods have not been approved in Zimbabwe and Government is doing everything possible to guard against GMOs entering the country markets and conducting laboratory researches.
The establishment of a bio-bank will ensure that Zimbabwe claims ownership of her genetic resources and therefore claim royalties; increase of trade and ease of doing business and information sharing and ensuring food safety and genetic conservation.
There was an increase in the yield of sweet potatoes as a result of the resuscitation and restoration of the tissue culture facility at Horticulture Research Institute. The same programme will be expanded to other crops such as bananas, Irish potatoes, sugar cane and other horticultural crops. Trainings were conducted in Murehwa on how to grow and handle tissue culture produced planting material. The orange fleshed sweet potato programme which is rich in Vitamin A is underway to fight against Vitamin A deficiency.
3.6 MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
Zimbabwe, like many developing countries, is affected by chronic hunger and malnutrition. This inflicts a major injury to economic developmental achievements. The prevalence of malnutrition in women of reproductive age and children under 5 years of age is unacceptably high. The proportion of women and children suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, in particular Vitamin A, iodine and iron is of public health concern. There is an increasing trend in overweight and obesity among the children and adults across the country. Dietary risk factors, together with inadequate physical activity account for about 10% of the burden of disease and disability in Zimbabwe.
The latest evidence from the National Micronutrient Survey of
2012 (NMS, 2012) showed that Zimbabwe has a high burden of Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency and anaemia, with 31% of children aged 6 to 59 months being anaemic, and that 21 % of the same age group were Vitamin A deficient. Iron deficiency was also found to be high with 72% of children aged 6 to 59 months. Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency and anaemia were also high in women of child bearing age, with 62% of women being iron deficient, 26% being anaemic and 24% being Vitamin A deficient. The Ministry is committed to the first 1000 days that is from conception to 24 months as part of scaling up nutrition with interventions aimed at reducing prevalence of stunting, anaemia and low birth weight
3.7. FOOD AND NUTRITION COUNCIL (FNC)
The institution stated that stunting had gone up slightly from 26.6% to 28.6%. The Food and Nutrition Council further notes that the boy child is affected more by stunting across all provinces in Zimbabwe and there is need for a study or research as to why boys are affected more by the stunted growth. On the increase in overweight, Government is providing awareness on good eating habits. Government has intensified food fortification strategies to strengthen nutrient content in foods.
The institution commends the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, increase in national herd, vaccination programmes, promotion of livestock among farmers and the multi-sectoral community based model to Food and Nutrition Security Management for stunting reduction.
4. COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
The Committee noted that there has been poor and ineffective distribution of inputs under the Command Agriculture programme, a situation evidenced by the failure to set up sufficient input distribution points in provinces such as Matebeleland and the late distribution of inputs.
4.1. The Committee stressed the need to urge the Government to prioritise water harvesting efforts as a drought mitigation strategy. The country can also benefit from reservoirs for water storage and water tanks among others for use by communities since vandalism of irrigation equipment is rampant. The Committee further noted that there is need to diversify irrigation models for instance, drip irrigation in place of flood irrigation.
4.2. The Committee applauded the coming in of private players in financing agricultural production.
4.3. The Committee applauded ARDA in its work of transforming Matebeleland South from a non- productive agro-ecological region
to a high yielding province in terms of agricultural produce under the Command Agriculture programme. The Committee further commended the successful pecan nuts projects undertaken by some of ARDA’s Estates and emphasised the need to train more farmers
in the production of pecan nuts.
4.4. That ARDA is facing capitalisation challenges and hence relying on ARDA seeds for capitalisation since there has not been any funding from Treasury. The Committee noted with concern
ARDA’s plight in the lack of capital injection in seed production.
4.5. The Committee noted that statistics are a key aspect of agricultural planning and therefore, systems should be put in place to collect and provide accurate information on farming activities on time.
4.6. Farmer associations and other parties involved in agricultural production to include the nutrition education component in their activities.
4.7. There is little or no control of environmental protection in the resettlement area. As such, settlers should be discouraged from cutting down trees.
4.8. That productive ex-farm labourers are still resident at resettled farms.
4.9. There is noted increase in overweight and obesity among children and adults in the country.
4.10. The Committee noted the commitment to reduce stunting from
27% to 10% and underweight children to 5% by 2025.
4.11. That there has been a rise in anaemia in women and children. The Committee noted that rural communities are mostly affected by malnutrition.
4.12. That Village Health Workers are assisting in the communities in respect of children with acute malnutrition.
4.13. The Committee noted that some schools were unable to access food through the school feeding programme. There is also not enough water to support and sustain the nutritional gardens at schools.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
Resolutions | Action | Timeframe |
5.1 The Government of Zimbabwe must invest more in local seed research, production, marketing and financing. | The Ministry of Lands,
Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and the Ministry of Finance and relevant interested parties to spearhead this. |
By December 2018 |
5.2. That ex-farm labourers who are resident at farms and are productive should also be considered in land allocation. | Ministry of Lands,
Agriculture and Rural Resettlement to identify land to allocate the affected parties. |
By December 2018 |
5.3 There is need to encourage good eating habits and exercise to the public by all relevant stakeholders in the food and nutrition sector for example a mix of groundnuts and foods containing vitamins and proteins. | The Ministry of Health and Child Care must educate on eating habits for the public. | Immediately |
5.4 There is need for a full packaged diet for the school feeding programme noting that some do not have access to the food and some not getting the full composition of dietary requirements. Nutrition gardens at schools also need support from Government in terms of water provision | Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education, Ministry of Health and Child Care and Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Resettlement to me up with a coordinated approach. |
Immediately |
5.5. VHW should be present in all communities and incentives should be provided for them to continue spearheading programmes such as supplementary feeding, breastfeeding, etc | The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to come up with a package for VHW to incentivise them on their work. | Immediately |
I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Mr. President, I would like to support the mover of the motion, Hon. Sen. Tawengwa by saying that the Zimbabwe Farmers Union gave a report on what is happening on the state of nutrition within the areas where they are working. They reported that the small grain has increased from over 17000 metric tonnes in 2014/15 season to over 288 000 metric tonnes in 2016/17 seasons. The most grown crops cover sorghum, which is 54 % and pearl millet which is 35%. This means people are beginning to appreciate the use of small grains and hectrage is also increasing.
The Minister of Health and Child Care came up with a report on the state of malnutrition. They reported that there is deficiency in particular, vitamin A, iodine and iron. Therefore, there is increase with Government saying that there should be micro-nutrient programme within the business communities which is supporting the Government. The latest evidence also shows that the micro-nutrient survey which was done in 2012 showed that there is a high burden of vitamin A and iron deficiency which results in anemia, with 31% of children under the age of 59 months who are anemic and 21% of the same age being vitamin A
deficient.
Iron deficiency was also found to be high amongst 72% of children aged between 6 and 59 months. Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency and anemia were also high among women of child bearing age, with 62% of women being iron deficient, 26% being anemic and 24% being vitamin deficient. All these would be reduced if people remember that if you add a bit of lemon in your vegetables, more iron is absorbed. Some education needs to be added within the availability and non-availability of some of these nutrients.
We went to the Food and Nutrition Council which came to give us some information. The institution stated that stunting has gone slightly higher from 26% to over 28%. Stunting has increased while the food has been available because of lack of education. We need all of us to be aware that we need to inform our communities to mix food. Food is available but it is the manner in which it is being eaten. That is why we have given a recommendation that there should be nutrition education within the community by all of us who are here as Members of Parliament. When we go out there, can we all be able to say there are food mixes. Mr. President, thank you.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Thank you Mr. President. I would want to thank all the people who supported this motion and all those who assisted in the gathering of information. I now move that this
House takes note of the report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on S.D.G. No.2.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON.
SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): Before I call for debate, we simply want people to stand up and wind up these motions, that is why we are here otherwise we would be in the car park going back home.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Mr. President, I would like to really appreciate the 11 Hon. Senators who debated this motion. Among the 11, we had only one who opposed the motion. So, I am really thankful and can we adopt the motion.
Motion that;
NOTING that cultural development is key to economic development had led to the underdevelopment of some areas of the country.
Calls upon this House to-
- Support the development of local languages;
- Give consideration to local people where employment opportunities arise in their areas;
- Expedite the devolution process for planning, implementing and monitoring economic development and use of resources;
- Ensure inclusiveness in all Government sectors such as parastatals management boards and government ministries put and agreed to.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President. I have
nothing to add but to thank Hon. Senators who contributed to this motion. I now therefore, call this Senate to adopt this motion that;
ACKNOWLEDGING the preamble of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe which among others recognise the need to overcome all challenges and obstacles that impede our progress;
COGNISANT of the fact the Information Communication
Technology (ICT) is becoming an important catalyst for socio-economic development in the global economy;
NOTING the urgent need to address the ICT divide between the rural and urban and the young and the old people in our country; ALSO NOTING that ICT illiteracy among some sections of our community is hindering economic progress and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose theme is “leave no one behind”;
APPLAUDING government initiatives to setting up community information centres throughout the country and prioritising ICT literacy from the Early Childhood Development (ECD) level;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon the Ministry of Information,
Communication Technology and Cyber Security to-
- Prioritise installation of the fiber optic infrastructure in all rural areas;
- Roll out an ICT literacy programme targeting the middle aged and rural populace in order to overcome challenges and obstacles that hinder progress;
- Take appropriate measures to ensure internet services are easily accessible and affordable;
- Expedite the Cyber Crime Bill in order to protect citizens from online abuses motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE RESETTLEMENT AREAS FOR
ZWEHAMBA, MAHATSHE AND MATANKENI COMMUNITIES
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the call on the Executive to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities from Zvehamba, Mahatshe and Matankeni.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Mr. President, this motion was widely
discussed; I now move that the motion be adopted.
Motion that;
DISTURBED by the lack of commitment by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities from Zwehamba, Mahatshe; and
Matankeni evicted to pave way for developmental national projects;
CONCERNED at the apparent lack of consideration for such communities who had to bear the brutal brunt of oppressions in 1947 when they resisted eviction;
COGNISANT that it is their right to enjoy the fruits and the benefits of the war of liberation in view of their heroic exploits when they resisted colonial oppression;
MINDFUL that such communities have to be involved in the Command Agriculture Programme which was launched in 2016, a year which coincided with their unscheduled evictions;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon the Executive to expeditiously resolve the issue of providing arable land to sixty-two households from Zvehamba; Mahatshe; and Matankeni areas in the Matobo District so that they can resume their farming activities unperturbed so as to live a prosperous and stable life premised on peace and stability which is requisite in the whole of Zimbabwe motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NON-ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the circumstances surrounding the non-establishment of Community Share Ownership Trust in Mudzi and Mutoko Districts.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Thank you Mr. President, it is once
again with humility that I now stand before you in this august Senate to wind up the debate on the motion. I thank the Hon. Senators, Hon. Senator Chiefs, and our traditional leaders for the very intense, elaborate, eloquent and robust debates when we deliberated on the motion. It is apparently clear from the deliberations that Community Share Ownership Trusts are a vehicle for empowerment empowering the marginalised communities from their God given resources. Mineral wealth is a fine art resource which should benefit Zimbabweans by uplifting their lives, so some of the Community Share Ownership Trusts are doing very well and this should be replicated in most districts where mining is taking place. We cannot leave communities poorer with deforestation, massive land degradation, pollution, poor roads, no schools, et cetera, traditional with any response or answers to that.
So I once again extend my appreciation to those who came before the Committee, our Committee Clerk, interns and all those who contributed to this report. I move for the adoption of the Committee report. I thank you.
Motion that this House takes note of the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the circumstances surrounding the non-establishment of Community Share
Ownership Trusts in Mudzi and Mutoko Districts put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON PEACE
AND SECURITY ON THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE GRAIN
MARKETING BOARD TO HANDLE THE 2016/2017 CROP DELIVERIES AND THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMAND
AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on the Preparedness of the Grain Marketing Board to handle the 2016/17 Crop Deliveries and the Success of the Command Agriculture Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: Thank you Mr. President, I want to make a few comments before I wind up this. We were eagerly waiting for the Ministers to come and respond to such good work which was done by the Committee and to buttress that, when we introduced this report in the Senate, it was debated by a total of 19 Hon. Senators, all of them in support of the report. There was none who debated against the report. So, all along we thought the Ministers would come and applaud such good work because the effects of command agriculture are still very visible. It is one of the plus investments which the Government has done very well and it is there for everyone to see. It was not a one time off activity but I think we managed to conquer hunger in this country through the command agriculture which we addressed. So, with dismay,
I want to move that this report be adopted Mr. President. I thank you.
Motion that this House takes note of the First Report on the
Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on the preparedness of the Grain Marketing Board to handle the 2016/2017 crop deliveries and the success of the Command Agriculture Programme put and agreed to.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR
MASVINGO PROVINCE (HON. SEN. HUNGWE), the Senate
adjourned at Nine Minutes to Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 31st July, 2018.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 7th June, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MATUKE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 5 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day, on today’s Order Paper have been disposed of. HON. MPARIWA: I second
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON
THE EXAMINATION OF THE APPROPRIATION AND FUND
ACCOUNTS FOR THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT HON. MPARIWA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House note of the First Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the on the Examination of the Appropriation and Fund Accounts for the
Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.
HON. MARIDADI: I second.
HON. MPARIWA: INTRODUCTION
The Office of the Auditor General audited the 2016 Appropriation
Accounts for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. It issued an unmodified opinion but raised some issues that needed the Ministry’s attention. The audit also covered financial statements for three Funds administered by the Ministry. These were namely; the Amenities Fund Accounts for financial years 2011 and 2012 and the National Education and Training Fund Accounts for financial year 2014 which all received a disclaimer of opinion and the
Innovation and Commercialisation Fund Accounts for financial years
2014 and 2015 which received a qualified opinion.
As observed in previous reports by the Committee, it has become common practice that Ministries, tend to comply with statutory deadlines for submission of Appropriation accounts for audit whilst lagging behind on fund accounts. Issues raised on funds administered by this Ministry are a clear demonstration of badly managed Funds, characterised by absence of accounting records, management override of controls, absence of supporting documentation for expenditure incurred, and absence of operating procedures and guidelines. The Committee continued to recommend for Treasury to institute punitive measures against Ministries which failed to submit financial statements for Funds within statutory deadlines. The conduct constitutes an abrogation of the constitutional provisions which require state institutions at every level to be accountable to Parliament.
The Auditor General in her 2016 Annual Report had echoed sentiments by the Committee over the years for Treasury to review retention Funds and allow revenue collected under Funds to be accounted for through the Consolidated Revenue fund. Provision for resources under Fund Accounts in most Ministries is now made in the Budget; hence in 2016, the audit noted a reduction in the number of cases where there was intermingling of funds and Appropriation
Accounts. It is the Committee’s hope that Treasury continues to monitor and scrutinise the manner in which funds are being managed to ensure adequate internal controls are in place, there is proper management and intended objectives are achieved. Below are the Committee’s findings, observations and recommendations.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ENQUIRY
The Committee examined issues raised on Ministry’s
Appropriation and Fund Accounts by the Auditor General in line with its mandate as spelt out in Section 299 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe of 2013 and as articulated in Standing Order No. 16. Precisely, Section 299 states as follows:
(1) Parliament must monitor and oversee expenditure by the
State and all Commissions and institutions and agencies of
Government at every level, including statutory bodies,
Government controlled entities, provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities, in order to ensure that-
- all revenue is accounted for;
- all expenditure has been properly incurred; and
- any limits and conditions on appropriations have been observed.
In addition, the National Assembly Standing Order No. 16 mandates PAC to examine the sums granted by Parliament to meet public expenditure and such other accounts laid before the National Assembly. It is, therefore, the duty of the Public Accounts Committee to give assurance to the House that public funds have been managed and utilised as approved by Parliament and in line with regulatory frameworks.
METHODOLOGY
The Committee had two oral evidence sessions with the then
Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer for Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education Prof. Gudyanga and other senior officials within the Ministry. It also requested supporting documentary evidence which was analysed and these formed the basis of the Report.
FINDINGS, OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BY THE COMMITTEE
Appropriation Accounts for the Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development for the
Year Ending December 31, 2016
Unsupported Payments for Foreign Services amounting to
$121 000
The Audit observed that, payments totaling $121 000 made to Foreign Missions were not fully supported by invoices, receipts from suppliers and acquittals in violation of Treasury Instructions 1216. The
Audit, therefore could not ascertain whether expenditure incurred at Foreign Missions was a proper charge on voted funds.
The then Permanent Secretary Prof. Gudyanga informed the
Committee that payments for transactions at Foreign Embassies were made through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which in turn acknowledged the transfers by issuing receipts. He indicated that the acquittals were retained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He attributed delays in submitting acquittals by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to shortages of funds in the off shore Nostro Account which in turn delay transfer of funds to Missions. The then Permanent Secretary also informed the Committee that the Ministry was following up on the acquittals with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Committee noted with concern that there was a dereliction of duty on the part of the Ministry by not making serious efforts in following up on the acquittals with either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or directly with its officials at Missions. The Ministry should directly obtain supporting documentation for expenditures incurred abroad by its officers rather than to wait for Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide such documentation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is only a conduit through which disbursements are made but the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development remains with the responsibility to account for such funds.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should avail to the
Auditor General all the supporting documentation for the $121 000 by 30 June, 2018. At the same time, it should advise on measures taken to prevent recurrences in future.
Prior year variance of $23 902 between the Sub-Paymaster General
Account and the Appropriation Account figure
The Committee observed that the Ministry failed to reconcile the outstanding variance of $23 902 between the Sub-Paymaster General Account and the Appropriation Account noted in 2015. The Ministry suspected that some transactions could have been processed into the System but funds were then not made available. At the time of receiving evidence, end of last year, it indicated that investigations into the variance were underway and would be finalised by end of December 2017.
The Committee’s assessment is that, the Ministry would have detected the variance on time, if monthly reconciliations were being carried out religiously. It failed to understand why it had taken the
Ministry two years to clear the variance.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should, by 30 June,
2018, submit reconciliations clearing the variance.
AMENITIES FUND ACCOUNT 2011 AND 2012
The Committee learnt that the Amenities Fund was established under the repealed Audit and Exchequer Act in 1967. It was set up for polytechnics, Industrial Trade Testing Regions and Teacher’s Colleges.
The objective of the Fund as provided in Section 3 of the Fund Constitution was to:
- Provide students with facilities for sporting, social and cultural activities in colleges,
- Support education in subjects of vocational and technical cultural or intellectual nature;
- Provide study aids for students;
- Provide advances for students awaiting delayed approved scholarships, and
- Provide advance salaries for staff whose salaries are in arrears and canteen facilities for students and staff in colleges.
The Ministry should amend the Constitution of the Fund by 31 July, 2018 in order to reflect the Public Finance Management Act as the relevant statute for the establishment of the Fund. Treasury should ensure that all the Constitutions of various Funds are amended accordingly by 31 December 2018.
Late Submission of Financial Statements- 2011 and 2012and failure to maintain accounting records
Section 35 (4) of the Pubic Finance Management Act requires Ministries to submit financial statements for Funds within three months after the end of a financial year. It was highlighted that financial statements for 2011 and 2012 were only submitted for audit on 30 April, 2014 and 30 May, 2014 respectively, about two to three years after the deadline. The 2015 and 2016 financial statements were again submitted late, that is, on 13 June 2017 instead of 31 March in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Furthermore, the institutions were not maintaining proper books of accounts resulting in numerous variances between the aggregate financial statements balances and physical records inspected during audit.
The Ministry attributed the late submission to a whole range of challenges affecting the 27 learning institutions. These institutions were individually collecting and administering funds and then prepare and submit financial statements for consolidation at Head Office. Some institutions were preparing accounts manually while others had computerised accounting system. Some presented accounts with errors while others because of the manual accounting systems were lagging behind in terms of preparing and submission of returns. There were also cases of poor performance in some colleges. Some institutions were failing to maintain proper accounting records. A combination of these factors had made consolidation of financial statements at Head Office a nightmare, resulting in delays in submission of financial statements by the Ministry and the variances observed during audits.
In addressing these challenges, the Ministry indicated that all institutions were instructed to introduce a computerised pastel accounting package with the same charts of accounts to improve accounting processes. It instituted on the job training for accountants with challenges in preparing financial statements. It also requested the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to upgrade heads of departments for finance, human resources and administration and the request had been granted. However, progress was only noted at Mutare and Mkoba
Teacher’s Colleges which acquired and installed Pastel Accounting system. The rest were still lagging behind in maintenance of accounting records and use of computerizsed accounting systems. The Committee observed that the Ministry was not effectively playing its supervisory role on the learning institutions. The Committee learnt that all Funds are being moved to the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) and operate using the SAP system. It has also learnt that the Accountant General has already introduced 40 Funds onto the SAP system and is discouraging Ministries from buying any other accounting packages without approaching the Accountant General’s Department.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should ensure that all institutions are computerised by 31 August, 2018. The Ministry should approach the Accountant General’s office with its list of Funds so that they are introduced to the Government SAP system for accounting of the funds resources. It should also ensure that all institutions are maintaining proper books of accounts.
Unexplained difference between the opening and closing
Accumulated Fund figures in 2011 and 2012
In 2011, an unexplained difference of $287 748 was observed between the opening and closing Accumulated Fund figures and in 2012, the difference was $158 382. The Ministry attributed the differences to imbalances in financial statements submitted to Head Office by the learning institutions. As highlighted earlier on, the Ministry indicated that some of these institutions were operating manual accounting systems while others did not have accountants with requisite skills hence the imbalances in the financial statements. It informed the Committee that individual institutions had been requested to investigate the variances.
In addition there were also variances noted between aggregated financial statements balances and cash book balances which the Auditor General attributed to non-maintenance of accounting records and general ledgers. The Ministries indicated that variances were due to different accounting systems that were being used by learning institutions. For instance, some were on cash based accounting while others were on the accrual accounting system. Going forward, the Ministry had instructed all learning institutions to adopt the accrual accounting system on the chart of accounts.
The Committee was disappointed by the apparent lack of supervision of institutions of higher learning by the Ministry. This was demonstrated by use of different accounting systems, late submission of financial statements and failure by institutions to carry out reconciliations to prevent imbalances resulting in Auditor Generals expressing a disclaimer of opinion on the set of financial statements.
Institutions were left to themselves yet the Ministry should play an oversight role over these institutions.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should fully investigate the variances and submit the evidence to the Committee and the Office of the Auditor General by 30 June, 2018. The Committee recommends that by the time of the next audit the Ministry must ensure that the learning institution’s accounts are…
Payment of $1 497 136 in salaries, wages and allowances to casual workers without CSC approval
The Audit observed that Management had used the income from the Fund totaling $1 497 136 to employ and pay casual workers without CSC approval as required by the Public Service Act. [Chapter 16:04]. The Ministry said the amount in question was paid to casual workers employed by nine polytechnics and 9 teachers’ colleges in their fundraising activities. The payment of wages was approved by the Accounting Officer as provided for in Section 5 (b) of the Fund
Constitution. It states that the expenditure of the Fund shall, among others, be payments relating to wages and other benefits paid to staff employed in the canteen by colleges. The Ministry also argued that the requirement for CSC approval only came into effect with the new Constitution of Zimbabwe enacted in 2013.
The Committee noted that the Accounting Officer was permitted then in 2012, to approve such expenditure by the Fund Constitution since the Constitution came into being in 2013. There is, however, need to align the Fund Constitution with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The Ministry had approached Treasury in a bid to have the Fund merged with the Tertiary Fund for ease of administration of the two.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development should consider the proposal to merge the two
Funds and finalise the process by 31 August, 2018. The new merged
Fund Constitution should be aligned with the new Constitution of
Zimbabwe.
Absence of debtor control system resulting in unexplained difference of $441 908 (2011: $1 166 107) between financial statements and the Consolidated Account
The Audit observed that income from students’ fees was at times recognised on cash basis contrary to the accrual basis of accounting, which requires that such revenue be recognised when invoices for fees due are raised. Debtors were therefore, misstated in the financial statements. The same discordance was observed on assets management whereby some institutions had expensed their assets in the Comprehensive Income resulting in assets worth $924 012 being expensed in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
The Ministry acknowledged the observation and indicated that measures were being taken to standardise the accounting reporting framework. As observed before, the Ministry was not playing its supervisory role over learning institutions, hence the use of different accounting standards. In September 2017, there were no significant changes observed as the majority of institutions could not avail comprehensive debtors’ lists of schedules that are used to come up with debtors’ figures.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should ensure that institutions put in place debtor control systems and that debtor variances are investigated and reconciled by 31 August, 2018.
INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALISATION FUND 2014
AND 2015
The Fund was established in 2002 to fund scientific research inventions and innovations of national importance and to commercialise research and development results.
$47 155 debt written off without Treasury Approval
The audit observed that an amount of $47 155 in respect of Accounts Receivables was written off during the financial year 2015 without Treasury authority. The Ministry acknowledged the observation. It utilised Fund resources to meet expenditure ordinarily met by
Appropriation funds with the intention to reimburse after Treasury had released the funds. It then decided to expense the debt after Treasury failed to disburse the funds.
The Committee expressed concern on the tendency by the Ministry to disregard laid down procedures. In the first place, the Ministry did not seek Treasury authority to utilise Fund resources when Treasury releases were not forthcoming. It then decided to cover up for the misapplication of Fund resources by reclassifying the receivable as an expense. The
Committee noted that since the 2017 Budget, the expenditure under Funds would be monitored through the PFMS and as a result misapplication of Fund resources would be curtailed.
Failure to recover loans amounting to $201 344 (2014: $185
909)
As observed in 2014, the Fund failed to meet its intended objectives due to failure to recover loans amounting to $201 344. In terms of the Standard Operating Procedures Manual, beneficiaries should start serving the loans six months after receiving the loan. Only one beneficiary had paid $1000.
The Committee noted with concern that the Ministry did not do due diligence before disbursing loans to beneficiaries. It was not prudent for the Ministry to disburse loans without any form of security in order to safeguard public funds. Even though beneficiaries were failing to pay, the Ministry continued to disburse loans without taking into account the sustainability of the projects. It indicated that it had written letters of demand on three occasions but to no avail. A meeting held between the then Deputy Minister, Hon. Dr Gandawa and the beneficiaries showed that the Ministry was sympathetic to the beneficiaries and as a result they were reluctant to pay back the loans. The Ministry indicated that it currently fund innovations being implemented in partnership with learning institutions.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should seek Treasury authority by 30 June, 2018 with a view to have the outstanding loans written off.
Failure to invest an amount of $85 531 sitting in the Bank
Account
The Audit observed that the Ministry could not invest $85 531 that was lying idle in the bank account for two years. In 2015, the Fund had an opening bank balance of $85 531 and by year end had a closing balance of $80 331 as it was incurring charges. The Fund Constitution provides for investment of funds that are not required for immediate use.
The Ministry indicated that the funds were later used to procure a vehicle which was never delivered. The delay in delivery of the vehicle was blamed on the shortage of foreign currency. The Committee was not convinced that the shortage of foreign currency was already an issue in 2015. There was a likelihood that the Ministry just paid for the vehicle and no follow up was made with the supplier until the supplier was caught up in issues of foreign currency shortages. The Committee was not convinced why the Ministry in the first place had to pay for a vehicle which was not in stock. Given that the vehicle was for monitoring projects being funded under the Fund, the Committee questioned whether the funds were not enough to purchase two vehicles. Due care was, therefore, not given to issues of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources. The Committee noted with concern that this was another case of a badly managed Fund by the Ministry. It reinforces the call by the Committee for Funds to be channeled through the Consolidated Revenue Fund for spending to be under Treasury control.
The Committee notes that the vehicle was finally delivered after about a year following an order being made. The Committee had recommended that the Ministry gets a refund and source the vehicle from the local market when delivery was taken.
NATIONAL EDUCATION FUND, 2014
The Fund was set with the objective to provide grants and interest bearing loans to enable deserving students who are citizens of Zimbabwe and who are of well attested ability and proven diligence, to pursue course of studies leading to the acquisition of professional qualifications at local and foreign universities, teachers and agricultural colleges and other institutions of higher learning approved by the
Permanent Secretary. The Auditor General issued a disclaimer of opinion which is a clear indication that there were serious deficiencies in financial records to the extent that the Auditor could not obtain sufficient audit evidence upon which to base an opinion.
Non-disclosure of Debtors and Maintenance of Records
The Audit observed that the Ministry did not disclose outstanding stipends for students on bilateral scholarships amounting to $1 221 500. The Ministry indicated that it was facilitating placement of students in foreign universities on a cost sharing arrangement with such universities. Treasury was expected to meet the difference but disbursements were erratic. The Ministry then requested parents and guardians to meet the difference. It therefore, stopped disclosing the debt in its books since it was no longer accruing but would recognise funding on cash basis and expenses it whenever Treasury made some disbursements.
Failure to disclose the debt could result in misstating the outstanding stipends and consequently misled Treasury when making releases. The Committee expressed concern on the failure by
Government to meet its obligation as this has caused untold suffering to students on bilateral scholarship arrangement. Government normally targets children from less privileged backgrounds and the chances of parents meeting the cost on behalf of Government was very unlikely.
Government, therefore, had an obligation to pay for those students. The Committee noted with concern that some students ended up engaging in undesirable acts such as prostitution and drug abuse, much to the discredit of the country’s image.
It is the Committee’s view that when Government sends students out of the country, its commitment is absolute. It has a moral and a financial obligation to meet that commitment.
The Committee recommends that the Ministry should fully disclose the full debt in the 2017 financial statements which should be availed to the Auditor General within the prescribed time limit for submission of statements.
Expenditure not disclosed in the correct period
Financial Statements submitted for Audit indicated a total expenditure of $528 931 for the year under review while payment vouchers audited revealed that $314 000 of that amount was related to prior periods. No liability was disclosed in the financial statements. The Ministry indicated that it owed $62 million in cadetship fees to institutions and the amount was not disclosed as a liability in the financial statements. This was attributed to use of cash as opposed to accrual accounting system It indicated that institutions were instructed to use the accrual system and the amount was eventually disclosed in the 2016 financial statements.
The Ministry informed the Committee that institutions were employing various strategies to recover the debt from students. For instance, some institutions were withholding certificates for students under cadetship upon completion of programmes. Through these strategies, the debt had been reduced to around $30 million.
As observed earlier on in relation to students on bilateral scholarships, the Committee expressed concern that Government had made a commitment to pay for students on cadetship but was now burdening institutions by not fulfilling its financial obligation. The Ministry indicated that cadetship had since been abandoned due to lack of funding. The Committee is of the view that it was immoral for institutions to withhold certificates for students on cadetship since they were owed by Government and not individual students who were funded through cadetship programme.
The Committee recommends that Government should clear the debt which accrued under the cadetship programme by 31 August, 2018. The Committee also recommends that learning institutions desist from withhold student’s certificates for money owed to them by Government.
Issuing of Student Loans without following proper procedures
The Fund’s Constitution stipulates that expenditure of the Fund shall include payment of approved loans, grants for tuition, stipends and fares. A total amount of $19 078 from a sample of 16 students was spent on tuition, food and accommodation at local universities and abroad and reflected as other expenditure. Reflecting the payments as
“Other Expenditure” gave an impression that the students might not have been among those who qualified for funding under the Fund’s Constitution. The Ministry indicated that the payments were for fees for desperate cases that approached the Accounting Officer directly or were recommended by other institutions and were treated on a case by case basis.
The Committee observed that the Fund might run the risk of benefiting undeserving students if laid down procedures were not followed. The Committee could not understand why those so called desperate cases could not follow the laid down procedure for accessing funding. Moreso, the Fund did not give the Accounting Officer the latitude to vary the procedures.
The Ministry should avail to the Auditor General the necessary documentation showing recommendations by other institutions or
Government departments and the Accounting Officer by 30 June, 2018.
CONCLUSION
Issues raised under the Funds administered by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology are quite serious. There is lack of supervision in the management of these Funds as demonstrated by poor maintenance of records, delays in reporting, misapplication of Fund resources, non-adherence to Fund Constitutions to mention but a few. The Ministry should put in place effective controls to ensure proper management of these Funds. Now that Funds are also included in the National Budget, it is the Committee’s hope that Treasury will ensure that there are effective controls in place to curb maladministration practices currently associated with Funds. The Committee urges Treasury, in the long run, to redirect all Funds towards the Consolidated Revenue Fund to ensure effective management of public funds.
The Committee notes with great concern that on two occasions, the Auditor General has not been able to express an opinion because of inadequacies in the report. In the event that this is repeated in the next audit report, the Committee is of the view that disciplinary action should be taken against the concerned officials.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts. The issues that are raised in this report are issues that cut across. Funds that are controlled by the Ministry are not properly controlled. The Ministry is found using other packages which is not the package that is supposed to be used by Government; which is the Standard BSAP accounting package used by Government. There are issues of corporate governance which are not adhered to and this is the problem that we have. These problems cut across – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, we cannot
hear what he is debating now.
HON. MARIDADI: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
is going to present yet another report Mr. Speaker, and you are going to find that the issues that she will raise in the next report are almost the same with those she has just presented. I want to leave it at that and allow her to present a second report, then I will be able to debate at length after the second report has been presented. Thank you.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to support the report and the recommendations made by our Public Accounts Committee, which time and again has made us proud in this Fourth
Parliament. I have praised the Committee before and I applaud Hon. Paurina Mpariwa. For me, it shows what women can do when they are given the leadership of Committees. I also want to thank the rest of the Committee Members for also believing in the leadership of a woman.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am particularly – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, Order Hon. Members. I think
this is the last time I am going to call for order in this House before I send someone out of this House.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to support the recommendations that were made by the Public Accounts Committee around what is definitely misappropriation of funds in the Ministry’s Appropriation Account. It must alarm, shock and make us unhappy and disturbed to continue yelling time after time again for such irresponsible treatment of Government funds and the need to account in light of Chapter 9 of the Constitution.
I am going to be very brief. I am particularly concerned about what I see as lack of responsibility on the part of the financial accounting of the Ministry in failing to recover monies, particularly the Cadetship Programme that is administered under the Public Accounts
Committee. I am happy that the Committee has recommended that the Ministry moves with speed to recover the money that is due for cadetships because the failure to recover these monies is a great barrier; it stands in the way of other Zimbabweans who are young; particularly the young people who are coming out of high school and also want to engage in tertiary education and wish to be given an opportunity.
This money must come back because there are lots of other students who are struggling, whose families cannot pay for them, so the Ministry indeed must take these recommendations seriously. I think there is another thought that is related to those students who are trainees of either the Ministry of Education for example, who go for teaching practice and who have the allowances reduced and are also not able to benefit from State coffers yet there is money that needs to be recovered for this same fund. I want to believe Mr. Speaker Sir, that we should take this seriously so that young people in our country get broader opportunity to access State funding. If the Ministry does not take this seriously, this will not happen.
I want to strongly recommend that they use the facilities of the Ministry of Justice; the Litigation Department which can easily recover these monies. Secondly, I am also concerned about what was noted by the Committee that procedures were not followed in the disbursement of funds in terms of the same fund. Mr. Speaker Sir, I think this Parliament in closing as it is about to do, must also be heard seriously and must have its recommendations taken seriously. These are criminal offences; I do not understand why we tolerate such a high level of perfidy in public accounts.
In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, it is a criminal offence to fail to follow properly laid out procedures for running Government funding. So, it will be wonderful if for once the
Commissioner General of Police – because this report of the Public
Accounts is public, it will be in the Hansard, if the Commissioner General can just show the seriousness by going through may be just this one report, opening dockets and investigating that failure by people to follow Government’s laid down procedures as well as the issue about the vehicle that was purchased without authority but was not purchased.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this Parliament should be alarmed by this ‘ghost’ vehicle that the Ministry seems to have bought but not bought using public funds. This must be investigated. This Parliament cannot just listen to these things and let go and the police do not do anything about it together with the Prosecutor General’s office.
I want to recommend that there be prosecution before the elections, before 31 July 2018, to show that indeed we are in the new dispensation. The Prosecutor General and the Commissioner General must take just this report and investigate what happened to this ‘ghost’ vehicle where money was misappropriated but money was not found and also the issue of the lack of recovery procedures being followed. These are my submissions.
I also noticed that the Committee in indicated that by 31st July, 2018, it expects that the Ministry provides through the Auditor General full details of transactions that it wants. This day, 31st July, 2018 happens to be exactly a day after the elections, I say that because I do not want the sterling work of the Public Accounts Committee and indeed the work of this Parliament whose Committee has brilliantly performed, to go in vain simply because there is an election inbetween.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if we have any rule of law in this country and if we truly care about our citizens, let 31st July, 2018 be a case where the
Ministry of Higher Education is saved by the bell. The Commissioner General of Police and the Prosecutor General are not subject to elections. They must indeed be seen to be carrying the interests of Zimbabwe by carrying on holding the line even after this Parliament and this Committee are no longer in place. Mr. Speaker Sir, let there be criminal investigations, prosecutions and convictions at the very least around the ‘ghost’ vehicle that was bought and not bought and the failure to adhere to procedures. I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: There is a grey vehicle Ford Ranger AEF 5915 which is blocking the way. Can the owner please go and remove that vehicle.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the two Hon. Members who have spoken to the report and this actually marks the end of this Session but I think as the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, may I through your office, persuade you to make a follow up in terms of these recommendations so that they do not gather dust in the shelves. With that conclusion, I now move that This House takes note of the First Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Examination of the Appropriation and Fund Accounts for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON
THE EXAMINATION OF THE VALUE FOR MONEY REPORT ON
LAND UTILISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES BY
ARDA
HON. MPARIWA: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on the Examination of the Value for Money Report on Land Utilisation and Management of Estates by the Agricultural Rural Development
Authority (ARDA).
HON. MARIDADI: I second.
HON. MPARIWA:
INTRODUCTION:
The Auditor General conducted a value for money audit on selected Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) Estates across the country. The purpose of the audit was to report on the challenges affecting efficient and effective utilisation of land by ARDA and to suggest ways of improving the Authority’s operations. The Audit was conducted against a background of vast tracts of arable land lying idle on ARDA Estates for the period 2006 – 2010 when the Authority’s mandate is to ensure food security and to assist in rural development through managing land on behalf of the State.
The Audit revealed failure to fully utilise arable land by ARDA, poor livestock management and shortages of workshop tools and farming implements among other challenges. The Auditor General then recommended a number of measures aimed at enabling ARDA to improve its operations. Among these were drawing up an effective implementation of a recapitalisation plan for irrigation infrastructure, timely acquisition of inputs and instilling animal husbandry best practices in its staff. Following the presentation of this report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) resolved to conduct verification visits to the Estates.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ENQUIRY
METHODOLOGY:
The Public Accounts Committee analysed the report and resolved to conduct verification visits to the ARDA Estates. In undertaking these visits, the Committee sought to achieve the following objectives:
- To get an appraisal of the action taken or improvements made following the Auditor General’s findings and recommendations;
- To receive a briefing on the challenges the Authority continues to face and assistance required in its efforts to turn around its fortunes; and
- To compile a report of its findings and recommendations for presentation to Parliament for the attention of the Executive.
The examination of the report and subsequent verification visits were consistent with the Committee’s mandate, as enshrined in Section 299 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which reads as follows:
“Parliament must monitor and oversee expenditure by the State and all Commissions and institutions and agencies of Government at every level, including statutory bodies, government controlled entities, provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities, in order to ensure that-
- all revenue is accounted for;
- all expenditure have been properly incurred; and
- any limits and conditions on appropriations have been observed.”
In addition, the National Assembly Standing Order No. 16, mandates PAC to examine the sums granted by Parliament to meet public expenditure and such other accounts laid before the National Assembly.
The Committee analysed the report and conducted verification visits to Doreen’s Pride Estate in Kadoma, Fair Acres Estate in Silobela, Jotsholo Estate in Lupane, Balu/Mguza Plots in Umguza, Sisi Estate in Rafingora and Nijo Farm Estate in Hatcliffe. The visits were conducted from 22 – 27 February 2018. During the visits, the Committee had the opportunity to be briefed on operations on each Estate and tours that enabled Members to see the crops under cultivation and farm equipment at each Estate. Information gathered together with a written report submitted by ARDA officials formed the basis of this Report.
FINDINGS, OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BY THE COMMITTEE
ARDA’s Engagement of Partners:
The Committee learnt that as part of its turnaround plan, ARDA had entered into Public-Private Partnership agreements on each Estate with various partners with the exception of Sisi Estate, where Government of Zimbabwe was in partnership with the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The contracts entered into were for an initial period of five years on Estates where crop farming and animal husbandry are being practiced and ten years on Estates where the plantations were to be planted. The contracts had a provision for extensions of five or ten years respectively.
The profit sharing arrangements varied from Estate to Estate as will be highlighted below. The contracts provided for partners to bring to the partnership inputs and their assets. The partners had a choice to select farm equipment at the Estates for use in their operations. Most of the former ARDA employees at the Estates had been seconded to the partners. At the expiry of the contracts, ARDA would take over operations with the hope that operations would not collapse since staff was expected to have learnt new methods of farming.
Operations at Nijo Farm:
The Committee was informed that ARDA had recently entered into a partnership with Agri-Alliance (Pvt) Ltd. The major activity at the Estate was maize, soya beans and potatoes production. At the time of the visit, 400 hectares was under cropping, mainly maize and plans were underway to put an additional 30 hectares under winter cropping. In 2010 only 15 hectares of a possible 30 hectares had been under irrigation and this had been due to obsolete irrigation infrastructure.
At Nijo Estate, the contract between ARDA and Agri-Alliance stipulated that the two partners would share net profit at a ratio of 38:62 percent. The Committee was unable to have sight of the assets AgriAlliance had committed to bring to the partnership as it did not receive a copy of the contract ARDA’s Chief Executive Officer had undertaken to
submit to the Committee.
At the time of the visit, the Committee observed a number of broken down equipment. A workshop which the partner commended as appropriate had been cleared in preparation for repairs to some of the equipment and machinery that could be restored to working condition. The Committee was informed that several tractors were earmarked for repairs one at a time, as they were runners that needed minor attention. The Committee was informed that the partner had brought three tractors during the ploughing stages and these had since moved to other farms where the partner is also engaged in farming.
Figure 1 Broken down tractors at Nijo Farm awaiting repairs
At the time of the visit, there were no dairy cows at Nijo farm. In 2010, the farm had a herd of 84 cows, some of which had reportedly died and the remainder disposed of because of old age. The Committee was informed that the partner had plans to bring 200 herd of cattle.
The Committee learnt that Nijo Estate owed creditors significant sums of money, part of it being wage arrears to workers and a loan from the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe. Although the debt had been assumed by Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation (ZAMCO), the Chief Executive Officer of ARDA, Mr. Mbona informed the Committee that they intended to liquidate the debt after disposing of some of
Authority’s unwanted equipment.
Operations at Sisi Farm:
The Committee was advised that since 2011, farming operations At
Sisi Estate had been taken over by a partnership between Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Figure 2 A plague attached to the fence at the farm, testimony of the arrangements between Zimbabwe and China
Management at the Estate professed ignorance about the
Committee’s visit and as a result the Committee did not get information from the officials who were on site. It was apparent to the Committee that at that time, ARDA did not have a stake at the Estate.
The Estate had arable land of about 1000 hectares of which about 600 hectares was being utilised. The main crop in the fields was maize, tobacco and soya beans. This was an improvement in terms of land utilisation as the Estate had been utilising only 192 hectares at the time of the audit in 2010. The Chinese had brought 4 tractors and 2 combine harvesters and out of the 4 tractors owned by ARDA, only one was in good working order. Two planters were on site and reported to be out of order.
A brief chat by the Committee Members with some of the workers seconded by ARDA to the Estate revealed that prior to the takeover in 2010, the workers had not received their wages from the Authority backdating from 2002 to 2010. They however confirmed that since the changeover in 2011, they had been receiving their wages regularly from the new management.
Operations at Doreen’s Pride Estate:
At Doreen’s Pride, ARDA entered into a partnership agreement with Trek Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd in 2015 for an initial period of 10 years.
Management at the Estate expressed satisfaction with the operations. Trek Petroleum was reported to have brought new water pumps for irrigation and new land had been cleared for cultivation, resulting in 440 hectares of arable land up from 270 hectares in 2010. 240 hectares were under irrigation and had three centre pivots installed. In 2010,the audit established that 124 hectares was under irrigation at the time. The remainder of the arable land was under dry land farming. The partner’s intention was to utilise about 1000 hectares. Maize and soya beans were being grown in summer and wheat in winter.
Figure 3 - The Committee and secretariat being briefed about operations at Doreen's
Pride Estate
Trek was reported to have selected 2 tractors, a trailer and a UD truck from ARDA’s machinery and equipment for use at the Estate. The Committee was informed that tractors belonging to Trek Petroleum had been brought to the Estate for use when required and at the time of the Committee’s visit, they had been driven to other farms where Trek was operating.
Before the establishment of the partnership at Doreen’s Pride Estate, ARDA had been involved in cattle rearing until an outbreak of heart water disease resulted in the relocation of the cattle to Antelope Estate. The Committee was informed that 500 hectares of land at the Estate was occupied by gold miners who had operating licences issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Officials informed the Committee that Doreen’s Pride Estate was heavily indebted and Trek Petroleum had promised to assist in settling the debt. Two important posts of a plumber and auto electrician that were vacant in 2010 were reported to be filled at the time of the
Committee’s visit.
In terms of profit sharing, the contract provided for 8% of the net margin for ARDA for the first two years of operations and thereafter the profits would be shared equally.
Operations at Fair Acres Estate:
The Committee was informed that since 2014 ARDA’s partner at
Fair Acres Estate was Northern Farming (Pvt) Ltd. The contract between ARDA and Northern Farming was for a 5-year period. During that period ARDA would be entitled to 35% of the Estate’s net profit with prospects of negotiating a better contract on renewing the contract after its expiry. In 2017, ARDA had received $480 000, 00 as its share of the profit.
In 2010, the audit established that total arable land of 450 hectares could be irrigated but the Estate was capable of irrigating 250 hectares due to shortages of irrigation sprinklers and old irrigation pipes. At the time of the visit the Committee was informed that 225 hectares were under maize and 260 under soya beans. In winter the Estate grew wheat. The new management was able to put 250 hectares under irrigation because of nine centre pivots that had been erected. Northern Farming was reported to have brought planters and two tractors for use at the
Estate. The Estate utilised water from two weirs fed from a dam. The Committee was also informed that more land had been cleared thereby increasing arable land to 500 hectares.
A tour of the fields conducted revealed full utilization of the land with the maize crop reaching maturity stage and soya beans which was at the flowering stage. High productivity levels were attributed to modern techniques of farming being practiced at the Estate.
Operations at Jotsholo Estate:
The Committee was informed that in 2016 ARDA had gone into partnership with Jopa Investments (Pvt) Ltd at Jotsholo Estate. The shareholding structure entitled ARDA to 8% of gross profit in the first two years and thereafter 40% of net profit. ARDA’s share in 2017 had been $50 000. The partnership was into maize and maize seed production, butternuts and tomatoes. About 150 seasonal workers were engaged at the Estate when their services were required.
Figure 4 - Packed butternuts ready for the market
The Estate had 8 centre pivots erected and each pivot irrigated 25 hectares resulting in 200 hectares being under irrigation and leaving about 300 hectares for dry land farming. The Committee was informed that the Estate had plans to increase the arable land to 800 hectares from which 350 would be under irrigation. The Committee learnt that the heavily silted weir, observed at the time of the audit had not been cleared as promised. Instead, management advised the Committee that plans were afoot to construct a completely new weir.
Of the Estate’s debt amounting to $10 million, ARDA officials informed the Committee that the debt had been converted to long term debt and subsequently assumed by ZAMCO. In order to liquidate the debt, ARDA was weighing some options including selling some of its properties in Chitungwiza and Nyarugwe.
Figure 5 - Workers at the farm busy processing maize seed
In terms of machinery, the Committee was informed that ARDA’s equipment which was in a bad state had been auctioned and the partner had participated in the sale. It was revealed that at the expiry of the contract, the partner’s equipment on the farm would revert to ARDA at no cost.
Operations at Balu Estate:
ARDA officials informed the Committee that the Authority had recently entered into a partnership agreement with Kalimba Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which was trading as Balu Pecan and Livestock Company. The agreement was for an initial period of 15 years with a possibility of extension for a further 10 years. The shareholding structure would see ARDA receiving $70 000 in the first 72 months of operation, followed by 5% of gross income from the plantation and 7,5% of gross income from livestock production. The Pecan nuts trees would be amortized at the expiry of the contract. It was indicated to the Committee that the community surrounding Balu Estate stood to benefit by supplying cattle to the feedlot and buying fodder crops to feed their own cattle. When the dairy operations commence, the communities would have an opportunity to sell milk to the company.
The Committee was informed at the time of the visit that the partner was sprucing up the area and pit coding to determine the quality of the soil. The partner intended to plant Pecan nuts on 50 hectares in 2018 and an additional 250 hectares in 2019. The audit had revealed that in 2010, ARDA was utilising 30 hectares under irrigation. The partner, in conjunction with Surrey Abattoirs intended to establish feedlots for 2000 herd of cattle. This was against a background where ARDA had kept 137 cows on the Estate in 2013. The partner indicated to the Committee that using the latest technology, known as embryo transfer, the intention was to increase production. Prior to the partnership agreement, ARDA used to practice cattle ranching and had a herd of about 700 cattle before the herd was gradually reduced to about 30 cows which was eventually relocated to Nyarugwe Farm.
Figure 6 - Hon. Maridadi and Hon. Mapiki listening to the briefing by the partners
Balu Estate had farm machinery which had deteriorated and had been disposed of through two auctions. The partner had not selected any of ARDA’s equipment for use at the Estate. The Committee was informed that the Estate owed its creditors over one million dollars.
Operations at Umguza Plots:
The Committee was informed that two plots, each measuring 34 hectares were being leased to Hon. Obert Mpofu. Previously ARDA had grown stock feeds. The Committee was informed that there was no production. As a result of lack of production, a process to part ways with the partner was underway. The process involved determining the value of improvements on the plots before settling this against a debt of $36 000 which the partner owed to ARDA in unpaid fees. ARDA intended to re-advertise the plots in order to court new partners.
A visit to the plots by the Committee confirmed the information submitted to the Committee. Disused farm equipment such as tractors and structures such as a centre pivot and two sheds which were lying idle could be seen on the uncultivated fields.
Figure 7- Mr. Noko Director Agriculture at ARDA explaining some points to the
Committee whilst at one of the two incomplete sheds at Umguza plot
Recommendations:
In view of the above observations, the Committee makes the following recommendations:
- That Government should review the composition of the
ARDA Board to comply with the provisions of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act requiring board members to have certain relevant expertise.
- The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should review by end of August 2018, the decision by ZAMCO to assume ARDA’s liabilities.
- The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement should review all the contracts to ensure that Government’s interest is protected. Progress on the matter should be reported to Parliament by end of August 2018.
- ARDA should monitor activities at its leased plots to ensure maximum productivity. The Authority should expedite the process of identifying another partner for the Umguza plots. Progress on this issue should be reported to Parliament by end of August 2018.
- ARDA should ensure that all the equipment lying idle at various farms should be repaired and put to use or sold. Progress on this exercise should be reported to Parliament by end of August 2018.
Conclusion :
The Committee is of the view that the challenges noted at the visited ARDA farms partnership and lease agreements could be a tip of the iceberg. The Committee notes that some of the Estates were highly productive prior to the takeover by ARDA, for example, Nijo was famous for onion production, while Balu used to be one of the biggest pig and dairy producers, having the advantage irrigation facility due to its vicinity to a dam. The Committee noted that Doreen’s Pride Estates has a potential for massive irrigation projects since it sits on the banks of Claw Dam, which has unlimited water supply. The Committee noted with concern that about one third of Doreen’s Pride was occupied by illegal gold panners who are not paying anything to ARDA for the land utilisation. ARDA should play an active role to ensure that all estates are fully utilised. The Committee expresses its reservations on the involvement of the army at Sisi Estate. The Committee queries the action by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to assume the liabilities of ARDA estates using ZAMCO. It is the view of the Committee that this might be a violation of ZAMCO’s terms of reference. I want to thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. In seconding this report, I just want to say four or five things because the Chairperson has eloquently covered everything. Mr. Speaker, it is important to understand why ARDA was formed in the first place. The acronym ARDA stands for Agriculture and Rural Development Authority. It was formed by Government in order to galvanise food security for the country because the Government realised that commercial farmers are driven by the need to make money, to make a profit out of their commercial activities. ARDA will come in and fill the gap between those that want to profiteer and the need to feed the nation. That is why ARDA was formed and to develop rural areas. Mr. Speaker, ARDA has about 28 estates throughout the country and they hold up to 5 thousand hectares of land. Before 1980, ARDA was so productive that they contributed to almost 35-40 percent of the food security of this country. Today, of the 28 estates of ARDA Mr. Speaker, not a single one of them is productive, they are all heavily indebted and they need Government bailout.
I want to speak specifically about the Estate called Ballow which is just outside Bulawayo. It was the biggest piggery and dairy producer in the country. They produce so much milk and so much pig meet. Mr. Speaker, we went to Ballow Farm, it is a sorry site. Ballow Farm looks like an Estate that is in a desert. Having said that Mr. Speaker, there are so many people that have gone into partnership with ARDA to run some of these estates. One of the individuals who is in partnership with ARDA is Hon. Dr. Obert Mpofu. Mr. Speaker, we went to the estate that is supposed to be run by Hon. Dr. Obert Mpofu and what I saw there is an issue that if it were in South Africa and it had come out on television, every Zimbabwean would be very angry. There is a picture in this report of a gentleman who is supposed to be a security detail stationed at that estate that is owned by Dr. Mpofu. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman, I am not sure he knows his real age or his date of birth but looking at his physical appearance, he must be in his 90s. He is of foreign descent because he speaks with an accent. He must be Malawian
or Mozambican – [HON. MUKWANGWARIWA: Ndewekumusha
kwako. NdewekuMabvuku.] – It is not something to make fun of, we are talking of human life here. He is of foreign descent, he must be Malawian or Mozambican. When I asked, he said that, those who have the report, the picture is on page 19. He said to me, I was engaged by the Hon. Minister to be his security detail at this farm. The old man cannot be a security man because he needs security himself. He is afflicted and he needs medical treatment.
It will not be surprising Mr. Speaker that somebody will visit the estate one day and found that old man dead in the room that he uses as a bedroom. If nobody visits that place for one month, they could find that old man’s body in a state of advanced decomposition. Mr. Speaker, it is such a violation of human rights and for this to be done by a Minister of this Government, it is a travesty of justice, it is immoral, it is dispeakable and it is unchristian. Something must be done about it. I have a picture of this old man Mr. Speaker and if I were to send it to all Members in this room, I can guarantee you, all the women in this room would cry. The people that we visited that farm with, all the ladies who visited that farm cried, including a journalist. Mr. Speaker, this old man said, he last got his salary about three to four years ago. For the life of me, Hon. Mpofu is a man of means, he could simply make a beeline when he is going to his farm and favour this old man with $50. I can guarantee you, if this old man gets $50, it is enough money to make him go by for the next six months. He lives there alone. The house that he lives in is not even fit for even an animal like a dog. He lives in that house, blankets have not been washed I think for as long as I can remember. That room has not been swept and the old man has no soap to bathe with, his clothes have not been cleaned. When you stand next to him, you need to move just five metres within range and the stench that his body exudes, you can smell it from about five metres away. Mr. Speaker, I thought I would raise this and say, Hon. Mpofu, this is not something that we expect a Zimbabwean to do. As I said Mr. Speaker, if the picture of this old man was to come out of South African television, this old man narrating that he is living as a security guard at a Minister’s farm; there will be such an outcry in South Africa and there will be equally an outcry in Zimbabwe, even opposition political parties in
South Africa will go to the streets to march for this old man. He is at an estate that is run by Obert Mpofu and I would urge the powers that be, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Jacob Mudenda to kindly send a delegation and talk to that old man. If the President of this country, His Excellency E. D. Mnagagwa were to see this man, I can guarantee you, the following day, Hon. Obert Mpofu will be without a job. On that note Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity and second the motion and move for the adoption of the report.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank my seconder, Hon. Maridadi for seconding the report and for being emphatic in the areas that were visited. From the report, I think you know a lot of work has to be done Mr. Speaker, therefore, I move and persuade the Members for the adoption of this particular report. I thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINES
AND ENERGY ON THE DIAMOND SECTOR IN ZIMBABWE FOR
THE PERIOD 2009-2016
HON. MLISWA: I rise to present the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy on the diamond sector in Zimbabwe for the period 2009-2016.
HON. HOLDER: I second.
HON. MLISWA:
1. Introduction
In 2016, the Former President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Cde Robert Mugabe made an announcement to the nation, during his birthday interview, that over 15 billion dollars’ worth of diamond revenues could not be accounted for, at a time the country was experiencing severe liquidity challenges and economic contraction. In line with Section 160 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, read together with section 119 (2) of the Constitution, the Committee on Mines and Energy conducted an enquiry to get a deeper understanding of the diamond sector in Zimbabwe, focusing on the investors and investments made, the monitoring and tracking systems on production and revenues, the marketing of the diamonds as well as the legal and policy frameworks regulating the industry. The discovery of diamonds in Marange created a huge expectation among the ordinary citizens to the extent that the industry would contribute towards the eradication of the triple challenges facing the country, namely, unemployment, poverty and economic recession. The enquiry will outline the challenges experienced and the lessons learnt so that the diamond sector can emerge from the murky waters and take its place among the key minerals that will make meaningful economic and social contribution in the country.
2. Methodology
In order to understand how the alleged fifteen billion dollars’ worth of revenues could not be accounted for, the Committee engaged various stakeholders, mainly through oral evidence sessions held between February and May 2018. The commitment of the Committee was evidenced throughout enquiry with one oral evidence session lasting for a period of ten (10) hours. The Committee had an opportunity to engage the following stakeholders:
2.1 Hon. W. Chitando – Minister of Mines and Mining
Development;
2.2 Hon. W. Chidhakwa – Former Minister of Mines and Mining
Development;
2.3 Hon. Dr. O. Mpofu – Former Minister of Mines and Mining
Development and Former Minister of Home Affairs;
2.4 Hon. Dr. S. Sekeramayi – Forrmer Minister of Defence;
2.5 Dr. I. Chombo – Former Minister of Home Affairs;
2.6 Mr. D. Mutasa – Former Minister of State Security,
2.7 Mr. G. Matanga – Commissioner General of Police;
2.8 Ambassador I. Moyo - Director General of Central
Intelligence Organisation;
2.9 Retired Major General H. Bonyongwe – Former Director of
General of Central Intelligence Organisation;
2.10 Professor F. Gudyanga and Mr. P. Mupazviriho -Former
Permanent Secretaries of Mines and Mining Development;
2.11 Mr. M. Munodawafa – Permanent Secretary of Mines and
Mining Development
2.12 Mr. M. Matshiya – Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs and
Culture;
2.13 Mr. M. Rushwaya – Permanent Secretary of Defence;
2.14 Ms. F. Mazani – Zimbabwe Revenue Authority [ZIMRA]
Commissioner General;
2.15 Former joint venture partners of Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), that include, Mbada,
Canadile Miners, Anjin, DMC, Kusena, Rera Diamonds and
Gye Nyame;
2.16 DTZ OZGEO Company,
2.17 The Board of Rio-Zim and Management of Murowa
Diamonds,
2.18 Mr. G. Masimirembwa and Mr D. Murangari, former and serving board Chairperson of ZMDC respectively,
2.19 Management of ZMDC,
2.20 Board and management of the Minerals Marketing
Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ),
2.21 Board Members of Sino-Zim who were in partnership with
ZMDC;
2.22 President of Chamber of Mines – Mr Manhando
2.23 Officials from the Ministry of Finance;
2.24 Former and serving members of the Border Control and
Minerals Unit,
2.25 Former and serving members of the Zimbabwe Republic
Police;
2.26 Civil Society including Mr. F. Maguwu from Center for Natural Resource Governance and Mr. S. Mtisi the Global
Kimberly Process (KP) Civil Society Coordinator and;
2.27 The Mining community in Chiadzwa represented by the
Marange Development Community Trust.
The Committee managed to conduct an on-site visit to Murowa Diamonds located in Zvishavane in April 2018 inorder to get an appreciation of security and accounting systems at the mine.
The Committee encountered challenges in securing the attendance of the following people: Mr. Farai Mutamangira, Dr. A. Chihuri, Mr. T.
Biti and Former President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Cde R.G.
Mugabe. Dr. Chihuri could not attend because he was indisposed whilst Mr. Mutamangira was not able to attend citing client-privilege confidentiality. The Committee sought legal advice on his submissions and was advised that the privilege he sought to rely on was not absolute and his appearance before Parliament will be dealt with at an appropriate time in the future as the inquiry conducted by the Committee did not exhaust all the sticking issues.
Mr. T. Biti, Former Minister of Finance was also unavailable during the period of the enquiry due to other commitments. The Former President His Excellency Cde R.G. Mugabe was unable to attend at the appointed hour and the Committee was due to meet to consider summoning him as a measure of last resort but after consultations with the Hon Speaker, he was recused from attending.
During the enquiry some witnesses were either hostile or fearful, hence were unwilling to disclose information, such as those from the
ZRP, CIO and the Former Minister of Mines and Mines Development, Dr. Mpofu. The Committee observed that serving members of ZRP were unwilling to disclose information for fear of losing their jobs, especially in the wake of a police shake up that took place in January 2018, where several senior police officers were retired from service.
3. Findings
3.1 Diamond Revenues
3.1.1 Official Diamond Revenues from 2009 – 2015
The Committee was informed by the MMCZ that for the period 2006 to 2017, the country produced just over 51 million carats of diamonds, with a value of approximately 2,4 billion dollars. Out of that figure, Government received approximately 300 million dollars in the form of royalties. This is in sharp contrast to the projections that were made by Hon. Dr. O. Mpofu in 2011, after Zimbabwe was allowed to trade its diamonds formally - that on an annual basis the country would generate diamond revenues worth 2 billion dollars. The Committee noted that projections by Hon. Dr. O. Mpofu created a lot of excitement and expectation among the ordinary citizens that the diamond sector was going to play a critical role in the transformation of the ailing economy.
3.1.2 The Alleged Missing Fifteen Billion Diamond Revenues
The Committee received diverse opinions on the question of the alleged missing 15 billion dollar revenues from the stakeholders in diamond industry. Some witnesses that included the Permanent
Secretary of Defence, Mr. M. Rushwaya and former Board Chair of
ZMDC, Mr. G. Masimirembwa disputed the assertion made by the Former President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Cde R.G. Mugabe that over $15 billion worth of revenues had disappeared. According to Mr.
Masimirembwa …”the Former President was using it figuratively. I want to say myself that it is an impossibility. There is no way Zimbabwe sold diamonds worth 15 billion dollars”. Mr. Rushwaya, in a separate session with the Committee, highlighted that the $15 billion loss of revenue was not feasible …”whoever gave the former President that figure should scientifically explain what method he used because if you go by the world standards, he can vouch for me as an accountant, 14 billion dollars the world over for one year, it is difficult to reach but you were saying the leakages for 15 billion dollars in Zimbabwe. Even if every inch had diamonds, we could not get to that stage”. According to Mr. Rushwaya, the 15 billion dollars assertion was used as an excuse by the Ministry of Mines to take over concessions owned by the various diamond companies.
On the other hand, there were witnesses that firmly believed that the statement by the former President had a measure of truth in that diamonds worth 15 billion dollars or more could have disappeared.
According to Mr. Kurotwi and civil society represented by Mr. F. Maguwu and Mr. S. Mtisi, the country lost substantial diamond revenues due to smuggling, undervaluation and lack of exploration of the
Marange area. Mr. F Maguwu actually stated that,…” the country may not have lost 15 billion alone but maybe 50 billion.” Mr.
Masimirembwa admitted before the Committee that no exploration had been done to determine the value of the diamonds in Chiadzwa, before the signing of the joint venture agreements.
3.1.3 Recovery of the alleged Missing Fifteen Billion Diamond
Revenues
The Committee noted that it would be difficult for the country to recover the missing diamonds revenues from the evidence that it received from the stakeholders. The former Permanent Secretary of Mines, Professor F. Gudyanga informed the Committee that the truth will never come out on the missing diamond revenues. He stated that “ when it comes to diamond, there are syndicates that are very sophisticated in the country and outside the country and many people get involved. Many beneficiaries get involved to ensure that the truth never comes out”. In essence, Professor Gudyanga was acknowledging that the country lost revenues, and the recovery and accounting of such money will require the support of both international and local law enforcement agencies, given the intricacies involved in the diamond sector.
Mr. M. Munodawafa, the current Permanent Secretary of Mines and Mining Development, informed the Committee that the Auditor General had been engaged to conduct a forensic audit on the joint venture companies that were operating in Marange. The exercise proved difficult because the joint venture companies could not be located. However, some of the joint venture companies attended the Committees hearings and they indicated that they were willing to have their books audited by the Auditor General. It is the Committee’s position that the Ministry of Mines and the Auditor General have been complacent in conducting a forensic audit to determine the revenue loses that may have been suffered by the country.
Civil society on the other hand represented by Mr. Maguwu recommended that Government needed to engage countries and cities such as Dubai, China and India, where the country’s diamonds were marketed, to ascertain the value and losses Zimbabwe might have suffered. The second option was for the country to take their case to the United Nations.
3.2 Smuggling and Leakages of Diamonds
It was clear during the Committee’s enquiry that the country has lost and continues to lose its diamonds through smuggling and leakages. This was attributed to a number of factors that include the porous border lines, shortage of vehicles for the police to conduct effective surveillance, non-intrusive gadgets for searching, modern scanners and drone technology to monitor the Chiadzwa area. Despite the presence of the police, there are still incidences of illegal mining by panners. The Minerals and Border Control Unit (MBCU), informed the Committee that for the period 2013 to 2017, they recovered approximately 2 800 carats and a few convictions have been made. The MBCU expressed disappointment in the manner in which diamond cases were handled by the Police because most of the accused were acquitted as a result of loopholes in the Precious Stones Trade Act.
According Mr. Maguwu and Mr Mtisi, the diamonds that are unaccounted for are usually smuggled into South Africa and Mozambique. This was facilitated by a well organised syndicate comprising of well-known Lebanese diamond dealers some of whom are stationed in Mutare.
3.3 The Illegal Miners
The MBCU acknowledged that illegal mining activities continued to take place in Marange. The problem was exacerbated by villagers who were harbouring the panners, popularly known as Gwejas. On the other hand, the Marange Community Development Trust accused the police of allowing the gwejas to operate under their watch, after paying a bribe to the law enforcement agency. It was clear to the Committee that diamonds continue to be traded on the black market.
3.4 Security Sector Involvement in Diamond Mining
The police, army and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) were given diamond concessions after the formalisation of mining operations in Marange in 2009. The police, army and CIO operated under companies known as Gye Nyame, Anjin and Kusena consecutively. The Committee was informed that the rationale for giving concessions to the security sector, was to finance some of the operations, due to the economic and budgetary constraints that the country had been going through. These were the findings of the Committee on the different arms of the security sector:
3.4.1 The Zimbabwe Republic Police
Section 219 of the Constitution clearly outlines that the ZRP has to operate in a professional manner, uphold the Constitution, maintain law and order as well as protect and secure the lives and property of the citizens of the Zimbabwe. In 2006, following the diamond rush in Chiadzwa, the police were called in to assist in restoring law and order, which they did to a great extent, paving the way for formal mining operations. However, from 2009, when the police acquired a concession, its presence in Marange was fraught with a number of anomalies.
Firstly, there was no formal agreement recognising the diamond concession given to the police. The police could not supply documents showing the terms and conditions of the operation. During the oral evidence sessions, the Committee was informed that the police entered into a joint venture agreement with some Ghanaians and Zimbabwean partners. One of the local partners, Mr. Munyeza, outlined that the partnership agreement was fraught with acts of intimidation and opaqueness on the part of the police. Mr. Munyeza further accused the police of deliberately causing the deportation of the Ghanaians and of pushing out the local partners so that they could solely own the company.
At one stage Mr. Munyeza was abducted by the police and in order to secure his release, he was forced to surrender the keys to a safe securing the diamonds owned by Gye Nyame. The diamonds that were taken forcibly by the police could not be accounted for. The conduct of the Police was contrary to the virtues of professionalism as required of them by Section 219 (1) (3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Secondly, the former Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. I. Chombo, and the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, Mr Matshiya, outlined to the Committee that they are not aware of the existence and operations of Gye Nyame. The Secretary of Home Affairs is accountable for all departments that fall under his purview, unfortunately he could not account for the operations of the police as they relate Gye Nyame.
It was clear to the Committee that the company was and was to some extent personalised with strong ties to the former Commissioner General, Dr A. Chihuri. All police representatives on the Board appointments, were done by the former Commissioner General, without the approval of the Permanent Secretary or Minister of Home Affairs.
The Committee also noted that those who were appointed by the former Commissioner General to serve on Gye Nyame were very defensive or ignorant on why they were appointed to serve on the Board. High ranking officials in the Police Service that include the deputy Commissioners Mr. Matibiri, Ms. Shambare and Mr. Sibanda were not confident and articulate in their submissions about the existence and operations of Gye Nyame. Although the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Home Affairs claimed they were not aware of the operations and existence of Gye Nyame, the Committee was concerned this matter was in the public domain, which should have prompted them to take action. The written submissions by the Former Commissioner General
Dr. A. Chihuri pointed to the fact that Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs was briefed about the concessions.
There is, therefore, a possibility of misleading Parliament by either of the parties. As such, charges of contempt of Parliament may be preferred against either of the parties should it become clear that there was a deliberate intention to mislead the Committee. This is not the end of the inquiry and accountability of the parties shall be demanded in due course. Suffice at this juncture to state that the administration of Gye Nyame as a concession leaves a lot to be desired and it was not consistent with the basic principles of public administration and corporate governance.
Retired Officer Commanding Support Unit, Mr. Tanyanyiwa told the Committee that the “the Minister of Mines and Mining Development had requested police officers to safeguard Ministry officials during a process of hand-takeover of mines by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. No court order, just an instruction from the Ministry of
Mines”. The Committee noted with concern that the police were abused by the Ministry of Mines to achieve their unclear intended objectives. The Ministry of Mines was not willing to allow the judiciary to handle this conflict. The Committee further noted that directives from Ministers should have been written not oral.
3.4.2 The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)
The CIO had a diamond concession operating under the name Kusena for the period 2011 to 2015. The company produced approximately 13 thousands carats worth about one million dollars.
According to the former director General of CIO, Rtd Major General Bonyongwe, Kusena was not a viable entity and it was later that they surrendered it to ZMDC, its joint venture partner. The CIO never benefited from the diamonds proceeds and all the revenues were in the custody of ZMDC. The areas of concern for the Committee were
Kusena’s links with Sam Pa, a Chinese business magnate who is associated with shady deals and was placed under house arrest by the
Chinese government. Rtd Major General Boyongwe highlighted that the
CIO’s association with Sam Pa were above board, because during the lifespan of Kusena, Sam Pa was not a convicted criminal or accused of any corrupt activities. It is the Committee’s position that the CIO has the responsibility to safeguard the interest of the country through vetting of security threats posed by individuals or companies coming into Zimbabwe.
The Committee observed that the operations of Kusena were not very transparent, as evidenced by the Board Members under Sino Zim, who could not explain the capitalisation and the operations of the diamond concession. The operations and the joint venture partners were known only by the Former Director General of CIO, Rtd Major General
Bonyongwe and a few other officials.
3.4.3 The Zimbabwe National Army
Anjin was one of the biggest players in the Marange area. The company started operating in 2010 and from its inception to 2015, produced approximately 9 million carats which generated about 332 million dollars in revenue. Out of that figure 62 million dollars went to government as royalties and 86 million dollars was spent under corporate social responsibility programs. The management of Anjin and Mr. Rushwaya felt hard done by the hostile takeover by the government, given the vast investments made by the company, in the form of establishment of the mine, the purchase of equipment and machinery and through various corporate social responsibility programs.
The company also managed to make investments in the construction of Golden Peacock in Mutare and Long Cheng plaza, a shopping complex in Harare. The Committee observed that Anjin had its own shortcomings particularly the fact that it has never had its books audited and in that the full amount of investment, as per agreement had not been made. However, the company tried to operate within company regulations. The Committee was satisfied with the accountability procedures that were put in place by Anjin. Unlike the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, the Permanent Secretary for Defence proved to the Committee that he received regular briefs and was on top of the situation.
For the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, there was prima facie evidence of dereliction of duty, something that must not be allowed in the public administration. The Zimbabwe National Army also stated that their operations were transparent and open for the public to audit. The Army further contributed $24 million towards the Presidential Scholarship as well as $4 million for the Defence College which they can account for.
3.5 Protection and Security of Investments in Zimbabwe
In the new political dispensation ushered in November 2017,
Government has declared that Zimbabwe is open for business. It’s the
Committee’s position that this mantra should be supported by investor friendly policies that include the protection and security of investments made into Zimbabwe. The joint venture partners of ZMDC were very bitter on what they went through as a result of the consolidation process.
The views of the investors can be summed up in the words of Dr L.
Kurotwi, from Canadile miners who said “In as far as investors are concerned…; Zimbabwe is a lion’s den. Investors will come at their own peril because there is no guarantee that when you invest you will get your money back. I am a victim of that and it has taken me almost
10 years to recover what we had invested genuinely”. The Ministry of Mines was accused of having flouted the investment agreements and for not respecting the laws of the country during the hostile takeover. In the case of Anjin and Mbada, their investment agreements did not have a time frame in which the Special Grants would expire. Their operations would continue as long as they paid the statutory fees and at the time of the take over the statutory obligations had been paid. As for DTZ OZGEO and Rera, their special grants had not expired but Government took them over. It is the Committee’s position that such kind of treatment of investors will only scare away investment.
As the Committee noted, it is very important that investors are protected in line with section 71 of the Constitution on Property Rights. Furthermore, investors should be protected from any acts of corruption in order to secure a license or protect their investments. One investor, Dr. Kurotwi claimed the loss of a diamond concession as a result of failing to pay a bribe to Dr. Mpofu, the former Minister of Mines and Mining Development.
Furthermore, the Committee was told that some investors were forced to pay legal fees to Mr. Farai Mutamangira for unknown services. The Committee believes that the Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Commission must investigate the payments made to Mr. Mutamangira. Hon Dr. O Mpofu gave directives for the payment of fees to Mr. Mutamangira when Section 110 (5) requires that decisions should be in writing. Mr. F. Mutamangira must also justify the monies paid to him and their intended purpose. Incidences of corruption should be dealt with in the best possible way, in order to create a conducive environment to attract investment.
3.6 Executive Accountability on the Diamond Mining
Operations
The Committee was disappointed by the former Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Dr. O. Mpofu, for failing to respond to issues pertaining to the diamond industry during his term of office. In the same vein the non-appearance by the Former Head of State His Excellency Cde R.G Mugabe, to answer questions on the missing $15 billion diamond revenues, heightens the perception that both may have been complicit on this issue. Section 88 (1) of the Constitution highlights that “Executive authority derives from the people of
Zimbabwe and must be exercised in accordance with this Constitution”.
As such, it is important that the Executive responds to matters raised by Parliament as the legislature represents the people. Going forward, it is the Committee’s position that all members of the Executive should respond and be held accountable for their actions. At the same time Parliament should not be cowed into failing to exercise this constitutional obligation. Where members of the Executive are not willing to be transparent and accountable to the people, the President of Zimbabwe should not hesitate to invoke section 108 (1) (b) which talks about the removal from office of a Cabinet Minister.
3.7 Indigenisation of the Diamond Sector
The Committee received a presentation from the President of Chamber of Mines, Mr. Manhando, where he highlighted that the diamond sector together the platinum industry should not continue to be regulated by the indigenisation laws which called for 51:49 percent shareholding in favour of the indigenous people. During the
Committee’s visit to Murowa in April 2018, the Rio-Zim board and its management clearly outlined that they needed $125 million to capitalise and expand their operations in the next 3 years, without which the company might be forced to close its operations in the next 18 months.
This capital could not be secured as long as the indigenisation regulations were in place. The indigenisation regulations were the major cause why Rio Tinto International pulled out from Zimbabwe.
3.8 Human Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility in
Marange
The Committee had an opportunity to meet with representative of the mining community in Chiadzwa. They highlighted some of the challenges that were experiencing which included restricted movement of persons, dust and water pollution, lack of local enterprise development and harassment of villagers by state security agents. The concerns of the community need to be taken into consideration as this will also assist in minimising incidences of illegal mining by panners in the area.
3.9 Legitimacy of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond
Companies
The Committee noted that the ZCDC was born out of a violent and disturbing corporate background. According to Mr. Rushwaya, “the
Minister (of Mines) could have acted under improper advice because definitely that was a moment of madness because we just saw the police armed to close down the operation without any consultation done to other parties”. Armed police, using AK 47 rifles were deployed into Marange to force the closure of these mines. All the joint venture partners as well as DTZ OZGEO which was not in a joint venture agreement with ZMDC narrated to the Committee their harrowing experiences during the violent take over by ZMDC.
The operation by the police while it sought to secure the mines created other challenges, which included destruction of existing infrastructure that had been invested by the companies such as security systems. Furthermore, some companies such as Mbada lost diamonds and diamond ore which were on site during the melee.
It is the Committee’s position that the establishment and existence of ZCDC was compromised because of this unpalatable background. It will be difficult to legitimise its operations given such a tainted background. The Chairman of ZMDC, Mr. Murangari, told the
Committee that they were not in support of the consolidation process and the formation of ZCDC was a decision made by the Ministry. There was no Board resolution by ZMDC to allow for the formation of ZCDC.
In view of the above, the Committee makes the following recommendations:
4. Recommendations
Resolution | Action | Timeline | |
1. | A forensic audit should be conducted as a matter of urgency on all the companies that were operating in Marange. | The Permanent Secretary of Mines and the Auditor General, should engage in earnest all the joint venture partners that were involved in mining of diamonds in Marange. | Immediately |
2. | The Minerals and Border Control Unit should be given adequate resources that include vehicles and surveillance equipment to monitor and reduce incidences of smuggling of diamonds. | The Ministry of Finance should give adequate budgetary support
to the police for effective monitoring and surveillance activities in Marange. |
Immediately |
3. | An investigation should be conducted on the diamonds and
revenues produced by Gye Nyame |
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and ZACC should
investigate the operations of the Gye Nyame so that that all those who abused office and engaged in shady deals are prosecuted. |
Immediately |
4. | Investigation on Hon. Dr O. Mpofu on directives on monies paid by MMCZ, Marange Resources and Canadile Miners for legal services to Mr Farai Mutamangira which were not
specified need to be interrogated. |
The Law Society of Zimbabwe,
Auditor General, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate monies paid to Mr. F. Mutamangira for legal services that are not specified. |
Immediately |
5. | The indigenisation threshold on the diamond sector should be removed | The Minister of Finance should remove the 51/49 percent threshold on the diamond and | Immediately |
platinum sectors in order to attract investment. | |||
6. | Regular lifestyle audits should be conducted on Minister of Mines, its officials and parastatals under the Ministry in order to curb corruption. | The Civil Service Commission should appoint an independent body to conduct regular lifestyle audits on persons working at the Ministry and parastatals under the Ministry. | Immediately |
7. | Officials from the Ministry of Mines, ZMDC and its subsidiaries should declare their interests and assets on assumption of office or during their term of office to curb corruption. | The Office of the President and Cabinet should ensure employees at the Ministry, ZMDC and its subsidiaries declare their interests and assets during or at commencement of work. | Immediately |
8. | ZCDC must be dissolved immediately because it was not properly constituted and the Ministry must revert to the preFebruary 2016 position of the concession holders. | The Minister of Mines must follow due process. | Immediately |
9. | DTZ OZGEO should be restored its claim given that it is not within the Marange area and has never been in joint partnership with ZMDC. | ZMDC should focus its energy on the Marange diamond deposits because the area has not be fully explored or exploited. Concessions in Chimanimani should be given back to the former owners. | Immediately |
10. | Members of the Executive should be held liable for their actions whilst in Office and even after they leave office. | The President, His Excellency Cde E.D. Mnangagwa should not hesitate to invoke section 108 (1)(a) of the Constitution read together section 106 (2)(c) in order to curb corruption and abuse of power by Members of the Cabinet. | Immediately |
11. | The Former President His Excellency Cde R.G. Mugabe needs to clear the air on the missing 15 billion dollars’ worth of revenue. | Closure on the alleged missing 15 billion diamond revenues is possible if the former President clears the air on the context he made the assertion that the country lost such an amount. The 9th Parliament must pursue
the matter to the logical conclusion. |
Immediately |
12. | A whistle blowers policy or law | The Minister of Finance should | Immediately |
should be put in place to encourage and protect persons who desire to divulge information that is of national importance. | put in place a policy that will protect whistle-blowers so that the country will not continue to lose revenues through illicit financial flows, smuggling and other forms of corruption. | ||
13. | Government arms such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police,
Zimbabwe National Army and Central Intelligence Agency should not be involved in mining ventures. These must concentrate on their core business. |
The Government must adequately fund these institutions. | Immediately |
5. Conclusion
The lustre of the diamond industry in Zimbabwe has been damaged due to shady deals and operations. The new Minister of Mines, Hon. Chitando has a tall order to ensure that transparency and accountability is inculcated into the industry. The new strides made by the Minister of Mines to announce proceeds of diamonds sales whenever an auction is conducted should be commended. However, there are a number of unresolved issues that still need to be resolved so that the diamond industry can contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of this country. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker, I compliment the Chairman of the Mines Committee on this exposé of the Marange debacle. I recommend his recommendations to the House unreservedly.
I think what the House should recognise is that when this deposit of diamonds was discovered in 2000 by the De beers company; they spent six years on site exploring and evaluating its worth. When they abandoned the site in 2006, the site was taken over by a small company in London which would have been formed by Zimbabwean citizens called ACR.
Within six weeks, this group had discovered diamond bearing soil on the site – alluvial diamonds and diamonds of gem quality. Within a month of their discovery, this group was dispossessed by the then Minister of Mines – the Hon. Obert Mpofu. He then allowed small scale farmers or makorokozas to occupy the site. In the next two years, 40 000 small scale miners occupied Marange over about 60 000 hectares of land. We have no idea what they produced but they were not there for nothing. I think a very considerable amount of money was lost to the country during that period. The year 2008 came along and Government decided to dispossess these 40 000 small scale miners and hand over the site to six companies, all of them were joint ventures with either the ZMDC or the monetary establishment in Zimbabwe.
The House will recall that in 2012, I made a presentation in this House where I claimed that four billion dollars of diamonds were being produced at Marange that year and that this was going completely unrecorded and unaccounted for. We now know Mr. Speaker that over the subsequent 10 years, more than $20 billion of revenue from Marange was obtained and it vanished, all of it. I suspect that about 20 or 30% might have been spent on the mining operation itself, but there was no attempt to start the hard rock mining on the site which has huge long term potential because none of the companies that were involved at that time had any experience in that sort of mining.
Mr. Speaker, the big issue for the country remains what to do now. I just urge the country to look at Botswana, when Botswana discovered diamonds they brought in De beers, the number one Diamond Mining Company in the world. It is a company that controls more than 80% of the World Diamond Trade and they asked the company to establish an operation in Botswana. The joint venture with De beers is 70-30; 70% Government of Botswana and 30% De beers. De beers have a management contract. Those mines have been operated since then with enormous success and Botswana today supplies 35% of the world diamond trade. Botswana has no personal tax, every child in Botswana gets free education right through to University level and it is all paid with diamonds.
Mr. Speaker that could have been the situation in Zimbabwe and this opportunity was lost because of corrupt political leadership. We have got to urge the Minister of Mines consequent to this report being placed on the Table here, to take decisive action to put our house in order. Thank you.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Hon. Speaker. It would be remiss, with respect Hon. Speaker, if you do not allow a female Member of Parliament to debate this motion and this report on the Diamond Reserves of Zimbabwe. I am sure you will recall, Mr. Speaker Sir, that proverb that says that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. So, this debate would not be complete without a Zimbabwean woman lending her voice and I hope that maybe my sisters will also do the same.
I say this out of also emotion that for a country that has a reputation of having one of the best diamond reserves in the World in terms of access and also in terms of amount; it is a pity that if you go around Zimbabwe, even if we start in this Parliament, to find out how many of the women in this august House have a diamond ring, necklace or something. Even asking them how many have ever just seen a diamond, I think the results would be that very few women who are in this country and who are even in this august House, for a country that has such reserves, have not seen the diamonds themselves but let alone, the impact and the revenue or the wealth, they have not enjoyed and accessed that. I say that in support of the very disturbing and very worrying observations and recommendations that are being made by the Portfolio Committee because that shows exactly what it is that is wrong in this country.
If we fail to manage our own reserves, the gifts that God gave us as Zimbabweans, we will continue to wallow in poverty and in misery. I am saying this because these are the same women who would have never seen diamonds and yet their county is absolutely rich in them are dying at really heartbreaking levels when they are giving birth. Our country continues to be amongst those countries that have the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world and yet we are told that diamonds are a girls’ best friend and that our country has reserves of diamonds.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the recommendations again that were made by the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Minerals led by Hon. Mliswa, must indeed be taken seriously. We must not continue to be a country where we are beggars and our women are dying giving child birth because our country is way too poor to just buy blood supplies or to supply cannulars, to conduct caesarian sections or to even to just buy ambulances for them to get to delivery centres on time if they have any complications. The cost of failing to do was has been recommended by this report, is to be measured in the number of gravestones of women in Zimbabwean who have died and had been buried because as a nation are not doing right and taking the wealth of our nation and applying it to where it should be to support the lives as well as to save the lives of Zimbabweans. I wholeheartedly support this report, we are beggars on a beach of diamonds in this case, and that should not be allowed.
I also want to say words that are similar to what I said in a previous debate again; it is a very sad day in this House, apart from the reason that possibly I hear that this might be the last day that we are sitting, but indeed we are ending on a very sad, sobering and somber note, from report after report. This is the third in a line of reports that are crying and bleeding about all those things that are wrong with this country in terms of the way that we are governing it and what we need to do in order to get Zimbabwe get going again. It is my hope that the next Parliament – whoever it is that will be in it, will use the time that would be availed to them to ensure that recommendations of pilferage and lack of accountability for resources is never done again.
I would like to make a plea again to our law enforcement officials because the recommendations that are being made by Hon. Mliswa’s Portfolio Committee are recommendations that should not fall and die with the death and the setting of the sun of this Parliament. The
Prosecutor General, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Commissioner General and the Anti-Corruption Commission are not going to dissolve when this Parliament dissolves. These recommendations that are being made about investigations and prosecutions are what may save this country. We must recover our resources because it is a matter of life and death for the reasons that I have just said.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to end by also expressing a lament about what we have done; we have failed so far as a nation. I hope that the Executive that comes in after the elections as well as the Parliament and the other judiciary, will remember again that these resources are finite resources, once we dig up our diamonds and they go to God knows where, they are gone. There will not be any new diamonds that are being made every day as we know. I want to refer to Section 298, (1) (c), of our Constitution. It is one of our principles of public financial management and I have raised it because I see that a lack of faithfulness to this principle in the result of diamond disaster. It provides that the burdens and the benefits of the use of resources must be shared equitably between present and future generations. The pilferage and the loss of our diamonds is so sad because it has not been even shared with the present generation, because we talked about how the average
Zimbabwean woman or man has not even seen a diamond yet the benefit has gone to wherever else and we have graves. Even in the present generations have been robbed of our diamond reserves and we are the poorer for it, yet our Constitution requires that we not only take these resources for ourselves but save them for future generations. It is my hope that there are investigations are carried out to see how much it is that is left for future generations because we have robbed from the present and we are robbing possibly from the future.
Mr. Speaker, I want to recommend that the prosecutor General, the Commissioner General and the Anti-Corruption police, again takes this report of the Portfolio Committee of mines, goes through it, open dockets and investigates to find out who misappropriated in terms of the revenue as well as the diamonds themselves and who did not account.
Mr. Speaker Sir, these are Zimbabwean’s reserves, this is our only chance to get out of the poverty that we have and to prevent in particular the women who instead of having diamonds on their fingers, they are buried dead because we are just too poor to give them the requisite healthcare to save their lives during child birth. I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I beg your pardon. I had not
recognised Hon. Holder, the seconder of the motion. So I give you the chance Hon. Holder.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I thought that most
probably I was of no use here but thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute.
Mr. Speaker, as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy has alluded to the report and has gone straight through to the findings, this report is very detailed and even if you look at how it was compiled, the Committee went through a lot of ways of finding out what actually transpired. It is sad to know that a country like Zimbabwe mined diamonds and does not have anything to show that diamonds were ever mined in this country. I was actually quite happy that as a Committee we came up with all these recommendations and when the previous President, His Excellency R. G. Mugabe during his tenure mentioned that there was $15 billion worth of diamonds. During our tenure as a Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, going around the country and trying to conduct public hearings and concerns, this was a serious bone of contention even with the citizens in Mutare, especially in the Marange area where people had been moved, displaced and the way things had been conducted. When we talk about Zimbabwe being open for business, we have to ensure that we clear the air in the past where 200 AK 47s and police took over a mine, just pitched up, heavily armed and took over without conducting a due diligence of what really transpired.
Mr. Speaker, it is a sad scenario that transpired. When the blame game starts, people start to point at each other. So many people appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy and each person who gave evidence, you could see that they were not at ease. They gave evidence but the evidence that they gave was because they were put into a certain predicament or corner in order for them to be able to allude what transpired.
Looking at the security sector, the police and army should never and let me repeat – should never ever be involved in anything to do with mining. They should do their job to police and secure so that this country does not get into the situation that we got into. I was impressed that I went to one of the workshops at ZCDC on diamond security. They mentioned during their presentation that they now have CCTV in that area, they also have 300 security guards manning these areas and the latest technology of drones that are running around where they will be able to analyse and see what is transpiring.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the detailed report, you will find that the different security sectors were heavily involved in the diamond sector and this should never ever happen where security will be allowed to mine and do certain things. You look at people who had also been appointed onto boards, they are not clean. We have to make sure that the next Parliament that comes in here really takes note of who is being appointed onto these boards because some of them will be appointed onto these boards and confusion will start again. Once confusion starts again, we end up with the same scenario where we will be pointing fingers and saying diamonds have disappeared, the country has run short of revenue and stuff like that.
We also would like to thank the Committee Chairperson for eloquently delivering the report on what the Committee on Mines and Energy did. I was impressed that the two Hon. Members also eloquently expressed their views especially Hon. Cross and Hon. Majome. With those few words, thank you Mr. Speaker. See you in the next life. HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the report be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
Hon. Tshinga Dube having stood to debate.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Dube, I asked you to arrange
with the Chief Whip because I have a list of speakers here. If he could include you on there – [HON. MAJAYA: Give him a chance, he is a former minister!] - Yes, he should arrange with the Chief Whip, could you approach the Chair Hon. Dube.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINES
AND ENERGY ON FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO ZISCO STEEL,
HWANGE COLLIERY, KAMATIVI AS WELL AS ORAL
EVIDENCE FROM ZAMBEZI GAS AND LIBERATION MINING HON. MLISWA: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House takes note of the Third Report of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy on familiarisation visits by the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to ZISCO STEEL, Hwange Colliery, Kamativi as well as oral evidence from Zambezi Gas and Liberation Mining.
HON. CROSS: I second.
HON. MLISWA:
Introduction
The importance of the mining sector to drive the economy can never be underestimated. Hwange is over one hundred years old. It is one of the anchor companies for the economy of Zimbabwe along with ZESA, NRZ and ZISCO Steel as the fourth anchor company. Ziscosteel has been the mainstay of the Zimbabwean economy by providing steel for the local market and also exporting steel to the regional markets. It relies on coal from Hwange and Iron Ore from Ripple Creek Mine, about 14 kilometers from ZISCO STEEL. Kamativi Tin mine is the biggest tin mine in Zimbabwe now being managed by ZMDC. The
Kamativi mine has reserves amounting to 100 million tonnes of tin ore.
Methodology
The Committee went on a fact finding mission to acquaint with the state of the mines and the state of ZISCO STEEL pending the arrival of a new investor. ZISCO STEEL relies heavily on Hwange Colliery for coal supplies while the two also share investment in a company that manufactures bitumen and tar. The familiarisation visits also allowed members of the Committee to know the challenges faced by the miners and the workers so as to find out ways of giving better recommendations so that ZISCO STEEL, Hwange Colliery and Kamativi Mine can start working again. There is a partnership of ZMDC with Jambaata holdings to explore Kamativi mine dump, a situation that can lead to the country producing lithium batteries which will make the country the first in Africa to produce those batteries on the continent. These are efforts to fully beneficiate from the mineral resources in the country.
ZISCO STEEL
The acting Managing Director, Eng. Magowo took the Committee on a tour of the plant. All ZISCO employees were retrenched on the 31st August 2016. The skeleton staff that was at ZISCO Steel comprised of
180 temporary employees who were at the site as prospective investor, R & F Properties of China was interacting with them and also that they want the skeleton staff to help in provision of security for the machinery at the plant and liaise with NRZ, ZESA, Hwange Colliery and the local authorities for utilities. The plant has been out of production for ten (10) years.
At maximum production, ZISCO STEEL, used to consume between 60 thousand and 75 thousand tonnes of coking coal per month as the upper limit. On an annual basis, it used around 900 thousand tonnes of coking coal and uses about 65 megawatts producing about 950 thousand per year if operating to the design capacity though the plant capacity is a million tonnes. At maximum capacity, most of the production is for export. About 70 to 80 percent will be for export because steel consumption in Zimbabwe, even when the economy was booming, is much lower than what is produced. Sable Chemicals used to supply oxygen and has moved to a modern way of producing ammonium nitrate and even in 2008 when ZISCO STEEL stopped operating, they had it in their strategic plan to have a separate oxygen producing plant and it would take about 18 to 24 months to complete.
The ZISCO STEEL plant is dilapidated, especially the blast furnaces and rolling mills. Blast furnace number three had been decommissioned in 1999 while the larger one, number 4 blast furnace, by 2008, because it had come to the end of its campaign life. Every blast furnace, depending on the design, has a campaign life and at the end of that campaign life, engineers can rebuild certain parts of it, particularly inside the blast furnace where you remove refractory materials and replace with new materials. It had come to the end of that life expectancy. From an engineering point of view and a cost efficient perspective, there are expensive foundations already in place and certain ancillary plants that are not damaged which had been renewed in the last campaign. Those could be retained to save money. In terms of technology, there are innovations that keep on coming but can retrofit that technology to existing plant at very economical price without going into a brand new plant and that plant will perform. The furnace shell itself, because of some distortions and some damage to the furnace, some parts of it would definitely need to be replaced.
ZISCO STEEL mines iron ore from about 20 km from the steel works at Ripple Creek iron ore mine. The mining equipment facilities there are relatively new because it was commissioned around 1997. The conveyor belt that brings the iron ore to the steel works is new in terms of mining equipment. The sinter plant where iron ore is treated has state of the art technology as it was commissioned around 1997 though it will require a bit of refurbishment and upgrading of control systems computerisation so that it is updated.
For value addition, ZISCO STEEL feeds rolling mills with billets from the steel to finished products for the construction industry, mining and so forth. Exporting billets has, however, been a loss making business that’s why it was stopped in 2000.
The size of the plant and possibly the reason why it was developed to this extent was to generate foreign currency from outside. If we look at the history of ZISCO STEEL, the loss was derived primarily from exporting 70 to 80 percent of its production at a loss. However, we need to mention that the steel industry is much dominated by China that is now producing about 50 percent of total world production of steel that is over a billion tonnes per year. That is impacting on international steel prices. There are opportunities for countries like Zimbabwe to have its own steel industry but also targeted forecast on domestic requirements. This is something that we were looking at. The coking coal from Sengwa has sulphur as the biggest drawback. Internationally, they are moving away from coal for environmental reasons. There are five very old mills except for the bar rod mill which was commissioned 1975 but also needs revamping but we feel that all the rolling mills should be raised down and replaced with new mills for updated lines of production that suite the current requirements of the nation and of the sub region. Other types of coal have a low sulphur coal of about 0.6 percent and while that is used at ZISCO STEEL goes as high as 5 percent. That sulphur leaves the blast furnace to the steel plant. It increases the operating cost by trying to refine, removing sulphur from the steel requires more lime to remove it so that it meets international standards.
It has an impact on operating cost.
ZISCO STEEL has 47 percent shareholding in ZIMCHEM
Refineries. It takes bi-products of the coking plant. The coal used is from Hwange and is turned into coke using the blast furnaces. Out of that operation, crude benzene and crude tar are produced as the main biproducts that used to be waste products. ZISCO STEEL formed the associate company with Hwange Colliery as the two major shareholders. ZIMCHEM converts crude tar and crude benzyl. Since the coking plant is down, ZIMCHEM is relying on Hwange Coal Gasification Company but there are challenges in getting that raw material from that company as it has only one coke oven battery.
CHALLENGES
- Reduced Power from ZESA.
- Dilapidated Machinery.
The Coke batteries are equally in a state of disrepair and there is also need to rehabilitate the blast furnaces.
- Dilapidated old rolling mills which use old technology as they were bought in the 1940s and making spares scarcely available.
- There is flooding of cheaper imported steel.
- Lack of Capitalisation.
The company requires about one billion dollars to start operations as the money will go into servicing of the blast furnaces, coke ovens and also a new oxygen plant system as it no longer has to rely on Sable Chemicals for its oxygen supplies.
- Specialised skill force left the company to companies in the region as they were not being paid their salaries.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- It is imperative that the railway be repaired in order that coal may reach Zisco Steel effectively and efficiently.
- The cost benefit of recapitalising Zisco Steel against the building of a new plant has to be weighed to ascertain the better option.
- Blast furnace 3 which produces 250 tonnes should be utilised for local consumption and not blast furnace 4 which does over 700 tonnes.
- Iron ore which is in abundance must be sold to capitalise the company.
- Most equipment has become obsolete and only 20-30% should remain.
HWANGE COLLIERY
Hwange Colliery manages the town and all social services and infrastructure, including the hospital which provides services to employees and the public. The company also has a housing stock of over 5000 houses. Hwange Colliery is saddled by a legacy debt of US$352 million. The company owes employees about $70 million in salary arrears as witnessed by a current staff complement of 2048 against a requirement of 1000 employees and statutory creditors of about $110 million owed to, for example the government and ZIMRA (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority). Bank loans are to the tune of $54m while trade creditors are owed $118 million.
The major challenge faced by Hwange Colliery is that it is heavily undercapitalised as it was last capitalised in 1983. This then has resulted in obsolete plant and equipment. Furthermore, it has an inadequate monthly working capital of $5million with $500 000 foreign currency being required for spare parts and production inputs. It has also to be noted that Hwange Colliery owns 25 percent shareholding in a company called Hwange Coal Gasification Company (HCGC) that runs a coke oven battery while 75 percent shareholders are Chinese shareholders who are reluctant to support the takeover of the coke battery by Hwange Colliery. This company was set up as a built on operating transfer arrangement for a ten-year period. Hwange Colliery has not benefited at all from this investment since its consummation of operations in 2009.
CHALLENGES
Delayed Payments from Zimbabwe Power Company(ZPC) Hwange Colliery is currently owed about US$4 million for sixty days’ supply of coal. Hwange Colliery supplies ZPC with 50% of its coal and hence struggles to pay its monthly obligations as it also struggles to pay salaries.
Unavailability of Foreign Currency
There is unavailability of foreign currency required for importation of spare parts and production inputs such as explosives. The foreign currency shortages have caused delay in the resuscitation of underground mining operations. The underground mining operations stopped in 2015 but were resuscitated last year because the most profitable coking coal is mined from underground and that is the same coking coal being supplied to ZISCO Steel. The foreign currency shortages also crippled the open cast mining operations where low value thermal coal and industrial coal is mined.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Hwange has lost market share to Liberation and Zambezi Gas principally through the loss of coal supplies to ZPC which are now being made by Liberation and Zambezi Gas. It is therefore recommended that;
- The Hwange Board which is heavily undercapacitated through lack of numbers and experience, must be immediately reconstituted.
- Management is not experienced in the mining sector and therefore immediately requires an individual with vast mining experience to be appointed. iii.Locals should be given first preference when being appointed to both the board and management.
- Government must have the money they expended on capitalisation returned, failure of which shareholding from other shareholders must immediately be diluted commensurately.
- All outstanding labour issues must immediately be resolved with particular emphasis to salaries as per settlement to avoid the strikes caused by non-payment thereof.
- Locals must be given the first right to supply their goods and services to the parastatal.
- Investment needs to be made in all machinery especially for coking coal which is more profitable and has a ready market.
- More investment needs to be made in the workers welfare to include but not limited to education, health and recreational infrastructure.
- A review of all existing contracts needs to be undertaken by the new board on the basis that the contracts seem to serve the interests of Hwange and not the contractors.
- Ministry of Local Government to take over the town infrastructure for value and take responsibility for services such as roads, electricity, sewage treatment, etc.
- Other players in coal mining to contribute to infrastructure maintenance, until Ministry of Local Government takes over the infrastructure.
- Shareholders to approve sale of houses to current and former employees in order to reduce debts owed to employees.
- Immediate take-over of Hwange Coal Gasification Company Coke Oven battery to be implemented as per agreements that are being finalised between the parties.
- Hwange Colliery requirements for foreign currency to be prioritised at the same level as fuel and other national priority projects.
- Environmental Management Agency needs to ensure that they are in the forefront of protecting the environment and conservancies as a priority.
- Hwange must keep its own coal rich concessions and not just give them away as they are strategic assets to Hwange.
- All concessions must be reviewed and all unused or underperforming concessions must be recalled, use it or lose it.
KAMATIVI
Kamativi Tailings Company is a joint venture between Zimbabwe Mining Development Company (ZMDC) and Jambaata Pvt. Ltd on
Kamativi Tin Mine Dump for the extraction of lithium. Jambaata (Pvt.) Ltd holds 60% shareholding while ZMDC holds 40%. The dump mining programme is a ten-year processing project to recover tin lithium and possibly tantalum which started with a two months’ resource verification process. This entailed the drilling of the dump to find its value before extraction.
After drilling, there is a possibility of refurbishing a refinery in Kadoma to produce a product called lithium colourmed. The refurbishment of the Kadoma refinery will cost between $400 and $600 million to erect. The cost of building a brand new lithium plant costs about $250 million. There is an idle asset at Eiffel Flats and the idea is to refurbish a portion of that and get it up and running at a tenth of the cost. The other big factor considered by the operators is that there is power, water, railway line and there is some skilled personnel. This will enable the plant to produce a technical grade of up to battery grade lithium carbonate required for lithium batteries production which are used to power electric vehicles and for solar storage. The drilling companies being used are local Zimbabwean companies.
From the beneficiation, ZMDC will be getting 51% of the revenue as profit while the foreign investor accrues 49% of the profit in the next two years.
RECOMENDATIONS
- The Kamativi Tailings Company must be monitored regularly as they seem to be doing the right thing but require performance appraisals which the ZMDC seem not to be conducting.
- However the Beijing Ping Chan’s contract with the ZMDC
must be terminated with immediate effect.
Kamativi Mine House Ownership Wrangle
The Committee met with members of the local community at Kamativi including former employees. They expressed that they were witnessing scrap metal transported out of this area by lorries that would just come in but locals are not allowed to use the scrap metal since the time the mine was closed. They also complained that they wished they would have ownership of houses as other mines that closed have since awarded their former employees with the houses they were staying. The contentious issues have been made by the locals who believe that maybe it is an issue of regionalism or tribalism. They wanted the issue addressed so that they are given the option of renting to buy. However, some houses at Kamativi are dilapidated. A letter was written in 2002 so that the residents and/or former employees get ownership of the houses but no action was taken. Houses were demolished the same way the Gwayi River establishment was vandalised.
The residents also wanted to be assisted to start mining cooperatives so that they can sustain themselves because there are slim chances of getting employment with the new investor as mining cooperatives. These cooperatives were formed between 1988 and 1996 and they were doing very well. Their sole buyer of mined tin was Radiator and Tinning. At one point, the cooperatives exported their products to South Africa. The locals also used to have mining cooperatives but they were stopped by the ZMDC. The locals need mining claims from the ZMDC so that their mining is a legalised activity.
The residents pay $5 for water and low-density suburb rentals are $17. In the high-density suburb, rentals are $3. There is an agreement that a certain percentage on rentals paid must go to ZMDC but however service delivery from ZMDC is lacking. The residents are paying for water, a service they do not have as they are relying on untreated water from the dam. The councillor said that the council is failing to provide services like clean treated water to the community because they do not have money as the community is failing to pay for water and rentals which is the money used to buy water treatment chemicals so that they provide better services. He went further to say they owed Lower Gwayi sub catchment almost $100 000 for drawing water from the river and ZESA almost $400 thousand.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Locals who worked and have been staying at the mine must be given company houses as happened to other mines or at worst they are given the option of renting to buy.
- The new investor must build new houses for the workers as soon as they start operating.
- The local authority must improve service delivery to the locals, for example they must provide clean and safe water and refuse collection services as a matter of urgency.
- A Community Ownership Trust must be created so that locals benefit from their resource as this will also see the management of schools and community halls revamped as soon as the new investors start operating.
- The residents must also be given mining claims and be allowed to start mining cooperatives as a way of empowering them by the Ministry of Mines and Energy Development immediately.
Zambezi Gas:
- They appeared and gave oral evidence before the Committee.
The indigenously run company seems to be doing very well. However Makomo Resources have encroached on almost half of Zambezi Gas’s concession, undisputed proof of ownership of which was submitted by Zambezi Gas.
Makomo Resources must therefore leave immediately.
- ZPC should cease from dealing with Makomo Resources with immediate effect due to the fact that they are not properly regularised.
- Government Concessions not being used must be returned to
Hwange Colliery immediately.
HON. CROSS: Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is an honour to second this motion by the Chairman of the Mines Committee and to support his recommendations to the House. I just want to remark to the House about a few things regarding the report. The first is that we must recognise that there are certain institutions in Zimbabwe which are fundamentally important to us as a country. I put National Railway of Zimbabwe (NRZ) in that category and I think that we as a country need to recognise that we cannot win the fight for development without the NRZ; we have to have it; it is inescapable.
The second is the steel industry. The steel industry is the backbone of industrial development. We realise that ZISCO Steel, once the largest steel producer, south of the Mediterranean to fall into disrepair and it is a disgrace. There is no reason why we as a country cannot run a successful steel industry. We have done it for many years and we can do it again. The Chinese are proposing to build a new stainless steel plant at Redcliff and I hope that will go and it is a good investor; he knows his stuff; he is one of the biggest manufacturers in the world. I am sure that they will make a profit. I am quite certain that we will be able to resuscitate ZISCO provided we put our minds to it.
On the question of Hwange, there is no doubt in my mind – I spent the day at Hwange about two weeks ago; I went underground to have a look at the continuous mine that is working there. I discussed the situation with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and there is no doubt in my mind that Hwange is critical to us as a nation. It is the largest miner in the country; it has the largest deposits of high quality coal of all descriptions and it has all the infrastructure needed. The main reason why Hwange I believe is not working properly is simply a dysfunctional board and the CEO really does not know anything about mining.
The Minister, I am told is about to reconstruct the Board of Hwange and he has started looking for a decent CEO. I hope that when that new team is appointed, that we as a country will get behind them and just make sure that they have the tools with which to put Hwange back on its feet.
One comment about Makomo and Zambezi Gas; I visited Makomo when I was there, it is enormous. If Members have not been to Makomo recently, they should go and have a look, it is massive. It is run by about 15 contractors, most of them South Africans and I support the
Committee’s recommendation that the Government should look very carefully at these people. Whereas Zambezi Gas, a liberation mining is a Zimbabwean company, it is well run and is on the same site. Quite frankly, for the Government to have allowed Makomo to behave the way they have behaved is a disgrace. It should be investigated and rectified.
One comment, both about Hwange, Makomo and Zambezi Gas is a question of when they are going to start rehabilitating the open cast mining areas that they have occupied for years. When you travel around Hwange, there are tens of thousands of hectares of land which is being completely destroyed by open cast mining. In other parts of the world, it is essential; it is mandatory for a mining company to restore the land to the position in which they found it before they actually started stripmining. That is not happening here and no one seem to pay any attention to this. Makomo has invaded parts of the national park and I am telling you, if they are not forced to rectify this problem and put that land back to usable condition, it will have a long term impact on our wildlife reserves.
Finally Kamativi, I am delighted that Kamativi at long last is getting attention. It contains some of the biggest lithium reserves in the world and I think we can become a major lithium producer. We now have a serious investor who is going to tackle this particular opportunity. Clearly, the residual community that has been left behind from the original tin mine needs serious attention if they are to see the humanitarian needs met before the new investor takes up the
opportunity. I would endorse what the Committee has recommended to the Minister for his consideration. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, I move that this House adopts the Third Report of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy on familiarisation visits by the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to ZISCO STEEL, Hwange Colliery, Kamativi as well as oral evidence from Zambezi Gas and Liberation Mining. Thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, HOME
AFFAIRS AND SECURITY SERVICES
HON. T. DUBE: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services.
HON. D. SIBANDA: I second
HON. T. DUBE: The Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security was appointed to shadow the security sector- namely, the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and all Security and Intelligent Services of Government. To this end, the Committee conducted inquiries and fact finding field visits to the hinterland and came up with reports which were presented to the august House.
The reports were on the following:-
i) Immigration Department at Forbes Border Post; ii) Landmine situation in Zimbabwe;
Following visits to landmine infested areas of the country, the
Hon. Minister of Defence gave a comprehensive report to this august House embracing some of the recommendations of the Committee.
Attempted Jailbreak from Chikurubi Maximum Prison
The Committee made a number of salient observations and findings in connection with the disturbances at the Chikurubi Maximum Prison. These culminated in commendable corrective measures being undertaken. This august House may appreciate that a Board of Inquiry was instituted and suffice to say that in its findings, the board established that while on the face of it the main motive of the disturbances by the ring leaders was presented as shortage of prisoners’ rations, it would appear the attempted jailbreak was as a result of a well calculated intention to escape from prison.
As a result, corrective actions have since been taken as a deterrent. These include among other addressing issues of staff replacement, linen that was burnt during the disturbance. You may also be aware that concerted efforts have been made through the 2016 Presidential Amnesty Exercise and re-classification to mitigate challenges associated with overcrowding in prison facilities. Through your Committee’s recommendations, Prison authorities have established internal monitoring mechanisms to deal with the security threat in the prison
facilities.
iii) Service Delivery by the Office of the Registrar General in the issuance of Primary Documents
Suffice to say, although the Hon. Minister for Home Affairs has not responded to the Committee’s report, some of the recommendations by the Committee have started to be implemented, chief among them, is the relocation of the Departments of Immigration and the Registrar General to the new offices.
iv) Service Delivery by the Zimbabwe Republic Police;
- The issue of numerous roadblocks which has become the order of the day;
- Further to that, the Committee received and analysed monthly financial statements from ministries that it overshadowed.
- The Committee crafted and adopted its curriculum on security sector oversight.
- The capacity building workshops were conducted for the Committee and these went a long way in improving the understanding of the Hon. Members of the Committee on their
roles.
It is my fervent hope that the capacitation of our Hon. Members will always be on-going if we are to become a vibrant institution.
I therefore move that this House adopts the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services to be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LABOUR
AND SOCIAL WELFARE ON THE STATE OF THE REFUGEES
WELFARE PROGRAMME IN ZIMBABWE
HON. MUDYIWA: I move the motion standing in my name that
this House takes note of the Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the State of the Refugees Welfare Programme in Zimbabwe.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
HON. MUDYIWA:
INTRODUCTION:
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The refugee issue is a pervasive challenge affecting the world in the 21st century. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2017), 22.5 million people are estimated to be refugees globally. The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 defines a refugee as a person who leaves his country of nationality or habitual residence due to well-founded fears of persecution. The 2017 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Annual Global Trends Report identifies war, violence and persecution as major drivers of the refugee problem.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INQUIRY
The influx of refugees who were fleeing from the civil war in Mozambique into the country in late 2016 triggered the Committee's inquiry into the state of the Refugees Welfare Programme in Zimbabwe. The major objective of the inquiry was to establish the country's policy position in relation to refugees. In essence, the Committee sought to familiarise itself with and assess the conditions under which refugees enter, stay and leave the country.
METHODOLOGY:
The Committee employed the following methodologies to gather information:
- Field visits to Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge and Waterfalls
Referral Centre in Harare; and
- Oral evidence sessions with Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare officials.
COMMITTEE FINDINGS:
Refugee Policy and Administrative Framework
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the United Nations Convention
Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and African Union Convention Governing Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa of 1969 under which the country has an obligation for the general care and protection of refugees within the country. To this end, the Refugees Act [Chapter 4:03] was enacted in 1983 to domesticate key provisions of these international agreements. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is currently administering the Act and its responsibilities include registration, protection and provision of other social safety nets to refugees in the country. In terms of Section 4 (1) of the Act, the office of Commissioner for Refugees has been created within the Ministry to perform the following key functions; conferring refugees status on asylum seekers and provision of adequate facilities for reception and care of refugees in the country.
In addition, Zimbabwe has shifted from the Encampment Policy to the Graduation Approach where refugees have to be self-sustainable. Under this policy and provisions of the Refugees Act, refugees domiciled in Zimbabwe enjoy the right to engage in economic activities, freedoms of religion and movement, among others.
Involvement of non-profit organisations in the Refugees
Welfare Programme
Although the Government is ultimately responsible for the care and protection of refugees and asylum seekers, interested non-state actors are free to complement its efforts. The United Nations Convention
Relating to the Status of Refugees mandates the Commissioner for
Refugees to collaborate with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in its operations. Other organisations currently contributing to the Refugees Welfare Programme include:
- GOAL Zimbabwe which is involved in water, sanitation and livelihoods activities;
- Terre-des Homes running health and educational programmes;
- World Food Programme which support food security; and
- Jesuit Refugee Services providing pastoral and livelihood activities.
Entry and Registration of Asylum seekers
Asylum seekers from various countries enter Zimbabwe mostly through Chirundu and Nyamapanda Border Posts and find their way to Tongogara Refugee Camp. On arrival refugees are issued temporary permits and interviewed to provide information pertaining to their countries of origin and reasons for leaving. The information collected during the interview is considered by a Refugees Committee which has power to grant or deny an individual refugee status. This Committee is headed by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and consists of representatives from the Immigration Department,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President’s Office. In case of rejection, the applicant can appeal to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and if the rejection is maintained, an individual should leave the country within a period of 3 months. Common reasons for rejection include; inconsistency, non-existence of threat in country of origin and individuals who pose threat to national security.
Exit of Refugees from the Country
The Permanent Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare, Mr.
Ngoni Masoka informed the Committee that an individual’s refugee status in Zimbabwe expires when threat in the country of origin ceases to exist. Other exit options for refugees are voluntary repatriation or resettlement to other countries. The Committee learnt that some individuals had been staying at Tongogara Camp for more than 15 years while others were born in the country as far back as 1974. Mrs. Chipfuwa, the Principal Administrator at Waterfall Referral Centre highlighted that very few repatriation cases had been recorded and these included two families which went back to the DRC and Angola. However, the Committee was further informed that some members of the family which went back to the DRC had returned to Zimbabwe. The Committee noted that refugees were generally reluctant to return to countries of origin due to various reasons; including fear of persecution.
Refugee Camps in Zimbabwe
Only two refugee centres are currently functional in Zimbabwe, namely; Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge and Waterfalls Referral Centre in Harare. The Government has set aside Tongogara Camp for purposes of accommodating refugees in the country. At the time of the Committee's visit, Tongogara Camp had a population of 9 062 refugees from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Somalia and Rwanda. The Committee was informed that some Zimbabwean nationals had become part of the community through intermarriages with refugees.
The Waterfalls Referral Centre used to be a transit camp where refugees were vetted before movement to Tongogara Camp but it was transformed into temporary accommodation for refugees seeking specialist medical services in Harare and those awaiting resettlement to third countries or repatriation. The Committee noted that although the Waterfalls Centre in principle accommodates refugees temporarily, 3 families had been staying there for more than 2 years. The Committee also learnt that some refugees at Waterfalls Centre were seeking protection from issues such as tribalism and family disputes at Tongogara Refugee Camp, among other reasons.
Living conditions of Refugees at Tongogara Camp and
Waterfalls Referral Centre
Once granted refugee status in Zimbabwe, individuals are free to join the community at Tongogara Camp. Refugees are allocated land to construct make-shift shelter in the form of roofing material.
Additionally, the Government with support from development partners provide refugees with foodstuffs such as maize, kapenta fish, beans, rice and a $13 allowance per individual every month. Individuals can participate in livelihoods projects such as; farming, goat, sheep, poultry and pig rearing, among others. The Committee had an opportunity to tour some of these projects during its visit to the Camp.
Tongogara Primary School and St Michaels Secondary School at
Tongogara Camp provide free education to refugees and their children. Chipinge College of Horticulture, located near the camp also provides vocational training for students. Courses such as upholstery, carpentry and cosmetology are also offered at the Camp. The Committee learnt that some members of the refugee community can afford to send their children to university and colleges outside the Camp. In addition, a clinic has been constructed at the Camp to provide medical services to the refugee community free of charges, while serious cases are referred to Chipinge and Mutare Hospitals.
The Committee was shown several blocks accommodating refugees at Waterfalls Referral Centre. Each family is allocated a single room while ablution facilities are shared per block. In addition, each individual at the Centre receives a monthly food basket consisting of 12 kilogrammes (kg) mealie-meal, 800 milliliters cooking oil, 2kg beans,
150 grams (g) salt, 500g sugar, 500g soap. The Committee was informed that refugees sometimes received baskets without some basic items, such as soap and had at one time gone for 3 months without receiving any allocations. Furthermore, women and girls staying at the Centre receive 2 packets of sanitary pads every 3 months. While the above mentioned items are provided at Waterfalls Centre, refugees are required to bring other items from Tongogara, including blankets and cooking utensils. The Committee noted that the Waterfalls Referral Centre was in need of basic maintenance such as cutting the tall grass.
Challenges
During field visits and oral evidence sessions with Ministry officials the Committee noted the following challenges:
a) Inadequate financial resources
The Committee learnt that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare was hampered from effectively administering the Refugees Welfare Programme by financial resource challenges, including planning and achieving set goals.
b) Shortage of agricultural land
The entry of refugees from Mozambique in December 2016 into
Tongogara Camp increased the demand for agricultural land. The Committee was informed that available land could only accommodate 470 individuals out of a community of 9 062 people.
c) Inadequate infrastructure
A poor road network to Tongogara Camp is a major constraining factor faced at Tongogara Camp, especially during the rainy season. Furthermore, the Committee learnt that there were no Advanced Level classrooms at Tongogara Primary and St Michael Secondary schools resulting in children failing to attend school. The lack of vehicles to transport sick persons to hospitals for doctor-patient appointments was also highlighted to be a challenge at Waterfalls Referral Centre.
d) High electricity charges
The Committee was informed that monthly electricity charges for Waterfalls Referral Centre were classified as commercial rates which made it unaffordable for the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to provide refugees at the Centre with power for domestic uses such as cooking and lighting.
e) Lack of security
Tongogara Camp is under threat from wild animals such as lions and elephants which stray from the nearby Devure Game Range due to the lack of a security fence. Although some security officers had been deployed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to safeguard administrative staff, refugees and assets, they were unarmed which exposed them to attacks by wild animals and robbers as well. Furthermore, a police post manned by only 4 police officers against a population of 9 062 has been established at the camp.
f) Shortage of staff
The Committee noted that inadequate teaching staff was affecting the access to education by students at Tongogara Primary School and St Michaels Secondary School. Moreover, there were no interpreters at
Tongogara and Waterfalls Camps to facilitate communication between Programme Officers and refugees from various countries. This was a key challenge experienced at both centres.
g) Low morale
Refugees Welfare Programme Officers lamented that their conditions of service were inferior to other Government workers, particularly, lack of employer contributions to pensions. The Committee was informed that it was not clear whether these officers would benefit from the Civil Servants Residential Stands Scheme currently being unrolled by the Government, for instance.
h) Difficulties in acquiring birth certificates
Refugees highlighted that they were experiencing difficulties in acquiring birth certificates for their children born in Zimbabwe.
OBSERVATIONS:
The Committee made the following observations:
- Refugees experience challenges in accessing adequate basic needs such as food, soap and sanitary pads.
- The uncertainty as to whether Programme Officers were set to benefit from the Civil Service Residential Stands Scheme was a source of demoralisation.
- Tongogara Refugee Camp is overcrowded, with a population of 9062 refugees at the time of the Committee's visit.
- The environment at Tongogara Refugee Camp was dirty while Waterfalls Referral Centre was in need of basic maintenance as grass and fallen trees were scattered all over the place.
- Tongogara Refugee Camp is experiencing agricultural land shortages which impede self-sustainability projects of refugees.
- The security system at Tongogara Refugee Camp which mainly consists of unarmed security guards and 4 police officers is inadequate. Furthermore, the lack of a security fence exacerbates the situation.
- Some children at Tongogara Refugee Camp could not access education due to teacher and classroom shortages.
- The road to Tongogara was in a poor state.
- Electricity charges for Waterfalls Referral Centre are set on commercial lines, which make it unaffordable to provide electric power to refugees staying at the Centre.
- Refugees were experiencing difficulties in accessing birth certificates for children born in Zimbabwe.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Committee recommends the following:
- The Government of Zimbabwe should increase support towards the Refugees Welfare Programme in the form of a National Budget allocation to complement donor support.
- The Civil Service Commission should fill in critical job positions for the success of the Refugees Welfare Programme such as interpreters, environmental officers and teachers at Tongogara Camp and Waterfalls Referral Centre. The Commission can also redeploy officers to these posts under the Civil Service Rationalisation Programme by October,
2018.
- In the interest of social justice, the Civil Service Commission should ensure that Refugees Welfare Programme Officers access similar benefits to other Government employees, considering that some have been employed for more than ten years, for instance residential stands under the Civil Servants' Scheme by October 2018.
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture should reinforce security at Tongogara Camp through erection of an electric fence to prevent entry of stray animals from the
Devure Game Range and increasing the number of police
officers to at least 10 respectively by October, 2018.
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare should continuously assess refugees for resettlement to third countries and individuals who can afford to rent accommodation elsewhere should be moved out of
Tongogara Camp in order to reduce overcrowding. The Ministry should also move out refugees who inter-married with locals from the Camp by October 2018.
- The Registrar General should grant residence permits renewable every 5 years to refugees who consistently stay in the country to enable them to live outside the camp in order to reduce the population at Tongogara Refugee Camp.
- The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development should construct a proper gravel road to Tongogara Camp by October 2018 to facilitate easy movement of people and provisions.
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare should immediately engage ZESA to ensure that Waterfalls Referral Centre is moved from commercial to residential premises status for purposes of electricity charging by October 2018.
- The Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement should allocate more land to the Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare to expand agricultural land and enable refugees at Tongogara Camp to conduct farming activities in line with the country's policy of self-sustenance by October 2018. The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should facilitate provision of identity documents such as birth certificates by incumbent governments to their nationals in Zimbabwe by bringing services to Tongogara Refugee Camp Camp at least twice a year by December 2018.
CONCLUSION:
The Committee commends the sterling efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe to provide homes to fellow men, women and their families. It is laudable that the country makes efforts to honour its international obligations and is on track towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, it is encouraging to note that despite being overburdened with economic challenges, humanity for mankind still exists in Zimbabwe.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Let me thank Hon.
Mudyiwa who is the Chairperson of the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. This report emanates from the visits that were carried out by the Committee in order to understand the welfare of those that are housed by the Zimbabwean Government in our camps namely the Tongogara Refugee Camp and the one here in Waterfalls. My appeal is to Hon. Members to visit this camp so that they get to understand the living standards in terms of the refugees. Once upon a time, most of our Members have been refugees to the various countries and it is the
Government’s responsibility to house refugees and to cater for their health, education and life. If one wants to go to Tongogara Refugee
Camp Mr. Speaker, you would find that many languages are spoken and it is a mixed bag in terms of languages. The schools there at the beginning of the year were washed away by the rains and they became refugees on being refugees in Zimbabwe. Hence the need where we are talking about the welfare in terms of infrastructure development. The roads there are impassable. One has to be brave enough to go to Tongogara Refugee Camp. It is my appeal that Government resuscitates the road that leads to Tongogara Refugee Camp. Unfortunately, it is only one road and if it is blocked or the road cannot reach you to Tongogara Refugee Camp, then you are stuck. I speak this with the knowledge that as a former Minister of Labour, I was one of those who would go to Tongogara Refugee Camp for the celebrations of the Refugee Day in Zimbabwe. I appeal for Government to facilitate the process in terms of cartering for the welfare of those that are housed at Tongogara and in Waterfalls. We risk losing lives in terms of overcrowding and lack of food that can supply dietary requirements. It is my appeal that the Government takes seriously the report that has been tabled by the Committee. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. MUDYIWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to thank Hon.
Mpariwa for her contribution to the debate. May the report be adopted.
I thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON
LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE ON THE STATE OF WELFARE
OF OLDER PERSONS IN ZIMBABWE
HON. MUDYIWA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the State of Welfare of Older Persons in Zimbabwe.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. This is the
Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social
Welfare on the State of Welfare of older Persons in Zimbabwe. This report was compiled after a visit to at least one home in all the provinces in the country.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
While longevity should be celebrated, it is paradoxically a major risk factor in African countries, including Zimbabwe. The dollarisation of 2009 wiped out savings of the majority of the citizens who had reached the pensionable age, which is on average 60 years. In addition, the ravages of the HIV and AIDS pandemic has left many childless in old age and with the burden of taking care of orphaned grandchildren. Furthermore, the current economic environment in the country characterised by high unemployment levels, inflation and cash shortages has exacerbated poverty levels, thereby severing the traditional community support systems for vulnerable members of society such as kinship ties. Consequently, older persons have become one of the most vulnerable societal groups in Zimbabwe and some find themselves destitute with no option but to enlist at Old People's Homes around the country.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the inquiry were to:
- establish the state of welfare of older persons, including access to basic needs such as food, medical care, decent shelter sanitation and hygiene;
- find out the occupancy levels of homes and causal factors;
- ascertain the accessibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare's programmes to older persons; and
- understand opportunities and challenges encountered in the administration of homes
3.0 METHODOLOGY
The Committee employed the following methods to gather information:
- field visits to the following old people’s homes as shown on Table 1 below.
- oral evidence sessions with Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare, Help Age Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Older Persons
Association
Table 1: Old People’s Homes toured by the Committee
PROVINCE | HOME |
Mashonaland Central | Mazowe River Bridge Centre |
Bulawayo | Entembeni old People’s Home |
Harare | Bumhudzo Old People’s Home |
Mashonaland East | Idawekwako Old People’s Home |
Mashonaland West | Nazareth Shelter for Destitute Older Persons |
Masvingo | Mucheke Old People’s Home |
Matabeleland North | Dete Old Age Home |
Midlands | Rugare Old People’s Home |
Manicaland | Zororai Old People’s Home |
Matebeleland South | Gwanda Association Home for the Aged |
3.0 COMMITTEE FINDINGS
3.1 Administrative Framework
Section 21 (2) (b) of the Constitution stipulates that the State and all agencies of Government should provide facilities, food and social care for elderly persons in need. In addition, the Older Persons Act [Chapter 17:11] of 2013 which is currently administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare governs the welfare of older persons. The Act provides for the establishment of an Older Persons board with the major responsibility of spearheading programmes to improve the welfare of older persons and public assistance allowances, among other social welfare services to individuals aged 65 years and above. The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. P. Kagonye informed the Committee that a 15 member Older Persons Board had been set up in 2013.
The Minister further highlighted that there were 29 registered old people’s homes in the country, out of which only Harare Old People’s Home was owned by Government, while the majority belonged to private voluntary organisations (PVOs). During its field visits, the Committee learnt that churches played a significant role in the establishment and running of old people’s homes as shown on Table 2.
Although the founding objectives of these old people’s homes altered over the years, the major thrust was to accommodate destitute older members of the society whose situations were attributable to a myriad of factors, including retrenchment.
Table 2: Administration of Old People’s Home
Home | Administrator |
Bumhudzo Old People’s Home | Salvation Army |
Dete Old Aged Home | Catholic Church |
Entembeni Old People’s Home | Volunteers |
Gwanda Association Home for the Aged | Gwanda Association |
Idawekwako Old People’s Home | Christian Marching Church |
Mazoe River Bridge Centre | HelpAge Zimbabwe |
Mucheke Old People’s Home | Baptist Church |
Nazareth Shelter for Destitute Older Persons | World Vision |
Rugare Old People’s Home | Inter-denominational |
Zororai Old People’s Home | Roman Catholic Church and Mutare City Council |
Out of the 10 old people's homes visited by the Committee, 6 were run by church organisations, while the remainder were managed by nongovernmental organisations and volunteers. However, the Committee learnt that the Mutare City Council Community Development Officer directly superintended over the daily running of Zororai Old People’s
Home. The Committee also found out that Government Social Workers play a peripheral role in the administration of old people’s homes, such as; registration of homes, vetting potential inmates, facilitating payment of per capita grants and collection of grain under the Food Mitigation Programme.
3.2 Government Support for Older Persons
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was allocated a meagre
$500 000.00 in the 2018 National Budget against a bid of $10 177 450.00 towards the support of older persons. The Minister highlighted that this amount is inadequate to cater even for administrative and per capita grants for older persons living in registered old people’s homes. An administrative grant is a once-off payment $15.00 payment per individual domiciled at the home, while per capita grants are paid to the institution at the same rate upon submission of monthly claim forms. In addition, both older persons in or outside institutionalised care benefit from the Ministry’s social welfare programmes including; Harmonised
Social Cash Transfers, Assisted Medical Treatment Orders (AMTOs),
Food Mitigation Programme and Maintenance Allowances.
Although management at various homes visited by the Committee acknowledged the assistance from the Ministry, indications were that the grants and grain disbursements were irregular. Mr. Sithole of Entembeni
Old People’s Home highlighted that social welfare grants had been last received in 2014, for instance. As a result, old people’s homes largely depended on well-wishers such as churches, schools, Zimbabwe
Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and Zimbabwe National Road
Administration (ZINARA) for basic needs such as food and blankets.
The Committee also noted that although local authorities around the country offered variable support to old people’s homes, they had provided construction land free of charge in most cases. Mutare City Council Community Department was the only local authority involved in the daily running of Zororai Old People’s Home and seconded some of its employees to maintain the yard and garden. Kwekwe City Council provided water at Rugare Old People’s Home free of charge and paid electricity bills.
3.3 Occupancy Levels at Old People’s Homes
The Committee found out that the occupancy levels of old people's homes had dropped drastically due to the inadequacy of resources as shown on 3. Major Nyarubero at Bumhudzo Old People's Home highlighted that the institution could no longer accommodate more inmates as it lacked resources to cater for their needs.
Table 3: Occupancy Levels
Home | Carrying Capacity | Actual Occupancy |
Mazowe River Bridge Centre | 175 | 14 |
Entembeni old People’s Home | 150 | 36 |
Bumhudzo Old People’s Home | 110 | 30 |
Idawekwako Old People’s Home | 56 | 26 |
Nazareth Shelter for Destitute Older Persons | 45 | 21 |
Mucheke Old People’s Home | 45 | 19 |
Dete Old Age Home | 40 | 18 |
Rugare Old People’s Home | 36 | 9 |
Zororai Old People’s Home | 35 | 15 |
Gwanda Association Home for the Aged | 15 | 9 |
3.4 Push / Pull factors to Old People’s Homes
The majority of inmates at old people’s homes originated from neighbouring countries, such as Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, therefore had no relatives to take care of them. In addition, rejection by relatives and childlessness were commonly raised as reasons why individuals ended up staying in old people’s homes. Mbuya Mamoyo at
Mucheke Old People’s Home informed the Committee that no one could take care of her since all her 4 children and husband had succumbed to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
3.5 Criteria for Admission to homes
Administrators highlighted that the Social Welfare Department played the role of vetting and referring inmates to all homes toured by the Committee. In addition, there was general concurrence that individuals referred to the homes were 65 years of age and above. However, the Committee noted that this was not always the case, for instance, there was a couple below that age staying at Mucheke Old
People’s Home in Masvingo and a disabled young man at Idawekwako
Old People’s Home in Marondera
3.6 Challenges encountered in Caring for Older Persons
3.6.1 Poverty
The majority of older persons in Zimbabwe have no source of income to cater for their basic needs. This state of affairs can be attributed to Operation Murambatsvina, a programme under which houses built illegally were destroyed, leaving many people homeless and introduction of the multi-currency system (dollarization). Mr. Mandaza from the Zimbabwe Older Persons Organisation explained that dollarization eroded all pensions, savings and investments of older persons.
3.6.2. Financial constraints
The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare lamented that the inadequacy of financial resources and erratic releases hampered the
Ministry’s efforts to deliver services to older persons, for example regular payment of per capita grants to old people’s homes. Mr
Makotore of Rugare Old People’s Home informed the Committee Social Welfare grants were only disbursed two or three times a year.
Consequently, the unavailability of funds to meet daily needs, including; food and materials for use by gloves for use by caregivers was a constant challenge. The management of Mucheke Old People’s Home further informed the Committee that the home used firewood for preparing meals since they could not afford to purchase electricity. Similarly,
Entembeni Old People’s Home and Dete Old Aged Home faced serious challenges settling electricity and water bills. Additionally, Mr Makotore noted that donations from well-wishers that had become the mainstay of old people’s homes were fast dwindling due to economic hardship and closure of local industry. Furthermore, Mrs Gavi, the
Director of Help Age Zimbabwe and Mr Mandaza of the Zimbabwe Older Persons Association informed the Committee that they encountered challenges in mobilising funds for the support of older persons as the sector was perceived as welfaristic, therefore, a responsibility of Government.
3.6.3 Difficulties in accessing health services
Both older persons under and outside institutional care experience challenges in accessing medical services. Although older persons are entitled to free consultation through AMTOs, the facility does not cater for drugs. Ms. Gavi of Help Age Zimbabwe further decried the lack of geriatric doctors and hospitals in the country, as well as the abusive language suffered by older persons from health personnel. The lack of vehicles to ferry inmates to clinics was also reported to be a major challenge to the majority of homes visited by the Committee.
3.6.4 Burial of inmates
While the Government provides the pauper burial facility and in some instances local authorities offer burial land free of charge, some homes experienced difficulties in sending off inmates. The Committee learnt that Rugare Old People’s Home, Mucheke Old People’s Home and Gwanda Association Home for the Aged faced difficulties in raising funds to purchase coffins and transport the deceased from the mortuary to such an extent that burials were in some cases delayed by a month.
3.6.5 Difficulties in accessing documentation
Mr Makava, Secretary of the Board of Directors at Rugare Old People's Home informed the Committee that the home had been attempting to retrieve a lost registration certificate from the Social Welfare Department for about three years without any success. The certificate is required in seeking financial support for the home.
Additionally, Mr Bandawe of Mucheke Old People’s Home highlighted that it was difficult to acquire identity documents and burial orders for inmates since most of them could not even remember their names or origins due to old age or sickness.
3.6.6 Dilapidated infrastructure
The Committee noted with concern that the buildings at Mazowe
River Bridge Centre were in a state of dilapidation.
3.6.7 Non-remuneration of caregivers
All the homes toured by the Committee were manned by women volunteers who were not being paid for their services due to lack of financial resources. In the majority of cases, caregivers received food rations from the commodities donated to the home or irregular token allowances. As a result, old people’s homes were experiencing a shortage of volunteers to take care of the old and frequently sick inmates. Mr. Sithole of Entembeni Old People’s Home in Bulawayo recounted to the Committee how the Social Welfare Department used to run the home and employees’, salaries were paid by the Government.
4.0 OBSERVATIONS
4.1 The 2018 budgetary allocation for the support of welfare of older persons is grossly inadequate to support the welfare of older persons in the country. In view of the current harsh economic environment, older persons living under or outside institutional care require assistance to cater for their basic needs.
4.2 The $15.00 per capita monthly grant to old people’s homes is a paltry amount which cannot cater for the basic needs of an individual considering the rise in costs of living. Although most old people’s homes are privately owned, they can no longer sustain their operations as evidenced by failure to maintain their infrastructure, provide adequate food for inmates and pay caregivers, for instance, Mazowe River Bridge
Centre
4.3 Old people’s homes heavily rely on handouts for sustenance.
4.4 Government Social Workers play a peripheral role in the administration of old people’s homes.
4.5 Local authorities are minimally involved in the operations of old people’s homes except for Mutare Municipality where the
Community Services Department is involved in the daily running of
Zororai Old People’s Home. Similarly, other local leadership including Members of Parliament seem to be detached from the activities of old people’s homes in their constituencies.
4.6 Accessing health services is a major challenge experienced by older persons across the country mainly because AMTOs only cover hospital consultation fees and not medication.
4.7 There are no geriatric doctors and clinics in Zimbabwe
5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee recommends the following:
5.1 The Government should establish a State funded universal pension scheme for persons aged 65 years and above by December 2018. The introduction of a minimal levy of $0.01 on tollgate fees, for example, can go a long way in raising funds for the universal pension scheme.
5.2 The Treasury should prioritise social welfare programmes relating to the support of older persons in the allocation and disbursement of financial resources to ensure the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare delivers regular services such as grain and grants to old people’s homes by October 2018. In addition, per capita grants should be reviewed in line with the current costs of living from $15.00 to $30.00 by January 2019.
5.3 The Government should provide funds for self-sustenance projects at old people’s homes, for instance, chicken rearing, horticulture, grinding mills and fish farming by December 2018.
5.4 The Social Welfare Department should closely monitor operations of old people’s homes to ensure they satisfy minimum standards for human habitation and assist in resolving challenges such as access to identity documents and retrieval of Rugare Old People’s Home registration certificate without delay by October 2018.
5.5 Local authorities and Members of Parliament should assume a more active role in operations of old people’s homes under their territories by October 2018. Councils can assist in settling water and electricity bills, for instance, while Members of Parliament can provide constant oversight on old people’s homes.
5.6 The Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with Council Clinics should provide critical items such as gloves, a vehicle to ferry sick older persons to hospital, a nurse to watch over inmates at night and visiting doctor once every month at all old people’s homes by October 2018. The business community is also encouraged to provide assistance as part of corporate social responsibility.
5.7 The Assisted Medical Treatment Orders facility should be extended to cover drugs by January 2019.
5.8 The Public Service Commission in collaboration with the
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare should employ requisite workers such as resident caretakers and caregivers to service old people’s homes. In addition, volunteers currently serving at the homes should be granted a monthly allowance of at least $50.00 since they are performing a national duty.
5.9 The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care should incorporate geriatric health in medical training courses or introduce programmes at university level to ensure a constant supply of qualified staff to attend to the health needs of older persons in the country by January 2019.
6.0 CONCLUSION
There is need for concerted efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of older persons in Zimbabwe. Today’s old men and women have immensely contributed to national development, albeit at different levels and deserve honour and respect. The Government should assume a more leading role in this regard in order to fulfil its constitutional obligations.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Let me thank the
Chairperson, Hon. Mudyiwa for presenting the report on the welfare of older persons. Mr. Speaker, you may recall that we have an Older Persons Act in the country. If we were to implement it in its meaningful sense, we would not have such kind of problems in terms of catering for aged people. Mind you Mr. Speaker, we are all on our way to old age. Nobody can say, one day I will not be old because it is nature which is taking its course. Mr. Speaker, I would like to repeat the point that has been mentioned in terms of bills of water and electricity that I think we can enforce the payments or the right offs in terms of the bills that are owed by the houses that house our older persons because it is not their own wish. Because of that Hon. Speaker, I think Government can do us a favour by saying no water bills, no bills for electricity.
Moving on to the assisted medical treatment orders, I know that at some point, Government owed twenty million to private hospitals and to general hospitals. I would want to believe that if Anto is funded properly by the Government, allocation is given, then they would be able to cover the ambulances and everything else to do with the health of the elderly.
My last point is an appeal also for Members of Parliament that the CDF that has been allocated can actually go a long way if one was to identify an older persons’ home in their constituency which requires renovations and water supply - to just sink a borehole at the home. That will go a long way and change the lives of those that are actually in problems.
I also want to touch on NSSA on whether it is on human habitant that they can also allocate something in terms of corporate social responsibility in terms of catering for our elderly people. It is a question of knocking on the right doors at the right time so that we get assistance for our elderly persons. We are also heading to be elderly persons – if one was to take off the dye on our heads, people would not actually recognise us. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Majome, may you be precise
and to the point.
HON. MAJOME: I reserve my right to be silent Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MUDYIWA: I would like to thank Hon. Mupariwa and Hon. Majome though she did not say something. I know she had quite a lot that she wanted to contribute. I would like at this moment to move for the adoption of the report.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 138TH ASSEMBLY OF THE INTER-
PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU), GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: 24 TO 28 MARCH 2018
HON MACHINGURA: I move the motion standing in my name
that this House takes note of the Report of the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, Switzerland held on 24 to 28 March 2018.
HON. P. MPOFU: I second
HON. MACHINGURA:
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 24 to 28 March 2018 under the overarching theme “Strengthening the Global Regime for Migrants and Refugees: The need for Evidence based policy solutions Ethnic
Dialogue”
Hon. Advocate Jacob F. Mudenda, Speaker of the National
Assembly led a Parliamentary delegation comprising the following Members and Officers of Parliament to the 138th Assembly of the IPU and Related Meetings:-
Hon. Paradzai Chakona, Member of Parliament;
Hon. William Mutomba, Member of Parliament;
Hon. Amos Chibaya, Member of Parliament;
Hon. Jennifer Mhlanga, Member of Parliament;
Hon. Raymore Machingura, Member of Parliament;
Mr. Kennedy Chokuda, Clerk of Parliament;
Mr. Ndamuka Marimo, Director in the Clerk’s Office;
Mr. Frank Mike Nyamahowa, Director in the President of the
Senate’s Office;
Ms. Rumbidzai P. Chisango, Principal External Relations Officer and Secretary to the Delegation; and
Mr. Zvemikria Mukushwa, Security – Aide to the Hon. Speaker.
1.2 Hon. Mhlanga was elected President of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade. We extend our warm congratulations to her and wish her a successful term in office.
1.3 The delegation met with the delegation from the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the 138th Assembly of the IPU. The bilateral meeting provided an opportunity to re-establish relations between the two legislatures as well as to explore possible areas of cooperation. In tandem with the mantra of the new dispensation, the delegation emphasized that Zimbabwe is open for business. In this regard, the two sides agreed to undertake reciprocal exchange visits to learn best practices. Furthermore, the United Kingdom pledged support in identified areas such as health delivery and wildlife conservation.
2.0 Emergency Item
The merged proposal put forward by Palestine, Kuwait, Bahrain and Turkey regarding the Palestinian question entitled “The consequences of the US Declaration on Jerusalem and the rights of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem in the light of the UN Charter and resolutions” was adopted and added to the Agenda.
3.0 General Debate
3.1 The General Debate on the theme “Strengthening the global regime for migrants and refugees: The need for evidence- based policy solutions” provided an opportunity for Member Parliaments to exchange views, share good practices and propose recommendations for parliamentary action to address the legal, socio-economic and political challenges affecting migrants and refugees.
3.2 Hon. Advocate Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly, joined the distinguished delegates in contributing to the general debate on the theme.
3.2.1 He echoed the need for key drivers of migration, which include socio-economic, political and environmental to be addressed.
3.2.2 The Hon. Speaker bemoaned the untold human suffering and human rights violations migrants and refugees face in transit and in countries of destination. He, therefore, called for the establishment of an IPU High Level Working Group to spearhead modalities for timely and applicable evidence based solutions so that Parliaments are guided accordingly.
4.0 STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS
4.1 The Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights discussed the topic “Strengthening Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.”
4.2 The discussions ushered in a Parliamentary perspective to the
Global Compact process, in particular its legislative and oversight function. Parliaments have a key role in ensuring the implementation of the Global Compact, ensuring safe, orderly and regular migration, increasing coordination amongst and within states and in reducing xenophobia.
5.0 The Forum of Women Parliamentarians
5.1 The Forum of Women Parliamentarians held a panel discussion on “Why are women still underrepresented in politics? The root causes and how to address them.” It was noted, with disappointment, that the number of women in politics across the globe has declined significantly. Political barriers such as gender based violence, political violence, social (socialization, character assassination) and economic barriers (financing of elections) were identified as impediments to women entering the political arena.
5.2 It was recommended that the quota system be included in political party and national constitutions, as well as the use of proportional representation in order to achieve an increase of women in politics. The meeting advocated the promotion of education among girls, engaging the media as well changing mindsets as ways of addressing the underrepresentation of women in politics.
5.3 The Assembly paid homage to Hon. Mensah Williams, outgoing President of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians for her outstanding contribution to the Forum during her tenure as President.
6.0 Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU
6.1 In their discussions, the Young Parliamentarians advocated for quotas reserved for young people starting at political party level.
They welcomed the resolution for the inclusion of a Young
Parliamentarian in each IPU Member delegation.
6.2 The Young Parliamentarians also discussed best ways to strengthen collaboration between young Parliamentarians and young people on policy reform related to HIV, comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health and rights. Of note is that many Parliaments have Committees that deal specifically with HIV and
AIDS.
7.0 Resolutions Adopted at the 138th IPU Assembly
7.1 The Resolution on the Emergency Item on “The consequences of the US declaration on Jerusalem and the rights of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem in the light of the UN Charter and resolutions” was adopted by consensus.
7.1.1 It recalls resolutions of the United Nation’s Security Council, the communique adopted by the Extraordinary Islamic Summit
Conference and the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation with regards to the
Palestinian crisis.
7.1.2 In support of the rights of the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to end the Israeli occupation and to regain their rights to return and establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the resolution:-
- Renews its solidarity with and support to the Palestinian people in defending their just cause and their legitimate rights, including their historical and rooted rights in Jerusalem, guaranteed by the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy;
- Supports all legal and peaceful steps taken by the Palestinian leadership at the national and international levels to consolidate the sovereignty of Palestine over the Holy City of Jerusalem and the
Occupied Palestinian Territory;
- Affirms its absolute rejection in its entirety of the recent US
Administration’s decision regarding Jerusalem and considers it null and void under international law;
- Calls on all parliaments to urge their governments to recognize the State of Palestine along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with UN resolutions;
- Reaffirms that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel to impose its law and measures on Jerusalem are illegal and have no legitimacy;
- Demands that Israel cease all settlement-building activities and any other measures aimed at altering the status, character and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around Jerusalem, all of which have a detrimental impact on the human rights of the Palestinian people and on the prospects for a peaceful settlement;
- Expresses grave concern at the restrictions imposed by Israel to impede access by worshipers to the holy sites in Jerusalem;
8.Calls on international organizations to take the necessary steps to preserve and maintain the historical heritage of Jerusalem;
- Emphasizes the need to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to carry out aid programmes for the relief of the Palestinian refugees in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of December 1949; and
- Encourages the relaunch of the peace process through a multilateral initiative in accordance with United Nations resolutions to achieve the existence of a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 borders.
7.2 The declaration on the theme of the General Debate
“Strengthening the global regime for migrants and refugees: The need for global evidence – based policy solutions” was unanimously adopted.
- The declaration recognize the aspirations of people the world over for a decent life, good health and education, a safe environment, strong democratic institutions and peace. However, migrants and refugees are not always guaranteed these rights.
- The declaration acknowledges the need to harness the potential benefits of migration and the need for the International Community to support receiving countries. In this regard, there is need for a more coordinated system that brings countries together for practical solutions that work for all.
- The IPU, therefore, welcomed the United Nations imitative to forge two global compacts – one for safe, orderly and regular migration and another on refugees.
- With regards to migrants, the declaration calls for the following provisions to be reflected in the Global Compact for
Migration:
- Countries of origin, transit and destination need to cooperate more closely to facilitate the movement of migrant workers, including by facilitating the accreditation of academic and professional credentials, by allowing the portability of social security benefits, and by lowering the cost of remittances;
- Vulnerable groups such as women, children and people with disabilities should be given special protection in migration policies and in the law against exploitation and abuse;
- National migration policies need to include input from migrants themselves, ensuring that migrants are not passive subjects but active participants in the societies in which they live;
- National quotas of labour migrants can contribute to greater predictability of migration flows, although it remains up to each country to decide whether to establish a quota or not; and
- Migrants should generally be granted the right to participate in political decision-making in their host countries only upon the obtainment of citizenship, though some provision for the participation of permanent residents should be considered.
7.2.5 With regards to refugees, the declaration recommended the following provisions to be reflected in the completed, final document:
- People fleeing conflict should enjoy legal protection as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention;
- To the extent possible, countries should be incentivized to give long-term refugees permanent residence, while no refugee should be denied the right to return to the homeland;
- The freedom of movement of refugees in their host countries must be upheld in all circumstances;
- The return and re-settlement of refugees requires their consent and needs to be carefully coordinated between host countries, countries of origin or third countries;
- The return of refugees to countries of origin can only take place when all fundamental freedoms and personal safety can be guaranteed;
- More funding for the accommodation of refugees in host countries should be channeled to developing countries where the vast majority of refugees live; and
- All countries that have yet to join the 1951 Refugee
Convention and its 1967 Protocol should be encouraged to do so.
7.3 The resolution submitted by the Standing Committee on
Peace and International Security on “Sustaining peace as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development” was unanimously adopted.
7.3.1 The resolution refers to the UN Security Council resolution
(2282) 2016 which defines sustaining peace “as a goal and a process to build a common vision of a society, ensuring that the needs of all segments of the population are taken into account, which encompasses activities aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict, addressing root causes, assisting parties to conflict to end hostilities, ensuring national reconciliation and moving towards recovery, reconstruction and development, emphasizing that sustaining peace is a shared task and responsibility that needs to be filled by the government and all other stakeholders …”.
7.3.2 The resolution calls on Parliaments to:-
- Enhance democracy and human rights and advocate for resolution of conflicts through peaceful means by engaging in
Parliamentary democracy;
- Guarantee inclusiveness through the representation and empowerment of all people including women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalized people among others;
- Adopt enabling legislation, including key budget laws in order to advance both the SDG’s and sustaining peace agendas, including measures that promote increased financial support from national stakeholders, notably the private sector.
- Apply all generic parliamentary functions to hold governments accountable for the effective implementation of the sustaining peace framework and the SDGs;
- Partner with civil society more regularly in order to build trust among the general public, including marginalized sections of society, ensure inclusiveness and representation of a variety of needs and enable more effective access to decision-making processes, according to the national legislation;
- Adopt national plans of action for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, peace and security, and to oversee their implementation and adequate financing;
- Work with governments, international organizations and civil society in order to guarantee the protection of children from conflict at all times, and to avoid the use of children in armed conflict; and
- National parliaments and the international community, in accordance with the Paris Agreement on climate change, put in place legislative and financial provisions based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and calls on them to engage against climate change and its consequences, in particular on people who have to move and should be guaranteed a bedrock of international inalienable rights.
7.4 The resolution submitted by the Standing Committee on
Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade on “Engaging the Private
Sector in Implementing the SDGs, especially on renewable energy” was unanimously adopted.
7.4.1 The resolution emphasizes that the development of renewable energy sources and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources contributes significantly to ensuring energy security, minimizing inequalities in energy access both within and between countries, creates jobs and improving people’s livelihoods, including those of youths and women in society. The private sector has made significant contribution towards capital provision and employment creation in renewable energy and can, therefore, be a development agent towards sustainable production.
7.4.2 The resolution accordingly called on Parliaments to:-
- Raise public awareness about the need for the engagement of multi-stakeholders in SDG implementation, especially renewable energy, by increasing the number of educational and awareness-raising campaigns and activities reaching out to all members of society in order to equip them with enhanced knowledge on sustainable development, and also to incorporate sustainable development content into curricula at all education levels, especially undergraduate and graduate courses in investment, production, business and commerce in order to change business mindset towards SDG implementation;
- Support gender-responsive legislation, policies and budgets aimed at ensuring equal access of youth, women and men to science and technology, education and training, capacitybuilding programmes for women, especially in rural areas, and equal opportunities to engage in all stages of the renewable energy value chain, including entrepreneurship opportunities, jobs and careers, as well as equal participation in local, national and international decision-making processes in the renewable energy sector;
- Support capacity-building programmes for poor and vulnerable sections of the population, and promote legislation and policies with a view to reducing energy poverty for vulnerable consumer groups;
- Establish, and support the development of, a transparent and competitive electricity market so it will ensure that the production of electricity from renewable energy sources is selfsupporting;
- Safeguard policy space for investment into off-grid renewable energy and encourage private investment into off-grid renewable energy technology, including small-scale electricity generators converting power from renewable energy sources
and mini-grids, through support to building risk management tools for such investments and an enabling regulatory and institutional framework and by preparing reliable long-term rural electrification road maps that mitigate the risks of grid extension interfering with private mini-grid and off-grid markets;
- Allocate appropriate budgets for investment and stimulate private investment into research and development (R&D) and innovation, and prioritize investment into essential infrastructure for renewable energy development;
- Support the establishment of transparent and reliable databases for potential private investment in sustainable development, especially pipelines of small projects, the setting up of broader investor networks in the field of sustainable development, performance indicators, reporting systems for joint monitoring and evaluation on investment impacts, and standards for sustainable products and technologies, as well as the organization of multi-stakeholder forums allowing for constructively sharing knowledge, technical know-how, success stories, causes of failure and lessons learned in sustainable investment, production, operation and consumption; and
- The participation of parliaments and their members in specialized organizations and forums on renewable energy, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the establishment of networks of parliamentarians, including between parliaments, parliamentary organizations and parliamentarians, to facilitate exchanges on best practices and enable knowledge transfer, including on policy, technology and finance; and invites the IPU to cooperate with these bodies with a view to enhancing parliamentary support for the SDG Goal 7 renewable energy targets.
8.0 OBSERVATIONS
8.1 The General Debate, Committee reports and resolutions covered topical issues that require Parliamentary action through exercising its representative, legislative and oversight functions.
8.2 It is, therefore, imperative for Parliament, through respective Committees to introspect on the resolutions and where possible come up with action plans to ensure that resolutions agreed upon at International fora are implemented. There is need for follow up action to make our participation at International fora meaningful.
9.0 Recommendations
ITEM | ACTION | RESPONSIBILITY | TIMELINE | ||
1. | Increasing women in politics and decision making positions | - Parliament must demand gender parity as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
- Initiate mentoring programmes for young women intending to join politics. - Lobby political parties for gender parity. |
Portfolio Committee on Women and Youth Affairs and Zimbabwe
Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC)
|
Workplan to be determined by the Portfolio
Committees. |
|
2 | Increasing youth representation in
Parliament |
- Parliament must lobby
political parties for youth quotas. - Parliament must continue to include youth representation to delegations to International Meetings |
Chief Whips
Presiding Officers |
May 2018 (before the elections)
Ongoing |
|
3
|
HIV/AIDS | - While there is a Thematic Committee on HIV/AIDS, Parliament may wish to consider a stand alone Portfolio Committee on
HIV/AIDS |
Presiding Officers and
Administration of Parliament |
Before the reconstitution of Committees for the 9th Session of
Parliament |
|
4 | The Palestinian Question | - Parliament must continue expressing support to the Palestinian struggle through raising motions in | Presiding Officers, Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Industry and | Ongoing | |
Parliament and highlighting the issue at International fora. | Commerce | ||||
5 | Migration and Refugees | -
- |
Parliament, through its oversight function to ensure that Government adheres to International Agreements regarding the rights of migrants and refugees. Parliament must ensure sufficient budget allocation towards migrants and refugees that is consistent with international commitments. | Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Industry and Commerce
Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services |
The relevant
Portfolio Committees to come up with a workplan |
6 | Sustaining Peace as a vehicle for sustainable development | -
- |
Parliament through its oversight function must ensure the implementation of SDGs as a way of sustaining peace and stability in the country. Parliament should enact legislation that speaks to promoting peace, inclusiveness and financial support. | Thematic Committee on SDGs. | Workplan to be determined by the relevant Portfolio
Committee. |
7 | Renewable Energy | -
- |
Create an enabling environment through the legislative function, for private sector investments in the use of renewable energy.
Raise public awareness on the use of renewable energy and supporting capacity building programmes for the vulnerable. |
Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy | Workplan to be determined by the relevant Portfolio
Committee |
HON MACHINGURA: I move that the Report of the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, Switzerland held on 24 to 28 March 2018 be adopted.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, RURAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON
PETITION ON ALIGNMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
HON. MADANHA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development on petition on alignment of
Local Government laws.
HON. CHINGOSHO: I second.
HON. MADANHA:
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Committee received a petition from the following Civil
Society organisations; Centre for Community Development, Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Harare Residents Trust and Zimbabwe United Residents Association petitioning Parliament to expedite the alignment of all local government laws to the Constitution. According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 119, it is the mandate of Parliament to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance in Zimbabwe. It is also Parliament which has the power to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution are upheld and that the State and all institutions and agencies of Government at every level act constitutionally and in the national interest. According to Section 149 of the Constitution, every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority, including the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation.
2.0 Methodology
2.1 The Committee invited the petitioners to a meeting to discuss the issues raised in the petition on 21 February 2017. The Committee also held several meetings with the then Ministers of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, former Ministers Chombo and Kasukuwere and Ministry Officials to find out how far the Ministry had gone in aligning local government laws to the Constitution.
3.0 Issues Raised by Civil Society Organisations
3.1 The civil society organisations raised the following issues:-
3.1.1 The need to urgently align local laws to the Constitution and that Parliament should play its oversight role by ensuring that all the local government laws are aligned to the Constitution. Parliament was challenged to expedite the process of aligning all local government laws to the Constitution.
3.1.2 The petitioners submitted that there is need for devolution of power as provided for by Chapter 14 of the Constitution. This will enable local authorities to operate effectively and efficiently thereby improving social service delivery. The petitioners said at the moment service delivery is compromised because of limited resources. They further explained that devolution of governmental powers and responsibilities will enhance transparency and accountability in local governance.
3.1.3 The petitioners requested Parliament to exercise its power and to ensure that the relevant Government Ministries and departments fully implement Chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Petitioners said it is their belief that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is the arena for local development and enjoyment of democracy by the majority of Zimbabweans. They also said there is need for provincial and metropolitan councils to be functional. Section 270 of the Constitution was referred to which provides for provincial and metropolitan councils’ functions as follows:-
- Planning and implementing social and economic development
activities in its province;
- Coordinating and implementing governmental programmes in its province;
- Planning and implementing measures for the conversation, improvement and management of natural resources in its province;
- Promoting tourism in the province and developing facilities for that purpose;
- Monitoring and evaluating the use of resources in its province and finally;
- Exercising any other functions including legislative functions that may be conferred or imposed on it by or under an Act of
Parliament.
3.1.4. Petitioners said they were disappointed that Zimbabweans had not yet enjoyed all these potential benefits and rights as granted by the Constitution. They pointed out that legislators have not been afforded the opportunity to contribute to their provinces’ development as provided for in Chapter 14.
3.1.5. It was further submitted that the country’s macro-economic blue print ZIM ASSET could have approximated some of its targets if citizens had enhanced participation in local, provincial and national development processes as provided for in Chapter 14. The country’s renewed interest and efforts towards Special Economic Zones as engines for speedy economic growth and industrialisation of this country, could have been found on a strong local governance system as enshrined in Chapter 14.
3.1.6. Their concerns as petitioners were that since provinces should be run by provincial and metropolitan councils respectively, they questioned who was currently running provinces and what system was in place to cater for citizens’ needs. They also questioned that since provinces are entitled to at least 5% of the national revenue, there were questions on how this revenue had been managed and channelled towards local development in the absence of operational, provincial and metropolitan councils.
3.1.7 The Committee questioned the Minister of Finance and Economic Development why he was not allocating the 5% of the total budget allocation to Metropolitan and Provincial Councils in its budget reports for the past four. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development explained that he could not allocate the 5% before the enactment of an appropriate Act of Parliament. The Committee then wrote to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and held meetings raising the issue of coming up with relevant local government sector laws to align with the Constitution on several occasions.
The Committee wanted to find out why the Ministry has not expedited the process of coming up with relevant pieces of legislation so that the much needed resources are allocated in the national budget. The
Ministry’s responses varied from the allegations that the several splits and mergers of the two Ministries of Local Government and Rural
Development delayed the enactment of the Urban Council and Rural
Councils bills. In regards to the Constitutionalisation of the Urban
Councils Act and the Rural District Act, the Committee was told that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing had made considerate progress in drafting of the Bill for a single Local Government Act.
However, following the redistribution of mandates between the
Ministry of Local Government and the then Ministry of Rural
Development, Preservation and Promotion of National Culture and Heritage, the operation of a single Act by the two separate Ministries was not possible. The Committee was told that was one of the reasons why the Ministry was not able to align the Urban Councils and Rural Councils Acts to the Constitution.
4.0 Committee’s Observations
4.1 The Committee noted with concern that the Ministry was reluctant to come up with relevant laws to align with the Constitution.
4.2 The Committee also observed that the splits and mergers might have contributed to the delay in alignment of local government laws to the Constitution.
5.0 Committee’s Recommendations
5.1 The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing must come up with the relevant pieces of legislation to align with the Constitution.
This will enable the allocation of the 5% and the devolution of power from central government to lower levels. This must be done by 31 December 2018.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank our Chairperson for the Portfolio Committee on Local Government for presenting the Committee’s report and I want to be very precise and to the point. I want to wholeheartedly support the recommendations, because I am in that Committee as well, that the Government does take seriously its responsibility in terms of Section 303 (3) of the Constitution to allocate no less than 5% of the revenues in its budget annually to local authorities. Mr. Speaker Sir, we have been passing an unconstitutional budget repeatedly ever since the Constitution was passed in 2013 and we are really shooting ourselves in the foot.
It is no secret that all local authorities, whether urban or rural are struggling severely because their revenue basis have shrunk because of the low level of productivity. We cannot expect our local authorities to survive on the rates that ratepayers pay because they are defaults. Some of the defaults have also been caused by the Government. If you recall in 2013, the Executive made a very spectacular announcement that everyone who owed council rates should not pay and the Government itself did not go and do the responsible thing of filling that void that it created just before the elections. I am just happy that the Government that is there today has been reasonable and sensible and deferred from engaging in such dangerous populist adventures that would at the face of it immediately make it look like the ratepayers are happy and benefitting. Today we keep on paying the cost in the state of our water supply, et cetera. A lot of residents in Harare in particular, like in Sentosa for example are buying very expensive water but a few years ago we celebrated the irresponsible decision to write off debts.
Our councils have also been robbed of money that they would collect from road users in the municipalities. It has been all taken to ZINARA. So, indeed if you want our communities and voters to be happy the Government must give that 5% of the revenue that it takes from the same taxpayers and give it back to local authorities because that is where the population resides. It is said that charity begins at home and let the Government take local governments seriously and also devolve that power in terms of finances as well as decision making to local authorities so that communities and households are happy. I hope that this is taken seriously in the next budget Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you.
HON. MADANHA: I want to thank Hon. Majome for her contribution and I now move that the report be adopted Mr. Speaker Sir.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, RURAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON
ZINARA DISBURSEMENTS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
HON. MADANHA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development on ZINARA disbursements
to local authorities.
HON. MAJOME: I second.
HON. MADANHA: 1.0 Introduction
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development undertook to visit seven local authorities country wide to establish progress made on ZINARA funded projects. The Committee resolved to undertake these visits as a follow up to the meetings held with ZINARA Officials, Urban Councils Association of
Zimbabwe (UCAZ) and Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC). The Committee wanted to find out how local authorities had been utilising disbursements from ZINARA, challenges faced in accessing ZINARA funds and if the disbursements match with expectations from local authorities.
1.1 The Committee visited Nkayi Rural District Council,
Bulawayo City Council, Gwanda Municipality, Gwanda Rural District
Council, Zvishavane Town Council, Runde Rural District Council and Masvingo Municipality from 25 to 28 March 2018.
2.0 Committee’s Findings
2.1 Nkayi Rural District Council
2.1.1 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nkayi RDC highlighted that as a local authority, they exclusively depend on ZINARA funds for their road maintenance since they rarely get an allocation from the parent Ministry. The funds are specifically used for routine and periodic maintenance of the road networks within their jurisdiction. Given the few resources disbursed in 2017, Nkayi RDC managed to do 181km of routine maintenance and periodic maintenance work. The major road network that the RDC did in 2017 is tarring 1.8km of Tshakalisa road and in 2018 they are targeting to do an extra 2km. The CEO said generally there was a mismatch between what is allocated and what is disbursed by ZINARA.
2.1.2 In 2017 Nkayi RDC received $259 570 by year end but because some projects had not been finished in 2017, they received a further $83 173 in 2018 for the 2017 projects. Nkayi RDC was allocated a total of $342 000 for the year 2017. The Committee was told that ZINARA made a commitment to pay for the 2017 works without affecting the RDC’s 2018 disbursements. The CEO explained that they will submit the Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) for the remainder of the 2017 allocation.
2.1.3 Nkayi had already received its first disbursement for 2018 from ZINARA of $26 328 for routine maintenance. The Committee was informed that the contractors now do the work and paid based on output.
2.1.4 The CEO mentioned the following as the major constraints affecting Nkayi RDC in exercising its mandate of maintaining the road network:
- -That both the construction industry and the local authorities were not well resourced in terms of equipment and human capital thus leading to delays in the completion of projects. He explained that most of the local authorities compete for the same contractor such that they end up queuing for the services of a contractor thereby delaying project implementation. He reiterated that there was a huge gap between the volume of work that needs to be done and what the industry is offering thereby impacting negatively on local authorities’ service delivery. The Committee learnt that the RDC engaged a contractor and at the last minute the contractor turned down the offer due to lack of capacity to meet demand.
- In terms of human resources the RDC currently does not have a substantive engineer but there is an acting engineer. However, they have enough qualified technicians to supervise works being done by the RDC.
- That the RDC only has a motorised grader while some of the equipment is old and constantly breaks down, which forces them to hire contractors. Thus, the RDC prefers that they purchase own machinery and equipment to enable them to utilise the ZINARA funds without any delays associated with hiring contractors and equipment. Thus, the following equipment has been approved by ZINARA to be purchased, namely; tractor, grader, front loader graders to enable the local authority to work on their own and stop out sourcing.
- The changing climate or seasons have also affected local authorities in undertaking periodic maintenance of the roads.
2.1.5 The Committee was informed that Nkayi is one of the first local authorities in Matabeleland to do resurfacing and tarring of about 3km road at the centre of the growth point.
2.1.6 The Committee also established that the Zinara funds are specifically used for the planned programmes and activities and as a rural district council; they have never been garnished by ZIMRA.
2.1.7 Nkayi RDC felt that there is need to capacitate road authorities through purchase of equipment and machinery to enable road authorities to do the work themselves instead of relying on hiring and engaging contractors. The Committee was informed that ZINARA agreed in principle to the idea of purchasing the required machinery and they felt this will go a long way to improve the road maintenance and construction projects.
2.1.8 Nkayi RDC asked ZINARA to disburse funds earlier in the year. They submitted that usually the first disbursements are limited for example the 2017 first disbursements was $26 000 then the bulk of the money was disbursed later in the year when there was no enough time to complete the works.
2.1.9 They said they were happy with the disbursements although they would want more but considering the situation prevailing they said they will utilise whatever they get.
Tour of ZINARA Funded Projects in Nkayi
2.1.10 The Committee toured Tshakalisa Road, which links the community with the police station, government offices and Nkayi
District Hospital. The road was resurfaced using ZINARA funds. The Committee also toured the 2.5kmsGuwe-Hompane road which was graveled.
2.2 Bulawayo City Council
2.2.1 The Engineer of Bulawayo City Council presented that the road condition survey showed that Bulawayo had 2389 km of road network of which 1731km is sealed, 566km gravel and 92km earth roads. The Committee was informed that 72% of Bulawayo City’s road network was sealed.
2.2.2 The Committee was informed that Bulawayo City has concentrated mainly on maintaining the existing road network as opposed to new construction. This move was to avoid further deterioration of the roads. Priority has been on the main roads in the city centre, suburbs and public transport routes. The City has been concentrating on reseals of roads that are in a fair condition because they realised that if they try to maintain roads that are already collapsed the expenditure will very high and mileage very minimal. The roads in the residential areas are not in a good condition because of limited resources. The City has managed to do pothole patching in the suburbs and they use the community groups for that work.
2.2.4 It was mentioned that US$6.1 million was allocated in 2017 under the Emergence Road Network Fund and during that period Council contributed US$5.6 million from itsown resources. The works done using the resources were periodic maintenance and routine maintenance activities like drain cleaning and pothole patching. For routine maintenance Bulawayo City used mainly the community to do the works and the City concentrated on periodic maintenance that is reseals, overlays and reconstruction works.
2.2.5 Bulawayo City used 85% of ZINARA funds for periodic maintenance and 15% for procurement of resources, external purchases like fuel, tar and quarry stone. The City uses its equipment and ZINARA is not charge for equipment hire but actual partner with ZINARA on the works.
2.2.6 In 2017, Bulawayo had targeted to do 5.6 km of road construction and managed to 6.4 km, on resealing works had targeted to do 16 km and actually achieved 37 km mainly because there were additional works which were allocated to the City because of the Presidential visit. They had targeted to do 7.5 km of premix overlays but managed to do 13 km and on re-gravelling achieved 72 km against a target of 30 km.
2.2.7 The following are some of the achievements by the Bulawayo City Council in 2017; community patching where 522 people were employed from the community and council met the payments output based. It also provides other local authorities with pothole patching materials. ZINARA provides with binders and pays for the stone and the City manages.
2.2.8 The Committee learnt that funding from ZINARA has improved in the last two years but the funding for maintenance is still far below expectations. The following were highlighted as major challenges:-
- Lack of foreign currency to purchase bitumen because it is imported and priority is not given for the importation;
- The plant for premix production is old and affects production;
- Lack of capacity by the construction industry to meet demand and undertake big jobs;
- There are no ZINARA manuals to assist the engineers when utilising the funds. In most cases, engineers spend many hours in writing reports for Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Finance and ZINARA in different formats and this is time consuming.
- There is no notification from ZINARA that the allocations will shot from say $1 million to $6 million in the following year. This notification is critical for both the local authorities and the construction industry so that they are adequately equipped with machinery and human resources to undertake big projects.
- ZINARA does notify local authorities in advance of their allocation to enable planning. The notification period is too short and is done by the 31st of December each year. They recommended that it should be done by October to enable planning.
2.2.9 It emerged that the Department of Engineering Services was under staffed and there was urgent need for the vacant posts of Deputy Directors for Roads and Town Planning to be filled. Position of principal engineers who are below deputy directors are also vacant and need to be filled. The Acting Town Clerk explained that currently, they had enough engineers but were experiencing high staff turnover as most engineers and technicians are leaving the country for greener pastures. Shortage of skilled and semi-skilled manpower has significantly impacted on service delivery by the council.
2.2.10 The Committee asked how City of Bulawayo controls quality of works. The Committee was told that there is an internal laboratory that provides all the necessary tests at design stage and at construction stage. It was explained that whenever there is need for external capacity Bulawayo City will outsource for the services but currently most of the works are tested by internal roads laboratory.
2.2.11 The Committee was impressed to hear that City of
Bulawayo had no problems with acquittals or misappropriation of ZINARA funds. The Committee was informed that most of the works done using ZNARA disbursements were periodic maintenance and most of the procurement on the works is usually through a contractor. The
Road Fund Account is technically managed by the engineer and has not encountered any problems. Asked if the city had problems with contractors breaching on their contracts, the Committee was told that mostly it was the problem of exceeding the time agreed to work on the project. This was attributed to lack of foreign currency and delays in ZINARA disbursements.
2.2.12 Bulawayo City appreciated the move by ZINARA to allow local authorities to purchase their own equipment using ZINARA funds. They said this will go a long way in improving service delivery and most works will be done internally.
2.2.13 Although the contractors are paid on output bases, the Acting CEO called for ZINARA to consider advance payments for some of the works to allow contractors to have capital to undertake the work without any delays and in turn it reduces costs.
Tour of ZINARA Funded Projects in Bulawayo
2.2.14 The Committee toured Old Esigodini Road which was
resealed for 3.5 km. However, the council confirmed that they were currently biased towards major roads that link residential areas.
2.3 Gwanda Rural District Council
2.3.1 Gwanda Rural District Council received US$165 000 out of an allocation amount of US$165 870that was disbursed in 2017. In 2018, they were allocated US$558 696 and only US$26 170 had been disbursed during this first quarter. The CEO pointed out that the ZINARA disbursements do not come as expected and usually the funds are not enough to meet their needs. The CEO also highlighted that the piece meal approach adopted by Zinara in disbursing funds was affecting project implementation resulting in delays and carryovers.
2.3.2 The council indicated that they managed to do 28 roads with the 2017 disbursements from ZINARA, about 355 km of earth road was graded while 7 culverts and 5 drifts were constructed. In 2018, the
Council has planned to do 500 km.
2.3.2 Between 2017 and 2018, the Council managed to grade about 6.3 kms on Mtshabezi road. Even though the road is a DDF road, the council felt obliged to service the road given its importance in the community. The Committee was informed that Mtshabezi was an 18 km road that links the community and the referral hospital (Mtshabezi Hospital) and also a major route to Gwanda rural.
2.3.3 The major challenge that the RDC is facing was that of interim payment certificates (IPC) that were not being honoured by ZINARA. It was heard that one of the contractor to the Mtshabezi road once moved off site due to failure by ZINARA to pay for the work done. Another example is a case whereby one of the contractors took 2 months to be paid and the contractor moved his equipment off site hence crippling completion of the 18 km road. The CEO highlighted that delays in payments by ZINARA usually results in delays in completing the works within the specified period. The RDC pointed out that they always submit acquittals on time but the disbursement of funds from
ZINARA takes too long.
2.3.4 The CEO also pointed out that shortage of equipment and machinery has also affected construction of roads within the communities. The Committee was informed that most of the contractors do not have proper equipment to do the work, hence the need for local authorities to be capitalised. Currently, the RDC has 2 tractors which are old and constantly breaks down affecting project implementation. However, the RDC is grateful for having been allocated US$155 000 towards recapitalisation and plans are underway to secure a tractor, trailer and water bowser once the funds are disbursed.
2.3.5 Another challenge that Gwanda RDC pointed out was that of communication gap between ZINARA and local authorities resulting in a blame game. The Committee was informed that there were no proper communication channels between ZINARA and the RDC. Currently the two entities were relying too much on verbal and WhatsApp communication channel rather than the formal communication channels such as email and letters. The Committee learnt that even money is just deposited in their accounts without being told and the money is for.
2.3.6 The RDC has already put in place the Procurement
Committee which comprise of management in terms of the circular from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. Gwanda RDC said they are now following the new Act and have already set up its own procurement unit.
2.3.7 Control of works is done by the Engineering Department and the RDC also works with engineers from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and District Development Fund (DDF) by adhering to standards. Unfortunately, they have never done any laboratory tests except when they were gravelling the Unyangeni Road.
2.3.8 They said they acquit as and when they are supposed to acquit and have a separate account for the ZINARA funding. Gwanda RDC complained that the disbursements come very late resulting in delays in completing projects and failure to meet targets. An example was given where an amount of $20 960 was paid in January 2017 for an IPC that was submitted in October 2016. ZINARA was urged to disburse funds at the beginning of the year and avoid disbursing bulk of the allocation towards the end of the year. It emerged that it was a challenge to utilise that money in a short period of time and during the rainy season.
2.4 Gwanda Municipality
2.4.1 In 2017, Gwanda Municipality did 3.5 km of pothole patching and reseal, 18.8 km were graded, 13.5 km road markings and 5.1 km road construction. In 2018, the Municipality planned to reconstruct 4.6 km road network and to complete some unfinished 2017 road works. In 2017, Gwanda Municipality was allocated $213 000 for phase one which was routine maintenance. The first disbursement was $20 000, the second $108 000 and lastly $85 000. The Committee was told that they had been acquitted for the money that was disbursed and had no outstanding disbursements for 2017. Under phase two which is periodic maintenance, they were allocated $1 162 000 and only $297 000 had been disbursed. For 2018, Gwanda Municipality has been allocated $815 000.
2.4.2 In terms of equipment, Gwanda Municipality needs a tipper, vehicle loader and a bowser and will use the $293 000 that was allocated to them to purchase the much needed equipment.
2.4.3 The Engineer of Gwanda Municipality indicated that ZINARA was now paying based on output and this has resulted in delays in paying contractors because the ZINARA internal processes of paying IPC was taking long. This has resulted in the council sitting on potential litigation cases due to delays in payments because the contractors signed a contract with the council and not ZINARA. The Committee was informed that there were two IPCs that had not been honoured for Hawkflight amounting to US$94 172 and Bitumen World US$357 213. It was pointed out that there were incidences whereby the contractors leave sites because of non-payment resulting in the work already done being washed away by the rains. An example of Bitumen World was given where it completed earthworks but left site due to unpaid certificates.
2.4.4 The Engineer also explained that they are blamed for not utilising the funds disbursed when sometimes they are given short time to utilise the funds. An example was given where they were allocated $1 million and were supposed to utilise it within a month and unfortunately they failed to do so. They also complained about funds being disbursed at the end of the year and stated that this was not feasible given that the councils have to hire contractors through the tender process.
2.4.5 For quality assurance, the Committee was informed that compaction tests are done at an independent laboratory. At each stage the contractor seeks authority from the Council to proceed to next stage. The council workers are constantly on the ground supervising the contractors’ works
Tour of ZINARA Funded Projects in Gwanda
2.4.6 The Committee visited the 5th Avenue where 8km was resealed using ZINARA funds. The Committee also visited Enterprise Crescent which was sponsored by ZINARA for gravelling the road.
2.5 Zvishavane Town Council
2.5.1 The Town Secretary started by highlighting that as a council they were guided by the road survey results of 2016/2017 whereby it was declared that the road network in Zimbabwe was a national disaster.
2.5.2 The Town Secretary indicated that lack of foreign currency in terms of sustaining council projects needs to be considered at Parliament level. Shortage of foreign currency was delaying the process of acquiring vehicles for service delivery.
2.5.3 The Town Secretary also emphasised the need for local authorities to have their own equipment so that funds for ZINARA are not used for hiring equipment. They said their medium term is to be capacitated so that they can purchase the bitumen distributor of chip spreader for surfacing and resurfacing the roads, jet patcher, front loader, metal roller and a compactor.
2.5.4 In 2017, Zvishavane Town Council was allocated $404 000 which was revised to $265 291. The funds were used for reconstruction and surfacing of 4.4 km of roads. Zvishavane engaged Oswald Products and Bitumen as its contractors. The Town Engineer mentioned that the two contractors were paid $112 000 borrowed by council from its own Estate funds because ZINARA had not released all the funds that were allocated. The Council was still waiting for ZINARA to release the funds for the IPCs for 2017 periodic maintenance project. He also highlighted that in 2018, they were allocated US$714 000 for both periodic and routine maintenance and only $33 465 was disbursed as of 28 March 2018.
2.5.5 Zvishavane Town Council was allocated $297 000 for the purchase of equipment (grader). He pointed out that their short term goal as a council was to acquire their own machinery and equipment to enable them to cut costs and do their own roads without depending on hiring out. They explained that when using their own equipment they will be able to undertake periodic and routine maintenance timeously.
2.5.6 The Committee was told that supervision of work is done by the engineers from council and ZINARA. However, it was revealed that the council does not have laboratories to test all inputs but where necessary, they utilise laboratories from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development for quality management.
2.5.7 The Council also noted with concern the delays in payments by ZINARA which in most cases cripple completion of works by contractors. However, ZINARA engineers explained that the council was delaying in submitting acquittals which in turn lead to late disbursements of funds thus resulting in failure to utilise all the allocated funds. A case was pointed whereby the council failed to submit its acquittals on time by the 30th November, 2017 in order for all payments to be done, hence leading to delays in payments of IPCs. The Council said delays in payments by ZINARA have resulted in Asphalt
Contractors seeking to sue Zvishavane Town Council for the outstanding obligation.
2.5.8 The Town Clerk also highlighted the challenges of heavy rains which affected some construction work in 2017 where a contractor failed to complete project in 2017. The Committee was informed the Council terminated contract with MADZ resulting in losses as the entire prime worthy US$35 000 was washed away by the rains.
2.5.9 During plenary, it was discovered that there was communication breakdown between ZINARA and most local authorities given that the local authorities submit acquittals and IPCs but they do not know when ZINARA will honour. They accused ZINARA of not processing payments in time and that there was no stipulated timeframe for the whole process to be completed. The Town Clerk acknowledged the need to address the challenge between acquittals and disbursements which in turn affect progress. While the Act says ZINARA should not pay before IPCs are submitted, there is need for the local authorities and ZINARA to strike a balance.
2.5.10 It was also established that the council has good working relations with Mimosa Holdings whereby they have established Public Private Partnerships (PPP) for the construction of roads and purchase of equipment required by the councils. A good example highlighted was of
Mandava stadium which is a result of a PPP and some of the roads in the communities have been resurfaced courtesy of the mines using their own resources. The Committee also learnt that the Zvishavane Town Council benefit from the Mimosa engineers that are seconded to council to help in infrastructure development.
2.6 RUNDE RURAL COUNCIL
2.6.1 The CEO of Runde Rural District Council indicated that the council is responsible for servicing 550 kms of road network. He pointed out that in order to be able to provide periodic and routine maintenance, the RDC needs to be capacitated in terms of equipment. The CEO said the council owns 2 motorised graders, including the one donated by ZINARA, 2 tipper trucks, 2 front loaders and 5000 litre bowser purchased from own resources. The council still requires more equipment and machinery so that they are able to service their own roads without necessarily subcontracting or hiring equipment.
2.6.2 The CEO indicated that most of their road network are earth roads and need upgrading and that they were having challenges with the
ZINARA grader which constantly breaks down. He also brought up the issue of limited capacity by contractors. He said they even go and inspect the contractors’ equipment and their bank accounts but said some contractors display good equipment in order to win contracts but the equipment they bring on site will not be up to standard. He also said some do first and second stage of works but once there are delays in the ZINARA disbursements they do not continue.
2.6.3 He mentioned that DDF has major roads in Runde District but has no capacity to do the roads and that very limited resources have been coming to DDF leaving the burden to do major of their roads with the RDC. The RDC in collaboration with DDF did the 52km DDF road called Siboza which is a major road to the growth point and link to the rural areas around.
2.6.4 The Engineer of Runde RDC highlighted that the council was allocated US$320 000 by ZINARA and a total of US$331 000 was disbursed in 2017. Runde RDC received more in 2017 because an amount of $44 948 was an outstanding amount from 2016 which was received in January 2016. The delay was caused by the contractor who delayed to finish the works resulting in delaying to send the IPC to
ZINARA. The RDC managed to do 15 km of Musuku-Marovanidze Road, Rushinge turn off, 3 km Rushinge Primary School Road formation and 79.1 km of various roads in the district.
2.6.5 It was also established that the RDC has PPPs with Murowa Diamonds and Mimosa Holdings whereby they work in collaboration to develop and construct road networks within the community. It was noted that most of the roads are earth roads and need resurfacing.
2.6.6 However, he pointed out that some of the challenges they are facing as a council includes, among others, the following:-
- That most of the roads are earth roads hence they need constant gravelling and surfacing,
- The graders constantly break down and usually take time for them to be repaired, Repairing of graders was assigned to a contracted company and the company takes time to come and repair.
- Limited capacity by contractors due to lack of working capital,
- There is a mismatch between the ZINARA disbursements and acquittals process
- That DDF is often not capacitated and most of the major roads are in a bad state
2.6.6 The Committee was informed that the RDC received
US$65 373 from ZINARA for a pilot projection Eco Road (Mabasa Road Stabilisation Pilot Project) using modern technology in 2016. It was a directive from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural
Development to do the road using stabiliser for tarring the road. However, the project only managed to cover 1km during phase 1 stage and was a fop and phase 2 failed to kick off. The contractor lacked expertise and the council said they noticed that the project will not be successful because of the methods that were used by the contractor.
2.6.7 Tour of Zvishavane ZINARA Funded Projects
The Committee toured some of the roads that were resealed using ZINARA funds within the surbubs of Zvishavane, including the Mabasa Road Stabilisation Pilot Project by the Runde RDC.
2.7 Masvingo Town Council
2.7.1 The Engineer for Masvingo Town Council referred to the
National Road Condition Survey of 2016 that indicated that Masvingo City has a road network of 286 km, of which about 115 km (40%) of the roads were classified as poor. He then mentioned that the council is mainly mandated to undertake periodic and routine maintenance of all road networks under its purview. However, due to resource constraints, the City of Masvingo has been concentrating on road resealing and pothole patching.
2.7.2 The engineer explained that Masvingo Town Council has three main methods of funding road maintenance activities namely revenue budget, road fund and road levy. He explained that most of the council revenue collected goes to water and sanitation, wages and fuel leaving nothing for road maintenance. The road levy is a council initiative that was introduced in 2015. Residents pay a levy of $18 per year so that there is an extra fund to maintain the roads.
2.7.3 The Engineer said in 2017, the council was allocated
US$669 000 and only US$427 564 was disbursed for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme and the funds were used to reseal 20 km of roads in the City. In 2018, Masvingo Town was allocated US$1.2million and US$60 000 was disbursed envisaged to cover resealing up to 13.8 km of roads, drainage clearing, installation of SADC compliant road signs and installation of a set of traffic lights in the CBD.
2.7.4 It emerged that between 2016 and 2017, the council had challenges with acquittals leading to late disbursements of funds and failure to utilise all the allocated funds. As a result of internal constraints within the local authority, it emerged that the council only managed to acquire material inputs worthy US$427 564 and was not able to carry out the works because of lack of equipment. The Committee was informed that the council does not hire contractors but rather hire equipment and do the work in-house since they have the human resources thereby reducing the cost of hiring contractors.
2.7.5 The engineer highlighted the following as some of the major challenges the council was facing:-
- Late and erratic disbursements of funds by ZINARA thereby affecting planning;
- Shortage of manpower, in particular, skilled and semi-skilled mainly as a result of the freeze put in place by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing after the council had labour dispute with its workers;
- Machinery breakdowns and obsolete equipment;
- Procurement challenges since the council is yet to set up a procurement committee in line with the new procurement act;
- Inflation as material prices increases before funds have been disbursed;
- Foreign currency shortages.
2.7.6 Masvingo Council urged ZINARA as the Administrator of
the Road Fund to improve the way they communicate with stakeholders. They also recommended that allocation should be realistic and transparent and that disbursements should be predictable.
2.7.7 Tour of ZINARA Funded Projects in Masvingo
The Committee toured the Jongwe and Mucheke Streets that were resealed using ZINARA funds and also went to see the stockpiled material for resealing at the council’s depots.
3.0 COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
3.1 The Committee observed that there is a dilemma where disbursements are concerned. Local Authorities are of the view that the bulk of the funds allocated should be disbursed at once and at the beginning of the year to enable them to do the works on time and to pay contractors. ZINARA on the other hand said they are unable to disburse the bulk of the allocations at once because they collect these funds from January to December. ZINARA explained that they disburse the funds depending on what has been collected from tollgates, vehicle licence and other sources.
3.2 The Committee also noted that whilst ZINARA honours the IPCs, the time frame it takes for an IPC to be paid is too long resulting in contractors not wanting to do work for local authorities and sometimes taking these local authorities to court for non payments. The Committee noted the need for ZINARA to come up with a system, a procedure and time frame for payment of IPCs. The Committee observed that contractors would have used their own resources to do the works and to wait for months again after the certificate has been issued was not fair.
3.3 The Committee noted that late payments are not only affecting the contractors but the local authorities themselves because some contractors are now leaving sites without completing the works and the unfinished works are being washed away by rains.
3.4 The Committee noted with despair that the communication between ZINARA and Road Authorities was lacking and unprofessional.
The Committee noted that the use of WhatsApp channel to communicate business especially where funds are involved was unacceptable.
4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee therefore recommends that:
4.1 ZINARA should adopt by December 2018 the principle of ‘ease of doing business,’ and improve their payment system on disbursements of funds to local authorities and contractors, in particular, that all IPCs be paid timeously and within two weeks of receiving them.
4.2 All local authorities should employ all the critical qualified personnel for the smooth running of all construction projects, in particular, engineers and technicians to ensure that all acquittals are done on time.
4.3 ZINARA should allow all the local authorities to prioritise and purchase their own equipment in accordance to their need to avoid
what happened with the case of snow graders, which were purchased on behalf of the local authorities by December 2018.
4.5 Communication between ZINARA and local Authorities should be formal and professional. Informal communication such as through WhatsApp channels should be discouraged, especially where cases of financial resources are concerned by December 2018. I thank you.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I will be very brief and I will just remark about the amazing diplomacy of our Chairperson whose report I support, particularly about how he knows about the snow graders that were shockingly bought by ZINARA for a sub-tropical country that has no snow. According to the report, what our Chairperson said, snow ploughs are proving difficult to use locally. I have not heard of diplomacy that goes beyond that and the fact is, we cannot use snow ploughs because we do not have snow in Zimbabwe and our local authorities must not be forced to use equipment that was bought by a misappropriation of funds.
I do hope that there will actually be prosecution of those people who ordered those snow ploughs. It is a disgrace for that to happen and for us to let that go. I also want to just say that the report by the
Portfolio Committee read by our Chairperson demonstrates, without doubt, that the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority has no business whatsoever managing the funds for road maintenance for councils.
In our tour, as he said, we found time and time again that the councils were extremely not happy even in communication as he highlighted because we found in Gwanda in particular, that ZINARA was happy to write by Whatsapp messages for disbursement of loss of Government funding and there is no follow up. There is absolutely nothing like that. It is a disgrace. ZINARA is neither equipped nor willing nor able to run because if it is given that chance, it misappropriates monies and it spends money on some very strange things, Mr. Speaker Sir.
Our Chairperson will recall that we were shocked when we visited Zvishavane Town Council to find that money was spent on some very strange experiment that was said to be new technology for gravel roads called stabilisation that would involve putting gravel on the roads and then pouring some chemical that was in some drums, whose chemical composition was never tested and which has not really been used elsewhere, but thousands of dollars were spent and I cannot recall the amount. Zvishavane Municipality was told by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, through ZINARA, to take that technology. They literally poured that money out on the roads and it of course, never just worked and that money could have been used elsewhere.
So, Mr. Speaker Sir, I do support the report of the Portfolio Committee. I speak with some passion because I have a motion that is on the Order Paper and this Parliament is going to end without it being concluded and without the Hon. Minister coming to respond; that can ZINARA please lay its hands off the revenues, the licence fees, that motorists in urban and rural authorities pay so that money goes straight to municipalities and they are monitored on how the money works to ensure that our roads are smooth.
Devolution in terms of Chapter 15 means also financial devolution and ZINARA has demonstrated that it cannot do this. For example in Harare West, there is now an Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme where 13 roads are going to be fixed because of the money disbursed by the Government. However, those roads are exaggerated, most of them are overstated in terms of length and money is allocated alongside that. So, issues like that show that ZINARA should be investigated and stopped from handling money because it buys slow ploughs and strange things like stabilisers and it wants to communicate on WhattsApp; it does not give feedback and does not disburse money on time. It should just be left to do major trunk roads and leave local authorities on their own because it cannot manage and supervise local authority roads. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. ENG. MADANHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Once
again, I would like to thank Hon. Majome for the very important contribution. I therefore move that the report be now adopted;
Motion that this House;
CONCERNED that the state of the capital city Harare’s and other urban roads are in an appallingly dilapidated state that is not only carworthy but is hazardous to life, limb and property;
RECALLING that the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) took over from Harare City Council and other municipalities the collection of termly vehicle licensing fees, 10% of which revenue would be retained by municipalities for road maintenance;
FURTHER recalling that municipalities were able to fund the maintenance of roads then, but disconcerted that the state of municipal roads deteriorated steadily since ZINARA took over the revenue collection, and even more sharply in the last four years;
CONCERNED that ZINARA fails to disburse to Harare City Council sufficient money to maintain roads, despite the bulk of the nation’s vehicle fleet being domiciled in Harare;
FURTHER disturbed by the lack of transparency, inequity in disbursement and misappropriation of revenues from motorists by ZINARA, which is not in the national interest, as exemplified by the recent purchase of snow ploughs;
AFFIRMING and encouraged by the imperative in Section 264 (f) of the Constitution to ‘transfer responsibilities and resources from national government in order to establish a sound financial base for each provincial council and local authority’; and
MANDATED by the duty of Parliament in Section 119 (2) of the
Constitution to, ‘ensure that the provisions of this Constitution are upheld and that the State and all its institutions and agencies of government at every level act constitutionally and in the national interest’;
NOW THEREFORE this House resolves that;
- ZINARA ceases to collect termly motor vehicle licence fees thereby restoring that function to Harare City Council and all other respective municipalities and local authorities.
- Harare City Council and the respective municipalities and other local authorities retain 100% of the resultant revenues from termly motor vehicle licences and suspend remittances to ZINARA until all their roads are in a demonstrably recovered state.
- ZINARA disburses to Harare City Council by July 2017 all the arrears it had undertaken to pay, and by December 2017 to all other local authorities.
- ZINARA accounts be audited for the past 5 years for its revenues and comparative disbursements to local authorities and its expenditure, and such audit be tabled to the Public Accounts
Committee put and agreed to.
On the motion of HON. MATUKE, seconded by HON. MUKWANGWARIWA, the House adjourned at Thirteen Minutes to
Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 31st July, 2018.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 29th May, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarterpast Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
DEATH OF HON. MIKE GAVA AND HON. JOSEPHINE
CHITEMBWE
THE HON. SPEAKER: It is with profound sorrow that I have to inform the House of the untimely death of Hon. Mike Gava, a Member of Parliament for MhondoroNgezi Constituency on Tuesday, 22nd May, 2018 and the death of Hon. Josephine Chitembwe, Proportional Representation Member of Parliament for Harare Metropolitan Province on Monday, 28th May, 2018. May I invite you Hon. Members to rise and observe a minute of silence in respect of the two late Hon. Members.
All Hon. Members observed a minute of silence.
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
THE HON. SPEAKER: I would like to inform this House that at its meeting held on 21st May, 2018 the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders was advised by the MDC T that Hon. Advocate Nelson Chamisa is now the Leader of the opposition in Parliament.
APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMITTEE ON STANDING RULES AND
ORDERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: At the same meeting, Hon. Paurina Mpariwa was endorsed as a member of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. This followed the expulsion of Dr. Thokozani Khupe from
Parliament in April, 2018.
ZIMRA ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP
THE HON. SPEAKER: I would like to inform the House that there
will be a Parliament of Zimbabwe ZIMRA engagement workshop on 6th
June, 2018 at the Harare International Conference Centre. All Members of Parliament must attend this very important workshop, which is meant to enhance mutual interaction between Parliament of Zimbabwe and ZIMRA on matters relating to national revenues. The workshop will begin at 0800 hours in the morning and all Members of Parliament must be punctual.
TABLING OF REPORTS
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker. In terms of Section 12 of the Audit Office Chapter 22:18, I lay upon the table, the reports of the Auditor General, presented to Parliament in 2018; Report on the preparedness in the provision of fire and ambulance services by local authorities under the Ministry of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing and the Report on Construction of
Housing Units and maintenance of Government houses by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. I lay the reports before the House.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of Section 323 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe, which provides that ‘Every Commission must submit to Parliament through the responsible Minister an annual Report describing fully, its operations and activities. In observance of this constitutional requirement, I therefore lay upon the table, the Judicial Service Commission of Zimbabwe’s Annual Report for 2017 and the Zimbabwe
Gender Commission’s Annual Report for 2015/2016.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I hope they will be debated.
HON. ZIYAMBI: I hope so Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise as a matter of concern that you announced the death of two Members of Parliament. It seems to be the order of announcing when people die but we are never told when they are sick. I think it will be important for us to take stock when Hon. Members are not feeling well so that we are told and we pray and visit them in hospital. I do not know whose responsibility it is, but I think it is important from a humanly point of view for us to also keep track and be able to do what is good. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. I hear you Hon. Member. There are two sides of the coin; some family members prefer privacy when a member of their family is not feeling well whilst others may be prepared to let the world know. So, it will only be done with the permission of the affected Member so that if permissible, Hon. Members can visit their colleague in hospital. I too was taken aback because I did not know that these two Members were hospitalised, only to learn about their death, that is a bit unfortunate. At least the Presiding Officers needed to know and permissible by the family members of the affected Member, we may then announce that in the House.
CONSIDERATION STAGE
CIVIL AVIATION AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 4A, 2017]
First Order read: Consideration: Civil aviation amendment Bill [H.
- 4A, 2017].
Amendment to Clause 3 put and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, adopted.
Third Reading: With leave forthwith.
THIRD READING
CIVIL AVIATION AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 4A, 2017]
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO): Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move
that the Bill be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that Orders
of the Day, Numbers 2 to 4 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 5 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
COMMITTEE STAGE
MINES AND MINERALS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 19, 2015]
Fifth Order read: Committee Stage: Mines and Minerals Amendment
Bill [H.B. 19, 2015].
House in Committee. Clause 1 put and agreed to.
On Clause 2:
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I propose that there be further amendments to the small scale miners downwards from the 50 people employed to 10. Also from 40 hectares to just one block which is 10 hectares. Mr. Speaker Sir, I say so because I am quite alive and aware that there are people who do not have 40 hectares that produce much more than what is required in terms of the quantum 1 200 tonnes per annum. So, I propose the variation from 40 hectares to 10 hectares which is one block from the 50 employed to 10 so that we do not lose unnecessarily the gold that we so want to protect using this Act Mr. Chairman and that we also speak to the artisanal miners. They do not employ that many but in their small number, they produce quite a lot and you could be alive to the fact that they are the biggest producers and far bigger than the large scale miners as we speak, having produced up to now maybe above 13 to 14…
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Order, order Hon. Member.
What section are you debating on?
HON. NDUNA: Clause 2 Mr. Speaker Sir the new one that has been proposed by the Minister. I am further making a counterproposal for the downward variation, not for the repeal or for removing that section completely. You have an addendum to your Order Paper Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): On a point of
order. I think that Hon. Nduna is far ahead of all of us. This is Clause 2 and we are not yet at Clause 4. So, I think he is speaking to Clause 4.
Clause 2 put and agreed to. [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.]
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Order, please Hon. Members, I
think let us lower our voices, we are too loud I cannot even hear myself here.
Clause 3 put and agreed to.
On Clause 4:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Mr. Chair. I move the amendment standing in my name that:
On page 2 of the Bill, by the insertion of a definition under paragraph
(i) after the definition of “representative” as follows
“small scale miner” means a Zimbabwean indigenous person employing not more than 50 people including contractors, on a registered mining location of not more than 40 hectares in extent, who produces and or processes not more than 1 200 tonnes of ore per year” Amendment to Clause 4 put and agreed to.
Clause 4, as amended, put and agreed to.
HON. NDUNA: I have no debate Mr. Chair, I think I am guided accordingly on Clause 4.
On Clause 5:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my name that:
On page 2 of the Bill, by the repeal of section 5A (2) and (4) and substitution of subsection (2) as follows
“(2) If the Minister after consultation with the Committee, and the Cadastre Registrar, determines that it would be in the interests of the development of the mining industry in Zimbabwe, he or she with the approval of the President, shall, by order published in the Gazette, designate any mineral to be a strategic or nonstrategic mineral in terms of this section.”
Amendment to Clause 5 put and agreed to.
Clause 5, as amended, put and agreed to.
On New Clause 6;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my name that:
On page 3 of the Bill, by the deletion of a new clause after section 6 of the Act as follows
Section 6 (“Establishment and functions of Mining Affairs Board”) of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of “Board” and substitution of “Committee” throughout the section.
Amendments to New Clause 6, put and agreed to.
New Clause 6, as amended, put and agreed to.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, I just want to congratulate the Minister on the deletion of “Board” and insertion of “Committee” I say this is progressive Mr. Chair, in that it actually gives some ownership yes, to the Minister but it does not increase a lot of revenue that is due to the former set up which was the board. The Committee in itself Mr. Speaker
Sir is quite small and the composition …
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Order Hon. Members! Order
please. If you have something to discuss with your colleague, there is a lobby and also there is our canteen there. You may go there for a cup of tea. Let us lower our voices so that we hear the debate. Hon. Nduna, you may continue.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, the Committee in itself is quite compact in so many ways than one in that it comprises a lot of big minds in the mines and minerals sector. So, I stand here to applaud the Minister for having gone that route and I give an opportunity to all other parastatals and Ministers to follow suit Mr. Speaker Sir, not to be moribund and archaic and always want to structure their parastatals and departments through boards. They should take a cue from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development and structure their departments through committees which are progressive and give room to sectors that are in the mines and minerals to give contribution in terms of manpower from a knowledge base or those people who know what they are doing in the mines and minerals sector.
HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to compliment the Minister for the recognition of the small scale miner in this Bill. I think this is a huge step forward for us as a country and I want to say
“makorokoto.”
HON. CHITANDO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I take the comments as given and I concur once again that he is in the right direction. Thank you Mr.
Speaker.
New Clause 6 put and agreed to.
On Amendment to Clause 6 (Now Clause 7);
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I propose amendment of Clause 6. On page 3 of the Bill, Clause 6 is amended –
- In line 27, delete the words “Constitution of the Board” and substitute with “Constitution of the Committee”,
- By the deletion of repeal of subsection (1) and the substitution of the following –
“the Committee shall comprise of 12 people of which
- Six shall be from the Ministry responsible for this Act;
- Six other members appointed by the Minister, with whom he or she shall in their appointments endeavor to observe fifty per centum gender balance, of whom –
- Two shall be appointed by the Minister from a panel of at least six names submitted by the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe; ii. One shall be appointed by the Minister from a panel of at least three names submitted by an association which, in the Minister’s opinion represents the interests of small scale miners in
Zimbabwe;
iii. One shall be appointed by the Minister from a panel of at least two names submitted by an association which in the Minister’s opinion, represents the majority of farmers in Zimbabwe; iv. One shall be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, incorporated by the Chartered Accountants Act [Chapter 27:02], who is practicing in Zimbabwe as a public auditor or public accountant; and
- One shall be appointed for his or her experience or professional qualifications in any profession or calling considered by the
Minister to be of assistance to the Committee.”
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, on (b) (iii) Mr. Speaker Sir, “One shall be appointed by the Minister from a panel of at least two names submitted by an association which, in the Minister’s opinion, represents the majority of farmers in Zimbabwe.” Mr. Speaker Sir, it is prudent right there to say, one from the small scale farmers and one from the large scale farmers. This is because this Act applies to the whole nation, so wherever it is that the Minister wants a farmer to be appointed without any inclination or without sidelining any other farmer, it is prudent to say one from the small scale farmers and one from the large scale farmers. That is going to put to rest any shenanigans in that sector.
Also Mr. Speaker Sir, I see from this progressive section that the
Minister at some point during his amendments is going to prove to this House that the Mines and Minerals Act no longer supersedes the Lands Act of 2000. The Mines and Minerals Act is at parity in terms of pros and power with all other Acts so that no Act in Zimbabwe supersedes any other Act and the supreme law becomes the Constitution. I thank you.
HON. MLISWA: I think what is important to understand on this clause is that the Minister in his opinion represents the majority of the farmers. You cannot break down the farmers because if you say large scale and small scale, you are now leaving out the rural farmers. This addresses the people who are involved in farming in the entirety; not large scale, small scale and rural you leave out. They are all farmers. So, I think it is good as it is.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Mliswa, it is for the
Minister to say so.
HON. CHITANDO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. There are two comments which have been raised by the Hon. Member. Firstly, relating to the representation of the farmers board. The whole objective is to have a farmers’ representative who will see the interaction between the Mines and Minerals Act with the whole farming community. In my opinion Mr. Speaker Sir, whoever is chosen for their competencies to represent the farming sector, irrespective of whether they are coming from the large, small or rural farmers should have the ability to defend that interaction between the farming community and the Mines and Minerals Act.
On the second point Mr. Speaker, surely the Constitution of Zimbabwe overrides all these Acts and I believe that the things as they stand should suffice in terms of the spirit in which we are looking at the amendments of the Bill. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Amendment to Clause 6 (Now Clause 7), put and agreed to. Clause 6, (now Clause 7), put and agreed to.
On Clause 8:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir Clause 8, on Page 5 of the Bill, is amended by the repeal of Section 15 (1) amending Part III of the Act and substitution as follows:
“(1) The Secretary shall appoint a senior servant of the level of
Director or above employed in the Ministry responsible for this Act to be
…
Hon. Cross having answered his phone in the House.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Order, order Hon. Minister. I see a very responsible senior Hon. Member here answering his phone in the Chamber. May the Hon. Member go out please – [Laughter.] – Hon.
Cross, you may attend to your phone outside the Chamber please. Hon.
Minister, you may proceed.
HON. CHITANDO: I will just read that Section again. “The Secretary shall appoint a senior civil servant of the level of Director or above employed in the Ministry responsible for this Act to be the Cadastre
Registrar”. I submit Mr. Chairman.
Amendment to Clause 8 put and agreed to.
Clause 8, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 9 to 12 put and agreed to.
On Clause 13:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Chairman, on Page 10 of the Bill, is the proposal to amend by the deletion of the definition of “ninetynine year lease or permit” in the new Section 63 and substitution of –
“ninetynine year lease or permit” has the meaning given to those terms in the Land Commission Act [Chapter 20:29] (No. 12 of 2017); so I submit Mr. Chairman.
Amendment to Clause 13 put and agreed to.
Clause 13, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 14 put and agreed to.
On Clause 15:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): On Page 46 of the Bill, is amended by the
amendment of Section 143 in line 8 by the deletion of Paragraph (b) of the words, “energy mineral, precious stones and”.
Amendment to Clause 15 put and agreed to.
Clause 15, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses16 to 40 put and agreed to.
On Clause 41:
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): I propose on Page 56 of the Bill that it be amended by the deletion of the definition of “small scale miner”. So I submit Mr.
Chairman.
Amendment to Clause 41 put and agreed to.
Clause 41, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 42 to 51 put and agreed to.
On Clause 52;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): On Clause 52 on pages 60 to 62 of the Bill, I hereby propose the deletion of Clause 52.
Amendment to Clause 52 put and agreed to.
Clause 52, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 53 to 57 put and agreed to.
On Clause 58;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): I propose on pages 63 to 67 of the Bill, to delete the clause and renumber subsequent clauses accordingly.
Amendment to Clause 58 put and agreed to.
Clause 58, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 59, now Clause 58;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): On page 68 of the Bill, I propose the following amendment:
- the deletion of the new sections 393A and 393B inserted by this clause;
- in the new section 393 C (1) inserted by this clause, in line 3, by the deletion of “fourteen” and the substitute of “ninety”. I so submit Mr. Chairman.
Amendment to Clause 59, now Clause 58, put and agreed to.
New Clause 58, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 59 to 61 put and agreed to.
On Clause 62, now Clause 61;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): On page 71 of the Bill, I
propose that it be amended as follows in the new Section 409
(“Transitional provisions and savings”) proposed to be inserted by the Bill
–
- in subsection (2), in line 17, by the deletion of “six months” and the substitution of “twelve months”;
- in subsection (8), insert after the words “during the transitional period” the words “commencement of this Act” in line 26 the words “of not more than twelve months from the date of commencement of this Act”. I submit Mr. Chairman.
Amendment to Clause 62, now Clause 61 put and agreed to.
New Clause 61, as amended, put and agreed to.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Order, the owner of vehicle ADL 9362 and ADI 9040, could you please go and remove your vehicles which are obstructing others.
On Clause 63, now Clause 62;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): On pages 72 to 73 of the Bill, I propose to delete all words (inclusive of the title of the clause) from line 13 on page 72 to the lines ending with, and inclusive of the words “N. Restoration of river bank must be done to the satisfaction of EMA before the next rain season”, and substitute the following:
“62 Minor amendments to Cap. 21:05
The provision of the principal Act specified in the first column of the Schedule are amended to the extent set out opposite thereto in the second column.”
Amendment to Clause 63, now Clause 62 put and agreed to.
New Clause 62, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Schedule;
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Speaker Sir, I propose Minor Amendments to
Cap. 21:05 the provisions of the principal Act specified in the first column of the Schedule are amended to the extent set out opposite thereto in the second column. So I submit, Mr. Chairman.
Amendment to Schedule put and agreed to.
Schedule, as amended, put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the House
adjourned at Twenty Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 15th May, 2018
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 THE
SENATE
BILL RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform
the Senate that I have received the Electoral Amendment Bill [H. B. 6A,
2016] from the National Assembly.
SECOND READING
SHOP LICENCES AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 10A, 2016]
First Order read: Second Reading: Shop Licence Amendment
Bill [H. B. 10A, 2016].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of
(THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS
AND NATIONAL HOUSING): Thank you Madam President. I have the Shop Licences Amendment Bill as a way of background, rational and progression of the Shop Licences Amendment Bill. I will give a background so that Hon. Members can appreciate where we are.
The Shop Licences Amendment Bill has been necessitated by the need to advance the ease of doing business. The Shop Licences Act [Chapter 14:17] has been identified as one of the Acts which need to be revised under the programme of the ease of doing business. The said Shop Licences Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was crafted in 1976 and the Act was last amended in 1988. The Act is riddled with many unnecessary, outdated and time consuming processes. These cumbersome processes affect the ease of doing business, hence the need to have the Act amended.
The proposed amendments will enable local authorities to issue shop licences quickly and efficiently thereby encouraging domestic and foreign investment as well as revenue collection.
The current Act has a provision under Section 14, which makes it mandatory to advertise prior to getting a shop licence. It provides for a minimum of 35 days and a maximum of 56 days. This is an old colonial relic which has been abandoned the worldover as all it does is cause delays in the issuance of licences and worsen Zimbabwe’s ranking in the ease of doing business indicators. The same effect can be obtained by use of strict zoning criteria which has been provided for in the Amendment Bill.
The Act as it is today provides for a manual system which only permits renewals at the end of the year. This current Bill seeks to make provision for paperless online applications for shop licences. This is in line with the Government’s egovernance initiative. Further, the Amendment Bill seeks to amend the renewal period of a shop licence from only one year to any period ranging from one year to a maximum of five years. It has been noted that the one year renewal period of licences creates a log jam of applications at the end of each year and thereby inconveniencing both the licence holders and the issuing authority.
The period under which an applicant for a shop licence has to wait to get approval or otherwise for the issuance of licence from a licensing authority has been of great concern. The Amendment Bill seeks to compel the licensing authority to notify the applicants of the failure or success of their application within five working days. This indeed is possible given that the Amendment Bill has also made provisions for a transparent checklist which should be kept by the licensing authority and should be made available to any applicant. The licensing authority shall be required to justify its refusal to issue a shop licence. The same will also apply with respect to a permit which would have been given by the authority in terms of Section 30 (3a) and (4) of the Act. The licensing authority shall be required to give justification in the event that it decides to cancel a permit previously issued.
The Amendment Bill among other issues, also seeks to amend provisions relating to the control of vending machines. Currently, the Act prohibits any trade or business of selling goods by means of a vending machine without a licence issued in respect to that particular vending machine. This means that a person operating more than one vending machine at the same premises has to pay a licence for each of the machines. The Amendment Bill now makes provision that only one vending machine licence be issued to a person who operates more than one vending machine on the same premises.
Madam President, the current Act provides for exemptions by the Minister where he or she considers it necessary that any business which is required in terms of the Act to obtain the licence operate without such a licence. The Amendment Bill seeks to remove the said provision since the provision is extremely vague and provides for issues that are not prevalent in this day and age.
Madam President, the issues highlighted above are some of the issues which the Amendment Bill seeks to address with a view to further the ease of doing business in our country. It is in view of the above that I have stated, that I hereby submit the Shop Licences Amendment Bill for consideration. Madam President, I therefore move that the Bill be read a second time. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: Thank you Madam President.
In the colloquial or layman’s language, which shops are we talking about? Is it the general dealers or the bottle shops? Are you decentralising the issuance of liquor licences? What is happening? Thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. NYAMBUYA: Madam President, I rise to say just a few words in support of this very progressive Bill which has been brought before this august House. Sometime earlier on I think in January or February when we were discussing the budget for 2018, I remember very well one of the issues which I raised in that debate. It was that we need as a country or Government to set up institutions which are investor friendly and I made the remark specifically that one of the models that I admire most is the Rwanda model and that they have a onestop investment shop which has teeth. In other words, if an investor comes and passes through that institution, that is it, everybody else has to fall in line with that decision. Therefore, one of the reasons why investors flock to Rwanda is because of the ease of doing business.
There is ease of doing business in that country.
This Bill which the Minister has brought before this House is going a long way in reducing the hurdles, obstacles and impediments which were there for investors to come and open businesses in this country. The very fact that the Minister says it will take about five days for somebody to get a licence is one of the sweetest that I have heard in this Senate.
I would therefore like to commend the Minister for a very progressive Bill which is going to go a long way in assuring investors that if you go to Zimbabwe, it is going to be relatively smooth and easy to open businesses there. It is very investor friendly and as far as I am concerned, this is a great stride towards having an institution which has got teeth.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I would like to sincerely congratulate the Minister for this Bill. Just to be specific, I will mention a few progressive things. Anything that removes cumbersomeness in this ailing economy is welcome. The removal of renewals having to be done by the end of the year, which insinuates they can be done at any time, is also very commendable. Most importantly, I like a situation where people are told of the status of their applications or their communication with Government and it is accommodated there.
I probably have two suggestions. Minister, I know you are in charge of justice. Is it possible for you to take unto yourself an exercise to review all archaic legislation? It is not useful for the Minister to come here and tell us it is a colonial relic of 35 – 59 days, which we have lived with for close to 40 years.
The last thing I want to raise; if you go to the rural areas and you have $5 in your pocket. You probably suffer and fail to buy a bun and coke because there is no change. The reason is a proliferation of shops, irrespective of the size of the population. If I want to open a grocer’s shop, I go to the local authority and make an application. It gets approved invariably and you really wonder whether we have no scale where we say this place is designed to accommodate so many shops which we may review after a certain period of time, compared to a situation where anybody who applies and gets a licence. The businesses become unviable and the revenue to Government is unavailable because business is not adequate for everybody. With those comments Madam
President, I once again thank the Minister for the Bill.
*HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I rise to support this motion which has been raised by the Hon. Minister regarding the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe. When we talk about the online application, we should also take the initiative to educate people on how they can use this facility. We have some people who were born before computers who do not feel at ease when using this online application. There should be more awareness programmes carried out to educate people on how to use this online facility.
I will not repeat what has already been said such as the response in five days of application. We also notice that there are many offices which have to be approached by somebody if one wants to open up a business. Let me talk of rural areas. You talk of the village head, the chief, local government, and the Ministry of Health which will examine your application and make recommendations. Therefore, I am appealing to you that when you implement this amendment, it should be laid out who is responsible for what steps in the application process so that businesses are approved early.
Minister, may I also suggest that when you are talking about people applying for these licences, we have somebody who is a new applicant who will be working beside somebody who is already operating. We have somebody who should be protected. What I am implying is that when somebody has applied for a shop and is operating, no one should be allowed to be vending outside the premises of that shop because you are depriving the licenced businessman of the dues accorded to them.
I know people may say we have a lot of vendors because of the economic situation which needs to be improved. Our economic situation is poor and that is why we have so many vendors. I am saying let us control this vending because it is not contributing anything to the fiscus.
I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: I will not dwell on tautology but I
would like to thank the Minister for introducing this Bill because it is in support of people who want to open up new businesses and we are saying it takes time to have the business approved. Not only that, the renewal of licences was also cumbersome because in some instances if you are late in renewing because of one reason or the other the inspectors would come and confiscate all your products. If it is a bottle store, they confiscate everything in there.
The other aspect which I like about that Bill is the advertisement of the business which one intends to open up. The advert will enable the people in the neighbourhood to say if they need that business or they do not want it, because we are saying people should be informed. Some of the businesses which have been opened are going to lead to a lot of illnesses, contaminating the environment. That is why I am saying definitely; let us have a rethink on the issue of advertisement as it is essential.
You talked about the five days to respond to the application, but there are some clauses that need to be explained such as clauses 5 and 10 that talk of the application being looked at within 21 days. Please sort out the contradictions. I know we need to have these businesses because they are a way of living and development, but you cannot open a business whenever and wherever you want. We need to have some special areas set aside for that.
Hon. Sen. Mashavakure asked about the kind of businesses which are to be opened up. We have a place called maStones in Highfield, Harare. There were different shops at that Stones Shopping Centre but as we talk now all these shops have been turned to bottle stores. Therefore, we need to be very careful and selective when talking about opening up of new businesses in these areas.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: I am very glad to welcome the Minister into this House. You have brought this Bill which is so important and very developmental. I would like to add my voice on to what has already been said by my fellow colleagues. We know Government earns revenue from taxes which we get through licensing these shops. What this means is that we may have one shop which has a lot of products to sell, fuel, birds and food and the licensed shop may have been put in place for grocery supplies. What we need is that there should be specialisation such that if one business person intends to specialize on fuel sales at a filling station, then they should stick to that, if grocer’s shop then it should be so. There should be professionalism and specialization. In some cases, some people put up in these shops which end up being used as bedrooms or houses. We need to correct these anomalies. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MANYERUKE: Thank you Madam President.
Hon. Minister, I am very grateful for this Bill which you have brought into this House and I support it. I plead with you, when you are talking about issuance of these licenses, please be gendersensitive. These licenses should also be issued to women.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank you for
fighting for our gender there.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam President. I would like to thank Hon. Members for the debate and particularly thank them for supporting this initiative on the ease of doing business which the Government is introducing to ensure that we remove all cumbersome processes in the way we conduct business.
I would like to respond to a few issues that have been raised. There is an issue that was raised on which shops are being talked about and indicated that the Shop Licences Bill relates to a place of doing business where you carry any trade or business or where you may be selling anything. So, if you are trading, you need a shop licence. If you are selling or hiring goods, you need a shop licence and that is what those who have shops even in the rural stores are aware of. You need these licences from the local authority to carry out that business and that is what we are referring to.
I want to thank Hon. Nyambuya for supporting the Bill. He indicated that we need institutions that are investorfriendly, which is what we want to do. We want legislation that is investorfriendly to say that when one wants to set up a shop, it should not be very difficult. So, we are in agreement with what you are saying because our thrust is to improve on the ease of doing business.
Hon. Sen. Sibanda, thank you very much for the compliments and your suggestions that we review all archaic laws. That is what we want to do, we cannot continue with laws which were promulgated maybe in the 1930s or 50s in this day and age. Progressively, we are looking at that, we have identified the first set of laws that have to deal with ease of doing business. If you have any other that you suggest that there is need for review, we are open to that. I want to thank you for that.
However, you indicated that there are so many shops in rural areas and one can hardly find change for $5 and anyone who applies can get a shop licence. My understanding is that local authorities also provide stands for operating shops, so for as long as the land is there and somebody applies, they are obligated to give them, but if the space is not there, this is the preserve of local authorities in their planning, whether they have space to have a shop. I believe that is something that can be discussed with the local authorities. However, some may look at it in a way where one has several shops and there is competition and it is good for the consumers. It is debatable, but I take what you said.
Hon. Sen. Chimhini, thank you for supporting this Bill. You said that the Government should support the citizens who apply through the use of technology. Members should be trained in terms of mobile money and mobile transfers, which means that we are advancing. The members of the Ministry of ICT are now holding the kiosks where members of the public can get some assistance and they have gone out to the rural areas training people there on how they can cope up with ICT.
As far as we are concerned, some of us were born before the age of technology and some of those who are not aware of what we are saying, when they see people communicating on their mobile phones, they wonder what will be going on. We are saying, we are now in a new era and children in primary schools are now being introduced to computers. We even have our youngsters, our nieces and grandchildren who are very capable of operating our gadgets in the homes. We know we are talking about homes which we have. There are offices which have to be approached by people when they wish to open business, especially in the rural areas where they have to approach the chiefs and councilors.
However, let me explain by saying, this step has to be taken because each of those offices have a reason to justify its existence, for example, EMA will be protecting the environment and the council will be protecting the land that has to be issued. At times some businesses are not carried out in certain areas because of one reason or the other. Therefore, there should be some impact assessment on the launching of that Bill. Members from the health sector also have to check whether it will be healthy to introduce that space. When we talk of bottlestores, there is need to talk about health and they should also be talking about liquor licensing and all these laws are put down so that they can control the issuance of some of these liquor. That is why we also put a limit on people who should access this liquor. However, we are saying, despite all that, there should be ease of doing business and we should not punish people who intend to open business by making it difficult for them to open. When this has been done, there is going to be tax revenue generated by those businesses. We know that if the laws are difficult, there are people who may even go abroad and open up businesses in neighbouring countries like Botswana or Zambia where the ease of doing business will be in existence.
The aim of this Bill is that we want to make it business for someone to apply and obtain that license. We are removing all those impediments which were making it laborious and difficult to obtain a licence. One Hon. Member raised an issue that we need to be professionals and only deal with a particular product. This can happen when we talk about the sale of fuel or operating a bottlestore, but we also have people who are general dealers, there is talk of a lot of things that will be sold in those shops. I now move that the Bill be read a second time and I want to thank the Hon. Senators for their contributions.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: If I may, Madam President, so that he responds once and I also referred to amendment 10 of 20 [Chapter 14:17] under amendment 10 where you are talking of 21 days [AN.
HON. SENATOR: Inaudible interjections] in this Bill yes, this is why I have asked, is that not in contradiction with the 5 days that you are speaking about and yet here you are referring to 21 days.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you I had left out the item which you talked about on vendors. The vendors are under the control of local authorities. When you look at what is happening now, people are selling wherever they feel they want to sell. Somebody may even come and open a vendor shop in front of Parliament or on pavements near Parliament entrance. We need to look at that problem so that people are given suitable vending places. This law we are debating about is targeting shops and how a shop is going to be approved. When talking about vendors, they are a different thing but we are encouraging local authorities to look into that issue. What we are saying is local authorities should enforce the byelaws which are aimed at controlling vending in undesignated areas because vendors are all over the place and we are saying the Ministry should be careful and examine all the rules and regulations which are there to guide the services of vending.
We know we have people in the vending business and when we move them to designated areas; it should be systematic so that it will be done legally. The aim of the Bill is to reduce the easy of doing business. You have talked about the contradictions of the two sections, we will examine that and respond accordingly but we are saying basically there should be easy of doing business.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Hon. Minister,
he had indicated that he wanted an explanation on Clause 10.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much. You are referring to Clause 10 which says “To determine an application for a new license within 21 days of the day for which an application in terms of Section 16 has been made, unless at the request of the applicant, the hearing or the determination of the application has been postponed for a longer
period”. Is that the one which you are referring to?
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: You alluded to 5 days, so why are we now on 21 days, that is my issue.
HON. ZIYAMBI: If I said within 5 days, it is saying that is our desire but in the law, we are saying within 21 days. The law is giving a longer period which is 21 days.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: If I may help,
Hon. Sen. Tawengwa, those are issues that you should have debated but unfortunately you were chairing. Those are the issues you should debate when the Senate was under consideration of the whole Bill.
HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: On a point of order Madam
President.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: What is your
point of order?
*HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: The Minister talked about
Section 10, I do not know what the section talks about. I am pleading with the Minister to give me a braille copy of the Bill because I want to read it in Braille and understand it. I want to know what is included in Section 16 because we are talking about the 10 days and 21 days, may you please explain.
HON. ZIYAMBI: I am not noticing an inconsistence. In my speech I said our desire is to dispose of these licences within 5 days but the law is giving 21 days which is, if there are any problems or technical problems that might happen; it should not go beyond 21 days. In my speech, what I was trying to allude to is, in terms of easy of doing business, we should dispose of these issues within a week or so.
Madam President, I move that the Shop Licences Amendment Bill
[H. B. 10A, 2016] be now read a second time. Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
SHOP LICENCES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 10A, 2006]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 9 put and agreed to.
On Clause 10:
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Mr. Chairman Thank you. I cannot quote the Minister verbatim but, from what I heard and what is in law, the indication was that these things will be done within five days and I did congratulate the Minister for that. I will not want to go on record with a misplaced congratulation. Is the Minister prepared to clearly clarify for purposes of those that read the Hansard and reconcile the Hansard record to the written law that it was probably not an intended overstatement that the licences will be processed within five days? I thank you Mr. Chairman.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: I was just thinking that that line should read like this so that it can be easy for us to understand. Mr. Chairman, an application for a new licence between five and 21 days from the day which an application is made. I am proposing the insertion of between five and 21 days so that I can understand, even myself.
*HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: Thank you Mr. Chairman. I
think the whole issue has been clarified but I have a feeling that we are talking about different sections because as far as I am concerned, we are talking about 16 and I think we need to clarify so that I may be able to understand this Bill that we are talking about. Because, as of now, this is becoming more complicated for me to understand – where we are talking of five days for completion of application and response and then also have 21. So, I am saying what is in Section 16?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much. Maybe if you read Clause 10, it says here, this Clause will amend Section 20 of the principal Act by inserting a new Subsection 2 (a) which requires a licencing authority which intends to refuse an application for a licence to respond to the applicant within two working days and to give the applicant his reasons for refusal of the application.
So, basically, this section which we are now confusing with 21 days and five days is referring to where an authority intends to refuse an application. If they have so refused, then they have to give the reasons and allow the applicant to resubmit within five working days.
Section 20 used to say you should submit it within 45 days and we have reduced to 21 days. So, within two days after submitting, we should get a response. If they have refused, they should give you a reason and allow you to submit within five working days so that the process does not take long to occur. So, basically that is the import of this new section if that will help. I so submit and I believe that it should be left like that. I thank you.
Clause 10 put and agreed to.
Clauses 11 to 16 put and agreed to.
Schedule put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
SHOP LICENCES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 10 A, 2017].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE
MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. G. MOYO): Madam President, I
now move that the Bill be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam
President, I move that Order of the Day, Number 2 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. NCUBE: I would like to debate on the motion that was brought by Hon. D.T Khumalo who was seconded by Hon. J. Ndlovu. There were different segments in the motion and I will talk about the first and third sections where she talks about the different languages used in the country. What I have noticed is that this motion is very important as it talks about languages that are enshrined in the National Constitution that was made by the people of the country after they had noticed that their languages were important.
The National Constitution talks of 16 languages. Today, we still find that these languages are only mentioned in the Constitution but they are still not in use because even in this august House, we cannot talk in our local languages. At times, you find that these machines will not be working. That shows that we still do not value our local languages. We still have the colonial mentality because as long as we are not letting our people speak freely in their local languages, then it means we still have that colonial mind.
Here at Parliament, only three languages are being used and these are the languages that I am talking about. You may find that when I have finished talking, it would appear from the blanks that we are then given that I will not have said much and will have to go and correct. I have always said this many times. If the person who is there listening to me and is fluent in Ndebele, I do not think that person can fail to translate what I am saying. I think that is where the problem is. I remember that one day in Matebeleland North, villagers were up in arms with a teacher because the teacher was failing to teach children the proper language.
In Bulawayo at Mahatshula School, there is a headmaster who when parents went to look for places for their children there, if the headmaster noticed a surname that he did not like, a surname for someone who comes from Matebeleland North or Matebeleland South, he would not issue them a place at the school. This matter was really problematic and it came out in the newspapers and the headmaster ended up being transferred from that school. We have different languages here in Zimbabwe because we are all Zimbabweans. At times it is someone’s perception to behave that way because it is not everyone who does that.
Before I go further, I would like to thank the chiefs from Midlands, Matebeleland North and South who spoke to the Minister. They requested that children from these three provinces be enrolled at United College, which is the only college in these provinces that teaches Ndebele. I am happy because the Minister understood their plight and agreed that at the end of each year when children finish school, chiefs should make a list of the children which they take to the head of that college so that the children can be enrolled there to train as teachers. A lot of children were failing to get places at that college when they finished school which is the place where they ought to go because that is the college that teaches Ndebele.
There should be lecturers who teach Shona and Ndebele because as we grew up that is what used to happen. I remember reading in the newspapers one day that Chicken Inn was being sued for having written a Ndebele word wrongly.
Madam President, when I grew up I learnt Thoko Thoko vhuka;
Thoko Thoko geza; Thoko Thoko hamba esikholo;ngele ngele insimbi, Thoko Thoko funda, lalela; qaphelisa Thoko. In the English language we had a book on Ben and Betty. In Shona, there was Chipo and someone else. That was proper and that was even before independence but the white man who was there that time ruling this country knew that people had to learn their local languages but now it is difficult even at home to teach the child the proper Ndebele language yet we are Zimbabweans. Madam President, we should teach our own children the proper thing. If it is English, it should be proper English. If it is Ndebele, proper
Ndebele and if it is Shona, they should learn proper Shona. At Skyz Metro FM, they call it the people’s studio. I have forgotten the presenter’s name but he is Shona but he speaks proper Ndebele. I enjoy his programmes. I think he speaks about eight languages but he is not Ndebele – [AN. HON. SEN. CHIEF: Inaudible interjections.] – I would like to thank you chief. I have never heard of anything like that. Everyone enjoys his programmes. He speaks proper Ndebele and if you do not know him, you would never know that he is not Ndebele. He can speak proper Shona, Nambya, Venda and so on. So, where is the difficulty here?
I have said people are different. One girl told me that her mother was Shona and the father was Ndebele but she said she would never speak Ndebele because her mother is the one who told her not to speak Ndebele. I will not dwell much on that. However, as people, we should learn to teach each other and our children. There is no language that is better than the other. Madam President, if you go to any Government offices anywhere here in Zimbabwe, especially for us in Bulawayo; if you visit Government offices, the officers will talk to you in Shona in Bulawayo. If you talk to them in Ndebele, they will tell you ‘I cannot hear.’ That is very bad. We should learn. If someone cannot speak the language, they must appear as if they are appreciating other people’s languages. As it is we try to speak Shona although we are not fluent, but we are trying and I think that is very important.
Even the school books, now children are failing even more than before to pass their mother language. Back then, people used to fail but they would pass their mother language but now they are failing even their mother language. The way those books are written is not good and yet there are people who are qualified to write those books properly but they are not being offered jobs. My request is that people should write those languages properly.
Mr. President, when people start talking they say, ‘we are not discriminating each other’ and yet they are. They say there was a grand plan in 1979 whereby children from Matebeleland were supposed to fail, they were not supposed to get jobs, the girls were supposed to be impregnated by Shona boys and not get married to them but that is not proper. If there are people in Matebeleland, employ people from there and if you are in Mashonaland, employ people from there. Now, I am told that if you are someone who speaks Ndebele and they want to eliminate you, they will promote you but they will not take you to
Gwanda or Victoria Falls. They will promote you and take you to Kwekwe, but that is not what we want Mr. President. We want to be treated equally.
Let me move to another issue of devolution. I remember in this very House, I moved a motion in 2014 on devolution which was in the national Constitution. A lot of people spoke about devolution, we all wish that this could have been a thing of the past but we are still hammering on the same thing. That motion never went anywhere in this very House. Some of my colleagues in this House did not support it. If you have never been pained by a situation – I will give an example; let us say your neighbour is hungry and not eating anything, you might think that that person is mentally challenged and even say, ‘why is she not selling things, other people are selling goods out there.’ Even if a motion is not supported, if people are still not happy with it, they will keep on talking about it.
In 2010, the Government spoke about the same issue and people went out again to talk about devolution. Devolution is not for Matebeleland only, it was the whole country which spoke about devolution. I was also a member of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC), people talked about devolution throughout the whole country. We were talking about development in provinces; they were saying that whatever amount is received in that province or whatever resources in each province, they should develop those provinces. They were not saying that the money should not go to the
Central Government but they were saying all the money should be put together to the Central Government and then the Central Government should also look at where the funds were coming from so that roads and schools can also be constructed in order to develop those provinces and not hold on to the money and use it for themselves.
I do not know why the Government is not happy with devolution. Why is it that Government does not want devolution to be carried out the way that people said they wanted it. We are about to get to the end of this term when is it going to be rectified? We have said it time and again but nothing has been done. Some of us when we come here, we are here to represent people; we forget where we are coming from. Can we say everything is good and yet people are suffering like this? Each province has its own issues. However, this country is blessed because we have so many resources. We should not be suffering as much as we are doing right now.
There are places which are rich in gold, timber, asbestos and other minerals, but the roads are very bad. We have Chinese people in this country but they do not bank their money here; they take the money to their own country. With the little that we have, it is difficult for us to rectify whatever challenges we have.
Mr. President, when we go back home or after this Parliament, what we want is that whether we come back or not, we want the people to say, ‘yes, you really worked.’ We want the Minister to come and tell us when the Bill will be coming to Parliament. People are busy out there campaigning because they still want to come back. So when are we going to debate it? I know that for those who are going to come back, they will also come and talk about the same issues again but nothing is going to happen. I would like to thank this Senate for this motion that was brought before it. If the Minister would have been here maybe he would have heard and we wish that the people that we are representing out there would also know that we are trying our level best to represent them. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Madam President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
BILL RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have received the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company Dept Assumption Bill [H.B.2,
2018] from the National Assembly. The Bill will be set down for
Second Reading tomorrow.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 41ST PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the 41st Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, held in Mahe, Seychelles, from 4th to 15th July, 2017.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Madam President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to make this contribution on a motion raised by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga on ICT, especially being done in rural areas. My contribution is that when we acquire this ICT technology, it helps in the development of the country and develops the livelihood of people especially in the rural areas. When we have technology, we will be capable of utilizing our cell phones because some of these cell phones function like computers but all we do is just to receive and send messages. If you fully utilise the functions on your cell phone, you can search for employment and enrolment places in colleges for your children using that technology.
I would like to add more onto the issue of ICT. In rural areas, we are not very well versed in ICT and hence I am pleading with the
Government to set up programmes on awareness in the rural areas just as you do for awareness programmes on HIV and malaria. The same sense we use should be the same haste we use in ICT promotion. We have some areas which are really remaining behind because they cannot access this knowledge, especially in areas like Rushinga and
Muzarabani. These areas are lagging behind in technology; Government should set up infrastructure and superstructure to develop ICT in those areas. In Zimbabwe, we find that we have the highest rates utilizing the internet; our neighbouring countries have very low rates, so we should be like our neighbours.
When we came to Parliament, we were introduced to the Women’s Caucus and we were taken for one week training in facilitation of ICT. I am one of those people who benefited much because I now own a laptop and now Google whatever it is I want using the Google function and Google store. This knowledge, this awareness should be spread to all other areas. Mr. President, I am very gratefully because you have allowed me to make my contribution on the importance of ICT in our lives especially in rural areas.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. BHEBHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the rights of the elderly as prescribed in Section 82 of the Constitution.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn and in doing so, I advise that I intend to withdraw the motion from the Order Paper tomorrow as no Minister appears ready to respond to our worries.
HON. SEN. SHOKO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th October, 2018.
MOTION
PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE RESETTLEMENT AREAS
FOR ZWEHAMBA, MAHATSHE AND MATANKENI
COMMUNITIES
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the call on the Executive to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities in Zvehamba, Mahatshe and Matankeni.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the
debate do now adjourn.
HON. BHEBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on protection of consumers from corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. BHEBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE WORLD
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the delegation to the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NTABENI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NONESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the circumstances surrounding the nonestablishment of Community Share Ownership Trusts in Mudzi and Mutoko districts.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON SDG NO. 3
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on SDG No. 3.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. CHIEF NTABENI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th May, 2016.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
PEACE AND SECURITY ON THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE
GRAIN MARKETING BOARD TO HANDLE THE 2016/2017
CROP DELIVERIES AND THE SUCCESS OF THE
COMMAND AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on the preparedness of the Grain Marketing Board to handle the 2016/2017 crop deliveries and the success of the Command Agriculture Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MATHUTHU seconded by HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA, the Senate adjourned at Seven Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 29th May, 2018
The Senate met at Halfpast Two o’ clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMITTEE ON STANDING RULES
AND ORDERS
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (SEN.
TAWENGWA): I wish to inform the House that at its meeting held on the 25th of May, 2018, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders endorsed the appointment of Hon. Paurina Mpariwa to the same
Committee following the expulsion of Hon. Dr. Thokozani Khupe from
Parliament in April 2018.
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also wish to
inform the House that on 21st May, 2018, the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC–T) notified Parliament of the appointment of Hon.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa as the Leader of the Opposition in
Parliament.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I move that Order of the Day, Number 1 be stood over until all the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIPANGA: Thank you Mr. President. I rise to make a few remarks on this very important topic. If we look at the motion moved by Hon. Sen. D.T. Khumalo, from the onset, it is clear that the motion has to do with devolution and not culture. Anything that we say or add, we will just be adding things that do not tally with the heading of our motion.
What is unfortunate is that in the year 2018, we still talk about minority groups in this country. Year 2018, we still talk about our region. 2018 we still talk about people from other regions being employed in our region. What that means is that we are being called upon to divide this little country of ours into provinces and regions.
What is also unfortunate is that the Constitution that we are harping on, particularly Section 268 which talks about regions in my view, was picked as is from the South African Constitution which those from the academic world would call plagiarism. If we look and I am not saying the Constitution is wrong but as it is, it was just cut and paste. Everything that we find in this Constitution, particularly under this heading was copied from South Africa.
If we look at the size of our country and population compared to South Africa, you will find that we do not seem to want to look at ourselves as a people but as groups. It was well in South Africa when it was crafted because in South Africa then, the Boers wanted their own territories. They wanted their own small enclaves when they were running away from the British.
Having said that, I want to say that the South Africans themselves are now worried about what they had put together when they thought it was thriving to do. For example, in South Africa, you have the
Parliament in Cape Town, the City of Government which is Cabinet in
Pretoria then you have the Judiciary in Bloemfontein. This was to try and appease the various groups.
My view is that we are a small country and I do not believe in this country that there is what one would call a majority group. We are all minority groups that came together to find Zimbabwe. The Zezurus are a minority group just as the Manyikas are a minority group; just as the Tongas is a minority group and everyone else is a minority group. Put together, we form the majority which is what we call Zimbabwe.
The point I am trying to make is that it is now time we start talking about ourselves and not themselves or them against us. If I am qualified and I find a job in Binga, what would stop me from going to work in Binga? If my sekuru there found a job in Nyanga, why would he not go there and work in Nyanga because he is a Zimbabwean just as I am. We still talk about minority; we still talk about people from that region coming to work in our region, which is our region. Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe. If we find someone who is qualified to teach in Gwanda, surely when they get there, language might be a problem to start with but eventually they will pick up just as much as we have people in Manicaland who came there speaking Ndebele and they have now adapted. They can now speak good Shona, good Manyika. So to come here Mr. President and say, we need our own people to work in our own region, we need our own people to teach in our own schools only shows how little minded we are being. In my view Mr. President, as Senate, we are supposed to be the role models. We are supposed to teach all the youngsters that Zimbabwe is one.
It has been always my argument Mr. President, that instead of breaking down the languages into 16 as we have done in this
Constitution which I have said was a cut and paste copied from South Africa, we should be saying to ourselves, we are only 14 million and they are 60 million in South Africa. As a small country, we need to learn all the languages. This is why I can speak Ndebele because I believe I am a Zimbabwean. I will not get an interpreter if I went to
Matabeleland because I am a Zimbabwean. To ensure that happens, Mr. President; to assist those that are not gifted, it has always been my view that instead of breaking into pieces, we should come to a point where we say, every little child from Form 1 should be taught Ndebele and Shona, to start with. Let them learn their Ndebele. Let them learn their Zezuru or Manyika at lower level but at some point, they should be made to learn compulsorily these two languages. Thereafter, we can push in another language so that we speak one language but I see mature people like we have in this august House wanting us to break this country into small pieces.
Mr. President, my heart bleeds when I hear people talking about uMthwakazi. Once that happens, the Tongas will also say they want whatever they want to call it. What you call Manicaland is not a land for all Manyika. There are small tribes there, they will say we want our own publics and what will remain of Zimbabwe if all do that? I am saying this Mr. President because there is no culture in this motion. What is here is devolution and what do you devolve in a little country like Zimbabwe? We have seen this in Nigeria where everybody wants their own State. Consequently, they have never agreed on how many people are in Nigeria. Each time they have a census, each State will say no we have majority, you cheated us and it will come to an end. I am not sure that is what we want. What we want is a united, homogeneous
Zimbabwe.
I am not sure whether our forefathers, I am thinking about uJoshua Nkomo, uBurombo and others who would listen, they would be amused if they heard us talking about these issues. We should be speaking about doing away with tribalism and doing away with regionalism but once we start talking about devolution, we are encouraging these things. Mr. President, it is my hope and my wish that this is the last time we talk about devolution here and start encouraging our own youngsters to think as Zimbabweans. I know there are those who say because they want jobs, they believe that if there was a Parliament in Binga, they would be a secretary or chairman in Binga. That is not the issue. We do not have that luxury, we do not have the money to do such things. I told you
South Africa is now worried about the relocation of Parliament from Cape Town to Pretoria because there is a lot of money involved and yet we are talking about that. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 30th May, 2018.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
BILL RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to
inform the House that I have received the Civil Aviation Amendment
Bill [H. B. 4A, 2017] from the National Assembly.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 41ST PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report on the 41st Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Mahe, Seychelles from 4th to 15th July, 2017.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President. Allow me Mr. President to thank all the Hon. Senators who contributed in this report. I know that this report was a little bit difficult as Members did not get the report in their pigeon holes. So, it was a bit difficult to debate on it because they could not liaise properly with it. Even though it is like that, I would like to thank those few who managed to make contributions.
With these few words
Mr. President, I therefore move That this House takes note of the
Report of the 41st Assembly Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum held in Mahe, Seychelles, from 4th to 15th July,
2017 be withdrawn from the Order Paper.
Motion; With leave, withdrawn.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 30th May, 2018.
MOTION
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the rights of the elderly as prescribed by Section 82 of the Constitution.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President for the opportunity. I would like the motion to pass and in doing so, I have got two or three comments. I thank everybody who contributed quite sincerely and their contribution was valuable. Secondly, I would like to say this is a serious motion which needs the consideration of the Minister who is in the seat currently. It talks about our elderly and I repeat that they only constitute around 5% of the population.
I would like all Senators to be aware that what the motion was calling for was for a review and an update of the relevant legislation in order to enhance the upkeep of the elderly and secondly, to reorient society towards positive views about the elderly or towards the elderly and thirdly, to compensate the elderly who had their retirement annuities and pensions ravaged by rapid inflation.
In saying that, this is in sync with the report of the Commission that the former President appointed and therefore, my last comment is to urge Government to be sensitive to the negative impact of inflation in the years 2006 to 2009 and ensure that those who were disadvantaged, if they were not covered by compensation or by the insurance houses, the Government has to chip in. The Government was responsible for letting the situation get out of hand. They cannot pretend that they are not part of the equation.
With those comments, I therefore move That this House –
COGNISANT of the constitutional rights of the elderly as prescribed in Section 82 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe; AWARE of the provisions of the Older Persons Act [Chapter 17:
1]; and
DETERMINED to see older persons receive and enjoy better care and attention than they are currently getting in all spheres of life;
NOW, THEREFORE, this House calls upon Government to:
- Review and update legislation relating to the welfare and upkeep of the elderly;
- Embark on training and re orientation of society on our traditional and ubuntu values in relation to the rights and privileges of the elderly; and
- Compensate those elderly who had their retirement annuities and pensions ravaged by rapid inflation.
And urges traditional systems and all none state actors to jealously guard against any abuse and or inconsiderate treatment of the elderly to be withdrawn from the Order Paper.
Motion; With leave, withdrawn.
MOTION
PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE RESETTLEMENT AREAS
FOR ZWEHAMBA, MAHATSHE AND MATANKENI
COMMUNITIES
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the call on the Executive to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities from Zvehamba, Mahatshe and Matankeni.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. BHEBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 2018.
MOTION
PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on protection of consumers from corruption.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MAWIRE: Thank you Mr. President. Allow me to withdraw this motion from the Order Paper. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this motion and even those who did not contribute I believe that in future they will debate. It is my belief that three quarters of the National Senate debated this motion.
I therefore move that this House
MINDFUL of the need to protect consumers from unscrupulous business people bent on maximising profits at the expense of the majority of the people;
DESIROUS to have consumers that fully appreciate the role of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, the law enforcement agency and other agencies of the State that protect them from exploitation of their hard earned cash;
CONCERNED at the ineptitude and flippant attitude by banking institutions who cover up for their inefficiencies under the guise of network system that are always alleged to be down;
DISTURBED by unwarranted price hikes for goods on hire purchase that have seen consumers falling victim to malpractices by individuals who have even gone to the extent of siphoning some civil servants’ salaries without their knowledge through the Salary Service Bureau.
NOW, THEREFORE, calls for concerted efforts by the State to stamp out such corrupt practices by formulating effective Consumer friendly laws to protect Zimbabwean citizens and thereby instill a sense of confidence in the economy among our people be withdrawn from the Order Paper.
Motion; With leave, withdrawn.
MOTON
REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE WORLD
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the delegation to the world Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable
Development.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 30th May, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NONESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the Circumstances Surrounding the NonEstablishment of Community Share Ownership Trusts in Mudzi and Mutoko Districts.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 30th May, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ON SDG NO. 3
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on SDG No. 3.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: Mr. President I stand to ask Hon. Members if there are any Members who still want to debate on this report from the Committee to please do so because I intend to withdraw the motion very soon. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
However, I intend to withdraw it from the Order Paper soon.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: 30th May, 2018
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON PEACE
AND SECURITY ON THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE GRAIN
MARKETING BOARD TO HANDLE THE 2016/2017 CROP DELIVERIES AND THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMAND
AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME.
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on the First Report of the
Thematic Committee on Peace and Security on the Preparedness of the Grain Marketing Board to handle the 2016/2017 Crop Deliveries and the
Success of the Command Agriculture Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: 30th May, 2018.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MATHUTHU, seconded by HON. SEN. MUMVURI, the Senate adjourned at A Minute Past Three o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 15th May 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarterpast Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM CIVIC ORGANISATIONS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on Wednesday, 9th May, 2018, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from the Women’s Institute of Leadership Development beseeching Parliament to exercise its oversight function by ensuring that the municipality of Gwanda and its parent Ministry bring to an end the chaotic and unsustainable environmental mess in Ward 5, of Gwanda Town. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Local Government Public Works and National Housing.
I also have to inform the House that on Thursday, 10th May, 2018,
Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from the College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe beseeching Parliament to exercise its oversight function and protect the Constitutional rights of college lecturers to fair labour practices. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education Science and
Technology Development.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I seek
the indulgence of the House to 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.
COMMITTEE STAGE
ZIMBABWE IRON AND STEEL COMPANY [DEBT
ASSUMPTION] BILL [H.B. 2, 2018]
Fourth Order read: Committee Stage: Zimbabwe Iron and Steel
Company Debt Assumption Bill [H.B. 2, 2018].
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 8 put and agreed to.
Schedule (sections 2, 3, 4 and 6) put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
ZIMBABWE IRON AND STEEL COMPANY (DEBT
ASSUMPTION) BILL [H.B. 2, 2018].
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, I now
move that the Bill be now read the third time.
HON. CROSS: Madam Chair, could I ask the Minister if he intends to amend the schedule before this Bill is finally adopted by the
President?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, the
matter referred to by Hon. Cross is involving an investor who has taken over the coke ovens and is assuming liability for the KFW debt. Those legal niceties have not yet been concluded and we have not yet signed the documents. So, the Bill will go as is, without the deduction yet of the KFW debt which is around US$163 million. When we finalise the legal documents...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members.
HON. CHINAMASA: When we finalise the legal documents
even when the Bill is an Act of Parliament, there is a provision in this Bill which allows us to verify and to validate, then the Schedule will be amended accordingly by the Debt Management Office. I thank you.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister, the major concern that was highlighted by people during public hearings on this Bill was a concern pertaining to the manner that you have been bringing in Bills to deal with specific debts of our parastatals, and that such debt would have been accumulated through negligence or criminal activity of known individuals. However, you have decided to burden what was benefited by a few on the total shoulders of citizens of this country that are already suffering. I am not sure how you can allay in this Bill Hon. Minister those fears that Zimbabweans have expressed themselves on such Bills that have to deal with assumption of debt. I will give an example Hon. Minister. Members of the public especially in
Redcliff hinted that …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. If I may
remind you that the stage we are at now seeks to find out whether the Bill can be read for the third time and not something else. I am saying this because we have passed all those stages.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: I thought you had asked me to debate
Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, I am just reminding you.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: I just wanted that bit of clarity Hon. Minister, in terms of this Bill and associated Bills that you have brought to Parliament. It is an issue of whether that burden cannot be transferred to the individuals that would have benefited out of the said debt. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Unfortunately, the Hon.
Member was not here for debate during the Second Reading and he is seeking to indirectly revisit issues we have discussed during the Second Reading. However, be that as it may, if the Hon. Member could acquaint himself with the Schedule, he will find out that the Schedule sets out who is owed money and that is KfW, Sinosure and Sumitomo Japan. There are also liabilities to external suppliers who were supplying equipment and the equipment is still there. However, the business model collapsed that the company could not continue operations and it has since closed down. That is the reason and I have no evidence whatsoever Madam Speaker, that there was anyone who benefited from the operations of ZISCO Steel fraudulently or otherwise. As far as I am aware, the business was being run properly but the problem came when the hyperinflation came about and as a result, the company could not continue operating. I thank you Madam Speaker. Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, may I
with the leave of the House, move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1
and 2 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 3 has been disposed
of.
Motion put and agreed to.
COMMITTEE STAGE
CIVIL AVIATION AMENDMENT BILL (H. B. 4, 2017)
Third Order read: Committee Stage: Civil Aviation Amendment
Bill [H. B. 4, 2017].
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 – 2 put and agreed to.
On Clause 3:
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My proposal on Clause 3 is between lines 35 and line 45 on page 2 of the Bill and it is the deletion of paragraphs a, b, c, d and e; and substituting it with the following Mr. Speaker:
- to provide air traffic management, navigation and related training services.
- to provide advice to Government on all matters related to domestic and international civil aviation; (c) to provide and maintain communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management infrastructure. Speaker, why do I propose the (c) in particular, it is because the Civil Aviation Authority, the primary mandate is to safely take off the aircrafts and maintain their safety in the skies and also safely land the aircraft? This is why I propose that we delete the amendment in the amendment and insert this one which provides and maintains communication, navigation and surveillance systems, which currently are devoid of inadequacy; to say the least, they are quite in a deplorable state, in particular the navigation and communication systems of the aircrafts and the interface with the air traffic controllers.
On (d), I seek to insert (d) and delete the existing provide aeronautical information management. If it so pleases you Mr. Speaker, I seek to have these amendments replace the ones that have been proposed because of what I have put across to you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Mr. Speaker. We agreed with Hon. Nduna on the proposals that he has made that we can accommodate some of the amendments he is making as follows: that we amend paragraph (a) and put it as to promote and regulate Civil Aviation safety and security and provide related training. Paragraph (c) is deleted and substituted with the following, that is to establish and maintain air navigation facilities and provide air navigation services and related training. Also, by insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (e), which would become paragraph (f) to provide advice to Government to all matters related to domestic and international civil aviation. These are the amendments as proposed by Hon. Nduna which we have accommodated.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, I am obliged. I go along with the Minister and I also applaud him for section (e) that he has put in that it seeks Government’s intervention or knowledge by the Government of the goings on in the Civil Aviation Company.
Amendment to Clause 3 put and agreed to.
Clause 3, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 4 put and agreed to.
On Clause 5:
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. On Clause 5, in particular amended after line 10 on page 3 of the Bill, by insertion of the following: (5) At least two members shall be appointed for their knowledge and their operational exposure in Civil Aviation – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: Order! Order Hon.
Members, let us lower our voices, it is like a beehive now. Please, let us hear what the Hon. Member is debating.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, the amendment just sought to include women on a 50/50 representation but I want to go further and say even after the inclusion of women on a 50/50 basis, there is need for at least two members to be appointed for their knowledge in the operational exposure to the Civil Aviation system. Number 6
Members appointed in terms of this section shall only be appointed after – I conferred with the Minister and we agreed that only as it relates to the directors of the company, the airport company. This is where this amendment Number 6 can actually come into effect but for the purpose and clarity of this House, I want to read what I had proposed as amendments so that the Minister can now delve into what we discussed and what we proposed together.
- the Minister has by notice in the Gazette and the media invited interested parties to nominate persons suitable for appointment.
- the Minister has appointed a list of at least 15 suitable candidates to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (SRO), unless fewer than 15 nominations are received, in which case the Minister must submit all nominations received to the Committee on SRO.
Why it has been so, is that we sought to align to the commissions but on hindsight, I think I see reason in what the Minister has put across to me.
- the Committee on SRO has submitted a list of 10 nominees to the Minister.
Take note Mr. Speaker, that the word ‘Minister’ is missing on the Order Paper, page 1277 but I have inserted it as you have alluded to it. This is what I propose but I think the Minister is now going to speak to the counter proposal that we discussed. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR.
GUMBO): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Nduna for the proposed amendments that he has made but as a Ministry, we are not agreeable with this amendment on Clause 5. Firstly, Section 5 is already covered in the current Act. Secondly, it is important to note that the Committee on SRO falls under the legislative arm of Government and appointment of members to the board is a prerogative of the Executive. Therefore, it is not possible for nominations to be submitted to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. The doctrine of separation of powers has to be taken into consideration and regarding the appointment of women which the Hon. Member is referring to, I wish to agree with him, that is actually a prerogative for us and to take care of that. We have already removed some male board members and have substituted them with female members in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. So, I wish to implore the Hon. Member to accept my proposal as it stands. I thank you.
Clauses 6 to 11 put and agreed to.
On Clause 12:
HON. NDUNA: I move the amendment standing in my name that
Clause 12 be amended after line 13, on page 7, by the insertion of the following paragraph (f) and the current paragraph (f) in line 14 shall be renamed paragraph (g) and paragraph (f) shall read, “air navigation and approach fees.”.
When we talk of this Bill, it seeks to address the inadequacies and the deficiencies of the air navigation systems. The approach fees that I have spoken to and about are only as an outcome of the interface between the air traffic controller and the aircraft so that aircraft can be safely landed. These are the approach fees that can accrue to the Minister through the Civil Aviation Company only if we lend that aircraft safely and effectively on the ground.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it also talks of the air navigation and approach fees. The approach fees, I have ventilated that they only come about after we have effectively and efficiently detected the approaching aircraft. If we are a black hole and if we do not have the gadgets to effectively detect the aircrafts that are approaching, we might lose that revenue of the air navigation and approach fees. So, this is why I
thought I should bring it up. For that reason, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development came here and spoke about the $153 million by the Chinese Exim Bank for the Robert Gabriel Mugabe airport expansion project.
It is my fervent view and thinking, Mr. Speaker, that if we adequately address, first and foremost, the air traffic control initiatives and put in the requisite equipment to detect the aircraft, only then can we talk about the approach fees and can we adequately receive these approach fees and navigation fees.
Currently, what is happening, we have got overflights in Zimbabwe, we have got other aircrafts, one that came down at Gwanda purportedly maybe pregnant with our God given natural resources and was buried in the ground. This was never detected by our air traffic controllers in our airspace. It is my thinking therefore, that if we need to get an aircraft onto the ground efficiently and effectively we need to address the deficiencies in our navigation and our aircraft detection systems, Mr. Speaker Sir.
Therefore, it is prudent and incumbent upon the Executive to first address those deficiencies and inefficiencies before we can have this administrative system in place. Let it be put in place, Mr. Speaker Sir, but in the hindsight, let us first address the equipment shortages in the system. So, I thought I should give reason why this amendment is very key and why the Executive should see reason for us to address the inefficiencies and deficiencies in the equipment, like the Minister of Finance and Economic Development with his counterpart, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, started doing so, so that we can now direct the Government officials accordingly, but this is akin to putting the cart before the horse if we are going to deal with the issues of trying to address and wax lyrical of administration issues before we can address the equipment issues, Mr. Speaker. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TARANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Hon. Nduna for the very detailed knowledge he has got about aviation as an engineer, but I regret to say that the amendments being referred to by him, we are not agreeable with them. They are covered. I think what Hon. Nduna is alluding to is covered under Section 32 (1) (a). That really covers most of the information that he is referring to, but definitely what he is saying is taken on board, but as for now, we are not agreeable to the amendments because we feel they are covered under the section that I have already referred to. I thank you.
Amendment to Clause 12 put and negatived.
Clauses 13 to 18 put and agreed to.
On Clause 19:
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I move the amendment standing in my name that Clause 19 is amended after line 28 on page 20 of the Bill; for those that care to look at the Bill; by the insertion of the following:
“92, Performance Agreement. This is how before I go into the merits of the Bill, I want to preface it by saying this is monitoring and evaluation by the Executive on the Government officials or on the Airport Company. As you are going to see on the Order Paper, this is the last of any amendments that I have proposed. I wish, even before I go into line by line to say this issue of monitoring and evaluation comes after implementation for the Executive to judge the officials, they need to make sure that they do not have square plugs in round holes.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe that we talk about today was department of Civil Aviation at some point which was D.C.A. Before that time Hon. Minister Gumbo was not yet Minister of Transport. I want to say the issue of unbundling the D.C.A multiplied the deficiencies and inefficiencies by increasing its capacity to Civil Aviation Authority. Why I am proposing these amendments, it is so that we do not multiply the deficiencies and inefficiencies of the current civil aviation authority by disintegrating it to form a civil aviation company and all that. To cure this, I cannot stop this Bill but to cure it there needs to be a performance agreement embedded within the Bill that can be used as a whip by the Minister to whip his officials into line. This amendment means more good than bad. I am willing to debate until tomorrow to make sure that the Minister accedes to this amendment.
Mr. Speaker Sir, SubSection 1, the Minister in consultation with the authority must enter into a performance agreement relating: _ (a)The State’s requirements in respect of the Authority’s scope of business, efficiency and financial performance and achievement of objectives; I see no one who is objective denying such objectivity in the performance agreement.
- The principles to be followed by the Authority for purposes of business planning; this is outlined clearly between the performance agreement of that authority and the Minister so that he can make sure that they are kept in check. One other way this can be kept in check is that we know and it is identifiable, those people that have caused the inefficiencies of the Civil Aviation Authority. It is my fervent view and clarion call that those people should not be included in the new dispensation so that we do not multiply the deficiencies of department of D.C.A and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe now going to be the airport’s company and now going to have new appointments.
Assuming I am the general manager, this Bill seeks to propose that that person be appointment to mean director general. It is my thinking that within the 15 million people in Zimbabwe, we certainly have much more than the existing people that are there at the Civil Aviation Authority currently because we have seen their deficiencies. We now need to see some new blood out there so that the Ministers’ efforts can be complemented and augmented to make sure that his line of thinking speaks to and about that Zimbabwe is open for business. His vision is not deterred; this is why this performance agreement is also in place.
- Such measures which are necessary to protect the financial soundness of the Authority; this is my thinking that if the Minister is grappled with the financial soundness of the authority through that performance agreement with the other stakeholders and players but by the Civil Aviation Company and Authority. The left hand knows what the right hand is doing and the Minister is going to make sure that there are no square plugs in round holes.
- The principles to be followed at the end of a financial year in respect of any surplus in the accounts of the Authority;
- Any other matter relating to the performance of the Authority’s functions under this Act.
- The Minister in consultation with the Authority may in writing amend the performance agreement from time to time which means with the knowledge, unlike before of what is currently obtaining and existing in the authority.
- The Minister must publish the performance agreement in the
Gazette and any amendment thereto must be so published at least thirty
(30) days prior to that amendment coming into operation. Mr. Speaker Sir, I do not talk about this from a knowledge base, it is a proposal that can make sure it is used as a spring board for the enactment of that performance agreement.
- A copy of the performance agreement must be open to inspection by the public at the head office of the Authority during business hours.
- The Minister in consultation with the Authority must, before the finalisation of the performance agreement or amendment thereof, on any matter which may affect them, consult with the relevant stakeholders in the civil aviation industry.
Mr. Speaker Sir, currently there is maybe only one annual meeting that is known which is the ATCAS Annual General Meeting. It comes once and I have had the opportunity to attend it in two successive years during my tenure as the Chairperson of your Committee of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
However, it is my thinking that there should be enough collaboration and cohesion between the Minister and the Aviation stakeholders because the issue of aviation in Zimbabwe is much more than just the civil aviation authority of Zimbabwe. The Minister should have interaction with all other stakeholders because we have Charles Prince Airport, Buffalo Range Airport, Victoria Falls Airport and the Helipad in Victoria Fall that is being utilised by the small aircrafts which the Minister can only have interaction with only if he attends to those aviation players at various fora.
I dare repeat the issue of various fora not only to wait for interaction between civil aviation authority and his office.
- Failure by the Authority to comply with any provision of the performance agreement does not affect the validity or enforceability of any agreement entered into, or any right, obligation or liability, acquired or incurred by the Authority. I think that is self explanatory but the bottom line as to why I stand here is that I am quite passionate about the Aviation Industry. Pregnant with about 300 passengers who include maybe 250 legislators going to Victoria Falls for a PreBudget Seminar, if there are deficiencies in the Aviation Industry that aircraft within a minute of take off can come down. That aircraft before it touches down during approach because of inadequacies of the aviation sector, it can come down. Once it comes down unprocedurally, it can never go up again.
So, it means we need to secure the safety of our skies and make sure that the administration part and all the other Bills amended or not, need to be flawless such that the Minister is held up on any matters relating to the Aviation Industry. He does not react kutsvaga guyo mvura yanaya. This is my thinking and I urge the Minister to see reason in that amendment of Clause 19 of the performance agreement so that he is grappled with the issues that surround him and make him what he is. He is also an Aviation Minister as well as roads Minister and he should not ignore the one at the expense of the other. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am really impressed by the knowledge of Hon. Nduna on aviation and I want him to know that I take note of that information that he has given to the House. It is valuable information. I just want to remind Hon. Nduna that in Zimbabwe we do not legislate for administrative issues. So, everything that he is referring to, I am taking it on board but it is only about administrative issues which we cannot take on in Parliament and put an Act to enforce it.
Therefore, I regret to say that with all that knowledge that he has exposed to us, we still remain cognisant of the fact that what we think we have put down the amendments should stand. Therefore, I advise Hon. Nduna that as Parliament, we cannot administer for administrative issues, but I will definitely take note of what you are saying. As a Minister responsible when dealing with issues, you can always remind yourself about the important information that he is giving us.
I think there is no doubt that the colleagues know that Hon. Nduna is knowledgeable about aviation as a former air force man and a Controller. So, he is quite knowledgeable and that information that he is giving us cannot be ignored, but the fact remains that in Zimbabwe we do not legislate for administrative issues. We leave them to the administrators. I thank you Hon. Nduna for that exposé of knowledge. Please allow me to proceed with the Bill as it stands, because I cannot legislate for administrative matters.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand before you and seek the Minister’s indulgence. In my thinking it is rather colloquial. He tried under very difficult circumstances to ask Parliament not to have an amendment on the performance agreement in the same Bill that he seeks amendments. Again I am not a fundi on legal matters. I ask that the legal mind seeks and converge on this issue of the performance agreements.
It enhances his officials’ accountability and his knowledge on the said performance agreement. It is all about monitoring and evaluation so that we do not have a situation where the Minister only gets to know that there was no radar system or there was some financial misappropriation after it has occurred if it is there in the performance agreement, and it is embedded in the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill. He is going to be told by his officials ahead of time that somebody is playing some delinquent initiatives. I ask for the indulgence of the Minister to include this performance agreement.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I think Parliament has got the power but I am not coming here to try and push administration issues into the Bill. We have already agreed on some amendments. If these are said to be administrative and Parliament should not have put in those amendments, I then beg to differ. I ask that your Parliament and the Ministers’ legal advisors’ who I think on this one they got it wrong and the Clerk of Parliament converge so that we certainly have that performance agreement in the amendments.
I took time and I applied myself to this to make sure that it sees the light of day. I urge the Minister to see reason that he sees light of day in the amendments together with the other amendments that he has alluded to and that he has acceded to. Mr. Speaker Sir, as I have said any further than this, he is my uncle. He should serve the people of Zimbabwe in the Aviation and airspace of Zimbabwe by agreeing to some performance agreements.
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is also with a very heavy heart that I have to decline what Hon. Nduna is asking me to do. A Minister cannot administer the performance of employees. That is a corporate governance issue. So, it is already covered in the Corporate
Governance Act. So, definitely with a heavy heart, I plead with you Hon. Nduna to understand that there is separation between administrative and legislative issues and also that there is a big difference between what management and the board can do and the Minister can do. So, the Minister cannot do performance appraisals for employees. I beg and I can take off my jacket to beg with Hon. Nduna to understand that this is the difference that I beg you to understand. Thank you very much for understanding me. Thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, after his intervention and his input, I see reason in his intervention. I beg the Minister in this manner to say, seeing his input is pregnant with consistence in terms of aligning his department with the Corporate Governance Act, and I think there is an amendment which has been proposed that has gone before Cabinet and such like which is going to come before Parliament. I therefore ask
Mr. Speaker in Clause 19 that the adherence to that Corporate Governance Act in terms of administration of the performance agreement is adhered to. I think from what I hear the Minister saying on the sidelines, it is a given if it can be included under Clause 19 to read like that and make sure that we delete all the proposals that I have put and I propose that Minister’s input be inserted as one line to mean that: “The Corporate Governance Act and all its ethos and values be subject of interrogation when a performance agreement is put in place”.
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker a snake lying with its back is still a snake and Hon. Nduna is now trying to use the back door to get into the bedroom. I am still saying the same thing that there is a separation between what we are doing now as Parliament compared to issues of administration in which application of the Corporate Governance Act applies and in issues of administration, that is still there and recognised. Therefore that covers exactly what
Hon. Nduna is suggesting and really, for us to put the Corporate Governance Act as part of amendment 19 is just a matter of complicating issues, given that those issues are definitely separate. Administration and legislation are different issues and I am trying to reason with Hon. Nduna and not to disappoint him. He knows I am not a very difficult person but he has pushed me against the wall. It is not really feasible that we can include the Corporate Governance Act to be part of this amendment. It remains separate and it is already recognised as far as issues of performance that is his area of concern are concerned. They are really taken care of and I know he has taken a lot of time to talk about it as he feels very much indebted about it. Yet Mr. Speaker Sir with due respect, I beg to say the amendments should stand as agreed and as we have proposed. Therefore with all due respect, I cannot accept to include what Hon. Nduna has proposed.
Amendment to Clause 20 put and agreed to.
Clause 20, as amended, put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam Speaker. I move that Order of the Day, Number 5 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 6 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE
CONVERSION OF INSURANCE AND PENSION VALUES
FROM THE ZIMBABWE DOLLAR TO THE UNITED
STATES DOLLAR
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the conversion of Insurance and Pension
Values from the Zimbabwe dollar to the United States dollar.
Question again proposed.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to add my voice to this debate with a heavy heart, simply because people who were affected with this issue of the conversion to do with pensions, what they have earned throughout their lives and what they have planned, if you look at it you come to say to yourself that since we dollarized, these people are now being affected in a bad way where it will cost you more to actually go and collect your pension. When we are looking into this issue, I think it is prudent for us to take into concern that time can never be reversed. What has happened has happened but people need to be compensated because it becomes an unfinished story where a pension that would have taken care of an old person or a person who has really worked and put aside knowing that tomorrow you will be looked after, then all of a sudden when you dollarised, the insurances and pension funds, you find that they are now worth nothing.
I think it is important for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to also try and find a way of compensating the people who had these insurances. A lot of insurance companies are opening up and that is the quickest way to make money. Like the third party insurance for motor vehicles, it is a total waste of time; you are just having a third party insurance simply because the regulations say you must have one. Sometimes I wonder do we do things for the sake of fulfilling that the law says this or do we do things to protect our citizens? We look at all these insurances that are running; there are so many insurance companies that are coming up that are so dubious. When it comes to claims, to say that this person has actually put aside and now needs to be compensated, you will find problems.
Looking at this particular issue here, I think it is important that this House takes note that when we dollarised, things were not put into consideration to say that pensioners; people who had bought their pensions and paid religiously towards their pensions knowing that at the end of the day when you are old you become an expense to your family, your pension is there to take care of you. Now, what has happened is that the Central Bank now is deciding to convert those savings from the Bearer Cheque to the US dollar; from the Zimbabwe dollar to the US dollar that is there now, we have to be very careful because some of us and our parents have actually passed on with heavy hearts.
It is important because I think we come here to this august House and we do debt assumption Bills; we take accounts but when it comes to the people who really put us into this House they come second. I feel this issue needs to be looked at very closely, especially with the insurance companies taking into consideration the values of what people had thought would take care of them. Some are now even poor that they cannot hire lawyers to defend their rights and we are here to stand and defend them.
When I came to this august House, I was reminded that your power derives from the people and the people who are affected are the same people we go back to. If we do not do anything about this in terms of valuating what the pensions were worth then, this is going to haunt our great grandchildren and generations to come. So I find it very important Madam Speaker for Government to look into this issue and see how best they can have a winwin situation. It is not anybody’s fault that the country has dollarised. When you are a passenger in a bus or a car and the vehicle gets involved in an accident, the passenger should be a person who is innocent. A passenger is not the one who causes the accident but the driver is the one who causes that problem and the driver in this instance was the one who was running the finance at that time when we dollarised.
Madam Speaker, a lot of Members of Parliament are just making noise instead of listening to this very important issue. This issue is going to haunt each and everyone here. A lot of Members of Parliament wanted to come back to Parliament in order to get pension. If this is what is going to happen…
HON. DR. CHAPFIKA: On a point of order. The Bill which is being debated, I had discussed with the Hon. Minister of Finance and
Economic Development to defer debate to a future date because my
Committee which is looking into this Bill is still considering it. Yesterday we had a workshop with the Commission and we are scheduled to have another workshop within the next 14 days. So, for us to debate it before I submit my report to the House, I think it is inappropriate. So, I propose that the debate be deferred to a future date. Thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): Order, Hon.
Holder because of the points that Hon. Dr. Chapfika has raised, it is also important to consider the submissions of the Committee but I will allow you since you had started debating to finish your proposal then we can adjourn the debate.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Madam Speaker. I was actually wondering why Hon. Chapfika took so long to realise that this debate has to be deferred. I appreciate that you have allowed me to continue.
Madam Speaker, when we talk about pensions we talk about preparing for tomorrow. There is no difference between a person going to church and saying I am preparing for my after life, I am preparing to go to heaven. We will all get old someday. We can have 10 children or 20 children, but at the end of the day, we become extra and this is why we put a pension aside so that we will be able to look after ourselves until the last day we breathe on earth.
Madam Speaker, there is nothing so depressing as allowing insurance companies you have Old Mutual, First Life Insurance and many others, collect life insurances, life pensions and you find the pension cannot even buy a loaf of bread today, but at that time it was something which was valuable. So, we do not want generations to come and generations to follow in order for this not to be rectified. This issue here, these United States dollars, we need to make sure that Government finds and puts a system in place where nobody should feel that he was deprived of having his pension.
Madam Speaker, you are sitting in that Chair, today you are nice and young but in a few years time or in 20 or 30 years time you will be old and you will need that pension. So, it is important. Let us not look at us now, let us look at the future, let us look at those that were affected then, let us look at these companies that are just operating and making money, taking people’s money and promising them lies. We do not want a UB40 situation here promises and lies. We want to make sure that this country, when we say Zimbabwe is open for business, it must be open for business even for pensioners. I thank you Madam Speaker. THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that the
debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th May, 2018.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that we
revert to Order of the Day, Number 1 on the Order Paper.
Motion put and agreed to.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
ZANUPF CAUCUS MEETING
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I would like to advise all ZANUPF Members of Parliament to attend the Caucus that will be held tomorrow at ZANUPF Headquarters at 0900 a.m.
SECOND READING
INSOLVENCY BILL [H. B. 11, 2016]
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second
Reading of the Insolvency Bill [H.B. 11, 2016].
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. I just want to respond to the debate that occurred a month ago regarding the Insolvency Bill and I want to thank the Hon.
Members who contributed immensely to the debate and to the Portfolio Committee that did a wonderful job to ensure that our legislative programme is enhanced.
Madam Speaker, I just want to respond to some of the observations that were made by the Hon. Members, particularly Hon. Makunde. Hon. Makunde made the observation that the Bill is more easily understood by those with a legal background.
HON. HOLDER: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The point of order is on Privileges and Immunities. Is this Order Number 1 because I also wanted to debate the Insolvency Bill before he closes it?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: The Hon. Minister had started
responding to the Bill, so we cannot go back in terms of procedures.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I had indicated that in his contribution Hon. Makunde had made the observation that this is not a very easy Bill to understand and that it requires those with a medical background yet it is also a very important Bill that must be understood by ordinary workers in industry.
In addition the Hon. Member stated that in his view, we should come up with laws that when companies are being liquidated, workers should be paid first before any other debts are honoured. I wish to advise that the subject area of Insolvency Bill that I presented to this august House is not an often treaded path but indeed, highly technical field of law which even calls for a thorough application of mind by Hon.
Members. The same applies to the ordinary workers in industry whom Hon. Makunde referred to.
Secondly, it is also important to note that under the Insolvency Bill, employees are given preference above all other creditors of the debtor. This sentiment was also echoed by members of the public as contained in the Portfolio Committee’s report. As the Committee rightly noted, the Bill provides that payment of workers must be prioritised over other creditors.
Madam Speaker, Hon. Nduna also raised two issues. Firstly, that a company should not be liquidated simply because its liabilities outweigh its assets. Secondly, Hon. Nduna stated that there is need to look at the Companies Act, Section 306 which gives unfettered access and movement of the judiciary manager in terms of his mandate when he carries out his duties on a company which is being liquidated. The Committee recommended that acts of insolvency should be clearly specified in the Bill.
Madam Speaker, insolvency is in broad and generic terms, a phenomenon where a person, partnership, company or an entity in competitive business is unable to pay debts. In legal terms, a meticulous definition locates the essence of the concept of insolvency in a debtor’s ultimate inability to meet financial commitments when upon a balance of liabilities and assets, the former exceed the latter with the consequence that it is impossible for any of the liabilities to be discharged in full at the time of falling due. This definition however has been critiqued because even where a situation arises where a company’s assets ultimately exceed its liabilities but it is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, it will be held to be insolvent. Therefore, inability to pay debts is at most evidence of insolvency, albeit not conclusive in itself.
The Bill therefore seeks to codify into one coherent piece of legislation the insolvency laws of Zimbabwe; supplement judicial management mechanisms with other modern reorganisation processes so as to ensure timely payment of creditors; modernise the winding up provisions that were previously under the Company’s Act, provide for cross border insolvency resolutions as well as provide for the regulation of insolvency practitioners.
Madam Speaker, Hon. Chinotimba stated that Government should have legal aid lawyers who are liquidators so that liquidators are not paid at the expense of workers. This Bill deals with the structural issues that arise from the relationship between insolvency law, other laws, and the types of mechanisms available for resolving debtors’ financial difficulties, the institutional framework to support an effective insolvency regime.
Furthermore, the Bill will enhance our insolvency regime to achieve a balance between the need to address the debtors’ financial difficulty as quickly and efficiently as possible. The interest of various parties directly concerned with the financial difficulty that is mainly creditors and other stakeholders in the debtors business and public concerns stemming from impact on the employment and taxation.
With that, Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Members for their contribution and move that the Bill be read the second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave, forthwith.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I would like to announce that
there are lost and found keys here at the Speaker’s table. So, anyone who has lost their keys can come and approach the Chair.
COMMITTEE STAGE
INSOLVENCY BILL [H. B. 11, 2016]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 98 put and agreed to.
On Clause 99:
HON. D. SIBANDA: Mr. Chairman, what I want to debate is that sometimes companies will say they do not have the money and they are insolvent yet they have money. I was going to suggest that before they say we cannot, as a company it should also be brought to Parliament so that we agree and enough investigations done to say this company is insolvent and they cannot pay their debt.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Chairman. We cannot have a law that says when companies are being liquidated; all the disputes have to be brought to Parliament for resolution. It is not practical. These are independent companies. We have courts of law that have to deal with those issues and not
Parliament. So, I submit that the clause should stand as it is. Thank you.
Clause 99 put and agreed to.
Clauses 100 to 197 put and agreed to.
Schedules 1 to 5 put and agreed to. House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
INSOLVENCY BILL [H.B.11, 2016]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I
now move that the Bill be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the House
adjourned at TwentyFive Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 10th April, 2018
The Senate met at Halfpast Two o’clock p. m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
DEATH OF HON. SEN. CHIEF DASTER CHISUNGA
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): It is with deep profound sorrow that I have to inform the House of the untimely death of Hon. Sen. Chief Daster
Chisunga from Mashonaland Central Province on Thursday, 5th April 2018. I therefore invite all Hon. Senators to rise and observe a minute of silence in respect of the late Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga.
All Hon. Senators observed a minute of silence.
VISIT BY THE CDF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: To date one
hundred and eighty five Constituency Development Fund (CDF) payments have been processed. Consequently, the Constituency development fund management committee would be visiting your constituencies to monitor the progress of your projects. In order to facilitate this exercise, Hon. Members are requested to inform the secretariat of projects undertaken so far.
Let me also remind you that the Member of Parliament who is the Chairperson is the accounting officer of the funds allocated for his or her constituency and for purposes of accountability, must comply with the requirement of submission of returns as stipulated in the accounting officer’s manual. Please note that the submission of job cards is a requirement of the CDF Constitution and must be complied with regardless of the size of the project.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Mr. President, I move that Order of the Day, Number 1 in today’s Order Paper be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. NDHLOVU: Thank you Mr. president for affording me this opportunity to debate on this motion that was brought before this House by Hon. Sen. Khumalo which talks about development and our culture. I would start off by talking on culture. What I would like to say is that as Zimbabweans, we have different cultures from area to area. These cultures should be treated fairly. We should not look down upon other people’s cultures.
What I am mainly saying here is that, especial at work places especially under Government Department, you find that different languages are spoken. We have four languages that are being used and yet our Constitution talks of 16 languages that should be used here in Zimbabwe by all of us. What I have noticed is that there are four main languages used, that is English, Ndebele, Shona and the sign language. We should have people who speak those languages in all Government departments so that people who do not understand one language can be assisted. As leaders, we have to understand and speak other languages especially the sign language as we meet different people that we represent in Parliament. All of us are encouraged to learn sign language. We know that at different places there are some people who use sign language and as a Senator, I should also learn it so that I can be able to communicate with them.
Also, at work places Mr. President, there is a problem in that you can come across someone who does not speak your language and it is difficult for elderly people for example in Gwanda, they use Sesotho, Ndebele, Venda, Kalanga and Jahunda. In hospitals especially, if there is an elderly person who does not understand the language that is being spoken by the nurse in that area, it is a problem. So our request is that, wherever there are Government employees, there should be people who are able to speak all those different languages so that they can serve people in especially places like the Registrar General’s offices where people go to obtain birth certificates, in hospitals and schools. Like at the general registry offices, you will find that the person who issues out birth certificates cannot even write a Ndebele name and even the surname properly. It is just the same as when you find a Ndebele person who cannot speak the language that is spoken in that area, that person will not be able to write properly. So, we implore the Government to deploy people who are able to speak the local languages so that they can assist the young and the elderly but for some of us who are elderly, we are better off because we are able to communicate and at least even if you cannot speak that language, you can understand.
When it comes to schools Mr. President, especially at primary schools there is a big problem. I think that people have spoken about this problem where we are saying teachers who cannot speak the local languages should not be deployed there because it is important for a child to understand what the teacher is saying as this creates a problem for both the teacher and the pupil. So, those who speak local languages should help the young ones to speak their language and it will be better for those who are taking upper grades, at least they can communicate.
Now talking about what Hon. Khumalo spoke about which is devolution, it is written in the Constitution and the Zimbabwean people also supported devolution because they were looking at the problem that they face in their areas.
We have problems that we face as Members of Parliament as well but there are other things that cannot be rectified, but it is easy if a problem of that particular area is dealt with in that area. For example, I come from Gwanda and we have always spoken about projects that have not been completed. There is a bridge that is as big as this table and there are other roads like the Kezi and other places; those are projects that have been spoken about from 1980 up to now that they have not been completed. Looking at Matabeleland South, if Matabeleland South can use their own resources for those projects, it will be easy for Government to say what are you doing with your resources from that area but the problem is that the funds are being brought to Treasury. At times Treasury takes funds from this province to go and finish projects in other places. That is why all the provinces are complaining that their projects are not being completed but it is difficult to complete because we always get the answer that there are no funds.
So, if provinces are looking after their own funds, it would be better because the Government would always ask how they are utilising the funds from their area but now it is difficult because there is no one who can actually say where the funds are going to because people are being told that there are no funds.
Mr. President, I would like to thank you for the few words that I have spoken.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
41ST PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY
FORUM
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the 41st Plenary Assembly of the SADC – Parliamentary Forum, held in
Mahe, Seychelles, from 4th to 5th July, 2017.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Mr. President for the motion that was raised by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga on ICTs. ICT is very important for both the elderly and young children. If we use it in the negative sense and we end up harming certain individuals. If we look at WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, there is nothing constructive there. Mostly, people are exchanging words and using obscene language as they converse through social media. Some of these conversations affect a person’s dignity.
If a person posts on Twitter, the way people comment affects a person’s dignity, these platforms, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are good, but the abuse on these platforms can affect us, especially our children who are now using internet for research. They are not only doing research related to academic education but other issues that are not relevant. If you forget a laptop at home and if you open it the next morning, you will be shocked what the children will be surfing on the net. The researches they are doing are affecting them. You end up seeing your children behaving in unbecoming behavior and you tend to wonder where they will have got this or who influenced them. Some children end up engaging in drugs because they are getting that from Facebook. They also see pornography from Facebook and also have online friends on Facebook and this really pains me, I do not know what we can do about it. As adults we can control ourselves and see what we can surf on the net and choose what is relevant and what is not relevant. For children they engage in anything that they find on the net, they find husbands and girlfriends on Facebook and when they see some of the individuals when they eventually meet, it is embarrassing when they meet face to face with these Face book friends; I do not know what can be done about it.
How can we address the challenges and ensure that our children only use internet for academic research and ensure that they cannot access anything that has an age limit of 18 years? The no under 18 instructions will be there but kids will end up accessing the same information. How then can we protect our children from such pages that affect their dignity? You can google about Hon. Sen. Chimanikire on Facebook sharing the good things that she will have done in her constituency but when people respond, they have nothing good to say about it but all you see are negative comments. You just have to accept what would have been commented on your Facebook page. Facebook can increase one’s visibility and at the same time it can bring you down.
The media people do the same thing, when you do something good in the constituency they cover you but the moment you do anything negative, it overrides all the good that you have done in the constituency. I do not know if there is a way that we can address the challenges of this negative use of the social media be it Twitter, Face book or WhatsApp. The good thing about WhatsApp is that you can communicate with a person who has your conduct. A person can actually write a message to denigrate you on Facebook when you do not know that person.
I feel that ICT be extended to the rural areas especially in schools because when you go to the rural areas there is a challenge, some areas do not even have access to electricity and it makes ICT a challenge. My main plea is that we address the issue of cyber crime. Social media is good, it enables us to communicate with our relatives abroad but we also need to guard against the dangers. Thank you Hon. Sen. Mavhunga for bringing this motion that we need to be ICT literate. If you want to be educated, research, you can get all that from the internet but the challenges come with the negative effects of the internet. I thank you
Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you Mr. President. How
are you? I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I want to thank the movers of the motion in this Senate by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga, seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe. Most Hon. Senators have debated a lot on this motion. It is true ICT is the modern form of communication. It was encouraged that young children and adults in urban and rural areas should be computer literate in order to move with the times.
Mr. President, those who came up with the computer said ICT is good if you are able to use it for the development and for the good. If you use it for negative reasons, it does not appear good at all. I think ICT has both positives and negatives. You realise that as drivers are driving along the road they are involved in accidents because half the time they are on their phones communicating on Watsapp or goggling on the internet. I was hoping that those who developed these gadgets should ensure that when one is driving automatically the phone should switch off because one is driving.
There are vehicles that indicate that there is no road if there is no tarred road. Even when you are here in this august Senate, you will find others would be on the internet and watching movies and not listening to the debates. So, I think those who developed these gadgets did not indicate that there is a challenge that will affect you. It is not a physical disease but it is a disease whereby once you get into your car, the first thing you do is to look at your phone and that is the disease that they are talking about.
I was thinking that the researchers or the engineers who are working on this should have done the ground work in terms of making sure there is electricity in all areas and then do the capacity building for everyone. If you go to the rural areas, other shops are using ICT but if you want to buy anything from those shops the shop owner has to go 200 metres away or go up a mountain for him to access the network so that you can do your transaction.
I think what they should have done was to do ground work before encouraging the use of plastic money. I want to give an example of ZISCO STEEL where I was. Those from Dulys came, at one time, and advised us that if you want to build a garage, you need to do some planning. You must have a storeroom to provide spare parts just like a hospital, if you want to build a hospital, you also need to put a mortuary to ensure that when a person passes away, the body is stored in the mortuary and it takes planning to have such facilities. If it is just a hospital without a mortuary, the hospital is incomplete because they will face challenges in terms of storing dead bodies and that is the same with
ICT.
I think that they should engage in research to ensure that where it is not possible or where the systems are not in place, it should not be accessible. I heard that on the Internet or the television, children are busy surfing the net. They do not just surf on their own but we need an adult to guide them on how far to Google and surf the net. I am talking about the Government because some of the things that the Government is planning end up on the Internet and a lot of damage control is needed because the information will not yet be ready for public consumption.
I also have another example Mr. President. When we were growing up, automatic vehicles were very few. The vehicles were designed for people living with disabilities and if one bought an automatic vehicle, it attracted ridicule from people because you would be equated to someone living with disabilities. Now that has changed and the automatic vehicles are now in fashion. It is actually embarrassing now to own a manual vehicle and this is the same with ICT. Yes, we appreciate that it is a noble idea but I think that they should do more research and address the issue of the negatives of ICT. Those who will have abused the Internet should be brought to book.
Currently, if you abuse the Internet, there is no legislation that binds the State to arrest you. I want to thank Hon. Senators Mavhunga and Mugabe for this motion. My request is that engineers should continue to do more research on ICT. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MAKWARIMBA: Thank you Mr. President for
the opportunity that you have afforded me to debate on the motion that was tabled by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe.
Mr. President, you cannot keep a good man down, ICT is the way to go and there are no two ways about it. This is good for everyone. We are coming from a miserable background where if you needed to communicate with someone, if you were in Masvingo and the targeted person is in Harare, it would take five days before the letter reached him or her and by then, the news might be stale and for the recipient to respond, another five days was needed. It would take a good 10 days for communication to take place and ICT is the in thing.
The challenges that we face, Mr. President, is on how to utilise ICT. For example, in my constituency, there is a woman who nearly died. She was hospitalized after she had taken her child’s phone, scrolled through it and was shocked by what she saw. She was unaware that her child was misbehaving in such a fashion and it nearly cost her life. She was only saved and regained consciousness when she was taken to the hospital.
We ask that there be monitoring systems in place in as far as the use of ICT is concerned because what we are now seeing is out of this world. We have never experienced it in our lifetimes. Women’s genitals are now being exposed in the open yet this used to be sacred but has now become a daily routine to see women’s genitals on these mobile communication gadgets and even women are able to see it. Even the women are now seeing what they are not supposed to see, in the past they used to see it during the nights when they would be in their blankets.
We hope that the Hon. Minister will carry further research to ensure that certain information is censored. Children have now gone out of control due to ICT. We cannot bar ICT but it is our request that there be censorship of materials that are not good for the viewership of the people as well as the listenership of the people. Once we do that, our country will go forward. It is difficult for us to go backwards but we should only move forwards. With these few words, I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add a few words on the subject of ICT. I would want to thank Hon. Sen. Mavhunga as the mover of the motion and Hon. Sen. Mugabe as the seconder of such an important motion.
ICT is a good thing although it has its intended problems. As we speak, parents are queuing at the banks. They are not being told that there is no money but are told that the network is down. They are seated there because of ICT, patiently waiting whilst the network is down. Furthermore, ICT I would want to state in this august House that in Zimbabwe, I am not saying that we do not have murderers, but because of ICT we are taking things that are being posted on the phones and circulating on the groups. There are some people who are murdered and the murderers are being posted on the various groups. Such a gruesome murder occurred and people are able to see this because of ICT. This ICT is influencing some people to misbehave as they are being possessed by murderous spirits and they are getting them from the
Internet.
I also observed a child who was being forced to kneel down and the person was using a machete to behead this child. The murderer was masked and this is all being caused by ICT. Indeed ICT is good but it is causing problems in this country.
The previous speaker said that adequate research has to be done and in terms of the content that should be circulated. Things are now difficult in this country. We are able to know as quickly as possible of illness in the family but what our relatives and friends are copying is not good. It is bad.
One day, I saw a picture of our former President Mugabe who appeared very strong and young with puffed cheeks but he is not like that – this is because of ICT. He was dressed in army camouflage and there were words inserted which read ‘President Mnangagwa, here I come’. This is an example of ICT that has gone bad. I also saw a picture of Hon. Chamisa’s face with beard and the lower body was that of a baby wearing pampers. He was holding a packet of snacks or jiggies. That is not proper and should not be done. We need to correct this. We should know how far we should go with ICT. It has gone out of bounds. It is no longer acceptable and it is detrimental to our country. We urge researchers to do more in terms of ICT and this august House should agree on the extent to which we can use ICT.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I do not see
anyone wanting to debate on this motion. But I will debate when I will not be in this Chair. This debate is very interesting and people are just looking at the surface. If we bring the pictures and share them here, it will be very beneficial and it will serve as evidence just like in court. I have seen some pictures which I cannot even describe to a male person. I think that area has gone in a wrong direction – the abuse is too much. As we go ahead with this debate, Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and anyone else can share what really is happening so that Senate could be the first
Chamber to rise up and say aah no, enough is enough.
As Chiefs, we do not want to live in such a society whose social fabric has decayed to that level.
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the rights of the elderly as prescribed by Section 82 of the Constitution.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MAKORE: I thank you Mr. President. Before I address the motion, I would like to express my heartfelt condolence over the passing on of Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga. When a minute of silence was observed, I was not in the House. I was deeply touched by his death. Thank you Hon. President.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: May I take
this opportunity to inform Senators that Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga has been given the status of a liberation hero. This state is given regardless of whether you were out to fight in the bush or not or whether you were born after independence, you can still be declared a liberation hero. A liberation hero only means that even after independence, you are a person who has been fighting to advance the causes of the liberations struggle. He qualifies in that category, hence the declaration – liberation hero. He will be buried on Friday, 13th April 2018 with full honour of a hero.
*HON. SEN. MAKORE: Thank you Mr. President. I rise to support the motion by Hon. Sibanda which touches on the elderly and how best they can be looked after.
There is no running away from this issue of old age. When we were young, we used to be very handsome but when we look at ourselves in the mirror now, we now look old with wrinkles. Which means that time can never stand still. It means that the elderly are not able to look after themselves. In other jurisdictions, the elderly are looked after but the song of the day is the economy, the economy, the economy is not performing these days but if we look at the manner in which the elderly are living, they live in squalid conditions. The children that we have these days no longer know how to look at their own parents like we used to. Every time when you have a meal, you pause to think if I am satisfied with what I am eating, what have my parents eaten?
You are talking about the televisions and the love of the children of today is limited. They no longer perform the duties that are expected of them. They no longer do that. This problem has led to the elderly asking for alms on the streets and they even forget that they have already asked for alms from you and repeat the same process. You would wonder what should happen to such an old person. Maybe you will have failed to make it in life and as a result your livelihood becomes a serious challenge.
This is not a light matter Hon. President. Section 82 of the
Constitution says that the Government should assist, that is, if the Government has the funding. It means that Government has already abdicated or exempted itself from its duty. The crux of the matter is that this issue can only be determined when the economy has improved but if you look at such a problem Mr. President, we must look at it realistically.
In other countries, they use best practice as regards the issue of the elderly. The elderly are unlike the youth who can run around and make ends meet. Once one is now old, they are unable to run around and make ends meet. Others ask, this old man, does he not have a communal home? Why is he/she not going to their communal home or where is their child? I would want to say that this is an important motion. We must relook at it and see what can possibly be done to ensure that the image of our country improves in regard to the welfare of the elderly and see what exactly it is that we are capable of doing.
Furthermore, I would want to say that we once had a debate and Chief Charumbira contributed to the motion and said what we are talking; about child homes and social care homes is an English phenomenon. I agree with you. These are Eurocentric values but the manner in which we now live is now different. We can no longer run away from European culture. The children that are born in this country or the city, for them to stay in the communal home so that they till the land; they cannot because they have never practiced it. These children are unable to fend for themselves. They cannot herd, dip and vaccinate livestock, and ensure that they have sufficient pastures; they are unable to do that.
We are saying that we are now too much Eurocentric in terms of values that our children no longer know these things. People may look at the notion that the elderly should be looked after as too Eurocentric in value but it is important. Those that have been working and are now pensioners never thought they would lack anything. This is the option time which gives us a chance to relook and come up with practical answers and solutions to our practical problems with regards to our elderly people and the state of affairs that they are in. The elderly have been reduced to destitute status to an extent that they will look for food in dustbins.
Let us come up with practical issues. This august House, I would want to believe Mr. President, that we relook at this issue with a different lens so that we can put an end or alleviate their plight. With those few words, I thank you Mr. President.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Who is
going to change this? We are listening to this debate but who is going to come up with change? I heard that we are now modernized and too Eurocentric, yes, we cannot change that or beat it using a switch but I believe that is not the case. They are not going to till the land but we are saying why we have too many street kids or orphans or childheaded families is because of the family system that has broken down. It does not matter whether you are in the urban or communal areas, Borrowdale or Matshemhlope in Bulawayo, the old family way of life of family unity has been destroyed.
The Arabs have maintained it. They all have towns but they have not lost their culture, family system and values. It is still intact. I would not want to speak too much about it. There was a man from Algeria who we were attending school with at the University of Zimbabwe. If it was in his country and he sees you standing in the street with his sister, he would remark as follows; the first thing I will do is to pull out a pistol and point it at you and say tell me why. Unomudii?Kana uchida kuroora hauroore mustreet wakamira kudai. You take the proper steps.
Hazvigone kungonyengana for the sake of it. Hazviko. It is not there.
You cannot just fall in love for the sake of it.
I am talking about the family values that we have lost, whether urban or rural. You cannot go into the street because you have an uncle, nephew or nieces and an aunt who is living in Borrowdale and I said you should take the debate further.
*HON. SEN. MAKWARIMBA: Thank you Mr. President. I
thought I would say a few words on this motion on the issue or plight of the elderly. Mr. President, I am of the view that what has gone worse is that we have lost our African system. I would add the issue of the family unity but I believe it goes further than that and it also includes our African values and culture. You even look at the respect that is being given to the Chiefs, yourself included, and you no longer receive the due respect that you used to receive in the old days. The due respect that they used to receive in the past is no longer being shown to our fathers.
Before we think of someone else, as Government, let us think what we are doing about our African culture or heritage. The African system has been destroyed. We think that there should be a law that protects our African culture because that is where we are losing it as blacks. It is difficult for us because we once left Zimbabwe and went to South
Africa. I came through a very long queue in Beitbridge when I went to Mussina. I was grabbed by the hand by a police officer and shown the right queue because of my age. It is a different country and they respect the elderly. What are we saying and doing about it?
We can think about the elderly but what about the Chief that people pass without even showing recognition on the streets. We should think deeper and let us not just look at the issue of symptoms. Let us look at the causes. I believe that our culture has gone astray. We should realign and protect it because the speed at which we are moving in destroying our culture, we will end up with nothing. We are going to think of the cave in which to seek shelter after we have been drenched in rain.
Our African culture is the same irrespective of the language that you speak. A father is held in the same mode wherever you go; we have lost our culture and so we should retrace our footsteps. There was the father and the uncles and that system was intact. If you see them in their gatherings, they would never refer to an uncle as ‘my father’s young brother or my father’s elder brother’. We referred to those people in the African culture as fathers – let us go back to our culture and behave in line with the dictates of our African culture. I thank you.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: If the debate
should remain in this manner, we would spend the night here until tomorrow. It is okay for as long as we are debating good things such as these. The debate is now good.
I think we lost it that after independence, we did not come up with an institutional review, organisational and institutional diagnosis of what we were before independence and our vision after independence. We never relooked at the way we do things. The jury is still out on that issue. The offices that we have and the ministries that are there – the same offices that we have are the same offices since 1980. The practices are the same as from the district administrator. We just removed the white man from the office and replaced him with our black man running the office same time, same Cabinet, same keys, same files, same time of work and same ordination of chiefs; nothing has changed. We adopted the same things and that is the truth of the matter because the white man is the first one who killed the institution of traditional chiefs when he came and put in his new system.
After independence, we did not go back to give the chieftainship or traditional leadership its own values. The politician even when he now comes into the office, now enjoys the seats that the white man used to rule from and he says the chief should stay away.
For you Hon. Sen. Makore to hear that your father is now at the old people’s home and that they should be cleaned by people that you pay, it is not proper. This is what is happening and this is how bad money is – taking your own father or your parents to an old people’s home. Surely, why were you not taken to a babies’ home or an orphans’ home where you would spend the whole night crying and then they would put you in a foster home where you spend sleepless nights and now you repay them by sending them to old people’s home. These are things that are touching our souls. They are at the core of our own African tradition.
We do not understand some of the mannerisms that we are catching up on. I am against the issue of the old people’s homes and I am also against the issue of orphanages. I do not want to see them at all because this shows that we have failed and we have now become too sophisticated and eurocentric when we do not appreciate the European values.
+HON. SEN. S. NCUBE: Thank you, Hon. President. I think when you want to debate, you should not debate whilst seated in that
Chair, but you should come down and debate and not debate from there.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Sorry, I was
just taking advantage. I was going to say you have already debated and you should not debate again and now you have debated in an indirect manner but some of these rules need a good Chair, you can always manouvre. If it is a good Chair, you can always find a way and this is part of good chairing.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHIDUKU: I want to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. Concerning some of these issues, we avoid and fear talking about them because when people realise our ages and that we are traditional leaders, they consider us to be very backward. So, sometimes we just listen and watch to see where exactly you stand and also if you realise that our culture is being eroded. The moment we realise that you are now aware that our traditional values are being eroded, we then come in. Surely, for my father to be looked after by someone else is a modern system. We should not treat our fathers and mothers like this. Long ago, one would invite the vengeance of his dead father’s spirit.
If a mother came of age, what we knew was that the daughter would look after her and the son in law would stay with her to allow the daughter to look after her mother. If I am the father who is now old, I cannot leave my home to be looked after and nursed elsewhere because people come to my house to check on me in the mornings as to how I am feeling. Nowadays, we want our parents to be confined to old people’s homes. If we are to walk down the streets, all those we refer to as street kids were not created by God as street kids but we are the ones who have failed to look after our relatives. We have failed our relatives and we have failed in bringing up our children. A daughter can give birth wherever she is and as parents; we do not even bother to check where she went and where the child is or even to check where our children are working when they leave home to seek for job opportunities. Once they give birth, these girls find it difficult to return to their parents.
In our traditional system/culture, grand children used to grow up with their grandparents if their mothers were single parents and these girls would even eventually get married. Even the kids themselves would get married and the grandparents would enjoy the bride price since the mother was single. That is our tradition. Let us consider where our nation is going with this cultural decadence. One day we will all be embarrassed. As chiefs, we will only add what you will have omitted in your debates but otherwise, we are seized with the issues.
If one’s mother has come of age, has relocated from her home, and eventually dies in a foreign home, she comes back in the form of a corpse for burial. Her house may dilapidated without even a roof, that is when you see people putting a tent on top of the house for the funeral to take place and the burial being done the following day. Where exactly are we heading to?
This august House is for people who have come of age with wisdom. That is why the minimum age has been set at 40 years. We are here to build the nation and for those who read the Hansard, there should be a difference when they read what we debate in the Senate as they will realise that we debate real constructive issues. We are the owners of this land. Most people have left for the Diaspora but as chiefs, we will never abandon our country no matter how difficult the situation becomes. No matter how old I am, I will not leave my home. If I become incapacitated to perform my role as a chief, an advisor will be appointed and has the power of attorney to perform my duties. I will never be relocated to an old people’s home – what is the role of the family and relatives? We are not yet aged. Our ancestors used to have cow dung rubbed on their backs in their homes. Some people now do not want this; they say we are now living in a modern world. If you say it is now a modern world you are admitting that you no longer want to follow our tradition. We cannot change our skin or our culture because it is God given; we will remain like this till we die. Even by the time that Jesus will come as the Bible says, He must find us Africans not imitating the whites but value our tradition. If an elderly man is asked to pray at a funeral, it is surprising that he will use English. What surprises me is that they will just be black people at that funeral. As you will be speaking, we will just be listening. We have valid points but we will give you the floor and if we feel now we are in the same boat then we will participate. Thank you Mr. President.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Before I give
the floor to Hon. Sen. Chief Marozva, I was advised that there is no interpretation, the machines are not working. So, we have been advised that Hon. Senators should speak in English. So, I said it is not fair for the Hon. Sen. debating to use English. I had requested that you finish debating and I will make this announcement after the debating Senator. I could not stop the Hon. Senator because there is no interpretation. The Clerks at the Table having advised the Acting President that
the machines were now working.
I am advised that the machines are now working.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAROZVA: Thank you Mr. President for
the opportunity that you have given me to support the motion. It is an important motion and I want to support what has been said. I want to add a few issues that may be as a result of our laws that come into place.
Some of this legislation prevents children from respecting their parents.
There is a law that says that a child actually can get his father arrested. If the father is arrested, how then will he look after the child? If that child is capable of having his father arrested if he has come of age, do you think that child will be able to look after his father? The child cannot because he belittled his/her father when he/she was young. We now need to interrogate and see if this legislation originated from us in the first place or it came with the white man.
Our nation and culture has been destroyed. I remember when I was a young child; I used to move around with a bicycle, there are grids that separate roads. One man saw me with a bicycle and he knew that my father did not have a bicycle. If you ride on a bike when you get to the grid, you get off the bike so that the spokes do not break. I then proceeded to ride the bicycle on that grid without care. So, he stopped me and asked me if the bicycle belonged to my father. He knew that it was a borrowed bike. He clapped me but I could not go and report because I knew he is also a father and if I erred he would discipline me as a child. If you are a child and you understand our culture, you will know that anyone elderly is your father. These are the few words that I wanted to add.
We can talk about the chiefs but let us first address the issue of the legislation that you have put in place, that of arresting a father because he has beaten up his child for refusing to go to school. Just because a father has disciplined his child for coming home late; if it is a girl or boy child, that child can go and report his father. Let us address those issues here in this Senate. You are also belittling the traditional chiefs because those children will not respect the chiefs as no one will discipline those children any more. If a chief says anything, you will be on radio accused of violating people’s rights yet you will be educating them of their cultural rights.
In my constituency, there are old women who snatch young women’s husbands and they shamelessly call that young lady ‘maiguru’. This is totally unaccepted in our culture. If you say so, they say the chief no longer wants single women in his area so he must be arrested.
This is not our culture.
Those children who will be born out of those relationships will not respect their parents. With these few words, I want to thank you Mr.
President – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
*HON. SEN. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Mr. President. For us to be chosen to be in this Senate, it is because we have come of age and we know our past. Today, it seems like our culture is vanishing. I want to start by saying that from the time I got into Government, although our culture and traditional values had been destroyed, we should have stood up and said no to some of these legislations. We should have protested to say the legislation being put in place is not fair. This would have restored our traditional values.
When we came into power, we actually thought everything would be back to our traditional values. I remember I was a house maid in one of the white man’s house. We were looked down upon but those white people did not do away with their traditional values. I asked the white lady my boss that she said the two rooms should be plastered and even the kitchen. She was changing beds and wardrobes and she said to me Anna, my mother inlaw is coming; she does not want to sleep in a bedroom that someone else was using. She wants fresh air this is a white woman valuing her motherinlaw.
Again, the white men used to have periods where they would have their functions at scenery places. One would carry things from there and whatever they ate, the food was left there because I believe they were appeasing their ancestors that they would then feed on that.
When we look at the rivers in areas where we stay, there were sacred rivers where you were not allowed to wash napkins, where women were not allowed to bath because the mhondoro spirits would quench their thirst there. A song was sung near those rivers because that is where our mhondoro spirits used to hide would quench their thirst there. A song was sung and that is where our spirits used to hide and quench their thirst. When we came through and took over as the black people, all the rivers are no longer sacred. Where did we then put our own tradition as black people?
On the issues that were brought before the chiefs. Some of these cases were brought before the traditional chiefs such as divorce – it was handled by the chiefs. Today, the authority of the chiefs has been stripped and chiefs do not really have any authority to rule in our traditional sense. So I also blame the Government because the Government did not do anything to address the issue of restoring our culture. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): Mr. President, I move
that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE RESETTLEMENT AREAS FOR
ZWEHAMBA, MAHATSHE AND MATANKENI COMMUNITIES
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on the call on the Executive to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities from Zvehamba, Mahatshe and Matankeni.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): Mr. President, I move
that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on protection of consumers from corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MAWIRE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE WORLD
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the delegation to the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the report that was tabled in this House by Hon. Sen. Chief Mtshane relating to the World Parliamentary Forum on sustainable development that was discussed globally by a number of countries.
The report focused on the issue of poverty globally meaning that Zimbabwe was part of the discussions on poverty. Mr. President there was an issue that was discussed on violence in all the countries that were there. I want to applaud the new dispensation for managing to quell the issue of violence because the level of violence has been reduced. A few months ago, you would see people demonstrating in Zimbabwe but we realise that there is now peace in this nation. He also mentioned the issue of the importance of women and the girl child. I want to acknowledge that in Zimbabwe, we as Zimbabwe have moved a step further in ensuring that the girl child and women are recognised. We have not yet reached 50/50 but we request that you continue to look into
Mr. President, I also heard about the issue of health that should be accessible to everyone. When I looked into this, I realised when one is now healthy, there is no life. I want to acknowledge that in Zimbabwe, we are also beginning to see change. Even the First Lady is moving around with a programme on ensuring that people have access to cancer screening. So if we continue to look at the issue of education, our nation will become healthy and if there is violence and the population is not healthy, it actually leads to poverty. After looking at this again, I realised that the issue of health and food security was mentioned. We realise that as Zimbabwe, we are at an advantage and have done well because we adopted Command Agriculture. So in terms of food security, we are safe. Some of the issues that I realised were that if a country is not in good health and without food – that causes poverty.
Command Agriculture has alleviated poverty in Zimbabwe.
Mr. President, I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Mtshane who went and represented us at this global forum. We also want to urge the Government to continue sending delegations to such forums so that they can also adopt best practices so that we move with the times. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to add a few words.
HON. SEN. MUGABE: I also rise to second Hon Chief Mtshane on this report on the World Parliamentary Forum which was held in
Bali, Indonesia from the 67th September 2017.
It was indeed necessary for Zimbabwe to attend this forum among other 49 countries. The theme, “Achieving the 2030 Agenda through Inclusive Development was also very appropriate since the role of Parliament was indeed emphasised. This event facilitated the sharing of policy analysis, experience and best practices from country to country in order to deal with issues of development. It is the role and responsibility of Parliament to spearhead the 2030 agenda
On climate change that is SDG 13, this world forum emphasised involvement of parliamentarians to bring awareness on the threat of the change that happens through indiscriminate cutting of trees, industrial emissions causing global warming, wrong farming methods resulting in the change of weather patterns to extremes like cyclones, hurricanes and heat which we cannot afford to have. Research findings are that since 1980, the planet needs protection. It has experienced 50 fold increase in the number of places experiencing dangerous or extreme heat. A bigger increase is to come. Heatwaves have killed people in cities like Karachi and Calcutta and have become close to inhabitable. These extreme climates can cause poverty, a state of being extremely poor, destitute, penniless and facing hardships with no means of support and no food. No wonder Parliaments have been urged to work towards empowering the poor and the vulnerable.
Goal No. 1 in the 2030 agenda seeks to end poverty in all its forms, achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. However, you can only end poverty through productivity and this can only happen where climate is favourable hence the need to take urgent actions in order to combat climate change. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, the weather monitoring moves have geared up and Zimbabwe has committed itself to implementing all SDGs most importantly, SDG No. 2 on Agriculture,
Food Security and Nutrition in order to end hunger.
In the context of agenda 2030, it was useful for Zimbabwean Parliamentarians to familiarize themselves with these important issues so as to step up efforts with everybody and not leaving anyone behind. On ending violence and sustaining peace, Parliaments were urged to work closely with Government and all stakeholders in ensuring effective law enforcement to combat all forms of violence giving special attention to the needs of women, children and those in vulnerable situation.
I must thank the delegation and wish there could be more such forums so that we can learn a lot more. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NONESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the Circumstances Surrounding the NonEstablishment of Community Share
Ownership Trusts in Mudzi and Mutoko Districts.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU), the
Senate adjourned at Nine Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 11th April, 2018
The Senate met at Halfpast Two o’clock p. m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA Mr. President, I move that Order of the Day, Number 1 in today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 2 has been disposed of.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Thank you Mr. President. The motion by Hon. Sen. Khumalo assists us to go back to our Constitution that talks about devolution. It also assists and guides us in terms of coming up with a holistic development that is not selective. If we say we want development, we need to come up with development that is stable and holistic. We should also consider the fact that we come from different parts of the country but we are people who live as one nation. I say this Mr. President because in most cases, we talk of globalisation. We cannot talk of globalisation without first addressing the issues that concern us as citizens of Zimbabwe.
There are words that we often talk about like tribalism and regionalism, I think those words remind us that if we talk of sections or regions, it affects people’s way of life. If we look at what happened in
Rwanda and Burundi, it was an issue that other tribes saw themselves as superior to others which is what we always talk about that such ideas do not build the nation. In Rwanda, more than a million people died, they should have sat down and asked themselves if this was building the nation. When they eventually realised that this destroys the nation, they sat down and came up with a decision to develop their country and right now it is developing.
What leads to development is the issue of respect and the honour we bestore on each other. I know that if we go to Bulawayo, you can speak Shona and people can understand you but you will be in an area where Ndebele is most common. What it means is that the Ndebele learnt other languages such as Shona so that there is harmony. I think this motion should assist those from Mashonaland and Manicaland that we should also learn the languages that are spoken in other regions and areas so that when we meet; there is no one who needs interpretation. I know it is a challenge to learn a new language when one is an adult but my request is that we should learn some of these languages so that we are able to communicate and move with one voice.
What I like about this motion is that development should not be only reserved for infrastructural development but should be holistic and touch on all the aspects of life of an individual. Development that is talked about, whether it is economic, social and political, is development that means people understand what they are talking about; which means if it is done in Bulawayo, Harare or other areas, we will be speaking the same language. I stood up to say that this motion is very important. If we look at our Constitution on the issue of devolution, I think we need to start speaking in honesty not to say there are no funds for devolution. If we say that we have 16 languages and say that there is no money to translate the Constitution, no development will take place. If we are talking of translations, let us look for funds to ensure that all the 16 languages are catered for so that people communicate using their languages.
There is an issue that was mentioned on employment that if there are people who can do work in an area, it is better that they be employed there than to get people from another region. So Mr. President, I think we need to support this motion and I want to reiterate that devolution gives us a solution for our nation to develop. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate the motion that was brought by Hon. Khumalo. We want to thank her for such an important motion. This motion is important as what has been alluded to that is in the
Constitution that all the 16 languages including sign language should be given equal status. I have gone round the country and to be honest with you, it would be good if ZBC could capture all the cultures and languages; give them an opportunity to teach us their languages and also the various communities to see that there are certain programmes that are being talked about and they need to understand it. It is important for us as a people.
The issue of devolution is also important. I was actually surprised in Mbire when I saw a community there and personally, I had not heard about that community. The people there have six toe nails and that is their community. We do not know this community because we do not value some of the different cultures that we have. Mbire is between the Zambian border and Zimbabwe. So, I think that we need to value and respect the different languages that we have in Zimbabwe. That is why we sometimes have challenges that if we travel around the country, you will realise that because particular cultures were not given an opportunity, they are not as educated as others. They end up being educated by someone from another region and that causes cultural confusion. So, what we should do is to value them and accord them the same status according to the Constitution. That will give them an opportunity to be educated. Those who are educated can go back to their communities and educate their counterparts.
So, I really want to support this motion moved by Hon. Sen. Khumalo. If we carefully consider this issue without looking at what is more important, maybe others did not have an opportunity to go to school but the moment we implement our Constitution, on the need to value and give all cultures equal status, we will not have a problem as a
Zimbabwe. So, I really want to support this motion. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: I move that the debate be now adjourned.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 12th April, 2018.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE: I request that since the Minister has arrived, we go back to Order of the Day, Number 1 but I take note of the interest by Hon. Mashavakure and Hon. Mumvuri that once we proceed with the same debate, you will have an opportunity to debate.
COMMITTEE STAGE
CONSIDERATION OF AN ADVERSE REPORT BY THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE ON STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NO. 79 OF 2017, AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
AUTHORITY (COMMAND AGRICULTURE SCHEME FOR
DOMESTIC CROP, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES PRODUCTION)
REGULATIONS, 2017
First Order read: Committee to resume on an Adverse Report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee on Statutory Instrument No. 79 of
2017 – Agricultural Marketing Authority (Command Agriculture
Scheme for Domestic Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Production)
Regulations, 2017.
House in Committee.
THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
RESETTLEMENT (HON. RTD. AIR CHIEF MARSHALL P.
SHIRI): Mr. President Sir, reference is made to the matter which has just been highlighted. I wish to apologise for the late response which is due to the fact that I was out of the country on official business.
I shall proceed to address the two issues based in your report.
Statutory hypothec. The hypothec is common in most contracts and Statutory Instruments for example, the Forestry Commission Regulations and it is applied in this instance in order to secure Government’s interest on its investment given that Government would have extended a loan to the beneficiary who is expected to pay back the loan in light of the contract signed between the parties. The Statutory Instrument criminalises breach of contract. I wish to categorically state that Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Statutory Instrument herewith do not in any way criminalise the breach of contract nor do they seek to enforce compliance with the provisions of the contracts.
These clauses only criminalise the abuse and misappropriation of inputs by beneficiaries who seek to defraud the State and side market inputs instead of putting the inputs, to their required use. In essence, this
Statutory Instrument targets those individuals who enter into the Command Agriculture programme with the overarching intention of defrauding Government.
When a beneficiary is in breach of the contract, the State will invoke the clause for breach which is in the contract and this clause does not in any way criminalise breach. May I state that section 50(3), Agricultural Marketing Authority [Chapter 18:24] also provides that regulations such as the one in discussion should provide penalties for contraventions thereof. In line with these provisions and also realising that there was absolutely no criminal provision dealing with people who bluntly and remorselessly misappropriated inputs in broad daylight, the Ministry with the assistance of the Attorney General went on to make such criminal provisions. Accordingly, I wish to state that the adverse report on Statutory Instrument 79, 2017 is not in any way contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, and in effect it strengthens Government’s security against theft and misappropriation of inputs which would have been extended to beneficiaries. I thank you Mr. President.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Committee to resume: Thursday, 12th April 2018.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 41ST PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 41st Plenary Assembly of the SADCParliamentary Forum, held in
Mahe, Seychelles, from 4th to 15th July, 2017.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Mr. President Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 12th April, 2018.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHIDUKU: Thank you Mr. President for affording me the opportunity to add a few words to this motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe. This is a good motion the world is now a global village, we now have a different world view and everything is now easily communicable. Be that as it may, the country is easily coming to an end. You will see that we have destroyed the country; we prefer easier things such that when you find a sack full of money in your house would you ululate or you will run away and start wondering what would have gone wrong. If enlightenment and education have become so easy, there is a serious danger.
Most families are being destroyed as Chiefs are hearing when they preside over village courts. People are stumbling upon matters that lead to divorce on their cell phones. These days a married woman will have a photo taken and edited using I.T. technology to look as if she was next to a certain big man and the photos are sent to the husband that the two were hugging one another. Your wife will be unaware of it and for the husband to be convinced that this is just I.T. technology; it will take a lot of time. The same would apply to a woman, when you are at work people can doctor photos and they see me in a compromising position with a very beautiful woman and in most cases a stature better than my wife and it will be sent to her and my marriage will be ruined. I am saying so because others have already spoken about it and if it were possible, there should be limitations as to how ICT can be used, that is where the problem starts. Easy come, easy go because of this form of communication, our country is now being destroyed.
I was once shown a certain picture of a woman who was looking for employment as a housemaid and she was either scantily dressed or naked. It was being sent to a prospective male employer, shall we then ululate that we now have freedom and are now expressing ourselves? We forget that we are elderly persons and our children and their wives are divorcing one another. Until 2030 when we will still be using this technology, there will be nothing to talk about in the form of the country. It would have been thoroughly destroyed. We will be living like cattle. A bull does not have a single cow as its spouse. We should speak out against such practices or refuse to accept such practices.
ICT is good but we should not be having detrimental results as a result of ICT. Hence I gave the example of a bag full of money coming to the house because everyone wants it. Inasmuch as we may want to embrace ICT, I observed with those few words that no one has debated bringing in that dimension. Some of the things you said are vulgar and therefore I cannot utter them, but indeed, that is what is happening. This phone is dangerous. It is bad in that it carries a lot of bad things. Some of the things may not be spelt out. If my wife, myself and child each have a phone, even if we were not to show one another what we have seen, it is correct that all of us will have seen what the image is like. I had to give this issue or maybe you could have had posters put on the walls. I thank you, they are all looking at me.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: On a point of order Mr. President, I am not quite sure whether or not they are debating the motion that was presented by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga. I have been listening to Hon. Members debating, that is not what the motion is talking about, if we look at what the motion is calling for:
- prioritise installation of the fiber optic infrastructure in all rural areas;
- Roll out an ICT literacy programme targeting the middle aged and rural populace in order to overcome challenges and obstacles that hinder progress;
- Take appropriate measures to ensure internet services are easily accessible and affordable;
- Expedite the Cyber Crime Bill in order to protect citizens from online abuses.
Maybe that would be the small component that has been captured but in other words Mr. President, you may need to direct the House so that we debate the motion. If Hon. Members want to debate something else regarding what is happening because of ICT, it can be a different motion. I thank you.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank you –
[HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: On a point of order Mr.
President!] Point of order but let me first consider the first one.
You indeed have a valid point; the motion is much broader than the focus of the debate. All we are doing is to encourage Hon. Members to consider that it is (a); (b); (c) and (d) in their debates, but of course their debates are not quite offline because they are concentrating on (d). It appears (d), to them is of greater interest … to protect citizens from online abuses. Maybe the other issues will be raised but I do not know, so we should take it that you are reminding Hon. Members to consider other issues but it is permissible to pick just one aspect and concentrate on it. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – Thank you.
I had called on Hon. Sen. Bhebe. Infact it is fair that I mention that Hon. Sen. Bhebe, Hon. Sen. Bhobho would want to take the floor and then include whoever wants to take the floor. So it is Hon. Sen. Bhebe, Hon. Sen. Bhobho then we continue from there. Thank you – [HON. SEN. MOHADI: Hon. Sen. Chief Musarurwa had raised a point of order.] I think at this stage let us proceed with the debate. Unless there is need for another Point of Order but this has been explained, you may proceed Hon. Sen. Bhebe.
+HON. SEN. BHEBE: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add my voice on this ICT motion. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Mavhunga who tabled this motion and the seconder.
Mr. President, others have already spoken about ICT and what they think about it. I also want to add a few points to what has already been said by other Hon. Members, I just want to emphasize just a few points. When we look at ICT and what has been said. ICT is mainly in the cities, people in the cities have an advantage that they have access to it and can learn faster. We have schools in rural areas, if only the Government could concentrate in the rural areas and install ICT systems in schools.
When I looked around and made my own investigations in the schools, I discovered that there are funds that have to be paid. So it is difficult for the rural dwellers to do that because they do not have such infrastructure in schools. So if only Government could stress the point that children in rural areas should also have access to ICT. People in the rural areas should be made aware of that so that they can also get on board. There are some who attend colleges or Open universities, at times some of the lessons have to be done on the internet. Suppose you are a teacher who is working in the rural areas and also studying with the Open University, it is difficult for that teacher because it means they have to travel to Bulawayo to access the ICT facilities. So I would like to stress the point that ICT should be made available to all schools in rural areas especially for the benefit of the young and also the elderly who are interested in learning.
I understand that some Hon. Members are no longer debating on the motion but this thing goes hand in hand because this WhatsApp and other things are things that we were taught by ICT people on how to use ICT – that is why I say it goes hand in hand. I think that there should be a law that controls such things so that people do not send messages that are destructive to the country and bad for the children because at times people post very bad things on social media. We cannot stop talking about it because that is exactly what is happening. So that is what is happening. That is the burning issue that I wanted to add. I am saying that we should introduce this in the rural areas as well so that everyone has the benefit of learning and we all develop. It makes work easy for the Government and also for messages to be sent quickly. With these few words, I thank you.
*HON. SEN. BHOBHO: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add a few words to this motion that was moved by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe. It is a good motion. ICT has now spread all over the country and we encourage this motion because ICT has helped a lot of our children and even the elderly in adult literacy. We are grateful and we urge that there be continuity of this programme because it has assisted almost everyone in this country. People are now easily grasping concepts. School going children are now passing without difficulty because of ICT. As elderly people, we should encourage this motion. Our Government is doing quite well because even in the rural areas, we now have computers that enable children to understand technology and be able to use it fruitfully. Elderly people like ourselves are also being taught how to use ICT gadgets. In the past, we used to think that a lot of people cannot grasp concepts – contrary to that belief, a lot of us are now being taught and are now appreciating
ICT.
I would like to thank the mover and the seconder of this good motion and those that are capable of further propagating this concept of ICT should continue to do so, so that all of us are enlightened in that regard. This is useful to us as a country because if we leave this country, wherever we go, we will not have problems communicating with others because we will have learnt this ICT. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 12th April, 2018.
MOTION
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the rights of the elderly as prescribed by Section 82 of the Constitution.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: I would like to thank the mover of this motion on the elderly and the way that they are being treated in this country. We believe that our elderly people are not being properly looked after.
In certain countries, they receive certain sums of money despite the fact that they were once employed or not. The stipends that they receive will assist them to alleviate their suffering. In most cases, their siblings have died and they are left to take care of grandchildren. These grandmothers and grandfathers will have problems looking after the orphans.
You find very young children with an elderly person at home and she will be struggling to even draw water. They will not be having any food at home. It is not all of us who are working and will be entitled to pensions at the end of our working carrier. Furthermore, all the elderly did not have the chance to go to work. One cannot be entitled to a pension if they were not working. There are certain jobs that do not pay pensions to the elderly. It is up to the Government to take a step further and look after the elderly persons because some of the situations that we find the elderly people is very pathetic. You find a partially blind or blind old woman who is no longer capable of doing anything struggling to survive. Some have grandchildren but some did not have any children to give them grandchildren hence no one takes care of them.
The extended family unit has broken down. We no longer use it. I do not know whether it is a result of stinginess or what. In the past, ten people would live at one homestead and would look after the elderly. Grandchildren would go and draw water in containers for use. We have serious problems with daughtersinlaw who do not respect their mothersinlaw. You hear them saying that the helicopter has landed and is now taking diesel – they will be referring to their motherinlaw who will have arrived and would be having tea. This lady, daughterin law would have been married by my son and joined my family but now uses derogatory language referring to me as a helicopter. This is not proper.
This is a serious problem that we are facing as a country and Government should look into it. We know that Government has too many issues to deal with but some of the money is being misused and priorities are not being taken. We should remember our elderly persons because we were all born and at one stage we will become very old. The
Government should look after its vulnerable people such as the elderly.
If some of the elderly who do not have children are not taken care of, they get to the extent of begging on the street. I understand that there is a time when the elderly people fell victim of death or illness in certain areas. This is quite painful. I cannot unfathom what is going on in Zimbabwe. Some people go to the extent of assaulting ugly elderly women – this is happening in Zimbabwe. One day your mother or your relative is going to get old but you are also guilty of assaulting old elderly people.
In South Africa, they receive a form of stipend; the same applies to
those that would have given birth to children out of wedlock. Those with five children are receiving R$1 000.00 per month in South Africa for having given birth. We do not want to go that route because by so doing we will be spoiling our children.
Let us look after our own elderly persons. I have come across someone’s mother begging for bus fare but people did not pay heed to her. They would just go past her as if she does not exist. You find that there are those that crawl from the room to the toilet because there is no one to look after them, which is not pleasant. We expect the Government to look after such people. We are also growing old. To whom do we throw away these people to? Should we also be thrown away when we get older? We will be entitled to pensions but what about those that have been unfortunate and have never worked.
Some of the money that is misused by the Government through corruption, that money should be recouped and redirected towards looking after the elderly persons in Zimbabwe. With those few words, I would like to thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to debate this motion on the elderly which was moved by Hon. Sibanda. I am quite grateful because he had a good vision that we all grow up and those that are lucky not to fall ill become elderly that they would be unable to look after themselves.
The Hon. Member’s motion says Government should come up with an Act that ensures that the elderly persons are looked after properly. That is good because this is the right forum. It would have been better if sums could have been indicated that could be allocated to these elderly persons, say $50 per month that might prove to be useful so that it is included in this motion. Those of us who are working are facing problems in buying food although we use the same shops with those that are unemployed. Those that are still able bodied can go and do piecemeal jobs and be able to raise money to sustain them. What about the elderly people who are not capable of working anymore. Indeed, we should be looking into that and ensure that we come up with an Act to look after the elderly so that they are properly assisted in that their welfare is properly taken care of by the Government.
We are grateful of the new dispensation of the President, Hon. E.D Mnangagwa who is strenuously fighting against corruption. We believe that with this fight against corruption, the economy is going to recover. It is our wish that once that is done then the economy will recover and we are able to do as we envision. It is true that the Government can do something here and there – [HON. SENATORS: Inaudible
interjections.]
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order, please
let us have order.
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: The Government should come up
with laws that look after the elderly. We grew up a long time ago and never knew of an old people’s home. In my communal home in Dotito, we grew up knowing that we looked after our own elderly persons and they would die with their family members. It is a new phenomenon that families no longer look after the elderly persons. It is something that is quite painful.
I propose that there be awareness campaigns to inform people about hunhu, ubuntu or humanity and how they should be able to look after the elderly. When these elderly are put in old people’s homes because they do not have any grandsons or daughters to whom they can do their story telling, it will have ended. The family that is now devoid of a grandfather/mother is a loss to the family because the grandchildren will not benefit from folklore tales from the grandparent. It is important to keep our elderly persons in our own homesteads because they will be able to impart their skills and share their experiences with them.
I would want to thank the mover of this motion because he has widened our vision and said that we should not be selfish and think of ourselves now, forgetting that one day we ourselves will become very old. We should be teaching our children to love ourselves and in turn, we should demonstrate it by loving our elders so that when our turn comes, our own children will be able to treat us well. We should teach our children to love and this should be done by showing love to elderly parents. With those few words, I would want to thank you.
*HON. SEN. GOTO: Thank you Mr. President. I rise to say a few things about this motion that was raised by Hon. Sen. Sibanda and the seconder. This is a good motion which opens our minds. In every district or area, you find elderly people. There are some that are being looked after by their own families. I am touched by the fact that we should not start by coping what happens outside. We should first remove the logs in our eyes before we remove the sticks in our brothers eyes. Best practice yes, it is good but there are certain countries whose best practices do not conform to our traditional culture. We should maintain our own tradition and culture. The elderly in the olden days used to live a long time because they were looked after by their immediate family and the manner in which they used to live, was good. Most of us these days do not live long because we misbehave.
We may also clamour that our elderly should be properly looked after, but let us look at our socioeconomic aspect of the country. Our people used to live up to 150 years old. We should be able to look and see how this was achieved. Children should like fish, take to water because that is in their DNA. The Social Welfare Department is giving and the Government is doing well in that regard. If I were to get old, I would not want to be put in an old people’s home but we want those that go there to be assisted.
It is good that we have old people’s homes. We are in the Gender Committee and we went to the children’s homes where we noticed that they have problems. In fact, you would feel very much touched if you were to see the conditions in those homes, it is pathetic. The plight that they have is the same that the elderly people also come across. The elderly will just be dumped in an institution and the children go away. As people, we should also do something about them because the Government is not able to look after all the elderly people in this country.
The Government should consider what we are debating and what must be done. I am here to say that we should go back to our culture where the family unit was important. Families used to look after the elderly people. In fact, the elderly who are being looked after by their families are sitting pretty and are even much better than us. That is all I have to say Mr. President. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. SHIRI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate the motion that was brought by Hon. Sen. Sibanda. This issue of growing old is a very important issue because even in the Bible, it acknowledges those who have come of age and age comes with wisdom because it is a blessing from God. So, we need to look after our aged because of that. There is nothing as difficult as the fact that we develop things that we cannot use. When I look at the issue of the aged people, I think that they should be well looked after.
Firstly in this august House, we are enacting pieces of legislation.
We should see whether these pieces of legislation will protect them. When looking at the issue of infrastructure especially buildings, I realise that most of us become too relaxed thinking that we will remain able bodied and we forget that we will someday grow old. Even when building our houses, we put up double storied buildings where we have to go up the stairs forgetting that one day we will become aged and we will not be able to enjoy what we sweated for. We have witnessed a number of people dying in other small homes because they are unable to live in their homes. So, I think that we need to revisit our legislation to ensure that especially the buildings are accessible to everyone because the stairs that we are talking about become a hindrance to those who are aged. Also, when we are talking of public institutions, our homes, hospitals, supermarkets and so on, let us remember that old age is coming. I realise that most people think that since they are still ablebodied, they will remain like that.
As a nation, we also have good policies because even in the rural areas, we have food for work programmes. Those who are aged are given aid without having to work for it. As one is aging, they need to be given free handouts because they no longer have that energy to work for themselves and especially with aged, there are diseases that are associated with age such as diabetes and blood pressure. So, for those who are aged, the Government should ensure that they do not pay for medical services for such diseases in our hospitals because they can no longer be able to pay. Mostly, those who are aged 75 and so on, do not pay for consultation at health centres but have to pay for the medication.
There are also diseases like prostate cancer that come with age. For men from the age of 40, they are prone to prostate cancer. We need to come up with awareness programmes for people to be aware that such age groups and the aged come with a lot of challenges. You need help and assistance from other people because you end up depending on others to guide you through. So, it is something that we need to look at and ensure that pensions are made available as well as social security to protect the aged.
We realise that even at the banks, the aged are found in queues because they do not know their rights as senior citizens. Some of these ablebodied people just look at them without assisting yet those aged senior citizens will be suffering from different ailments. We should appreciate, understand and value that senior citizens are very important people in our society and remember that we will all become aged one day.
I also want to talk about the bills that we have to pay. I was thinking that when one has become aged, the water and electricity bills should be scrapped, especially for those who have come of age because they are unable to get money. Senior citizens should have a certain percentage that they pay. I think that will assist them. Even when it comes to licences for farms for people who are senior citizens, they should pay less. This is a positive discrimination that we are talking about because it enhances social security for the aged.
I also want to focus on the fact that the aged or senior citizens – those who are getting pensions, if only they could be assisted to ensure that they are able to access their pensions in areas where they live. For example, the programme that was held by the Social Welfare Department assisted the vulnerable groups who knew that on certain days they would go to those areas and would get assistance. Transport is an impediment to the aged – the buses and available modes of transport are not friendly at all and we need to alleviate this burden.
I once had a debate with my children. One of them said they had prepared to take me to the old people’s home and I said that when I die, my spirit will avenge. So, I realise that we need to teach our children that it is important to give love to their parents. I travelled with them to a certain old people’s home in Zvishavane at the Jairos Jiri Old People’s Home and they saw the aged and realised that these aged did not have any relatives. They saw the way they were living. They then realised that such people who have come of age need love because they also have wisdom. In this august House, we are taken as a House consisting of MPs with wisdom because we are above the ages of 40 and that wisdom is acknowledged. So, if we listen to those senior or aged people, we will learn a lot from them. So, let us not look down upon them but let us respect them as people through our ubuntu so that we know where we are coming from and where we are going. Old age is good but there is a proverb that says, you do get old and even if you bath you still get old. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the chance to debate on the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Sibanda on pensioners and the aged. I just want to add one or two words. I want to say that let us teach our children especially the girl child. I am going to talk about all of them later in the debate. Let us assist our children who are getting married. Westernisation has now reached appalling levels, they no longer have respect for the aged. It maybe that my child has gone to get married and the partner used to love his parents before but he will be told that your parents are evil. We are getting old to the extent that our skin becomes crinkled such that you cannot tell it is Hon. Sen.
Moeketsi but it is only the close relatives who will know it is Hon. Sen. Moeketsi. Because of that old age, I am termed a witch, so we need to teach our kids. Sometimes it is a boy child who has gone to marry from the Moeketsi family where Leya loves her parents and the family is well up. The boy will tell her that he loves her but thinks her parents are engaged in witchcraft. There are two issues there, let us assist each other as the Upper House because we have a challenge.
One child is bringing children to the rural areas where we have our traditional food such as mice and grasshoppers. That child will come and say ‘granny what is this?’, the mother will rush from the other end to come and take the plate and throw it away. The grandmother will have given her grandchildren with love, but this is all done because I am old and they think I am engaged in witchcraft.
Because I am now old, the daughterinlaw and the grand children no longer love me. So, some of these things require that we assist each other. Our children who are getting married need assistance. I want to come back and give you an example of my grand child who stays in
Bulawayo. This child is well educated and has been to the university. He went to Zambia with his parents and from Zambia the father passed on when he was in Zambia. The inheritance was shared whilst they were in Zambia. He decided to come to Zimbabwe to his grandfather. So he came back to Zimbabwe; when he returned he married his wife, a nurse at Parirenyatwa hospital.
This nephew of mine when inheritance was shared, the father was in the transport sector with buses and lorries. He was given four lorries and it was equally distributed amongst the three of them. There were three buses, so they each got a bus. He married his wife and the wife is the one that bought a house. He had his wealth and drivers who were driving the lorries. With time the inheritance from the father was a thing of the past. He then went back to stay with his wife. They stayed together and he started getting loans and incurred debts to try and get back into business. He was not able to pay back the loans and the house that was bought by the wife was taken by those he owed money.
He has a big family and as I speak he is in Bulawayo. The children went to South Africa and realised the mother’s house had been sold, so they took their mother on the pretext that they had looked for a job for their mother. So, the wife went to South Africa and the nephew remained behind. When he remained, I stayed with him for some time. He was a man, a father figure, and he came to Chegutu because it is a gold mining area. So, he wanted assistance and Mr. Moeketsi advised him to get in touch with those who were into gold mining.
Now this nephew of mine used to wake up in the morning and request for tea. He was not able to go and engage in artisanal mining for him to look after his family and up to today, he is being looked after in an old people’s home. The children were summoned by the Moeketsi’s and asked why they were keeping their father in an old people’s home. Their response was that, ‘we realised that if we were to buy a house, that house will be taken over by people he owed money and so we thought this is better’. Sometimes we are very lazy and to that extend, children end up not having any concern for us. With these few words, I have said what I wanted to say.
*HON. SEN. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr. President for allowing me to support the motion that was brought in this Senate by Hon. Sen. Sibanda on the aged. This is a very important motion but the most important issue Mr. President, is that we have lost our traditional and cultural values because long back we had our grandmothers. When we grew up, we were taught how to look after them, knowing their importance to us, but because of the modern standards that we have today, grandparents are facing challenges and if you look at the issue of early child marriages – they were nonexistent.
Long ago, people used to go and be taught before they got married but if children are sent to their grandparents during the holidays, they do not have time with them. We are not able to look after our elderly parents today. I was thinking that we need to enact legislation to ensure that we bring to book those who do not look after their parents. Yes, I know that the Government can look after our senior citizens or our elderly, but I still ask myself why it is that we are not looking after our parents. In the past, if one did not look after their parents, the spirit of the late parents would avenge for this ill treatment.
Mr. President, I want to give an example. During the Easter holiday I attended a church function and decided to check on what was happening. I was concerned when I got to one household where there was an elderly woman. The challenge is that when these people are aged, we take them and put them in a secluded hut, meaning that if we the adults have segregated the elderly woman to that hut, can the children love their grandparents or the grandparents love their grandchildren? We had a prayer session and the sad thing was that there were these big cars there over the holiday but the old woman requested for food and said that she was hungry. What concerns me is that you are well up but you fail to look after your parents. I do not know what we can do but I think we need punitive measures for people who fail to look after their parents.
What is making us neglect our parents? I encourage that we, in this House, should also go out as we talk to people, we should raise awareness on the importance of looking after one’s parents. We will also give the chiefs time to talk about our traditional and cultural values. Modernization has affected us and all we say is that the Government should provide social security but we have also failed and departed from our traditional and cultural values.
I want to thank Hon. Sen. B. Sibanda for the motion that he tabled. It is an important motion and I also thank you for the time that you have given me to add my voice to this debate. I thank you.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank you,
I am requesting for an apology because you once stood up and I overlooked you. So I know that I erred, others spoke earlier than you and yet they came after you. So I am requesting for an apology from you.
Hon. Sen. Machingaifa, I think you stood up to debate on this motion?
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you Mr. President, how
are you today? I stood up to add my voice that was tabled by Hon. Sen. B. Sibanda. This is a very pertinent motion that is detailed, protects values our traditional values.
This is not an easy matter but it is a very important issue that demands respect, love and respect for our traditional values. If we do not uphold our culture and traditional values, without love and respect for each other then it is a challenge. What is being debated on this issue is that we are not maturing in the same areas. Our grandchildren and us the grandparents, as we are if you look at us today, this august House is known as the Upper House, composed of people who have come of age and wisdom. Then we have the Lower House and the Lower House thinks this Senate is not even important because they are too traditional. The Government that we are requesting to provide social security when we have become old does not have ears, eyes or the budget to cater for the elderly. We are the ones, in this nation, from different tribes and cultures who should ensure that there is a fund that is created for the elderly to be catered for.
I was in the rural areas three days and I heard of what happened in Japan. A parent had a mentally challenged child, created a cage and kept the child in the cage. The child could neither sit nor stand, he only removed the child from the cage to eat and bath. So the legislation of the land brought the father to book and he was given a 12 year jail sentence. He was told that if he did not want that child then he should have taken the child to the relevant authorities that cater for such children. We are adopting some of these cultures that are foreign to us. I heard someone saying that we used to have relish served in one plate and the sadza in another. We would all sit round the plates and eat and that united us, but when the issue of the side plate came, a person can get his own food from the oven. We do not look for each other.
When it was meal time, everyone would go to the grandmother and we would all eat together. Now that is no longer the case. As men we used to have our own place where we would sit and talk. The girls would sit in the kitchens with their mothers. The boys used to sit with their uncles and fathers and get advice on life. If there was a funeral, people would not just bury the dead and leave but introductions would be conducted after the burial so that you would get to know each other as relatives. That is our culture and it is based on love, children would be taught that there is no babamunini but everyone is a father. White people are able to look after their elderly. They are the ones who initiated old people’s homes. There are companies that contributed monies towards social welfare to ensure that the workers will benefit after retiring in old people’s home.
At our age, I think we were the last generation that had the privilege of having fun with our grandparents. My grandchildren cannot spend time or play with me. For them to play with me, I will have told them to take my car. If I tell them not to touch my car, I am not their grandfather. Those are the challenges that we are facing. It is all about respect and love. This is a very difficult issue; it is like building a house. If you want to build a house, you need to dig a deep foundation so that the house will not collapse. Respect and love is what we need.
We have traditional leaders here. The Chiefs are the most important in this land. If we look back, the native commissioner would drive from Harare to Seke and he would spend days sleeping in a mud hut to see the Chief – that is respect. He respected the Chiefs but today the Chief is summoned by the DA to come to Karoi for a meeting. The DA will not go to see the traditional leader but he summons him. The question is where is the respect and where is the love? Respect and knowledge of how we can look after our elderly is a difficult matter. We want to give that duty to Government but we need to teach each other and raise awareness.
A person who is 70 years old should not stand in a queue in a bank or at hospital but this is not happening. I went to Harare Hospital one day and went straight to the reception; one young lady ran to me and asked me why I had done that without asking the people on the queue for permission to jump the queue. I told her that I needed to rush to work at Parliament and I was attended to by the doctor. We still have a lot to do.
The fact that we no longer have forums where we meet has destroyed the love that we once had. That has affected our relationships as families and we end up not knowing each other. We need to realise that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We need to educate each other as families. Other tribes have managed. If you go to their areas, you do not find old people on the streets. There are old people amongst the white folk but you never find them on the street. They look after each other because they have love and respect and it is within their culture but as Africans, we have lost it.
If we see religious groups, they are given a lot of money through offerings but you never hear them contributing towards the welfare of the old people. Instead, they contribute towards soccer teams. It is even rare for churches to go to old age homes to assist with social services that is cleaning the yard or roofing the home. You never hear of it. That is lack of love. If we have love we should know that we have our people with wisdom – the traditional chiefs, grandmothers and grandfathers. These people are important; there are certain things that we get from them that are not monetary gains.
This is a very important matter – we need to respect our elderly. For us to say that the Government should provide social security for the old people is difficult. Sometimes we force the Government. We forced the Government that children should get free education from grade one to seven. The result was shortage of books and pens. We also said that the Government should give free health services – yes, they build hospitals but there was no money for drugs. However, if we have love and respect one another, we can be united and work together. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I also want to add my voice to this very interesting debate which touches almost everyone in here. This is one of the surest things which happen to all of us – getting old. Some of us here are retiring very soon from this august House and we expect our pensions to be paid timeously and paid every time.
This is exactly what this motion is trying to address because we will also fall victims very soon. Those who have spoken before me have spoken about factual things which are outstanding and they are there for everyone to see. I just want to agree with the objective of this motion. By the way, let me thank the mover of this motion, Hon. Sen. Sibanda and the seconder. I want to agree with the objective of this motion which is to see that the elderly receive and enjoy better care and
attention than they are currently getting in all spheres of life. It cannot be better said than what the Hon. Sen. Machingaifa has just said.
Some of the things are happening in our midst and there is no curbing of the practice. He has talked about senior citizens not receiving their respect on queues. I agree with that one. We have seen it happening all over the community. I have also seen councilors in the rural areas where we come from not treating the elderly with the respect that they deserve in the allocation of food. Instead of them getting their food at home, they also queue and sometimes they are denied the food
that is there.
Let me give you an example of my area in Rushinga; some councilors have become corrupt. The elderly people are allocated food by the Social Welfare; after the frequent allocation has been delivered, the councilors say that the old people are getting food all the time and yet we have got younger people who are not disabled, they are strong and fit and have just married each other. Maybe the woman will have eloped. The councilors now take the food allocation for the elderly and give it to this young couple. They call it rotation. This young couple does not deserve that; a 36 year old male and 27 year old female, let them stay and look for their own food. We want to discourage that and I was not happy when I saw it happening because that is mistreating the elderly. Let the elderly get their share from the Social Welfare
Department monthly and efficiently.
This motion has given specific actions or measures to be taken in order to address the problem which Senator Sibanda has mentioned here. The first one was to say a ‘review and update legislation relating to the welfare and upkeep of the elderly’. This one was said and Senator Mavhunga spoke about it to say it is our duty as Parliament and we must make these laws compatible with what is there which we see fit so that the elderly are really catered for. We must take action and I would love to see the Ministers coming to comment about this debate. At the end of it all, we want to see what they say about our recommendations. That is in line and it is our duty as Parliament.
The other action which is mentioned is to ‘embark on training and reorientation of society on our traditional and ubuntu values in relation to the rights and privileges of the elderly’. True to that and Hon. Sen. Chimhini talked about it earlier on. We must go to the concept of extended families which we have abandoned as Africans and Hon. Sen. Machingaifa has also referred to it. One community which I appreciate though it is not of our own origin is the Indian community. They are very conservative and they maintain their culture and look after their elders. If you watch ZTV frequently, there is an Indian story called ‘Seize the Day’ and another one ‘India: a Love Story’. They teach us about how to look after our elders and keep our things together as a community. They do not look for help outside. They take care of their elders and everything they do; they do so as a community.
Another action which Hon. Sen. Sibanda proposed is to ‘compensate those elderly who had their retirement annuities and pensions ravaged by rabid inflation’. Yes, we have to revise our annual remunerations or monthly remuneration to cushion the elderly payout against the inflation which is going on or even if we can manage to raise that. We cannot say people are still earning $100 or maybe $100 is too much, $50 and they have to get on a bus to access that $50. It is all eaten up by travelling. So, we must look at it. Again, it goes to the law of compensation.
I have talked about the councillors. Therefore, we must really play our part as stakeholders to help Government in order to come up with a way to alleviate this. There is no use for people to go on pension and then they do not get their monthly salaries, some even die before they get them. Last time I asked Hon. Moyo about it to say, what are you doing about it, especially in the rural authorities, Bulawayo and Harare. People are suffering and yet they worked for this money. It is not fair.
Let us all put our heads together as stakeholders. Government is the Chief player but we also must do our part as indicated by the malpractice which we are doing here. It is not only the elderly but the disabled as well.
I think this motion brings to the fore the problems which are being faced by our senior citizens and it is our duty all of us here to really advance and support the motion, and urge Government to act promptly. I want to thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 12th April, 2018.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I notice that it
is now 1615 hours and it is encouraging that yesterday and today, we went almost the same time with the National Assembly. National Assembly should sit longer than us because they are more than us and mathematically, if half of them contribute and we also have the number of Senators contributing, they will spend four hours while we spend two hours because of their numbers. Yesterday we both debated and adjourned almost at the same time. What I have observed is that the types of motions on the floor also make people debate much longer and better. So, we have some motions where we have both sides of the political divide, debate in a sober manner and are supporting the motion. Those are good motions and when writing motions, avoid issues that are too politically partisan. Senate is composed of mature people who should be 41 years of age while the National Assembly requirement is 21 years old. So, there should be a difference even in the way we debate and craft our motions. They should show our maturity and wisdom, and I can see we are debating in an interesting manner which is very encouraging. Usually, we do not have business and it is the type of motions that we bring that creates business.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA seconded by HON. SEN. MUMVURI, the Senate adjourned at Eighteen Minutes past Four
o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 10th April, 2018
The Senate met at Halfpast Two o’clock p. m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
DEATH OF HON. SEN. CHIEF DASTER CHISUNGA
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): It is with deep profound sorrow that I have to inform the House of the untimely death of Hon. Sen. Chief Daster
Chisunga from Mashonaland Central Province on Thursday, 5th April 2018. I therefore invite all Hon. Senators to rise and observe a minute of silence in respect of the late Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga.
All Hon. Senators observed a minute of silence.
VISIT BY THE CDF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: To date one
hundred and eighty five Constituency Development Fund (CDF) payments have been processed. Consequently, the Constituency development fund management committee would be visiting your constituencies to monitor the progress of your projects. In order to facilitate this exercise, Hon. Members are requested to inform the secretariat of projects undertaken so far.
Let me also remind you that the Member of Parliament who is the Chairperson is the accounting officer of the funds allocated for his or her constituency and for purposes of accountability, must comply with the requirement of submission of returns as stipulated in the accounting officer’s manual. Please note that the submission of job cards is a requirement of the CDF Constitution and must be complied with regardless of the size of the project.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Mr. President, I move that Order of the Day, Number 1 in today’s Order Paper be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVOLUTION AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on cultural development as being key to economic development.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. NDHLOVU: Thank you Mr. president for affording me this opportunity to debate on this motion that was brought before this House by Hon. Sen. Khumalo which talks about development and our culture. I would start off by talking on culture. What I would like to say is that as Zimbabweans, we have different cultures from area to area. These cultures should be treated fairly. We should not look down upon other people’s cultures.
What I am mainly saying here is that, especial at work places especially under Government Department, you find that different languages are spoken. We have four languages that are being used and yet our Constitution talks of 16 languages that should be used here in Zimbabwe by all of us. What I have noticed is that there are four main languages used, that is English, Ndebele, Shona and the sign language. We should have people who speak those languages in all Government departments so that people who do not understand one language can be assisted. As leaders, we have to understand and speak other languages especially the sign language as we meet different people that we represent in Parliament. All of us are encouraged to learn sign language. We know that at different places there are some people who use sign language and as a Senator, I should also learn it so that I can be able to communicate with them.
Also, at work places Mr. President, there is a problem in that you can come across someone who does not speak your language and it is difficult for elderly people for example in Gwanda, they use Sesotho, Ndebele, Venda, Kalanga and Jahunda. In hospitals especially, if there is an elderly person who does not understand the language that is being spoken by the nurse in that area, it is a problem. So our request is that, wherever there are Government employees, there should be people who are able to speak all those different languages so that they can serve people in especially places like the Registrar General’s offices where people go to obtain birth certificates, in hospitals and schools. Like at the general registry offices, you will find that the person who issues out birth certificates cannot even write a Ndebele name and even the surname properly. It is just the same as when you find a Ndebele person who cannot speak the language that is spoken in that area, that person will not be able to write properly. So, we implore the Government to deploy people who are able to speak the local languages so that they can assist the young and the elderly but for some of us who are elderly, we are better off because we are able to communicate and at least even if you cannot speak that language, you can understand.
When it comes to schools Mr. President, especially at primary schools there is a big problem. I think that people have spoken about this problem where we are saying teachers who cannot speak the local languages should not be deployed there because it is important for a child to understand what the teacher is saying as this creates a problem for both the teacher and the pupil. So, those who speak local languages should help the young ones to speak their language and it will be better for those who are taking upper grades, at least they can communicate.
Now talking about what Hon. Khumalo spoke about which is devolution, it is written in the Constitution and the Zimbabwean people also supported devolution because they were looking at the problem that they face in their areas.
We have problems that we face as Members of Parliament as well but there are other things that cannot be rectified, but it is easy if a problem of that particular area is dealt with in that area. For example, I come from Gwanda and we have always spoken about projects that have not been completed. There is a bridge that is as big as this table and there are other roads like the Kezi and other places; those are projects that have been spoken about from 1980 up to now that they have not been completed. Looking at Matabeleland South, if Matabeleland South can use their own resources for those projects, it will be easy for Government to say what are you doing with your resources from that area but the problem is that the funds are being brought to Treasury. At times Treasury takes funds from this province to go and finish projects in other places. That is why all the provinces are complaining that their projects are not being completed but it is difficult to complete because we always get the answer that there are no funds.
So, if provinces are looking after their own funds, it would be better because the Government would always ask how they are utilising the funds from their area but now it is difficult because there is no one who can actually say where the funds are going to because people are being told that there are no funds.
Mr. President, I would like to thank you for the few words that I have spoken.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
41ST PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY
FORUM
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the 41st Plenary Assembly of the SADC – Parliamentary Forum, held in
Mahe, Seychelles, from 4th to 5th July, 2017.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
ICT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to address the ICT divide between rural, urban, young and old in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Mr. President for the motion that was raised by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga on ICTs. ICT is very important for both the elderly and young children. If we use it in the negative sense and we end up harming certain individuals. If we look at WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, there is nothing constructive there. Mostly, people are exchanging words and using obscene language as they converse through social media. Some of these conversations affect a person’s dignity.
If a person posts on Twitter, the way people comment affects a person’s dignity, these platforms, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are good, but the abuse on these platforms can affect us, especially our children who are now using internet for research. They are not only doing research related to academic education but other issues that are not relevant. If you forget a laptop at home and if you open it the next morning, you will be shocked what the children will be surfing on the net. The researches they are doing are affecting them. You end up seeing your children behaving in unbecoming behavior and you tend to wonder where they will have got this or who influenced them. Some children end up engaging in drugs because they are getting that from Facebook. They also see pornography from Facebook and also have online friends on Facebook and this really pains me, I do not know what we can do about it. As adults we can control ourselves and see what we can surf on the net and choose what is relevant and what is not relevant. For children they engage in anything that they find on the net, they find husbands and girlfriends on Facebook and when they see some of the individuals when they eventually meet, it is embarrassing when they meet face to face with these Face book friends; I do not know what can be done about it.
How can we address the challenges and ensure that our children only use internet for academic research and ensure that they cannot access anything that has an age limit of 18 years? The no under 18 instructions will be there but kids will end up accessing the same information. How then can we protect our children from such pages that affect their dignity? You can google about Hon. Sen. Chimanikire on Facebook sharing the good things that she will have done in her constituency but when people respond, they have nothing good to say about it but all you see are negative comments. You just have to accept what would have been commented on your Facebook page. Facebook can increase one’s visibility and at the same time it can bring you down.
The media people do the same thing, when you do something good in the constituency they cover you but the moment you do anything negative, it overrides all the good that you have done in the constituency. I do not know if there is a way that we can address the challenges of this negative use of the social media be it Twitter, Face book or WhatsApp. The good thing about WhatsApp is that you can communicate with a person who has your conduct. A person can actually write a message to denigrate you on Facebook when you do not know that person.
I feel that ICT be extended to the rural areas especially in schools because when you go to the rural areas there is a challenge, some areas do not even have access to electricity and it makes ICT a challenge. My main plea is that we address the issue of cyber crime. Social media is good, it enables us to communicate with our relatives abroad but we also need to guard against the dangers. Thank you Hon. Sen. Mavhunga for bringing this motion that we need to be ICT literate. If you want to be educated, research, you can get all that from the internet but the challenges come with the negative effects of the internet. I thank you
Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you Mr. President. How
are you? I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I want to thank the movers of the motion in this Senate by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga, seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe. Most Hon. Senators have debated a lot on this motion. It is true ICT is the modern form of communication. It was encouraged that young children and adults in urban and rural areas should be computer literate in order to move with the times.
Mr. President, those who came up with the computer said ICT is good if you are able to use it for the development and for the good. If you use it for negative reasons, it does not appear good at all. I think ICT has both positives and negatives. You realise that as drivers are driving along the road they are involved in accidents because half the time they are on their phones communicating on Watsapp or goggling on the internet. I was hoping that those who developed these gadgets should ensure that when one is driving automatically the phone should switch off because one is driving.
There are vehicles that indicate that there is no road if there is no tarred road. Even when you are here in this august Senate, you will find others would be on the internet and watching movies and not listening to the debates. So, I think those who developed these gadgets did not indicate that there is a challenge that will affect you. It is not a physical disease but it is a disease whereby once you get into your car, the first thing you do is to look at your phone and that is the disease that they are talking about.
I was thinking that the researchers or the engineers who are working on this should have done the ground work in terms of making sure there is electricity in all areas and then do the capacity building for everyone. If you go to the rural areas, other shops are using ICT but if you want to buy anything from those shops the shop owner has to go 200 metres away or go up a mountain for him to access the network so that you can do your transaction.
I think what they should have done was to do ground work before encouraging the use of plastic money. I want to give an example of ZISCO STEEL where I was. Those from Dulys came, at one time, and advised us that if you want to build a garage, you need to do some planning. You must have a storeroom to provide spare parts just like a hospital, if you want to build a hospital, you also need to put a mortuary to ensure that when a person passes away, the body is stored in the mortuary and it takes planning to have such facilities. If it is just a hospital without a mortuary, the hospital is incomplete because they will face challenges in terms of storing dead bodies and that is the same with
ICT.
I think that they should engage in research to ensure that where it is not possible or where the systems are not in place, it should not be accessible. I heard that on the Internet or the television, children are busy surfing the net. They do not just surf on their own but we need an adult to guide them on how far to Google and surf the net. I am talking about the Government because some of the things that the Government is planning end up on the Internet and a lot of damage control is needed because the information will not yet be ready for public consumption.
I also have another example Mr. President. When we were growing up, automatic vehicles were very few. The vehicles were designed for people living with disabilities and if one bought an automatic vehicle, it attracted ridicule from people because you would be equated to someone living with disabilities. Now that has changed and the automatic vehicles are now in fashion. It is actually embarrassing now to own a manual vehicle and this is the same with ICT. Yes, we appreciate that it is a noble idea but I think that they should do more research and address the issue of the negatives of ICT. Those who will have abused the Internet should be brought to book.
Currently, if you abuse the Internet, there is no legislation that binds the State to arrest you. I want to thank Hon. Senators Mavhunga and Mugabe for this motion. My request is that engineers should continue to do more research on ICT. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MAKWARIMBA: Thank you Mr. President for
the opportunity that you have afforded me to debate on the motion that was tabled by Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mugabe.
Mr. President, you cannot keep a good man down, ICT is the way to go and there are no two ways about it. This is good for everyone. We are coming from a miserable background where if you needed to communicate with someone, if you were in Masvingo and the targeted person is in Harare, it would take five days before the letter reached him or her and by then, the news might be stale and for the recipient to respond, another five days was needed. It would take a good 10 days for communication to take place and ICT is the in thing.
The challenges that we face, Mr. President, is on how to utilise ICT. For example, in my constituency, there is a woman who nearly died. She was hospitalized after she had taken her child’s phone, scrolled through it and was shocked by what she saw. She was unaware that her child was misbehaving in such a fashion and it nearly cost her life. She was only saved and regained consciousness when she was taken to the hospital.
We ask that there be monitoring systems in place in as far as the use of ICT is concerned because what we are now seeing is out of this world. We have never experienced it in our lifetimes. Women’s genitals are now being exposed in the open yet this used to be sacred but has now become a daily routine to see women’s genitals on these mobile communication gadgets and even women are able to see it. Even the women are now seeing what they are not supposed to see, in the past they used to see it during the nights when they would be in their blankets.
We hope that the Hon. Minister will carry further research to ensure that certain information is censored. Children have now gone out of control due to ICT. We cannot bar ICT but it is our request that there be censorship of materials that are not good for the viewership of the people as well as the listenership of the people. Once we do that, our country will go forward. It is difficult for us to go backwards but we should only move forwards. With these few words, I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MOEKETSI: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add a few words on the subject of ICT. I would want to thank Hon. Sen. Mavhunga as the mover of the motion and Hon. Sen. Mugabe as the seconder of such an important motion.
ICT is a good thing although it has its intended problems. As we speak, parents are queuing at the banks. They are not being told that there is no money but are told that the network is down. They are seated there because of ICT, patiently waiting whilst the network is down. Furthermore, ICT I would want to state in this august House that in Zimbabwe, I am not saying that we do not have murderers, but because of ICT we are taking things that are being posted on the phones and circulating on the groups. There are some people who are murdered and the murderers are being posted on the various groups. Such a gruesome murder occurred and people are able to see this because of ICT. This ICT is influencing some people to misbehave as they are being possessed by murderous spirits and they are getting them from the
Internet.
I also observed a child who was being forced to kneel down and the person was using a machete to behead this child. The murderer was masked and this is all being caused by ICT. Indeed ICT is good but it is causing problems in this country.
The previous speaker said that adequate research has to be done and in terms of the content that should be circulated. Things are now difficult in this country. We are able to know as quickly as possible of illness in the family but what our relatives and friends are copying is not good. It is bad.
One day, I saw a picture of our former President Mugabe who appeared very strong and young with puffed cheeks but he is not like that – this is because of ICT. He was dressed in army camouflage and there were words inserted which read ‘President Mnangagwa, here I come’. This is an example of ICT that has gone bad. I also saw a picture of Hon. Chamisa’s face with beard and the lower body was that of a baby wearing pampers. He was holding a packet of snacks or jiggies. That is not proper and should not be done. We need to correct this. We should know how far we should go with ICT. It has gone out of bounds. It is no longer acceptable and it is detrimental to our country. We urge researchers to do more in terms of ICT and this august House should agree on the extent to which we can use ICT.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I do not see
anyone wanting to debate on this motion. But I will debate when I will not be in this Chair. This debate is very interesting and people are just looking at the surface. If we bring the pictures and share them here, it will be very beneficial and it will serve as evidence just like in court. I have seen some pictures which I cannot even describe to a male person. I think that area has gone in a wrong direction – the abuse is too much. As we go ahead with this debate, Hon. Sen. Mavhunga and anyone else can share what really is happening so that Senate could be the first
Chamber to rise up and say aah no, enough is enough.
As Chiefs, we do not want to live in such a society whose social fabric has decayed to that level.
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the rights of the elderly as prescribed by Section 82 of the Constitution.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MAKORE: I thank you Mr. President. Before I address the motion, I would like to express my heartfelt condolence over the passing on of Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga. When a minute of silence was observed, I was not in the House. I was deeply touched by his death. Thank you Hon. President.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: May I take
this opportunity to inform Senators that Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga has been given the status of a liberation hero. This state is given regardless of whether you were out to fight in the bush or not or whether you were born after independence, you can still be declared a liberation hero. A liberation hero only means that even after independence, you are a person who has been fighting to advance the causes of the liberations struggle. He qualifies in that category, hence the declaration – liberation hero. He will be buried on Friday, 13th April 2018 with full honour of a hero.
*HON. SEN. MAKORE: Thank you Mr. President. I rise to support the motion by Hon. Sibanda which touches on the elderly and how best they can be looked after.
There is no running away from this issue of old age. When we were young, we used to be very handsome but when we look at ourselves in the mirror now, we now look old with wrinkles. Which means that time can never stand still. It means that the elderly are not able to look after themselves. In other jurisdictions, the elderly are looked after but the song of the day is the economy, the economy, the economy is not performing these days but if we look at the manner in which the elderly are living, they live in squalid conditions. The children that we have these days no longer know how to look at their own parents like we used to. Every time when you have a meal, you pause to think if I am satisfied with what I am eating, what have my parents eaten?
You are talking about the televisions and the love of the children of today is limited. They no longer perform the duties that are expected of them. They no longer do that. This problem has led to the elderly asking for alms on the streets and they even forget that they have already asked for alms from you and repeat the same process. You would wonder what should happen to such an old person. Maybe you will have failed to make it in life and as a result your livelihood becomes a serious challenge.
This is not a light matter Hon. President. Section 82 of the
Constitution says that the Government should assist, that is, if the Government has the funding. It means that Government has already abdicated or exempted itself from its duty. The crux of the matter is that this issue can only be determined when the economy has improved but if you look at such a problem Mr. President, we must look at it realistically.
In other countries, they use best practice as regards the issue of the elderly. The elderly are unlike the youth who can run around and make ends meet. Once one is now old, they are unable to run around and make ends meet. Others ask, this old man, does he not have a communal home? Why is he/she not going to their communal home or where is their child? I would want to say that this is an important motion. We must relook at it and see what can possibly be done to ensure that the image of our country improves in regard to the welfare of the elderly and see what exactly it is that we are capable of doing.
Furthermore, I would want to say that we once had a debate and Chief Charumbira contributed to the motion and said what we are talking; about child homes and social care homes is an English phenomenon. I agree with you. These are Eurocentric values but the manner in which we now live is now different. We can no longer run away from European culture. The children that are born in this country or the city, for them to stay in the communal home so that they till the land; they cannot because they have never practiced it. These children are unable to fend for themselves. They cannot herd, dip and vaccinate livestock, and ensure that they have sufficient pastures; they are unable to do that.
We are saying that we are now too much Eurocentric in terms of values that our children no longer know these things. People may look at the notion that the elderly should be looked after as too Eurocentric in value but it is important. Those that have been working and are now pensioners never thought they would lack anything. This is the option time which gives us a chance to relook and come up with practical answers and solutions to our practical problems with regards to our elderly people and the state of affairs that they are in. The elderly have been reduced to destitute status to an extent that they will look for food in dustbins.
Let us come up with practical issues. This august House, I would want to believe Mr. President, that we relook at this issue with a different lens so that we can put an end or alleviate their plight. With those few words, I thank you Mr. President.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Who is
going to change this? We are listening to this debate but who is going to come up with change? I heard that we are now modernized and too Eurocentric, yes, we cannot change that or beat it using a switch but I believe that is not the case. They are not going to till the land but we are saying why we have too many street kids or orphans or childheaded families is because of the family system that has broken down. It does not matter whether you are in the urban or communal areas, Borrowdale or Matshemhlope in Bulawayo, the old family way of life of family unity has been destroyed.
The Arabs have maintained it. They all have towns but they have not lost their culture, family system and values. It is still intact. I would not want to speak too much about it. There was a man from Algeria who we were attending school with at the University of Zimbabwe. If it was in his country and he sees you standing in the street with his sister, he would remark as follows; the first thing I will do is to pull out a pistol and point it at you and say tell me why. Unomudii?Kana uchida kuroora hauroore mustreet wakamira kudai. You take the proper steps.
Hazvigone kungonyengana for the sake of it. Hazviko. It is not there.
You cannot just fall in love for the sake of it.
I am talking about the family values that we have lost, whether urban or rural. You cannot go into the street because you have an uncle, nephew or nieces and an aunt who is living in Borrowdale and I said you should take the debate further.
*HON. SEN. MAKWARIMBA: Thank you Mr. President. I
thought I would say a few words on this motion on the issue or plight of the elderly. Mr. President, I am of the view that what has gone worse is that we have lost our African system. I would add the issue of the family unity but I believe it goes further than that and it also includes our African values and culture. You even look at the respect that is being given to the Chiefs, yourself included, and you no longer receive the due respect that you used to receive in the old days. The due respect that they used to receive in the past is no longer being shown to our fathers.
Before we think of someone else, as Government, let us think what we are doing about our African culture or heritage. The African system has been destroyed. We think that there should be a law that protects our African culture because that is where we are losing it as blacks. It is difficult for us because we once left Zimbabwe and went to South
Africa. I came through a very long queue in Beitbridge when I went to Mussina. I was grabbed by the hand by a police officer and shown the right queue because of my age. It is a different country and they respect the elderly. What are we saying and doing about it?
We can think about the elderly but what about the Chief that people pass without even showing recognition on the streets. We should think deeper and let us not just look at the issue of symptoms. Let us look at the causes. I believe that our culture has gone astray. We should realign and protect it because the speed at which we are moving in destroying our culture, we will end up with nothing. We are going to think of the cave in which to seek shelter after we have been drenched in rain.
Our African culture is the same irrespective of the language that you speak. A father is held in the same mode wherever you go; we have lost our culture and so we should retrace our footsteps. There was the father and the uncles and that system was intact. If you see them in their gatherings, they would never refer to an uncle as ‘my father’s young brother or my father’s elder brother’. We referred to those people in the African culture as fathers – let us go back to our culture and behave in line with the dictates of our African culture. I thank you.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: If the debate
should remain in this manner, we would spend the night here until tomorrow. It is okay for as long as we are debating good things such as these. The debate is now good.
I think we lost it that after independence, we did not come up with an institutional review, organisational and institutional diagnosis of what we were before independence and our vision after independence. We never relooked at the way we do things. The jury is still out on that issue. The offices that we have and the ministries that are there – the same offices that we have are the same offices since 1980. The practices are the same as from the district administrator. We just removed the white man from the office and replaced him with our black man running the office same time, same Cabinet, same keys, same files, same time of work and same ordination of chiefs; nothing has changed. We adopted the same things and that is the truth of the matter because the white man is the first one who killed the institution of traditional chiefs when he came and put in his new system.
After independence, we did not go back to give the chieftainship or traditional leadership its own values. The politician even when he now comes into the office, now enjoys the seats that the white man used to rule from and he says the chief should stay away.
For you Hon. Sen. Makore to hear that your father is now at the old people’s home and that they should be cleaned by people that you pay, it is not proper. This is what is happening and this is how bad money is – taking your own father or your parents to an old people’s home. Surely, why were you not taken to a babies’ home or an orphans’ home where you would spend the whole night crying and then they would put you in a foster home where you spend sleepless nights and now you repay them by sending them to old people’s home. These are things that are touching our souls. They are at the core of our own African tradition.
We do not understand some of the mannerisms that we are catching up on. I am against the issue of the old people’s homes and I am also against the issue of orphanages. I do not want to see them at all because this shows that we have failed and we have now become too sophisticated and eurocentric when we do not appreciate the European values.
+HON. SEN. S. NCUBE: Thank you, Hon. President. I think when you want to debate, you should not debate whilst seated in that
Chair, but you should come down and debate and not debate from there.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Sorry, I was
just taking advantage. I was going to say you have already debated and you should not debate again and now you have debated in an indirect manner but some of these rules need a good Chair, you can always manouvre. If it is a good Chair, you can always find a way and this is part of good chairing.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHIDUKU: I want to thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity. Concerning some of these issues, we avoid and fear talking about them because when people realise our ages and that we are traditional leaders, they consider us to be very backward. So, sometimes we just listen and watch to see where exactly you stand and also if you realise that our culture is being eroded. The moment we realise that you are now aware that our traditional values are being eroded, we then come in. Surely, for my father to be looked after by someone else is a modern system. We should not treat our fathers and mothers like this. Long ago, one would invite the vengeance of his dead father’s spirit.
If a mother came of age, what we knew was that the daughter would look after her and the son in law would stay with her to allow the daughter to look after her mother. If I am the father who is now old, I cannot leave my home to be looked after and nursed elsewhere because people come to my house to check on me in the mornings as to how I am feeling. Nowadays, we want our parents to be confined to old people’s homes. If we are to walk down the streets, all those we refer to as street kids were not created by God as street kids but we are the ones who have failed to look after our relatives. We have failed our relatives and we have failed in bringing up our children. A daughter can give birth wherever she is and as parents; we do not even bother to check where she went and where the child is or even to check where our children are working when they leave home to seek for job opportunities. Once they give birth, these girls find it difficult to return to their parents.
In our traditional system/culture, grand children used to grow up with their grandparents if their mothers were single parents and these girls would even eventually get married. Even the kids themselves would get married and the grandparents would enjoy the bride price since the mother was single. That is our tradition. Let us consider where our nation is going with this cultural decadence. One day we will all be embarrassed. As chiefs, we will only add what you will have omitted in your debates but otherwise, we are seized with the issues.
If one’s mother has come of age, has relocated from her home, and eventually dies in a foreign home, she comes back in the form of a corpse for burial. Her house may dilapidated without even a roof, that is when you see people putting a tent on top of the house for the funeral to take place and the burial being done the following day. Where exactly are we heading to?
This august House is for people who have come of age with wisdom. That is why the minimum age has been set at 40 years. We are here to build the nation and for those who read the Hansard, there should be a difference when they read what we debate in the Senate as they will realise that we debate real constructive issues. We are the owners of this land. Most people have left for the Diaspora but as chiefs, we will never abandon our country no matter how difficult the situation becomes. No matter how old I am, I will not leave my home. If I become incapacitated to perform my role as a chief, an advisor will be appointed and has the power of attorney to perform my duties. I will never be relocated to an old people’s home – what is the role of the family and relatives? We are not yet aged. Our ancestors used to have cow dung rubbed on their backs in their homes. Some people now do not want this; they say we are now living in a modern world. If you say it is now a modern world you are admitting that you no longer want to follow our tradition. We cannot change our skin or our culture because it is God given; we will remain like this till we die. Even by the time that Jesus will come as the Bible says, He must find us Africans not imitating the whites but value our tradition. If an elderly man is asked to pray at a funeral, it is surprising that he will use English. What surprises me is that they will just be black people at that funeral. As you will be speaking, we will just be listening. We have valid points but we will give you the floor and if we feel now we are in the same boat then we will participate. Thank you Mr. President.
*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Before I give
the floor to Hon. Sen. Chief Marozva, I was advised that there is no interpretation, the machines are not working. So, we have been advised that Hon. Senators should speak in English. So, I said it is not fair for the Hon. Sen. debating to use English. I had requested that you finish debating and I will make this announcement after the debating Senator. I could not stop the Hon. Senator because there is no interpretation. The Clerks at the Table having advised the Acting President that
the machines were now working.
I am advised that the machines are now working.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAROZVA: Thank you Mr. President for
the opportunity that you have given me to support the motion. It is an important motion and I want to support what has been said. I want to add a few issues that may be as a result of our laws that come into place.
Some of this legislation prevents children from respecting their parents.
There is a law that says that a child actually can get his father arrested. If the father is arrested, how then will he look after the child? If that child is capable of having his father arrested if he has come of age, do you think that child will be able to look after his father? The child cannot because he belittled his/her father when he/she was young. We now need to interrogate and see if this legislation originated from us in the first place or it came with the white man.
Our nation and culture has been destroyed. I remember when I was a young child; I used to move around with a bicycle, there are grids that separate roads. One man saw me with a bicycle and he knew that my father did not have a bicycle. If you ride on a bike when you get to the grid, you get off the bike so that the spokes do not break. I then proceeded to ride the bicycle on that grid without care. So, he stopped me and asked me if the bicycle belonged to my father. He knew that it was a borrowed bike. He clapped me but I could not go and report because I knew he is also a father and if I erred he would discipline me as a child. If you are a child and you understand our culture, you will know that anyone elderly is your father. These are the few words that I wanted to add.
We can talk about the chiefs but let us first address the issue of the legislation that you have put in place, that of arresting a father because he has beaten up his child for refusing to go to school. Just because a father has disciplined his child for coming home late; if it is a girl or boy child, that child can go and report his father. Let us address those issues here in this Senate. You are also belittling the traditional chiefs because those children will not respect the chiefs as no one will discipline those children any more. If a chief says anything, you will be on radio accused of violating people’s rights yet you will be educating them of their cultural rights.
In my constituency, there are old women who snatch young women’s husbands and they shamelessly call that young lady ‘maiguru’. This is totally unaccepted in our culture. If you say so, they say the chief no longer wants single women in his area so he must be arrested.
This is not our culture.
Those children who will be born out of those relationships will not respect their parents. With these few words, I want to thank you Mr.
President – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
*HON. SEN. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Mr. President. For us to be chosen to be in this Senate, it is because we have come of age and we know our past. Today, it seems like our culture is vanishing. I want to start by saying that from the time I got into Government, although our culture and traditional values had been destroyed, we should have stood up and said no to some of these legislations. We should have protested to say the legislation being put in place is not fair. This would have restored our traditional values.
When we came into power, we actually thought everything would be back to our traditional values. I remember I was a house maid in one of the white man’s house. We were looked down upon but those white people did not do away with their traditional values. I asked the white lady my boss that she said the two rooms should be plastered and even the kitchen. She was changing beds and wardrobes and she said to me Anna, my mother inlaw is coming; she does not want to sleep in a bedroom that someone else was using. She wants fresh air this is a white woman valuing her motherinlaw.
Again, the white men used to have periods where they would have their functions at scenery places. One would carry things from there and whatever they ate, the food was left there because I believe they were appeasing their ancestors that they would then feed on that.
When we look at the rivers in areas where we stay, there were sacred rivers where you were not allowed to wash napkins, where women were not allowed to bath because the mhondoro spirits would quench their thirst there. A song was sung near those rivers because that is where our mhondoro spirits used to hide would quench their thirst there. A song was sung and that is where our spirits used to hide and quench their thirst. When we came through and took over as the black people, all the rivers are no longer sacred. Where did we then put our own tradition as black people?
On the issues that were brought before the chiefs. Some of these cases were brought before the traditional chiefs such as divorce – it was handled by the chiefs. Today, the authority of the chiefs has been stripped and chiefs do not really have any authority to rule in our traditional sense. So I also blame the Government because the Government did not do anything to address the issue of restoring our culture. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): Mr. President, I move
that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE RESETTLEMENT AREAS FOR
ZWEHAMBA, MAHATSHE AND MATANKENI COMMUNITIES
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on the call on the Executive to provide alternative resettlement areas for communities from Zvehamba, Mahatshe and Matankeni.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): Mr. President, I move
that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on protection of consumers from corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MAWIRE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE WORLD
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the delegation to the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MURWIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the report that was tabled in this House by Hon. Sen. Chief Mtshane relating to the World Parliamentary Forum on sustainable development that was discussed globally by a number of countries.
The report focused on the issue of poverty globally meaning that Zimbabwe was part of the discussions on poverty. Mr. President there was an issue that was discussed on violence in all the countries that were there. I want to applaud the new dispensation for managing to quell the issue of violence because the level of violence has been reduced. A few months ago, you would see people demonstrating in Zimbabwe but we realise that there is now peace in this nation. He also mentioned the issue of the importance of women and the girl child. I want to acknowledge that in Zimbabwe, we as Zimbabwe have moved a step further in ensuring that the girl child and women are recognised. We have not yet reached 50/50 but we request that you continue to look into
Mr. President, I also heard about the issue of health that should be accessible to everyone. When I looked into this, I realised when one is now healthy, there is no life. I want to acknowledge that in Zimbabwe, we are also beginning to see change. Even the First Lady is moving around with a programme on ensuring that people have access to cancer screening. So if we continue to look at the issue of education, our nation will become healthy and if there is violence and the population is not healthy, it actually leads to poverty. After looking at this again, I realised that the issue of health and food security was mentioned. We realise that as Zimbabwe, we are at an advantage and have done well because we adopted Command Agriculture. So in terms of food security, we are safe. Some of the issues that I realised were that if a country is not in good health and without food – that causes poverty.
Command Agriculture has alleviated poverty in Zimbabwe.
Mr. President, I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Mtshane who went and represented us at this global forum. We also want to urge the Government to continue sending delegations to such forums so that they can also adopt best practices so that we move with the times. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to add a few words.
HON. SEN. MUGABE: I also rise to second Hon Chief Mtshane on this report on the World Parliamentary Forum which was held in
Bali, Indonesia from the 67th September 2017.
It was indeed necessary for Zimbabwe to attend this forum among other 49 countries. The theme, “Achieving the 2030 Agenda through Inclusive Development was also very appropriate since the role of Parliament was indeed emphasised. This event facilitated the sharing of policy analysis, experience and best practices from country to country in order to deal with issues of development. It is the role and responsibility of Parliament to spearhead the 2030 agenda
On climate change that is SDG 13, this world forum emphasised involvement of parliamentarians to bring awareness on the threat of the change that happens through indiscriminate cutting of trees, industrial emissions causing global warming, wrong farming methods resulting in the change of weather patterns to extremes like cyclones, hurricanes and heat which we cannot afford to have. Research findings are that since 1980, the planet needs protection. It has experienced 50 fold increase in the number of places experiencing dangerous or extreme heat. A bigger increase is to come. Heatwaves have killed people in cities like Karachi and Calcutta and have become close to inhabitable. These extreme climates can cause poverty, a state of being extremely poor, destitute, penniless and facing hardships with no means of support and no food. No wonder Parliaments have been urged to work towards empowering the poor and the vulnerable.
Goal No. 1 in the 2030 agenda seeks to end poverty in all its forms, achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. However, you can only end poverty through productivity and this can only happen where climate is favourable hence the need to take urgent actions in order to combat climate change. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, the weather monitoring moves have geared up and Zimbabwe has committed itself to implementing all SDGs most importantly, SDG No. 2 on Agriculture,
Food Security and Nutrition in order to end hunger.
In the context of agenda 2030, it was useful for Zimbabwean Parliamentarians to familiarize themselves with these important issues so as to step up efforts with everybody and not leaving anyone behind. On ending violence and sustaining peace, Parliaments were urged to work closely with Government and all stakeholders in ensuring effective law enforcement to combat all forms of violence giving special attention to the needs of women, children and those in vulnerable situation.
I must thank the delegation and wish there could be more such forums so that we can learn a lot more. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE NONESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the Circumstances Surrounding the NonEstablishment of Community Share
Ownership Trusts in Mudzi and Mutoko Districts.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO
METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BULAWAYO METROPOLITAN (HON. SEN. MASUKU), the
Senate adjourned at Nine Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 11th April, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarterpast Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING SPEAKER
PETITIONs RECEIVED FROM CIVIC ORGANISATION
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO): I have to
inform the House that on Tuesday, 20th March, 2018, Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from Mr. L. Jackson requesting
Parliament to look at the gross maladministration and governance by
Chitungwiza Municipality. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National
Housing.
I also have to inform the House that on Tuesday, 17th March, 2018,
Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from the Dzivarasekwa
Conservation Trust and on 28th March, 2018 another from the Budiriro
Water Foundation requesting Parliament to compel the Minister of
Environment, Water and Climate to urgently regazette the Harare Wetlands map as well as create a well coordinated institutional framework on wetlands preservations among other issues.
The petitions have since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Water, Climate and Hospitality Industry.
OMMISSION ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I wish to draw the attention of the House to an omission on the Order Paper where notices of presentation of the following Bills were inadvertently omitted from the Order Paper.
- Companies and other Business Entities Bill [H.B. 3,2018]
- Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill
[H.B. 4, 2018]
The two entries stand as notices of presentation of Bills Numbers 1 and 2 on today’s Order Paper.
*HON. SITHOLE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain to us when we are going to get our outstanding allowances. We were promised that we were going to get something by the end of the month but up to now, there is nothing that we have received, even stands. So, we want to know the exact position?
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Sithole, the money
that is there right now is for those who are using their private accommodation, those not in hotels but for the outstanding allowances, it is not yet ready. I think that instead of us raising questions concerning our welfare in the House, we should go through our Chief Whips for dignity purposes so that we do not publish things like this in the media. If money is available, monies will be availed before the end of this
Session. Thank you.
*HON. MLISWA: I hear what you are saying Hon. Speaker. My colleagues have got Chief Whips but as an independent Member of Parliament, I do not have a Chief Whip. So, this issue on stands, it emanates from this House, so how are we going to handle it because some Hon. Members have already gone and imposed themselves, some do not have anywhere to go. So, what are we going to do with those people who are not going to be reelected and they have been promised to get stands. It looks like Parliament is now a House of liars. How are we going to handle this?
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: You as an independent without a Chief Whip, you contact the Leader of the House, he is your Chief Whip, he can assist you. However, let us get an answer on the stands issue – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order.
Hon. Mliswa you have asked the question about stands and like I have said before, I think we should go through our Chief Whips. You do not have a Chief Whip, as you have said but you can approach any Chief Whip or the Leader of the House. The issue of stands is being worked on and so, you will be approached before you go back to your constituencies.
HON. CHINOTIMBA: Mr. Speaker I want to ask the Leader of the Opposition whether Dr. Khupe is still Leader of the Opposition. I am asking because we are …
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please. Hon. Mliswa order please. Take your seat Honourable. Order, order please. Hon. Members, I am not in a position to answer that question and it does not concern the business of this House.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Members are there no questions
today so that I proceed with the other business of the day?
HON. GONESE: Mr. Speaker, on a matter of privilege Mr. Speaker, I thought that as the August House, we are owed some explanation. The Chair is making reference to the issue of questions without notice but we also note Mr. Speaker that on your right, the persons to whom we are supposed to be putting the questions are not there. So far I am only seeing the Leader of the House and Hon. Prof. Murwira yet we have said time and again Mr. Speaker that we require an explanation.
In terms of the Standing Orders Mr. Speaker, we are owed an explanation as to whether any Ministers have sought Leave of Absence. I thought that clarification as to whether anyone had sought Leave of Absence was going to come first before you invited Members to ask the questions.
Mr. Speaker we have said it before that on Wednesdays, we must put the matters of the nation ahead of party business and Mr. Speaker, we got assurance from the Hon. Speaker that if there is a Politburo meeting, they would ensure that it finishes on time to enable those members of the Politburo, including the heads of this institution namely the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker respectively, including the Government Chief Whip, who are also members of that august body, to be released on time. Therefore, that is the explanation I thought we were going to get first before we can put questions to the only two Ministers here present.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please. I am informed by the Leader of the House that Ministers are on their way coming. Hence, we should expect them in the House any minute now. In the meantime we may ask questions to those Ministers who are here while waiting for the rest of them to come in.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business. Hon. Minister Ziyambi, as a nation we have gone more than hundred days now following the coming in of the new dispensation that was ushered in following the military intervention and following the promise by the President, His Excellency Cde E. D. Mnangagwa, that the hundred day period was going to be a trying period that had to make sure that we go forward as a nation; now following the expiry of the hundred day period, we still have queues in the banks and we still do not have cash in the banks.
What is the Government Policy Hon. Minister with regard to the problem of cash shortages in the banks so that at least, we alleviate the challenges we are experiencing. I remember last time the President himself promised that, he would be in the queues yet we are still to see him there at least receiving his twenty dollar bond note just like everyone else is doing. In fact, it is no longer twenty dollars now. I think it is around five dollars and I hope he will be able to answer adequately.
Thank you very much Hon. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFIARS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question which he asked pertaining to the programme of Government, the Hundred Day Programme and what he indicated as promises to end queues within hundred days which is not correct. When the President came in, he promised to introduce a new culture of working and of accountability. Hence the Government cameup with the hundred day targets to ensure that we turn around the economy and introduce a new culture and work ethic. Among the targets which were set, nobody indicated that the problem of cash is a problem that can be overturned overnight. I thank you.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Hon. Minister I really want to thank you regarding the answer which you just delivered to us but Hon. Minister, the shortage of cash in the country is still a very big problem that even the President himself spoke about the issue. Within the 100 day period which the President had said, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Patrick Chinamasa also alluded to the very same issue that indeed, the problems which the country was facing in as far as cash shortages were concerned was that the problem was going to end. As we are today, that problem has not ended. In fact, it has actually gone worse Hon. Speaker. As we speak right now, there is not even a single cent in the banks. People are still sleeping in the banks but the 100 day period has actually gone. We are more than 100 days; we are now 300 days beyond and you are still promising. You are still saying things which are actually not even helping the nation. Where is the promise which the President promised us on the 100 day period? Simple Hon.
Minister. I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf THE
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir...
Hon. Mliswa having been chatting with other Hon.Members.
Order, Hon. Mliswa, what makes you
sit there today? Please less noise.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. What I want to say is that the Hon. Member just repeated himself. What he said the first time and what he has said is the same and the answer is still the same. Government never promised that the cash shortage will end overnight. It is a programme to ensure that the economy is turned around and it is not something that you expect someone to get in and overnight things change. It is work in progress and within our 100 day plan, I do not remember anywhere where it is written that the cash shortages are going to be turned within the 100 days and no queues will be there.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. The Hon. Minister indicated that the President promised a new culture and not certain tangibles and that is what the Hon. Minister indicated earlier on. Today is the 72nd day that the wives of Hwange Colliery workers are still camped outside Hwange Colliery offices...
Order Hon. Member.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: I am addressing the issue of culture Hon.
Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, that is not a supplementary question to the original question. Hon. Sibanda, just go to your question or else I will just ask you to sit down. Get your question relevant to the first question that has been posed.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Hon. Speaker, my supplementary is based on the fact that the Hon. Minister has indicated that what the President promised was a new culture. So, I just wanted to preface my question by showing certain incidences that have happened and ask whether it is part and parcel of the...
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Sibanda. The question
was about cash in the banks and you stick to that.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: It was cash versus the 100 days.
Yes, you stick to that.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Okay Hon. Speaker. Under the circumstances Hon. Minister, now that you said the cash shortages were going to be resolved beyond 100 days, would we say that Government has therefore failed to resolve this cash crisis and that if it has failed, is there any reasonable cause why...
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Sibanda. You are
repeating and the Minister did not say that. He said it cannot be turned overnight. So, please take your seat?
HON. MAONDERA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister, it
looks like the cash situation is worsening...
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Are you on a supplementary question
or on a new question because I recognised you in the first instance that you stood up for it.
HON. MAONDERA: Okay, I can go for a new question.
Hon. Mliswa and Hon. Gonese having stood up for supplementary
questions.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Unless you are not repeating Hon.
Mliswa. If you are repeating, I will just ask you to sit down.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue of cash is important especially now when the tobacco farmers are not even accessing their own cash. They have worked hard for the season. They need their cash, they are not getting it and the tobacco farmers are earning foreign currency. The gold miners get foreign currency because they are generating foreign currency. Why are the tobacco farmers not getting foreign currency when they are generating foreign currency because if there are no bond notes, they are allowed to have that? So, the Minister must respond to this cash crisis that even those who are working hard have no access to their cash when it is time for them to get their cash. What is the position in terms of the access of the money to the tobacco farmers in this season?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, may be the pertinent
question is on foreign currency. Otherwise the other question has already been attended to by the Minister.
HON. MUNENGAMI: On a point of order Hon. Speaker. Just before you answer, I think Hon. Speaker to be honest; you are sort of protecting the Minister. Allow the Members of Parliament to ask questions to the Minister. Do not try to protect the Ministers. The issue of cash shortage is a big issue in this country and if you can allow such an issue just to be like that, we do not think that it will be fair. Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Mliswa for the question which I request him to put in writing for onward transmission to the relevant Minister to address. It is not a policy issue. Thank you.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, you recall that the last time the
Minister of Finance has not been in the House for the past two months and we keep referring questions to him. This issue of cash is critical to the country and we cannot keep on postponing that issue. Why does he allow himself to take questions which he knows he cannot respond to? It is a waste of time. The whole nation wants to know what legislators are doing about the cash crisis. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] Mr. Speaker, it is either the Government admits that it have failed and then we go to a new Government so that it can solve the problems. It is either you have done it or you have not. It is a fact and I say so. Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please!
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister of Justice, in his capacity as the Leader of the House is what are the concrete measures, the specific interventions that his Government is going to come up with in order to resolve this crisis which is a debilitating crisis which affects all the people of Zimbabwe? It is important Mr. Speaker for the Hon. Minister to give us an indication as to when we can expect this crisis to be resolved. It has been with us for a very long time and I believe that as a Member of Cabinet, they sit in Cabinet, they must be ceased with these matters and it is critical that the Hon. Leader of the House tells us what are the specific and concrete policy measures that they want to put in place in order to resolve this crisis and as to when we can expect a solution? If they are clueless, they must tell us so that they have no answer to the crisis. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order at the back, Hon. Members, I think the Hon. Minister was abundantly clear. He said that he will refer all those questions to the relevant Minister. So, there is no problem. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, Order! Please take your seat. Hon. Mliswa, why do we not remain friends? If you continue, I may ask you to go out? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] Yes, I will do that.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon. Gonese for the question. I have to preface the answer by saying that we have RTGs money and we have United States dollars. In circulation at any one given time now, we have about US$500 million compared to about $1.5 billion RTGs money. So, you will find that the demand for US dollars is more than what we have in terms of RTGs money. What the Government has been doing is to ensure that we put policies to ensure that we promote investment into the country so that we have inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
We have several projects that are going to be initiated that are going to come into the country. Most of them are in the public domain. The main purpose of that is that when foreign currency starts flowing into the country, there will be a balance between what we have and the
RTGs money and the shortages will subside. Thank you.
HON. MANGAMI: My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. Minister, what is Government policy regarding the access of drugs to victims of rabbis?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question. The policy on antirabbis vaccine or antirabbis treatment is that as a country we are experiencing a lot of dog bites a lot of them are due to unvaccinated dogs. We are urging people generally to have their dogs vaccinated so that even if there are dog bites and those dogs are vaccinated, they will not transmit rabbis. Generally, we urge that if you have been bitten by a dog and it is unknown whether it was vaccinated or not, you should have the appropriate three doses of antirabbis vaccine from our institutions. A lot of our institutions have the antirabbis vaccine. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Minister, where I come from in the rural areas, if you are bitten by a dog, you are asked to go and buy the antirabbis vaccine. I do not know whether you can help us understand where we can get the vaccines because old people there cannot get that medicine. I do not know what we can do as has been asked by Hon. Members about the unavailability of those vaccines. Even at
Birchnough Bridge, people are asked to buy those antirabbis vaccines. Are people supposed to buy on their own or the Government is supposed to give people for free or to pay so that people get the vaccines?
*HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: I want to thank Hon.
Chinotimba for his question. Many clinics do not have antirabbis vaccines. We tried to stock antirabbis vaccines in the district hospitals because they need cool temperatures like storing in refrigerators and in some clinics there is no power. What we want is to have those antirabbis vaccines at all clinics but they have a very short lifespun, so they might stay there for a long time without being utilised and they expire.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Hon. Minister,
I am sure you realise that the prices for those drugs are out of reach of ordinary Zimbabweans, even those that are employed; not talking of the over 97% of our unemployed people. What efforts and what policy measures is Government putting in place to ensure that those drugs become affordable to the ordinary person in the country?
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Let me thank Hon.
Sibanda for that question. Our policy is that in Government institutions and in our clinics, most of the drugs that are put under what we call the EDLIZ or essential drug list should be available and they should be available so that the majority of our people can access them. We want them to access especially in the clinics, free of charge. We try very much to satisfy that EDLIZ but sometimes because of constraints of resources, it is not always possible to get those drugs as we need them. The policy is that we should be able to have the very essential drugs in our clinics so that people do not get that burden of going to purchase from private pharmacies which may be very expensive because the private pharmacies themselves import those drugs privately and they put on their own mark up. So, we prefer that all those essential drugs should be appropriately available in our institutions and subject to resources. This is actually our biggest impediment; the resources that we need to purchase the drugs that we need to fit in the EDLIZ list that we have so that the majority of our people can access those particular medicines.
*HON. MAONDERA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Kagonye. My question Minister is in line with NSSA pensioners. What is Government policy on increasing their allowances taking into account that they are supposed to come and renew? Also, the money that they are getting is very little. They last had an increase way back.
*THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
(HON. KAGONYE): Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you Hon.
Member for your question. The policy in place is that actuarial; those who work to come up with figures, they sit every year and see if it can be reviewed upwards and by how much. This exercise was last done December last year, that is why it is now $80 from $60. At the end of the year, that exercise is going to be done as well and see how much percentage it can be raised by.
*HON. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Thank you Hon. Minister about the acturials that see how much the pensioners should be given. What policy does Government have in terms of looking after pensioners funds in terms of investment? We read in the newspapers that some were invested in banks that have folded and some have been used to build infrastructure that is not functioning but they are getting peanuts as we speak.
*HON. KAGONYE: Thank you for your question. The plans that are there are that these funds are for workers, even the groups that look at the investors, there are some who represent workers. Even in the board of NSSA, they are chosen by the people, some are chosen by the employers and some chosen by the Government. All of us will be responsible and when it comes to investment, everyone will be in the picture and know how the funds are used. Our desire is that when our money is being invested, it should be able to grow so that people who have their pensions realise some profits in line with what the board has put in place – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Minister, the question was, what plans are there to curb the misuse of funds?
*HON. KAGONYE: The way the money is being used is that it is taken to the investment committee and they investigate to see whether the money is being used properly. This investment committee is the one that has the representatives of the employees, employers and the Government. That committee is the one that looks at each and every investment before it is done so that they will see whether it is fruitful. I know that from the past, what used to happen was that some funds were invested and nothing was realised. Right now, we are working very hard that the investment committee should investigate to find out whether the investment that needs to be done will realise something. Also, we have auditors who audit all the funds. I thank you.
*HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Minister was that when she talked about the acturials that they are the ones that increase the pensions, during the former Minister’s time, the acturials had recommended that the money should be increased from $50 to $150. What made them to settle on $80 and when are the allowances going to reach $150?
*HON. KAGONYE: Thank you. I think this question was once asked in this Parliament and the Minister who was there is here. He had said that it was his wish that the allowances be raised from $80 to $150 but he said this before the acturials had not completed their work. After their calculations, they realised that if we get to $150, our fund will collapse within two years. That is why they recommended that $80 is the one that is practical to give people but at the end of the year, after their review, they might review it from $80 to a certain figure that I cannot say because that exercise has not been done yet. It has scientific backing. When the results are out, we will come back and announce whatever the results from the acturials would be. I thank you.
*HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Hon. Minister, on the issue of pensioners, the figure of $80 that they are getting, I think in this House we once debated that they are the last group to receive their salaries and we are talking of old people. What plans do you have in place so that our pensioners get their salaries first? I thank you.
*HON. KAGONYE: We have engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe so that we lighten the lives of the pensioners, not only in terms of time but also that we can give them money through ecocash platforms so that they can access their money wherever they are instead of them spending money to go and collect money from centres. We want it to be very easy for pensioners to get their money. What made them to be the last group is that the money that we give them comes from current pension contributors. Therefore, we wait for all the people to get their money and submit their contributions so that we have money to give to pensioners. Probably, by the end of this week, we will be having an answer to alleviate that.
Some Hon. Members having risen on supplementary questions.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: That is enough, no more
supplementary. Order, take your seats.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you for recognising me Mr. Speaker. It is an open secret that Chegutu West Constituency has been ravaged by cholera in 2008 where more than 400 people died and in 2018, about four people died because of cholera. My question is therefore Mr. Speaker, as regards to the policy in regards to infrastructure development and it is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care, in particular, regarding the European Development Fund of 254 million Euros that is given to Zimbabwe in the five years. What policy direction are you giving to that fund to try and direct it to infrastructure development in particular sewer and water reticulation in general towards the cholera epidemic, in particular again to Chegutu West Constituency?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you very much Mr. Speaker
Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Nduna for his question. It is true that the
EU has provided us with 20.6 million Euros for the next three years. This is quite a lot of money from a partner while Government should be providing the core funding, which Government does. We are pleased that partners like EU have been consistent since 2005 when we had the
Health Transitional Fund that we then converted to Health Development Fund. That money has been earmarked for the vulnerable groups particularly in women of childbearing age and in young women in particular because of the challenges that young women are facing, right from gender based violence to the issue of unwanted pregnancies. They have invested that money as a dedicated project, but further to that, they are also looking at strengthening the fight against HIV, which we think is also very appropriate for those vulnerable groups. We think that they have also put in money through the economic sector, where perhaps, they will invest more into things like sanitation, issues of women development in the markets and that will also go a long way towards addressing the issues that have been asked by Hon. Nduna.
It is important to note that cholera has been with us for a long time and will stay with us until and unless we improve sanitation in this country. If our sanitation is poor and we have sewage – last Friday I visited a place where there is cholera, in Stoneridge Park, where there are about five thousand families. These people were moved from
Arlingtone and located at this particular place near Manyame River. Stoneridge Park is located along Mbudzi and then you turn left as if you are headed towards Chitungwiza, that settlement there is Stoneridge. What has happened in that settlement is that; when they dig up to construct a toilet, within two metres, they reach the water level and so as they try to use the toilets, there is water and the water and the toilets are mixing and you cannot avoid cholera or diarrhoea in such an environment. I think these are the issues that we need to address and we are addressing now as Government in coordination with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to make sure that these people are moved from those areas.
As long as you have poor sanitation, no water supply, we will have a situation like that which happened in Chegutu, Norton and
Chitungwiza again. So, although now we have no cholera case in Zimbabwe, we had two deaths in the past week from that Stoneridge area I am talking about. So, we need to address the issue of cholera, sanitation, clean water supply and our own personal hygiene as a nation so that we negate the diseases like cholera, typhoid and other diarrhoeal diseases. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDUNA: I want to thank the Hon. Minister for his quite rounded answer. However, in this month of April, 2018, the European
Union (EU) and the Commission indicated that they have got the European Development Fund (EDF) up for review on the 20 million Euro that the Hon. Minister alludes to. What effort or policy intervention do you have in terms of diverting or virementing the amount that is currently being utilised in Zimbabwe as a grant from the EDF towards the alleviation of the plights of the unsuspecting innocent citizens affected by that cholera epidemic that you actually eloquently talk about?
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir. Let me thank Hon. Nduna again for the follow up question. When we agreed with the EU on a certain project and then we said; this is a project that we want to be funded, it is usually confined to that. I know that the money is not enough; there are many other issues that are needed in this country in terms of health. We cannot always then say that, we have agreed on sexual and reproductive health for example, like we did in this particular case, and then they give us that partnership money, for us to divert that money to elsewhere, it is very difficult. What we can only do in this particular case is to put up a programme, not only as Government to be able to say, ‘how do we manage cholera in this country?’ What money should be put in for cholera in this country? Like I said, the biggest issue is sanitation. If your sewerage system is not working, if you do not have water supply that is clean, portable water, you will always have that problem.
So, we need to invest as a country, not just the EU as a partner but as a country to say; can we change our piping system, how do we pump more water to Mabvuku or how do we improve the housing situation in the country and limit the settlements that are there. To divert money from EU to put into this infrastructure may not be the most appropriate way of doing it, but wherever there is an emergency of cholera, we have rushed there as a Ministry and arrested it as much as we can, like we did in Chegutu and like we thought we were doing in Norton and what we have done in Stoneridge Park. We are rushing there not just as a Government but with various other partners who are now very alert in this emergency. I can assure you that we are doing the best we can but as long as we do not have adequate sanitation, I would not be surprised that I would be called again that there is another outbreak elsewhere and we rush again. However, that is not the solution; the solution is to improve our sanitation, water supply, clean hands and hygiene in this country. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, I have got a supplementary.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Nduna – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] Order please, there is only one Speaker, who is me, can we take our seats. Hon. Nduna, I am not going to allow you to continue asking supplementary questions, there are also other Hon. Members who need to come in.
HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question to the Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care is; the Ministry of Health and Child Care was supposed to build two thousand clinics and the policy was that within 10km radius, there must be a clinic. We have got four month to go before the next election, how many have been built out of the 2000 that he spoke about? I am talking about the infrastructure aspect of it which is something that was within the manifesto of the ruling party, which then became the policy of ZANU PF that 2000 clinics will be built. How many have been built within a radius of 10km.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Is that a new question or it is a supplementary question?
HON. MLISWA: Hon. Nduna’s question was about infrastructure, EU money going into infrastructure, so I am asking what the Government has done in terms of the policy it had of building 2000 clinics. We now have four months before elections, is there a miracle which is going to happen to ensure that they comply with that?
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you very much
Hon. Mliswa. Let me thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for this question. It is true that as a country, we enunciated a policy that we aim to reach to a situation where a person should not walk more than 8kms before they reach a clinic. This policy was enunciated in 2002. The idea was to decentralise our system. What we have, as you are aware Mr. Speaker
Sir, is we have got six central hospitals which are now decentralised into [AN HON. MEMBER: That is not the question.] – into eight provincial hospitals – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Eight provincial hospitals
have been decentralised further to 63 district hospitals and with that we have got 23 General Hospitals, which are now further surrounded by health centres and these health centres are 1223. This is where the question is; that we have got 1223 health centres, which are the clinics that Hon. Mliswa is talking about. However, there are a lot of Hon. Members here from both sides, who have approached our Ministry wanting to finish off clinics, wanting to start off clinics, wanting to be helped with clinics, because of fiscal space it has not been possible to satisfy a lot of those demands that they have. a lot of them have built structures, they want room feeling, they want things put inside. As a Government, we are prepared to give nurses and medicines, but sometimes a lot of our MP’s, traditional leaders, a lot of philanthropists have helped to fulfill that dream of putting more and more clinics. I want to urge Hon. Members to continue with that effort of strengthening the building of those clinics so that we fulfill this dream of targeting that within 8 km, you must come to a next clinic.
It has been an aim for us but because of fiscal space it has not been possible to fulfill that dream of 8 km and I think the 8 km is the land mark that we have put in place. I also urge those who are building clinics, please come to us, wherever we can help each other, we can do so and really it is good for our people that Members of Parliament, Senators and others are helping to put that infrastructure, not just to wait for Government but to put that infrastructure from any corner and that will be welcome for the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you.
HON. MLISWA: The question was simple; from the 2000, how many have been built, even those that the Members of Parliament is talking about have also assisted. It is important that Government is seen to be implementing the policy that it enunciates. That is all I am asking he still has not given me a number.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you very much Mr.
Speaker Sir. I really like the way you have insisted Hon. Mliswa. So, I will bring you the numbers, because we may not have the numbers now.
HON. GABBUZA: on a point of privilege! Mr. Speaker you were chairing when the Minister of Health and Child Care presented as Ministerial Statement on the strike by our medical doctors. You allowed us to ask, I think there were 5 questions and the Minister was rushing off to somewhere and that he would come back and answer. He never came back to answer. I wish to understand from you Mr. Speaker if the
Minister likely to answer those question and when?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I remember that instance. Now, that you have the time to ask questions, you may pose the questions that you had on that day which he did not answer.
*HON. MUPFUMI: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. The country has plenty of people who are not able to pay estate duty, what can we do so that this estate duty would be removed for orphans or that the charges should be lowered so that we go forward as a country.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): thank you Mr.
Speaker for the question that he has asked about orphans who are losing their houses because they cannot pay estate duty. In our investigations, orphans are not losing their properties because of not paying estate fees but it is because of disagreements. The Master of High Court looks at those issues and also looks at the rights of these children that they should not lose their properties. So, if they take the proper channels of approaching the Master of High Court, he is compelled to do his duty properly so that they will not lose their property.
HON. MUPFUMI: Orphans are losing their properties; where I come from in Dangamvura and Chikanga we have a lot of them, if they fail to pay estate duty, the Messenger of Court comes and sells the house in order to settle the debt and they will be given the remainder.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: The issue that you have raised Hon. Member is very important to society so I think if you have any particular cases, I think you should give details to the Minster so that he can investigate. Probably, it may be happening in a number of places so, I think give him chance so that he investigate on those cases.
HON. HOLDER: What policy has the Government put in place regarding people who have been awarded to become executors of estate by the High Court. It looks like some of these executors of the estates take advantage and sell the properties without consent. So, what mechanism have you put in place to protect the families that are affected?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. The law is very clear, an executor is not allowed to sell the property for personal use and convert the monies – that is illegal and the law is very clear regarding that issue. So, if the Hon. Member has a specific case regarding that I
think it is a case that can be taken up and the law can take its course.
HON. HOLDER: I was not answered clearly. What policy has Government put in place regarding the screening of these executors that have been awarded to become executors of the estate? A person is given by the High Court to say this is an executor of this family because there is a dispute, but you will find that the quickest way for this executor to get rid of the case is that he will advertise the property and sell it as soon as possible without the consent of the beneficiaries. The quickest way lawyer makes money is through is through being an executor of estate – that is what they are doing, they get a person’s property, advertise it, come up with a huge bill, sell it and no one can say anything. That is it.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir. Let me thank the Hon. Member for the question and the clarification that he is seeking. My answer to it is that when an Executor is appointed; he made reference to lawyers who are also governed by the Law Society, the majority of them also have professional bodies that have laws that govern them. Should a case like that happen, that is the reason why I said we may perhaps need to follow the specific cases and have them dealt with accordingly. The law as it is now, covers all those malpractices and I think that if he has a specific case, it can be dealt with. I thank you.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The question I have for the Minister is, what measures is he taking to deal with corruption in the Master of High Court office? For example, there are known companies that are given this task. When the Executor decides that this house must be sold, there are certain real estate agents who just get that and others do not. What measures is he taking to ensure that there is no corruption in the office of the Master of the High Court?
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question which I believe is very important and which I would like to say that indeed within our society, corruption had been entrenched and the said department I would not vouch that it was not happening. It is something that we need to investigate to ensure that allegations like that do not continue. It is one of the deliverables that we want as a Government to ensure that we reduce corruption, but I want to thank the Hon. Member for highlighting that. It is a cause for concern for all of us here. I thank you.
HON. MAONDERA: On a point of privilege.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Do not hide by a point of privilege when you want to ask a question. Can you go ahead?
HON. MAONDERA: Mr. Speaker Sir, while I appreciate the answers that we are getting from the Ministers of Health and Child Care and the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, we are sick and tired of mediocrity. Why do these Ministers not resign because some of these answers they are giving us, they are just skirting. Why do they not just resign – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order. Take your seat please.
That does not arise at all.
HON. DR. LABODE: Mr. Speaker Sir, my question goes to the Minister of Health. I am standing up to ask the Minister of Health and Child Care to ensure that when he is bringing his report on the status of the hospitals and clinics, he becomes clear. He removes the Smith regime clinics, then the clinics that were built later. The question is in relation with the manifesto. We want to know the number of clinics built thereafter. That is what we want to know.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order please. I thought the Minister was clear. There is no point of you going back to that.
*HON. CHIKOMBA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement. Right now in Gokwe, it is harvest time but we do not know the price of cotton so that people prepare. Farmers really worked hard in the fields and would want to know what the price of cotton is.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker. The issue of the price of cotton is still being talked about. We want to find out the proper price so that farmers will be able to go back to the fields. The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement is working on the scenarios. By the time we get to the selling of cotton, I think they would have been through with the issue.
*HON. CHIKOMBA: I heard what the Minister has said but the issue is that people have challenges. Farmers have started taking their proceeds to the depot but there is no money. Is there a way that they can fast track it so that people will get their money?
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Can you please repeat your question – [HON. MUNENGAMI: Sekuru zvanzi dzokororai.] – We do not call an Hon. Member ‘sekuru.’ Order Hon. Member, in this
Chamber, there is no ‘sekuru,’ we have Hon. Members.
*HON. CHIKOMBA: I have heard what the Hon. Minister has said. The challenge there is that people are working very hard and they have their own projections. Right now, we have about 50 people who have delivered 50 bales to the depots but they do not know how much they are going to realise. Is there a way people can know how much they are getting?
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have clearly heard the question that already cotton has started to be delivered to the depots.
I think we will expedite the issue so that when people take their produce to the depots, they have to know how much they are realising. We will just try and speed it up. Thank you.
HON. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The fact that cotton producers have already produced their cotton and the Government at the present moment has no price for the cotton, is it an acknowledgement by the Hon. Minister that we have a failed agricultural policy? Inasmuch as we would want to generate foreign currency, there is no producer price for cotton yet the cotton is already on the market. Is it an acknowledgement of a failed agricultural policy? Thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question and I want to start by saying that the new administration came into effect in November and the present Cabinet came into effect in December. Ordinarily, what has to happen is that the producer prices have to be negotiated before the start of the season to allow farmers to plan in advance regarding how they would plant their crops. I shall not answer for the previous administration pertaining to what measures they had taken regarding the producer price of cotton. What I say is that, I am making an acknowledgement that this administration is prepared to look into the producer price of cotton that should allow our farmers to go back to the fields and continue to sustainably do farming. I thank you.
HON. T. DUBE: Hon. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. I come from a constituency that houses a hospital that is supposed to be the referral hospital for five provinces. What I have noticed is that, patients who have renal problems do not have any treatment except that sometimes they are asked to go and look for their consumables for available dialysis machines while at the same time the price for these renal problems treatment are beyond their reach. The price is many times more than any other price that we pay for the same in the region. Can anything be done because a lot of people who should not otherwise be dying are dying?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir
and let me thank the Honourable for the very important question. I think the issue of supply of renal dialysis machinery in the country is also on the Order Paper and I am also going to answer that. However for now, I am only going to say that the issue of renal patients and in particular the number of people who need renal dialysis is going up all the time. As a result, we are beginning to say to ourselves; what is the biggest cause of the rise of that figure and you will find out that a lot of patients end up wanting renal dialysis or kidney transplant. That is why this country is embarking on the process of trying to put in place kidney transplant mechanisms. However for now, we are saying let every central and district hospital perhaps have a dialysis facility and Mpilo Hospital has got dialysis facilities although they are absolutely not adequate for the region. We used to have twenty seven machines there but sixteen of them are no longer functional. Though we still have some among them still functional, they are also inadequate for that region. That is the reason some people have to travel to Harare or they go to other places in the private sector although the private sector is extremely expensive to the extent that sometimes one session costs two hundred dollars per session in spite of the fact that those people sometimes need three sessions a week; which is very prohibitive.
We are acutely aware we have a very large burden of people who need services of the kidney dialysis machines and we are trying to decentralise the service too. In that drive, Masvingo and Mutare have opened their own centres and we still need more of those. We further need to put in place a mechanism that enables those whose kidneys have really failed and need a transplant, to have the facilities always accessible. In that regard, I am aware that one of our health facilities, Chitungwiza General Hospital, is spearheading the issue and is trying to put up a transplant centre for kidneys.
Summarily as a country, we are focused and we know that we have got that heavy kidney burden even though we need to be cognisant that it is not one of the top five diseases although it is still a very important constituency that we must address. Moreso in terms of Mpilo like what Hon. Tshinga Dube has alluded to, we need to put more machines there so that people do not go into the private sector which is extremely expensive. In the same context, where people fail to get some of the consumables because sometimes they are not available in these facilities, they also end up going to the private sector where they are equally extremely expensive. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that the question that has been put across by the Hon. Tshinga Dube has been coming up almost every year. In particular for the past nine years, I have heard this question coming up. Equally, we had a situation whereby the Hon. Minister had been responding then, stating that we had a better set of machines at Chitungwiza and Bulawayo hospitals. Now, it seems our system is now worse and continually going down. Can the Hon. Minister explain this issue to the people bearing in mind that we are accumulating a lot of debts especially in rural areas because of this problem? Can you really explain to the world and the country at large so that probably you may impress upon the donor community on our real challenges with regards to this issue? Is it to do with the machinery or the human resources that we have in the responsible Ministry or Department? I am saying so from the background that we have renal organisations ready to assist in that regard yet people continue to suffer. Is it that we do not have the motivation to impress upon them so that we get the necessary support? Why is it that we cannot accept our failures so that people get the necessary help? Hon. Minister, please can you respond?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, it is not your duty to ask the Hon. Minister to respond. It is my duty to ask the Hon. Minister to respond, not yours.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir and I would like to thank the Honourable Member for the follow up question which is extremely important to the population of this country. It is true that we used to have a little bit more machines than we have now. We had a programme through which we massively imported these machines and that programme was supported by China. Some of these machines went out of function and we have had problems in getting the spare parts for them. Therefore, the numbers went down particularly at
Mpilo because we could not get the spare parts.
We also currently have a very intact programme through which we are intensively training the people who run those dialysis machines. Put simply, we are a very capable people as a country and we have people who can run those machines. It is further neither a question of administration or governance, but a question of lack of resources which is causing us to fail on getting more machines while when they need repairs, we could not get the foreign currency for the spare parts. It is therefore a question of resources that must be answered and that question is important because I even believe we have a lot of people who are currently not presenting their cases to our formal institutions though they could be helped or form part of the relevant statistics that we need.
We also need to search a bit more so that we can be able to help everybody as much as we can in terms of the kidney disease. There are various causes of the kidney diseases and some are caused by infections, drug use, alcohol use and sometimes your genetics in the sense that kidneys can just give up and fail as you grow. All those issues have to be considered in medical health when we talk of diagnosis.
As a country, I think in terms of diagnosing and personnel to diagnose, we are doing extremely well but it is a question of having more resources to be able to purchase the diagnosis machines, to be able to set up renal transplant equipment and machines as well as to establish renal transplant centres that we severely need. We are aware of that and it is not just the kidney diseases but, there are many other situations such as cardiac, heart, liver problems, brain tumors and spinal injuries. We need a lot of money in the health sector. We have the personnel and the infrastructure but we need the monies to be able to keep us to assist people. We also need to actually have internal tourism because there are a lot of our diasporan people who are out there, who are itching to come back, but they will not come back as long as we do not have the infrastructure that builds up towards their skills. I urge you that as a country, let us just focus a little bit more on the money to the health sector. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by THE ACTING
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, I ask that the time for Questions without Notice be extended.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I object Mr.
Speaker Sir.
HON. MACHINGAUTA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. In this House, I once raised an issue concerning the use of school property by political parties and also of school children in primary schools attending rallies. I asked the Deputy Minister who was there that he should bring a Ministerial Statement on that and he promised. He was the Deputy Minister to Hon. Dokora but now he is the Minister. As the Minister, I think he should bring the Ministerial Statement because it is still happening where we come from. I thank you. [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections]
THE ACTING SPEAKER: You are referring your question to the Minister of Higher or Primary Education?
HON. MACHINGAUTA: I am referring this question to Hon.
Prof. Mavima, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. It
is a request for a Ministerial Statement and I think we can prepare one.
*HON. S. CHIDHAKWA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker. My point of privilege is directed to the Leader of the House, Hon.
Ziyambi. There is a very important issue which was talked about by the President, the Chirundu/Beitbridge road that those who had been awarded the tender were removed. So, we want Hon. Ziyambi to explain to this House why it had taken so long for those people not to take up the job. We want to know whether it was corruption and we hear that they were given that tender without any equipment. We know that people are dying whilst tenders are awarded to people who are not capable. If it is possible he can bring a Ministerial Statement. I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr.
Speaker. Questions are now coming through the back door. The point of privilege comes to you and you direct it to the relevant Minister to comply with what has been said instead of me giving an answer. Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: That question should be directed to the Minister of Transport who is not here.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. It is to do with the women in Hwange who have been demonstrating for a very long time. This issue was mentioned in Parliament in front of the Speaker. The Leader of Government responded to it and the Minister of Mines responded to it but there has not been any official statement pertaining to that issue. We were entrusted by the women to come and discuss this issue when we visited there as the Committee on Mines and Energy. I do not know the best way forward to address that situation. We remain guided by you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mliswa and I am
sure the Minister responsible will pick it from the Hansard. We need
him to make a Ministerial Statement as soon as possible. Thank you very much for those concerns.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF USER FRIENDLY
DISABILITY POLICIES IN THE HEALTH SECTOR
- HON. UTA asked the Minister of Heath and Child Care to explain to the House Government’s position regarding formulation and implementation of user friendly disability policies in the health sector.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. We
recognised that the State must take appropriate measures within the limits of resources available to it to ensure that persons with disabilities realise their full mental physical potential including measures to enable them to become self reliant, live with their families and participate in social, creative and recreational activities. They should also be protected from all forms of exploitation, abuse and to give them access to medical psychological functional treatment and to provide special facilities for their education as well as to State funded education and training where they need it. But, guided by our Constitution on Sections 22 and 83, the relevant international conventions such as the United Nations
Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities, in particular Articles 20, 25 and 26 that specifically mentions the responsibilities of the health sector, the World Health Organisation Global Disability Action Plan, the Better Health for All People with Disabilities; in this context, my Ministry is committed to leaving no one behind in its interventions on persons with disabilities among the targeted populations which have specific programming in view of the challenges they face in assessing and accessing services. Herewith some of the measures that we have taken in place...
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, let us lower our whispers please.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: The Ministry of Health
and Child Care have a rehabilitation since 1980 that works together with organisations of people living with disabilities and sectors working in the disability field as well as facilitating linkages with other health programmes. This set up provides a strong platform for persons with disabilities and their organisations to constantly update the Ministry on their needs within the broader health context. The process to further develop the framework and strategy for disability and rehabilitation services within the health sector is underway. We are doing health promotion, prevention and treatment.
Organisations of people with disabilities are aware of the policies and have platforms for communicating and implementing their work in their constituencies their work. The work will involve national disability board, the ward and village committees. A key recommendation from the 2013 survey is to include disability in all population surveys so that we have disaggregated health statistics on people on with disabilities to better inform our programming. This recommendation has been taken on board and the Ministry is ensuring that all surveys, including those done in collaboration with ZIMSTATS, do include some questions and some issues on disability so that such data is readily available.
Another area of major importance is improving access to people with disabilities by reducing communication and attitudinal barriers. To this effect, the Ministry has an ongoing programme of training health providers in disability awareness and we are also in the process of developing a sustainable strategy of having frontline health workers trained in sign language. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
CONSTRUCTION OF CLINICS IN ZAKA DISTRICT
- HON. M. D. V. MAWERE asked the Minister of Health and Child Care, when the Ministry would commence construction of the following clinics in Zaka District: Dekeza Ward 29; Bota Central Ward
24 and Vanyoro Ward 23.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.
SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Currently
there is no fiscal space to support the construction of the three mentioned clinics in Zaka District. However, the Ministry is planning and is pushing for the construction of health posts in all wards nationally. Furthermore, the Ministry has managed to secure funding and launching of the programme of health post in Mashonaland Central and that will eventually spread to other districts and provinces. We will continue to lobby for support from possible donors and partners on infrastructural development as every citizen is supposed to have access to health facility within 8 km radius. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. GUZAH: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My supplementary is
with regards the village health centres that he is speaking about. I think on 29th July, 2015, the Minister spoke in this House and indicated that they are going to rollout village health centres in all the wards in the rural areas. Up to now, there is nothing that is happening. May the Minister respond to that?
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir. It is true that we had a vision that time. We talked about it that this is our aim to be able to decentralise the health system so that each health centre is surrounded by health posts. We put it to you in 2015 and 2016 as a vision and then we put up the plan. We now have the plan and we are rolling out that now. We are starting with Mashonaland Central where we have already got funding for it. We have put up one health post in Nyanga District with the help of Zimpost, a health post is really a health post it is not a clinic.
When we put it in Nyanga, it was misinterpreted as a big hospital or a clinic. It is a health post which will provide very essential first line treatment and also to educate people around in terms of pregnancy, snake bites and general welfare and hygiene of the people. It is a health post and each health centre, we hope will have these village health posts around so that they fit into the health centre and the health centres fit into the district hospital and the district hospital to the province and et cetera. Yes, that time we mentioned it as a vision but now we have started as a pilot in Mashonaland Central.
STATISTICS OF KIDNEY PATIENTS
- HON. M.D.W. MAWERE asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to provide statistics of people suffering from kidney disease in the country.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Mawere for his question. The number of people from chronic renal failure, the latest statistics we have are from 2014, that is when we did a survey. They were aged from 024 years and from 25 years and above.
We had 2 609 people and we have divided them according to the provinces. In Mashonaland East those between 0 and 24 years were 9; those above 25years were 168. In Mashonaland West, those below 24 were 4 and those above 25 were 220. In Mashonaland Central, those below 24 were 9 and those above 25 were 313. In Matabeleland North, below 24 was 1 and above 25 were 103. Matabeleland South, those below 24 were 7 and above 25 were 82. In Midlands below 24 were 10 and above 25 were 314. In Manicaland, below 24 were 40, above 25 were 17. In Masvingo, below 24 were 33 and above 25 were 191. In Harare Province, those below 24 were 74 and above 25 were 322. In
Chitungwiza it was 26 below 24 years and 133 above 25years. In
Bulawayo, it was 56 below 24 years and 559 above 25 years.
These renal conditions are not on the top ten out of outpatient or inpatient conditions but they are a very important constituents and the following statistics for children only for 2011 to 2015 in those ages. We have given you the statistics and I am not sure why there was such an increase in 2013 but generally we believe that there may be under reporting of these cases as they rely on clinical specialists to make definite diagnostics. These are located mostly in Harare and Bulawayo in some but not all provincial hospitals.
The main causes of these diseases as the 26th World Kidney Disease and Children, it states attention must be drawn to the fact that kidney disease can start at an early age and that prevention needs to be done early. In our part of the world, infections are a big contributor to kidney disease. However, trauma like road traffic accidents or accidents in general is a big cause. Congenital diseases, which means the disease you are born with; the type of constitution you are born with; drugs those who ingest certain drugs and certain side effects of certain drugs or chemicals may cause chronic insult to our kidneys as does some chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, mellitus, high blood pressure and others. Common urinary tract infections to acute what we call glomerulonephritis, all these predispose children to a life of kidney or renal failure if not adequately addressed.
Prevention of infections in children through nationwide programmes such as the promotion exclusive breastfeeding in the first 18 months of life, the issue of vaccination programmes which we must take very seriously. If babies are exclusively breastfed, they benefit immensely from the maternal antibodies for the soldiers that fight diseases which ward off many infections are agents from causing them diseases but also vaccinations give them further benefit of preventing septicemia and other infections. We also try to identify and treat infections early before they spread. We have also put in place a national mass treatment campaign targeting bilharzia. We know that bilharzia has been a neglected disease and causes intestinal worms. There are a lot of people who are sitting here who do not know that they have intestinal worms but we are trying to deworm people and achieving population coverage with a drug called praziquantel that kills the bilharzial parasite, will diminish the chances of chronic kidney disease. We know that bilharzia, the schistosoma themselves infect the bladder, when that bladder is infected causes problems with the renal system.
We currently do not have a budget line for this. I thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
HON. M. D. V. MAWERE: Is the Minister aware that those patients going for dialysis are not getting blood O Negative, it is not available. What effort is he doing?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Can you come closer, we cannot
hear you from the back.
HON. M. D. V. MAWERE: I was saying is the Minister aware that O Negative blood is not readily available for patients going for dialysis.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir. I think what we will do is to get a specific area that he is talking about where there is that nonavailability of blood O and relating it to kidney disease. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. In relationship to kidney transplant and dialysis, what is Government policy regarding the donor policy for vital organs including kidneys from those that would have passed on? Also, included here is the heart transplant and the donation of the same and the sexual organs transplant and the donations of the same. What is Government policy relating to vital organs donation from those that would have passed on but who have vigorous and vital organs that are still functional and are able to be used by those that are still living?
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Thank you very much. I
really appreciate Mr. Speaker that very futuristic question. What we are hoping to do obviously, when we do transplants, not only of kidney or heart or brain, we will have an intact policy that deals with vital organs. That will be put and passed through this Parliament so that we are all aware and alert that if you want to donate, what do you have to do. That has to be put in place and it is not in place yet. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: In view of the fact that we have no Ministers now to answer the rest of the questions that have remained here, we now move on to Notice of Presentation of Bill by the Hon.
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. I think it must be put on record that the fact that there are no Ministers to answer, it is not supposed to be washed away. It must be noted and it must be a matter of concern to the nation. When we started our Session today, there was understanding that Ministers will trickle in but hardly did we have any Minister since we started up to now. It must be a cause of concern bearing in mind that when we moved into the new dispensation, there was an appreciation that we are going to have a different move of culture but we hardly have any difference, it is getting worse. That must be noted as a matter of concern that our Leader of the House, Hon. Ziyambi must take cognisance and must as well address that as a matter of urgency to probably speak to His Excellency to address this matter before elections so that we probably see something better from the new dispensation because everything is getting worse.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order. Hon. Member, I think you are being honest. I did promise that Ministers were coming in and indeed they came in. I thought what your concern could be is that they left early without attending to the questions. That could be your concern, otherwise, they did come in. I am advised that the Minister of
Energy has given the answers to his questions to the Leader of the
House. In that case, we revert to questions.
COST OF RADIO AND TELEVISION LICENCES
- HON. UTA asked the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services to explain why the cost of radio and television licences are higher than those obtaining in the region.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE
ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. S. K. MOYO): Mr. Speaker
Sir, I want to thank Hon. Uta for the question. Allow me Mr. Speaker Sir to address the issue of the licencing at two levels, at the regulatory and operational level. At the regulatory level, whilst the issue of comparing fees levied in different economies is not straight forward as different economic factors come into play, the following are contributory factors to the relatively higher radio and television licence fee charges in Zimbabwe when compared to the region.
The first one Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act, sustenance of the Authority’s operations is through licence fees, penalties and fiscal support. Over the years, the Broadcasting
Authority of Zimbabwe has not received sufficient support from the fiscus to sustain its operations, a move that prompted the regulatory authority to review its licence fees in 2011 to address the issue.
Secondly, the issuance of radio and television licences as set out in the Broadcasting Services Act, [Chapter 12:06], requires the licensing authority, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe to conduct public inquiries to allow for public participation in determining the suitability of applicants to be licensed. Furthermore, during any licensing process, the number of board and board committee meetings also increases as applications need to be evaluated. These requirements present a significant budget to the Authority, which would ordinarily be offset through fiscal support to sustain the licensing process.
It should also be noted that most licensing regulators in the region are converged regulators who licence both broadcasting and telecommunication services. This scenario makes it easier to apply crosssubsidisation between broadcasting and telecommunication licensing and regulation, thereby lowering the licence fees for broadcasting since telecommunication generates significantly higher regulatory revenues which easily absorb all licensing regulatory costs.
In view of the funding challenge that the Authority faces, against numnerous calls for radio and television licences to be issued, the Authority reviewed its licence fees in 2011 to a level that closely makes the licensing and regulatory burden selfsustaining. This move by the Authority, although presenting a potential barrier to entry for broadcasting applicants, has enabled the Authority to meet the bulk of its operational costs and to kick start any licensing process, resulting in the issuance of ten new radio licences since 2011.
As it stands, the annual licence fees are pegged at %15 000 for national commercial radio, $18 000 for national commercial television, $5 000 for local commercial radio and $1 000 for community radio.
Mr. Speaker Sir, at the operational level, the television and radio licence fees currently being charged by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation (ZBC) seem to be higher than those obtaining in the region. South Africa charges around US$25, Zambia, US$18 and Botswana, US$15, just to sample a few. All the mentioned public broadcasters receive budgetary support by way of direct grant from Government to complement the licence fees collection contrary to the current practice in this country where ZBC does not get any financial assistance from the fiscus.
National or public broadcasters are the custodians of the national mandate and this cannot be entirely funded from the commercial revenues as this compromises the social obligation of keeping the nation informed. The funding method ensures security and stability in order to guarantee smooth delivery of the national mandate.
Zimbabwe is still using the analogue technology which has a lot of overheads, which makes it costly to run broadcasting operations. The technology has to be supported by additional unavoidable cost such as Transmission Data Circuits from TelOne, high electricity consumption per transmitter and so on. However, this is expected to significantly improve after migration to digital technology where some of these costs will be eliminated. The major use of the licence fees is content generation in line with the provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act (Chapter 12.06), which imposes certain obligations on the public broadcaster under the Seventh Schedule (Section 11(1) (b1) as follows; The broadcasting service operated by a public broadcaster shall;
- Make programmes available to Zimbabweans in all the languages commonly used in Zimbabwe;
- Reflect both the unity and diverse cultural and multilingual nature of Zimbabwe;
- Strive to be of high quality in all the languages served;
- Provide news and public affairs programming which meets the highest standards of journalism, and which is fair and unbiased and independent from Government, commercial or other interests;
- Enrich the cultural heritage of Zimbabwe by providing support for traditional and contemporary artistic expression;
- Strive to offer a broad range of services aimed in particular at children, women, the youth and the disabled;
- Include programmes commissioned from independent producers;
- Include programmes featuring national sports as well as developmental and minority sports;
These requirements should be discharged in a manner that is free from commercial pressures, hence, the need for licence fees.
As alluded to earlier on, the digitalisation programme will result in the drastic reduction of the licensing fees to affordable rates mainly anchored by the technology which is going to improve compliance. Complementary to the programme will be improved advertising revenue as the number of channels increase naturally pushing the license fees rates downwards. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
CRITERIA USED BY THE NATIONAL TELEVISION ON THE
CONTENT
- HON. UTA asked the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services to state the criteria used by the national television to check whether the content resonates with the public viewers.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE
ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MEDIA AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. S. K. MOYO): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank Hon. Uta for asking the question. It is critical for the national broadcaster, ZBC to produce content which meets the expectation of the viewers. In this manner, broadcasting will become useful to the nation.
Your national broadcaster, ZBC has employed a multiplicity of methods to find out what the viewers want to watch on television. These are as follows:
Audience Research
ZBC carries out Audience research as a way of finding out what viewers want to watch on television. A reputable research institute, Select Research, carried out one such audience survey and I am reliably informed that the corporation is still referring to the findings of this survey. This is one effective tool, which the national broadcaster employs.
ZAMPS Results
The national broadcaster also uses the Zimbabwe All Media
Products (ZAMPS) research to gauge what viewers want to see. The ZAMPS research, which is not specifically targeted at ZBC products alone, but all media as the name implies, helps the national broadcaster to appreciate if the content on air is still liked by the audience and adjustments are then made accordingly.
Application of questionnaires
The national broadcaster has also used various public functions to administer questionnaires randomly, which enable viewers to state their views on programming, and such views are taken seriously in the scheduling of programmes.
Social Media Feedback Platforms
Most television programmes are becoming interactive through the use of social media platforms. Such platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhattsApp give viewers an opportunity to express their views on running programmes, thereby enabling the national broadcasting to know the impact of its content and adjust accordingly if need be.
Call Centre
Through the various telephone numbers of ZBC, viewers are also able to get in touch with the national broadcaster and give their views on programming. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE ELECTRIFICATION OF SCHOOLS AND CLINIC IN MHONDORO
MUBAIRA CONSTITUENCY
- HON. GANGARAHWE asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development when the following schools and clinic in
MhondoroMubaira Constituency will be electrified, considering that the connection fees were fully paid three years ago:
- Mavhudzi Secondary School in Ward 8;
- Marowa Primary School in Ward 9;
- Mufuka Primary School in Ward 9;
- Mazorodze Secondary School in Ward 9;
- Mhondoro North Clinic in Ward 9; and
- Chimatira Primary School.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT
(HON. S. K. MOYO): Mr. Speaker Sir, let me hasten to say that all the 5 schools’ points are now connected, that is Mavhudzi Secondary School in Ward 8; Marowa Primary School in Ward 9; Mufuka Primary School in Ward 9; Mazorodze Secondary School in Ward 9; Mhondoro North
Clinic in Ward 9; and Chimatira Primary school.
As for the Mhondoro North Clinic in Ward 9, the institution failed initial inspection and has been advised to rectify the defects. Connection is anticipated by end of March 2018 subject to rectification of the defects by the institution. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
TRANSMITTER FOR TELEVISION SIGNAL IN MUZARABANI
CONSTITUENCY
- HON. MUFUNGA asked the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services to inform the House when the Ministry would set up a transmitter for television signal in Muzarabani
Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) on behalf of THE
ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MEDIA AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. S. K. MOYO): Mr. Speaker
Sir, I want to thank Hon. Mufunga for asking that question.
The Muzarabani area is one of those parts of Zimbabwe that currently do not receive any Zimbabwean television services due to the absence of television transmission to serve that area. Through the Zimbabwe Digital Broadcasting Migration Project, a television transmitter will be installed at St. Albert’s Mission to enable television services to be received by the population in Muzarabani and surrounding areas.
Although Muzarabani had been prioritised for digital television transmission equipment installation under the digitalisation project, a setback was encountered when it was established that the tower at St. Albert’s Mission needed to be replaced on account of structural unfitness to be installed with the television transmission equipment. Together with six other towers namely, Rutenga, Beit Bridge, Mt.
Darwin, Plumtree, Victoria Falls and Masvingo, the St. Albert’s Mission tower is earmarked for replacement under the 2018 budget allocation, followed by the installation of equipment, if provision is made, under the
2019 budget.
FIRST READING
MONEY LAUNDERING AND PROCEEDS OF CRIME
AMENDMENT BILL [HB, 4 OF 2018]
THE MINISTER OF LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) presented the Money Laundering and
Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill [H. B. 4, 2018].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Legal Parliamentary Committee.
FIRST READING
COMPANIES AND OTHER BUSINESS ENTITIES BILL [HB 3,
2018]
THE MINISTER OF LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI) presented the Companies and other
entities Bill [H. B. 3, 2018].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of privilege! Mr. Speaker Sir, it is good that we have the Minister of Sports and Culture here. It would be important for him to tell the nation about the dismal performance of the Cricket team. I think it is an issue which has affected the cricket loving fraternity of Zimbabwe, also affected from an international point of view.
The Minister must tell us why cricket performed dismally yet Cricket is one of the most funded sports in the country. So, I am glad that the Minister is here, I think the nation of Zimbabwe expects us to say something and not to be quiet. I think the Minister should issue a statement pertaining to the situation in cricket and the way forward.
Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu were fired for no reason, the board still remains, the board has fired all the coaches that have come but the board has never been fired itself. So, it is important for the Minister to Act according to Section 32 of the Sports and Recreation Act that he is empowered to dissolve the board and put an interim committee that will ensure that the smooth running of cricket goes. We need to enjoy the status that Zimbabwe used to enjoy when it came to cricket.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that the
House do now adjourn – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
HON. MARIDADI: On a point of order! My point of order is pertaining to an issue that has been raised by Hon. Temba Mliswa which is very pertinent. We expected that you would give a ruling and the Minister would then make a commitment that he comes with a statement. He is now a Minister of Government, you are no longer a boy who walks in the streets and you must give a press statement.
THE MINISTER OF SPORTS AND CULTURE (HON.
KAZEMBE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to sincerely thank the Hon. Member for raising such a pertinent issue and I would like to assure him that in the very near future, I will make a statement. The Hon. Member is very correct that the Zimbabwe Cricket Board fired the technical staff, from what I understand from him; he is quite perturbed. Under the same breath, it would also be premature to fire the board, that amounts to an immediate recreation which is exactly what he is he against. So, we will take the necessary steps to ensure that we get all the information and then I will prepare an official statement. I thank you.
HON. MLISWA: The issue of firing the coach Heath Streak was based on racism which is baseless. At no point has Hitesh has been racist and it is important that a tone be set in the country because we cannot have a situation where people accuse people being racist yet they are mismanaging the sport. As a Minister it is important, if you do not issue a statement then he admits that there is racism in sport.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: The Minister has already alluded that
he is going into it and then make a statement later. So, he cannot just make a statement from nowhere. He has to do his research and then make a ministerial statement. It had already been moved that the House do now adjourn and I had posed a question that is there any debate?
HON. GONESE: No, no, no there is debate. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I just wanted to point out that yesterday the Hon.
Minister moved a motion to suspend the provisions of the Standing
Orders relating to automatic adjournment until the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill. As such, Members of Parliament particularly on your left came geared up for the debate. This is a very critical Bill which is before us and we are willing and able to do justice to the Bill.
I just wanted to say it in the presence of the Hon. Minister that we are ready, we discussed it that Members wanted to have sight of the amendments which he came up with. Members have done so and we are ready for the debate. For that reason Mr. Speaker, we are not agreeable to the House being adjourned because the issue of the elections is a critical one. We all want to have free, fair, legitimate and credible elections. For that reason Mr. Speaker, it is in the interest of this country that we utilise the time that we have on our hands to ensure that we do justice to the debate on the Bill which is already before us. I am therefore not agreeable to the House adjourning Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Gonese and the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs (Hon. Ziyambi) approached the Chair.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order, you are not at a rally, take your seats please – [HON. MEMBERS: [Inaudible interjections.] Order Hon. Members, take your seats. Order, order Hon. Members, I now call for a division on the issue of those who want the House to adjourn and those who do not want the House to be adjourned.
HON. MUNENGAMI: On a point of order and on a point of privilege Hon. Speaker. This is a very important issue whereby you cannot call for a division. This is a very important aspect in as far as our elections are concerned. Hon. Members, we cannot be used to call for a division on this aspect. Let us debate the Bill; simple and simple and simple. Honestly, how can we be called for a division for something that will determine our future? How can we do that? Hon. Members, how can we allow such a scenario to happen?
HON. MUKWANGWARIWA: Hon. Speaker, there is no quorum.
HON. MUNENGAMI: We will never be used. We will never allow that. How can you divide the House on a serious issue that is very important? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – [HON. MUTSEYAMI: Taurai mafree and fair elections muZimbabwe not kuEurope.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order please, order please. I am going to repeat again that, I put the question that the House be now adjourned.
Hon. Members from the Opposition having shouted no.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Can you take your seats, I have heard your song please.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the House
adjourned at Five Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 10th April, 2018
The National Assembly met at a Quarterpast Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
VISIT BY THE CDF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, to date, 185
CDF payments have been processed. Consequently, the Constituency Development Fund Management Committee will be visiting your constituencies to monitor the progress of your projects.
In order to facilitate this exercise, Hon. Members are requested to inform the Secretariat of projects undertaken so far. Let me also remind you Hon. Members that the Member of Parliament who is the
Chairperson is the accounting officer of the funds allocated for his or her Constituency and must, for purposes of accountability, comply with the requirements of submission of returns as stipulated in the Accounting
Officer’s manual.
Please note that the submission of job cards is a requirement of the CDF constitution and must be complied with regardless of the size of the project.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS OF STANDING
ORDERS NUMBER 51, 62 (2) AND 139
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam
Speaker, I seek leave of the House to move that the provisions of Standing Orders Number 51, 62 (2) and 139 regarding the automatic adjournment of the House at Five Minutes to Seven 0’clock p.m. on sitting days other than a Friday and at Twentyfive Minutes past One o’clock on a Friday; Private Member’s motions taking precedence on Wednesdays after Question Time and Stages of Bills respectively be suspended with effect from today and for the next series of sittings in respect of the Government Business. We have urgent Government
Business that we want to dispose. We have the Electoral Amendment
Bill before the august House, Shop Licences Bill and the Insolvency Bill. I request that time be given to Government to expedite the processes. I accordingly move.
Motion put and agreed.
Some Hon. Members having been whispering to each other
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If I ask you what has been
said by the Minister I do not think you will be able to explain that.
MOTION
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS NO. 50, 62(2) AND 139
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. I move that the provisions of Standing Orders No. 50, 60(2) and 139 regarding the automatic adjournment of the House at Five minutes to Seven o’clock p.m. on sitting days other than a Friday and at Twenty Five minutes past One o’clock p.m. on Friday, private members’ motions taking precedence on Wednesdays after question time and stages of bills respectively, be suspended with effect from today, for the next series of sittings in respect of Government Business.
Motion put and agreed to.
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, Numbers 1 to7 be stood over until Order of the
Day, Number 8 has been disposed of.
HON. GONESE: Madam Speaker, I am just discussing with
the Minister before we accede to the suspension of those Orders Madam
Speaker, with your indulgence.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Madam Speaker,
after consultation with the Chief Whip of the Opposition, I withdraw and request leave of the House to revert to Oder Number 2 on the Order
Paper. I thank you.
SECOND READING
INSOLVENCY BILL [H. B. 11, 2016]
Second Order Read: Second Reading: Insolvency Bill [H. B. 11, 2016].
Question again proposed.
*HON MAKUNDE: Thank you Madam Speaker. This
Insolvency Bill is …
Hon. Members having been engaging in private conversations.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You can go to the Lobby, if you have something that you need to solve Cde Gandawa and Cde
Paradza
*HON MAKUNDE: This Bill is more easily understood by those with a legal background but it is an important Bill to be understood by the ordinary workers in industry. Madam Speaker I want you to know that I was part of the team that conducted public hearings on this Bill in Midlands and Hwange where we discovered that many companies were legally declared insolvent…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I think we
were on recess for some weeks and you need to talk to each other but we cannot discuss issues that happened during the holiday or wherever we were during the holiday, in this House. We have to listen to the debate that is going on from Hon. Members. We are towards the end of our parliamentary term, yet some of us still do not know our House procedures. We come here and make noise, discussing our own issues while we are expected to listen to the debate going on here, which is what Hon. Members should be doing.
*HON MAKUNDE: We toured the Southern Region conducting the public hearings and there are many companies negatively affected by these insolvencies. The challenges which were faced by people who were workers. In Bulawayo, we saw women who had gathered thinking that we had brought something for them. They are now young adults who were born whilst their parents were workers, but when these companies were dissolved, the companies started towing off their debts without paying the workers. So, it has led to the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe. I think even companies in greater Harare, some were affected and families were not compensated, but where they had debts, the companies paid them. They did not pay the labour which was being provided by those people.
As Government of the people, I think we should look at the recommendations which were given by Hon. Chasi. We should effect them like if the company is being liquidated. Our priority should be given to the people before we pay all these other debts. That is why I stood up Madam Speaker, that there is an outcry out there because some people who were staying in company houses were evicted. They were staying in company houses and their husbands were no longer employed. The companies were legally liquidated. For us not to have the same challenge, I think we should come up with laws that when companies are being liquidated, the workers should be paid first before other debts are honoured. Thank you.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the Insolvency Bill and I want to applaud the Minister for bringing this Bill. I am hoping that what I am going to say here is going to be a cure for a few issues that reside in companies that go for liquidation and people that go for insolvency.
Before this Bill was brought up, we requested for time in order to make sure that since it is technical, we ingest and then we also digest the Bill with a view of optimally and effectively debating on it.
However, there are two issues that I want to deal with. The first one which I am hoping has been quite well ventilated by other Members and the Committee is the issue of insolvency or liquidation purely based on the liabilities that are said to be far outweighing the assets that the company has. It is my fervent view and clarion call that a company should not go into liquidation purely based on that because we have some strategic companies. One such company is Air Zimbabwe and assuming this is what would have occurred at the time, NRZ would have also gone into liquidation and there are a lot of other Government entities and quasigovernment entities that would have gone into liquidation, but the Government quickly came in with the Joint Venture Act of 2016 and the Private Public Partnership (PPP) to bail out these companies, some companies whose debts have been warehoused so that they can be saved from liquidation.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order. It is very unfortunate Hon. Nduna that our records are telling us that you have debated on this. [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, we go along with the
procedures of this House. There is no negotiation and can you please take you seat Hon. Member.
HON. NDUNA: I ask to be heard Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, would you
please take your seat?
Hon. Nduna having spoken to the Clerk at the Table.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think we are going to leave Hon. Nduna to debate. He explained what happened on that particular day.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me this opportunity to ventilate these issues because they are key. I touched on companies that are of a strategic nature, which if they had been allowed to be liquidated purely based on their assets that are outstripped by their liabilities, we would not be where we are as a country. However, I applaud Government for warehousing some of the debts and taking over some of the debts in order that the country goes forward using those companies. One such company is COTTCO which was bailed out by Government to the tune of US$68 million. This had far reaching consequences and far reaching results. One amongst those issues is the resuscitation of David Whitehead standing on the shoulders of COTTCO because Government would have taken over the COTTCO debt which is a strategic company and it would have also looked at cotton farmers who had been given four seasons worth of cotton seed for free inputs to the tune of US$42 million.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members on my
right. What is happening today? Is it because of the primary elections? If you are discussing those issues please, this is why we have a lobby. Can you please proceed?
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker, I was busy talking about the COTTCO debt which was taken over by Government without which it would have gone into liquidation because its assets are far outweighed by its liabilities. That as it might be, if it had not been resuscitated,
David Whitehead today who have received US$2 million from ZAMCO and Government, is also on the path to recovery purely because we have not used liquidation as a rule of thumb for those ailing companies who in my view can be resuscitated in the same vein by extension, resuscitating other downstream industries and other downstream companies. I spoke of David Whitehead; it is also going to resuscitate forward and backward linkages mindful of the fact that it used to employ more than 4 000 workers. If we just shut our eyes and say let the law take its course,
what is going to happen is, we are going to take these companies to judicial management which is the manager for those companies who would have gone into liquidation.
What happens when a company is in liquidation and what happens when the judiciary manager takes over is a judicial manager is like a consultant; he is like a doctor. You pay consultation fee, whether the patient gets up from their ailing environment or they do not. The judicial manager will still get paid because they have been empowered by the court to preside over a company until it has been resuscitated. That as it might be, I ask that this House makes sure that we do not fall into the trap of enriching judicial managers as opposed to enriching the many. When you enrich a judicial manager, you are enriching one person, who is a consultant over a company which is under judicial management but when you take over a debt; when you indulge in triple P and when you give a grand to a company which is ailing, you empower the nation. In the same vein, you empower a lot of women who by the way are 62% of our population and if you empower a woman you have empowered a nation. What men can do, women can do better.
I want to say judicial managers have been given unfettered access in liquidation. Their powers should be curtailed by enacting the Insolvency Act. In the same vein, we need to also look at the Companies Act, Section 306, which gives unfettered access and movement of the judiciary manager in terms of his mandate when he carries out his duties on a company which is being liquidated. Madam Speaker, what you see happening is very unfortunate because when a company is in liquidation, whoever has got the prowess and the powers of presiding over that company is an individual or a small company formed of three people, that is formed by judicial managers.
What you see happening is, they quickly sell the remaining assets of that company and immediately pay themselves first. I want to agree with the preceding Hon. Member who debated before me in that what needs to be done is to take care of the legacy debt, in particular the creditor who in a lot of times than not, is the workers that form the majority creditors. I always want to refer to David Whitehead as a classic example. The workers are owed US$15 million. David Whitehead is worth US$20 million and the other creditors are owed about US$5 million. So if a judicial manager goes into such a scenario and makes sure that he sells the remaining assets, in this particular instance which are the real estate or buildings and the houses and then pays himself first before he liquidates the debt of the creditors who are the workers, it is quite unfortunate. This Bill should speak to and about that issue that needs to be number one priority in terms of issues that need to be dealt with after liquidation or during liquidation.
The judicial manager should have somebody presiding above him, which says he needs to first pay attention to the workers and then he needs to also pay attention to the creditors who have not been a form of a scheme of arrangement; who are not embedded in a scheme of arrangement, who are not included in a company share structure/restructuring. He needs to take care of those people first before he pays himself.
I have painted a scenario where a judicial manager is like a doctor, whether the patient has resuscitated or not; whether the patient goes to Nyaradzo and is dead or not, he will still get paid. So whether the company is resuscitated or not, the judicial manager is waiting there like a lion seeking whom he might devour; he will still get paid but as he sells those assets he should be the last in line in terms of payment. I am hoping that I have elucidated and well ventilated that point where the judicial manager should not have unfettered access and movement in the liquidating and in the form of liquidation of companies.
I then come to individuals and I want to touch on insolvency. Our
Constitution now outlaws imprisonment for a civil debt – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order in the House!
HON. NDUNA: Our present Constitution of 2013 outlaws imprisonment for a civil debt but recently, I saw a Constitutional Court wanting to strike off that provision in the Constitution, saying it was an unconstitutional provision and saying that anybody that owes anybody should pay their debt. I believe in all honesty that it is being a bit in the draconian side if the Constitutional Court will not on its own observe the Constitution, then there is flagrant violation of the Constitution. It is in my view that the document of 2013 as a Constitution was quite progressive in so many ways than one.
First and foremost, when somebody has been said to have failed to pay their debt, in my view and with my personal experience, sometimes it is the delay of payment of that debt and somebody should not be judged in terms of insolvency by what they have got in their bank account. There are people that have got a lot of assets including what you sit on at home which are couches and sofas, beds, bicycles and all that. So, we should go further than the general interrogation of somebody’s assets in terms of saying as long as they do not have money in the bank; as long as they do not have Mercedes Benz or BMW, then they are insolvent.
Madam Speaker, I speak like this because I have got my learned lawyer and solicitor who is behind me here; I believe in all honesty after having discussed this….
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do not see the Minister here, you are debating who will respond to that?
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker Maam, I do not know but I think it is standard procedure and I hope that he will read the Hansard. As I conclude, we were discussing one day with my learned lawyer and it is quite unfortunate that as long as a company is directed to be liquidated based on the assets that it has that far outweigh it upon by its liabilities; there are various avenues that we need to look at in particular, in this new dispensation which says Zimbabwe is open for business. Similarly, individuals are not supposed to be incarcerated for a civil debt Madam Speaker. I stand by the Constitution, Section one hundred and forty something, that speaks to and about lack of imprisonment for a civil debt. That should stand, no matter we have a Constitutional Court, it should not strike that constitutional section down.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to eloquently and effectively ventilate my issues on this Insolvency Bill that talks about liquidation of companies. I am hoping that we can take a cue from what has occurred in some ailing companies that are of a strategic nature, where Government has evoked the issue of the Triple ‘P’, the joint venture partnerships and has warehoused some of the debts. It has also taken over some of the debts with a view of resuscitating some of the downstream industries and some of the companies that are enjoined to these companies that are of a strategic nature. I want to thank you Madam Speaker and I say good afternoon.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to add a few words on this Bill. The way I see it Madam Speaker is that before a company is liquidated, it is like a company would have spent 12 months without paying workers but aware that they do not have money. The owner of the company will be living a luxurious life, driving so many cars while workers are not paid. I think it is good for the Government to investigate that person properly for that company to be liquidated while an employer spends twelve months without paying workers. I think as a Government, we are lost somewhere because we look at liquidators; it is as if we are making other people rich. The Government is there to help these companies. We have legal aids that help people that do not have money if they commit any crime. They represent people freely. The Government should pay civil servants that are liquidators; those that do not want money but are there to help because they are paid by the Government. If I am a liquidator, it means that what other Hon. Members have said, that is what happens. Liquidators first pay themselves. As the Government of the people, we should have legal aid lawyers who are liquidators so that we do not give money to the liquidators at the expense of the workers. For sure,
Madam Speaker, if you see companies that were liquidated and how the workers are suffering, it is very painful.
For example, ZESCO, the war veterans company, it was handed over to a liquidator and the liquidator is taking all the money that is getting in and awarding himself a salary. The only money that remains is $35 but the ZESCO building gets about a hundred thousand. He says his salary is $95 thousand per month because there is no one who follows him up. Therefore, I agree with other Hon. Members that the liquidators should not be people we just pick from the streets or make certain companies as liquidators. The Government should see how people are suffering like it did when it puts in place the Legal Aids. If you go to the courts, you will find that at each and every court, there are lawyers who are there to help people but there are no liquidators.
I think this Bill should really be amended. It is a good Bill but it should pass after thorough investigations have been done on what help people get when it comes to this Insolvency Bill. If we pass this Bill without looking at how people are suffering, we will not be doing any justice. If it is not looked at properly on how people are going to get help, I will not like it. It should be amended and the Government should provide free lawyers to the people who will be liquidators so that we will not make some people rich. If we look at the companies that are folding, you will find that the owners are driving Mercedes Benz and they are externalising their funds overseas. I think the companies should be investigated on why they are liquidated. People will be doing so deliberately, so if they do not pay their workers and they are in debt, they will apply for liquidation. Recently, we heard that the RBZ said companies went and banked money outside. Some of the companies that are liquidated have foreign bank accounts. Full investigations should be made and the Government should be responsible for liquidators instead of us picking up people and call them liquidators. I thank you.
HON. RUNGANI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. KWARAMBA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I move that we
revert back to Order of the Day, No. 5.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
SHOP LICENCES AMENDMENT BILL (H.B. 10, 2016)
Fifth Order read: Second Reading: Shop Licences Amendment Bill
(H.B. 10, 2016).
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker, I move that the Bill be read the second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time
COMMITTEE STAGE
SHOP LICENCES AMENDMENT BILL (H. B. 10, 2016)
House in Committee.
Clause 1 to 6 put and agreed to.
On Clause 7:
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Chairperson. I intend to bring amendments to Clause 7, therefore I request, with the leave of the Committee that you report progress and then we continue tomorrow when I would have brought in the amendments. I thank you. Can Clause 7 be stood over until the rest have been disposed of and then proceed to report progress and we do Clause 7 tomorrow. I thank you.
Clauses 8 to 16 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Committee to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018
MOTION
BUSINESS OF HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you
Madam Speaker. I move that we revert to the fourth order on today’s
Order Paper
SECOND READING
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL [H. B. 7, 2017]
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA): Madam Speaker, thank you very
much. The Public Health Bill, 2017 is really an amendment Bill. It seeks to replace, seeks to update and to align to the Constitution the law relating to public health. The present Public Health Act was passed as far back as 1924 and it needs updating to meet the current health challenges and needs of our population. When that Bill was passed in 1924, a lot of other issues have happened in between. The Bill seeks to introduce the following new features to the Bill:
- The introduction of Annual National Health Forum to be convened by the Public Health Advisory Board to discuss pertinent public health issues;
- The new provision is also for provincial and district health administration; and
- It seeks rights and duties in public health to align with section 76 of the Constitution – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Next time I am going to name some other Hon. Members here. Instead of listening to the stories you are telling to each other, why not listen to the Minister of Health, this issue touches everybody in your constituency.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: The Bill also seeks to look at prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The Bill looks at compulsory immunisation of children and incapacitated persons. This is a very new innovation where some sections of communities would refuse to be immunized. So, the Bill seeks to make it compulsory where it is necessary. It looks at water safety and sanitation including waste management. As you are aware, this is the source of our current outbreaks of typhoid, cholera and other diarrheal diseases.
The Bill looks at International Health Regulations. These are regulations where in between states, what are the provisions that can be made to make sure that if your are passing through states, for example, if a country has got yellow fever, do you stop all the people who are coming into your country where there is no yellow fever – what do you do. It also looks at establishment and objects of public health funds, this is a very important area because, really health funding is a key issue.
The Bill also looks at the declaration of a state of public health emergency. There are disasters that happen and we want to make sure that it is covered in this particular area. It also looks at penalties of noncompliance. So, it is a very comprehensive Bill which I hope that this House and together with our Parliamentary Committee on Health will look at and they will be able to assist us so that we look at public health in a completely new perspective.
HON. DR. LABODE: Thank you Madam Speaker. The joint committee of health and HIV met today to deliberate on the report and the report is not yet ready so we are requesting for an adjournment until the 8th of May, 2018 when the report will be ready.
HON. SEN. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Obviously, I would have
wanted it earlier but we want to respect our Portfolio Committee on
Health.
HON. MATUKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. RUNGANI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11th April, 2018.
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, Numbers 5 to 8 on the
Order Paper be stood over until Order Number 9 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MEDIA,
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES ON THE
OPERATIONS OF LOCAL COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS IN
ZIMBABWE
HON. DHEWA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the First Report of the Portfolio Committee on
Media, Information and Broadcasting Services on the Operations of Local Commercial Radio Stations in Zimbabwe.
HON. HOLDER: I second.
HON. DHEWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I wish to present the report of the Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services on operations of commercial radio stations in
Zimbabwe.
Introduction.
The Government of Zimbabwe resolved to open up radio airwaves by issuing local commercial radio station licences in March 2015. The decision was motivated by the need to attract entrepreneurs in the broadcasting business as well as promote pluralism and diversity in media ownership and operations. The issuance of the local commercial radio stations licences marked the end of the monopoly of the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC), a milestone development that was welcomed by media practitioners, civil society and the public. Against this background, the Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services resolved to conduct an inquiry into the operational status of the recently licensed radio stations.
Objectives of the Inquiry.
The Committee was motivated to achieve the following goals;
- To appreciate the challenges faced by local commercial radio stations in establishing a viable broadcasting system; 2. To familiarise itself with the radio broadcasting systems; and
- To offer relevant policy recommendations.
Methodology.
In its quest to gather information, the Committee conducted an oral evidence session on 9th February 2017, with the then Minister for
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Dr. C. Mushowe. He briefed the Committee on the Government’s policy on the issuance of local commercial radio stations as well as an update on the operations of the eight commercial radios. The Committee conducted a tour of local commercial radio stations from 19th to 25th June 2017.
Committee’s Findings.
Oral Evidence Session with Hon. Dr. Mushowe.
In his presentation, the Minister highlighted that in the issuance of local Commercial Radio Stations licences, the Government was guided by the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) (Chapter 12:06) which provides for the regulation of broadcasting services bands. The Act also provides for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), licensing authority on matters pertaining to broadcasting services.
The Minister stressed that the criteria applied by the Authority on the issuance of all licences is provided for in Section 8 of the BSA which outlines persons disqualified. Section 10 provides for the procedure applied by the Authority and also to be followed by the applicants in the licensing process. These procedures entail the Authority inviting applications for licences through publication in a national newspaper and in the Government Gazette. This is followed by the submission of applications in the form prescribed by the Authority and the publication of applicants within prescribed timeframes. Any person with an objection to any application may lodge the objection with the Authority. The Authority shortlists those applicants who may qualify to be issued with licences using criteria provided in terms of Section 8 of the BSA. The shortlisted applicants are subjected to a public inquiry to determine each applicant’s suitability. The Authority conducts a final adjudication of the applications to determine those applicants who should be issued with licenses.
The BAZ invited applications for the provision of local commercial radio broadcasting services in 25 areas of the country in 2013 following the completion of a frequency allotment plan. The licence areas were as follows: Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru,
Kwekwe, Kadoma, Masvingo, Chinhoyi, Kariba, Chegutu, Rusape,
Zvishavane, Chiredzi, Redcliffe, Bindura, Victoria Falls, Karoi, Beitbridge, Chipinge, Chirundu, Hwange, Gwanda, Marondera, Lupane and Plumtree.
The Authority received twentyone applications from nine out of twentyfive areas. The Authority shortlisted 18 applicants who qualified to be issued with licences on the basis of the qualification criteria under the BSA. Out of the 18 applicants, five applicants failed to pay the public inquiry fees of US$7 500 00 per applicant and one applicant withdrew from the licensing process. Twelve applicants, therefore, appeared before the Authority in public inquiries to determine the suitability of the applicants to be issued with licences and these applicants were in eight areas, namely, Masvingo, Zvishavane, Gweru, Mutare, Kariba, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Harare.
On the basis of the application submitted by each applicant, the outcome of the public inquiries and the guidance provided in terms of the BSA, the Authority conducted its final assessment of the applications to determine those applicants who were to be issued with licenses. The licences were issued as follows for the respective licence areas;
Masvingo – AB Communications trading as (t/a) HevoiFM, Zvishavane
– Ray of Hope t/a YAFM, Gweru – AB Communications t/a 100.4FM,
Kariba – Kingstons t/a NyaminyamiFM, Victoria Falls – Fairtalk
Communications t/a BreezeFM, Mutare – Zimpapers t/a DiamondFM, Bulawayo – Fairtalk Communications t/a Skyz MetroFM and Harare –
Kingstons t/a Capitalk 100,4 FM.
The licences had a statutory obligation to provide the service within eighteen months of being issued with a licence. The licences for the eight local commercial radio stations were issued in March 2015 and had up to September 2016 to go on air or risk suspension or cancellation of those licences.
Oral evidence session with Mr. Muganyura, BAZ Chief
Executive Officer.
In his presentation, Mr Muganyura highlighted that BAZ issued eight licenses in Masvingo (Hevoi), Mutare (Diamond), Kariba (Nyaminyami) Gweru, Vic Falls, Zvishavane, Bulawayo and Harare. The licensed radio stations had a time limit of 18 months to be operational and seven failed to meet the deadline. However, all are now operational with some installing state of the art equipment. In terms of programming, he noted that most of them used to play music but were now broadcasting better content. In terms of viability, Mr. Muganyura noted that it seems most of the radio stations were struggling which can be attributed to the harsh economic environment, high costs of establishing the studios and competition among other factors. He however, emphasized that they were still to receive their financial statements to really determine their capacities. Two out of eight stations were reported to have paid up their license fee at US$5000 per year. Furthermore, he noted that the policy to restrict the stations to a 40km radius might need to be reviewed as it did not take into account the economic and social effects of the area.
Study Tour of Local Commercial Radio Station.
The Committee undertook a study tour of commercial radio stations from the 19th – 25th June 2017. The Committee visited Capitalk FM owned by Kingstons Holdings, Diamond FM Zimpapers, HevoiFM and MidlandsFM owned by AB Communications and SkyFM and BreezeFM owned by Fair talk Communications. Below is a summarized report of the study.
Programming and Languages.
The Committee was informed that the local commercial radio stations strive to broadcast using various languages that are recognized by the Constitution. The radio stations have a similar model for programming whereby a weekday is characterised by an early morning, a midmorning, afternoon, evening and night shows. All the radio stations are broadcasting 24 hours a day. Capitalk is a premier talk radio station, hence their programmes are characterised with discussion topics only whilst the other radio stations has a mixture of both music and discussions. Their programmes encompass sports, politics, economics, technological matters, news, and music among others targeting various age groups. Below is a table reflecting the languages that are used by each radio station.
Radio Station | Languages |
CapitalkFM | English, Isindebele, Shona |
DiamondFM | English, Shona, Ndau, Manyika, Jindwi, Chibunji, Chiungwe Portuguese |
HevoiFM | English, Isindebele, Chishona (Karanga), Shangani |
MidlandsFM | English, Isindebele, Shona |
SkyFM | English, isiNdebele, Shona, Venda, Kalanga, Suthu, Xhosa |
BreezeFM | English, Isindebele, Shona, Tonga, |
Transmission and Broadcasting Radius.
The Committee was informed that although transmission was being well received, certain areas had challenges which were attributed to the terrain of the areas. DiamondFM in Mutare appeared the most affected due the mountainous nature of the area. A worrisome circumstance is also the failure of transmission to reach Esigodini which is within the 40km radius of SkyFM. Therefore, gap fillers were recommended to be installed. All the radio stations noted that the statutory obligation to broadcast within a 40km radius was restrictive on revenue base as advertisers were shying away on the basis that they were broadcasting to a smaller population.
Marketing and Advertisement.
The Committee was informed that due to the current harsh economic environment characterised with liquidity challenges, many companies had reduced marketing budgets and were shying away from radio stations. In addition, the radio stations are facing existing competition from local newspapers that are charging low rates. Local commercial radio stations are fairly new, hence companies are also reluctant to advertise on radio. However, most of the radio stations had shown innovation and were already making profits or breaking even.
DiamondFM and SkyFM were making profits. Capitalk, HevoiFM and MidlandsFM expressed capacity to break even since they were still in their infant stage when the Committee visited them. BreezeFM reported that they were facing profitability and sustenance issues. SkyFM reported that they were attracting advertisers from South Africa which was a positive development. YAFM reported that due to high fixed cost structure including BAZ license fees, rentals, salaries and wages, transmission costs and low revenue, the station experienced losses for the financial year 2015, 2016 and the first five months in 2017. The losses were attributed to the economic hardships and the shrinkage in advertising.
Security.
In terms of security, the Committee was informed that radio stations were technologically secured through Automated System and
Modular Shutdown (ASMS) which can broadcast from Transmitter sites,
Studios and remote sites. YaFM made reference to the “Engineer Briefcase” which can broadcast from anywhere provided internet is available. The Remote Shutdown has selfdestruction capacities. Although, technologically the radio stations are secured their infrastructure was compromised due to the absence of security guards. All the radio stations had no state security except for SkyFM, who also indicated to the Committee that they had a commercial contract with ZRP for the security. It is important to highlight that the 1994 Rwanda genocide was started by irresponsible radio stations and therefore, local commercial radio stations should be equally regarded as institutions of national interest and considered under the Protected Places Act, so that soldiers and police officers offer security to radio stations for free. State security should be considered because the state has a national interest in their operations.
Challenges.
All the radio stations reported common challenges such as the hesitancy of the market to advertise with them since they are still new, general low uptake in advertising because of the current economic challenges and existing competition with local newspapers that are charging lower rates than them. In addition, the restrictive nature of the statutory obligations to broadcast within the 40km radius, failure to reach a 100% coverage because of the terrain, delays in securing foreign currency to import new equipment and a general misconception that they are community radio stations were some of the challenges.
Tour of Studios.
All the studios are installed with state of the art equipment. The Committee was informed that the equipment were digitally compliant resulting in high quality sound. In general, the studios include control, content production and broadcasting rooms. Some of the equipment include audio processor, studio interlink box, studio to transmitter link, back –up power system and monitoring system. Committee Observations.
The Committee deliberated and made the following observations;
- The Committee noted that most of the radio stations except for SkyFM in Bulawayo, had no proper security. The Committee reiterate the importance of state security, since the Rwanda genocide was initiated by radio stations. Although SKYFM had state security in the form of ZRP, the Committee was concerned that the arrangement was on commercial basis and may not take into consideration the national interests of the State.
- All the radio stations were facing high costs of establishing a broadcasting center coupled with insufficient foreign currency. This also contributed to their incapacity to fully broadcast within the required timeframe (18 months) after issuance of a license.
- The Committee noted that the requirement that the local commercial radio stations should broadcast within a 40km radius was detrimental to the operations of radio stations. CAPITALK in Harare targets 3.5 million people, whilst those outside Harare fall short of a meaningful target to attract advertisers.
- The Committee observed that most of the radio stations were housed in buildings that are not friendly to the people living with disability.
- Although most radio stations were broadcasting in languages that are spoken in their provinces respectively, the Committee noted that SKYFM was not broadcasting in Tonga. The Committee was satisfied with the operations of SKYFM who are already making profits and are able to subsidize their sister company
(BREEZEFM) in Victoria Falls.
- BAZ should consider installing gap fillers transmitter sites in areas that are not receiving transmission adequately.
- The local commercial radio stations are well installed with state of the art digitally compliant equipment.
Committee Recommendations.
The Committee recommends the following;
- That local Commercial Radio Stations must be properly secured with state security comprising soldiers and police by March 2018.
- The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services before 31st March 2018 should engage the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, on behalf of the radio stations to ensure that they are prioritized in foreign currency allocations.
- The local commercial radio stations licences by 31st March 2018 should be upgraded to provincial commercial radio stations that broadcast throughout their respective provinces to expand their market base as well to cover some of the areas that do not have transmission.
- The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services should intervene on behalf of radio stations to ensure that they are allocated prime land where they can build their own buildings before 31st March 2018.
- That local commercial radio stations should strive to broadcast in
all the languages that are spoken in a particular province by 31st March 2018.
- BAZ should readvertise in the other areas that previously failed to secure licence as there could be others who are interested in
registering commercial radio stations. This should be done by 31st
March 2018. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I also wish to thank the mover of the motion, the Chairperson…..
HON. HOLDER: On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I had seconded that motion, am I not supposed to debate first?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO)
The seconder is Hon. Maridadi as far as the records are saying here.
HON. HOLDER: He was not in the House Mr. Speaker but anyway, he can continue.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You can still come after him.
HON. MARIDADI: Hon. Holder you can debate after me. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the mover, Hon. Dhewa, Portfolio Committee Chairperson. It has taken a while for this report to be tabled before Parliament because some of the dates that are in that report have since passed. Allow me to flag a few important issues that are raised in that report and also issues that are of concern to Zimbabwe.
Firstly, we have a number of independent radio stations but if you ask me how many we have in this country, I will tell you that we have got only three independent radio stations – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members, can we
lower our voices; we need to hear the debate that is going on?
HON. MARIDADI: Mr. Speaker, I will tell you that essentially in Zimbabwe, we have got three independent radio stations. The reason I am saying this is because radio stations are either owned by ZBC, AB Communications or by Zimpapers. There is only one independent radio station that is owned by a Zimbabwean citizen, that is Skies Metro and the owners of Skies Metro also happens to be the owners of Breeze FM in Victoria Falls. So, essentially we have four people that own all radio stations in Zimbabwe; AB Communications, ZBC, Zimpapers and the owners of Skies and Breeze FM.
One of the reasons why the uptake of independent radio stations has been low is because of the cost structure of setting up a radio station. One thing that adds up to the cost structure is the licence fee. The fee that you must pay to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) for you to be able to get a licence for you to set up a radio station is very high. Secondly, the equipment that you need to set up a radio station is important. If you fail to get an allocation of foreign currency from the Reserve Bank, it means you must source your foreign currency on the black market. If you source your foreign currency on the black market, we know what happens. You buy a dollar at a price of $2, you pay 2 dollar bond notes in order to get one United States dollar. Also the equipment then pays duty, so that makes the cost structure of setting up a radio station very high.
Having said that, we have countries and other jurisdictions like Kenya; Kenya probably has as many radio stations as there are suburbs in the country. If this Portfolio Committee were to do recommendations for the country of Kenya, there are some things that they would not mention, like that the Minister should approach the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on behalf of radio stations in order to procure foreign currency. We would never recommend that because there are so many radio stations in Kenya.
Secondly, that all radio stations must be secured by members of the Zimbabwe National Army, we would not have that. Radio stations must be responsible for their security. One of the conditions for them to be able to get a licence is that they must satisfy the BAZ that they will be able to secure the premises from which they operate. National radio stations that are owned by Government like ZBC must be secured by Government because they are owned by Government. Government cannot incur an expense to look after or secure an independent radio station or television station.
There is this issue that was raised by the Portfolio Committee that the radius within which the radio station is supposed to transmit is too small. Technically, they are supposed to transmit within a radius of 40 km but the situation on the ground is that none of these radio stations can be able to be confined to a radius of within 40 km. Just driving along Lomagundi Road to Chinhoyi, Capitalk Radio Station which is based in Harare must be broadcasting within a 40 km radius of Harare but you get it almost beyond Mapinga, which is may be 60/70 km.
It is because technically, there is no way that you can confine their broadcasting frequency to a 40 km radius because of the technical equipment that we have. Also having said that, the business model that these radios stations are using to operate is such that they cannot be profitable. I hear in the Portfolio Committee reports, when you speak to these radio stations, they will tell you that they are profitable but there is not a radio station that I know in this country which is current in terms of paying their employees’ salaries. Some are two, three or four months behind, ZBC included. They do not pay their employees on time and salaries are a function of an organisation’s revenue.
One of the first cost that you incur when you get revenue is salary and when you fail to pay your salary on time, it means the company is not making a profit because the human resources are those that enable you to make that profit and if you fail to pay them, it means the company is not making a profit. So, there is this issue that they have broken even and they are making a profit; Mr. Speaker, it is not true. Radio stations and broadcasting institutions make a profit from advertising. If you ask me to count the number of advertisers that we have in Zimbabwe, I can count the fingers on my left hand and before I finish them, I will be stammering.
There is Econet, Telecel, Netone and there is Natbrew and there is nobody else. So, everybody who is publishing, be they newspapers, television stations or radio stations, they all go and queue at Econet, Telecel and Natbrew. This is a very dangerous situation because you can have Econet and Telone and these big advertisers actually colluding to determine the content that goes in a newspaper or radio station because without those advertisers, the radio station is dead.
I was thinking to myself that even if Econet had an advertising budget of $500 000 a month, it is the same $500 000 that must go to Zimpapers to all the newspapers of Zimpapers. It is the same $500 000 a month that must go to all ZBC’s radio and television stations; the same $500 000 that must go to all independent radio stations and that money is not enough. So, there is not a radio station in this country that can go around boasting that they are making a profit because they are not. If you ask me to justify my argument, I will say why are you not paying your people?
Mr. Speaker, let me now come to the other issue of then changing the business model or changing the requirements of a radio station to then become provincial radio stations because when you go to an advertiser, the first thing that an advertiser will ask you if you tell them to advertise on this lot, they want to know the listenership patterns. Listenership is what determines whether or not you are going to get advertisers. If your listenership at a particular time is 10 000 people and another particular time it is 100 000 people, the advertisers will always go to that time slot where more people are listening to your radio station. Now because of the area of broadcasting, radio stations are not able to attract a lot of people.
Let me talk about Capitalk, Capitalk is supposed to transmit within a 40 km radius of Harare. In the same city of Harare, there is ZBC with four radio stations; Zimpapers with another radio station, so we have about seven radio stations that are fighting for the same listener. It is different from what ZBC was like in 1992 when it was the only broadcasting station. It had 4 million people listening at any given time. Those 4 million people had no choice but to listen to ZBC but it was a question of whether they were listening to radio two, three or radio one but all of them were listening to ZBC at any time.
I remember there was a time when ZBC would then transmit news which is ready in one studio and it is transmitted to all four radio station. So, what it means is that listeners at one point at the top of the hour would listen to ZBC without choice because it was the only broadcasting institution which was transmitting. Now, having said that Mr. Speaker, the BAZ must cast their net wide. We cannot have a country that has only four people operating radio stations. We cannot have that. In South Africa, they have community radio stations where in Soweto alone, you have more than ten radio stations operating. In other countries, you have a community radio station operating, covering only four lines and people will have to dial the radio stations they want but in Zimbabwe that is not the case. I do not understand why Mr. Speaker, all radio stations should be run by the Zimpapers, AB Communications and the ZBC, as if these are the only people with monopoly of knowledge of how to run the radio stations. This is a very dangerous situation.
I am imagining a situation where these three owners of radio stations collude and one day they go on radio stations and say, no, the current President is no longer President, we have a new President. There will be chaos in this country. No one will contest them because those are the only three people that own radio stations. Mr. Speaker, the issue of Minister approaching RBZ on behalf of radio stations, to me is not sustainable. The role of the Minister is to come up with policy
governing the way radio stations operate and to come up with an environment that enables radio stations to operate. The Minister cannot get involved in sourcing foreign currency on behalf of radio stations. In any case, when you apply for a licence to start a radio station, you must be able to know what is in it for you. You must be able to know that you are getting into a business, when you get into a business, there is a risk and one of the risks of getting into broadcasting is that you might not get foreign currency to procure equipment for you to be able to transmit.
My recommendations Mr. Speaker are that; firstly, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe needs to change the area of transmission of a radio station. Secondly, they need to cast their net wide in terms of those that are able to run radio stations. I can guarantee you Mr. Speaker, they can give licences to as many people as possible but very few people will be able to transmit because operating radio station is not a ‘stroll in the park on a Sunday morning’. It is very expensive because you need advertising revenue. Without advertising revenue, you will not be able to survive. Mr. Speaker, with those few words, I rest my case and thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to debate. I thank you.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me thank the Chairperson for bringing this Report to this august House. There are few observations Mr. Speaker Sir, I am part of the ...
An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon.
Member debating.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am part of the
Committee that went on this tour. This tour was from the 19th to the 25th
June, as our Chairperson has alluded. We visited Capitalk F.M,
Diamond F.M, Hevoyi F.M, Midlands 98.4, Yaah F.M, Skies and Breeze. This is across the country Mr. Speaker. I heard the previous speaker, Hon. Maridadi alluding to the fact that in this country there are only four operators which is AB Communications, Zimpapers and Kingstonnes and staff like that. In Kenya, they are talking about community radio stations and these are commercial radio stations. There is a difference there because when the advertising was done for people to get radio station licences, they were over 25 applications and only a few made it. The rest did not make it.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there is a lot of interest around the radio stations where we went. You must know, when we arrived at every radio station, we take note of the security. If you go to Pockets Hill or you go to ZBC at Mbare, you will find there is the police and the army because you do not want a clown who would go in and hijack a radio station and say, I have taken over this country. So security is very important irrespective of all the technology that can take place. Government has an interest that at the end of the day, they have to control what is advertised and what is said. It is important that there be security system for these radio stations. You find that some of them are in residential areas, some in flats or tall buildings where they have offices. You will find that there is a problem with parking and in accessing the radio stations. In Masvingo, for example, I do not know how disabled persons would go to the studios because you have to climb the steps. I feel that Government should ask councils to allocate pieces of land where these radio stations can be built.
Mr. Speaker Sir, they will need to relocate to a more secure place and build something of their own. The reason that they are not making profit is that their rentals are high and the way the network is distributed, it will not reach certain areas. I think it is important to take note that
BAZ should get transmitters in between. When we were in Masvingo, 40 km radius is not going to do much because some of the customers are in Zaka, down in Chilongo, Chiredzi. They should come up with a system to say provincial radio licences will be good. It will give them marketing areas. Mr. Speaker Sir, you know ZUPCO is in Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru but the way they operate is that there are different programmes at each radio station. Hon. Maridadi mentioned that they are only three. He is talking about directors, he forgot there is Yaah F.M who is an independent guy born in Zvishavane. He got a licence and is operating on 100km along the dyke. I feel that if other stations could have that same sort of facility to say that let it become provincial licences, then in every province people will be able to get proper communication.
Over the years, it has been very difficult for people to be able to get radio from here to Beitbridge or up to Bulawayo. It is important and we must commend all those that have really tried. Mr. Speaker, no member in this country was given a community radio station licence, these are all commercial radio stations licences. I feel that it is very important for BAZ to try and reduce and put some sort of incentive. We cannot say that they are not making a profit, we can see their companies are already beginning to declare profit. Those are only trivial problems as something which was newly introduced into this country. We, in Zvishavane, Mberengwa, Chirumhanzu, we find that YA F.M is doing a magnificent job because we are getting information. Some of the people who live in remote areas like in Masvingo, down in Mushandike and
Mashava are able to have a choice to listen to YA F.M or Hevoi F.M. In some places, you will be able to get the National radio. As we all know, the National Radio also moves around with road shows and you see the turn out and see how many people are interested. It also encourages all those young artist and people who really want to get involved in media and broadcasting.
So, I tend to disagree with Hon. Maridadi to say that it is only a few. If he has a personal issue with Hon. Supa Mandiwanzira, I think we need to deal professionally with this issue…
HON. MARIDADI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. I do not recall mentioning Hon. Supa Mandiwanzira’s name. I talked about AB Communications, Zimpapers and ZBC, I do not recall talking about Hon. Supa Mandiwanzira, and I do not know where he is getting this from. This is the problem when somebody was a ‘G40’ and is about to be fired and is trying to curry favour.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I will rule you out of order, you have made a clear point.
HON. HOLDER: Hon. Speaker, I am not calling others names. I am very disappointed in Hon. Maridadi calling me a ‘G40.’ He is just part of that cabal. I do not know why he is carrying on like this.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order.
HON. HOLDER: The issue here Hon. Speaker, let me be honest with you; AB Communications is partly owned by Hon. Supa
Mandiwanzira. He is a director in that and that is what he is against. We are in the same Committee but we are trying to say, do not personalise issues. We need to deal with issues as they are and that is what we are trying to do.
HON. MARIDADI: It will be irresponsible for me if I allow this man to continue running his mouth like that. These are issues that are discussed in a Committee, why is he bringing them to Parliament? It is unfair if he starts to run his mouth like a mad fellow.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Maridadi, you are
equally not doing justice to that issue.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker for your protection. I am only trying to highlight. I allowed him to debate…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Holder. I may not
allow you to continue. Debate the issue of radio licences here.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you for your protection Mr. Speaker. What I was trying to say is that; as a Committee, we were on this trip together. We took note of all these radio stations throughout the country. There are different programmes on these radio stations, Capitalk is more characterized on topics which affect people on a day to day basis such as sport, politics, economics and so on. The other radio stations also got their programmes.
Therefore, I feel that it is important to support the recommendations that the Committee has put forward to widen out the area, 40kms is not good enough for these radio stations because some of the business people who advertise come from slightly further than
40kms, maybe 60kms or 100kms but they all rely on the radio stations to advertise. This is a good starting point as you can see that the radio stations that are running at the moment in Bulawayo, people are enjoying the Skies F.M and the different languages. They know the exact time when to listen. It is not being polarised to one particular programme. You will find that when you are bored by one station, you can tune in to another one.
As we travel along our highways to different towns, we tune in to different stations and before you even enter a certain area; you would know what is happening in that area as you get news in that area so that as you get there you know what is there.
Mr. Speaker Sir, issues of advertising and profits; when one plant, it takes time to reap. You cannot reap straight away. In Shona, there is a saying which says, ‘Pfimbi yegudo.’ In other words, if you plant something and you think it must be ready to reap straight away, you walk for three metres and come back to dig it up again and again, you cannot make a profit straight away. It takes a period of time to see that it begins to pay off. Having this as a first step, those remaining stations that have not been taken up, people need to apply. Mr. Speaker, you may fail once, but you put in an application and understand where you went wrong. Out of the 25, only a few made it. Besides that, it does not mean that they cannot apply again.
Mr. Speaker, the fees and the area are some of the main touchy issues. In those areas, security needs to be beefed up and we need to make sure of that. We are going towards elections now. YA F.M at one stage was attacked and they smashed all the windows and they had to get new windows to fix that radio station. That is the type of thing I am talking about. This is why we need police and the army to make sure that, that place is secure. We do not want a clown going on radio and shouting, ‘we have now taken over,’ and what not. So, we really want to say that security needs to be beefed up and the fees must be reduced. Let there be provincial radio stations. We also want to encourage that the 40km radius be increased and it should be about how much you are prepared to pay. Mr. Speaker, with those few words, I know Hon. Maridadi will still be upset with me, I want to just say to him, we are still friends Honourable, let us work together. I thank you Mr. Speaker
Sir.
HON. RUNGANI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. KWARAMBA: I second.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11 April, 2018.
On the motion of HON. KWARAMBA seconded by HON.
MARIDADI, the House adjourned at Twenty Four Minutes Past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 21st March, 2017
The National Assembly met at a Quarterpast Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING SPEAKER
INVITATION TO A MULTISTAKEHOLDER CONVERSATION
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO): I wish
to inform the House that the Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa had invited Chief Whips, Committee Chairperson and the Chairpersons of the Women’s Caucus to a multistakeholder conversation with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. The dialogue session which was due to be held on 22nd March, 2018 at Rainbow Towers has been postponed to 9th April, 2018 on account of the fact that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is away on official duty.
HON. MLILO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I am a bit worried about the poor attendance of the House, especially today from colleague Members of Parliament from the MDCT party. I therefore would like to urge your humble office to engage their Chief Whip to encourage them to attend Wednesday sessions as this is our day when we deliberate and present our questions to the Minister. I know we are in the preelection period but our House has not yet been dissolved. May you please encourage the Chief Whip of the MDCT party to encourage Members of Parliament to attend? Thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please. Your point is taken and we will engage the Chief Whip on that.
HON. NYANHONGO: My point of privilege is that I have observed we have taken too long without holding any caucus meeting and I am requesting through you Mr. Speaker Sir, so that we have sometime whereby we can have this caucus meeting.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, the caucus you are
referring to, is it a Joint Caucus of Parliament or caucus of the party.
HON. NYANHONGO: I mean the Party Caucus – [HON.
MEMBERS: Ah!] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please! Hon. Member, you should have referred that one to your Chief Whip.
HON. MAJOME: Mr. Speaker, my point of privilege concerns the frequent habit of Cabinet Ministers absenting themselves from the
House, particularly on a day when they expect that we must target them. For now, there are four Hon. Cabinet Ministers in the House and we have not heard from you Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] – Can I be protected Mr. Speaker Sir? I have the privilege to address this House.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order at back, what is the excitement about?
HON. MAJOME: Mr. Speaker, may I have your protection and specifically to remind Hon. Members that they have no right to tell me to shut up and to sit down because I was elected. I have a right to speak in this House and they are not the Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: You are protected, you may go ahead.
HON. MAJOME: My point of privilege pertains to the habitual absence of Hon. Ministers. When we began this session, I was expecting possibly to hear from your good self, may be notices that certain Ministers applied for leave and they have been none, and we have gotten straight into the business and there are only four Hon. Ministers. Even then, may you Mr. Speaker Sir rule on that? What is happening to Ministers? Have they resigned or they have forgotten that it is their duty to come to the House in terms of the Constitution to answer to us unless they have very good reasons. Also, who is the Leader of the House at the present moment because there are questions of national importance that we would need to pose.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Majome but I have
got apologies from the following Ministers. I am sure they are in the company of the President: Hon. Dr. J.M. Gumbo, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Hon. Rtd. Lt. Gen. Dr. S. Moyo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Hon.
Ziyambi, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Hon. Bimha, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development and Hon. Dr. Mpofu, Minister of Home Affairs. I have received apologies from those Hon. Ministers. I am also informed that the
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Chinamasa is in
China on Government business.
HON. MAJOME: On that note, may I proceed to firstly ask who the Leader of the House is since Hon. Ziyambi is not around. My further question is what is it that your good office is going to do about the Ministers who did not seek leave of the House because you read a list of Ministers that is shorter than the list of Ministers who are not here and who we have not heard about because the Standing Rules and Orders are specific as to what should happen to Ministers who did not seek leave of absence.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: On several occasions, this same issue has been raised in this Parliament and the Chair has taken it up with His Excellency the President, so we are waiting to hear what action he is going to take. Unfortunately, at this point in time, we do not seem to have the Leader of the House but you may pose your questions to the Ministers who are in the Chamber.
HON. NDEBELE: I also rise on a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir. Something is worrying me about the GwayiShangani dam. A Russian Mining Concern has been given a concession and that coal mining concession is anticipated to exist…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, order. Can you approach the Chair please?
Hon. Ndebele approached the Chair.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. NDEBELE: My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. What policy position informs the licencing of Liberation Coal mine to start mining in the ShanganiGwayi area yet clearly, a mine cannot coexist together with a dam?
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): The Hon. Member is
referring to the commencement or proposed commencement of mining by Liberation Mining in the Gwayi area. The concession in question is about 16 000 hectares. It is true that one side of that concession is close to the dam. What has happened is that there has been an evaluation by
EMA and interrogation of the mining plan. In the interim for the commencement of operations, the pit which has been designed is designed at the furthest point in the 16 000 hectares which will not interfere with the dam. As that pit is developed, there will be a comprehensive environmental and mining plan to ensure that there are not effects on the dam.
HON. NDEBELE: I therefore wish to invite the Minister of
Mines and Mining Development together with his colleague, the Minister of Environment and Water and Climate to present to this House a Ministerial Statement because when I look at the issues, I realise that that particular mine in certain sections will be mining at the throwback of GwayiShangani Dam. I do not need to underline the importance of that dam to the people of Matabeleland, Midlands as well as Bulawayo.
I therefore implore the Minister to bring for interrogation in this House a Ministerial Statement because part of that mine is certainly going to be under that dam and acid cannot be prevented from spilling into the dam and EMA does not have the expertise nor the technology to monitor attempts at mitigating such spillage.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Minister, are you comfortable with bringing in the Ministerial Statement? I am sure you have to.
HON. CHITANDO: The concerns by the Hon. Member are
genuine and noted. That is why I said that in the 16 000 hectare land, mining will start where there is definitely no interference. Any further mining beyond the pit which has been designed at the moment will be backed by a comprehensive environmental management plan.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Are we in agreement that you are going to make a Ministerial Statement?
HON. CHITANDO: Certainly Sir.
HON. MLILO: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. What is
Government’s plan of fully availing services for the Garikai projects that in our ten provinces seeing that in provinces like Bulawayo, where we have got the biggest Garikai project – up to now, there is no sewer service and running water? Above all, there are no traversable roads.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J.G. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker, we are looking at all the housing projects that have taken place in the country where we feel that they are not equipped with water, sewerage and other infrastructure that goes with proper service delivery. To that extent, we have called for a meeting of all the local authorities that are affected. They will be meeting tomorrow and Friday in Kadoma so that we can map out an investment programme so that we can upgrade them.
We are not just looking at Garikai houses but all the housing that has taken place and are unplanned throughout the country. In Bulawayo as you indicate, in addition to the Garikai built places, there are 15 others where there is no infrastructure that will require a better housing project if it was properly planned.
HON. MLILO: May you kindly outline the current handover details that are there between the Government and councils, particularly in Garikai projects. I am asking this because for development purposes, you find councils like Bulawayo City Council neglects the Garikai project because it is a Government project and they say Government handed over the project when it was underdeveloped and they expect to therefore service the land fully. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker, all development that occurs within a local Government area can be developed by private sector, Government or the councils themselves. The responsibility for continuing to run those housing projects first have to lay with the local authority for services and if the infrastructure has been put by the developer, yes the local authority still takes over the running of those local authorities. Those are the issues that we want to examine because a lot has happened and councils have allowed developers in a lot of cases to build without proper inspection and hand over. Those are the issues that we want to examine and see what problems exist in each of the local authorities.
In terms of who ought to run the areas? There are grey areas obviously where something has been built and is not within an urban local authority, is at the border and is in the rural district council area and there has been dispute as to who ought to run that area. Those are the things that we can iron out. Fortunately, both in the Rural District Councils Act or the Urban Councils Act or the Urban Development Corporation Act, there are provisions that we can use so that we can make sure that it is under some jurisdiction. This is what we will be clarifying to the councils so that we can give them the legal backing to run those areas that have been built up.
HON. HOLDER: My supplementary is can the Hon. Minister elaborate regarding areas such as ShabaniMashava Mine where mines are shut down but council does not deliver services in terms of sewer reticulation in that area? Can he elaborate more on whether Government has a policy in place so that council takes over that facility since we have a lot of citizens who are staying in those areas and the mines have shutdown.
HON. J. MOYO: There are a lot of mining compounds that were run by mining concessions and those have not been handed over to local councils. We have been encouraging mines to say, why do you not do the business of mining and let the residential accommodation be run by the local authorities concerned? A lot of these old mines like ShabaniMashava Mines, the local authority has not taken over the housing or the services in those areas. What we were afraid of is what you are now describing Hon. Member, where a mine is now in trouble and all of sudden the people are still living there with no services in terms of refuse collection, sewerage and water and that is what we were trying to avoid.
So we will continue to negotiate with mining concessions to let the local authorities to take over the running of the mining compounds as far as residential accommodation is concerned and they can concentrate on the mining. That happened in some areas way back in the 80s where the mining concessions actually gave back to the local authorities to run the residential areas. In a lot of mining compounds, that has not happened but we will continue to persuade and discuss with the mining concessions so that they can handover. I thank you.
HON. MAJOME: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Hon. July Moyo. Hon. Minister, is it Government policy for the Government to increase the density of the population in suburbs where the infrastructure that the suburbs were designed for has not improved and the population already in the existing houses is much bigger maybe about three times bigger than the infrastructure that those suburbs were designed for? Is it
Government policy to do that regardless? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank you Mr. Speaker, I thank the Hon. Member. She is definitely asking me something that is not Government policy to densify the urban areas whether low or high density areas where services are already under pressure. If anything else, we would want to make sure that the infrastructure that is put in an area is consistent with the settlement that has been planned in that area but we know that has not happened in many areas.
Councils are aware that when they have their local plans approved by the Department of Physical Planning or myself, it should be them who supervise development control and that development control will ensure that unplanned additional accommodation is not erected. I
applaud those councils that make sure that if there is a stand of 200 m2, that is supposed to have a piece of residential accommodation that is approved. After all, all the structures that ought to be built on a stand are approved, if there is any extra structure that the local authority together with the property owner make sure that the structure is not there – that is Government policy. We do not want councils or individuals to violate the law. I thank you.
HON. MAJOME: My supplementary question is why therefore is the Ministry of the Hon. Minister in Mabelreign, Harare West in particular taking land that is called, greenways that has not been settled on and parceling it out by creating residential and church stands, et cetera by allocating it to people yet it was planned to remain like that yet the infrastructure is struggling? Why is his Ministry doing that and also on wetlands?
HON. J. MOYO: The Hon. Member is now being specific and I do not have the figures or knowledge about what she is talking about.
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO): Hon.
Member, you can put that question in writing so that the Hon. Minister can research and come back to you.
HON. MANDIPAKA: My question is directed to the Minister of
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services (Hon. Amb. S. K. Moyo). Hon. Minister, as the country moves closer to our free and fair harmonised elections, what media policy has Government put in place to ensure that journalists are not attacked especially those from the public media as they cover opposition elements moreso in the MDCT?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MEDIA AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for his question. We have stated and the President Himself, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa has spoken very eloquently against any form of violence, pre or post elections. We are not condoning any form of violence, not only as regards the opposition but as regards everybody in the country. We are a free and independent country and we want to be certain that we abide by what has been pronounced very clearly by His Excellency the President. So, the violence or any attack whether on journalists or anyone is totally anathema to our dictates. I therefore, want to appeal to all Members of Parliament wherever they are, please let us preach the same language and let us also sing from the same hymn book and that is; no violence of any kind on anybody throughout the country. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. MLISWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is in line with free, fair, credible and nonviolent election. What is the State owned media doing to also cover political parties who are not ZANU PF even independent members like myself who have already started campaigning before the ruling party? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order.
HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I also want to thank the Hon. Member for his question and I want to remind all of us that it has recently been announced that His Excellency the President will be meeting all leaders of political parties. This is where we want to thrash out the issue that the Hon. Member has raised. What I can assure you is that there will be openness and people will have access to the media in all forms. Certainly, we must all agree that freedom also goes with responsibility and therefore I believe that when the time comes, whoever takes to the airs will also be cognisant of the fact that he or she has got a responsibility because there is no freedom which is just free and therefore entertaining any form of irresponsibility. I thank you Mr.
Speaker.
*HON. SITHOLE: My question is on the issue of the media. What measures have been put in place for television and radio coverage to cover all political parties? Whenever we view television, we see the same thing like what happened during the time of Dr. Amai Mugabe, the same is now prevailing. When is the change going to come in that regard? I thank you.
HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, I believe the question is the same as the one asked earlier by Hon. Mliswa. The only difference is that his is in Shona and the other one was in English and therefore, I stand by my answer Mr. Speaker Sir.
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Had you not heard his response?
HON. A. NDEBELE: Hon. Speaker, I just want to check with the Minister what Government policy on the issuance of radio licence is. A few weeks ago, ZBC opened a new radio station in Bulawayo and I am sure it is not lost to us in the opposition that this is yet another ZANU PF mouth piece.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Is that a supplementary question or a new question?
HON. A. NDEBELE: It is arising from the first question on licensing.
HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, as far as I know there is no party which owns a radio or television station. If there is, I would want to see that evidence because I do not think they are allowed, if at all it is used as a national instrument to favour one side. I would want to see if there is any proof to that effect. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. A. NDEBELE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. A. NDEBELE: That clearly is not where my question lies. If I may repeat for the benefit of the Minister; my question is what is Government policy on the issuance of radio licences? A few weeks ago in Bulawayo, ZBC opened a new radio station and there was no public call or an advertisement to say there is a taking for a radio licence. So, I want to find out what Government policy is in respect to issuance of radio licences. The Minister is digressing – [HON. NDEBELE: The
Minister is lost] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, can you withdraw that. Hon. Member, I have given you the opportunity to ask two supplementary questions. Can you withdraw the unparliamentary language.
HON. A. NDEBELE: I wish to withdraw that which is not parliamentary.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you say exactly
what you said, the words that you said.
HON. A. NDEBELE: I was of the assumption the Minister was
lost I withdraw that.
HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, I want to state that in terms of licences, there were a number of advertisements made in various papers sometime back and if the Hon. Member missed those advertisements, it cannot be my fault but certainly there were advertisements in the paper about these licences. People applied in numbers and I cannot go beyond that. I thank you.
HON. A. NDEBELE: But this one was not advertised.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I will not allow you, hold on [AN HON. MEMBER: Point of order.] – Order, how can you say point of order when I am still speaking? Hon. Ndebele, the Minister said it has been advertised.
HON. A. NDEBELE: It was not. This station is three weeks old –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order please!
HON. PHIRI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and
National Housing.
In most of our local authorities the old towns and cities, we have residents who are staying in houses where they are using communal toilets and also families of three or four in a room, what is Government’s policy in as far as alleviating these families from these bad conditions. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Member. There are a lot of our people who are living under extreme conditions of pressure from lack of adequate accommodation, crowded accommodation and dilapidated accommodation. Some of it dating way back to the early days of colonialism. Government is very aware of this situation and we are saying, as we plan ahead, the President has said, let us have a command housing programme which does not only look at housing expansion in new areas but looking at old townships or old areas where our people lived and see how we can uplift that housing pressure.
We are almost advanced in planning for the launch of a housing programme that will take care of not only the new houses but, also concentrating on building flats so that we do not continue to gobble arable land. Also at the same time, looking at those old areas and see whether we can go and either put flats so that we can build better and more accommodation in areas that are restricted without too much expansion. We think that once we do that, we also will lessen the pressure on sewerage and on water supply because we are not expanding. The way we were now building our accommodation just expanding too far, the local authorities cannot afford to pay for the services. So, I want to thank the Hon. Member for raising this issue which Government is looking at very seriously in order to alleviate the problems that our people are facing. I thank you.
HON. PHIRI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Minister for his answer but, it is short of time. When exactly do we think this is going to happen because the situation that we have in these areas is very, very serious, especially if we have a disease epidemic?
HON. J. MOYO: I want to assure the Hon. Member that we are putting all efforts in order to start this command housing programme that the President has tasked us to do and it is part of our 100 days which we have now already submitted in terms of plans but until it is launched, I cannot give a timetable as to exactly when we will be alleviating all these. But, let us not also forget that every city, Kadoma included, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare, where you have had all these old accommodation, some of which we call misana yenzou, we need to pay attention to that. We are talking to all the local authorities as we have done, we have said to every local authority, as you come up with your programmes for the new housing projects that you want to embark on, do not forget about all these areas where dilapidation has taken place. So, we are paying attention to it and we will be announcing our timetabling of implementation once it is launched. I thank you.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. After thanking the Minister for his response, my question is that, when we look at our people, they are having difficulties with funds with regards to accommodation. Some other countries like America and Canada build their houses using wood and these houses are built in a very short space of time and they are cheap. All the houses that you see on television in America, they are built from wood. When is our Government going to be bringing on board houses that are going to be built out of timber and these timber houses can be built inside two weeks and the family can live comfortably in such a house? I thank you.
*HON. J. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the
Hon. Member. We have very little in the form of timber. Let me repeat Mr. Speaker, that we have very little in the form of timber. I am saying so because I once worked with a bias towards tree programming and that is why we are now asking people to grow trees annually. We have very few trees in Zimbabwe. In America and Canada, they have plenty of trees as compared to the ones that we have in Zimbabwe.
For building purposes in Zimbabwe, if we were to look at the cost of the price of bricks for construction instead of using wood, we will build structures that are much cheaper from bricks as opposed to timber. We use timber mostly for roofing trusses but if you look at the amount that goes into the construction of the building, you will observe that the roof costs a third of the entire building in terms of costs because timber is very expensive when compared to bricks.
I am in agreement that they may take a shorter period if construction was going to be done using wood, but in America, if you are a builder, you are taught to do carpentry. In Zimbabwe, we teach people to lay bricks as brick layers. So, for us to have the form of training for everyone to train as a carpenter, it will take us a lot of time when on the other hand, we have the land and the trees that can be used for purposes of timber and trusses and the wood that is used for construction is in Manicaland.
In areas where certain Hon. Members come from, there is not even a single board or timber that can be used for construction. I thank you.
*HON. MLISWA: My question arises from the fact that there are some people that are living in council houses that have dwelt in those houses for a long time. They are waiting for their pensions to be processed but they are now being evicted. What is the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing going to do to such affected tenants? They are not being given their dues so that they can buy the houses, but they are being chased from those houses. Why do they not simply sell these houses to these occupants, to these persons because they are owed their monies in the form of pensions?
This is quite rife in Norton where I reside. The people are not willingly defaulting, but it is because the Government is not paying them. They do not have lawyers and as a result, they are being evicted from these houses. What is Government going to do about it? I thank you.
* HON. J. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker for the question that has been posed, but for me to adequately address this question because he has talked about Norton which is specific, could I be given time to go and research on what exactly is going on in Norton and come and give a fuller answer so that we can assist each other with the local council. I thank you.
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order. Mr. Mliswa, you are now
talking.
*HON. MLISWA: We are discussing about the letter I am going to write to the Minister.
*THE ACTING SPEAKER: You are not going to write a letter.
You write a question to Parliament’s Paper’s Office and deliver it there.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question goes to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. Hon. Minister, end of last year, the then Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development promised this House that fees for tertiary students who are on attachment were going to be reduced after there was a serious complaint that these fees are not supposed to be the same as a student going to school. So, the Minister promised that the Ministry was working on that policy. How far have they gone with the policy? When are we likely to see fees reducing for students who are on attachment?
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY
EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MURWIRA): Hon Speaker I wish to thank the Hon.
Member for the question. Since inauguration on 4th December, 2017, we have been studying this issue with two objectives. Firstly, looking at the operations of the universities and colleges in terms of what they need since they are no longer receiving Government grants and secondly, on the burdens on the students and guardians as well as parents in terms of fees. Also looking at the issue that students who are on attachment need transport , food and they basically need money to operate during that time because some of the attachment places do not offer any attachment stipends.
Based on this, our conclusion was that fees needed to be reduced in such a way that they make universities and colleges continue to operate but at the same time, reduce the burden on the parents. So, we reduced these fees by 40% and they are now 60% of what was being asked for.
This policy was enunciated and a press statement was made on 7th
March, 2018.
HON. WATSON: I thank the Minister for his answer. I thank him for his previous statement. He created expectation amongst students. However, Mr. Speaker, students have enquired at universities and universities are yet to implement his decision. When will that happen? Thank you.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. The
question is now a management issue. However, the policy is very clear that fees are going to be reduced and we have reduced them. They have been implemented and for those places where they have not been implemented, they are going to be implemented. I do not think there is any alternative to this policy position. Thank you.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister emanates from his response wherein he indicated that when the students are on attachment, they are not receiving any stipends from the institutions, organisations or employers concerned. However, Mr. Speaker, in the past, there was a provision that ZIMDEF was going to pay students on attachment. I do not know why there has been a departure from this policy position which used to be obtaining in the past. Can the Hon. Minister explain to this august House why that was stopped?
We understand that ZIMDEF was awash with money a few months ago to the extent that it was used to buy bicycles and other trinkets in Tsholotsho and also to buy fuel for members of the Youth League of ZANUPF. So, can the Hon. Minister explain to us why there was a departure from that position where ZIMDEF used to chip in and assist in the payment of students who are on attachment?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Thank you Hon. Member. There has not been any departure when it comes to stipends. In actual fact, there has been an improvement. I am not competent to comment on the issue of ZIMDEF money being used for fuel. I want to start on the substantive issue that I can actually answer on.
We have provided for this with ZIMDEF after the forensic audit. We are still doing a forensic audit. It is with the AuditorGeneral at this moment. In our budget for ZIMDEF this year, there is provision for stipends for students on attachment. I also want to say that this position was not obtaining before. It was only obtaining for students at polytechnics. So, we are saying we are actually starting a new movement in this area whereby we are going to make sure that all our students in higher and tertiary institutions on attachment are going to be supplemented with stipends.
I only had not answered it on the other because I thought it was a different question. So, I am going to answer it as a different question. Basically Hon. Member, it is true that our centre of attention as a Ministry is the students, nothing else and we try to make sure that everything has to centre on the welfare of our students. If we do not train them well we will not retire well. So, we are going to take care of them in the best way possible in an economy. Thank you.
HON. SANSOLE: I would like to find out from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development how far Government has gone in resolving the matter regarding the demonstration at Hwange Colliery Company by the spouses of workers. I understand that the Leader of Government Business made an undertaking to ask the Minister to issue a Ministerial Statement on that matter.
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): I would like to thank the
Hon. Member for that question. There were indeed issues or demonstrations by spouses of employees at Hwange Colliery.
Following intervention by the Minister of Labour, Hon. Kagonye, those demonstrations are no longer there and interface is underway to pursue matters which had been raised between the concerned parties.
HON. B. TSHUMA: Hon. Speaker, just as a matter of fact and by way of giving you information what the Hon. Minister just presented here is false. The true position is that there have been Ministers who have gone to Hwange and what they have said has been rejected by those women and the demonstration is continuing. They have pitched up a tent and it is still there right now. If you want I can ask someone to send a picture or even video by Whatsapp. We can have it here. This is not true what the Hon. Minister is saying.
HON. CHITANDO: Mr. Speaker, if the demonstrations are still ongoing and I would not say what the Hon. Member is saying is not true, it is against the spirit in which the discussions and conclusions took place between representatives of the women and the Minister of Labour. In terms of those discussions, there were certain undertakings on both parties. The first undertaking from the group of women was that they would stop demonstrating and the undertaking on the part of Government was to look into their issues which is being done, and we are going to revert to them. Should they have continued demonstrating, then it is certainly an act of bad faith in terms of the agreements made. I thank you.
HON. MLISWA: On a point of clarity Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Mines and Energy during its tour did meet these women and they gave us a petition which was very reasonable. I think what is important and the last when we brought this issue up, there was an undertaking that this issue would be brought up with His Excellency and the question here should be and I remember saying that the shoes of the Ministers are too small for this. It needs His Excellency so has this matter been taken up with His Excellency? Mr. Speaker, the point is that we end up as legislators being told that we lie. I think people must have trust in us when we say we are going to represent them, regardless of where it is has this matter been taken up with His
Excellency? The Minister must respond to that and if not, he must see
His Excellency then respond back because it is a matter that requires the
Presidium.
HON. CHITANDO: I note and thank the Hon. Member for his comments but once again like I said, the matter is receiving due attention and in terms of the agreement made between the representatives of the women and the Minister of Labour, Government will revert to them sometime this week. I thank you.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: The owner of vehicle registration number ADE 3192 is obstructing other vehicles. Can you go and remove the vehicle please.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: My supplementary question is unless if I have not being tracking this issue for some time, what is
Government’s problem with doing what an investor is supposed to do in any company to ensure that the company is revived and those workers who have not been paid for the last five years when Government has actually been getting money from this same company. So, what is the problem with Government making an undertaking to put money, an investment into its own shares in the company so that the company can begin to operate once again and be able to pay those people the dues that they have been waiting for the last five years.
HON. CHITANDO: I thank the Hon. Member for his question which I will respond to but also at the same time clarify a few issues. First and foremost, this is not a Government owned entity. Hwange
Colliery is quoted on the Zimbabwe and London Stock Exchanges and
Government is the single largest shareholder. That is the first thing. So, I think let us first clarify that point. Government is the single largest shareholder, owning 37% of the shares.
The second issue is to state that despite the 37% shareholding were it not for interventions by Government, Hwange would be down and under by now. The third point, because in terms of the scheme of arrangement which was entered into last year, Government despite it being the 37% shareholder, funded all the capital which was required in terms of that scheme.
The Hon. Member is quite right that if you look over the period of the last five years, the employees have gone through a lot in terms of unpaid salaries which totaled 33 months. What is important though is to look at what is the way forward in terms of the recovery of Hwange Colliery Company. There is a scheme in which (1) the employees are being paid their backlog of salaries and (b) there is a clear turnaround policy which entails commencement of underground operations in May and commencement of coke operations by the end of the year. This is on the SCGC battery and then commencement of coke operations on the main autoSimon Cavs battery all these initiatives will see Hwange going into positive cash flows and serving its debts and obligations which have accumulated over the years and also timeous payment of creditors and employees.
HON. B. TSHUMA: I follow the very good English by the Hon. Minister of Mines and Mining Development and the eloquence on technicalities to do with mining, shareholding and other issues to do with the mine. I realise off the cuff that the Hon. Minister is a former Chairman of the Hwange Colliery Company. He, in fact presided over the mess before he crossed to the Executive. According to the way we do business if we follow our Companies Act, Corporate Governance and other enabling legislation, the proper thing for the Minister to do is that where Hwange Colliery is concerned, he should recuse himself because he is conflicted. Now he comes here to speak good English instead of paying money – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member. I do not think that is proper – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Order, order please. The Minister has been appointed as the Minister of
Mines and Mining Development, even though he – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order. He now has a different portfolio. There is nothing that can stop him from answering questions.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: On a point of order to do with what Hon.
Tshuma has just raised – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I have ruled him out of order.
Hon. P.D. Sibanda having insisted on giving his point of order.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Can you sit down? I said he is out of order and therefore you cannot speak on that. Please take your seat.
HON. HOLDER: My question goes to Hon. S. K. Moyo – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, let us hear the Hon. Member on the floor.
HON. HOLDER: My question is directed to S. K. Moyo…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order. You do not address a
Minister as S. K. Moyo. You say Hon. Minister.
HON. HOLDER: There is a lot of noise here and I cannot hardly hear you [AN HON. MEMBER: Gara pasi.] – Handigare pasi. Hausi Speaker iwewe. Hon. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Hon.
Minister S. K. Moyo – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members on my right
there.
HON. HOLDER: My question is, why does Government fail to react to media reports where Hon. Chamisa is being regarded as
President which is causing a lot of confusion – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – instead of President of the MDCT or the opposition and I can quote today’s paper which states that ‘it is befitting that the President Chamisa’ – instead of president of the opposition. I want to know why Government does not react to these things because it is causing a lot of confusion – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please! You are out of order.
HON. D. SIBANDA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker Sir…
Hon. Holder having stood up.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Holder, can you take your seat.
HON. D. SIBANDA: The Hon. Minister of Health and Child
Welfare was here briefly and vanished. Maybe you highlight on where he has gone to because we still have questions for him – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order please! The Minister of Health and Child Welfare came to me and indicated that he was just walking out and he is coming back. He has gone out to see somebody.
In any case, he is coming to make a Ministerial Statement.
Hon. Holder having stood up.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Holder, can you just resume
your seat.
HON. HOLDER: On a point of order…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Holder, can you just resume
your seat.
HON. HOLDER: Point of order Mr. Speaker
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Resume your seat, please.
HON. D. SIBANDA: Our concern is the time because it is moving. Questions without notice…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Let us give him the benefit of doubt.
He is coming back. He told me that he is coming back.
HON. D. SIBANDA: I propose that we extend time because we have got a lot of question for the Minister of Health and Child Welfare.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Time is not yet up.
HON CHIMANIKIRE: Last week I asked a question to the Hon.
Resident Minister of Metropolitan Harare, but I was redirected to the Minister of Local Government. Hon. Minister, in Mbare we have a stretch of shops…
HON. HOLDER: Point of order…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your problem? I have asked…
HON. HOLDER: My point of order is under privileges and immunities. I asked a pertinent question and it has not been responded to. No one has said anything…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I ruled you out of order. Can you resume your seat?
HON. HOLDER: What I was saying Mr. Speaker is …
THE ACTING SPEAKER: May you resume your seat or I will
send you out.
HON. HOLDER: Out of order ndabva ndadii?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Take your seat
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Hon. Minister, there is a stretch of shops that were constructed along the Masvingo road. This is as a result of – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: This is as a result of a pact between Harare City Council and a Lebanese construction company. However, the shops have remained a white elephant simply because the rentals are too high. What is Government policy or interventions where quasi
Government – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members at the back.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: What is Government policy or interventions where quasiGovernment entitylike the Local Government and the City of Harare.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Matambanadzo and company there! Hon. Matambanadzo!
Hon. Matambanadzo having risen.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I am not asking you to rise. I am saying you are making noise at the back.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: A quasiGovernment arrangement was entered between City of Harare and a Lebanese Construction Company. As a result, there is a line of shops along the Masvingo road that have remained unused because of high rentals. My question is, what is Government policy or intervention when it comes to issues whereby a private investor who has entered into a contract with a quasi
Government entity which is City of Harare is failing to utilise what has been agreed between the two parties because of high rentals. Is there any Government intervention that is planned to ensure that there is utilisation of those premises?
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): I want to
thank the Hon. Member for his question but the Hon. Member has given me a specific area and a specific contractual arrangement between the City of Harare and a private company, if he can furnish me with a written question, I certainly will investigate and bring him an answer so that I become quite clear as to what has taken place. I thank you.
HON. CHIMWAMUROMBE: My question is directed to Hon. Minister S. K. Moyo. What is Government policy on the languages that are used for broadcasting? I am asking this with regards to the new
Khulumani FM in Bulawayo where seven languages are being used? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order there is a lot of noise in the House. Did you hear that question Hon. Minister – [HON. S. K. MOYO: No, Mr. Speaker Sir.] – Certainly not, there is a lot of noise in the House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. CHIMWAMUROMBE: My question is directed to Hon. Minister S. K. Moyo. What is Government policy in regards to the languages that are used in broadcasting? This is in regard with the new Khulumani FM in Bulawayo where seven languages are used. I understand we have 16 national languages in our Constitution and the major ones being Shona and Ndebele. In Khulumani FM, they are using seven and leaving out Shona which is also one of the major languages. Is that not dividing people by having other languages being spoken and leaving out the major languages? – [HON. MAONDERA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House!] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER: I have not recognised you, you are not the Minister. Are you a Minister now? – [HON. MAONDERA: He is misleading the House!] – That is not your responsibility, let the Hon.
Minister say that not you.
THE MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND
BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. AMB. S. K. MOYO): Mr.
Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for his question. We have no provision as regards policy for any language discrimination. All the languages reflected in our Constitution are equal. Therefore, if there is any such situation which I am not aware of and was not aware of, it is a matter which obviously I will need to investigate and find out why. As for now, the policy is very clear and I hope that gives the Hon. Member some comfort in the sense that I will indeed investigate this development. I thank you.
*HON. THEMBANI: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. What is Government policy as regards the paying of licences? We talk of business people who own a bottle store, grocery and butchery and these are registered under one name. We are now seeing that you have to bring all the fees for the three shops but now they are saying each shop should pay separate fees. For example, when you want to pay for a butchery, you are told to bring the full amount for all three enterprises that you are running yet we have a financial crunch in the country.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Member, if you
could put that question in writing then the Hon. Minister will conduct his investigations and then come to respond in the House. I thank you.
HON. E. GUMBO: Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you for recognising me. I would also like to make a comment first that we realise that the Minister of Mines and Mining Development has left when we had questions to pose to him. Maybe if that could be noted, we fail to get him at his Ministry. I do not know when we can pose these questions to him?
My question at the moment is directed to the Minister of
Information, Communication Technology and Cyber Security. I would like to know Government policy in relation to establishing of POTRAZ boosters in the country given that there are big envelopes of the country without communication at all? How long does it take for people who have applied for those boosters in the area to get a response from his Ministry?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY AND CYBER SECURITY (HON.
MANDIWANZIRA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, and let me also thank the Hon. Member for the question. Government policy on POTRAZ is that POTRAZ is a statutory body. It is the regulator in charge of supervising and regulating all the telecommunication, postal services and related companies in this sector.
They also have a responsibility to manage what we call, the Universal Services Fund. The Universal Services Fund is contributed to by all telecommunication service users each time they pay their bills. The objective of that fund is to ensure that there is investment of telecommunication infrastructure or services in areas that are unserved or underserved. So the areas that the Hon. Member has just spoken about are areas that the Universal Services Fund should look at in terms of investment. I can tell the Hon. Member, through you Mr. Speaker Sir, that there is a project that is currently being worked on by POTRAZ to the tune of US$250 million where the intention is to build more than 500 mobile phone towers that should be shared by all network operators in areas that are underserved. That is the responsibility to the extent of
POTRAZ but we also expect that licensed operators must not just put up infrastructure in urban centres because they also have a responsibility to serve those Zimbabweans who do not reside in urban centres. So we also expect that their investment goes to areas that are unserved or underserved. I thank you.
HON. E. GUMBO: The second part of my question was not answered. Applications have been submitted to the relevant Ministry applying for boosters in these big envelopes and obviously we would like to know, for example the Dwala area in Gwanda Central, Beitbridge area covering those areas has been applied for a long time. I would like to know when applicants should expect to get a reply on such issues from his Ministry.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Member, if it is a particular area, I am sure you will have to put it in writing so that the Hon. Minister will go and look at it. [HON. TSHUMA: Supplementary question!] You do not just walk up and say, I have a supplementary question. I have to recognise you first.
*HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to Hon. Mushowe. – [HON. TSHUMA: But I have a supplementary question Mr. Speaker Sir!] –
HON. J. TSHUMA: My supplementary question is I wanted to find out what is the Government policy regarding the services that we are talking about in the followup of the provision of those services? As I speak, if you take your Econet line, you cannot communicate at all.
So, what is happening in the sharing agreements and stuff like that? What is Government policy to follow up so that we are given proper services, mari dzedu dzirikungodyiwa, ukangobata phone money is charged but there is actually no service at all. So, what is Government policy to follow up on that and make sure that these people do not shortchange the people and we get proper services? I thank you Mr.
Speaker.
HON. MANDIWANZIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question. Government policy is very clear; POTRAZ which licences all network operators has a minimum standard that they expect from all operators in terms of service delivery to their subscribers. If those minimum standards are not met, the operators are penalised. We have had a problem that for a long time, the regulator was treating the operators with kid gloves. There was not enough supervision and follow through to make sure that the operators are performing to the extent of the guarantees they have given in their licences. Now, I must say that we are very glad as the Ministry that POTRAZ is beginning to show its teeth. Just two weeks ago, Net One was fined by POTRAZ for delivering power service on its One Fusion product to consumers who had loaded data in their gadgets or devices but this data was not to the extent that the operator had promised. So, they were fined and were also asked to compensate subscribers that had been affected. So, we will take this matter up as raised by the Hon. Minister to make sure that the continued loss of data or credit in people’s phones is actually compensated. What is important is that those that are affected must go and report their specific cases to POTRAZ so that POTRAZ can take specific action. Without that reporting, if people just complain in their houses or offices, POTRAZ will not be able to assist them to the extent possible. They must report to POTRAZ so that they can create a list of cases that they can take up with the operators. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE ACTING
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
RBZ LOAN BENEFICIARIES IN KADOMA CENTRAL
CONSTITUENCY
- HON. F. PHIRI asked the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development to inform the House the RBZ loan beneficiaries in
Kadoma, especially Kadoma Central Constituency.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY AND CYBER SECURITY on behalf of THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVEOPMENT (HON.
MANDIWANZIRA): The administration and allocation of the RBZ loans is being done by the RBZ in conjunction with Fidelity Printers and
Refiners; both of which fall under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The question that the Hon. Member asked has since been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development who are handling this issue.
HON. MAJOME: On a point of privilege Madam Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): What is your
point of privilege?
HON. MAJOME: Hon Speaker, questions 7 to 11 on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe appointed a Deputy Minister to that Ministry. While the
Hon. Minister is absent, surely in the interest of respect for the people of
Zimbabwe that we represent, the Minister should be able to send his
Deputy Minister to come and present the question failing in which he should respect the House by possibly requesting a fellow Hon. Minister to come and deliver his answer. May I know why this has not happened? My questions are very old questions, they have been there and previously he came to try to answer them verbally but he was admonished by the Speaker and then he went away. He has gone for good. Where is his Deputy Minister or other Ministers?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: The point raised by Hon.
Majome is very relevant I did not see any apology from the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development. I will communicate to the Cabinet so that they will also speak to the Hon. Ministers responsible to take parliamentary business seriously for them to come and answer these questions. It is very important for the Hon. Minister to respect the
National Assembly.
HON. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, we have only got 4 or 5
months left before elections, I think this is the time for people to shine, even Ministers to be seen working. We are already in the old dispensation; the same habits that they had with the former President, they are still doing that and they say you cannot teach old dog new tricks. Honestly speaking, we cannot have this situation when the economy of the country is – we need to know and they must report to us on the 100 days. Has it progressed well, has it not progressed well? This Parliament continuously and the Chair has always warned the Ministers with impunity but they ignore. We have got senior Ministers here who we appreciate, Hon. Amb. S. K. Moyo and Hon. J. Moyo, who are seasoned, but economic issues need the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to be present. He is not here, he is now behaving like the special advisor to the President; he is being sent to the UK when the House is on fire. Zimbabwe is on fire economically, the queues are still there, and then how are they going to answer to the people about the queues considering elections are near? He has been given a job by the President to address issues from an economic point of view. For as long as the queues are getting longer, there is no address on the economic issues. We need him to respond to such issues because we are under pressure as Members of Parliament.
It is important that the Chair and Parliament shows that it has teeth, we are disregarded and disrespected by Ministers and it is about time that a decision is taken moving forward.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, I acknowledge
what you are saying. It is important but in respect of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, he has given an apology. He is out of the country on national duty but for the Deputy Minister, I did not see his apology. I have appealed to senior Cabinet Ministers and as
Parliament, we are going to write an official letter to the Deputy
Minister to remind him of his duties in Parliament.
HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. In light of the
absence of the Ministers to respond to these questions, I had initially requested that we continue with Questions Without Notice. You would have noticed that since we started, no question has been responded to. Can you then please kindly reconsider my request that we revert to Questions Without Notice so that we can deal with the Ministers who are present.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Saruwaka, you have not
raised your point of privilege in time. So according to Parliamentary procedures, we cannot go back now and at this stage, we have to finish the Questions With Notice which are on the Order Paper.
SUBSTANTIVE TOWN CLERK FOR THE CITY OF HARARE
- HON. MACHINGAUTA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when the City of Harare would have a substantive Town Clerk.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Thank
you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question posed.
Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking the question. However, let me inform this august House that Section 135 of the Urban Councils Act provides that the Local Government Board shall interview every person whose name has been submitted to it by a council in terms of this Part and may,
- approve a person recommended by the council concerned or
- refuse to approve any person recommended by the council concerned.
Subsection 2; where the Local Government Board has refused to approve a person recommended by council, it shall give its reasons there in writing to such council.
- where after a period of two months has elapsed since the Local Government Board notified the council of its refusal to approve a person for appointment and the council fails to recommend any other person who meets the approval of the board, the board shall submit a report to the Minister setting out the full details of the matter for his consideration.
- the decision of the Minister or on any matter referred to him in terms of Subsection 3, shall be final.
Madam Speaker, the recruitment of the substantive Town Clerk for Harare by City Council has taken longer than expected as the recruitment process has been marred by irregularities. The first attempt to recruit the substantive Town Clerk after the retirement of Dr. Tendai Mahachi experienced a major setback when Council violated Section 135 of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15 which require that council should submit a list of at least three nominees recommended by council to the Local Government Board.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
Can the Hon. Minister be heard in silence please?
HON. J. MOYO: I repeat Madam Speaker. The first attempt to recruit the substantive Town Clerk after the retirement of Dr. Tendai Mahachi experienced a major setback when Council violated Section 135 of the Urban Councils Act which requires that council should submit a list of at least three nominees recommended by council to the Local Government Board for further interviews. The second attempt to fill the same post saw Council submitting three nominees to the Local Government Board who unfortunately, failed to meet the minimum requirements as determined by the Local Government Board. Council was then requested by the Local Government Board to submit a list of all the candidates that it had interviewed to allow the Board to interview the same and identify a possible candidate to fill the post. The Local Government Board has recently written to the City Council explaining why they could not appoint a substantive incumbent from the list that it submitted to them. We now await Council’s reaction to this communication. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
follow up question directed to the Minister is; if we go and consult with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, if we follow the Constitution on Chapter 1 on Section 2 – we are informed that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. On the Sixth Schedule, Part 2, we are told that the Constitution comes as soon as that President has been put in place. That means, it is supreme to what is going on.
In Section 264, it talks about dissemination of power to local authorities. We then talk about revolutionarisation and devolution – we are told that local authorities are empowered to take corrective action and we are saying, when the local authorities appointed Mr. Mushohwe, it was according to the laid down regulations and what the Minister is saying is not in the Constitution.
I am saying to the Minister, even if we said the Local Authority has not followed what was wanted, I have observed that when we removed the President, we discovered that the President was removed by the then Vice President because he had not been following what was in the Constitution. Therefore, the Minister should leave his office because our Constitution is very clear on who selects members and officials of these local authorities but to my surprise, the Minister is going contrary to the Constitution. I thank you.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Machingauta, are you
asking a question or you are instructing the Minister. If you are asking a question, the Minister has already responded. Maybe Minister, you may feel you want to add something on what you have already said.
*HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I have understood what the Hon. Member was saying, setting out his arguments on whether I was usurping the powers of the Constitution and abused them to my own benefit because as far as he is concerned, the Local Government Board is not in the Constitution. Therefore, it should not be performing its duties but the Section of the Constitution which I used is part of the Constitution of the country. When these two sections are contradicting, we should refer this to the Constitutional Court which may correct the anomalies and the judgement which we raised was according to the current Constitution. We are saying, if a local authority like Harare has done something which is against the Constitution, we say the Council should refer the names of the recommended candidates who are three who were given to the Board and then the Board will then decide on the reasons why they are rejecting those people. The Local Council Board examined the three candidates and told the council why they had disqualified those members. It is up to the local authority. They should come to me and I will know what other steps to take because as of now, they are still silent.
HON. MACHIGAUTA: Supplementary.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Machingauta, let me
clarify. The Minister is saying there is an Act which talks about the Local Government and this is supposed to be followed by the board which has been mentioned, but if you feel that there is some kind of contradiction between the supreme law of the country which is the Constitution, please forward your argument to the Constitutional Court and proper judgment will be done and even the Ministry may be sued.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Madam Speaker, I understand what
you are saying, but I am saying the Local Government Board, was it not content with what had come out because the previous Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing had talked about the misunderstandings which were there and they ended up talking about Hon. Dr. Mashakada and they were saying Hon. Dr. Mashakada did not qualify because there is no response which has been given and I am saying that is the reason why Hon. Dr. Mashakada came third.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I will allow the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to clarify what you have raised, especially regarding the case of Hon. Dr. Mashakada.
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I have not been given any names, whether it is Hon. Dr. Mashakada or any other person. This has never occurred to my operations. I am still waiting for the names.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is, Hon. Minister, is it not your responsibility to bring to this House a Bill that actually abolishes the Local Government Board because it is no longer consistent with the Constitution? I ask this because we received a promise and an understanding that this Government is serious about implementing the Constitution.
So, if matters need now to be resolved in the Constitutional Court, has this Government in this new dispensation abdicated its responsibility and jettisoned it to the Judiciary so that the Judiciary is the one that now starts implementing the Constitution because the President promised. In fact, we removed the former President because he was not implementing the Constitution and there has been a promise that the laws, the practices and the conduct of Government is now going to be aligned to the
Constitution.
So, the Hon. Minister is telling us almost as if, if we want the Constitution, we go to the court, but in this Government, we do not expect the Constitution to be implemented. Is that the case? Why does he not bring to Parliament the long awaited Bills to bring local governance in sync with the Constitution? Why should we go to the court? Is that the job of the Constitutional Court to do the work of the
Executive?
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I am implementing a law that was passed by this Parliament and the Bill that the Hon. Member is referring to certainly will come before this august House and I am not sure that it takes into account the fact that if the Bill comes without fail, the Local Government Board will not be in there. Let us debate it when it comes because we believe that what we are doing and what we are implementing is within the law. I thank you.
HON. MURAI: My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that due to the unavailability of the Town Clerk, the City of Harare is failing to perform well. What plans do you have to make sure that the employees of the Harare City Council are paid because they are not being paid and have got arrears dating back to 2017. Do you have any plan to make sure that the Harare City Council employees are paid? Thank you.
HON. J. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I share the sentiments of the Hon. Member. We are all unhappy when Harare City Council employees are not paid and the reason cannot be because they have no
Town Clerk. The reason must be in the total management of the City of Harare, which you are very aware is composed of members that were elected by the people of Harare and the people of Harare, when they realise that their councillors are not performing, they will deal with them in the normal way that is correct – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] but otherwise we share…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. Allow
the Hon. Minister to respond to your questions.
HON. J. MOYO: Otherwise we share and we sympathise with the workers that are in Harare as any other workers that ought to be paid and we have gone to all the cities and analysed to them what they need to do in order to pay their workers properly and the rest of the matter rests with the city councillors and the management of the councils, but it cannot be a matter of one person who is called the Town Clerk. It has to be a corporate responsibility by all the councillors. Thank you very
much.
*HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you. My supplementary to the Minister is, are workers of the City Council paid by councillors or they are paid by the administration led by the Town Clerk so that Harare is properly administered and administration of Harare City Council is under the Town Clerk and not the Ministers?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Your question has been
answered in full, so there is no need for the Minister to respond.
REPAIRING OF ROADS IN BUDIRIRO CONSTITUENCY
- HON. MACHINGAUTA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when the following roads in Budiriro Constituency would be repaired.
- High Glen through MicJop Shopping Centre up to Budiriro 3 turn off.
- Budiriro 5 OK turn off up to Current Shopping Centre; and
- Current Shopping Centre up to Ngungunyana Housing
Cooperative.
THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC
WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. J. MOYO): Madam
Speaker, let me inform this House that the City of Harare is carrying out a comprehensive road rehabilitation programme supported by ZINARA and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The first project is concentrating on the CBD area covering the area bounded by Kenneth Kaunda, S. V. Muzenda, Herbert Chitepo and Rotten Row. The road will be overlaid with asphalt and properly marked and that is going on.
The second aspect, the second phase and the third phase of the 100 day programme by the City of Harare will see the rolling out of the programme to the suburbs of Harare which include the areas that the Hon. Member has referred to and I think these are areas in his Constituency. We are almost through with the first 100 days and I expect that the city council will roll out this to the places that he has mentioned. I thank you.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: My supplementary question is that we were informed by the Minister of Transport that funds were given to local authorities to repair roads in areas like Budiriro where there are lots of potholes. Since the monies have been given to the Ministry, why is the Ministry not carrying out the repairs on the roads because we know money has already been disbursed to these constituencies? What pains me is that motorists in these areas have problems and their cars are breaking down yet these potholes should be repaired. Actually, they are no longer potholes, we refer to them as fish pond holes. May he please give us the date as to when the job of repairing these roads will
commence.
*HON. J. MOYO: At times I am very surprised by some of these questions. Local authorities are given funds directly from ZINARA. The money does not come via the Ministry but the Ministry just plays an oversight role on the local authorities as to whether the funds allocated for roads are used according to the disbursements. When these local authorities have been given the funds, they then give us the way the monies have been spent after the expenditure has been done. What I know is the Harare City Council together with the councilors has worked out a plan on the repair of these roads. They had an agreement that since the funds have been disbursed, the first stop would be on repairing the roads in the Central Business District. From town, they will move to the respective areas, – [HON. MACHINGAUTA: Inaudible interjections.] – especially when we talk the 100 days.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Machingauta, please be
informed that you are not supposed to interrogate the Minister who is responding to your question.
HON. J. MOYO: When the local authorities have made a plan on the expenditure of the monies forwarded to them. the local authorities are not making assumptions but are working on their budget according to the allocated funds and we have to check at the end of the day the progress which has been made after the expiry of the 100 days. We want to check whether they will have followed the process of repairing the roads in the CBD. When we are through with that, they will then go to their second priority in the locations and suburbs. When councils have been given money by ZINARA it is up to them to utilise those funds accordingly.
HON. MAJOME: What is the Minister doing to make sure that the money that all the road users that pay for vehicles licensing get more efficient and direct value for their money? You have just answered Hon. Machingauta telling him about the route that the money goes; from ZINARA to the local authorities like Harare. We want to find out whether they start with the city and so on. My question is what are you doing to assist in order to make sure that the money that the road users are paying in licence fees goes to the councils directly so that these long and winded trips do not happen? I ask because I have a motion on the Order Paper and there are roads in my constituency. Marlborough Drive was stripped of the little tar it had. Gilchrist was stripped as well as Lauren Drive and up to now the funds, it looks like they have run out. What are you doing Hon. Minister to please assist to ensure that the councils get that money directly, including even roads like Goodhope. What are you doing to ensure that the money that is made available even by motorists goes directly to the councils so that the money comes quickly back to the roads because motorists are paying for it and our roads are getting worse?
*HON. J. MOYO: Thank you for the question. I stated that when money comes from ZINARA, it is given directly to the local authority which then sets up its priorities on which roads to start with. They work in consultations with the people who are responsible for the construction of those roads. We have situations whereby the local authorities may use its own staff and equipment or they may hire out services to other experts to work on those roads –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister, the
question asked by Hon. Majome is why can we not have the taxes paid by motorist paid directly to local authorities because taxes are taken through ZINARA then disbursed to the local authorities.
*HON. J. MOYO: If any local authority collects those taxes, they are breaking the law because the Constitution says the licence fees and fuel use levies should be collected by ZINARA. When ZINARA has collected the fees and levies, it will then disburse to the road authorities in the country. The first road authorities are national roads then comes local authorities and third is the DDF. I am talking about what is in the Constitution. When the money has been collected by ZINARA, ZINARA disburses these funds according to these three authorities and they are given according to their needs. If these authorities are given these monies, they will state the roads they want to repair and the Government in its oversight role will make a follow up, checking as to how the funds have been used.
HON. MAJOME: My point of privilege is that the Hon. Minister has just said there is an Act of Parliament that provides that money that is paid by motorists goes to ZINARA vehicle licensing fees. I say this with the greatest respect to the Hon. Minister that it is in fact not so. I say this because I have a motion on the Order Paper that is actually number 26.
I have researched this issue around what happens to our licence fees and I wanted to find out what it is that gave authority for motorists licence fees to be paid to ZINARA. I thought there was a law but there is nothing. There is no Statutory Instrument but it was just a decision taken in Government offices to say motorist licences that we pay are now paid to ZINARA. There is in fact no such law. It is a decision that Government. So, my question is that why do we not just unmake it so that the money goes directly because this long route, there is no such law that says that with respect to the Hon. Minister. I thought I would raise that point.
HON. MLISWA: I hear what the Hon. Members are saying. The issue at hand when the Minister of Transport went around in the provinces and in Mashonaland I was invited with other Members of
Parliament and councilors to be there. The money goes to ZINARA and ZINARA gives the money to the town council which then finds a contractor who does it – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members.
HON. MLISWA: I have the floor. The point is and what I am trying to assist, the new rule is that there is no road which the council can come to without the Member of Parliament appending their signature. So, if you are doing your job in your constituencies like we do, you must append your signature to all the roads. For example in Norton, there is no road which is done without my signature. So go and do the work on the ground – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
the question to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is, is there legislation around the system of how money is paid from the citizens to ZINARA. Hon. Minister of Local
Government, can you please clarify on that one – [HON. SARUWAKA:
If you are not sure you can say I will go and research] – Order Hon. Saruwaka!
HON. J. MOYO: Hon. Speaker, I am absolutely clear in my knowledge that the ZINARA Act is the one which created those three or four road authorities and it is out of that Act that they are collecting money on behalf of those road authorities. If it is contrary to what I think and the Hon. Member has an Act which is contrary or lack of that
Act, I stand advised.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: The Hon. Minister has not well answered some of the questions that I asked –[HON. MEMBERS:
Aaah!] –
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Machingauta.
May you please ask the question?
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: From the way the Minister has
answered the question that I asked, not everything is very clear. I am therefore requesting that the Minister brings a Ministerial Statement explaining how much money was disbursed to the City of Harare by ZINARA and which roads did they construct or repair specifically focusing the roads in Budiriro that I highlighted in my question. He should also tell us how the accounting officer or Town Clerk is using funds allocated to him so that people will not complain –[HON.
MLISWA: ZINARA is the one to answer that question.]
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Mliswa [HON. MACHINGAUTA: Inaudible interjections] – [HON. MLISWA:
Sekuru, sekuru….] Hon. Mliswa and Hon. Machingauta, order in the
House.
Hon. Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National
Housing, what is your position on the proposal by the Hon. Member? –
[HON. MACHINGAUTA: Inaudible interjections.]
Hon. Machingauta and Hon. Mliswa exchanging words.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Machingauta and Hon. Mliswa can you behave yourselves. The Minister is here… [HON. MLISWA: Horait sorii sekuru, sorii sekuru.] – Hon. Mliswa, can you please withdraw your statement, there are no sekurus in the House.
HON. MLISWA: Sorry Hon. Member.
*HON. J.G. MOYO: Madam Speaker, I have taken note of what the Hon. Member is requesting. I have indicated that the money that ZINARA disburses is the purview of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. They only tell me where they would have disbursed the money. When the money is within the hands of councils, I will then make a follow up on whether the money has been used accordingly. The best person to ask on the allocation of the money is the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. He will give you all the figures with regards to the 92 local authorities. If there is something amiss on how the local authorities used the disbursed funds, that is when you can come back to me so that issues are corrected.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: With the response that the Minister of Local Government has given, we are going to ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to bring the evidence before the House may be through our pigeon holes so that we have information on how much money was allocated to each local authority across the country.
ADEQUACY OF ELECTRICITY POWER SUPPLY
- HON. UTA asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to explain to the House, measures being taken to ensure adequate electricity power supply in the country.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. S.K. MOYO): Mr. Speaker Sir, I would
like to assure the House that the Ministry of Energy and Power Development is putting in place measures to curb electricity shortage in the country as follows:
- The Ministry’s parastatals Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is working on increasing its generation capacity through:
Addition of 2 x 150MW generators at Kariba South Power Station.
One generator has already been completed and is already contributing 150MW to the power requirements. The second generator is expected to be commercially available by end of March 2018.
Improving reliability and increasing capacity at Hwange Thermal Power Station through overhauls and maintenance. The power station used to generate on average three generators but has now improved to generate on average four to five generators.
Addition of installed capacity of Hwange Thermal Power Station through addition of 2 x 300 MW generators. The project has reached financial closure and is awaiting the first drawdown so as to commence.
The project is expected to take 42 months once it commences.
Capacity for Harare Power Station is scheduled to increase from 40MW to 120 MW through a repowering exercise. The requisite contract has since been signed.
- The Zimbabwe generation side has since been liberalised to allow for private players. ZETDC is negotiating Power Purchases Agreements (PPA) with several private players and if the projects sail through, this will add to the country’s internal generation capacity.
- To bridge the gap between now and when various generation projects come to fruition, Zimbabwe is using power imports from neighbouring utilities to augment power supply in the country. We are importing about 300MW from Eskom and about 50 MW from HCB, that is the Cabora Bassa. ZETDC is in constant liaison with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to ensure that foreign currency payments for the imported power are made. This will ensure longterm relationships and continued trade between ZETDC and the various utilities. Last but not least
Madam Speaker,
- as for the rural areas, the Government of Zimbabwe established the Rural Electrification Fund in 2002, with the mandate to facilitate rapid and equitable provision of sustainable energy services in all rural areas of Zimbabwe. To date, over 9 000 rural institutions and community groups have been electrified. However, to ensure universal access to sustainable energy by all rural communities in Zimbabwe by 2030, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, through the Rural Electrification Fund, has developed a Rural Energy Master Plan to allow systematic, cost effective and well coordinated provision of energy services in all rural communities in Zimbabwe. I thank you.
HON. WATSON: Some time ago, I brought up Hon. Speaker, with the Hon. Minister’s predecessor the use and the development of methane gas which is in vast quantities in the Lupane, Lubimbi area. Your predecessor laughed at that suggestion and the idea, however after that, it was raised at a PreBudget Seminar by Hon. Mudenda himself as he comes from that area as a possible cheaper solution and a less environmentally damaging solution than the development of the Batoka Gorge. Can the Hon. Minister tell me if his Ministry and ZETDC have actually examined that possibility in order to create cheaper, more accessible clean power for Zimbabwe? I thank you.
HON. S. K. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker and I thank the Hon. Member for her supplementary question. What she just said is very true.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
CEDING OF ZIMBABWE MINING DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY HOUSES TO THE FORMER AND CURRENT
EMPLOYEES OF ELVINGTON MINE
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development to state measures being put in place to cede the 300 Zimbabwe Mining Development Company ward 10 houses to former and current employees of Elvington Mine in Chegutu, in accordance with the agreement entered into by the mining company and employees more than ten years ago.
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Speaker Sir, Elvington Mine acquired land in Chegutu town to build houses for the employees in 1978. The agreement on acquiring the land between Elvington Mine and Chegutu Town Council is not clear to this day. I am advised that Elvington Mine still maintains that the mine paid for the land in full and now fully owns the houses. On the other hand, Chegtu Town Council makes a claim that the land was not paid for. They claim that there was an arrangement that after 12 years the mine would cede the houses to the council.
Efforts to find the agreement from Elvington and the Chegutu Town Council have proved futile since 2009. The two parties have also been engaging and failing to find each other since then. Because of the stalemate, the exworkers and current workers occupying the houses are refusing to pay rentals to Elvington or vacate the houses. I am advised that there was never an agreement between the mine and employees to the effect that the employees will be given the houses. Furthermore, the exemployees occupying the houses are not owned any money by the mine. The matter is before the High Court.
PLANS TO GIVE FORMER BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY
(BHP) COMPANY LIMITED HOUSES IN MUVOVO
DISTRICT TO FORMER EMPLOYEES
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development to;
- State whether there are plans in place to give former Broken
Hill Proprietary (BHP) Company Limited houses in Ward 11 in Muvovo district in Chegutu West Constituency to the former employees of the BHP, now ZIMPLATS;
- Clarify the position of the Zibagwe Trust which is claiming ownership and rentals of houses by the former BHP employer to the employees;
- State the amount left to the Zibagwe Trust in monetary terms, for the benefit of the former employees.
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Speaker Sir, the houses
in question are for the Zebakwe Trust. They were ceded to the trust under a Government and Zimplats memorandum of agreement which enabled the issuance of the Zimplats licence to operate in year 2000.
The current status is that the Zebakwe Board of Trustees is in discussion with the tenants in Movovo and Katanga on the possibility of a rent to buy agreement for the houses. The Ministry will be in touch with the parties to ensure this is speeded up.
- As already indicated, Zebakwe Trust is the defacto owner of the houses, through the donation from Zimplats. There is a pending finalisation of a Capital Gains Tax issue, once solved, will see transfer of the houses in the name of the trust. Once again, my Ministry will be in touch with stakeholders on this issue to ensure it is speedily resolved.
- The amount donated to the trust was not intended directly for the benefit of former BHP employees but for the communities in which BHP operated. I am advised that the current balance on the US$1 million donated is US$500 000.00. This has been ringfenced by the board which is using the funds for community based projects such as the
Chegutu sewage reticulation plant and borehole drilled at St Eric’s
Primary School in Norton.
The board recently introduced a school fees benefit scheme for disadvantaged children in the communities of Chegutu Municipality, Norton Town Council and Selous rural area. The selection of the beneficiaries is being done in conjunction with the Department of Social
Welfare to identify those in urgent need.
The work of the trust is currently constrained by limited rental income as some sitting tenants are defaulting rental payments much to the prejudice of affected communities who must collectively benefit from the trust.
I wish to inform the august House and the Hon. Member that the
Zebakwe board has audited statements for all its operations
METHOD OF MINING USED AT RIOZIM MINE
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development to:
- State the method of mining being used at RioZim Mine in Eiffel
Flats, Kadoma;
- Disclose the amount of gold being produced on a monthly basis;
- Indicate whether the Ministry would consider relocating the residents, school and a hospital that are near the mine in view of the fact that blasting activities have devastating effects to both humans and property; and to further state whether the Ministry would consider terminating the operations at RioZim until relocation of people is carried out.
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMETN (HON. CHITANDO): Mr. Speaker, I believe what
the Hon. Member is referring to is the Cam and Motor Mine where the method of mining used at the Cam and Motor Mine is open pit mining, using drilling, blasting and hauling processes.
- Based on 2017 figures, the average gold production is about
79.27 kgs per month.
- Let me begin by highlighting that it is not the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development that is obligated to relocate residents from mining locations. Relocation exercise is between the project owners and the affected parties. However, from a regulatory point of view, the Ministry ensures that the mining operations are safe for employees and residents.
Cam and Motor embarked on a relocation exercise at the onset of their operations which has phases 1 to 5 beginning with the most affected residents and property owners, to the least affected. The relocation exercise is ongoing as the project expands. The sticking point had been the hospital and some residents who were taking the company to court. To date, the mines have identified land for relocation of the hospital. In this regard, the mine is funding refurbishment of some premises identified by the hospital for use as a temporary relief whilst waiting for completion of the new hospital at the relocation site. At the same time, the mine is engaged with some residents who have resorted to litigation in the courts of law. In the meantime, the mine’s blasting operations are being monitored by the Ministry to ensure safety to both human and property.
*HON. MAJAYA: On a point of order Madam Speaker, we no longer have a quorum in the House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): Order, order, the
Hon. Member has raised a point of order on an issue of quorum.
Therefore, I will allow the procedure of Parliament to take place.
[Bells rung]
Notice having been taken that there being present fewer than 70 members, the bells were rung for Seven Minutes and a Quorum still not being present, THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER adjourned the House
without question put at Thirteen Minutes to Five O’clock p.m. pursuant
to the provisions of Standing Order Number 56.
NOTE: The following members were present when the House adjourned: Hon. Chibagu, G; Hon. Chikwinya, N; Hon. Chitindi, C; Hon. Damasane, S. A. E; Hon. Dhewa, M.W; Hon. Dube, S; Hon.
Dziva, T.M; Hon. Gangarahwe, G; Hon. Gezi, T; Hon. Gumbo, E; Hon.
Guzah, K.M; Hon. Holder, J; Hon. Hungwa, G; Hon. Kanengoni, T.R;
Hon. Kanhanga, E.W; Hon. Kaundikiza, M; Hon. Kazembe, K; Hon.
Madzinga, P; Hon. Majaya, B; Hon. Majome, F.J; Hon. Matambanadzo,
M; Hon. Matimba, K. M; Hon. Matuke, L; Hon. Mlilo, N; Hon. Mliswa,
- T; Hon. Mpofu, B; Hon. Mpofu, M. M; Hon. Mugidho Machirairwa;
Hon. Muguti, R; Hon. Mukwangwariwa, F.G; Hon. Mukwena, R; Hon.
Munochinzwa, M; Hon. Muponora, N; Hon. Musabayana, D; Hon.
Murai, E; Hon. Ncube, G. M; Hon. Ndlovu, N; Hon. Ndoro, L. F; Hon.
Nhambu, B; Hon. Nhema, C. F. D; Hon. Nleya, L; Hon. Nyere, C; Hon. Passade, J; Hon. Rungani, A; Hon. Sansole T.W; Hon. Saruwaka, T. J.
L; Hon. Savanhu, T; Hon. Shava, J; Hon. Sibanda D.S; Hon. Sibanda Prince Dubeko; Hon. Sibanda, K; Hon. Tshuma, J; Hon. Uta Kerenia;
Hon. Vutete, M; Hon. Watson, N. J; Hon. Zhou, P.